I have read with consuming interest almost all the writings and comments so far posted on the esteemed Ethiomedia.com website, which as a matter of habit I surf at least twice a day. I have noted the convergent and divergent views of the writers as well as their valid concerns regarding the clarity of the contents of the agreement signed by the founders of the Alliance. On my part too, I wish to make my humble contribution to the debate by first providing my background of what made me a diehard Ethiopian in the rank of millions of my fellow citizens.
I was born in Shoa to parents happily married for decades. Shoa was the birthplace and ancestral home of my parents. At some evenings after supper, it was normal to recite parentage up to distant ancestors. Deciphering the names of my distant ancestors I have come to believe that the blood of more than two nationalities run in my veins. My parents took pride in their nationality as Ethiopians and often bitterly talked about the atrocities committed by the invading Italian Fascists against Ethiopians of all nationalities without distinction. They (my parents) spoke of the value of unity to deter external aggression. So, I am an Ethiopian by birth and a diehard one by choice and experience in my own right. This does not preclude me from being objective in analyzing issues on Ethiopia and taking position for I strongly believe in historical facts and logical debates.
The fact that one nationality engages in a diatribe with another and throws derogatory label at the other is not unique to Ethiopia alone. It happens in every multicultural society. Europe was a cockpit of war, but now is an enviable citadel of democracy and prosperity under the umbrella of the European Union formed after decades of negotiations. The 14th amendment of the Constitution of the United States in 1886 entitled Black Americans to become citizens, thus putting an end to the injustice that denied them their right. I submit, therefore, that the oppression of nationalities by the Ethiopian ruling class did not go to the aforementioned extreme to rip Ethiopia apart..
My best friend for decades, an Oromo, served as an official under the Emperor’s regime. He progressively advanced to key positions with access to highly classified documents. During his tenure he recruited young Ethiopians from practically every corner of Ethiopia. He swore to me that there was no policy of discrimination; no one was coerced into changing his or her name. Those who changed their names did so of their own free volition. The number of officials with Oromo names who had held high positions during the Emperor’s rule, and that of the Dergue for that matter, will bear me out in my contention. I should perhaps mention that baptismal names are given by the church at the time of being baptized and government policy had nothing to do with isolated cases which had nothing to do with the policy of the ruling class should not be cause for complaint of one nationality against the other. To illucidate my point further, I wish to state that the late Empress Mennen and Lidj Yilma Deressa were among prominent Oromos in the corridor of power during the reign of Emperor Haile Selassie. Needless to go back in history to mention the gallantry and farsightedness of Menelik’s Generals such as Ras Gobena – or go even further to mention the roles of renowned Oromo aristocrats in the scramble for power during Zemene Mesafint. The bravery and prowess of Oromo Generals, officers and men in the Battle of Adwa, where the invading Italian Army was vanquished and the victory is to this day hailed as a victory for all black people of the world, is a common priceless heritage of all Ethiopians. So, the Oromos have a common history with the rest of other nations and nationalities in the making of Ethiopia past and present. Extremists in pursuit of secession are bound to lose in the face of invaluable sacrifices made by the Oromos to preserve the territorial integrity of Ethiopia.
My experience is that there was rivalry for top jobs and power among Ethiopians hailing from various nationalities. This rivalry occurred even within the Amharas of Showa; those from Menze somehow saw themselves superior to those from Tegulet, Merhabete, Bulga and et al. I did not venture into the rivalry among the Amhara regions of Godjam and Begemdre for the sake of brevity. There is no denying the fact that similar rivalries exist within other nationalities – the Ormos, Guragues, Tigreans, Kambatas, Hadiyas, Siddamas, adinfinitum. Every nation in the world has its problem of local parochial views. These are not sufficient causes for secession.
It must be admitted that the Amharic language has been given official sanction to develop. It is also true that each nationality kept and practiced its culture as seen during public holidays; each nationality celebrated the occasion according to its venerated time-honored ritual. Timket or Eretcha holidays are but two notable examples among many. These occasions were celebrated with enthusiasm. Secularly inclined celebrants sampled from the rich menu of cultural dances offered by the various nationalities. It was a joy to see the competing performances lasting a whole day and even a couple of days.
Nonetheless, it is also true that the development of literary culture of many nationalities in their own vernacular or language was kept on the backburner. I dare say that it was even discouraged by the ruling class. This was a colossal mistake that needs to be corrected.
I vividly recall accompanying my parents to a well known open market in my tender age. Typical of Tegulet province of Shoa, predominantly Oromos and Amharas brought their produce to barter at the market. As I think back, I cannot help but admire the decorum and harmony of both sellers and buyers prevailing at the market place all in the absence of law enforcement or government security personnel. An atmosphere of law and order prevailed, with neither theft nor robbery taking place. Nonetheless the appearance of government tax collectors caused commotion and fleeing of traders with their products. This signifies that people can govern themselves; people abhor big government intervention exacting taxes without providing essential services. My point here is to underline the fact that Oromos and Amharas lived together in harmony understanding the language of trade and economic co-operation. Open market places everywhere in Ethiopia that I have seen tell a lot about cherished common values of peoples of different cultures coming together to buy and sell in peace and harmony. I have the audacity to say that the historic election of 15 May 2005 has in part its origin in the mutual understandings and trade relations developed over millennium years.
The origin of the first settlers in Ethiopia and the chronological subsequent arrivals of immigrants is an interesting academic question for Ethiopian historians and scholars to objectively peruse and put the record straight. Reading the works of the renowned scholar, Dr. Fikre Tolossa, would provide an excellent food for thought to those who are ignorant about the origin and movements within Ethiopia of their ancestors. What matters for now is to solve the problems of the over 80 nations and nationalities that we find by default and deal with the burning question of economic development and respect of human rights of each and every individual.
For me the most acute form of oppression is the economic exploitation of one nationality by another. So, any such exploitation that is genuinely raised by the Oromos, or any other nationality for that matter, is legitimate and valid; it must rectified as a matter of top priority.
Admittedly, resolving the issue of over 80 nations and nationalities would be a mind boggling exercise. However, the victorious CUD in the 15 May 2005 election, the OLF which claims to represent the true wishes of the Oromo people, and the rest of the founding partners in the Alliance should be able to measure up to the Herculean task ahead of them. I believe that the Alliance has reason to stay together to defeat TPLF that has humiliated the leaders and followers of its founding organizations.
We live in a global village. Regional association, co-operation or federation have become the order of our time favoring big markets and economies of scale. The future generations of Ethiopia should not be condemned to live in their tribal cocoons; they should be able to move freely within Ethiopia to settle and make property where they wish at the same practicing their culture at their place of chosen abode without fear. This is the essence of a multicultural society. I have no doubt that the leaders of ADF are experienced and mature with a vision beyond the narrow interests of their respective organizations. So, I assume that the Alliance would take current political, social and economical realities into account and show us the way to democracy and prosperity in an indivisible Ethiopia with justice, equality and human dignity of each of her citizens.
Ethiopia has spent billions of dollars in the past three decades for building her army and for the procurement of sophisticated military weapons. Hindsight tells us that this effort and expenditure was a waste of scarce resources and that the inept and subservient political leaders of the past and present are to be blamed for the spending spree relegating Ethiopians to abject poverty.
The Alliance in my opinion has come at this crucial time to make history by fostering peace, stability, democracy and prosperity not only in a united Ethiopia but also in the Horn of Africa and beyond. It is a moment to be seized, not to be missed.
In closing I wish to quote from Shakespeare in Julius Caesar:
