Libya’s Gadhafi and Ethiopia’s EPRDF – Eskinder Nega
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Strange as this may sound, there is a mainstream in the unsanctioned confederacy of dictators. Whether of the present times or from the distant past, the mainstream dictator is usually decidedly understated, more often than not a loner, (more…)
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Strange as this may sound, there is a mainstream in the unsanctioned confederacy of dictators. Whether of the present times or from the distant past, the mainstream dictator is usually decidedly understated, more often than not a loner, eccentric in private habits, and almost as a trademark, lives in a complex world of paranoia.
Moammar Gadhafi indeed shares some of these traits, but also markedly stands out as part of a glitzy species much disdained by the cool mainstream: the buffoon dictators.
Hitler and Mussolini popularized the buffoon species. They also represent its two sub-specious: the harmful and harmless genres.
History will remember Mussolini more for his absurd theatrics and blunders than the harm he caused. Hitler’s outlandish public tantrums and speeches, on the other hand, are a footnote to the epic tale of moral and physical damage he wrought on humanity.
Until Tuesday, Gadhafi belonged more with Mussolini than Hitler. Aside from the Berlin and Lockerbie bombings in a 40 years reign, the world tolerated Gadhafi with bemused indifference. The international media, for their part, seemed permanently enthralled by his blonde Ukrainian female nurse and gun-totting female bodyguards.
Come February 22, 2011, a day after Libya was overwhelmed by people power, however, the world was suddenly confronted with a new, murderous Gadhafi that was much more than a buffoon. Speaking from the doorsteps of his Tripoli residence once bombed by US air-strikes in the 1980s, he was at times shouting, pounding his fists on a podium, and intermittently losing his stream of thought as he scolded his nation’s democratic aspiration.
But his instruction to supporters, militiamen and thousands of mercenaries in his pay came out clearly. There was no haziness here. “You men and women who love Gadhafi….get out of your homes and fill the streets. Leave your homes and attack them (the protesters) in their lairs,” he thundered.
In a nation where tribal loyalties figure prominently in politics, it was also a subtle call to his kins to defend him. But those who
responded, according to eyewitnesses on Al-Jezzera, were disproportionately his mercenaries.(Sorry EPRDF!)
Divide and rule has lost its magic. A new era has dawned in Libya.
The Libyan protests began on the evening of February 15 by about 2000 people. The number of protesters roughly doubled as passersby and activists joined them. The regime reacted with a firm determination to discourage further defiance of its demonstration ban. Up to ten percent of the demonstrators were seriously brutalized. Many more suffered lesser injuries.
As has recently happened elsewhere in the Middle East, state violence unexpectedly and unusually bred fierce public defiance. There were more outraged protesters in Benghazi, Libya’s second city, the next day. And the protests spread to other cities.
As is the case in all authoritarian countries, including Ethiopia, Gadhafi’s security networks, though one of the most far-reaching in Africa, were simply not large enough—nor could they ever be—to contain simultaneous uprisings in dozens of cities across the country. They lost half the country in 48 hours.
Poor Gadhafi was stunned beyond belief.
This is the scenario that will most probably confront the EPRDF if protests are to break out in Ethiopia. A parallel event, albeit on a smaller scale, had already happened in November 2005 when half a dozen cities exploded at almost the same time. The EPRDF was almost, but not quite, stretched to the limit.
Add a few more cities this time around, and crucially, unlike 2005, with a public that will no doubt be adamantly determined to prevail, EPRDF will be hard pressed to control Addis Ababa, Dire-Dawa and Baher Dar, the nation’s three largest urban areas, at the same time.
With east Libya serving as the inspiring model, the specter of whole regions liberating themselves within 48 to 72 hours of protests breaking out is now entirely plausible. Ethiopians in Addis and across the regions are mesmerized by events in the Arab world as never before, and each dramatic twist of events seems to mischievously broaden the possibilities at home. More trouble than it could possibly handle is brewing for the EPRDF.
The reaction of Libya’s professional military to the rise of people power has by now become conventional in North Africa. Faced with a choice between mass murder and continued loyalty to the regime, it opted, as had its Tunisian and Egyptian counterparts, to switch sides.
Unfortunately, the balance of power does not lie exclusively with the professional military in Libya. Much to the delight of Gadhafi, his disdain of a powerful professional military has finally been vindicated. Wary of a potential coup, he had for long pampered and better armed his paramilitaries and mercenaries. He will only be convincingly beaten when they finally abandon him.( They most probably will.)
The military is all the EPRDF has in Ethiopia. There are no powerful paramilitaries or mercenaries to counterweigh the might of the army. Only its forceful intervention on either side in the event of protests, or its neutrality, as was the case in Egypt until the very last moments, will sway the balance of power. In the unlikely event that it will remain fiercely loyal to the EPRDF in the face of nation-wide mass protests, civilian fatalities that run in the low hundreds, as is offically the case for the 2005 post-election riots, will be too much for the international community. This is not 2005.
But whatever the casualty figures, perhaps no country will suggest the kind of military intervention which the British have proposed in Libya in recent days. Nonetheless, a belligerent EPRDF is doomed to a Pyrrhic victory, if that is indeed the final outcome, which will irremediably rupture its indispensable relationship with the West. And this will inevitably mark the beginning of the end for the historical enigma that is the EPRDF. There is no way for it to come out the winner from a violent clampdown.
