Meles neither Must nor Should go!

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I don’t consider your article as naïve at this stage. You have correctly named it yourself: ‘Derg-kinijt’ subtle machination. How on earth could this be an EPRDF propaganda? The EPRDF is not in a suicidal mood! What fascinated me most in your article is the way you have appreciated Meles. You did not like only one thing in him: His determination to stick to his principles. My dear Alemu, How could you ever think of removing such a man who sticks to his principles? Shouldn’t a leader be a man of principles? Should a leader, with the whole country on his small shoulders, be a vacillating and indecisive man? Isn’t such character in a leader dangerous to Ethiopia? The reasons you gave for Meles’s resignation are in fact reasons that justify retaining him in power. At this juncture in its history Ethiopia needs a strong and unwavering leader. You have accused Meles of “unflinching”. Unflinching in Meles is different from unflinching in others. Mengistu was unflinching in the sense that death was the only way to get rid of any form of opposition. For George Bush unflinching means never give up chasing Al kaeda. For a soldier unflinching means never turn your back to the enemy. Unflinching in Meles means never give in to the neo-Nazis (who spread blind hate propaganda against some Ethnic groups). Unflinching in Meles means facing poverty head-on. Unflinching in Meles means protecting the people from selfish politicians who disturb their peaceful living for the sake of power. Unflinching in Meles means his genuine eagerness to see a connected Ethiopia, an industrialized Ethiopia, and a food secure Ethiopia, totally disregarding the vicious campaign to tarnish his image. Isn’t this what we need in a leader.

I don’t mean Meles is the only capable leader in the ranks of the EPRDF. There are many talented politicians there. The EPRDF politicians have chosen him to lead them. It is up to them as a political party to retain or to replace him. Your suggestion that removing Meles from power will be a Panacea for the political problems in Ethiopia is a tricky statement. Unless you are writing this intentionally, I don’t think you are getting the point. Who in the opposition told you that they fighting against Meles and Meles only, not against the EPRDF as a party? Who in the opposition told you that the fight is going to be over if Meles is down. My dear, the struggle of the opposition is against the EPRDF whoever leads the party. The downfall of Meles will make it easier for the opposition to erode the strength of the EPRDF. You say the Tigrean predicament will be over if Meles is out. I am sure, you must be joking! May be at this stage I can call you naïve. The hate propaganda against Tigreans does not arise or end as a result Meles’s presence or absence in power. It is not as simple as this. May be you lack exposure. May be you are not a Tigrean to feel it. You have not heard about what happens to Tigrean students in some higher institutions of learning. May be you never heard about how competent Tigreans are not welcome in many NGOs (which have turned into NTOs- Non-Tigrean Organizations). Many be you have not experienced a hating glance in buses and taxis whenever you speak Tigrigna. May be you have not been embittered by friends who distance themselves from you when they come to know that you are a Tigrean. May be you are not the kind of person who is scared of a post-Meles or a post-EPRDF era given the prevailing harshly negative attitudes against Tigreans. May be you have never exchanged views with Tigreans about their fears and concerns. Tigreans cannot forget what happened to them before. During the Derg, it was enough for anyone to be Tigrean to go to jail. Let us admit that under the EPRDF (Meles) it is not enough for anyone to be an Amhara to go to jail in spite of the challenges EPRDF faces from the right wing elements of the Ethnic group.

The most unprincipled statement you have made in your article is your recommendation for a non-Tigrean leader for the EPRDF. Sir, in politics it is the world outlook that governs not individual’s ethnic background. Meles is an Ethiopian. He has every right to lead Ethiopians. It is even possible for an expatriate to be a leader (let alone an Ethiopian national) if the foreigner upholds the political philosophy of the people he/she leads. Why was Che-Guevara one of the top officials in Cuba (though briefly)? Is it because he was a Cuban? It is the Austrian Hitler who led the Germans into the madness that they voted to have. He did not lead them in his own way; he led them in their own way. Though the Germans regret it now, Nazism was a mass movement (Hitler was elected to power). Meles is a Tigrean (a good Ethiopian that means). He is leading the people in their own way: peace, poverty eradication, industrialization, expansion of infrastructure, etc. If one is leading the people to peace and prosperity, he/she can be a Tigrean, an Oromo, a Hamer, an Agnwak, etc. Colour or Ethnicity or creed is meaningless. Please answer this question: WOULD THE TIGREANS HAVE FOUGHT 17 YEARS OF WAR AGAINST THE DERG, WHICH INVOLVED ALL THE DESTRUCTION AND DEATH OF THOUSANDS, IF THE GOVERNMENT (AMHARA-BASED OR WHATEVER) WAS DEMOCRATIC? Let me answer it for you: Never!! All those years of war and suffering was not simply because the Government in power was Amhara-based. It was because it was undemocratic.

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