ምርጫ የዴሞክራሲያዊ ስርአት መገለጫ ብቻ ሳይሆን የሰላማዊ ትግል ስልት አካል ጭምር ነው! – Dave Teshome

ምርጫ በአንባገነን መንግስት ውስጥ?
ምርጫ የዴሞክራሲያዊ ስርአት መገለጫ የሚሆነው ነጻ፣ ፍትሃዊና ተወዳዳሪ (free, fair and contested) ባህሪያትን የተላበሰ እንደሆነ ብቻ ነው፡፡ በኢ-ዴሞክራሲዊ መንግስት ውስጥ የሚደረጉ ምርጫዎች በምንም መመዘኛ የዴሞክራሲ ስርዓት መገለጫዎች አይሆኑም፡፡ በሀገራችን በአጼው፣ በደርግ እና በኢህአዴግ ዘመነ-መንግስታት ተደርገው የነበሩ ምርጫዎች የአጼውን፣ የደርጉንና የኢህአዴግን የአገዛዝ ስርዓቶች የስልጣን ዘመን ለማራዛም የተደረጉ (“mechanism of regime maintenance”) ምርጫዎች እንጂ አንዳቸውም የዴሞክራሲዊ ምርጫ ባህሪያትን የተላበሱ አይደሉም፡፡ በእርግጥ በባለፉት ሁለት የመንግስት ስርአቶችም ሆነ በኢህአዴግ ዘመነ-መንግስት የተደረጉ ምርጫዎች በተለያዩ የፖለቲካ አገዛዝ ስርአቶች ውስጥ እንደመደረጋቸውና በወቅቱ ካለው የሀገራችን የፖለቲካ ዕድገት አንጻር የተለያዩ ባህሪያትን የተላበሱ ነበር፡፡ ይህ ሁኔታ ግን በኢትዮጵያ ብቻ የታየ ሳይሆን በማንኛው ኢ-ዴሞክራሲያዊ መንግስት ውስጥ የሚደረጉ ምርጫዎች አጠቃላይ ገጽታ ነው፡፡
ምርጫ እንደ ሰላማዊ ትግል ስልት?
በአንባገነን ስርአት ውስጥ የሚደረጉ የነጻነት፣ የፍትህ እና የዴሞክራሲያዊ ጥያቄዎች የአንባገነን ስርአቱን ጥቅምና ፋላጎት ባስከበረ መልኩ ሊመለሱ አይችሉም፡፡ ይህ የሚወልደው ፖለቲካዊ ግጭቶችም እልባት የሚያገኙት አንድም እጅን አጣጥፎ በመቀመጥ የአምባገነን ስርአት የፍርሃት እስረኛ በመሆን (passive submission)፣ አሌያ በትጥቅ ትግል(violent)፣ ወይም ደግሞ በሰላማዊ ትግል (non-violent) ነው፡፡ ሰላማዊ ትግልን ከትጥቅ ትግል የሚለየው የጭቆና መጠን ጉልህ ወይም ቀላል የመሆን አለመሆን ፣ ወይም ደግሞ የሰብአዊና ፖለቲካዊ መብቶች ጥሰት አናሳ መሆንና ያለመሆን ሳይሆን ልዩነቱ የሚመጣው በምንክተለው የፖለቲካ ትግል ስልት ላይ ነው፡፡ የሰላማዊ የፖለቲካ ትግል አባት የሚባለው ጄን ሻርፕ፣ የሰላማዊ ትግል ትርጓሜ ሲስቀመጥ፡- “the exercise power depends on the consents of the ruled who, by withdrawing that consent, can control and even destroy the power of their opponents” ብሎ ነው፡፡ ከዚህ የምንረዳው፣ ሰላማዊ ትግል አንደኛ፣ መሰረቱ ተገዢውና ተጨቋኙ ህዝብ ነው፡፡ ሁለተኛ፣ የትግል ስልቱ ህዝቡ ለገዢዎቹ የሰጠውን ይሁንታን በማንሳት ላይ የተመሰረተ ነው፡፡ ሶስተኛ፣ ህዝቡ ገዢው ፓርቲ ስልጣኑን መኪያስጠብቅበት ጉልበት ያልተናነሰ ጉልበት ለገዢዎቹ በማሳየት (by means of wielding power) ገዢዎቹን መቆጣጠር፣ ከዚህም ከላፈ የመሪዎቹን ጉልበት በማፍራረስ ነጻነቱንና ዴሞክራሲያዊ መብቱን የሚያስጠብቅበት ነው፡፡
ከሰላማዊ ትግል ዘዴዎች አንዱ የፖለቲካ ትብብርን መንፈግ (the method of political noncooperation) ነው፡፡ ከዚህ ዘዴ ውስጥም፣ ተቋዋሚ ፓርቲዎች በአምባገነኑ ስርአት ውስጥ የሚደረጉ ምርጫዎች ውስጥ እራሳቸውን ማግልለ አንዱ ስልት ነው፡፡ ሆኖም ግን፣ በተደጋጋሚ እንደታየው ከምርጫ እራስን ማግለል ውጤታማ የሆነ የሰላማዊ ትግል ስልት አይደለም፡፡ ከ1990 እስከ 2009 እ.ኤ.አ ከተደረጉ 171 ከምርጫ እራስን የማግለል ማስፈራራት እና ከምርጫው እራስን በማግለል የተገኙ ውጤቶች ሲታዩ ከምርጫ እራስን ማግልለ ሳይሆን ከምርጫ እራስን አገላለው የሚል የማስፈራራት ስልት ውጤታማ እንደሆነ መረጃዎች ያመላክታከሉ፡፡ ከምርጫ እራስን የማግለል ስልት ደካማ ጎኑ በራሱ ቁሞ ውጤት የሚስገኝ ስልት አለመሆኑ ነው፡፡ በሀገራችንም በ1985 ዓ.ም እና በ2005ዓ.ም ተሞክሮ ውጤት አልባ መሆኑን አይተንዋል፡፡
በሌላ በኩል፣ ይህን ክፍተት የተረዱ የፖለቲካ ሳይንቲስቶች ምርጫን እንደ ሰላማዊ ትግል ስልት መጠቀም የሚቻልበትን ዘዴ ቀይሰዋል፡፡ ይህን ዘዴ Democratization by Elections በሚል የሰየሙት ሲሆን፣ ዋና ዋና ሃሳቡም፡-
• ምርጫዎ ለአንባገነኑ መንግስት መጨቆንን በጣም ከባድ እና መዘዘ-ብዙ እንዲሆን ያደርጋሉ፣
• ምርጫን ማካሄድ ለአንባገነኑ መንግስት ከውጭ መንግስታት ጋር ለሚያካሂደው ፖለቲካዊ፣ ኢኮኖሚያዊና ዲፕሎማሲያዊ ጥቅም መስጠቱ፣
• ዜጎች አንባገነናዊ መንግስትን ከሚታገሉበት ስልት አንዱ መብቶቻቸውን ለማስከበር የሚያደርጉት ትግል አንዱ ነው፡፡ በምርጫ መሳተፍ (እንደ መራጭም ተመራጭም) ደግሞ የዜጎች ፖለቲካዊ መብት ነው፡፡ ይህን መብት መጠይቅ፣ ለመብታቸውም መታገል፣ ድምጻቸውን በምርጫ መስጠት፣ ድምጻቸውን እንዳይሰረቅ ማስጠበቅ አንዱና ወነኛው ስልት መሆኑ፣
• በሌላ ጊዜ አምባገነኑ መንግስት የሚዘጋቸውን በሮች ለምርጫ ሲባል ብቻ የሚከፍታቸው በሮች መኖራቸው፣
• ምርጫዎች ተቋዋሚ ፓርቲዎችን በጋራ በትብብር እንዲሰሩና ወደህዝቡ እንዲቀርቡ እንድል ስለሚፈጥሩ፣ እና
• ምርጫዎች ሰብአዊ፣ ዴሞክራሲያዊና ፖለቲካዊ መብቱን የሚጠይቅ ዜጋን ለመፍጠርር መነቃቂያ መድኮች በመሆናቸው (bargaining power) ነው፡፡
በመጪው ምርጫ በመሳተፍ ይህን ዘዴ ከሀገራችን ተጨባጭ ሁኔታ አንጻር በመቃኘት ተግባራዊ ማድረግ ይቻል ይሆን?
መነሻ ሃሳብ
1. በመጪው ምርጫ መሳተፍ ማለት ምርጫው ዴሞክራሲያዊ ነው፣ ኢትዮጵያ ውስጥ ዴሞክራሲያዊ ሂደት አለ ማለት አይደለም፡፡ ኢ-ዴሞክራሲያዊ ምርጫ መሆኑን ማንም የሚገነዘበው ነው፡፡ አለምአቀፉ ማህበረሰብም የሚረዳው ነው፡፡
2. ኢህአዴግ የኢትዮጵያ መንግስት ነው፡፡ ምን አይነት መንግስት ነው? ኢ-ዴሞክራሲያዊ፣ አምባገነናዊ መንግስት ነው፡፡
3. በምርጫው እራስን በማግለል ተቋዋሚ ፓርቲዎች ሊያገኟቸው የሚችሉ ውጤቶች አናሳ (እሱም ካለ) ናቸው፡፡
4. ገዢው ፓርቲ የሚከፍታቸውን በሮችና የተገኙ እድሎችን በአግባቡ መጠቀም ተገቢ ነው፡፡
5. ባለፉት 23 ዓመታት ስለገዢው መንግስት ጨቋኝነት፣ አምባገነንነት ተወርቷል፡፡ ይሄ ምንም ውጤት አላመጣም፡፡ አሁን ደግሞ የዕይታ ለውጥ ያስፈልጋል፡፡ የተቋዋሚ ፓርቲዎች ላይ ማተኮር ተገቢ ነው፡፡ ሰላማዊ ትግል መሰረቱ የአምባገነን የጨቋኝነት አቅም ላይ የተመሰረተ ሳይሆን የተጨቋኙ አቅም ላይ የተመሰረተ ነውና፡፡
6. ማንም ተቋዋሚ ፓርቲ ብቻውን በመሮጡ ሊያሳካው የሚችለው ውጤት አናሳ ነው፣ በጋራ ሊገኝ ከሚችለው ውጤት አንጻር፡፡
7. በዚህ ምርጫ ሊገኝ የሚችለው ውጤት መንግስትን መቀየር የሚያስችል ውጤት ሳይሆን፣ ሊገኝ የሚችለው ውጤት መመዘን ያለበት ዴሞክራሲያዊ ስርአት የተገነባባት፣ ፍትህ የነገሰባት፣ እኩልነት የሰፈነባት ሃገር ለመፍጠር ምን ያህል ወደፊት ያራምደናል ከሚል መሆን አለበት፡፡
ይህን ዘዴ ተግባራዊ ለማድረግ የሚያስችሉ ዘዴዎች
ገዢው ፓርቲ በሚከፍተው በር ሁሉ ለመጠቀም ውስጣዊ አቅም መገንባትና ዝግጁ፡- የሬዲዮ ክርክር፣ የቴሌቭዥን ክርክር፣ በህትመት ሚዲያዎች የሚሠጡ ዕድሎችን በአግባቡ በመጠቀም በግል ሚዲያ አለመኖር የሚፈጥረውን ክፈተት ማጥበብ እንዲሁም ገዢው ፓርቲ ላይ ስራ ማብዛት፣
ተቋዋሚ ፓርቲዎች ተናቦ የመስራት ዘዴ መከተል፡- ተቋማዊ ፓርቲዎቻችን በአንድነት መስራት ከብዷቸዋል፡፡ እርስ በእርስ የሚያረጉትን ትርጉም የለሽ የፖለቲካ ሽኩቻ በማስወገድ፣ ከተቻለም በምርጫው ጊዜ የእርስ በእርስ ውድድር እንዳይኖር የዕጩዎቻቸውን የመወዳደሪያ ክልል አወሳሰን ላይ በጋራ በመስራት ከገዢው ፓርቲ ጋር በአብዛኛው የምርጫ ክልሎች ላይ መወዳደር፡፡ እንዲህ በማድረግ የገዢውን ፓርቲ ጉልበት መሳሳትና መበተን ይቻላል፣ የጭቆና ወጪውም ከፍተኛ ይሆናል፣
የምርጫ ስትራተጂ፡- የተቋማዊ ፓርቲዎች የምርጫ ስትራተጂ ህዝባዊ መሰረት ለመፍጠር፣ ከዚህ ምርጫ ባሻገር የፖለቲካ መሰረት በመጣል ለቀጣይ ስራዎች ግብዓት የሚሆኑ አደረጃጀቶች መፍጠርንም ማካተት ይሆናል፡፡ የሚፈጠሩት አደረጃጀቶች ለቀጣይ ሰላማዊ ትግል መሰረት ይሆናሉ፡፡
በምርጫው ሂደት ንቁ ተሳታፊ መሆን፡- የምርጫ ታዛቢዎች ምርጫ ላይ፣ የምረጡኝ ቅስቀሳ ላይ እና በሁሉም የምርጫው ሂደት ውስጥ ንቁ ተሳታፎ ማድረግ፡፡ እንዲህ በማድረግም በተቻለ አቅም ለገዢው ፓርቲ ምርጫ ለማጭበርበር የማያመች ሁኔታ መፍጠር
ሰነዶችን የመያዝ አካሄድ፡- በምርጫው ወቅት የሚፈጸሙ የመብት ጥሰቶችን፣ የምርጫ ማጭበርበርን፣ ህገወጥ የሆነ የገዢውን ፓርቲ እንቅስቃሴ የሚያሳዩ ሰነዶችና መረጃዎች በአግባቡ በማሰናዳት የምርጫዉን ኢ-ዴሞክራሲያዊነት ማሳየት ይቻላል፡፡
ሊጠበቁ የሚችሉ ውጤቶች
የአጭር ጊዜ ውጤቶች
ተቋማዊ ፓርቲዎች ያላቸውን አነስተኛ የፋይናንስ፣ የሰው ኃይል እና ድርጅታዊ አቅም በአግባቡ መጠቅም ያስችላቸዋል፡፡
በህግ ማውጫው ምክር ቤት ውስጥ በመሳተፍ አማራጭ ፖሊሲዎቻቸውንና የመፍትሄ ሃሳቦቻቸውን ለማቅረብ የሚችሉ ይሆናል፡፡ የህዝቡን ብሶት፣ የመብት ጥሰት የሚያሰሙበት መድረክ ይኖራቸዋል፡፡
የረጅም ጊዜ ውጤቶች
በጋራ አምባገነኑን መንግስት መገዳደር ይችላሉ፡፡ ከአምባገነኑ ስርአት መውደቅ በኃላ ለሚፈጠረው ስርአት ግብዓት የሚሆን በመተባበር ላይ የተመሰረተ ተቋዋሚ ፓርቲዎች ግንኙነት ይፈጠራል፡፡
ሊደርስባቸው ከሚችልው የገዢው ጭቆና በጋራ የመከላከልና የመደጋገፍ ባህል ያጎለብታሉ፡፡
ትግሉን ከዲያስፖራ ወደ ሀገር-ቤት ወዳለው ህዝብ ይመለሳል፡፡ ይህም ለተቋዋሚዎች የበለጠ የመንቀሳቀሻ እድልና የስራ ነጻነት ይሰጣቸዋል፡፡ ይህም የድል ቀኑን ያቀርበዋል፡፡ “ድል ሁል ጊዜም የህዝብ ነው” እንዲሉ አበው፡:

