Fourteen years of silence – What degradation!

By Getachew Reda

February 6, 2006

Ethiopian Protest in Washington DC (Feb 1, 2006)

As I said in my previous contribution TPLF is a proxy colonialist organization. Some of my Ethiopian readers have expressed strong disagreement on that point. Some were indeed furious. However, independently of the reaction of some of my critics, we should calmly analyze the issue of Ethiopian sovereignty and independence since the rise of TPLF to a government power. (1)-We should ask if American decision through Herman Cohen to unilaterally, in the complete absence of the voice of Ethiopia, put Meles and Issayas as rulers of Ethiopia and independent Eritrea. (2)-We have to ask if Ethiopia’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity has been respected.

We may in particular focus on the issue of the Red Sea coast and Meles’ forward push, silencing the voice of the citizens of Ethiopian opposition, depriving Ethiopia of her ancient Red Sea coast rendering her land-locked only to serve imperialist petrol interest. (3)-We may also raise the issue of the tribalist so called “Constitution of Federal Ethiopia” leading to the dismemberment of Ethiopia and the bloody warfare amongst them to facilitate divide and rule. All of such measures have led to the destruction of the Ethiopian economy and the ever-continuing famine.

I have not been getting much chance to read the many good articles produced by many Ethiopians and the foreign press on the Internet lately. However, I had a chance to read few important articles dealing on method to combat the ruling party in Ethiopia, including the struggle with arms and peaceful nonviolent struggle without arms.

No matter how this issue seems to be ignored by many writers or refusal of webmasters to host them for their own different reason, I was always confident, no matter how sensitive the issue is, no matter how we retreat from dealing with violent or non violent struggle of liberation, the issue is not going to fade away as long as there are forces who want to keep the wretched of the earth as their slaves.

The option of the armed struggle for liberation from an oppressor and colonizer, no matter how much oppressors try to disarm the wretched and the oppressed and thus prolong the life of the proxy dictator (slave master/oppressor) the struggle for liberation will continue in one form or another. For any country hold by colonizers or proxy colonizers: to the native, life can only spring up again out of the rotting corps of the settler if the colonizers refused to abandon their colonization through peaceful talks and struggles. As a well known human rights advocate in the 60’s said ” this then is the correspondence, term by term, between the two trains of reasoning, the armed struggle mobilizes the people; that is to say, it throws them in one way and in one direction”.

Peaceful non-violent struggle is one tactic that may be tried to bring about the effective liberation of the people. How can the Ethiopian peaceful struggle and the Indian (Asian) or American peaceful struggle differ is a different topic. To my understanding, the nature of the oppressors might be similar, but the methods and actions the oppressors applied to temper the sovereignty and the right of each citizen is different

Therefore, I will agree with those writers who have the stand to try both ways to see the effectiveness in terms of weighing the time and the degree of humiliation in the struggle. Of course, there are many Ethiopian citizens who say, ” Meles understands nothing but force”. Such view has its won reasoning. Their conclusion came in reaction to repeated declarations by Meles Zenawi and his henchmen, who said, : “We are here by the force o guns and bayonets”, “You go out to the forest and try us one more time”. I am quoting them literally.

Meles as enemy of the Ethiopian people (a proxy colonialist Eritrean agent) analyzes the forces of rebellion, the weaknesses of the opposition who followed peaceful demonstrations (none violence struggle) and studies increasingly carefully how to infiltrate the opposition parties through his spy agents. He is well aware which group/opposition leaders are at his mercy He is well aware also, who is stubborn with courage and who can strike a decisive blow at his tactics and policy of repression. That is exactly why Meles Zenawi gets agitated and nervous when he sees spectacular voluntary demonstrations and strong media outlets among the Ethiopians in the Diaspora in support and in solidarity with nationalist organizations inside Ethiopia, which might soon lead to rebirth of the supreme sovereignty.