Gadhafi used every means at his disposal to suppress the protests. Appallingly, artillery, helicopter gunship, and incredibly, even anti aircraft missiles were fired directly at protesters. But to no avail. In Bengahzi, hundreds of thousands of defiant protesters turned on the regime. In smaller towns, the frenzy of the people was harsher.
As casualty figure reportedly climbed to around a thousand, the surge of defections by once Gadhafi loyalists, which started in the military, encroached with no less ferocity to the civilian sector. Fuming Ministers, Ambassadors and religious leaders were soon urging rebellion against the regime.
EPRDF could count on even less officials to stay faithful to it. This will be particularly true of its diplomats. “Ethiopian embassies representing the people” will most probably pop up around the globe. Perhaps the only faithful embassy left will be the one in Beijing. But nothing is certain even there. After all, it is Gadhafi’s most dependable comrade-in-arms of four decades who defected first in Benghazi.
All in all, the message to the EPRDF from Libya is crystal clear: don’t fight change. You will not win.
WE NEED YOUR HELP!
God willing, come Tuesday, my first article in Amahric will appear on this website. The Amharic articles are primarily intended for readers in Ethiopia.
The Ethiopian public is more than ever desperate to hear from the people it knows and trusts. I need your help to connect with thousands who know and trust me.
Facebook is the ideal way to reach readers in Ethiopia at the moment. All Ethiopian websites, including, of course, this one, are blocked in Ethiopia.
I urge you to post my Amharic articles on your Facebook pages. Post it on newsfeeds, send it by message to friends in Ethiopia, do everything to get the message in to Ethiopia. Do the same for other articles you like.
Fight tyranny from your PC!
The writer could be reached at serk27@gmail.com
Meles has special paramilitary forces and mercenaries. How about “Agazi” and how about the core TPLF members in the army? For all intents and purposes, they can be considered as special paramilityary forces and mercenaries.
BRAVO BRAVO GREAT BOTHER!! WHAT A WONDERFUL ANALYSIS!! I CANNOT WAIT TO READ YOUR ARTICLE IN AMHARIC. AS YOU MENTIONED ABOUT THE PARANOIA OF DICTATORS, THE TURN FOR MELES ZENAWI TO MANIFEST HIS PARANOID BEHAVIOR LIKE GADHAFI IS NOT FAR. THE TURN FOR CHANGE IN ETHIOPIA, ERITREA AND SUDAN IS NEARING. WHO KNOWS THE REVOLUTION MAY CATCH LIKE A WILD FIRE IN ALL THESE COUNTRIES. LET US DO THE RIGHT THING TO MAKE IT HAPPEN!!POWER TO THE PEOPLE!!!
Yes Eskinder I trust you and I will do what ever you said.
YES WE CANE MAKE IT!
It seems like the TPLF is rotting in the head. The bravado and Machiavellian intrigue is being used to the max, the last card has been played, and this my friends is what is called ‘delusion of grandeur’, what Melese greatly suffers from, seeing himself as the only way, wherever that leads our nation. Let me ask you TPLF paid supporters, what is wrong with challenging each other and our leaders? Isn’t democracy the ideal our martyrs died for? Isn’t freedom of expression, freedom of association and freedom of assembly etc… what our gallant martyrs fought and died for? Isn’t justice and rule of low what our martyrs fought and died for? Do you believe any of these values exist in today’s Ethiopia? It really stinks and smells like decadence, corruption and elitism is decaying and rotting the leadership so many fought bravely and died for. May God bless Ethiopia! Ethiopia shall be free sooner than we all realize!
Thank you for your leadership Eskinder Nega!
Eskinder, what can I say? I cannot even express enough how much I appreciate you, thank you seems so inadequate for everything you do. I am so deeply touched by your article, I read it with tears rolling down my cheeks. Living in one of the most hostile place in the world where you and your wife been put through hell already by woyanes, and now here you are, risking your life standing against tyranny for your beloved country and people. You are truly an Ethiopian hero! I love you brother, Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! May God protect you and your precious wife and child from the hands of vicious dictator.
I was always critical to believe the people who claimed how the EPRDF can be timid to its own determent – that’s until I read this article. Let me say for all my friends who tried to convince me of that fact – I stand corrected!!!! You are 100% correct. Now I know, belatedly, what you all were saying when you say EPRDF is not what you think it’s. How else can they even tolerate and allow a so called “Journalist” to roam around and write freely to stir a chaos when non is granted? How are they going to justify this to the hard working and peace loving people of Ethiopia? How is this covered under the pretense of freedom of speech when somebody is yelling fire to disturb a good night sleep? A journalist listing the MO of uprising will never be considered even in any of the western democracies – let alone in Africa – a journalist. I know, I know what you cowards are going to say about this. Democracy is democracy and blah, blah, blah as if we don’t know better. But that’s more of your problem than the poor peasants which are seeing a day light through the tunnel for the first time in generations under the current regime. It’s also not the problem of the countless entrepreneurs who are flourishing in the current Ethiopia because of the relative peace and good policies existing under this regime. It may not even be a problem to those who taught the EPRDF was consisted a bunch of tugs and dogmas which are there to destroy Ethiopia before they realized how wrong they were through time and wisdom – those are most of your yesterday’s comrades in arm. It doesn’t even matter for all the dams, bridges, roads, health centers, universities and colleges, mining industries, construction sites, financial institutes and the rest of all infrastructures if they were only able to talk for themselves. What this guy and his like minded cohorts in the diaspora are trying to do is create a confusion and chaos so that you can realize your lost dreams of dominating the country like you used to do. The bad news is that the people of Ethiopia have moved on to see beyond your trap and smoke screens. A telling fact in Eskinder’s article is when he enumerated the big cities in Ethiopia. There, there was no mention of Mekalle the capital city of Tigray. Why? Well, for your twisted mind it’s because Mekalle is the epicenter of EPRDF, so, guilty by association. If you were not so narrow minded, regardless of its geographical location that still remains part of Ethiopia last I checked – EPRDF or not. But the main reason, unbeknown to the writer, is that Mekelle has lost its stature as one of the biggest cities under the current government to the likes of Bahir Dar, Nazareth, Adama, Awassa and etc. This will, of course, stand between your propaganda of how Tigray was flourishing under TPLF and blah, blah. From an opposition who can’t mustered a cohesive message, a structured organizational ability, a full fledge commitment, a well articulated vision and a brave leader, it’s amazing to read such a crap while you complain the lack of democracy at the same time. Where are your leaders? Where are your parties? Where is your vision beyond your hatred? Where are you trying to take the country? For those of us who followed the drama with Engineer Hailu and his so called party, nothing will makes us worry because of your foolish and nonsense propaganda. The Ethiopian people are plenty busy trying to make the country what it aspires to be one stone at a time, while you are trying to destroy what is being done. The government, despite its many failings, is plenty busy to create the conditions and policies which will lead to the prosperity and progress of the people. I chose to associate myself with a government making mistakes trying to do the right thing than an opposition trying to destroy everything so we can go back to the status quo. No, that ain’t going to happen. One thing I know for sure – history will not judge you kindly. Shame on you!!!!!
Eskinder,you are the most trusted from among the best;indded,your message carries honesty and prefessionalism.
The old and the new dictators never had learned lessons from the past and current history as that is happening in the North Africa and the Middle East by virtue of their distinct and commonality characters.
If however,Zinawi is tempted to copy and put into barbaric practice of Gadafi murdering and killing Ethiopians,if in fact,Ethiopians beging the uprising to bring democratic change in Ethiopia before Gadafi is ousted,Zinawi must know that he should immediately submit to Ethiopians,as Gadafi would because Libians are fiercely determined to do so.
In addition,Meles Zinawi must know as the revolution and coming and swept away those dictators in Tunisia and Egypt and the revolution is now in its apex to do so the same in the Middle East;for sure,Ethiopian revolution could motivate people in East Africa to mobalize in unity and to start the fire of change.
Yes,Ethiopians are adhered faithfully to the upcoming revolution and will carry on the struggle beyond the call of duty;indeed,Ethiopians will come out victorious as Tunisians and Egyptians were,and as Libians and other revolutionary people of the Middle East will soon.
My fellow Ethiopians,Meles Zinawi for the last twenty years has murdered millions of Ethiopians kept them slaves of fear.Ethiopians,if we fail,we will rise up in courage and fight back the enemy because terror and fear will not hold us back.There is no substitute for freedom.
Victory to all Ethiopians!
Graet article, tmbs up for Eskinder and his wife.
We will do so.
Molla, You are narrow minded like your weyane boss. Eskr talked about the three largest cities,not every ethnic capitals. Please read facts not your lies.
Molla, THE SHAME IS ON YOU!
According to the brutal, heartless and cold blooded woyane regime and their shameful supporters like Molla: it is okay to strip Ethiopians from their basic rights of free-speech and press — TPLF controlling the entire Ethiopian government — deny Ethiopians to have peaceful gathering to have their voices heard — steal the election — gunned down innocent Ethiopians — incarcerated tens of thousands of innocent Ethiopians and sentenced them for life and death — torture Ethiopians — kill Ethiopians — loot Ethiopians — sell, give and lease the Ethiopian fertile land for hundreds of years for a penny an acre to foreigners, etc. — All these are fair and justified, as long as people like Molla, Meles, his wife and the rest of TPLF become wealthy and build some high rise buildings with the stolen money mostly in Addis and Mekelle owned by them and some foreign billionaires.
And he writes this from Addis with impuniy, while Elias Kifle is busy deleting / censoring comments. Thank God Ethiopian people recognize peace, stability and progress when they see one.
Telba binchcha, band muqecha.
Molla,
I think you are fearful b/c EPRDF fill your sorry mind with fear. Tigreans are not in better off under the mafia regime. If someone doesn’t mention Mekelle that means he/she is racist is all in your mind. Come out of your EPRDF shell and you will see the light. Eskinder Nega is Not racist as you try to paint his good name.
Bravo Eskinder! Love the piece. Keep writing… We will spread it to our oppressed people. Yes, “the message to the EPRDF from Libya is crystal clear: don’t fight change. You will not win.” Yes, Ethiopians will prevail!
God bless our struggle for freedom, liberty and justice!
God bless Ethiopia!
Molla,
You are just barking because your belly is filled up with the money looted from the oppressed people. What is road or bridge or infrastructure without freedom, equality and justice? Even most (80%) of the businesses and buildings that we see in Ethiopia belong to the TPLF conglomerate, its cliques, or Al Moudi. Who has benefited from all the double digit growth (if there is one)? Only TPLF and its cliques. So why do Ethiopians need this brutal regime? Tell me one single reason – there is none! Weyane is the shame of the country as much as Derg was.
History will anoint our most courageous brother, Eskinder Nega, as a hero. He is doing what most fear to do! We love you, Eskinder.
When Ethiopians reach the tipping point to overcome fear, Weyane will melt down and surrender. That day is coming for sure.
“I never gave anybody hell … I just told the truth, and they thought it was hell.” Harry Truman.
I think that’s what Molla did here. Bravo Molla. We were told how everything was heading to Mekalle, the electricity, the water, the beer, the Teff, the good and the best. By that account that city should be looking like Dubai not like your fourth or whatever city in Ethiopia. Molla expected us to read between the lines to figure out that. Well, it wasn’t meant to be. After all, we are not dealing with reasonable people rather with blinded followers. The only thing Zetsion could read was “racism” out of that comment – well, here you have it. The poor “Give me a areak Guy” appers not to set foot in Ethiopia since the downfall of the Derg. Our economist further more lectures us how the government “sell, give and lease the Ethiopian fertile land for hundreds of years for a penny an acre to foreigners.” If he only knew what is talking about. This is a policy demanded and hailed by the western democracies for years, dedeb. What can you say about he poor “Kiros Girmay”? Wake up people! Thank you Molla for saying it the way it’s.
#6 and #21,
The Egyptian and Tunisian dictators and their thugs used to brag and felt superior than God, that nothing was going to touch them and said the same thing what you are now saying without a shame, but look where they are now– DISGRACED AND IN A PLACE OF COMPLETE HUMILIATIONS. What goes around comes around, God works in his own timetable and He won’t forget the tears and blood of the hundreds of thousands of innocent victims in Ethiopia, Somalia and in Eritrea. God has given you people plenty of time to repent, to come clean and change your ways, but you continue your evil ways taking orders from your evil master for twenty years, looting and killing Ethiopians without shame and guilt. You people are so closed minded and so dense even to notice what is going on in the neighboring countries can also happen to you. Everything comes to an end and all your evil ways will be exposed. It is obvious that you have no conscience to see and feel the sufferings of Ethiopians, but will be haunted by the souls of your victims for the rest of your lives here on earth and in hell.
Good call, Eskinder. The days of tyranny in Ethiopia is numbered. We will do.
ወይ ጉድ የማንሰማው ነገር የለም
Werner2010,
Since you are delusional like your boss Meles Zenawi, we are not shocked to read your blabber that denies the reality of things unfolding under your nose. i would like to remind you that you are commenting on Eskendir’s piece with borrowed time. your time is up! you will regret rediculing people’s power!!
Eske God bless you with your family ! You r reall Ethiopian , we know the price you r paying now aday for Ethiopians . I will do all I can !
Molla , you better use your mind rather than your abdomen !
Change will come be sure of that , this computing crime on innocent Ethiopians , one day we will put u at court ! Melles and his top officers may live the country , but thoae if you doing unessesary things just to survive , ataneltummm !
Eskinder we are with you …..unity is what we want …..eprdf will be past
Gadafi and his son Saif vowed to kill and die in their country. They cant kill all the people of Libya some people will die and they will die too. What matters is not their death but what happens after they die. Obviously the people of Libya will let their bodies to be eaten by Dogs.
Thank you Molla for telling us the reality in your country. I know it was not intentional.
You wrote: “…From an opposition who can’t mustered a cohesive message, a structured organizational ability, a full fledge commitment, a well articulated vision and a brave leader, it’s amazing to read such a crap while you complain the lack of democracy at the same time. Where are your leaders? Where are your parties? Where is your vision beyond your hatred? Where are you trying to take the country? …”
What are the root causes of these problems you’re talking?
What would you tell me about the following (taken from your post):
1. “…What this guy and his like minded cohorts in the diaspora are trying to do is create a confusion and chaos so that you can realize your lost dreams of dominating the country like you used to do. …”
Who’re these people you’re tallking? Tell us? Come on! Who are they? Isn’t this part of your post good evidence of your racist attitude? I don’t think the race card would be helpful in such trend of mass movement. Think about it.
The following part of your post should have started by the phrase “The good news is” instead .
2. “…The bad news is that the people of Ethiopia have moved on to see beyond your trap and smoke screens. A telling fact in Eskinder’s article is when he enumerated the big cities in Ethiopia….”
I know the writer (Eskender) has no malicious intent for his country as you portrait him.
Why are you worried since the people of Ethiopia are in the right track? Aha! It’s my mistake what you told us above….the people are searching for good leaders (opposition leaders). Eskinder might fill that gap and bring your demise. Hmm.
Dear Molla. You’re a nice guy. I like the following part of your post. You told us everything. This is a good admission of your flaw about politics. We voted for those who CAN DO THEIR BEST to bring our counrty out of poverty…Not those who can try. We are people. WE ARE NOT GUENA PIGS for experments to be done on us. :
3, “… I chose to associate myself with a government making mistakes trying to do the right thing than an opposition trying to destroy everything so we can go back to the status quo. No, that ain’t going to happen. One thing I know for sure – history will not judge you kindly. Shame on you!!!!!…”
One more thing. How do you define history (Molla) ? Let’s assume your prime minister resigns due to domestic and foreign pressure. Are you going to include, assuming you’re a historian, the prime minister’s stay in power in your history book of Ethiopian history? How are you going to judge him? Come on! In his tewenty years tenure…?
