“Meles Must Go!” – Maybe He Should

By Alemu

April 25, 2006.

“Yefu-k-kr bet sayi-zega yadral” – a house occupied by hard-headed individuals is open to robbers.  This is an Ethiopian saying and its rough interpretation in English.

Ethiopia has begged for a different line of thinking for long, a paradigm shift, if you like. There is only one way that this shift could happen.  EPRDF has brought a significant change in the country – a change for the most part that is positive. EPRDF, if it has to continue this positive development, has to make a very difficult and hard decision now.  This decision can only be effected if Prime Minister Meles leads this change
PM Meles has to resign his post; a new party leader has to emerge NOW.

But Why?

I have not thought very hard about my analysis and recommendations, but my hunch tells me that I am on the right truck.

In comparison to the past, the following positive trends have been observed in the country.

• The economic growth has been incredible.  These have been substantiated by scientific data and simple human observation.
• Political freedoms have taken root in the country.  The election that took place recently, despite the unfortunate turn-around of events, has confirmed that process.
• The equality of nationalities as enshrined in the constitution of the country, leaving the seemingly controversial “Article 39” aside for the moment, has finally found an answer.  Over 90% of Ethiopians (my guess) except a very minute sect that believes this is an arrangement against its interest, and Derg members who want to use this to galvanize some people and create a negative backlash, believe that this is a just thing to do.
• The corruption indicator is the lowest in Africa.  EPRDF has been able to produce cadres that are less corrupt (to say the least) than what the country has experienced before. The indicators are there to prove this statement.
• Development activities in all regions have been taking place in a more equitable and fair way.  Areas that had least attention in the past –Afar, Somalia, Benshangul, Gambela are now getting the deserved attention.  Read the various projects and activities that are communicated daily.
• Free press saw the light of the day under the current government.  It was tolerant to the extent of letting some newspapers propagate hate among the various nationalities of the country.
• Ethiopia, (although the irresponsible opposition is trying hard to change that image), has become a symbol of success in the political arena due to the shrewd and intelligent maneuvering of the leadership of Meles Zenawi.

The general observations that I listed above are undeniable facts to people functioning within the limits of normalcy. Under normal circumstances these would have been the core reasons for a government to be elected with a resounding majority.  Perhaps that is why the governing party in Ethiopia got the resounding majority in this election in rural and semi-rural Ethiopia – where it matters most.

However, these are not normal times in the life of the Ethiopian political elite. Hate and bigotry have overwhelmed them.  Tigray has become their prime target.  They have theorized that they can’t come to power unless they attack one target at a time.  This time it is Tigray, and their tactic is crude and sophisticated at the same time.  Crude, because they are out there officially advocating against any person who speaks Tigrigna – or who resembles a ‘Tigrian’. They present themselves as the only people who want a united Ethiopia. In reality they know nothing about Ethiopia. Sophisticated, because using phantom names and ferenji hirelings, they try to produce a researched paper that shows Tigray as the leading beneficiary of the Federal budget allocation – this despite the hard fact of the government’s budget allocation that is there to see for those with a straight eye.

Hence, my radical solution: “Meles must go”, to use the ‘kinigitized’ word of the Derg.

If need be Meles must be a political sacrificial lamb in order to defeat the Derg elements who seem to be gaining more support from the unsuspecting population. These are some of the causes that have landed us at this political mess.

• Meles’ past political miscalculation in relation to the Eritrean regime has created suspicion among a large segment of the population.
• Meles has been so far unable to shook of this mistrust and regain a degree of trust necessary to defeat the old guards and their Derg leaders.
• Meles has been successfully portrayed to be a symbol of division within the circles of the political elite.
• Meles has been a target of negative publicity due to his leading role in dismantling the old vicious systems of governance that favour small sect of the population.
• And, frankly, Meles has so far not shown an interest to fight back these negative characterizations, thus allowing the imaginations of the forces of destruction to go wild.

The points listed above, unless handled intelligently and with a long term strategic thinking and vision, could derail the democratic process and reverse all the gains that the country has so far achieved.  Inaction on our part and the continuation of the status-quo on the part of the EPRDF leadership will embolden bigots and hate mongers to intensify their divisive politics.  Radical leaders of the Derg opposition, whose rank has been swelled by new additions such as Getachew Haile, will be writing wild stories, stories such as ‘yewoyane tigrewoch’ while decrying the old Ethiopian Student movement statement such as ‘the amhara ruling class’ and labeling it tribalist.  The Diaspora Kinijt organ (which is in reality a Derg-controlled organ) continues to popularize these articles in its website. Some ethnic based political groups who are now ganging up with chauvinist elements under the old and unprincipled slogan of ‘the enemy of my enemy is my friend’ will lose their steam in the process.  I see good in this proposed change that I am advancing.