Meles has already seen the citizens enter passionately to fight empty handed against his Agazi’s bayonets, therefore, he has all reasons to be agitated for he knows what he did to the sovereignty of the nation as a proxy colonial agent to Eritreans and Arabs and their likes. Many of you have to understand why his masters from outside are trying scandalously tried to accuse the opposition as “violent” and “Neftengas”. This is a well-known colonialist defense to discredit the liberation struggle of popular opposition, which threatens to end their tinted mercantilism in the colonies and the end to the choking of the use of the seaport to the 70,000,000 Ethiopian populations.

Speaking of violence – there is no more violence than the violence of the colonialists and their agents. When the colonialist is threatened by massive popular opposition, it seeks compromise. Compromise may be attractive to and supported by the nationalist bourgeoisie than the poor and desperate who have nothing to loose and so much to gain by changing the system and replacing the brute corrupt proxy colonialist boot with a caring, nationalist and patriotic system. Since some members of the weak national bourgeoisie tribalist and young chauvinist politicians are not clearly aware of the possible consequences of the rising storm, you may see them genuinely afraid of being swept away by this huge hurricane. These are the types of people who are the first to begin negotiations or willing to be softly bend, (as Lidetu Ayalew, Merara, Beyene and the rest of the God sent Angels of the revolution who are willing to sit inside the oppressor’s parliament to liberate us and our people from prison) to the will and the rule the stubborn oppressor. You will also hear some unstable leaders of the peaceful movement accusing the armed struggle as violent and crazy, and betraying them, declare having no connection and nothing to do with them.

Or, you may see the opposition forces dividing and distancing themselves from the disgruntled and aggressive nationalist opposition- following accusation by the brutal oppressor (such as Meles Zenawi of Ethiopia) to the determined peaceful demonstrators in cities and towns as throat-slitters and bomb throwers, knife holders, terrorists and hooligans.

Oppressors always fear a determined and unswerving armed nationalist struggle.. This is because Meles Zenawi knows if the people are armed his troops and his spy network might not freely abuse mothers, elders and school children without paying retaliatory price (justifiable price). It can force him to think twice before ordering the murder of peaceful demonstrators. In many cases, “Force” can open the locked gate of an oppressor than elements with no force of arms. However, thanks to his foreign backers, the oppressor is well armed with sophisticated electronic arms. As Engels said “…the revolver triumphs over the sword,…the arms manufacturer, triumphs over the producer of primitive weapons..” We are in an era where colonialist superpowers and their proxy dictators are equipped with sophisticated electronic weapons abusing the weak oppressed subjects.

This is the existing reality, that all of us are witnessing. Therefore, in the Ethiopian context, the groups calling themselves TPLF/EPLF…are intimidating the population and abdicating their sovereign rights through fake harmful international agreements without the will of the people. This happens, because, the people are disarmed and TPLF/EPLF guerrilla gangs are well equipped and armed. Here we are dealing with the most vicious group ever heard in the history of Africa with complete disregard to its ancestral law and sovereignty issue. Any struggle that deals with national sovereignty is bound to be accompanied by armed struggle to safeguard the well being of the nation. Without a balanced force, peaceful cry is not going to address the issue effectively- since the game is all along a game of conspiracy.

Few people have tried to address the population on the media in order to expose the true nature of the ruling clique. It is a group lead and dominated by elements who are fully in favor of Eritrean guerrilla’s demand and policy than to serve the Ethiopian people’s demand. We conclude therefore, the system in Ethiopia is a proxy colonialist system (Can some one tell me, if the Americans are truly peace brokers, why
They are sending their officers to Eritrea and Ethiopia every morning to settle the border issue of Badime and the rest than to deal with the real issue of the sea ports or to tell Melles and Isayas who keep on arresting and murdering citizens to step down and transfer the power to the will of the people? What a camouflage! What a scandal!

