Continuous calls from the opposition for reconciliation, tolerance, unity, and respect for the
people’s vote were arrogantly dismissed. Democratic beginnings taking hold after several years
of abusive rule were instantly reversed and today, the country finds itself facing an uncertain
future.

The rogue regime openly suppressed democratic rights and terrorized the population for favoring
the opposition in the May election. Although the government used every means to muffle their
voice, the people showed their discontent by organizing peaceful demonstrations to restore their
rights. But the government, knowing that it has little support, pursued to quell the peaceful
uprising by savagely intimidating the population.

As Ethiopians struggled to gain their freedom and dignity, the portion of the world that claims to
be civilized reacted to this blatant assault on democracy with the usual contempt. Sometimes,
with stoic indifference and often, with meddlesome interference, Westerners continued helping
the government to further soil the sacred tenets of democracy. They idly watched the human
rights abuses and neglected their promised obligation of democratic solidarity with the oppressed
people of Ethiopia. Through their silence and subversive action they gave free reign to a power-
obsessed leadership with genocidal tendencies to continue crushing the dream for freedom,
tolerance, unity and development. The true nature of the West’s desire in Africa became clear as
Ethiopians witnessed the absolute lack of interest to acknowledge and support the widely
embraced popular struggle for good governance.

Despite the continuous plea by the majority, the West kept on making immoral and self-
indulgent decisions that prompted the killing of innocent civilians, imprisonment of opposition
leaders and torture of thousands of freedom seeking Ethiopians.

In a neurotic attempt to safeguard its interest, the West has made and keeps making
irreconcilable decisions that jeopardize the advance of equality, peace, democracy and prosperity
in Africa. This obsessive desire to maintain dominance at any cost is the main reason why
Africa repeatedly fails to extricate itself from the grip of unmatched misery. The continent is
wallowing in a state of chaotic suspense unable to move forward as a result of the subtle and not-
so subtle conditions imposed on it by the West.

Democracy veiled dictatorial rule, state sponsored corruption, and ethnic division were
systematically shoved into the throats of Ethiopians in the last fourteen years with the full
consent and support of the West. In a space of just the last six months, the West repeatedly
reacted selfishly committing cruel, undemocratic, and inhuman offenses against the Ethiopian
people by morally and materially supporting a regime that, by all standards, breached the
boundaries of decent governance.

Instead of firmly standing by the people in their quest for true democracy, Western diplomats
continued undermining the decision made by the Ethiopian people. They meddled in Ethiopia’s
internal affairs and made it clear that they have a different agenda that directly conflicts with the
dreams and aspirations of the people. Defying the democratic right of the Ethiopian people to
elect the government of their choice they have been observed making a concerted effort to help a
popularly rejected leadership remain in power against the people’s wish.

Across the continent of Africa, similarly orchestrated convenient alliances with thugs and
murderers have caused and keep causing extreme misery in which Western sabotage,
interference, and indifference perpetrate despicable atrocities. The consequence of such vitriolic
intrusion keeps the continent churning in a downward spiral where continuous wars/ethnic
conflicts, poverty, and underdevelopment shatter any semblance of hope for the future.

The persistently prejudiced decisions made by Western governments and institutions to the
misery and anguish of the African people could no longer be dismissed as lack of information,
misunderstanding, or plain indifference. It has become clear that there is a deliberate scheme,
which follows a distinct pattern pointing in the direction of an inherent desire to keep Africa
vulnerable, weak, and useless for Africans leaving it exposed for exploitation.

Ethiopians made it sufficiently clear to the world through the ballot box that they want change.
Nevertheless, none of the Western democracies had the moral courage to acknowledge this
desire. Knowing very well that the May election was extensively rigged, many called for the
opposition to accept defeat and join the dysfunctional parliament.

