Etyopian Simbiro
3 September 2009
opinion
Ethiopia has been behind bars since its start as a state: Its people the prisoners, its rulers as jailers.
First, the feudalist system incarcerated the poor people, kings and nobles notoriously 'owning' peasants whose existence meant nothing but serving these upper echelons with utmost loyalty. Those who had 'the wrong complexion' were sold in the broad daylight to Arab merchants; internal slavery lasted as late as the 20th century, although abolished eventually. (What a contradiction in a sub-Saharan African nation that was supposed to be a symbol of freedom and hope to enslaved black people around the world!)
Second, the so-called 'socialist Ethiopia' brought another round of incarceration with it, though its rulers promised to end the era of exploitation and human indignity at first. But just like any dictators, the rulers failed to deliver what they promised and made the conditions in the country worse beyond imagination.
Perhaps George Orwell's 'Animal Farm' can best describe what happened in Ethiopia between 1974 and 1991. A Soviet-style silencing of dissent reigned in the country, enforcing terror and murder as a daily ritual. During this military era, the number of prisons more than doubled in the country, overflowing with innocent lives, most if not all bullet ridden and thrown in the streets like dogs: Some because they were considered 'anti-Ethiopia' and others 'betrayers of the revolution.'
Myopic army officers and their ill-advised cadres hijacked the poor people's revolution, making it their own to fulfil a short-term goal: Pillaging the country. The unfortunate dissenters died a bitter death at the hands of ruthless security agents who satisfied their ego by castrating men and by raping innocent young women in harsh prison camps, where human life was no more important than a fruit fly; those who had the opportunity left the country to live among strangers, or ran to the jungles to fight back the oppressive system - though themselves to become oppressors later on. In every direction, poor Ethiopia endured chaos.
Third, the former rebels who called the jungle their home, but are today's 'masters', self-ordained 'revolutionary democrats', who won the battle against the military junta, have decided to lock the country behind bars again. They installed a new form of dictatorship, recycling the same old style of oppression.
FROM OPPRESSED TO OPPRESSORS
Yesterday's oppressed have now become today's worst oppressors, invalidating the meaning of fighting for freedom and exacerbating the culture of vengeance, ethnic prejudice, and discrimination. They are also destroying the possibility of a dissenting and freethinking in Ethiopia step by step. They have already let the country down, a country that listened to the wind of change carefully and hoped that a better future would come, free from state-sponsored terror, torture, rape, and murder.
The last 18 years have brought more misery to Ethiopia than what people expected and hoped to see; the minor changes here and there don't really count. Just like in the past, one group still dominates the rest of the population, a one party system deceptively dressed as a multi-party system.
Major opposition groups and their supporters, pro-democracy leader Judge Birtukan Mideksa, many innocents who got caught in the wrong place (some targeted because of their ethnic background and some lost without trace), and all who disagree with the current regime have been thrown to infamous jails such as Kaliti. The concept of free press barely exists. The rule of law remains a joke. Human rights? Nobody cares! 'You are either with us or against us!'-That is pretty much how things work in Ethiopia today.
Disguised as 'revolutionary democrats', it seems that the current rulers are carefully imitating the Communist Party of China (CPC) as their prime example. The way they aggressively recruit members, deal with dissent, and monopolise the economy, has so much similarity with CPC's tactics. CPC is globally known as a notorious party that does not welcome opposition from either inside or outside the country. Limiting and banning local media, violating human rights, jamming and blocking foreign media, using intimidation and force to control dissent, spreading hysteria, pretending pro-democracy, and centralising the economy, characterise the nature of CPC's dictatorship.
Ethiopia's current rulers lecture their audiences that 'revolutionary democracy will eventually wither away, replacing itself with liberalism,' openly accepting that they are truly dictators who have not yet renounced Marxism-Leninism and who will do anything to stay in power.
So what is the solution to the cycle of the oppressed becoming the oppressor, and vice versa? Who will eventually free the country from its confinement? Do we have a guarantee that the next will be better? Will power be eventually returned to the people or will there be another era of dictatorship once more, favouring one's group over another (or better to say: Pretending to favour one's group to further advance one's self-interest)?
DEMOCRATIC FEDERALISM IS THE WAY FORWARD
The way forward: Democratic federalism for a new, liberated, Ethiopia.
Although I have very little knowledge on such complicated issue, I believe that all opposition groups based inside or outside Ethiopia, despite their multitude of differences, have to find a common ground to successfully challenge the current dictatorship, which has done its homework very well to control the 80 million people, using smear campaigns and ethnic federalism as its formidable weapons, and changing its tactics from time to time just like the CPC.