Call for papers: The Role of Civil Society Organization in the Upcoming Elections in Ethiopia

December 19, 2014

Fourth International Conference of Ethiopian Women in the Diaspora, March 7, 2015 – Washington DC, USA

The Role of Civil Society Organization (CSOs) in the Upcoming Elections in Ethiopia
Call for papers
Civil society organizations (CSOs) flourished in Ethiopia from early 1990s to 2005 better than ever before. Some of these civil society organizations focused on service delivery, others on civil rights, gender equality and good governance, and still others on consciousness raising and the environment.
In 2009, the Government of Ethiopian enacted a new law, the Societies and Charities Proclamation. The law drastically restricted the activities of many nongovernmental organizations, prohibiting them to work on human rights and good governance. Currently, CSOs have no role in raising awareness of democracy, human rights, rule of law, and citizenship in the country. Meaningful participation of CSOs in activities related to the upcoming election is highly unlikely.
Individual initiatives through CSOs are based on the inalienable right to participate in vital political, social, economic or other issues, without belonging to political parties (in or outside government). Civil society organizations are autonomous means of participating in public life. They are systems of taking initiatives for ensuring that people follow their preferred directions to their political, economic or social lives. Without the active role of CSOs therefore, creating awareness of the rights and responsibilities of citizens and having fair and free elections is going to be impossible. That is, the 2015 elections could simply result in a one-party dominated election similar to that in 2010. Citizens will not participate freely to build a democratic society that will reflect their needs.
At its 4th annual international conference, therefore, the Center for Rights of Ethiopian Women (CREW) plans to consider the role of civil society organizations in the upcoming elections in Ethiopia. The main objective is to create an understanding of the magnitude of the negative impacts of the Societies and Charities Law on the activities of nongovernmental organizations. As a women’s civil society organization, CREW will also pay special attention to Ethiopian women’s participation in the political process. Thus, one of the major questions that the conference will address will be the role of women’s organizations in mobilizing women to use their rights towards fair and free elections.
With that in view, the conference is intended to cover the following themes:
1. Assessment of the Societies and Charities Law and its impact on the activities of civil society organizations in the upcoming elections:

• Lessons learned from previous elections; and
• Challenges and opportunities for the upcoming elections

2. Women’s participation in the political process:

• Women’s advocacy for free and fair elections
• Plan of action and advocacy on women’s participation in the political process
• Strategies for encouraging women to seek political leadership positions.

3 Encouraging the international community to promote free and peaceful elections in Ethiopia.
If you are interested in presenting papers on any of these areas, please send us a one-page proposal by January 30, 2015. The proposal should state the topic and show the pertinence of your presentation to our theme. If you have any questions, please write to us via our e-mail: ethiowomen@gmail.com.

