Meles has failed to deliver democracy to Ethiopians
Response to Samuel T’s Article Titled “Happy to See Opposition Websites Blocked in Ethiopia.
By Magn Nyang
Dec 7, 2006 — Mr. T, I read your article on Sudan tribune with great interest. And I agreed with you on few points. Particularly, I do not think that it is a wise strategy to spread hateful ideologies about any ethnic group. I believe that all human beings, including Meles and his Tigre people, are good by nature. Therefore, I believe that any hateful propaganda should be directed toward Meles’ deeds and his leadership style, not at him personally or at his Tigre people. However, I strongly disagreed with most of the things you have said, especially your reference to opposition groups as “extremists” and your portrayal of Meles Zenawi as the father of Ethiopians democracy.
Mr. T, unlike you, I am not a mix Ethiopian. I am pure-blooded Anyuak and I oppose Meles’ regime for my own reasons, same way that you support his regime for your own reasons. In fact, every man has an inherent right to oppose or support anything as he/she sees fit. To say that Meles’ regime has not delivered on what it promised to deliver to all Ethiopians, would not be an exaggeration or would not be going extreme, it would just be saying the facts. And if any Ethiopian happened to point out Meles’ regime weakness, he /she does not deserve to be labeled as an “Extremist”.
Mr. T, on your discussion of democracy, you portrayed Meles as the champion of Ethiopians democracy. Here is a quote I took from you “ the way Meles Zenawi talks, the way he made Ethiopia friends with both the Eastern and the Western world, the way democracy and peace surfaced all around the country, the way the complete freedom of religion emerged, the way current polices empowered every ethnic group and removed oppression, the way the constitution is used to the citizen and rebuke the criminals, the way Ethiopia’s first ever multi-party election was held, the way development projects initiated everywhere , I am 100% sure that Meles Zenawi would have been labeled as one of the greatest Ethiopian heroes if he was an Amhara instead of Tigre”. As I was reading this unfortunate elevation of a dictator into a champion of democracy, I couldn’t help, but wondered if you were from planet earth. I also wondered if your definition of democracy carries the same meaning as the world knows it.
Mr. T, according to Webster’s New World Dictionary, democracy is defined as “government by the people, directly or through representatives”. A country with such system, the dictionary says “provides equality of rights, opportunity, and treatment to its people”. Therefore, if we follow the above meaning of democracy, what made you say that “democracy and peace surfaced all around the country”? Was it not Meles’ regime that murdered more than 426 Anyuak men on Dec. 13, 2003 in front of their wives and children just because they happened to oppose his policies in Gambella region? Is it not his regime that is still killing the Anyuaks in Gambella region today? How about thousands of Oromos who are being killed in Oromya region day in and day out? Are they not being killed by his regime?
Mr. T, what do you mean when you stated that Meles has brought about complete freedom of religion in Ethiopia? I was perplexed by this statement. Was it not a month or so ago that Christians and Muslims killed each others in Jimma town for the first time ever in Ethiopia’s history? Even during communist Mengistu Halie Mariam, these two groups lived side by side in harmony. And now they are killing each others. Shame on Meles.
Mr. T, your talk of constitution did not impress me at all. As far as I am concerned, Meles has moved against almost all articles in the constitution. For example, take article 39. This article is supposed to have given all the nationalities in Ethiopia the right to self-determination, including the right to secession. However, in the last 3 elections, only those who represented the EPDRF regime were hand picked to lead in Gambella region. Those who were elected by the people of Gambella were turned down by the EPDRF.
Mr.T, you also, rather proudly, stated that Meles brought the first ever democratic free election in Ethiopia’s history. I do very much disagree with your assertion. If you think that Meles truly introduced multi-party election in Ethiopia, why did his regime mowed down innocent Ethiopians during opposition demonstration in Addis Ababa? And if you think that he is the father of democracy, why did he throw the leaders of opposition parties in to prison? When was the last time you heard opposition leaders being thrown in to prison in truly democratic countries like England or Sweden?
Mr. T, to me, Meles is by far one of the abusers of democratic way of governance. He is now far worst than his predecessor Mengistu when it comes to implementing full democracy in Ethiopia. During Derg’s regime, Mengistu did not promise Ethiopians any form of democracy. Therefore, Ethiopians did not expect to have any form of democracy under his leadership. But, Meles on the other hand promised democracy to Ethiopians. And yet, his promise remained to be seen.
In conclusion, Meles has miserably failed in his delivery of democracy to Ethiopians. After 15 years and 3 false elections, I think it is time to have a fresh leadership in Ethiopia.
* The author is a son of Gambella who resides in the US and can be reached by writing to [email protected]