The opposition was chastised and threatened for rightfully refusing to join the parliament and
take part in a staged drama, which in effect would be used as an instrument to appease Western
donors and humiliate Ethiopians for the next five years. The fact that the TPLF/EPRDF
dominated parliament does not have the desire or capacity to honor democratic principles was
deliberately overlooked. The West made it clear that a comfortable but dangerous liaison with
dictators is much more desirable than a long-term mutually beneficial cooperation with the
Ethiopian people.

Even though the majority of Ethiopians voted for a new leadership indicating that they have
endured enough repression under a mock democracy, they were consistently scorned by the
Western world for wanting something better. The response they got for believing that they could
bring about change through the democratic process was something unexpected from those who
claim to be champions of democracy and is treacherously cruel. Clearly, the West expects
Ethiopians to continue sacrificing their lives and future to ensure that its interests remain
unaffected.

When the country’s prominent opposition politicians, civic leaders, journalists, and students were
summarily arrested and denied bail the West kept silent. Expected outrage over the killing of
more than eighty-eight demonstrators followed by mass arrests didn’t materialize soon enough.
A deliberate crime against humanity intended to terrorize a helpless but hopeful populace failed
to rattle the conscience of the West. In contrast, the rescue of two cheetah cubs in Eastern
Ethiopia attracted overwhelming attention. Quick, unconditional, and unbiased compassion for
the rescued cheetahs crowded the media from all corners of the Western world while the story of
Ethiopians languishing under tyranny was, for the most part, neglected.

The European Union’s official resolution condemning the killing of innocent civilians and arrest
of opposition leaders came after a long period of hesitation. The United States is still reluctant to
condemn the despicable actions of the government and keeps pointing fingers at the opposition
accusing them of inciting violence and criticizes their decision not to enter parliament.

While the arrest and indictment of the opposition leaders and others was obviously illegal under
any circumstances, Westerners are urging the government to consider a fair trial. By calling for
a trial instead of the unconditional release of all political prisoners, they are indirectly supporting
the government’s plan to convict these people using fabricated evidence.

The opposition leaders who have committed no crime other than standing up for the people’s
rights are held in prison waiting to be tried by a phony judicial system. They have been
repeatedly denied bail and are accused of treason and genocide. Highly principled men and
women with exceptional talent, courage, and integrity are treated like common criminals just
because the West lacks the decency to uphold the creed it vows to honor.

Betraying their conscience, Westerners have shown their willingness to sacrifice innocent lives
for their own benefit. It is hard to imagine that they would do such a thing realizing the
magnitude of their action. This clearly shows how much they care and what our lives, future and
dignity mean to them. Because of their deliberate and/or irresponsible behavior innocent human
beings have been subjected to extra-judicial imprisonment and may face execution or long-term
sentences. With all the evidence in front of their eyes, Westerners obstinately refuse to
acknowledge the truth. The government forces who couldn’t accept defeat at the ballot box
incited the violence and none of the accused leaders was involved. Unfortunately, Westerners
seem to be determined not to change their position when it comes to their interest no matter how
morally repulsive their action may be.

Lame and face saving measures such as reducing direct aid and requests to free the opposition
leaders are beginning to emerge out of Western capitals after Ethiopians held continuous
demonstrations in cities around the world. The courageous move by the real honorable Anna
Gomez and a few other local and international heroes helped garner some response. But a strong
unambiguous support for the Ethiopian cause has not yet materialized.

In a sad attempt to claim that it has done something to address the issue, the United States went
as far as refusing to sell no more Humvees to the government. This is a typical example of how
the West usually reacts to Africa’s problems. When Ethiopians call for the restoration of their
inalienable right for democracy, what they get in return is some superficial gesture, which has
little or no significance to the issue at hand.

To add insult to injury, a Western initiated effort is underway to help the government “sweep the
dirt under the rug.” Western allies are frantically advising the government to investigate the
violence and begin the trials of the opposition leaders. After innocent civilians are gunned down
in broad daylight, urging the government to set up its own commission and investigate the
heinous crime it committed itself is a travesty that should put all those who claim to be civilized
to shame. In effect, they are asking the criminal government to justify its reason for killing and
arresting innocent civilians.