የባህር ዳር ህዝብ አደባባይ ወጣ፤ የባሕር ዳር ሕዝብም ተቃውሞውን እየተቀላቀለ ነው::

የባህዳር ነዋሪ በነቂስ በመውጣት በክልሉ ም/ቤት ፊት ለፊትና በአዲሱ ም/ቤት(ቀበሌ 10) መስቀል አደባባይ የቤተክርስያን የታቦት ማደሪያ ፣ ንብረትነቱም የቤተ-ክርስቲያን ነው ልትነጠቅ ወይም መንግስት እንደሚለው ለባለሀብት ሊሰጥ አይገባም በማለት ቁጣቸውን በማሰማት ላይ ናቸው፡፡ የባጃጅ ሾፌሮችም በየቦታው ትላክስና ጩኸት እያሰሙ ነው፡፡ የመስቀል አደባባይን መፍረስ በመቃወም በባህርዳር ከተማ የነበረው ሰልፍ ጥያቄውን አሰምቷል::
ነገረ ኢትዮጵያ እንደገለጸው ዘገባ
“• አምስት ሰዎች ሲቆስሉ ሁለት ሞተዋል
ዛሬ ጠዋት ባህርዳር ከተማ ላይ የተነሳውን የህዝብ ተቃውሞ ፖሊስ በኃይል ለመበተን ጥረት እያደረ ቢሆንም ህዝቡ በብዛት ተቃውሞውን እየተቀላቀለ መሆኑን ከቦታው የደረሰን መረጃ ያመለክታል፡፡ ፖሊስ በተኮሰው ጥይት ሁለት ወጣቶች ህይወታቸው ያለፈ ሲሆን ሌሎች አምስት ያህል ወጣቶች እንደቆሰሉ ተገልጾአል፡፡
በአሁኑ ወቅት ከቀበሌ 10 አባይ ማዶ ያለው መንገድ ተቃውሞውን በተቀላቀለው ህዝብ የተዘጋ ሲሆን ወደ ጎንደር የሚወስደው መንገድም መዘጋቱ ታውቋል፡፡ የቀበሌ 8፣ 10ና 11 ነዋሪዎች እንዲሁም የሁለተኛ ደረጃ ትምህርት ቤት ተማሪዎች ተቃውሞውን እየተቀላቀሉ ነው ተብሏል፡፡ የአፈ ጉባኤ ጽ/ቤት አካባቢም በርካታ ህዝብ የተገኘ ቢሆንም ርዕሰ መስተዳደሩን ጨምሮ ሌሎች ባለስልጣናት የሉም እንደተባሉ ገልጸውልናል፡፡” ነገረ ኢትዮጵያ
የሰልፉን ፎቶዎች ይመልከቱት:

Human Rights Violations in Polarized Ethiopia: time for a shift in paradigm of thinking

Part II of presentation at the Shengo Forum, Washington, DC,
November 30, 2014
Aklog Birara (DR)
For members and supporters of the TPLF/EPRDF within and outside Ethiopia, and
equally for the donor and diplomatic community that continues to shore-up one
of the most repressive and oppressive governments on the planet, the last two
weeks must have sent shivers. UNCTAD disclosed that Ethiopia’s famed growth
that I had disputed in terms of social efficacy, has not changed the fundamentals
impediments that would lift millions from abject poverty and destitution. The vast
majority of Ethiopians including the hardworking middle class are poor and
getting poorer; and the poorest of the poor are trapped in a cycle of destitution.
This condition emanated directly from poor and exclusionary governance and a
regulatory framework that is not pro-poor and pro-Ethiopian. The condition of
food insecurity and dependency on food aid says it all. Experts tell us that Ethiopia
is the first country in Africa that pioneered settled agriculture and food
production. In ancient times, this was considered a technological breakthrough.
There is no innovation, change and technological advancement without food. But
this noble tradition has been stalled by lack of empowering policies and
technological inputs that would boost smallholder food and other related
productivity. Unlike countries such as India where the government and the donor
community revolutionized agriculture, the Ethiopian government controls the
peasantry and owns the land. Smallholders and farmlands are hostages to single
party and ethnic elite monopoly.
The past two weeks after our forum on human rights on November 30, 2014
showed four events that suggest the urgent needs for radical political, social and
economic reforms and the vital role of solidarity in Ethiopia. The only way that
these reforms in politics, social systems and economics can occur is if millions of
Ethiopians rise up in unison and claim their rights. It critical to note, despite
enormous hurdles, opposition leaders, members and supporters are showing
fierce and genuine determination to bring the TPLF/EPRDF to the conference 2
table. Recurring protests are most likely to make the country ungovernable.
They must occur without let up and peacefully. Those of us who live in the
Diaspora and wish for a better alternative must welcome this determination and
persistence. Those in the forefront of the peaceful struggle for justice, the rule of
law, genuine equality and representative governance must be admires. They are
today’s agents of change. The Diaspora must support them in earnest. We have a
responsibility to do our part by approaching and urging the donor and diplomatic
community to reconsider its stand. We must persuade these groups and more
important skeptical Ethiopians the struggle for good governance is theirs too. The
pains must be shared by all stakeholders.
Reality on the ground shows the ruling party is as determined to hold on to power
through suppression as it has ever been; may be worse. The current condition of
life under the Surveillance State is unsustainable and unbearable. Back to
emerging trends.
First is the continued assault on the political opposition whose “crime” is the use
of Constitutional rights to protest peacefully. The Anti-Terrorism and CSO laws are
used to suppress dissent rather than to make the society safe against extremist
forces. Most Ethiopians reject extremism. During the latest peaceful protest,
more than 200 people were chased and many of them beaten, maimed, arrested
and jailed in a single sweep, many are still in jail. The whereabouts of numerous
people is unknown. Most of those arrested and jailed are young people including
females. This in itself makes a mockery of the 2015 election and reconfirms the
illegitimacy of the current governing party. At the same time, it is heartening to
see courage and determination in the midst of repression. The level of peaceful
resistance is deeper and more recurrent than it has been for some time.
However, what we can conclude is that the TPLF has perfected, formalized and
institutionalized its vision and programs to stay in power perpetually using the
state and Ethiopia’s national resources freely and liberally and deploying any
means necessary, especially instruments and tools of repression and oppression
at a scope unprecedented in Ethiopia’s long history. Equally important is the
rise of a young generation of activists and leaders who are defying the odds and
expanding the struggle for change. I commend these Ethiopians. Change is 3
possible if more and more young people participate. After all, the future belongs
to them.
Sadly, the donor and diplomatic community is in collusion with the repressive and
oppressive state. Its interests override human rights and the rule of law. If this
community has a moral compass that guides it, it no longer has an ounce of
excuse left but to show a determination by saying “enough to oppression and
repression” and by siding with the millions whose voices are literally shut.
Donors must stop pretending that Ethiopian society is better because they
provide aid and perpetuate dependency. Unlike the World Bank and the IMF,
UNCTAD was bold enough to inform the world that the Ethiopian
developmental state has failed; and with it foreign aid. This leads me to the
second unexpected development on which we have written with no one listening.
Intellectual legitimacy and acceptability are still bestowed on foreign experts and
institutions rather than Ethiopian and Africa n stakeholders. The best example of
this is the second scramble for African natural resources and markets without
Africans playing a part.
Second, UNCTAD identified Ethiopia among 48 nations around the globe whose
growth shows policy and structural deficits that can’t be cured without radical
reforms. Income inequality is among the sharpest and most noticeable in the
world. Per capita income is less than $500 per year, a third of the African average.
Ethiopian youth continue to leave the country in droves, many dying from sea
unworthy vessels and human trafficking. Ethiopia is still food aid dependent. For
the first time in 24 years, the TPLF admitted its failures in mismanaging the
country’s natural resources, aid, remittances and the economy. Ethiopia is debtridden.
This admission has not prompted the TPLF core to allow political space
and competition that would offer Ethiopians policy options. The situation for
political and social reform is as bleak as it has ever been. This is the reason why I
argue that the ruling party must be persuaded to negotiate shared political power
that would lead to free and fair elections. Ethiopia’s very existence depends on
political wisdom and maturity on everyone’s part.
Accordingly, the donor and diplomatic community has a strong ammunition and
incentive to demand good governance and an empowering regulatory framework
that will enable Ethiopians to own assets, succeed, produce and become self-4
reliant. It is in its own self-interest in the long-run. Donors and the diplomatic
community should know this. For all practical purposes, development,
humanitarian and security aid has failed to free Ethiopian society and lift millions
from abject poverty and destitution. As Korea, China and others have shown, aid
is effective when used by caring and nationalist governments and not by elites
that use political power to enrich themselves. Ethnic elites have become
millionaires at the cost of millions they claim to represent. As I have argued using
measurements and data in the past, the Ethiopian developmental state is a rent
seeking state. It cares least for those who are poor and are marginalized. It will
continue to inflict pain on millions because it is committed to self-perpetuation at
the cost of human freedom and rights. When elites become wealthy by
controlling state power, the tendency is to maintain the status quo regardless of
social and economic pains for millions. They are afraid of change and reform. This
is why they sink into a militarized or garrison mentality. Foreign corporations are
making profits and operate in collusion with Ethiopian beneficiaries. They will
continue to justify the Surveillance state as long as they make profits.
In light of this mutuality of benefits, those who desire change should not
underestimate the fact that the TPLF core has created allies and supporters that
have also made it in the new system and gained millions at the cost of millions of
Ethiopians. Many in the Diaspora have been enticed by temporary gains in the
forms of building apartments, villas, buildings and other assets. There is no
assurance that these assets would remain safe it the country falls apart and if the
unthinkable of genocide takes place. In any case, it is hard for many foreign and
domestic observers to accept the notion those in the Diaspora are making it
harder for those in the country to compete in leasing lands and building homes.
They simply do not have the income and political clout to compete in their home
country.
Third, Human Rights Watch and the Oakland Institute released studies and videos
that show massive dispossession, dislocation and disempowerment of hundreds
of thousands of Ethiopians in Gambella, the Omo Valley and other locations.
Donors, including the World Bank are part of the problem; they finance so called
new forms of villagization schemes. Remember, donors including the World Bank
are part of global capital and serve the interests of their shareholders first.
Nevertheless, we should remind them persistently and boldly that dispossession 5
and dislocation is a recipe for instability and civil conflict. In the event of civil
conflict and Balkanization of Ethiopia, investors would lose too. The smartest
thing to do is to avert this by insisting on shared political power that would lead
to free and fair elections and the establishment of a representative government.
I should like to persuade the reader that Ethiopia no longer belongs to Ethiopians.
Ownership of natural resources and real capital is being transferred from citizens
to foreigners and the few elites who collude with them. In effect, natural in the
form of lands and waters, and real assets in the form of manufacturing plants,
minerals and others now belong to a narrow band of ethnic elites, foreign
investors, donors and Western governments, emerging economies such as China
and India and Arab states. The United States is a key player in all of this because it
supports the security, intelligence and defense infrastructure. See my earlier
commentary on President Obama.
In brief, these occurrences and others are a recipe for future disasters including
the dismemberment of Ethiopia and the potential for ethnic-based genocide. I
should like to flag two convergent developments that make the current
condition unique in Ethiopia’s long history. The major factor is foreign
influence. It has become pervasive and rooted since the TPLF/EPRDF took power
in 19991.
Whether we accept or not, Ethiopians face two major hurdles: one from the
single party state that is determined to stay in power at any cost; and second,
from the global community, especially donors, investors and governments that
have a vested interest in prolonging and supporting the status quo. This collusion
in interests makes the struggle for justice, the rule of law and democratization
much more difficult than we realize. Unless---as I have suggested repeatedly---we
overcome minor differences to serve the greater common good and create
solidarity now and not tomorrow, Ethiopian society will remain largely poor and
the country largely backward for decades. At the same time, I am convinced that
this took can be reversed. It takes courage, sacrifice, solidarity and a unity of
purpose among Ethiopians to reverse it.
Fourth, the TPLF signed a security agreement with its coveted friend and ally,
North Sudan and the repressive regime that has massacred millions of “Black
Africans.” Why this agreement at this time? 6
The only plausible answer is to ensure that Ethiopian opposition groups do not
have a safe access to overthrow the TPLF. Ethiopians are fully cognizant that the
TPLF ceded vast tracts of fertile lands, water resources, potential minerals and
other resources to the Sudanese government. This transfer was done at an
enormous cost to the Ethiopian people, especially to the hundreds of thousands
of Ethiopians whose ancestors had defended the ceded lands for hundreds of
years. The security agreement won’t avert future conflicts for which the TPLF is
accountable. In this regard, I should like to record the phenomenal work the
Ethiopian Borders Affairs Committee has carried out over the past 8 years. It is
among the few Ethiopian-Diaspora organizations that has remained intact and
exposed the illegitimacy of land transfers to the Bashir’s Government.
Hopeful indicators
Despite recurrent onslaught on dissent, and especially on the political opposition,
Ethiopia continues to produce a new generation of courageous and bold
nationally oriented political parties and individuals. The recent surge in peaceful
protests is indicative of an unstoppable wave of popular resentment and
defiance of the Surveillance State. Those of us in the so-called Diaspora who wish
to contribute to this surge are obliged to support the opposition consistently and
deliberately. The opposition is doing the right thing by defying the repressive
government and state regardless of the costs involved. Its demand the
TPLF/EPRDF respect its own Constitution and international law is unassailable. My
argument in this speech is along the same line.
The choice is more repression and agony that will lead to further polarization
and instability. Or flexibility on the part of the TPLF to agree on the formation of
an all-inclusive Transitional Government that will lead to genuine free and fair
election and the formation of a representative form of government. The TPLF
won’t budge unless the opposition persists and unless those of use in the
Diaspora unity our efforts. For negotiation to occur, the TPLF and the donor and
diplomatic community need to be persuaded that the country will remain
ungovernable. Ethiopia’s youth have no other choice but to make their voices
heard by siding with the opposition, especially with those that are committed to
peaceful and sustainable change. Ethiopia’s deserve their own form of “Arab
Spring” or better yet, another Yekatit. No one will do it for us. 7
The TPLF/EPRDF has no respect for human rights laws or human dignity
I accept the notion that the world today is characterized more by the rule of law
and by representative governments than by dictatorships that manifest the rule
of the mighty and their swords. In this regard, history is on the side of the
opposition and not with the governing party. Article 2 of the UN Universal
Declaration of Human Rights fits in the former category. Regardless of
repression, people who are not free from dictatorship will normalize and
institutionalize these rights through persistent struggle for change.
“Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration,
without distinction of any kind, such as race, color, sex, language, religion,
political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.
Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political,
jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person
belongs…” Accordingly, Ethiopians have the right to protest and advocate for the
form of government that would serve them better. Many are showing their
determination by sacrificing their lives and the wellbeing of their families.
Equally, sustainable and equitable development is a human right in the same way
as freedom of expression, movement, association and assembly. HR Watch put it
right. “Sustainable and equitable development is possible only where human
rights of all individuals, particularly young women and girls are respected,
protected, promoted and fulfilled.” Impacts in growth should not measure just
villas, hotels, eating places, roads, bridges and the wealth of a few millionaires
whose fortunes are directly associated with the rent-seeking elite. Inclusive
growth must measure wellbeing. This can’t happen without independent
institutions and a robust and competitive private sector governed by the rule of
law. I have always felt strongly and argued that rule of law based institutions
determine good governance, justice, genuine equality among people, equitable
distribution of wealth and incomes, long term peace and stability in any country.
Ethiopia is no exception.
Institutional mechanism
The world accepted the Universal Declaration as guide for states to respect and
apply; and established an institutional mechanism to do it. It is called the UN
Human Rights Council. In 2007, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon put it this way: 8
“All victims of human rights abuses should be able to look to the Human Rights
Council as a forum and a springboard for action.” In November 2014, he also
related economic and social justice to human rights as follows:
“We have a vision of a just world where resources are optimized for the good of
the people. Inclusive and sustainable development can derive success.” UNCTAD
confirmed that inclusive development is not taking roots in Ethiopia. Inequality is.
These statements from the UN Secretary General are wonderful if they would be
translated into action. I am afraid that the world talks and releases statements
more than actions that bite and change an entrenched and self-serving system.
Ethiopians should know this better than most. During the Second World War, the
League of Nations condemned fascist aggression but did nothing to prevent
Mussolini and his gang from pulverizing Ethiopian towns, cities, churches and
other national institutions and from massacring a generation of Ethiopia’s most
educated and modernizing elites. It took Ethiopia decades to recover from the
carnage. While it will be farfetched to compare the current situation with this
historical fact, the trend in the country shows a dire political and social condition
driven by an Apartheid like government that excludes and plunders. The vast
majority of Ethiopians do not own a piece of their country’s natural resources and
other wealth. Dispossession is real and will have a multigenerational impact.
With regard to the donor and diplomatic community; what matters is not their
statements but deeds on the ground. Building bridges and other infrastructure is
now used as a default line to defend the Ethiopian government. “It is growing the
economy at a fast rate,” they say. What about inclusion? What about fair
distribution of income? I do not deny that roads and other infrastructure have
been built. They are important. But what about improvements in the lives of the
vast majority of the population? What about jobs? What about food security?
What about ownership of real property? What about freedom and rights? What
about participation in policy and decision making? What about accountable
governance? What about bribery? Cronyism? Corruption and massive illicit
outflow? What about the plight of indigenous people? What about ethnic
cleansing?
My argument here is that there won’t be peace, stability, sustainable and
equitable development without rights. Don’t you think so

