We may have deserved what we got

By Wondem Wolde-Emanuel

December 30, 2005

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Have you wondered, like I always do, why we are ruled by brutes and authoritarians like Mengistu and Meles in succession? Will our fate continue to be one of the same or are we determined to change it? Do we get surprised when some politicians and organizational leaders insist and persist they will lead us, even when we say thank you and good-bye.

They, and not us, know what is good for us! It is also an insult to the chosen ones to be told they have to step down or retire from a position they hold and believe that they have earned it for life – until they decide to give it up themselves, mostly when they die or flee the country for good. Do you question yourself how some loyalists and collaborators of brute leaders who have been instrumental in the oppression of citizens for many years desert their once beloved masters for selfish personal reasons, condemn them for their atrocities, join very well established political parties or form new ones and end up in leadership positions, in no time? They never had to prove to us they have been rehabilitated. As if we do not have more than enough capable leaders, the new comers with such questionable and unacceptable track records become privy to the ins and outs of our operations and raise their stocks to become useful moles. By making empty noises and appearing worthy opponents, they water down the struggle and internationally legitimize the rule of brute regimes in portraying the dictators as democratic and tolerant. They cause divisions within the camp by splitting parties, unions and coalitions. They also embezzle money they collect to strengthen the struggle.

Meles Zenawi, who has been accused of cowardice for avoiding battles and even known to have murdered dissenting, but moderate comrades, in cold blood, finally became head of state and still maintains his criminally gained position. Meles was making babies against the rules and regulations of his ethnic organization while others were dying for ‘his’ cause, an offense that might have costed a life to a poor and ordinary TPLF fighter.There is no need to mention his treasonous acts against the Nation and its people as we all are familiar with them.

It seems it is in our culture to admire and follow ‘decisive’ leaders who tend to settle differences quickly and violently than use discussions and concessions. Even those who submit to the powerful or the victor sometimes had to publicly humiliate themselves to be forgiven. One who believes in or seeks negotiations and compromises as an amicable solution to any political, economic, social, religious and other differences is not considered “man” enough to lead. I believe, we very seldom admired, commended, and taught to the children of the Nation skills like that of Emperor Menelik’s or Itege Taitu’s diplomatic savvy and talent and also the art of fair and just governance that earned him the nick name “IMIYE”. Atse HaileSelassie’s regime, God bless his soul, has done so much injustice to such historical achievements of prior leaders by not allowing them to be incorporated in our educational system, for fear of being overwhelmed or overshadowed by them.

If we want to truly alter the trend, we must examine our beliefs, change and/or adjust our attitudes. To begin with, we can put term limits to the services of our politicians; whether they are organizational leaders or hold a publicly elected office. We cannot compare and contrast individuals to determine who better represents our interests unless the contenders are given equal chance to serve in those positions and are rigorously tested and scrutinized. It would also help to avoid grave mistakes they might commit in destroying precious lives and scarce resources and hold them legally responsible.

We have to have preventative instruments and processes in place to screen and avoid potential dictators and ensure the establishment and maintenance of democratic practices. We gain nothing out of blaming our Creator, the unlucky stars that we are born under or the culprits themselves when we must take charge of our own destiny. We can dump the dead beats or dictators before they seize such critical positions and do too much harm to citizens and the nation. Most of the time, our blind loyalty and subservient behavior encourages these crooks to believe they are the best and irreplaceable discoveries. WE MUST ONLY BE LOYAL TO PRINCIPLES AND NEVER TO HUMAN BEINGS!

Members of political parties, who are believed to be more conscious than ordinary citizens have been the main cause for wrongly grooming, promoting and putting autocrats on the conveyor belt, in their respective organizations, to elevate them to the head of state position.Time and again, individuals have proven to us that they are fallible. Meles has never been on the right track and is always found on a mission of a fool’s errand. He has never been a tail light, let alone a head light.These poor souls without the right training, exposure and experience are negatively influenced, lose their minds and act wild when they seize unlimited power and sit on vast public wealth that they do not know what to do with. This is one very important negative character response of human beings that we always must not forget.That is why even civilized nations have checks and balances. It is to harness their politicians and prevent them from going astray. If countries with so much democratic experience and practice do that, is it not a must for fledging democracies or beginners like ourselves to follow suit? While it is a good culture to accord leaders with proper respect, it is condescending and sends the wrong message to those who do not have a speck of humility, like Meles and Mengistu, that they are above us all, beyond reproach and criticism when we treat them like God.