Totell the truth I’m not posting on that website. Because it’s the other tool of the two northern dictaors -malasa &isayasa.
But it looks like you’re not smart enough to show him your real identity. I can tell who you’re from your last part of your post. It reads like the following, if I have understood it correctly: “ተልባ ቢንጫጫ በአንድ ሙቀጫ”
ስለማን ነዉ አያወራህ ያለኽዉ? የሕዝብን ኃይል የሚገድብ ምድራዊ ኃይል አለመኖሩን ብዙ ማስረጃዎችን ከየ’ዕለት ገጠመኞቻችን የምናየዉ ነዉና አስብበት:: ሳልረዳህ ቀርቼ ዘባሪቄ ከሆነ ይቅርታ::
Well written Eskindir. Thank you for that. i have been burnning inside for the past few weeks following what has been happening in the middle east. There isn’t a single day that i went to bed with out thinking what could be done in our motherland. From all the movements we have seen the one that is going on in Libya resembles to the case in our country and i hope our people will take a good lesson from this that no matter how much Woyane is armed and no matter how much one minority ethnic tries to win by blood and terror , the majority will win but we all know it that this fight is not going to be easy.
Ethiopia !
Peace to our Ethiopia
Dear Molla,
The revolution is on, and the world clock is turning to those who suffered under your narrow minded, gun & mentally ill dictator. Cadres like you value superficial masked propoganda filled with distorted reality. Let the Ethiopian people show the silent repression imposed by your mad and rigid ruler. In you mind, you might think you are the chosen, smart, hero, etc…but this is your ego (false self). If you look deep down and open your heart and mind, you may find light that most Ethiopian possess. Can you tell the internal anger of the people of Ethiopian? Living as a second class citizen, and hearing the Tigre tribe is the chosen one. This type of self-serving dictatorial rule creates resentment by majority of Ethiopia people, and watch the tide and power of oppressed people. Your dismissal of reality, and superiority mentality get you no where. I believe most Tigrian people are kind and understand the situation in Ethiopia, and they will join the oppressed brothers and sister for the golden rule of Ethiopia.
The word of the Lord came again unto me, saying, Son of man, prophesy and say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Howl ye, Woe worth the day! For the day is near, even the day of the Lord is near, a cloudy day; it shall be the time of the heathen. And the sword shall come upon Egypt, and great pain [1] shall be in Ethiopia, when the slain shall fall in Egypt, and they shall take away her multitude, and her foundations shall be broken down. Ethiopia, and Libya, and Lydia, and all the mingled people, and Chub, and the men of the land that is in league, shall fall with them by the sword
Ezekiel 30 1-5
What is one to make of the vituperation of this livid TPLF cadre ‘Molla’ #6?
He doesn’t of course characteristically get it that LIBERTY is more than anything else. That the people are masters of their own destiny. That They know what is best for them. That they should not be killed or murdered just because they want peaceful change. That the people still count their costs. That they never forget the atrocities committed against them by the killers of the regime.
How many thousands have TPLF killed so far? How many tens of thousands have they sent to jail?How many more millions have they subjected to live in fear under their security state?
Why do these authoritarians have the cheek to tediously regurgitate the same mantra that it is only them who can guarantee the security and stability of a country and that it is only them who can bring about the so called economic growth and prosperity?
Why do they become so comically millenarian in their apocalyptic vision that the world will come to an end if they are kicked out of office by the people’s revolution?
Can’t the people through their own democratic representatives therefore do what is infinitely better than the autocrats purportedly achieved despite this paternalistic, spurious and self serving garbage?
They can do that of course. They can do that if unfettered from the thuggish control of the all knowing ‘revolutionary’ Minority regime.
They can cause a development which is fair and equitable and one that is not like the current ‘double digit growth’ that further enriches the Tigrayan millionaire elite with their few accomplices and one that is not hopelessly corrupt. And that why a revolution is imminently required against the ‘revolutionary developmental’ regime!!
I join hands with the courageous Eskinder in ‘INCITING’ our people to follow the paths of their brothers and sisters in North Africa to rebel against the unjust TPLF regime and claim their sovereignty and dignity.
This is the hour. The time is now.
“… Where are your leaders? Where are your parties? ….. Where are you trying to take the country? …”
You see popular and headless revolution drives dictaors nuts. They have no head to chop so they can’t destroy it. Eskinder has hit the bulls eye.:-) The mistake of 2005 was having leaders that did not desrve it. This time every one leads himself and the objective is removing tyrany, from kebele to national level. The march starts at freeing kebele.
what is goal for the uprisizing in Ethiopia? I mean, do we have a clear goal? We don’t even have the same definition to what we call the motherland Ethiopia.So, what is the goal??
Anonymous says [[..take a good lesson from this that no matter how much Woyane is armed and no matter how much one minority ethnic tries to win by blood and terror , the majority will win but we all know it that this fight is not going to be easy.....]]
If we replace Woyane by OLF majority ethnic wins. Right? What then?
That aside, Eskender must know that South Korea had a pro development dictatorship for almost twenty years only to be followed by another dictatorship that ended in a democratic election where the winning candidate was aligned with the previously ruling clique. The now exemplery economic fundamentals of South Korean Economy were settled under dictatorship. Isn’t that right?