Pope Francis & Pres. Obama on epic current issues By Robele Ababya

Greetings of the Season!

The European Year 2014 is coming to a draw to usher in 2015. So I am exceedingly delighted to extend my Greetings of the Season and a Happy New Year to my readers.

I seize the moment to express my congratulations to fellow Ethiopians in Europe, U.S.A., South Africa, Australia, and of course at home who had come out to the streets repeatedly to expose gross violations of basic human rights including genocide and sellout of vital national interests of Ethiopia by the TPLF/EPRDF regime in the past 23 year and counting. With the kind of resolve on the part of democratic forces shown in 2014, there is reason to hope that the year 2015 shall bear the sweet fruit of victory of our deserved aspiration to end tyranny in our Motherland, Ethiopia.

Motivation for writing this piece

The global community faces an array of threats comprising:- climate change; weapons of mass destruction in new cold war setting; endemic corruption driven by excessive greed; abject poverty, untrustworthy state security organs withholding truth from the taxpaying public; widespread sectarian conflicts; gross violation of basic human rights perpetrated by tyrants such as the top EPRDF leaders.

The current burning issues require powerful leaders in political and moral spheres in order to avert human catastrophe. This is why I chose the title “Pope Francis & Pres. Obama on epic current issues” for this piece because President Obama in his capacity as the leader of the sole superpower (U.S.A.) and Pope Francis as head of 1.2 billion Catholics in the world meet my purpose in this writing in view of their publicly expressed stand on current issues in varying degrees captured under the following consecutive headings.

Pope Francis on human rights and faith relations

Ethiopians bitterly remember Pope Pius XI, who reigned from 1922-39, for His heinous crime of blessing Fascist Dictator Mussolini to invade Ethiopia. In sharp contrast, His Holiness Pope Francis is on a global crusade advocating that respect for human rights must be central to modern civilization. This is a welcome change to all those ancestors were victims of untold sufferings under the brutal occupation of Fascist Italy.

His Holiness (HH) Pope Francis is a progressive Pope unlike His conservative Predecessors – John Paul II and Benedict XVI – holds relatively liberal views on various sensitive social issues.

Pope Francis made a three-day visit to Turkey from 28-30 October 2014 to promote faith relations and advocacy for the respect for human dignity. In His crusade of “healing schism”, He audaciously called on all Muslim leaders in the world to condemn acts of terrorism being carried out in the name of Islam, which in fact as its name tells is a religion of peace as stated in the Quran. HH in fact called for dialogue as the best alternative to acts of destroying lives and properties leading to irreversible regional instability.

His Holiness is a champion in advancing freedom of the individuals; He is a staunch believer in holy matrimony between man and woman living in harmony raising their children as a family, which is the building block of a free and compassionate society. It is for this visibly convincing reason that I admire the Pope as a visionary progressive leader not only as spiritual Father of 1.2 million Catholics but also as a formidable advocate for the respect of human rights as central and essential foundation of modern civilization.