Additionally, as if the severe psychological and physical damage they allowed to be inflicted on
the Ethiopian people is not enough, Westerners are now working with the government and
groups who claim to represent the opposition by completely ignoring the widely popular
Coalition for Unity and Democracy Party (CUDP) and its imprisoned leadership. Their plan is to
neutralizing the real CUDP and clone a mild mannered opposition programmed to cater to their
needs, which is willing to play their game of deception. By creating a toothless opposition with
the shape and form of the CUDP made up of traitors, ethnic chauvinists, and opportunists their
intention is to demoralize Ethiopians from ever hoping for unity and democracy.

The West’s deliberate refusal to unconditionally condemn the crimes committed by the
government has caused severe hindrance to the democratization process in Ethiopia. And what
transpired in the past fourteen years supports the assertion that democracy that enhances
Ethiopia’s independence, self-confidence, and rights of its people is not acceptable and could not
be supported by the West. An African country, which assertively pushes to protect its own
interest and is a successful model of democracy, is perceived as a threat to Western interests.
The current Ethiopian saga is a prime example of the deliberate sabotage Africa endures at the
hands of the West.

As a result of the unflinching support it receives from the West, the regime that rudely exhausted
its welcome with the Ethiopian people has gained even more arrogant confidence.
Consequently, the escalating crisis is being allowed to reach a point of no return. Constantly
threatened by a government that refuses to honor the people’s desire and duped by the West,
which broke its promise, Ethiopians have realized that they could depend on nobody else but
themselves. Regardless of the rhetoric from those who want to divide them, they are ready to
stand together and restore Ethiopia’s glory. With or without help from the West, they are
determined to create a system, which honors true democracy.

In the words of the distinguished Professor Mesfin and his courageous colleagues suffering in
prison, the Ethiopian people have said enough to suppression, enough to repression. The
people’s vote has been stolen and there is no compromise. Nobody should expect them to
choose repression over freedom. Not even for one day, let alone for five long, miserable, and
destructive years.

The superficial sympathy displayed by many Westerners and the call to free Africa from its
misery while helping it destroy itself is really getting old. Shedding crocodile tears after
facilitating and enhancing the slide towards disaster should no longer be the norm in which this
world operates in the 21st Century. Just like everybody else Ethiopians want justice, freedom
and dignity. The democratic rights of Ethiopians to choose a government favored by the
majority should be as sacred as anybody else’s. Democracy conveniently modified to
accommodate the selfish needs of greedy leaders and foreign governments should no longer be
considered as a viable option. The consequences are grave and it is not good for the world. It
degrades humanity and helps extinguish the spirit of democracy. The world community should
bear in mind that the suppression of democracy in a remote corner of the world is a threat to all
humankind. There is nothing more ethically and morally reprehensible than helping to sustain a
government that destroys the hopes and dreams of its own people in exchange for influence and
interest.

The Kofi Annans, the Bob Geldofs, the Bonos, the Mandelas, the Desmond Tutus, prominent
civic leaders and all others concerned for the future of this planet should recognize the fact that
whatever they do, unless the basic problem that creates the injustice, mismanagement, bad
governance, corruption, and dominance is effectively addressed the world will continue to see
even worse disasters. The results of droughts, famine, poverty, genocide, underdevelopment
etc., are all functions of government failure to address the people’s needs. Those who help
corrupt and oppressive governments to continue destroying the lives of their people are in no
way better than those who directly subject people to misery. The betrayal of truth for
convenience has caused enough misery in Africa. It will not and should not be tolerated any
more.

It is time to free Africa from the debilitating shackles it has been forced to endure so far.
Ethiopians have made up their mind to go forward with democracy. If those who stand up for
truth and justice don’t raise their voices to help Ethiopians in their quest for fairness today, when
will they?

Free all political prisoners. Let Ethiopians determine their destiny through unity and democracy.
Give true unadulterated democracy the honor and chance it deserves.