ARENA: Welcome to the Crybaby Opposition Camp

Tegadalit Aregash, in response to Ato Tesgay Berhe’s interview, complained that TPLF is waging smear campaign against them instead of arguing on their political program and went on to her own smear campaign of how TPLF is hated by the people. Well, Hizabawi newspaper was not known for pointing to TPLF’s policies and point to an alternative. It was known for blanket disparaging, deride, and smear campaign against proponents of Tehadiso.

On their own admission they, the Founders of Arena, have said they formed local party because they did not find enough support to form a National Party. If they find enough people to form local party would not these people be enough to form a National Party?

 For long the so called national parties have not ventured out of Addis. Why can’t they[Arena] form National party whose base support starts from Tigray? This is the same mentality that resulted in a proliferation of all these regional parties of EPRDF who are carbon copies of each other. The result is that each is in its own cocoon that it can’t cohesively form a united defense in time of need. It is an embarrassment when each FRONT members call on University students to tell them the same thing, when an EPRDF member regardless of its “zer” can speak on the issues of Unity in diversity and respect of nation and nationalities and of EPRDF policies. It is the same mentality that has shied for too long from claiming the symbols of Unity “FLAG”, “History” etc for the Dergists to reclaim them back by reconstituting as Kinijit. Ethiopian people are not alien to each other to come together only in the form of a FRONT. At a time when EPRDF should turn itself from a front to a party to form a local party is moving backward. The people of Tigray have carried the burdens of national issue during the armed struggle, which is enough; it is not going to be stepping stone anymore.

Arena wants to be judged by its program. When it is pointed that it is the same as that of TPLF the founders said we differ in execution. Well, they have reigned over Tigray before and it is clear that Tigray is better off now than when they were in power. Tesgay Berhe’s interview is not smear campaign. What he talked about is the practical results of Tehadiso in Tigray.  Aregash would have shown she has the better program if she has attempted to refute issues raised by Ato Tesgay point by point. If there is an assumption that TPLF should introduce Arena to the people, she is mistaken. It is the government job to see that all parities have fair playing ground but EPRDF has no obligation to ties its hand or give any opposition head start the way they did during  election 2005 fiasco with kinjit.

• TPLF should not in any way Disparage Arena's Personalities. These are selfless people who have given their life to the cause. If names has to be mentioned it should be with respect, and giving due credit for past sacrifice.
• Arena has no agenda to sell so what they will indulge in is side issues of abuse, right infringement-all beat up method of Cry baby tactics of the opposition. It would be foolish of TPLF to give them reason to complain.
• The mistakes of 2005 should not be repeated. In the name of democracy EPRDF elevated the opposition as its equal given the wrong impression that these parties have the organizational capacity to take on the government. Time has shown that these parties have nothing. It has done no counter response to the allegations of the opposition with the wrong assumption that “People will see the difference.” There is no small issue that does not require a response. Zemilketo Akal – be it on national, zoba or Kushet should address issues as they come. The dictum “for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction” should be applied.
• The other mistake of 2005 is not reading the discontent of People. The split has shown that Endless Gimgema does not solve people’s need. The antic tactics of indoctrination that is taken from the communist era has no place in democratization. Modern mechanism of gagging people’s need has to be applied. Issues don’t have to compound where it shakes the party by the time correction is attempted.
• The “Tserina’ thing just shows the intolerant nature of a party. The more inclusive the party the better. Had these people been tolerant they would not have parted to form HIWIHAT and Arena. HIWIHAT should be able to show that the party is big enough to accommodate difference. HIWIHAT’S stages are known for the take no prisoner debate among them. We hear that debates are recorded. Should't people hear about it first hand? Why is it secret?. Why the “He Said”, “She Said” when people have the right to hear who said what for themselves and make informed decision? Who has what position in the leadership should be known on any agenda at hand. People have to get used to the fact that every argument does not have to lead to division. Be transparent in your deliberation.
• Yekatit is going to be celebrated in Dedebit. What a good chance than this occasion to call on all the disgruntled that the Party is democratic, accommodative and big enough for all variant ideas as long as it is under the umbrella of Weyane Tigray.