A TALE OF TWO LEADERS
Milkias Mihretab Yohannes
Sep 28,2007
“Be careful of the Georgian….he seems to be driven by hate and vile”
Lenin’s letter to Kamanev warning about Joseph Stalin
Throughout man kind's history, people have been led or forced to be led and governed by other people commonly called leaders. They have different forms, style of governance, personality, attitude, ambition, state of mind etc
Their action or failure to act can affect the lives of millions both inside and outside their realm of power and sphere of influence. Some leader's action and legacy still haunt and cast shadow on their countrymen way after their death. Stalin and Tito Siad Barre and Amin are some of the prime examples .Today almost all countries and territories are led by some kind of leaders or leadership. They can have different forms and names. Some are different only in names but quite similar in their way of leadership. Some leaders are quite visionary and loved by many still some are mysterious and of questionable character and state of mind. Few are really funny to the casual observer. The Midget they call dear leader, great leader, beloved father, undestructable comrade etc (the man has thousands of other titles),Kim jong ILL of North Korea ,is a good icon of depravity or fun to those who are fascinated with political farce and travesty.
The purpose of this article is not to comment or scrutinize on the leaders of the world. That would be a mammoth task which requires a huge amount of time and know-how. But I want to say something about two leaders whom I knew and experience well. I want to say a bit about these two individuals who happen to be leaders and their character and the effect it had on me and others .I want to write about these two leaders and their deed and what happens to millions of my countrymen and women, my neighbors and the world at large.
Let me begin from the leader of my country Eritrea, Issias Afeworki .For many people this name denotes wretchedness and misery, terror and unimaginable repression. The lives of countless people have been scarred for ever largely because of the unbelievably reckless actions of Mr Afewerki. The name Issias Afewerki and Eritrea have been intertwined for almost 4 decades now. Infact the term” leader” doesn’t suitably describe Issias’s style of leadership and who really he is. An absolute despot with more power than many Monarchs, he is the main reason behind all the recent tragedies of Eritreans and their neighbors. A very intelligent person with vindictive mentality, a man of immense energy with vile against his fellow Eritreans, and others, Issias will be remembered as the fastest destroyer of a nation and its dreams .A charismatic person with high command of several languages ,Issias is one of the few people in history with no moral compass whatsoever. Like Stalin and Saddam the primary motive behind Issias’s action is hate and insecurity. Many politicians, diplomats, foreign and local observers are baffled by this bizarre personality of Issias. So far no one explains the rational if any, behind all this psychosis. Issias Afewerki is one of the extraordinary people who loves abyss and hates normalcy.
It is incorrect to put the Eritrean leader with the league of dictators and other autocrats currently or in history. There are clear explanations and even scientific reasoning for all the fanatical and unstable leaders of the past and nowadays. From Romania’s Dracula dictator Ceausescu to all the tyrants of Say, Haiti one can find some cogent and some kind of philosophy behind all the recklessness. Some of them were destroying their homeland ,while they think they are building or forging new society or social order .They were(are) led by some kind of principle, vision or goals, however twisted or unreal as it may be. From Mengistu Hailemariam’s vision of communist Ethiopia, to Castro’s Cuba, one can find some kind of raison d’être and even defend some of the action behind the “action” or the dream however wrong it may be. But there is none what so ever in Issias and his leadership. Is Issias a communist? Is he a fundamentalist? What is Issias’s philosophy or guiding principle? Is he supremacist? Is he fascist? Is he Eritrean ultra nationalist? There is nothing to describe Issias from the political dictionaries available in the world. The only explanation is PURE AND SIMPLE MADNESS AND HALLUCINATION at its best form!
A leader of one of the poorest nation in the world(even by African standard), dreams of changing the nation in to South Korea or Singapore overnight. Even the devil himself will have a hard time achieving this previously unheard and unseen magic. In a country without constitution and any kind of rule of law what so ever, the “man” hallucinates in to becoming Taiwanese or Korean over night! Even the strongest Cocaine or heroine will not help in becoming high to such degree
.The latest hallucination is Sri lanka (remember Srilanka is a fellow African nation and we all have a responsibility to help our African Srilankan brothers).
The daydreams and bizarre actions of Issias Afewerki is endless. Though it may look funny some times, it is sad to see a nation being destroyed by such reckless person. Hundreds of thousands paid in limb and life to be free and independent. Thanks To Issias ,Eritrea is now one of the worst place in earth to live by…….The only nation in Africa with out free press, the only country with out constitution, the only country with out a functioning Parliament, the only country with out annual budgetary report, the only country where you serve in the national service indefinitely …….The list is too long. The country Eritrea is full of the only country with out this, the only nation with out that! etc
Today Tens of thousands of Eritreans fled and are still fleeing the oppressive regime of Issias and his PFDJ thugs. Millions are living in fear and terror back home in Eritrea. The economy is in shambles and there is no hope for Eritreans under Issias except to flee to what ever country they can. The nation is dying slowly in front of our own eyes and no one seems to care for long time Thanks to a leader whom many Eritreans used to call “wedi Afe” affectionately , Eritrea is on the waiting list to be nominated to the “prestigious” club of “NATIONS WHO SPONSOR TERRORISM! .As an Eritrean, it is excruciating to watch the daily torment of millions of my countrymen .It is also sad to see the world so oblivious for long time, though it seems now almost any one will agree as to how cruel and vicious dictator Issias is . Many Eritreans and others like the writer of this article, are puzzled and even confused by this out of the ordinary personality of Mr.Issias Afewerki of Eritrea .Meanwhile the damage and carnage went on unabated and only God knows when all this destructive behavior will stop.