Further, I say TPLF/EPRDF is a proxy colonialist regime because by its very structure, colonialism is separatist and regionalist. When we also research every administrative structure and the policy TPLF/EPRDF implemented in Ethiopia for the last fourteen years, it is open evidence the Meles lead government is separatist and regionalist. Colonialism does not simply state the existence of tribes; it also reinforces it and separates them.

TPLF/EPRDF leaders and their policy do not only state the existence of tribes (nation, nations and people?); it also reinforces it and separates them. The colonial system encourages confraternities among different tribes. TPLF/EPRDF ethnic policy too encourages confrontation, hate and conflict among the different language speaking Ethiopian citizens. Shockingly, Meles government tried its policy to be copied and implemented in Somalia and other African countries after it came to power in 1991. Former Colonialist countries urged other African countries to follow TPLF/EPRDF policy to solve ETHNIC conflict, and honored ‘Meles and Isayas’ as the young democrats, and new friends of the West and hope of Africa.

In a proxy colonial system, colonial officers work with local mercenaries to beef up its policy of conflict to divide and rule. TPLF/EPRDF also beef up its close relation with what Ethiopian nationalist/patriots calls them “Banda/Hodam” to implement its policy of division to stay in power. The different between Colonialist and that of TPLF colonial policy in today’s Ethiopia might be in the following administrative nature. That is- the old Colonial system encourages chieftaincies and keeps alive the confraternities. Violence is in action all-inclusive and national.

In today’s TPLF’s Ethiopia, the tribal chieftains are known as “Presidents” . The conflict and violence is encouraged to continue among the different neighboring ethnic language speaking groups, not among the presidents of each KELILS (Bantusta type administration). It is also worth mentioning Ethiopia is divided in nine ethnic States- namely KELIL- (just as the Italian colonialist designed it in the past linguistically). Each has its own designed State flags. The nine presidents (chieftains) of the TPLF ethnic administrative are assigned, lead and supervised by a single man namely “Meles Zenawi (a proxy colonial leader).

Since the current TPLF/EPRDF chiefs/presidents are not elected and honored by local people, their aim is not to rule them, as the system of a the old “customary chieftains wanted to subject them only and only by them alone. As stated above, their representation is for one man; Meles Zenawi. In addition, their goal: to rule violently, to subject the people to the head chief Meles Zenawi’s designed tribalism policy. In order to rule them easily, the entire mission of the tribal policy is to encourage blood/language related administration and liquidate the unity of the country. This is all in the nature of a colonial administrative system.

There is nothing that TPLF did not introduce in its policy that the old time colonial policy did not. Every single line of its policy is a colonial replica. Colonialist shamelessly asserted that if the country is de-colonized, the country would turn to chaos and misery. TPLF/EPRDF also repeatedly claims the same propaganda. Meles and his confidants claimed they are the living God and care taker of the country. Meles and his cadres believe, the conscience of the people can only function only if TPLF rulers and their policy are at the helms of power.

TPLF/EPRDF and the old colonialists powers dismissed as “violent” any civil empty-handed, unarmed disobedience movement as the ones seen in Addis and elsewhere, against the well-armed abusive force of TPLF/EPRDF. They labeled the peoples reaction to abusive rule as the protest of hooligans and reactionaries /bandits/ terrorist elements or Amhara/Neftenga elements. Neftenga as I many times stated – it is a racists way to code name to the Amhra given by TPLF and OLF leaders as the Eritreans have a code name for us to the Tigrayans as “Agame”.

How did TPLF come to power and who is supporting it to abuse the Ethiopian people so freely. Who is behind this conspiracy and treasonous crime against the Ethiopian a nation of 70,000,000? The West!

When the native is spied, tortured, and killed just because he claimed the secession of Eritrea and the land locking of Ethiopia as illegal and injustice, or when citizens protest for system change or protest for abuse to stop, or when his wife is raped and when her husband or brother is murdered by abusive troops, where should the native appeal? The oppressor’s government can set up a commission of inquiry and information daily if it wants to; in the eyes of the Ethiopians, these commissions do not exist. The fact is that soon we shall have had seen years of crime in Ethiopia and there has not yet been a single TPLF/EPRDF’man brought to justice for illegally arresting thousands or for the murder of peaceful demonstrators, the arrest and murder of artists, poets, authors, press people and ordinary citizens.