A democratic system that prioritises group and individual rights must replace and end the current system, which applies authoritarianism to enforce its presence. The will of the opposition parties, left or right, determines the success of democratising Ethiopia. The opposition groups have not set a good example yet to be followed.
Many young people, including myself, have nowhere to go. The organisational vacuum that is so obvious in almost all opposition parties disillusions the young. Party chairmen seem more concerned about keeping their chairmanship. The factionalism, the infighting, and the uncompromising behaviours that have been going on within the various parties, make one wonder if a real and meaningful change is really going to come any time soon.
Whatever the future holds for Ethiopia, I believe that democratic federalism is the way forward, where a constitution that every citizen respects and agrees with becomes the supreme law of the land; where present and past injustices are properly acknowledged and never to be repeated; where people are the boss, and leaders just employees who can be fired or replaced; where religious or ethnic tolerance prevails; where democratic institutions flourish, granting the various groups equal political and economic opportunities; where one region can act independently of the other without implementing discriminatory regional policies, allowing the free flow of people and goods, the celebration of one's language, culture, and identity freely - under a central government, which is comprised of the various stakeholders in the country, unlike the present or the past, and which intervenes in regional affairs as stated in the constitution; and, where compassion replaces vengeance. Such and other approaches may finally set Ethiopia free from years of incarceration.
As Mahatma Gandhi said, 'First they ignore you. Then they laugh at you. Then they fight you. Then you win.' The poor people of Ethiopia will surely win one day after centuries of bad governance and exploitation.
Etyopian Simbiro is an Ethiopian student based in the US.
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Mr. Ewnetu, either me and you are reading two different articles or you completely misunderstude Mr. Simbiro's opinion. All Mr. Simbiro is trying to say is that the Ethiopian people deserves better. Better than what we had in the PAST and what we have in the PRESENT. I don't know what you're talking about (God knows if you understood it yourself) but Do you really want to know how the "other" 80 mil people servive? i can tell you how. 80% of them are still farmers TODAY who can not even feed themselves, (here is one for your "achievement")still 4 - 8 mil people are in series STARVATION!!! per capita income is LESS THAN $2 PER DAY (i very much in dought if this record is true). ..glimmer of hope! ... gloomy picture! ... what planet are you from??!! what is wrong with saying WE DESERVE BETTER?? Why don't you take out one paragraph out of Mr. Simbiro's article and debunk it??!! pls, just one paragraph! ...achievement! ... farming technology ... imprisoning political decents is not achievement and starving to death in 2009 says a whole lot about their farming technology!! There is not even one sentence about Ethiopia's ancient civilization! but still, do you wonder why i said we're reading two different articles??!! you can't shoot people down just because all they want to say is WE DESERVE BETTER! By the way, i would love to say to Mr. Simbiro, it is such a great rendition.
Mr. Simbiro
I find your opinion to be very offensive trying to compare Haile Selase government to the Soviet backed criminals and now to the latest government. Maybe you had forgotten to take your medication when you wrote this article. During Haile Selase sure thing were not perfect some were deprived but opportunities were wide open. If you work hard for it you were able to accomplish your goals regardless to your raise, religion or financial back ground. At least the country was growing. I came (grew up in) from a blue color family. They work hard and sent their children to the best school. They owned their own house and such. Same with my parent’s friends from all walk of life. That’s what you call HOPE.
During Derg everyone was kept from advancing unless one was a member of the clan (party). Sorry I will take that back, everyone was kept dead unless they are deemed brain dead. Compare the two if you have an ounce of brain.
Now the new government, it might not be the best thing that happened in Ethiopia but they have worked hard to get the country on the right track they are consistently working with other countries promoting investments. When was the last time you have seen an African PM giving up his post voluntarily. That says a lot. The man was there to serve his country not driven by power.
The EPRDF rulers have prepared internet bloggers to comment on all issues raised in support of the tribal, tyrant rulers. These are thugs which receive money from the tyrants, which came from western countries in the name of the poor. They will try to tell us there is development...and expect us to believe them when we are struggling to eat at least once a day, and when millions have died from drought repeatedly.