We know until 1949 the KMT ruled over China as one party system and after that ruled Taiwan throughout the amazing development of the 1960 and 70′s. It was only in 1989 that a multiparty elections was held.
As Taiwan showed as DICTATORSHIP can move to a DEMOCRACY peacefully and succeed.
Meles is a student of developmental state Economics; he has written a book on that subject with the above countries in the center stage. I am with the opinion that he will most likely move to democracy peacefully.
Eskinder, Dr. Nega,Jawar and others should continue putting out critical opinions with more emphasis on peaceful transition.
Dear may be: I respect your faith. But I don’t agree with you. The Ethiopian people is a God fearing people. All the problems we are enocoulntered now are man made. Some of them are the legacies of colonialism.
The solotution to the problems are here on this planet. Do some research and come up with solution/s.
Dear Eskinder Nega. You are after all a true Ethiopian journalist,freedom fighter and a person who refuse to sale your inner-self or soul in exchange of material wealth at the expense of your country and people.I there fore humbly pay my gratitude to you for the patriotic job you are doing by risking your life.You are one of the greatest journalists which Ethiopia could ever have and you are beyond compare with sale out and cowered so called Ethiopian journalists at home.God bless you and keep you to see the fruit of your hard and bravery work.
To woyanew “Molla”
I first of all would like to tell you that you are NOT MOLLA BUT “godello”,secondly I want you to remember that your so called TPLF is not and never been or shall ever be the way you want it to look like because it is the and has been the way the Ethiopian people both at home and in the diaspora knows as to what it really is(anti-Ethiopia and anti-Ethiopian) that is why there shall be nothing you say or do that can stop the Ethiopian people from tearing it(TPLF) apart.
As honorable Eskinder Nega put it boldly this time around the TPLF shall not save or protect it self from the wrath of the Ethiopian people as it did in the after math of the 2005 election,because the current wave of political change in north Africa and the middle east is teaching a great lesson to the west to side with the oppressed people than a few chosen dictators.There fore I urge you to prepare your self to see the day when the Ethiopian people brake free from the TPLF captivity, whether one like it or not it is certain that Ethiopians like their counter part human beings in north Africa and the middle east are going to bring the demise of the TPLF and begin to live and lead their Godly given lives that includes our brothers and sisters in Tigray.
UNITED WE STAND!
LONG LIVE ETHIOPIA!
#24 you hit the nail right on the head, straight. What a brain power. a reminder to these indolent blind supporters that they can not continue playing on people’s life. they will be consumed for good.
#27, thank you. I am not what you call a fanatic religious individual that is consumed with bible study and prayer meetings five times a week or a day. Lately. I’ve started reading my bible because of all the evil going on in Ethiopia under one evil possessed man for two decades, even though our Christian and Muslim Ethiopians are God fearing and peaceful people, I started praying and asking for answer. Now, I am so convinced from what I have been reading, that the end of evil Meles is very near. Just this early morning alone, I read from a chapter that I didn’t even know it existed in the Bible: Lamentations 5.
The goal is freedom to choose as an individual. No more liberation tyranny. Ethiopians will have that freedom and the definition can’t get any simpler than that. @tazabi
What can I say Eskindir! Thank you for the wonderful article!
I have only stated a simple fact that EN is in Ethiopia and writes all these inflamatory articles without being persecuted. Actually he is playing with fire, because his comments are calling for violent popular revolt against the government, and that is unconstitutional. Besides I do not know whether he sees himslef as an opposition figure or a journalist, it seems to me that he rather is the latter.
The opposition’s understanding of democracy seems to be insulting everybody with whom they disagree. I simply state that we are witnessing unprecedented development, peace and stability in our beloved Ethiopia. Friend and foe are learning to respect Ethiopia, not only because of our disciplined armed forces, but also because they see that we are determined in our effort to eradicate poverty. I don’t deny that we are still poor, but we are moving in the right direction under this administration, and I say why change the horse in the middle of the race! Now I expect a sober / civilized argument that states alternative programms and individuals. It easy to talk the talk….
Eskinder is free to write in Ethiopia how ever ceditious his view may be a testament to the democracy we have in Ethiopia. The difference between Egypt and Ethiopia or Libya and Ethiopia is that Eskinder would have been mumified long a ago in Egypt and and vapourised in Libya as fast as he wrote the first article. Eskinder was not a journalist and he is never going to be, he is a poitician who has been using journalism as a cover for promoting his individual/isolated view. Recently he cried wolf so he can preempt and make him self a martyr for the the comming sceditious work he has been planning. What do ou think will save his ass if he is charged according to the law and put away for life? Is he going to say he fought for democracy when he abused the rights guaranted by the constitution in a democractic country and he called for an overthrow of a government by viloence? Do you think any journalist in the west will be tolorated for a second if he/ she call for violence against their government? Forget that and ask yourselves why is Julian Asange the wikileaks guy being persecuted and why would the USA want to charge him for the information he posted? He did not steal the informtion and posting information given to one as long as it comes from another source is not a crime. But his crime is the damaging effect of his action on the USA and those mentioned in the leaks. Some actions taken by individuals or groups may appear inoccus or democratic rights but when it is putting the well being of a country or people in danger, it can not be and is not protected by law. This said the colaraly between the North African countries and Ethiopia drawn by Eskinder is foolish at best and detrimental to his “proffesion” at worst.