As a remedy, we can use radio and TV programs for adults and teach our children from grade school that it is not a weakness to settle differences in a peaceful manner: by discussion, negotiation and compromise.We must teach them to ask questions and defend their rights and not be timid. Being respectful does not mean that one has to be afraid of individuals. Political parties can hold seminars, orientations, monitor and evaluate progress of individuals to qualify as members or for an upward mobility within their organizations. New political aspirants must demonstrate in debates and their daily political participation, in and outside of their respective outfits, that they have the ability and demeanor to tolerate differences, criticisms and settle them in a peaceful and ‘civilized’ manner. We can not only write organizational rules and regulations as well as constitutional laws, but make sure that such democratic administration policies, procedures and processes are always adhered to and practiced. Ruling for life and beyond through children or hand picked surrogates, without being elected by the public, must be prohibited and rejected. We have to state, in unwavering terms, and always make sure the assignment of power to individuals or groups as well as to relieve them of their responsibilities is the sole ownership of the majority of the public and not of any single person or group. Making the armed forces and security apparatus neutral from serving individuals is essential. Separation of the three branches of government is key to avoid absolute authority, and thereby, oppression.

Now that Meles’ one foot is out of the Menelik Palace, we must guarantee ourselves that we do not become prey to another dictator. We must know and scrutinize our future leaders. We have to have the above and other pertinent safety guards in place. We must establish a neutral and independent body as a watch dog group that we can trust and listen to, when things start to go wrong and before it is out of control. We have to make sure that we can freely criticise our leaders without fear and evaluate them honestly and objectively.We must repeatedly remind leaders and make them understand that scrutiny and criticisms are part of the job description of becoming a public figure and must not be taken personal. Those without such temperament should stay away from politics. Resorting to violating human and democratic rights as opposed to presenting one’s case to the public attention or the rule of law must be totally unacceptable and harshly punishable.We must never allow or tolerate murderers and treasonous individuals commit crimes against humanity and the Nation to flee and enjoy life in their new place of refuge.We must abolish this ‘incentive’ and alternative by all means possible. While international and domestic laws of nations, mostly approved by autocratic leaders do not support to hand over such killers and swindlers, as it affects them most, they have extradition laws for regular and ordinary criminals.

To be honest, I feel we unnecessarily cry foul when we can design the means and ways of being in charge to totally control our future and the methods by which we are governed. Unfortunately, even those of us who consider ourselves democrats are influenced by undemocratic and violent traits, friendships and other relationships, tribal affiliations or partisanship instead of loyalty to the nation and people. As evidenced repeatedly, we have not yet totally extricated ourselves from such mixed baggages. The culture of warfare and the elimination of opponents by chasing them to the end that we have been taught, the love and respect we have for decisive leaders who take charge of situations immediately without consultation or majority decision are our Achilles heels. Leaders like Tewodros that we love and respect have lived doing what their time and conditions demanded. Even in their short governance, their aim was for their Country and people to become a force to be reckoned with, their living standards to be better and the history of their country to stand tall. We should respect and not criticize them for that. We live in a different era that requires a different type of governance. We must recognize this and quickly adjust to administer ourselves in a way that we can live in equality, unity and peace, if we want to stay as one nation. Democracy or “one man one vote” is the only vehicle we can ride on to achieve that!

Meles and Mengistu are unique individuals who lack commonsense and have natural deficiencies to become leaders. Even when the majority says enough, they believe it is their right to still impose their will and oppressive rules or punish their subjects severely, if they don’t ‘behave’. AS A RULE OF THUMB, WE MUST NEVER ALLOW ANYONE WHOSE PAST WE DO NOT KNOW TO BECOME OUR LEADER. WE HAVE TO KNOW THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTS : SUCCESSES AND EXECESSES, moods and demeanors in tolerating opposing views.THEIR BIOGRAPHIES MUST BE MADE A PART OF THE PUBLIC RECORD.

The People’s government is like a tri-leg stool. A leader is only one leg – the third one. If the second leg: safety guards to ensure democratic processes of governance are not put in place and controlled by the public, if state machinations do not serve the majority and is in place to be manipulated by dictators, if fair and just laws are not examined, well thought out, deliberated and enshrined in the constitution by the approval of the STRONGEST FIRST LEG, THE MAJORITY; THE STOOL WILL NOT STAND. IT WILL FALL.

Ethiopians must tell Meles in sum and substance that his services are no more needed. We can do better without him. IT IS TIME FOR HIM TO GO!

NOTE: This article may not seem timely. For sure, our priority must be to free our incarcerated leaders and to reenergize our struggle. We cannot afford to repeat the same mistakes and continue to be ruled by successive dictatorships, for a third time in a row. Therefore, the safety guards must be established and practiced simulteneously or must be one big part of our struggle. It is not possible to achieve such guarantee after victory; once an authoritarian usurps power. In addition, TPLFites should not believe that we are despondent , let alone defeated, as they brutally are trying to remind us, in their daily propaganda, that they have won the battle. They must know that we are NOT working only to oust their honcho man, but to ensure that we replace HIS DICTATORIAL REGIME with the PEOPLE’S GOVERNMENT. We are not, in and by itself, against any individual or group. We oppose any oppressive system such as theirs and we do not care who or from what tribe is in the driver’s seat, period!