They tell us, many roads have been built, many schools and clinics have been built. However, on which planet has development been measure by the number or the lenght of roads built??? Even if we say road construction means development, and the schools and health facilities are built by the money of the western countries. It is a fact. What EPRDF did was to put some of the money it receives to construction but allow a larger portion for corruption. If what the Ethiopian people want from EPRDF is to say ok when western countries and int. agencies come and say ' let us do this', if that is the only thing the Ethiopian people want...then EPRDF would have been rated greately. But is that the only thing the Ethiopian people expect from their leaders?
1. Average daily income (GNI) is about USD 0.5 for the last 20 years 2. There is not any adequate population policy for the past 20 years, there fore, population is grwing like never before, and the tyrants ignored it or could not understand it 3. when millions are on the verge of famine and drought, they prefer to play with statistics than mobilize resources and help the poor and they enjoy to watch millions die 4. They have planted the seeds of ethnic divisions and hatrade, many have died as a result and the country faces great dangers like that of the case in Rwanda 5. They have caused the death of thousands to protect Badme, but they have given away what the thousands died for by foolishely signing at Algers. So much to say here...think about this deeply, ask: Thousands sacrificed their life for Badme, they got it back from Shabia, but will they have badme forever? Why? For how many years for Ethiopia and Eritrea to stay like this? 6. What are they doing in Somalia??? They tried and failed for two years. a) They are making Somali people very angry. They made and are making Somalis to hate Ethiopians even more. b)How many Ethiopian soldiers die and from which ethnic group in Somalia from the first time they entered? Why dont they tell us? Is not life precious? Dont Ethiopians have the right to decide on the worthiness of war? What are they leaving for the next generation??? 7. Its agricultural policy...the famous 'ADLI' evidently failed,when many farmers failed to feed themselves let alone feed the urban area. 8. There is not fair and free election 9. Freedom of speech is much threatened 10. Freedom of press has been almost crushed...The tigray people having the worst experience in this respect
Soooo many, sooooo many, more to say, I mean sooo many...all you need to do is to see things critically, be unbiased, see the facts,
Mr. Wer
I can see you have an agenda against the Ethiopian government. Even though I completely disagree with you, It’s politics and I say its fair for you to make your point. That is what makes a good good political discussion. Unlike in the above, Mr. Simbiro trying to compare apples oranges with a hidden agenda.
every thing is up to the poeople! you all guys no need for having such debate(ofcourse the debate by it self shows still the "development" in Ethiopia is not something clearly visiable)over this issue. ask your families here in Ethiopia. they will tell you they are being straved, sick, denied freedom,jailed, faired from thier job(because they are not willing to be member of the clan) and so mony sorow things. our leaders propoganda of development by it self is becoming another problem, because no chance to entertain ourselves by watching TV. The journalists have no commitment and/or freedom to entertain us. they always talk about the "invisiable" development. they tell us your daily income has increased, while we our selves already know that it doesn't increase(if not deacrease).Therfore in conclusion: 1. it is very dificult to detect the "development" in Ethiopia( probably this may be because it is to much fast that we are not able to detect it! 2. if there is development, it must be around the authorities who canfuse thier increasment in income from corruption with development in the country. 3. less probably, ther may be development, but its fruit are not reached for the poor peasnts and labourers, but for the rich poor. totally let the mass, not baised institutions or authorites, judge weather development is there in ther country. they will tell you the fact. they don't want any body about thier development. if achived they will tell you the fact.
Hi friend's, particularly Ewnetu and the Like's,
Please let's be honest; at least let's recognize the facts! You will die soon, you will not live more than 115, even though a selfish, self-seeking, self-interested, disgraceful, small-minded, prejudiced person like you not attempt even half of it. Please think for your children and grandchildren at least; all the past tyrants described by the author passed away and we are now the victims and carried their agony.
Please, at least let the messes be stopped hear. The very fact, is no body thought the >600 thousand army backed Derg cease to exist in such simple way. But the shame is recycling to all. Please, please, please.....
Sincerely,
Dear Simbiro,
If we assume all what you said is true, we need some explanation on the following points. Do you have any comment on how the other 80 million people in Ethiopia survive. Can't you see a glimmer of hope in your gloomy pictures? Your younger brothers and sisters are trying thie best to bring differnece even in a very stressful condition.
Do you think portraying all the past Ethiopian rulers with all those words that you have used (I don't dare to repeat it). Is it possible to accuse the previous rulers with the current social and political landscape? It would also be great if have the courage to mention some of their achievements. Do you ever know a king who is willing to demonstrate new farming technologies to the ordinary farmers in their farmland. Do you think all the ancient civilization in Ethiopia is a fairy tail?
Regrds
Ewnetu