The Expedition of Hope of the Die-Hard CUD Followers
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Alo Aba Negashu
It looks like that the last two weeks of CUD leaders drama of “ embarrassing themselves in front of their die-hard fans ” sub-sided a bit. While the passage of HR 2003 in US congress takes away the attention from last weeks drama, the problem of Kinjit is still kicking and alive. Birhanu and Birtukan are very up set with the fact that Hailu Shawul took all the credit about the passage of this ill-advised Bill in New York Times article. Kinijit is dead. It is only the diehard intellectual cud followers that are working very hard to glue the leaders division.
It was with some interest and utter disgust that I was following this fast- unfolding childish behaviors of the leaders of Kinijit. I heard a song not long time ago that says that Ethiopia has its own Amlak (God). It used to make me laugh thinking that the writer of that song must have read about those ancient Greeks who believed in multitude gods and goddesses. After I witnessed the recent politically immature division of Kinijit leaders, however, I started to look into the phrase “Ye Ethiopia Amlak ” a bit more seriously. If this division happens in Ethiopia, the cyber war we have witnessed in US would have been conducted in automatic rifle in the middle of our country, creating another dark history in Ethiopia flooded with innocent blood of our citizens. I think that YE Ethiopia Amlak did its miraculous trick to save our country from unnecessary bloodshed part two. I know for sure that most of these CUD leaders participated in part one not long time ago, Hailu Shawul being the famous one. Forgotten in this drama is the die-hard CUD followers ‘quest for any hope to hang and capitalize on, which is the focus of this article.
“Don't expect anything original from an echo.”
Author unknown
“Yemotewun Aya Yilutal”
Ethiopian Proverb
Over-estimating the ability of these hate driven CUD leaders and under-estimating the depth of the irreconcilable differences of the unholy alliance of CUD, their die-hard fans tried to hang on any slight hope they see. Since their leaders left their fans in a darkness by not revealing the cause of their mysterious division, while some appealed to their leaders to solve their differences, yet others were making their make-wish theories that say” it is alright to have such minor conflict.”
“Obangs Appeal to Kinijit” by Obang Metho, (This appeal can easily makes Guinness book record as the largest appeals in the world.) “Stop Fanning the Flame” by Neamin Zeleke,”United We Stand, Divided We Fall.” by Al Mariam, and “Dear Opposition et al.” by Gatachew T.A are few examples of the appeals directed to CUD leaders.
All these writers are college educated, and thus suppose to bring a touch of sophistication in their critical thinking. I don't think it is blindness for these writers not to see the inevitable disintegration of Kinijit considering the fact that this coalition formed six months before the 2005 election with the members of the parties having diametrically opposing principles. Rather, driven by hate, it is a refusal to see the fact that, sooner or later, this elicits marriage will end-up in internal decay and doom. Even Lidtu - the least educated and unsophisticated leader of kinijit - saw this gigantic irreconcilable difference and opt out early.
The proximity that has been created by Kality Prison revealed to Kinijit leaders that the only common denominator in forming the now defunct Kinijit was lust for power. This sudden realization of principle gap was solidified more by the fact that they stayed in prison together for significant amount of time. One can easily conclude that if they couldn't solve their problems in that environment, considering ample time they had to reflect on to see where they went wrong and resolve their differences, they will never get to any solution here in US. Even if they get to some kind of consensus, it will be a convenience of marriage than love. Therefore, to appeal to Kinijit leaders to come to their senses to resolve their differences is to expect something original from an echo. “Yemotewun aya” malet new. Kinijit as we know it is dead!
Feres Yetefabet Ejun Gan Wust Yiketal
Author unknown Ethiopian philosopher
Desperate time desperate measures
The second groups are those who are desperately trying to make sense out of nonsensical conduct of kinijit leaders. The following articles were the few examples that were born to create the desperately needed hope in the last weeks.
“In Politics, Crisis Is an Opportunity” by Abebe Gelaw – “Rebirth of Kinijit Is Possible” Tedla Asfaw – “Management of Crisis” by Anonymous - and “Winners Do Not Falter At Faulty Political Moments” by ENC (Ethiopian National Congress). Since I wrote my response to “Winners Do Not Falter...” few days ago, I don't dwell on it again except I still can't understand what “Faulty Political Moment” is. The last time I checked, moments are moments. It is our actions at particular moment that can be at fault not the “moment” itself. What we learn from ENC's make-wish theory to save Kinijt's face was that they were hiding in the name of a civic advocacy group until this desperate moment reveals their true nature in their desperate action. I don't want to go to each of these largely unexamined and overly fallacious desperate attempts to hang on any hope. However, I want to comment one point per article just to make what I claimed above perfectly clear.