Let me come now to the other leader whose deed or fault affects other countless millions. The leader ,,Meles Zenawi of the Federal republic of Ethiopia ,Prime Minster to be exact. As a Journalist, as a person who spent his formative years in Ethiopia and as a casual observer I have been following Ethiopian politics for some time. Meles, a former Marxist Student and rebel leader is one of Africa’s most respected statesmen. Even His ardent Opponents can’t help being having a high regard for Mr. Zenawi’s sheer genius and intelligence .A humble person with endless love for books(unusual for horn of Africa leaders)he is gradually transforming one of the poorest nation in the world in to one of African Economic success story. Yes there are still massive problems (both inherited from past and created by Mr Meles’s Policies), but despite all these, Meles is of the few African Leaders with big heart and tolerance and dedication to growth and alleviation of dire poverty. Ethiopia’s history is full of greedy leaders who don’t really care for their subjects and will not hesitate to wipe even the whole nation just to stay in power. The recent history of Ethiopia is filled with blood shade and mass graves. Today things have changed dramatically, thanks to the wise and resolute leadership of Meles and the Ruling EPRDF party. Many people who came from a visit to Ethiopia, describe of massive political, social and economic change taking place in Ethiopia .Without a doubt a great deal of this is attributed to Meles zenawi and his responsible leadership.
In today’s Ethiopia, at least people can hope! One can hope to go to colleges and Universities that have mushroomed after EPRDF’S victory in 1991.( In contrast the only University In Eritrea is on the verge of closure ,its sellout president on extended vacation somewhere in the US) . Any Ethiopian can hope of launching a business or starting a career, Ethiopians are guaranteed by law of movement anywhere both inside and out side their country. An Eritrean is asked for a special pass even inside the capital city. Any Ethiopian can form and join a political party as long as it is non violent and respect the constitution of the land. Eritreans have no right what so ever and let alone forming political associations, gathering of more than three people is seen as suspicious activity by the security forces of Mr. Issias. Ethiopians are free to follow and worship any kind of religion and faith with out fear and worry of repercussion by the establishment. A testament to the fine leadership of Mister Meles Zenawi, millions of Ethiopians freely worship their creator with out apprehension of any kind what so ever! From The peace loving Jehovah’s witnesses to the unity seeking Bahai’s, Muslims to Jews Ethiopia and Ethiopians are under unprecedented freedom of religion in their history. Meanwhile Eritrean men and women of faith are under the most difficult times in the history of religion. Thousands of people have been arrested, tortured, killed simply because they refused to renounce their God and worship Issias the modern day Pharaoh. Eritrean dungeons are full of believers and their cry for justice. Atheist Issias has waged war on Almighty God and his people and just like many before him he will be thrown in to the dustbin of history soon. One can list many illustrations about the hellish life Eritreans are leading under Demagogue Issias and the many amenities Ethiopians take for granted.
In today’s Eritrea ,people are not comparing Issias with Meles as there is no similarity what so ever but in strange irony of things many Eritreans are longing for the good old days?of Mengistu Hailemariam( yes that is true!). Many will tell you either privately or openly-“KABZIS DERGI YIHAYISH ABEY NABEY…)_meaning-“Derg is much better than this regime” As my Eritrean friend said the other day “Mengistu is mother Theresa when compared with callous Issias.
History will render its judgment on Issias and Meles. Eritreans have already rendered their judgment on their “killer son” leader. Many Eritreans begun to awake and realize how horrible things are in Eritrea. They are beginning to denounce the leader who is the source of the entire calamity that befall on little Eritrea. A lot of Eritreans are cursing the unstable leader who made their land a farmer with out a farm, teacher with out a student, a merchant with out a shop and above all the most disturbing of all a mother with out a child. Thousands of young Eritreans have perished in many of the adventurous wars and invasions of Issias. Many innocent souls have died just to satisfy the megalomaniac lust for power and prestige of tyrant Issias Afewerki. In one of the most cruel and sadistic acts of history, Eritrean mothers are told to dance and ululate because their children have died for the glory and clout of Issias. Today the world seems to grasp the whole picture of life and tragedy taking place in Eritrea. Many passionate supporters of Issias have now realized how evil and manipulative he is. I only hope and pray it is not too late and the whole nation is salvageable.