Open Letter to US’s Huddleston from Ethiopia’s CUD VP

When I was a young law student who took myself too seriously but lacking compass, chart
and rudder to grasp the dry bones of the subject matter I studied, I used to dash to the law
library looking for a lighthouse to steer by. It was there, in the squalid and dump depot of
books, that I met the quintessential American hero, Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes with all
the breadth of his intellect and pithy wit. His classic letters and books were larger than the
law. The great man inspired a belief in greatness, the existential necessity of thinking and
acting under fire, the courage to change without being irreverent to tradition. I still
remember some of his wise verses heartily. “Death plucks my ears and says live – I am
coming,” he said in one of his late speeches.

On the scorching morning of May 15 last year, Ethiopians who had lived like soldiers, who
had seen the end of the story too often and knew that its only novelty was in its surprise,
chose to live in hope. They gained a hearty confidence in the political system and patiently
lined up to decide their destiny. The political space which was opened then wasn’t as wide
as some would want to make it. Yet Ethiopians nibbled off the precious little they were
given. I was in one of those noisy line ups waiting my turn to vote. Behind me was a stout,
elderly, intensely respectable-looking man. His eyes were filled with tears, his body shaking
and quivering. That man had seen it all. But the experience of that day was new to him.
There was also an extraordinary scene of a young woman, known in my village for take-life-
easy attitude, helping the sick and elderly to vote. It was a profoundly moving moment. I
found my truest peace and delight in the experience of the day. The magnitude of victory
that my party subsequently achieved (or was prohibited from achieving) was secondary to
the civic culture and hope Ethiopians displayed on May 15.

Political creeds are usually the rationalization of experiences. At Kinijit our positions in the
international community-mediated negotiations and discussions with the government after
the election controversy ensued were greatly affected by the experience of May 15 and the
peaceful demonstration a week before. We couldn’t let the hope of Ethiopians die. Madame
Ambassador, that was what I told you when you congratulated us for canceling a scheduled
public demonstration on our first meeting in mid September.

You were well-intentioned, business-like and graceful that day. I went home, checked your
record and learnt that you were a great diplomat who had served your country for a number
of years with distinction. And I thought you could be an honest and even-handed broker.
We also let you in our Urgent Executive Committee meeting when we debated on whether
or not we should cancel the stay home strike that was called for October 3. You had seen
how the party functions; you had seen how democratic it was; you had seen how well-
meaning and peaceful its leaders were. You had also witnessed the trust which was
accorded to you. I wished you would have remained that – an honest and trustworthy
broker. America had (and still has) a tremendous political capital in Ethiopia. Its values are
cherished and the inner workings of the government, the checks and balances, the
powerful judiciary, the media are all admired. On May 15 Ethiopians hoped to have the
government of the people like Americans have for more than two centuries. They thought if
your country intervenes in Ethiopia, it would do so on the side of the people. America is the
only country whose formation was driven by ideals. “By the naked fact of existence, we are
an eternal danger and an un-sleeping threat to every government that founds itself on
anything but the will of the governed.” So wrote Dr. Holmes.

Subsequent to our imprisonment, I found the one-handed position that you pushed and the
statement you made quite disheartening. First, it was a call for our free, fair and speedy
trial, knowing full well the circumstances of our arrest. Then it was a declaration that
democracy was a process. What does a democratic process imply? Where is the free press
in Ethiopia? Where is the right of assembly and demonstration? Where are the independent
(even quasi-independent) political institutions that are the pillars of democracy? In Kantian
terms, is a process merely the idea-of-process? The process as essence? Or is a process
a fact? Something to be measured and tested?

You had also tried to assist the take over of the Addis Ababa City administration by Kinijit in
spite of the unwillingness of a large number of elected councilors and the interest of Addis
Ababans to get an all-encompassing political solution for the impasse. It was stomach-
churning to hear that some city councilors were detained, tortured and intimidated to take
over the council. If you had heard the stories and suffered no spiritual torment, I should re-
check my books on American Constitution. Lately, your efforts were directed to a fervent
championship for the creation of another Kinijit to continue the political process; a political
process which would leave the people alienated. You and I know that there is not much in a
name; and a long term solution for the country’s political problem will only be furnished
when the government starts an honest dialogue with all Ethiopian political forces, inside
and outside of the country. Such a distinguished American diplomat as you are shouldn’t
facilitate the politics of alienation which has been the scourge of this ancient country.
Last week, I listened to your VOA interview in my cell (If there is one at kaliti). I was
flattered that you compared our ordeals with that of one of our continent’s greatest heroes,
Nelson Mandela. What the comment impliedly suggested about the nature of our
government was also telling. I was sad, however, that you seemed to take our deplorable
situation as an acceptable state of things and suggest that we should be content in being
requited by martyrdom. You should have concluded in the spirit of John Stuart Mill that
humanity should mourn our situation “with sackcloth and ashes.”

Madame Ambassador, the United States may favor order over justice in this region as long
as the war on terror is on course. The pragmatic choice might be occasionally holding your
nose when the government of the region’s biggest power committed human rights abuses.
But order wouldn’t be served when the government turned into alienating and disfranchising
a big chunk of its population. I haven’t yet lost hope in your capacity to invest your country’s
political capital and help solve the political problem in Ethiopia.

With great respect

– This letter was written by Kinijit First Vice President Ms. Berukan Mideksa before Ambassador Vicki’s visit to Kality