A Letter to Dagmawi
Kelemu Smeneh, July 24, 2007
Dear editor, I kindly request you to post on your website this message for Dagmawi. And I thank you for that.
I have tried to get his address so that my message gets to him privately. However, since he chose not to get direct feedback by not providing his email address, I am left with this only option of posting my concerns on these websites.
Dagmawi, I am a bit worried and concerned by your recent statements and lack of positive reactions to positive news. I came across your famous website during the terrible Ethiopian- Eritrean war of 99/2000. I was impressed by your ability to collect and disseminate relevant and timely news about the war. I was also impressed by the level of analysis and resourcefulness you displayed during those years.
As you remember, many of us were dismayed by the fact that the EPRDF leadership led by Ato Meles signed the Algiers Agreement. It ultimately made the militarily victorious Ethiopia a loser. During those times many of us were condemning PM Meles for what we termed a capitulation bordering treasonous act. I have contributed several articles to your website then. You too were angry and wrote an article condemning TPLF. That article, unfortunately had few negative words about Tigray. Many wrote condemning your negative approach. Then, when readers had access to you, I wrote you a note suggesting that you withdraw your statements. You acted reasonably and wrote to me saying that your intention was not to say negative things about the people. You thanked me and you were apologetic and reasonable. Then, I wrote an article defending you and your work. I am sure you will have a vague memory of this incidence. It was a pen name that I used then and you do not need to disclose it in case you choose to respond to this message
Recently, I have noticed that you are becoming less tolerant of the ruling party and leaning towards endorsing the negative elements of our society. You are a student of democracy, and I do not think for a moment that you would suggest that democratic governance a la the western world is feasible and applicable in Ethiopia at this moment in our history. The best we could hope for is a democratic process, a transition. The universality of democracy is its implied fairness and not all the mechanics that evolved through the ferenji culture. Our level of development is not consistent with that we all talk about loudly. Hopefully someone may have something to say about this statement sometime in the future.
I thought that you will be relieved that opposition party prisoners are released. I thought that you will be happy that the country’s economic progress is showing a remarkable increase. I thought that you would believe in reconciliatory approach rather than a confrontational one. I think as such because I thought that you are not a politician aiming for power but a concerned Ethiopian who wants to see a tolerant and united Ethiopia. I thought that you will continue to advocate for Diaspora Ethiopians to invest in their country so that the promising economic development momentum is sustained. I thought you are a person who is capable of saying bygones are bygones.
However I differ with some of the policies of the current government, I would not go as far as stating that the government is committing a crime against humanity on the Ogadenis. It is, I believe, a huge mistake on your part to propagate such unfounded and unsubstantiated statement just for the sake of making the government of Ato Meles look bad. What should always come first in the minds of reasonable Ethiopians like you is whether those statements promote Ethiopia’s interest or not.
Unless you see what I do not see, it is my reasoned conclusion that TPLF and the other ethnic based parties are here to stay in Ethiopia. At least the federal system that respects and protects the rights of the different ethnic groups will be with us as long as Ethiopia exists. This is a reality worth remembering when think of Ethiopia. Hate is bad for Ethiopia and its people. Hate towards one party should not propel our political thinking at all. To what end?
In my opinion the ruling party was wrong when it imprisoned the CUD leaders. But I have always thought that CUD is a fad – a party that will be no more as time progresses. In fact one reason (among others) why I stood opposed to the imprisonment of the leaders is because I have concluded that this party eventually will run out of fuel. Why? Because it was a party formed out of a collection of personalities with opposing political principles. The coming years and months will test my hypothesis. My statement above does not put a value judgement on the ideology of the party. It merely states an understanding on my part of whether the party will continue in its present form. The CUD will of course continue in different forms where like minded groups will separate and form different parties, a move that is logical and reasonable.
Dear Dagmawi, I want you to continue to promote a political ideology of your own. That, as long as you believe is good for Ethiopia, is a healthy move that we all should appreciate. But I would like to urge you to come to the mainstream forum and promote your views and ideas in a constructive manner. I would hate to see such talented man to be lost in the quagmire of hate politics and deny his county people the potential knowledge that he can impart on his fellow citizens.
Reasonable outspoken politicians are rare in our midst. It is the negative vocal force that shouts loud in the field of the Ethiopian politics. I had thought that you are among the rare loud reasonable voices on the block. Your recent activities and pronouncement has made me a bit uneasy about your contribution.
I urge you to reconsider your approach, if not your position, and enlighten us with your resourceful mind. Do not undermine your contribution towards making this coming Ethiopian millennium a time of promoting tolerance and compromise. The release CUD leaders is one momentous step in the right direction. We should emphasise these positive development and work towards making Ethiopia’s dream of unity in diversity and development come true.
Thank you.