Ethiopia – Opposition device should be Individual liberty
By Muluneh hailu
September 1, 2006 — An impartial reflection on the current tragic political situation in Ethiopia leads one to the gruesome conclusion; the endless struggle for power is growing into a volatile and unpredictable havoc is threatening the integrity of the state and the very well-being of its citizens.
As was and still is being noted by many distinguished political analysts, including native and foreign scholars, the main reason why the May elections in Ethiopia went wild turning in to a tragedy if not a farce is the lack of democratic institutions in the country and democratic traditions in the society – traditions where the individual is assigned with the primary role in forming the state andits institutions.
It goes with out saying that Ethiopians, particularly those living in the rural areas, identify themselves with their respective tribes. Similarly, the modern day urban dwellers, the descendants of those in the rural areas, impulsively act in the same manner. That is why it is commonplace for one to be asked to which tribe one belongs whenever arises a discussion on the issue of Ethiopian politics. Indeed, the so-called ‘3000 years independence’ which was and still is the reason for the isolation of Ethiopia from the outside world for a long time has greatly contributed to deepening such a trend in the society.
What I am trying to elaborate here is there exists a reality that Ethiopians at large do not perceive themselves integral as in individual entity – an individual entity who reckons he/she is self-sufficient irrespective of his tribal identity. This phenomenon explains why the state and its citizens were and are up to now unsuccessful in their relentless albeit misguided effort to be part of the civilized world. The same reason can be applied to the ongoing stalemate – a stalemate artificially provoked by the already warring parties who for their rather subjective than objective aims misinterpreted or suppressed the issue of individual liberty, and deliberately instilled the instinct of the mob hoping to establish the so-called the mob law. They deny the individual his/her inalienable right to think, hesitate and to reflect on a certain matter before making an informed decision, there by deterring him/her from developing his individual integrity. Both parties have their own primitive reasons for doing so:
– The government of PM Meles Zenawi, an ardent supporter of the defunct marxist ideology mixed with ethnical federalism, refutes individual liberty by definition. For it, the sheer existence of such category of citizens it cannot easily manipulate presents an absolute danger to its survival. Indeed, the crackdown on the real opposition after the May elections, according to the strategy of the leadership of the ruling party was supposed to discard any possibility of further individual freedom or thinking shortly exercised by the citizens, and which became a nightmare to the totalitarian in its nature regime;
– The diverse opposition which advocates from secession based on ethnical identity to a so-called Ethiopianism, a rather blurred and ambiguous terminology, except for some of its prominent liberal members, rejects the notion of individualism assuming it may contribute to or hinder – depending on the goal set – the further disintegration of the state.
The ironical tragedy of such attempts by the antagonist groups, each with its own skeleton in the cupboard, to implement the aforementioned methods as a tool to cling or ascend to the political helm has brought the state to this very stalemate and the possible catastrophe looming over it as the sword of the Domacle’s. Both camps, traditionally disdainful of the ordinary Ethiopian individual who they are claiming to ‘liberate’, have forgotten their strategical goal for their struggle and, blinded by the unreserved hatred to each other, are assisting the state fall into oblivion.
At the present moment, there seems to be no room for maneuver. The chance for a round table between the government and the real opposition is completely lost. One may ask if there exists a way out of the impasse the country is in. Strictly speaking, yes, there is.
As was reiterated above, the May elections failed due to the mere lack of trust between the incumbent and the opposition who ‘perceived in good time’ that the other side will behave in breach of the constitution:
– PM Meles Zenawi and his allies had no doubt that if they lose thee elections, they may face the same fate as the former officials of the Dergue regime they are currently trying in court;
– The opposition was convinced the elections would undoubtedly be rigged.
It should be noted here that the leadership of the EPRDF used this deep mistrust as a means to guarantee the support of the rank-and-file members of its party in its future scenario to prevent any undesirable outcome of the elections.
In this context, it is essential to point out the grave mistake committed by the opposition camp, which during the election campaign period and after persistently dubbed all members of the EPRDF as ‘TPLF supporters’. In fact, the EPRDF is comprised of individuals from different layers of the Ethiopia society, and most of them may have joined the ruling party only in order to avoid unnecessary misunderstanding, and build their professional career as was the case during the Dergue era. Unfortunately enough, ostracizing by the opposition of all members of the EPRDF compelled these individuals to unilaterally stick to the regime of PM Meles Zenawi, and thereby secure their and their families’ future.
It is therefore my deep conviction the opposition abandon the concept of stigmatizing the rank-and-file members of he EPRDF. It should understand that EPRDF by and at large is far from being a monolith; the individuals who form the ruling party may have a different approach towards the chronicle problems persisting in Ethiopia than that of the leadership of the current regime. It should send unequivocal message to the respective individuals that being a member of a certain tribe or political group is not a criminal offence by itself. It should unilaterally assure them that they are by no means accountable for the possible atrocities committed by the PM Meles and his closest allies. It should confirm time and again to the army and the law enforcement bodies that the ones who will have their day in court are those who gave illegal and unconstitutional orders, not those who were forced to execute such orders. The opposition should at the same time encourage the EPRDF to transform itself into a democratic and law-abiding party and emerge with strong leaders dedicated to promote peace, and secure the integrity of the state. And at last, the opposition must express its commitment to engage into dialogue in good faith with the newly transformed EPRDF.
Only this way, united by the fundamental idea of individual freedom – the kind of freedom which led to the formation of free and prospering occidental civilization, can the opposition break the existing stalemate, narrow the political base of PM Meles and his allies, and be on the vanguard of he political struggle. It is more than essential to judge everyone by his/her own and individual merit, separate the flies from the cutlets, be pragmatic and understand that politics is the art of the possible.
In conclusion, to those who can read between the lines, the international community has repeatedly expressed it is ‘deeply concerned’ and ‘closely watching’ the situation in Ethiopia. As far as I understand, the US and the EU are increasingly getting embarrassed by PM Meles Zenawi and his crooked style of leadership. If they are reluctant to let go the current regime, it may be due to the lack of a consolidated opposition, which, given the opportunity, will seek reconciliation of the nation, and by no means resort to any form of vengeance. It is quiet understandable they are doubtful of the radical and war-mongering part of the opposition, hasty to write a pasquinade against a considerable portion of the society on one hand and a panegyric to defunct ‘neftegnas’ on the other. I would like to underline here that I am not referring to hired propagandists on both side who are ready to exchange their soul to the Ethiopian/Eriterian regimes for thirty silvers.
In these difficult days, when leaders of the real opposition are behind the bars by the dying regime on concocted charges, and some desperated ‘oppositon’ leaders are plotting with Ethiopia’s deadliest enemy, the Eriterian president Isayas Afewerki to ‘save’ the integrity of the state, the rest of the opposition should not panic but stand steadfast in its unity. It should neither be disoriented or disorganized but rather open itself for dialogue with all individual Ethiopians irrespective of their tribal identity and political view, unless and otherwise they present a political risk to the nation by their unconstitutional and destructive activities.
While continuing it’s more than commendable effort in exerting political pressure on the international community to be recognized and reckoned with, the opposition at the same time should reveal its unreserved capacity to peacefully replace the current regime, and lead the nation towards a bright and a democratic future. To this end, The device should be “ a free Ethiopian Nation formed by the Individual and for the Individual” – minus His Excellency the Prime minister Meles Zenawi and his cronies.
*The author can be reached at [email protected]