Democratization and the Follies of Civil Disobedience

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Commentary
AigaForum, 14 Nov 2006

The tragedy of the opposition is their unwillingness to be honest about the democratic space created in Ethiopia. Had they not been blinded by their zeal to overthrow the Ethiopian government they would have, deservedly, taken the credit for closing the checkered past of Ethiopian politics. Unfortunately, the opposition would rather imagine Ethiopia as the gulag nation than of giving EPRDF its deserved share of credit for the splendid election of 2005. They left no stone unturned, mindlessly marched in an action of self fulfilling prophecy to taint the election process. Their hate for the ruling party was so vicious that it was hard to believe they are the same people who have been a cell phone call away from the leaders of the ruling party cordially betting on who would take election in Addis.

The ferocious wild allegation did have some takers among whom one is the infamous Hana Gobeze.To think that she has the capacity to save an opposition leader by hiding the leaders of the opposition who “feared” for their life not only shows the presumptuousness of the lady but also her ignorance of the situation. For instance, the person who was said to have feared for his life was, by his own admission, knocking on the doors of the ruling party leaders and their supporters in an effort to bring negotiated solution to the crisis. The lady, who has now delved into Ethiopian politics head to tail, has neither a clue about the political landscape of Ethiopia, nor a grasp of the character of the ancient land. It is eerie to read Mair, S. 1997. Election Observation: Roles and Responsibilities of Long-term Election Observers. (ECDPM Working Paper No. 22). Maastricht, which states

'The issues of interference and the media lead to the essential recommendation that all observers keep a low profile. The role of the election observer often has a neo-colonial aspect (in African countries in particular), and some observers give the impression of enjoying this. The observers feel that their presence in the host country is necessary because the authorities and people there are incapable of conducting legitimate elections without outside help. In such cases, observers are frequently found to think that they can ignore certain social and political rules of etiquette and that they can conduct an inquisition in addition to an observation mission."

And note that good lady from Purtugal has broken all the rules that she can be a text book case of how not to be an observer.

Still now there are forces that wish Ethiopia to wallow in endless post election saga. Addis fortune has good article titled “The economists take on Ethiopia ” which shows how the rebels with out cause are creating their own drama, with foreign forces dramatizing their make believe star war action flick. Reading Birhanus’ book, after all is said and done, there is still no sense of reflection by the opposition of the political path they took. While the rebel with out a cause is calling for negotiation and hoping for miracles of civil disobedience, comforted by news of disgruntled parliamenterians (while ignoring the fact that 90 has joined not only joined the parliament but also negotiated a workable rules and regulations), little did it don on him that the game is over and EPRDF has moved on forming a government and embarking on executing its five year plan. At the end of the day EPRDF proved that it does not need the opposition for legitimacy and it embark on democratization not to please the Ferengeis but it basic element for development. It is tragic the person with close relation to the ruling party could not use such proximity to bridge the gap between the opposition and the ruling party.

And then there are late comers who have joined the course of “civil disobedience” as if this blue print has not been disseminated and tried on the street of Addis and other cities after the election only to fizzle in the face of reality, albeit, after causing untold loss of life and property. Civil Disobedience is impractical for there is no cultural context in the society, the ruling party or the opposition to bring the desired effect.
To begin with Ethiopians today are not really deprived of their human rights. The main issue with most people today is how to become rich and how to establish their own business. This was clearly the case with the business community who took up on the call of “civil disobedience” early on by CUD. Within days of the strike call instead of braving the consequence of the “civil disobedience”, they beg the government to let them open their business by distancing themselves from the said civil disobedience. Today Addis is too busy of a city to have the fantasy of civil disobedience.

In a society that has not had shaken of the scars of the 70 red terror a call for civil disobedience is nothing but a call for vigilantism. As seen during the post election and there after, it is a guarantee that civil disobedience will end up having an ethnic and religious dimensions which is not what any sane person should wish for Ethiopia. Not to mention the actors in the opposition are the same forces as those of the red and white terror. It is self-deception to think that these forces have any commitment to the ideals of democracy after observing their merciless treatment of each other then, their post election threat and brinkmanship of post election, and their endless tumult within them now.

The ruling party may be committed to democratization but as some has pointed it is not a gullible organization. EPRDF will not be taken for a ride by the opposition’s crocodile tear about the constitution. EPRDF knows well these forces will do away with the very constitution any chance they get therefore to expect EPRDF to give blind eye to the “civil disobedience” is hoping to blind fold an experienced organization ask it to dig its own grave in the name of democracy, not to mention such action would be an abrogation of its governmental responsibility.

While keeping its eye on “unblemished” election EPRDF made the cardinal mistake of allowing anit-government forces free reign to challenge the system put in place rather challenging its agenda. No nation would bring to the table anti-government forces and give them the banner of legitimacy to challenge the system. The United States government did not accomodate the white supremacists and the black panthers in its history and the eco terrorists and 2nd amendment zealots now, in the corridors of Congress. It rather keeps them in the watchfull eye of law enforcement agents and , mercilessly prosecute them to maximum extent possible under the law(with some unfortunate human rights infringement as shown in its history). America made peace with itself, and Mason-Dixie line was blurred not by giving in to the slave owning South but by erasing the marked line. The strength of a system is in its ability to bring about a consensus on the validity of the chosen path not by giving life to forces that has cost the victor an arm and a limb to defeat them in the first place.

EPRDF came out with strength after the last election by standing firm to any challenge that arise as a sovereign government while being open to changes to its administration. EPRDF is committed to democratization because it has not wavered from putting in place the fundamentals. The revision of parliamentary rules, it’s on going negotiation with opposition on the rule of law of the media and the election board are evidence enough.

But without the participation of all stake holders in the society there will not be democracy or democratic culture. The role of the civil society is major and tremendous. The need for forces on this ideological line to stand up and take up the challenges of democratization in light of the fact that civil societies in the opposition camp has the temerity to unseat the system in the name of democracy is urgent than ever. Instead of taking the bet (form Forces whose democratic world does not even tolerate the Reporter, Eftin or Zami, and any opposition that tries to work within the system), to the call of being a culprit in the sordid affair of discrediting EPRDF to prove one’s democratic credential, they should shoulder their responsibility of building democratic institutions by expanding the democratic space created in Ethiopia. Whether it is in challenging the bureaucracy or corrupt official, or augmenting the short falls of election board, introducing modern management to the bureaucracy, trying to air the misgiving of the loyal opposition, it has to show that democratization in Ethiopia will not fall to the mercy of the extreme opposition whose only mission the dismantling of the system and removal of EPRDF from the political screen.