Healing schism: Top of Form

Pope in ‘silent adoration’ in Istanbul Blue Mosque

In His visit to Turkey the Pope was engaged in very busy activities. According to BBC’s Mark Lowden:-

• Pope Francis has stood in “silent adoration” in Istanbul’s Blue Mosque alongside the city’s top Muslim cleric on the second day of his Turkey visit.
• Istanbul is a city that passed from the Byzantines to the Ottomans, a place where religions, empires and cultures collided, the Pope’s message of interfaith dialogue has profound resonance, says the BBC’s Mark Lowden in Istanbul. The Pope’s visit is all about religious symbolism’. There are about 120,000 Christians in Turkey – most of the country’s 80 million citizens are Muslims.
• The Pope’s visit to Istanbul is rich in religious symbolism – the city was capital of the Byzantine Empire. At the Blue Mosque, one of the greatest masterpieces of Ottoman architecture, the Pope turned east towards Mecca, clasped his hands and paused for two minutes as the Grand Mufti of Istanbul, Rahmi Yaran, performed a Muslim prayer.
• Francis and Bartholomew have a strong personal relationship, and discussions are expected to focus on healing the schism in the Christian Church in 1054 that divided Rome and Constantinople.
• For a city that passed from the Byzantines to the Ottomans, a place where religions, empires and cultures collided, the Pope’s message of interfaith dialogue has profound resonance, says the BBC’s Mark Lowden in Istanbul.
• In Ankara on Friday, the Pope stressed this message. He also called for a renewed Middle East peace push, saying the region had “for too long been a theatre of fratricidal wars”.
• Pope Francis and Patriarch Bartholomew I signed a pledge to support Christians in the Middle East.
• Pope Francis has urged Muslim leaders around the world to condemn terrorism carried out in the name of Islam.
• Speaking on board a flight back to Rome, the Pope said that he understood the harm caused by the stereotype that linked Islam with terrorism. He said a “global condemnation” of the violence would help the majority of Muslims dispel this stereotype. The pontiff denounced people who say that “all Muslims are terrorists”, adding that we cannot say that all Christians are fundamentalists.
• In Istanbul, Pope Francis called for an end to the persecution of Christians in the Middle East. In a joint declaration, the Pope and Patriarch Bartholomew I said they could not resign themselves to a “Middle East without Christians”.
• Patriarch Bartholomew is the spiritual leader of the world’s 250 million Orthodox Christians, whose Church broke with Rome in 1054 in a schism that divided the Christian world.
• Constantinople, as the modern Turkish city of Istanbul was once known, as the center of Orthodox Christianity until the Ottoman conquest in 1453. Only around 120,000 Christians remain in Turkey, where the vast majority of the 80 million citizens are Muslims.
• In their joint declaration, the two Church leaders said: “We express our common concern for the current situation in Iraq, Syria and the whole Middle East. “Many of our brothers and sisters are being persecuted and have been forced violently from their homes. It even seems that the value of human life has been lost, that the human person no longer matters and may be sacrificed to other interests. And, tragically, all this is met by the indifference of many.”
• The violent conflict in Ukraine this year has accentuated differences between its large Orthodox and Catholic communities.
• The Pope and the patriarch said: “We pray for peace in Ukraine, a country of ancient Christian tradition, while we call upon all parties involved to pursue the path of dialogue and of respect for international law in order to bring an end to the conflict and allow all Ukrainians to live in harmony.”
• As his visit drew to a close, Pope Francis met Turkey’s chief rabbi, whose flock has diminished to just 17,000 people.

President Obama: The CIA Torture Report and other issues

I am delighted by the courageous decision of President to allow the disclosure of “The CIA Torture Report” to the sovereign American people with the right to know the activities of their national security agents – in this particular case the CIA. I am convinced that the disclosure will in the international arena considerably enhance the image of trust of the sole superpower – the U.S.A. – as well as restore worldwide recognition that the Obama Administration is serious about ensuring the supremacy of law and the inviolability of core values enshrined in the Constitution of the United States. I also highly appreciate his resolve to use his constitutional authority in issuing Executive Order that gave temporary relief to eleven million unregistered migrants in the U.S.A. that unleashed uproar of few white racists in the Republican Party.

On the other hand on a negative note I blame the President of continuing with the legacy of his predecessor George W. Bush in turning a blind eye and deaf ear to rampant violations of human rights in Ethiopia supporting the TPLF Predators of democracy in Ethiopia. Ethiopians were encouraged by the passage of HR2003 in the House of Representatives but killed in the Senate by conservative Senators. A series of demonstrations were held by Ethiopians pleading that the Obama Administration put pressure on the brutal TPLF regime by withdrawing direct budget support but to no avail. On the contrary, direct financial and political support kept flowing to prop up the genocidal TPLF regime.  One would ardently hope that the President make history this time siding with the overwhelming majority of the Ethiopian people suffering under dictatorship for the last 23+ years.

Senator John McCain (R-AZ) took to the Senate floor on Tuesday, December 9, 2014 in the afternoon “to in no uncertain terms condemn the CIA’s torture practices under the Bush administration, arguing that the Senate Intelligence Committee report proved that not only was torture morally objectionable but also ineffective”. The Senator went on to say that the CIA’s practices “stained our national honor”.

In closing: “Revisiting the highlights of Pope Francis’ visit to Turkey”

I was so deeply moved by the merit of the following powerful message of provided on 2014 – 12- 02 by Vatican Radio (after the Pontiff’s return to Rome) that I couldn’t resist excerpting it for ease of reference of readers:-

Quote: Pope Francis has just concluded a three-day pastoral visit to Turkey which took him to the cities of Ankara and Istanbul.  It was a journey that had a strong emphasis on ecumenical relations and interfaith dialogue and saw the Pope and the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I sign a joint declaration pledging to intensify their search for Christian unity and calling for a constructive dialogue with Islam. Our correspondent travelling with the Pope to Turkey was Philippa Hitchens and in an interview with Linda Bordon, she revisited some of the highlights of this papal trip.

Listen to the full interview with Vatican Radio’s correspondent Philippa Hitchens: 

Pope Francis’ final engagement before he left Istanbul on Sunday was a meeting with a group of young people including many refugees from conflict zones of the Middle East and Africa. Philippa described the event as a “very poignant” visit and “personal encounter” between the refugees and the Pope that also helps to remind the international community of the huge number of refugees who have flocked to Turkey from neighboring countries, especially Syria.

Turning to the Pope’s many other engagements during this “very busy” visit, Philippa said there were many moving and significant moments.  One particularly striking moment for her was the Pope’s gesture of bowing his head and asking for the blessing of the Orthodox Patriarch during a Divine Liturgy at the Patriarchal Church of St. George in Istanbul and she said this spoke volumes about the friendship between the two leaders and the ecumenical dialogue between their Churches.

“How could you not be moved by the moment that Pope Francis bowed his head and asked the Orthodox Patriarch to bless him and the patriarch planted a kiss on his head – a real symbol of the friendship between these two people and also a real symbol of the direction that their Churches are taking a slow but steady progress towards reconciliation and Christian unity between East and West. Unquote

The picture above is a moving manifestation of two Holy Men – the Pope of 2.5 billion Catholics and the Patriarch of 250 million Orthodox Tewahedo Christians in the world – conveying the message of indispensably quintessential unity and the spirit of much needed reconciliation between faiths and political foes. Ethiopia’s religious leaders should emulate the example of the Pope and the Patriarch to mobilize their flocks against the inordinate abuse of human right by the corrupt EPRDF regime.

It is my ardent wish and fervent prayer that the process of reconciliation between the leaders the split Synod of Ethiopia is expedited. There is no reason why the masses should suffer under the godless TPLF misrule in a country where a whopping 96.6% of the Ethiopian people are religious – Orthodox 43.5%, Muslim 33.9%, Protestant 18.5%, traditional 2.7%, Catholic 0.7%, other 0.6% (2007 est.). In this regard, I applaud Archbishop Meleketsedeke, Secretary General of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Christian Synod in Exile, for His courageous and noble effort in reaching out to all Ethiopians, regardless of their creed, to unite in the struggle to end tyranny in their homeland. In closing:-

1. I would like to stress that the TPLF/EPRDF is hell-bent on strengthening and refining its mainstay policy of divide-and-rule along ethnic, religious, and economic lines. The only choice for pro-democracy and pro-unity entities in the opposition camp is togetherness and more effective civil-disobedience – inundating the streets and public squares with demonstrations throughout Ethiopia until the repressive ruling Party is dethroned.
2. The tradeoff between liberty and security has been increasingly in favor of the latter at the expense of severely curtailed freedoms of poor taxpayers as in the case of Ethiopia – an ally of the U.S.A. in the fight against terrorism. It is possible that the Meles regime and its successor have collaborated in the infamous crime of rendition spearheaded by the CIA for torture; the other is the irrational invasion of Somalia by the Meles army leading to the overthrow of the Moderate Islamic Court regime thus giving rise to the Al Shaba extremists (linked to Al Qaeda) causing endless regional instability in the Horn of Africa and beyond – creating a haven for greedy tyrants with insatiable lust for power.
3. The disclosure of the CIA Torture Report is a laudable decision for restoring confidence in moral leadership of the United States. Thanks to President Obama for authorizing its disclosure and Senators McCain and Frankenstein for their statements to condemn it. The world needs governments in which leaders do not torture their citizens!
4. It is my ardently hope that President Obama would make history this time siding with the overwhelming majority of the Ethiopian people suffering under dictatorship for the last 23+ years – so that:- (a) all the tens of thousands of  political prisoners and prisoners of conscience are immediately and unconditionally released from prison;  (b) basic freedom of expression is allowed as a matter of natural right; and  (c) an independent electoral board is established by law to oversee free, fair, transparent, and credible counting and reporting of votes cast at the polls.
5. Ethiopia’s religious leaders should emulate the example of Pope Francis and the Patriarch Bartholomew I to mobilize their flocks against the inordinate abuses of human rights by the corrupt EPRDF regime dominated by TPLF blind to the 21^st century issue that “respect for human rights must be central to modern civilization”.