Yes, there are some pitfalls to watch for.  Forces of reaction may take this change as victory.  Even though they will know that this change is to their detriment, they will make every effort to use this to their advantage in the initial stages of these changes. But a concerted and planned move on the part of the EPRDF and other genuine forces of change will bring this reaction to an abrupt end.

I am forwarding this thesis of asking PM Meles to resign from the leadership of EPRDF in order to tackle the problems listed above and continue with the tide of economic, political and social reform that the country is experiencing at this moment.

The resignation of PM Meles will deny the radical elements of the Derg an easy target.  People will have an opportunity to know who these people in the opposition are; their composition, their real agenda and their real issue will be forced to surface out.  Their attack on the people of Tigray will be aborted. Anti-peace forces will be denied any sanctuary and be easily exposed.

Political groups who fought for the rights of nationalities, forces that had an issue with Ato Meles and are looking this rising tide of chauvinism and Derg’s attempt for  resurrection from the sidelines, will come to defend their gains and shut out the forces of reaction for once and all. Even those former EPRP elements who are shamefully being recruited by the forces of anti-Tigray will get a chance to reflect on their stand and rid themselves of the Derg sickness (yeDeg abaze).

The resignation of PM Meles will also build confidence about peaceful transfer of power for the first time in the history of the country.  This positive step will be a cornerstone for the new Ethiopia

Let it be crystal clear for all the friends, foes, and independent observers of Meles alike that PM Meles is an articulate, immensely intelligent and as Ethiopian as any one who claims to be.  He has the skills that requires sharp thinking, is committed to his cause and unflinching to his principled stand.  Perhaps it is this last adjective that has caused him to lose the trust of the people. Compromise is an art that he simply refused to espouse. I was no fan of this man.  But through time, I have come to appreciate his intelligence, wit and commitment to a cause – eradicating poverty in Ethiopia.  I believe that is a noble cause and fundamental to having a united and strong country.

EPRDF needs one who can be compromising and determined at the same time.  EPRDF also needs a non-Tigrian as its leader. Let us be real and to the point.  Then these red-eyed chauvinists-tribalists will have no an easy target for attack.  They will be laid bare. This is the antithesis that would render them ineffective and remove them from the political arena.

The resignation of Ato Meles, if it happens, will come with one caveat. The reform process that he has initiated will continue.  People’s freedom, the freedom to secede, if that ultimate solution is the only option, will be respected whether Meles goes or not.  Regional disparities in economic, social and political developments will be addressed equitably and fairly.  Bigots and hate mongers will have no role in the political life of the country. Ato Meles will retire in peace and contribute immensely to his country and party in other ways that will be acceptable to his future bosses.  This is an Ethiopia that I want to feel and see.

Am I hard on the bigots and tribalist who are being led by the Derg. Not really.  But I know that they do not wish well for the country. Have you seen their Diaspora supporters lately?  They are angry and sad when they hear that bridges are being built in great numbers.  They shrink when news about hydroelectric dams being aggressively built is on the airwaves.  They are quick to counter when they hear very promising economic growth figures are told by world organizations and the government of Ethiopia. They obscenely oppose any foreign direct investment in the country. For heaven sake, they even ask Ethiopians living in the states to vote republican!!  They become angry even when the skies are pregnant with rain giving hope to the farmers of Ethiopia. Now we hear that the gods are becoming good to Tigray and the rains are good there, they must be in a state of self-imposed agony and nightmare.  Good is what they really hate to see in Ethiopia. Are these really Ethiopians?

‘Yalewun yeseTe n-fug ayibalem’.  I have shared my views with you readers.  Different people will read different meanings into this article.  Some will call it naïve.  Some will characterize it as ‘Derg-kinijt’ subtle machination.  Few will say that this is an EPRDF propaganda, perhaps an insider’s propaganda.  Still other genuine ones, whether they agree with my propositions, suggestions and analysis, will find it as a genuine attempt to solve the problem.  I will let all place themselves in any of the categories listed.

Good luck to those wish and do good!