Diaspora can dream on a revolution in the bars of 18th St/Colombia ave. in Washington DC. and Ethiopians in major towns of Ethiopia are daily geting up for the daily grind in life.
This article lacks the grasp of the attributes associated with the multi-layer, hierarchical political model of TPLF/eprdf and its mirror image Medrek/fdd/fdre in making comparisons between Meles and Gahdafi as authoritarians on the internal politics. It also lacks the perspective of geopolitical positioning of the leaders of the these two countries to to the global economy to the west as well as the alliance on war on terrorism, instead of hammering on behavioral analysis of these leaders.
Are you bluffing that TPLF/eprdf will go down because of the defection of cabinet members, particularly Ambasadors, as if it did not happen before. Which political parties and/or factions are geared to bring about change: is UDJP, and or/Medrek in terms of dismantling the ethnic and secessionist politics and or policies of TPLF/eprdf regime, which led to ethnic dictarship, ethnic federalism and ethnic secessionism upto independence a cause for endless skirmishes of war?
The lesson to be drawn for Ethiopian political parties is that of South African freedom fighters from the Afirikaners that institituted the apparteid system of governance and/or adminstration, not from Egypt or Libiya. Although one might adopt from the Egyptian revolutionaries the Non-violence reaction to democracy, which in our case translates to economic and political freedom and liberty of individuals.
As a precursor, the opposition parties must align themselves to the same goals for unity, territorial integrity, sovereignity of Ethiopia and Ethithiopians with a strategy of Non-volence reaction to freedom of the individuals. Unless that commitment is in place all these talks in the media fall into the cracks.
In what place are you happiest?
“Ethiopia and Addis Ababa.”
“I love Ethiopia and I want the best for it. I have a great interest in politics and I hope to contribute in order to develop a country with better welfare for its people.”
These were answers given by the great Haile Gebreselassie to Financial Times. So, what can we learn from that? Well, for starters Haile prides himself as an Ethiopian as they come. We also know how successful and rich Haile is. With his star power and money he can afford to live anywhere else in the world he wants to. No, Haile is choosing Ethiopia for only one thing – the love of his country. Would this have been possible under conditions which you guys are talking about? The answer is NO. The reason for this is that because the conditions are conducive enough for him to establish and succeed as entrepreneur in his own country. He will tell you how he doesn’t see eye to eye with the government on so many issues, but he accepts this as the nature of the beast and he moves on. He should be a role model to so many of you how to be a contributing force rather than a destructive one. You are trying your best to tear down what is achieved through a lot of hard work and brilliant leadership of PM Zenawi. Why do you think all the artists who used to reside in the west are going back to Ethiopia in bunches? Why is then so many investors betting to put their hard earned money in a country which was known for war, hunger and dictatorship? We have a charismatic and able leader in Zenawi which we need to be proud of. He’s not the one who needs to be lectured by the western governments at any issue. He can stand his ground with deft of intellect unheard of in Africa’s corrupt leadership hierarchy. If I were you, I listen carefully to what Molla has said in his comments. Instead of spitting out your hatred by accusing him of being this and that you will be better served if you fellow his wisdom. Don’t crown yourself as representative of all Ethiopians from the comfort of your living room. You don’t even come close to be a representative of one segment of the society which are living peacefully in the county. That’s how out of touch you are. Try to be counted and to contribute to the betterment of all Ethiopians. There is enough room for disagreement and enough common cause in today’s Ethiopia to be such a destructive force. The country is moving in unbelievable pace towards development. Throw all your talking points which are provided to you by the so called intellectuals. They were only good for the yesterday’s Ethiopia. This is different era and different times. Don’t try to play a politician who you are not. Don’t pretend to be an economist who you don’t have no clue what you are talking about. Don’t try to emulate the lawyers when you don’t have the mind and the temperament to be one. Don’t, don’t, don’t!!! Go ahead and call me names. You seem to be content to hear only your own echo. Good luck and good night!!!!!! The train of advancement is moving at a crisp pace to no return. Long live Ethiopia and its’ true children.
We will be having 12 new countries in East Africa very soon. Revolution never brought democracy any where except chos. We will see soon what Revolution and revolt brought to Egypt or Tunisia. Eskindir I wish you have the moral compus and intellegence to know what you try to achive.
Aka molla is a medieval aristocrat who will have us travel in time to that era. He seems to be graduate of Dedebit, and believes he can impose his skewed version of democracy upon Ethiopians in the twentieth century.
Molla! I hear what you are saying, irrespective of what you are saying which is free enteprise and democracy for TPLF and TPLF affiliated enteprises, the non viloence reaction to freedom the silent majority of Ethiopians are engaged in and need to be engaged is to remove autocracy, ethnocracy, ethnic dictatorship, totalitalitarism, ethnic fedrealasim to be replaced with state fedralism to which Eritrea would a paticippant to achieve individual political and political freedom and liberty with individual property ownership free of ethnic and secessionist politics and or policies, supported by the teletafi and loyalist opposition parties and the exploitation and political and economic stranglehold of the country’s resources and its silent majority.