LONG LIVE ETHIOPIA!!!

rababya@gmail.com

የአንድነቱን ጉባዔ በወፍ በረር – ከዳንኤል ተፈራ

እንደ መነሻከሁለት ወር በፊት አንድነትን እንዲመሩ በጠቅላላ ጉባዔ የተመረጡት ኢ/ር ግዛቸው ሺፈራው ጥቅምት ሁለት ቀን 2007 ዓ.ም ካቢኔያቸውን በትነው ስልጣናቸውን በፈቃዳቸው ለብሔራዊ ምክር ቤቱ አስረከቡ፡፡ የቀድሞው ፕሬዘዳንት ኢ/ር ግዛቸው ለምክር ቤቱ ባሰሙት ንግግር በአመራራቸው ያልተደሰቱ በሀገር ውስጥና በውጭ የሚኖሩ የፓርቲው አባላትና ደጋፊዎችን የ‹‹ልቀቅ›› ጫና መቋቋም እንዳልቻሉና ከህሊናቸው ጋር ተማክረው ለፓርቲው ጥቅም ሲባል በፈቃዳቸው ሃላፊነታቸውን ለመልቀቅ እንደወሰኑ ተናገሩ፡፡

ምክርቤቱም በጥሞና አድምጧቸው ሲያበቃ ውሳኔያቸውን በአድናቆትና አክብሮት በመቀበል በክብር ሸኛቸው፡፡ በጉዳዩ ላይም ጊዜ ወስዶ መከረ፡፡ አንድነትን ያለመሪ ለአንድ ቀንም ቢሆን ማሳደር አደገኛ እንደሆነና የፕሬዘዳንት ምርጫውን ማከናወን እንደሚገባም ወሰነ፡፡ ይህንን ለመወሰን የሚያስችል ስልጣን እንዳለው ከደንቡ ተጠቀሰ፡፡ ‹‹ብሔራዊ ም/ቤቱ ደንብ ከማሻሻል ውጭ ጠቅላላ ጉባዔውን ወክሎ እንዲንቀሳቀስ ውክልና ተሰጥቶታል›› ይላል፡፡ በዚህ የጠቅላላ ጉባዔ ውክልናው መሰረት ሦስት ዕጩ ፕሬዘዳንቶችን በጠቅላላ ጉባዔው የማወዳደሪያ መስፈርት መሰረት አወዳድሮ አቶ በላይ ፈቃዱን የፓቲው ፕሬዘዳንት አደርጎ ሾመ፡፡ ካቢኔያቸውን በአስቸኳይ አዋቅረው ወደ ስራ እንዲገቡ መመሪያ አስተላለፈ፡፡

ትንሽዋ ግርግርበዚህ ሂደትም ‹‹አልተደሰትንም፣ ኢ/ር ግዛቸው ለምን ሄደብን!›› ያሉ ጥቂት ግለሰቦች ምክር ቤቱ ባካሄደው ምርጫ አምነው ከተሳተፉ በኋላ ሌላ የጎንዮሽ እንቅስቃሴ ያዙ፡፡ ይሄ እንቅስቃሴያቸውም በኢቲቪ፣ ምርጫ ቦርድና በትርፍ ፈላጊ ሃይሎች መታጀብ ጀመረ፡፡ እውነት መጥራቷ ላይቀር መንሻፈፍ ጀመረች፡፡ መግለጫዎች ተዥጎደጎዱ፡፡ የገዥው ፓርቲ ቀኝ እጅ ኢቲቪም ታይቶ በማይታወቅ መልኩ በየቀኑ ከስድስት ጊዜ በላይ በማስተላለፍ ትንሽዋ ግርግር ህይወት እንዲኖራት ጣረ፡፡ ነገር ግን እውነቱ እንደዚያ አልነበረምና ግርግርዋ የአንድ ሳምንት ከመሆን አልዘለለችም፡፡ አዲሱ አመራር በስራ በመጠመዱ እና ለጓዳ ወሬዎች ምላሽ ባለመስጠቱ የአባላትን ትኩረትና ድጋፍ ለማግኘት ቻለ፡፡ ግርግሯም ከምሱሩ እንደከሸፈ ጥይት ቱሽሽሽሽ አለች፡፡

ምርጫ ቦርድ ግን ምክርቤቱ የመረጠውን አመራር ዕውቅና ለመንፈግ አንገራገረ፡፡ በተደረጉ የደብዳቤ ልውውጦችም ምርጫ ቦርድ ሁሉንም ነገር ተቀብሎ ሲያበቃ አንዲት ትንሽ ቀዳዳ አመጣ፡፡ እሷም፡- ‹‹የጠቅላላ ጉባዔተኛ ኮረም ቁጥር በደንቡ ይካተት›› የምትል ናት፡፡ በተፈለገ ጊዜ ለመምዘዝ የታሰበች ቀይ ካርድ ናት፡፡ ደንብ ሊያሻሽል የሚችለው ደግሞ ጠቅላላ ጉባዔው ነው፡፡ ወደ ተሟሟቀ ህዝባዊ ንቅናቄ ስንገባ ይችን ካርድ ለመጠቀም እንዳሰቡ ግልፅ ነው፡፡ ምርጫ ቦርድ በተወሰኑ ፓርቲዎች ላይ እንደሚያደርገው ጥብቅ ቁጥጥር 60 እና 70 በሚላቸው ፓርቲዎች ላይ ማድረግ ቢችል የፓርቲዎቻችን ቁጥር ከ5 ሊዘል እንደማይችል እርግጠኛ ነኝ፡፡ ስለዚህ አንድነት የምርጫ ቦርድን የመጫወቻ ካርድ ማስጣል እንደሚገባ አመነ፡፡ ጠቅላላ ጉባዔውን መጥራት ለእንደ አንድነት ያለ ሀገራቀፍ መዋቅር ላለው ፓርቲ ብዙ ከባድ አይደለም፡፡ ሆኖም አያውቅም፡፡ እንዴውም በዚህ ወቅት በመላ ሀገሪቱ ያሉ አመራሮችን ማግኘት በአንድ ድንጋይ ሁለት ወፍ ይሉት አይነት ነው፡፡

ጉባዔው
ጉባዔ ለማካሄድ ቀን ተቆረጠ፡፡ ያለችው አንድ ሳምንት ብቻ ነበረች፡፡ በሀገር ውስጥ ያለው አመራርና አባላት እንዲሁም በውጭ ያሉ ብርቱ ደጋፊዎቻችን ተረባረቡ፡፡ ለጠቅላላ ጉባዔ አባላት ጥሪ ተላለፈ፡፡ የዞንና የወረዳ አመራሮች ጉዳዩን በንቃት ይከታተሉት ነበርና ሆ ብለው አዲስ አበባ ገቡ፡፡ ህወሃት/ኢህአዴግን ያስደነገጠ ጉባዔ ነበር፡፡ በአንድ ሳምንት እንደዚህ የደመቀ ጉባዔ ማካሄድ ብር ለሚነሰንሰው ገዥ ፓርቲ እንጅ ለተቃዋሚዎች የሚቻል አይመስልም፡፡ ለዚህም ‹‹ጉባዔ ጥሩ!›› እንደማስፈራሪያ ያገለግላል፡፡ አንድነት ግን በሀገራቀፍ ደረጃ ያለውን አቅም አሳየ፡፡
አርብ በማለዳው ከ400 በላይ የሚሆነው የጠቅላላ ጉባዔ ተሳታፊ በኢትዮጵያችን ባንዲራ በተመሰለ አለባበስ አረንጓዴ፣ ቢጫና ቀይ ለብሶ አዳራሹን ሞልቶታል፡፡ ሁሉም ላይ እልህና ወኔ ይነበባል፡፡ ስብሰባው የተጠራበት አጀንዳ ለውይይት ክፍት ሆነ፡፡ ትንሽዋን ግርግር ለመፍጠር የሞከሩ ግለሰቦች ጉባዔተኛው ፊት እንዲከራከሩ ወይም ሂሳቸውን እንዲሰለቅጡ ጥሪ ቢደረግላቸውም ሳይመጡ ቀሩ፡፡ የተገኙ ግለሰቦችም እንደ አሮጌ ቴፕ እየተንተፋተፉ ለምን ወደ ኢቲቪ እንደሄዱ ለማቅረብ ቢሞክሩም ከውግዘት በስተቀር ምላሽ አጡ፡፡ ምክንያቱም ኢቲቪ ለተቃዋሚው ያለው ምልከታ ይታወቅ ነበርና አኮረፍን ብለው ወደ ኢቲቪ መሄዳቸው ክስረት ነበር፡፡

እነሆ ጠቅላላ ጉባዔው ምክር ቤቱ የወሰደው ርምጃ ጠቅላላ ጉባዔው በሰጠው ውክልና መሰረት በመሆኑ ደንባዊም ተገቢም ነው ሲል ወሰነ፡፡ በላይ ፈቃዱም ፓርቲውን እስከ ቀጣይ ጉባኤ ድረስ የፓርቲው ፕሬዘዳንት በመሆን እንዲመራ በማለት በከፍተኛ ድምፅ ወሰነ፡፡ የሚገርመው ከራሱ ከበላይ የቀረበውንና ሌሎች አመራሮች የደገፉትን ዕጩዎች ቀርበው ፕሬዘዳንት ይመረጥ የሚል ሃሳብ ጠቅላላ ጉባኤው ውድቅ በማድረግ የም/ቤቱ ውሳኔ ትክክል ነው በማለት በሙሉ ድምፅ መወሰኑ ነው፡፡