“In Politics, Crisis Is an opportunity” and “Rebirth of Kinijit is Possible” came out right after Birtukuan (Fetenech as one of her faction called her) made an appeal in her Boston famous “Gashe” Hailu speech to join them in a tour. First of all, if we have to use any nickname, it is Ababa Hailu not “Gashe” Hailu. The guy is 73 years old, and he arrived in DC using wheel chair. He doesn't have to come with a stretcher to be called “Ababa”. Having saying that, Birtukan's call to Ababa Hailu was the best thing that happened to these die-hard fans in a long time. So, writes like Abebe, Tedla and ENC tried to capitalize on that call that has been made only for propaganda purposes.
“In Politics, crisis is an opportunity” the best reason the writer comes up to support his premise is that he and Birtukuan had been the same batch at A.A. University, he knew her very well, she is Christian and ready to lead our country. Therefore,”Gashe” Hailu has to respond to her call. Poof! The crisis solved. Hang on Diaspora. We still have hope. If this is not desperation, I don't know what is.
In “The rebirth of kinijit is possible” The supporting idea for why the rebirth is possible is nothing but Birtikuan’s appeal to Hailu. The writer declared, “Let the countdown begin for unity!” This euphoria came at the end of the article after the writer convinced nobody but himself. We haven not seen anything yet. The countdown must have started from a million. My guess is those who are counting down will wait forever. One thing is sure; you won't find me counting up or down.
The last one is “Management of Crisis.” First of all, although it is not grammatically wrong to say “Management of Crisis”, the most appropriate and widely used description of the same concept is “Crisis Management.” This writer basically did not say anything, but one can see that the reason he wasted his time in writing this article was to give an impression that if we look back to the history of political parties, division like this happened all the time so we should not be surprised by kanijit’s division. The reason why his writing was so boring was he wasn't specific about what he wanted to say. Just to put some meat on the bone in his article, I added names in his examples.
The writer, as an example, went on to mention the division of Russian Social Democratic Labor Party into Bolshevik (Lenin and Stalin) and Menshevik (Trotsky), EPRP’s division into EPRP (Birhanemeskel Reda & Co.) and Anjeghoch -the separatists - (Shimelis Mazengia &Co.)
What this writer not deliberately but stupidly failed to mention is the negative consequence and incalculable devastation this divisions brought to their respective societies. In subsequent years in Russia, anybody who was related to Mensheviks was mercilessly killed by Bolsheviks (The first red terror in the world). In the split of EPRP, those who defected from EPRP to Dergue like Shimelis Mazengia & Co., had given the whole hidden structure of EPRP to Dergue and caused the atrocity we witnessed as a form of Red Terror. Ironically, one of the victims of this division- Birhanu Nega as EPRP - chased out from his country by “Gashea” Hailu Shawul as Dergue.Talk about “Bere Kearaju Yiwulal!”
I would like to add another split that occurred during the same time in Ethiopian recent history. I do so just to expose one of Kinijit's protagonists in Diaspora Negede Gobeze a man who is responsible for encouraging Mengistu to use “ Ye Stalin Bitir” -red terror, and that is the division of MEASON (not mentioned by the writer). When this party divided, Haile Fida and Negede Gobeze remained on one side and Dr Alemu Abebe & co. left to join Dergue. While Mengistu killed Haile Fida, Negede Gobeze managed to get out of the country. Mangistu held two of Negedd’s sisters, Dr Hanna Gobeze and Rachel Gobeze for more than ten years in Addis Ababa Prison (Kerchele). Now, that same Negede Gobeze who caused all those atrocities not long time ago wants to come back in Ethiopian politics again. ( Jib Bemayawkut hager hedo kurbet anetifuligh yilal!) Though he is the main “Jib”, he is not the only “Jib ” in CUD.
To come to my point, unlike the author of this article wants to imply that divisions in political parties are okay, there was no juice that came out from these divisions. If there was one, it was blood. The reason we haven't seen bloodshed because of Kinijit's division so far is, the division has happened in Washington, DC. ( RememberYe Ethiopia Amlak? )
Now, Kinijit’s diehard fans have only one hope to hang on, and that is HR 2003. This Bill has nothing to do with Kinijit's division, nevertheless, they, out of desperation, will hang on to it until the Bill gets to the President desk. Don't ask me what they will hold on as hopes after The President veto this Bill. Remember, Feres Yetefabet, Ejun Gan Wust Yiketal! The saga of the unsuccessful expedition of hope of the diehard cud supporters will continue until they get back to their senses and look for other meaningful alternatives!
God Bless Ethiopia!