The army that is committing such human violation is uniformed army. Some might be fooled by the dress code of the modern army. However, weighing their cruelty and violence against the citizens, one has to conclude such brute force is not the people’s army but a group of wayside bandits. It is daytime fact, that these brute forces are trained and equipped mainly by Americans, Britain, Germany and the rest. The elements currently in power are directed and supported by the mentioned powers; therefore, it is reasonable to say TPLF/EPRDF is a proxy colonialist/ Banda in the service of these powers. In other wards, Ethiopians are daily murdered and arrested and abused illegally and unjustly by Meles and his spy machine and with the direct or indirect cooperation of the above-mentioned governments. This is also, what motivated this time thousands of Ethiopians across the globe protesting against the military and financial support of foreign governments to Meles Zenawi of Ethiopia. We are now in this fresh juncture. The role of foreign forces is so clearly seen in Ethiopia than in any other country. The foreign forces justify their support to Meles saying they do it to convert old Communist Cadres to Baptized Capitalist Cadres.

What is shocking too is- to see Western governments living in systems of democracy where ” majority vote wins”, reject who wins the majority vote in clean elections in the so called third world because they prefer to keep their puppet. This is what is happening currently in Palestine of the PLO (the old enemy of Ethiopia who trained Eritrean fighters and Mujahadeens against Ethiopia). Some members of the PLO close to Israel and the West and the West itself are not happy with Hamas, the winner of the majority vote of the Palestine people. Giving variety reasons for their rejection is contrary to the rule of the game. Nevertheless, when it comes to the Ethiopian people to reject their man in power, the tone will be “Take a sit in his parliament”! Don’t you think the globe is witnessing the funeral of democracy?

How can a poor country such as Ethiopia build a valid economy in the service of its people when masked proxy forces are directed by foreign governments? How can these poor countries be masters of their destiny feed their starved population and free themselves from a variety of obstacles, if everything is decided elsewhere, outside their knowledge, without their permission and their participation? Ethiopians at this time understand more than ever before the masked proxy forces in the forefront, with foreign forces behind manipulating them. The population is well aware, because the good old strong granite block upon which the nation rest enters in to open conflict with a strange phenomenon.

The police and the army suppose to be the peoples’ army constitute the pillars of the regime (another rule which must not be forgotten) and are advised by foreign experts. The army and it’s the undercover spy officers of the regime are so viciously brutal by train and gets nervous and agitated when faced by simple commonplace protest of peaceful demonstration and starts machine-gunning:

The mass slaughter in Addis Ababa and elsewhere by these forces has created an embryonic development of patriotic consciousness in the soul of the victim’s family and the nation. We (few of us) have been saying for so long that such forces have never constituted a national army but a party army, which was and still is trained and indoctrinated by party cadres in power to quench their bloodthirsty and corrupt financial interests.

Many of the official of the regime’ grew rich, their wives doll themselves up, some members of the parliament feather their nests and there is no a soul down to the simple policeman or custom officer who does not join in the great procession of corruption. The rule is clear- how else can civil servant with less income survives when the big vultures openly reaped off the big pie, in a country where the picture of theeat wealth is surrounded by the greater poverty. These young national bourgeoisie hardly worries at all about such indictment with its wave length tuned to Europe and America for more luxuries orientation in continents where the rich and the powerful leads and decides the fate of the poor.

It is sad that many “Patriotic leaders” (both genders) are under arrest and currently suffering in jail. We are demanding for their release without any precondition. Fourteen years of silence, what degradation! Moreover, your silence is all to no avail; today, the sun is out at its zenith; it lights up the whole country. In addition, no mask can protect the face of mercenaries from the merciless glare of the people’s sun. . A Free nation? No, we are not free yet!!