ይሄው ግዙፍ የአንድነት የፖለቲካ ሃይል ደንቡንም አሻሽሏል፡፡ ሌሎች የፖለቲካ ውሳኔዎችንም አሳልፏል፡፡ አንድነት በ2007 ዓ.ም ሀገራቀፍ ምርጫ አሸናፊ ሃይል ሆኖ እንዲወጣ በሚያስችሉት ጉዳዮች ላይ ጥናቶች ቀርበው ውይይት አድርጓል፡፡ ህዝቡን ያሳተፈ ህዝባዊ ንቅናቄ እንዲደረግ እና ምርጫውን ነፃና ፍትሃዊ ለማድረግ ትግሉ ተፋፍሞ እንዲቀጥል ከስምምነት ላይ ደርሷል፡፡

ተደራጅ፣ የምርጫ አስፈፃሚዎችን ተከታተል፤ አምባገነኖችን የምትቀጣበትን የምርጫ ካርድ ያዝ፤ ድምፅህ እንዳይዘረፍ ጠብቅ፤ ይህን ሁሉ አልፈው ከዘረፉህ በህዝባዊ እምቢተኝነት አምበርክካቸው የሚለውን ጉባዔተኛው በአንድ ድምፅ በመናገርና ቃልኪዳን በመግባት ታላቁ የአንድነት ጉባዔ በድል ተጠናቀቀ፡፡
2007 ለለውጥ!!

ኢትዮጵያና ግብጽ በአባይ ግድብ ጉዳይ የጀመሩትን ድርድር አቋረጡ፤ ኢራን ኤርትራ ላይ ወታደራዊ ቤዟ ማደረጓ ተቃውሞ ገጠመው

የህብር ሬዲዮ ታህሳስ 5 ቀን 2007 ፕሮግራም

< … የህወሃት ካንጋሮ ፍርድ ቤት የይስሙላ የመጨረሻ ውሳኔ ማለቁን ለአቶ ሀይለማሪያም ተነግሯቸው ይሆናል… ኮሚቴዎቹ ግን ቀድሞም ፖለቲካዊ ውሳኔ እንደሚሰጥ… የሙስሊሙ ተወካይ የሆኑትን ጀግኖቹን የመፍትሄ አፈላላጊ ኮሚቴዎች አስሮ በጎን ከሚመስሏቸው ጋር የሚደረግ ድርድር ግን… >

ጋዜጠኛ ሳዲቅ አህመድ ወቅታዊ ጉዳዮችን አስመልክቶ ከህብር ሬዲዮ ጋር ካደረገው ቃለ ምልልስ የተወሰደ (ሙሉውን ያዳምጡ)

<…አንድነት ሰሞኑን የሚያካሂደው ተደራጅ ሕዝባዊ ንቅናቄ ነው… የኢትዮጵያ ሕዝብ ተደራጅ ሕዝባዊ ንቅናቄ ሰፊ መሰረት ያለው ነው። ተደራጅቶ የምርጫ ካርድ መውሰድ አለበት ድምጹን እንዳይዘረፍ መጠበቅ አለበት አይን ባወጣ መልኩ ሲዘርፉት አትዘርፈኝም ብሎ መተናነቅ እምቢ ማለት መቻል አለበት …>

አቶ ዳንኤል ተፈራ የአንድነት የውጭ ጉዳይ ሀላፊ ፓርቲው ስለሚጀምረው ሕዝባዊ ንቅናቄ እና ተያያዥ ጉዳዮች ለህብር ከሰጡት ማብራሪያ የተወሰደ(ሙሉውን ያዳምጡት )

የአሜሪካ የስለላ ድርጅት(ሲ.አይ.ኤ) የጭካኔ ምርመራ(ቶርች) መፈጸም መጋለጥና ኢትዮጵያን ጨምሮ ተባባሪ አገራት ላይ የነበሩ እስር ቤቶች( ልዩ ዘገባ)

ሌሎችም

ዜናዎቻችን

ኢትዮጵያና ግብጽ በአባይ ግድብ ጉዳይ የጀመሩትን ድርድር አቋረጡ

የዘጠኙ ፓርቲዎች ትብብር አገዛዙ ከፍርሓት ተላቆ ለህዝብ ጥያቄ ምላሽ እንዲሰጥ ጠየቀ

ሁለተኛ ዙር የትግል መርሐ ግብር በቅርቡ እጀምራለሁ አለ

የቻይናው ኩባንያና ኢትዮ ቴሌኮም በሁለት መቶ ሚሊዮን ዶላር ክፍአ ተቃቃሩ

ቻይና ለህወሃት አገዛዝ የመከላከያ ሀይልና ለሚሊሺያ ማጠናከሪያ በሚሊዮን የሚቆጠር ድጋፍ ማድረጓ ተቃውሞ ገጠመው

በኢትዮጵያ ያለው ጭቆና በአገሪቱ ላይ የታለመውን ዕድገት እንደማያመጣ ተገለጸ

የቀድሞ የግብጽ ጄኔራል ኢራን ኤርትራ ላይ ወታደራዊ ቤዝ ማድረጉዋ ለአካባቢው ስጋት ነው ሲሉ አስጠነቀቁ

አንድነት ሕዝቡ አስቀድሞ ከተደራጀ ድምጹ ሲሰረቅ መከላከል ይችላል አለ

ለዘጠኙ ፓርቲዎች ሰልፍ ሲቀሰቅሱ በሽንት ቤት ታስረው የነበሩት በህመም ላይ ናቸው

መድረክ የሰላማዊ ሰልፉን አካሄደ

ኢትዮጵያ የኢትዮጵያ ፌደራላዊ ዲሞክራሲያዊ አንድነት መድረክ (መድረክ) እሁድ ዕለት ያቀደውን ሰላማዊ ሠልፍ በ37 መፈክሮች በማጀብ አካሂዶዋል፡፡

አብዛኛዎቹ መፈክሮች ምርጫን፣ ምርጫ ቦርድን፣ የፖለቲካ ፓርቲዎች ሁኔታን፣ የአገሪቱን የኢኮኖሚ ሁኔታ፣ የኑሮ ውድነት፣ የመሠረታዊ አገልግሎቶች መቆራረጥና መንግሥትን ከሃይማኖት ጣልቃ ገብነት እንዲወጣ የሚጠይቁ ነበር፡፡

ከመፈክሮቹ መካከልም “ዲሞክራሲያዊ ሥርዓት በነፃና ፍትሐዊ ምርጫ እንጂ በአስመሳይ ፕሮፖጋንዳ፣ በኃይልና በተፅዕኖ አይገነባም”፣ “የአገራችን ችግሮች በነፃና ፍትሐዊ ምርጫ በሚገለጽ የሕዝብ ውሳኔ እንጂ በኃይል ዕርምጃ አይፈቱም”፣ “ከምርጫ በፊት የምርጫ ውድድር ሜዳው የሚስተካከልበት ውይይትና ድርድር ይካሄድ”፣ ወዘተ የሚሉ መፈክሮች ተካተዋል፡፡

ከዚህ በተጨማሪም ሕዝቡ በ1ለ5 መረብ አፈናና ቁጥጥር ከሚካሄድ የምርጫ ድምፅ አሰጣጥ ነፃ እንዲሆን የሚጠይቁና ገለልተኛ የምርጫ ቦርድ በፖለቲካ ፓርቲዎች ተሳትፎ እንዲቋቋም የሚጠይቁ መፈክሮችም ተካተዋል፡፡

በሰላማዊ ተቃዋሚ ፓርቲ አባላት ላይ የሚካሄደው እስራትና ወከባእንዲቆም፣ የህሊና እስረኞች እንዲፈቱ፣ የመንግሥት መገናኛ ብዙኃን ለገዥው ፓርቲ የሚያሳዩትን ወገንተኝነት በአስቸኳይ እንዲያቆሙ፣ በልማት ስም በሕገወጥና ግብታዊ በሆነ መንገድ ሕዝብን ማፈናቀል እንዲቆም፣ የውኃ፣ የመብራት፣ የትራንስፖርትና የስልክ አገልግሎቶች ችግሮች በአስቸኳይ መፍትሔ እንዲሰጣቸው የሚጠይቁ መፈክሮችም የሠልፉ አካል እንደሆነ በዝርዝሩ ውስጥ የተካተቱ ናቸው፡፡

ሰላማዊ ሠልፉ ከአራት ኪሎ በስተምሥራቅ ከሚገኘው የግንፍሌ ድልድይ በመነሳት በቀበና ወንዝ ድልድይና በባልደራስ በኩል አድርጐ ወረዳ 8 ኳስ ሜዳ (ድንበሯ ክሊኒክ ፊት ለፊት) ከጠዋቱ ሦስት ሰዓት ላይ ጀምሮ ከቀኑ በሰባት ሰዓት እንደተጠናቀቀ ተገምቶዋል፡፡ፌደራላዊ ዲሞክራሲያዊ አንድነት መድረክ (መድረክ) እሁድ ዕለት ያቀደውን ሰላማዊ ሠልፍ በ37 መፈክሮች በማጀብ አካሂዶዋ

Tigray People’s Liberation Front, Human Trafficking Ring By Amanuel Biedemariam

After the war of 2000 failed to do the job, the Tigray People Liberation Front (TPLF) and their handlers developed schemes to yank Eritrean youth-out of their country, homes and livelihood. They targeted the youth to deprive Eritrea from the workforce necessary to build a nation and, to degrade the military’s capacities in order to launch one major assault and decapitate the nation when opportune.

