To start with introductory remarks, I am an Ethiopian
by birth and a German by citizenship. As indicated
above, I currently live in Kolen, Germany as a
refugee. The name I carry as Belai Zeleke is not my
real name, but a pen name. I just wanted to
reincarnate Belai, one of the leading Ethiopian
patriots, who won the fierce battle against Italian
invading forces in mid-1930s, in Ethiopia.
Although Ethiopia is not now under a colonial rule,
and liberated itself from Italian invasion,71 years
ago, the country is still under seemingly foreign
occupation force, it is high time that we reincarnated
our people’s heroes and heroines. Hence was the
necessity for carrying the name. Belai Zelelke- a
national hero from Gojjam region.
In this brief article and two subsequent articles, I
shall endeavor to draw similarities between India of
the 1920’s, and Ethiopia of 2005; India, in the 1920s
was engulfed in a peaceful struggle against British
colonial rule, and Ethiopia since June,2005 has
embarked on a similar nonviolent (peaceful movement)
against the current regime, characterized as one of
the leading dictatorial regimes in the world.
In India, the Indian National Congress, under the
leadership of Mahatma Gandhi , led the peaceful
movement against the harsh British rule; while in
Ethiopia, the Coalition for Unity and Democracy Party
(CUDP), the main opposition party which defeated the
ruling party in many urban areas of the country,
leading the popular movement of Ethiopians for genuine
democracy and national unity.
Gandhi and his close associates and followers were
arrested and released several times throughout their
25- years of formidable struggle to liberate their
country from British colonialism, while the CUDP
leaders and their followers have been arrested and
thrown into jails by the dictatorial regime of Meles
Zenawi.
Mahatma Gandhi had taught his fellow compatriots
about the merits of non-cooperation and civil
disobedience, while the CUDP core leaders in Ethiopia
have taught Ethiopians abut peaceful struggle, in
their last ditch effort, before they were incarcerated
by the hated regime. As Gandhi had given out the
blue-print for peaceful struggle so did the CUDP
leaders. As Mahatma Gandhi has led the peace full
struggle in to two phases – non- cooperation and civil
disobedience, the CUDP leaders on their party in
Ethiopia, have also trailed the forms of the struggle
to be conducted by the people of Ethiopia.
Gandhi disseminated his Ideas and teachings via the
weekly newspapers of his own, through the meetings and
resolutions of the Indian National Congress, and
through verbal communications; while the CUDP leaders
have disseminated their ideas on peaceful struggle ,
through the Amharic program which were broadcast by
the Voice of America and radio Deutsche velle. This
shows that Gandhi had relative freedom of conscience
under the British colonial rule, while the CUDP
leaders had none in the dictatorial regime. Hence,
they were forced to broadcast and publicize their
ideas and the modes operandi of the peaceful struggle
through the mass media owned by the USA and Germany,
the country I am living in. This situation vividly
demonstrates the kind of democracy the regime of
Ethiopia purports about.
In Ethiopia, since June 2005 when peaceful
demonstrators were massacred by the security agents of
the regime, the twinkling democracy has been stamped
out; the door which was opened little by the regime ,
for the election period, has been closed and sealed
personally by Meles Zenawi.
Mahatma Gandhi received fair treatment when he was
brought to a court and subsequently thrown into jail;
while CUDP leaders have been herded into unbearable
condition at the prison house. The honorable Hailu
Shawl, did not get medical treatememnt for a long
time until the arrival of the EU commissioner in
Addis Ababa. Although the commissioner tried to
mediate between the government and the main opposition
party, the tyrant, Meles Zenawi showed
stubborn position towards the release of the CUDP
leaders. Gandhi was given due respect by the judge who
presided over his charge; while Professor Mesfin
Wolde-Mariam, the human rights activist and founder of
the Ethiopian Human Rights Council, was humiliated
and ridiculed by the judge, Adil Ahmed. Not
only this, the CUDP leaders, the last cream of the
society are also handcuffed , whenever they are
brought to the Kangaroo court of Meles Zenawi. It is
humiliating indeed to observe such a situation in
Ethiopia specially at this time when the consciousness
of the people has grown by leaps and bounds.
Gandhi had no restriction over newspapers and books
which he received from friends and visitors. He was
not denied the freedom to meet with anybody he liked.
Gandhi considered the prison house as a rest place
where he enjoyed a lot of freedom to read books, to
fast, to contemplate and meditate over various ideas
concerning his motherland. It was in Yerveda prison
house where he read over a hundred books; where he
amassed a lot of knowledge which later on helped him
to struggle with iron will.
The CUDP leaders are languishing behind Meles
Zenawi’s bars deprived of their human rights. Can one
imagine where hundred eleven prisoners of
consciousness can take bath in one shower room,
specially at this century when human rights should be
protected. Can one understand the deprivation of the
CUDP leaders of not having legal counseling at this
century?
Coming back to the similarity which I tried to draw
between India and Ethiopia; Ethiopia like India is one
of the ancient countries of the world. It has a three
thousands years of history. India is the second
populous country in the world: while Ethiopia has the
second largest population in Africa. While Pakistan had
seceded from India on Aug.14,1947, on the eve of
Indian Independence , Eritrea did the same in May
1991. While there are many nationalities in India with
different cultures and languages; Ethiopia is also in
similar situation. In Ethiopia there are more than
eighty nationalities and one hundred dialects while
India has about 28 different languages and 250
dialects.
India has a cast system, while Ethiopia has prejudice.
India in the 1960s had a famine problem, while
Ethiopia is currently witnessing famine in some parts
of the country. India has long ago achieved self
sufficiency in food, while Ethiopia is still under the
mercy of food donors. India got food aid from the USA
under president Nixon, while Ethiopia is still
seeking food aid mainly from the USA under President
George W.Bush
India repulsed the attack by Pakistan, while Ethiopia
did the same against Eritrea during the 1998-2000 war
of aggression unleashed by dictator Issais Afiworki.
India is nuclear power led by president Dr. A.P.J
Abdul Kalam and prime Minster Dr.Mohansin Singh;
while Ethiopia is led by the president Girma
Wold-Giorgis and Prime Minster Meles Zenawi. The
Indian chief executives are leading Physicist and
Economist; while Ethiopia is led by undergraduates.
Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam is a father of atomic Energy of
India, while Dr. Mohansin Singh is a leading economist
who served as governor of the Reserve Bank of India
and finance Minster. President Girma is First
Lieutenant and Prime Minster Meles was a pre-medicine
student at the Addis Ababa University . Compare the
situation where we, Ethiopians, are in.
India is a nuclear power and one of the leading
economies in the developing world, while Ethiopia is
the fourth from the bottom of the least of developed
countries. India has successfully carried out a green
revolution, while Ethiopia is behind under a lopsided
economic development program.
In the subsequent article (Part Two), I will try to
portray the main features of Mahatma Gandhi’s
non-cooperation and civil-disobedience, and their
application to the Ethiopian situation.
Victory to all those who are struggling for the
prevalence of democracy in Ethiopia!!!