Eskender, Thank you for showing us courage! We need people like you. We all have to help in any way we can. Dear Ethiopians, please ignore these Weyane Hode-aders. They as usual are trying to use the scare tactic. Don’t they know the scare tactic is no longer works? We will no more be fooled. We will no more be treated as a second class citizen in our own country. We will no more be divided based our ethnicity. We are all Ethiopians from North to South. We are tired of You. Enough! Get the hell out! Dictators always think, their case is different. Like expected they are telling us the situation between Egypt and Ethiopia is different. I agree the situation in Ethiopia is worse.
2011 is the end of Dictators around the world!
To molla brother
This government
1. Have lost confidence on people
2. Thought that eprdf is the only group of people who is looking after the future of Ethiopia
3. Fear any revolution in the world for e.g. the orange revolution and the Tunisia-Egypt revolution
4. Fears any strong opposition group and individuals
5. Fears strong artists and journalists
6. Loves division among the people
7. Loves to ignite fighting
8. Loves half Eritreans (all in key government positions)
9. Don’t like Diaspora
10. Don’t like strong questions (e.g. why?)
11. Don’t like forest
12. Don’t like land on the territory(sell it or give it to neighbors)
her
Dear Eskinder, Iread your article with great difficulty and I do not like your chice of words . By having said this let me say something that you may strongly disagree with me . I am prety sure that you and I will agree at some where and let us pave the way that to happen . In any case, let me start to your wishful thinking and what it will bring to us . The Egyptians fought king Farouk and brought the military led by Gamal Abdil Nasir and this time the people fought bravely the remnants of the same regime led by Husni Mubark & replaced him with the same military junta . It was and is very unfortunate and have sad endings . Why this happened? Because there was no leadership . It is very sad that the people’s power was snatched twice one in 1952 and in 2011 . Dear Eskinder I do not know how much you remember the 1974 Ethiopian revolution . In 1974 we demonstrated in every corner of the country specialy in Jima, Harer Asmara, Bale, Awasa, Yirgalem, Arbaminich, Mekele & Nazret led by the Ethiopian Teachers Association . The Ethiopian teachers Association paid a heavy price for its role & the resolution that it unanimously passed in its tenth congress in Jima . The late King emperor Haile Sellsai was un able to control the up risinig . At that particular time had we been prepared, we could have formed a transitional people’s government . So what happened was the well organized and armed to the teeth military came in and snatched the power . Our short lived friendship with the derg soared and it did not take the derg to show its barbaric nature . It seems to me that we never learn from our past mistake and so did the Egyptions . Like the Ethiopian criminal Junta derg the Egyptioan army the one that was hailed as the peole’s friend three weeks ago in 2011 started beating, chasinig, and harassing the peceful demonstrators in less than three weeks after it seize and consolidated its power . Why this happened? This is because in 60 years the Egyption people are leaderless and the opposition was in name only and the people power slipped away to the well organized army for the second time . Dear Eskinder you want the military to side the people and that is fine . As it is alaways once the military assume power, that is the end of the uprising and the begiining of the new brutal regime . We do not want that to happen . We need to have very organized parties those who can unite and bring us together . Most people including me are very sensitives and our emerging and merging parties have the utmost responsibility to lead us to power . They have to embrace us and not to divide us . We must guard ourselves in worshping individuals and avoid cult building . Dear Eskinder, you want to lead and to what end? What we need is parties that can mobilize us to a very specific goal . The people of our fourteen provinces rise up and over throw the TPLF/EPLF tribalist regime . There after, we should be able to form a transitional people,s government . One more thing before I bore you that is we Ethiopians are highly divided than 1974 . You may ask how many parties do we need? As far as I know we do not need more than 4-5 . An ethinic group can not and will never be a party . Any party that emerge and merge should be the party of the people of our forteen provinces . If we do this with a clear goal, we will be victorious and we will over come our misery. In the end, Molla is entitled to his opinion and has evry right like every one of us to be heard his voice . Selam Tena Yestligne !
ጎበዝ በርታ ተነሳ!!!በቃ!!!!.
God bless Gadafi and God bless Ethiopia, its hell here in America so be happy Ethiopia and stop worrying for the Lord is good and better than you will ever try to be.
To “werner2010,derbew and Ethiopian.”
You are all a bunch of TPLF stooges,don’t you dare lecture us about democracy,economic development, journalism,rule of law,how charismatic and holy the anti-Ethiopia/n fascist Melese is,about the sale out(hodam)azmaries who have returned from exile in the west to Ethiopia etc……
You all ought to remind yourselves that TPLF’s days are numbered,since its inception up today TPLF remained being anti-Ethiopia,anti-Ethiopians,anti-democracy ethnocentric dictatorial,and all its crimes which it has and continue committing against Ethiopia as a country and Ethiopians as people make it to be the only home grown traitor and sooner than later it shall held accountable for all what it did,that would when you stooges have to prove your selves as advocates of TPLF by standing and defending your master in crime.
Whether you stooges like it or not your TPLF is in the verge of collapse and once the wrath of the Ethiopian people explodes all over Ethiopia it is certain that TPLF shall be consumed and there shall be nothing you hodams say or do that can help save it.Time is up for you all the anti-Ethiopians and Victory is around the corner for all the oppressed Ethiopians.Cry you cowered vampires because you are about to vomit the blood of the Ethiopian people which you have been sucking for over three decades.Ethiopians have faith by “Egzeeabihere”that he shall help us free our selves from TPLF captivity.
UNITED WE STAND!
LONG LIVE ETHIOPIA!