Eritrean youth are lured with incentives of access into the US, West and other friendly nations. As long as Eritreans are able to reach other countries, no questions are asked, they are granted asylums. At a time that human trafficking is lucrative business, by default, they made Eritrean nationality the most valuable and coveted citizenship in Africa and beyond. Today, there are countless political asylums granted to none Eritreans as Eritreans with minimum scrutiny.

Ethiopians from Tigray, TPLF members and officials are the key benefactors. In Washington DC and other major US cities, there are reports that former TPLF officials have been granted asylum as Eritreans. This is common knowledge and more Ethiopians are coming into the US using falsified Eritrean documents. But why are Ethiopian authorities allowing this blunt illegal-act to take place? Because it is all win-win and serves many purposes:

• Help their sinister ploys to demonize Eritrea. Exaggerated numbers of Eritrean refugees in Ethiopia are used in reports by international NGO’s and UN agencies to bolster their claims in manufacturing punitive actions against Eritrea through the UN.
• Lure Eritreans: Playing humanitarian by claiming to be assisting exaggerated numbers of Eritrean refugees in Ethiopia. This however is ploy to justify sending thousands of Tigrigna-speaking Tigaryans as Eritreans into the US. After entering the US with lies and falsified documents, these Tigrayans try to damage the unity of Eritreans and advocate against Eritrea as Eritrean refugees all over the US. To appear that it softened its approach the TPLF also claims to be giving-back properties to those 80,000 Eritreans that it looted and deported after the resumption of war in 1998.
• Remittances: Since most of those going to US from Ethiopia as Eritreans are from Tigray the remittances they send benefits their families in Tigray.
• Diaspora Lobbying: The Ethiopian community in the diaspora presents the regime with the greatest challenge because wherever TPLF officials go they are met with stiff resistance. Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn was prevented from moving freely during the recent Africa US leaders Summit. Meles Zenawi was humiliated in front of world leaders by a journalist that heckled him. In addition the vocal Diaspora’s lobbying activities are placing TPLF at odds with leaders in congress and humiliating the TPLF in every turn. To counter what it calls “Extremist Diaspora,” the TPLF is trying to bolster its presence in the US and, one way to accomplish is to enter as Eritreans.
• lessen attention on Ethiopian refugees: Hundreds of thousands of Ethiopian refugees are suffering in Yemen, Saudi Arabia and many places around the globe. It serves the regime-well to deflect attention onto Eritreans.

Hypocrisies, Failed and Backfiring Deceit

For decades, thousands of Eritreans have settled in Sudan as refugees that fled oppressive Ethiopian regimes. The people of Sudan have accorded the people of Eritrea incredible hospitality and brotherly love. However, Sudan has never exploited the plight of refugees in a manner that the regime in Ethiopia shamelessly does. Illegal immigration is a global issue that requires unique attention. Nations should not engage in activities that encourage illegal immigration. Nations should cooperate and find ways to help bring stability to stem the flow of refugees and foster greater stability. To the contrary, Ethiopia is engaging in activities that the international community should condemn and hold to account. These deceits however, are part of a greater scheme directed by the Obama administration.

In a speech he gave at the Clinton Global Initiative Annual meeting on September 25, 2012, President Barack Obama said,

“I recently renewed sanctions on some of the worst abusers, including North Korea and Eritrea. We’re partnering with groups that help women and children escape from the grip of their abusers. We’re helping other countries step up their own efforts. And we’re seeing results.”

To encourage the flight of Eritrean youth many countries acquiesced to US policy that encouraged the acceptance of asylum seekers based on loose standards. Scandinavian, European and Israel etc… uncharacteristically loosened their standards to accommodate Eritreans. That meant open invitation that inadvertently encouraged floods of refugees to these destinations.

Initially most of them traveled to Israel through the Sinai desert. Israel, a Jewish State, that does not recognize the Right to Return of Palestinians uncharacteristically and as political move, started to accept Eritrean refugees, unabated. Eritreans started flocking to Israel. The State of Eritrea forewarned Israeli authorities of the repercussions and met deaf ears.

Immediately thereafter, Israel found the situation uncontrollable. Thousands entered into Israel forcing Israeli authorities to take stringent measures to stem the flow of incoming refugees and those already in the process. Israel was forced to commit tremendous resources and employ strict measures that led to rebuke by international rights groups.

These strict measures coupled by abrupt political changes in Egypt forced the refugees to seek alternate outlets and they started to flood the Mediterranean Sea into Europe, which led to horrendous atrocities like the Lampedusa tragedy. Today the streets of Europe are littered with refugees from Africa creating major issues and resistance from citizens in affected countries. These are countries facing economic hardships and unemployment. This backlash is forcing Europe to deal with the massive refugee problem urgently.

Today Europe is no longer pretending that their refugee problem is Eritrea specific. They have come to realize that they have opened the floodgates inadvertently and decided to deal with it by meeting with the source countries directly. “On November 28, The EU Horn of Africa Migration Route Initiative was launched in Khartoum Sudan that representatives of 28 EU member states and 10 African states, namely Eritrea, Libya, Republic of Sudan, Egypt, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Somalia, Kenya and Tunisia participated.”

Scandinavian countries are grappling with these issues in the same manner. The floods of refugees that claim to be Eritrean asylum seekers skyrocketed and presented major social, security and economic issues beyond their control forcing them to seek for alternative solutions.

Norway placed restrictions on Eritreans from going back to Sudan because they found that Eritreans were in fact using Sudan as backdoor into Eritrea after receiving asylum. They also found that Ethiopian and Sudanese citizens were returning to their countries for visits after receiving asylum as Eritreans.

Denmark sent a delegation into Eritrea on a fact-finding mission in order to help them make decisions on how to handle the influx of asylum seekers. After their visit The Danish delegation refuted all the human rights abuses claims against Eritrea and said, “That international reports of up to 10,000 political prisoners in Eritrea “is difficult to harmonize with the reality on the ground.” As a result Denmark will grant asylum “Under much tougher criteria than before.”

These major developments point to culpability of the collaborators; exposes their racist and sinister agendas that aim to destabilize not only Eritrea but also the entire region in order to exploit the rich resources and strategic locations using corrupt mercenary puppets.

The Key

Why the backtracking and sudden change? Why scramble to return theses refugees to their home countries? Why now, after they opened the flood gates that drowned countless lives into the sea?

Their greed, ignorance and short sighted outlook; their misguided belief that Eritrea will fold in short time and, their acquiescence to US policy-direction led them to grant blanket-political-asylums to anyone that claimed to be Eritrean. They failed to understand that this policy was indirect invitation to all citizens from the region to flee and ask for political asylum as Eritreans leading to corruption, human trafficking and international crime rings as direct consequence.

Europe is inundated with refugees from all over the world. The geopolitical global seen is fast changing. Developments in Yemen and, fear of major instability in the Horn of African that can generate millions of refugees-coupled with economic downturn in Europe is compelling these countries to seek long term solutions.

The EU and others are trying to untangle their policies from US’s because US policies are standing against their interests. The US is also too busy with problems everywhere and unable control agendas the way it has in the past, weakened influence. The situation in Yemen is making Saudi Arabia and Israel weary and they are urging US to reconsider its policy on Eritrea.

However, the number one reason these countries are forced to address these issue is Eritrea’s unflinching commitment to march forward despite so many obstacles thrown her way. The brilliance of the Government of Eritrea, the steadfastness of the people, the commitment and ability of the people to withstand these pressures have frustrated Europeans and others and compelled them investigate on their own, the realities inside Eritrea. It is because Eritrea foiled their sinister ploys with patience and time. Eritrea foiled their ploys by assuring those who left the country that they are free to come back without fear of persecution. Eritrea brilliantly exposed their lies while-still giving them room to get-out of the conundrum if they so-chose and many have chosen that way-out. Hence, all those sending fact finding-missions are trying to find ways to untangle their countries from the messes.

New Eritrean ID in the Mix

The government of Eritrea is set to issue new Identification Cards soon. This ID is a game changer because it will put a stop to criminal activities that takes place in Ethiopia that encourages forgeries of Eritrean documents. Those that falsely claimed to be Eritrean will be exposed. It will halt asylum seeking based on false Eritrean ID’s. It will help host nations sift through applicants easier because they will ask for Eritrean ID’s or, as the Danes have announced, asylums will only be granted “Under much tougher criteria than before.”

These are the new realities and the Europeans are determined to chart a new course in cooperation with Eritrea and others in the region that want to find real solutions to the problem.

As far as Ethiopia and those that have exploited these issues as Eritreans, there is saying, “A servant is no greater than his master.” Hence, what the masters decide will ultimately reign. For example, it is laughable to see how Danish authorities rebuffed a professor, supposedly Eritrean, when he tried to dictate what the report should state.
Conclusion

People will always try to find better living conditions where they can. Nations should refrain from encouraging unnecessary human flight and work to find ways that foster stability. Youth flight whether it is from Ethiopia, Sudan, Somalia or Eritrea is a setback and big loss for a region that is trying to get out of primitive existence. However, the TPLF have managed to create a criminal niche whereby it can manipulate these realities and have taken full advantage with the hopes of controlling the dynamics abroad particularly the US.

It is a new phenomenon to see a nation engage in facilitating illegal transfer of people in this case Ethiopians from Tigray disguised as Eritreans and for sinister motives. The reality however, these criminals have lied under oath. It is therefore the duty of all those from the region particularly Eritreans and Ethiopians to expose these criminals. It is incumbent upon all concerned to ensure that these criminals go into hiding, to jail or deported.

Awetnayu@hotmail.com