HERE WE GO AGAIN! ALEM G-

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By: Getahun Gebre Amlak
March 21, 2006

What is wrong with this man! When will this Alem G. ever learn being fair to both sides does not mean telling lies. If Alem G. has no idea of what is taking place in Ethiopia to day, the best thing to do is keep quiet. But this Alem G. seems to be thirsty for publicity. As they say “you can fool some of the people some of the time, but you can not fool all the people all the time.” Unless people want to deny the glaring truth like Alem G. there is no basis for comparing Ethiopia and Eritrea.

The brutal dictator in Asmara is harming our Eritrean brothers Politically, Socially and Economically. Eritrea to day is a hell of land to live in. all one needs to do in order to know of the reality inside Eritrea is talk to Eritreans that are daily voting with their feet and going to the Sudan or coming here into Ethiopia. The ever-growing number of Eritrean refugees in the Sudan and Ethiopia are both from the civilian community and from the armed forces. What is more there is no semblance of peace is Eritrea. Those inside are virtual prisoners denied of all rights. People are dailly killed. This truth is also being openly expressed in the Eritrean run websites, and one hopes that Alem G. does read some of it. Much more could be said about the Eritrean reality but let us leave that to our Eritrean brothers.

Ethiopia unlike Eritrea is a democratic country. The government of Ethiopia led by the EPRDF is registering success daily in all spheres of social endeavour. The achievements in the Political, Social and Economic life so far is remarkable. This is especially so when you realize that the EPRDF had inherited a poor backward country. Whether Alem G. and the like prefer to write a fiction or not, Ethiopia is being transformed in all aspects of life. In the last three years according to the World Bank the Ethiopian economy has been growing at over 10% per annum. Agriculture is being transformed. Social services and the basic infrastructures are being built and growing at an unprecedented rate. Ethiopia is at long last close to attaining UPE. Growth in secondary, technical vocational training institution and higher education is phenomenal. It is in fact unprecedented growth in any country. Did Alem realize that only this last September the EPRDF government lead by PMMZ opened thirteen, yes thirteen new universities bringing the total number of universities opened since the fall of the Derg to twenty-one. The number of Junior Colleges that have been built is beyond any ones imagination. Billions of dollars is being spent in building roads. All Wereda capitals are connected to the State capital by road, have electric supply and all the Kebeles are having telephone service. In five years time 50% of Ethiopians will have access to electricity. The boom in the building industry across the country is remarkable. All one has to do is visit Addis Ababa, Adama, Awassa, Bahr Dar, Dessie, Mekele, or for that matter any town to learn about the urban transformation taking place to day. Ethiopia is also being industrialized fast. Hundreds of local and foreign investors are pouring billions of dollars into the economy. But then Alem G. together with Kinijit do not want to accept the truth. Who cares any way whether they do or not! Their stand has no effect whatsoever on the reality on the ground in Ethiopia.

The Sha’ebia have never ever told the truth. Who made who should be left to history. But, if you have any friend among the Eritrean veteran-fighters ask him what took place during the Red Star Campaign. Ask about the role the TPLF played in giving the EPLF a new lease of life. Perhaps you should read and re-read Tekeste Negash. You will learn from the work of this honest and bright son of Eritrea that by 1980, a mere five years after the TPLF entered the struggle, it was militarily the strongest movement in the region. All the EPLF bravado is nothing more than hot air. The best way to put the truth of what took place during the days of the struggle is to say that they joined hands from time to time to fight a common enemy.

Having said this, one must acknowledge that there is some good idea in Alem G’s paper. The problem is that it he is not consistent in his approach. Alem G’s work would be interesting if he stops commenting on the reality on the ground inside Ethiopia. The so-called opposition is an amalgam of failed individuals and frustrated former Derg members and EPRP members. Despite what they say and write they have no root, no ground to stand on inside Ethiopia. They are making use of unemployed youth and some criminal elements inside Ethiopia. These people pretend to be supporters of the so-called opposition especially Kinijit because they are paid to do so. If the Kinijit money stops they will fade into the thin air.

The so-called opposition groups were unable to capitalize on the free atmosphere, and the electorate has been able to see them for what they are. Their dream of assuming power at any cost worked against them and the law has caught up with them and is dealing with them. They are exposed and seen for what they are. The dream of the brutal dictator in Asmara is also frustrated, because all the machination to unseat the Ethiopian government did not bring the results that he and his so-called Kinijit servants had hoped for. In fact the EPRDF government has come-out stronger. Democracy is here to stay. Those members of the so-called opposition that have joined parliament have to abide by democratic principles. If they try to realize the false hope of their leaders and of the Sha’ebia, they will no doubt be rejected by the Ethiopian people.

Much more could be said but this is enough if Alem G and the like are willing to learn. Ethiopia is a stable country and its people are working hard to over come backwardness and poverty. They are everyday registering concrete and positive achievements. Life standard is improving peoples income is growing by the day and this is true of both the urban and rural people. Ethiopia is on course to achieve the MDG on time. The world community appreciative of the work taking place in Ethiopia under the leadership of PMMZ is pouring billions of dollars in the form of loan and Aid to help the development work now under way. Debt concellation is also very high.

The Kinijit and their master the Sha’ebia are playing the politics of hate. This will not get them anywhere and they will be out of the political scene sooner than they thought. The Kinijit have learnt nothing that can help them to have a role in democratic country like Ethiopia. How can they when all they know is blind hatred and are led by one of the most brutal dictator in this continent!! The Kinijit and their master PIA will soon be relegated to the dustbin of history, rest assured.

Once more I extended my invitation to people with open mind to come to Ethiopia and see for them-selves what is taking place to day. Mere speculative and wild imagination of people like Alem G is not edifying and does not help the reader to know the truth. Yes, Ethiopia has a long way to go but it is on course. The general atmosphere is never-the-less positive and encouraging. We wish the Eritrea people a better government. We hope they will one day be able to enjoy freedom and democracy and to extricate them selves from the abject poverty into which that tiny country and its people are sinking into by the day thanks to the Sha’ebia.

Bye for now.

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