Seye Abraha’s commanding presence and well delivered speech on foreign
affairs in last week’s televised debate between political parties has
vexed EPRDF leaders, say sources. Their only solace is Seye’s rather
brash characterization of the recent row between the EPRDF and the
Obama administration as “staged drama”; which went down well with the
public but will hardly endear the opposition with the diplomatic
community in Addis.
“The row between the Ethiopian government and the
US,” said Seye in the debate, “is really a staged drama. America has
outsourced its war in Somalia to Ethiopia, saving American lives. That
is what matters to them the most. The jamming of the VOA and the
consequent row are no more than a staged drama. Ethiopians have not
only died in Somalia for a war that is not theirs but our national
security has been endangered as well.
There are reports, for example,
that the Ethiopian Airlines that crushed in Lebanon was bombed by
terrorists.”(Abridged.) But of course Seye could not offer real
evidence that the spate was faked as he had alleged, and it will
remain a stain on his otherwise impressive performance; the best so
far, reckon many pundits, by the opposition.
Seye’s criticism of the Algiers Agreement and the subsequent Boundary
Commission ruling are popular themes, particularly in Tigray, where he
and many of his friends are challenging the EPRDF. The EPRDF’s muted
response is indicative of a divided leadership over the issue; with
Meles and his allies in favor of a closure of the issue largely—but
not exclusively—on the basis of the ruling; and the rest, part half
heartedly part vehemently, against any change of the reality on the
ground.
And this division cuts across the whole spectrum of the
governing elite, which is why the threat of Seye Abraha et al — bounded
to the governing elite by a common history at its finest hour — is
menacing to Meles Zenawi. Arkebe Ekubay’s brazenly opportunistic
attempt to drive a wedge between Seye and the military by charging
that Seye had characterized the Ethiopian army “as a mercenary force
in Somalia” in last week’s debate, which Seye made a point of
refuting, amply demonstrates the anxiety that pervades in the midst of
Meles Zenawi and his allies.
The importance of this issue to a post-EPRDF national road map cannot
be understated. The broad consensus for a plural democratic order is
beyond doubt now, but if there is ever to be a chance for its
realization, how Seye Abraha et al will be treated as they venture into
opposition politics will either foster trust and confidence or
entail a continuation of the abhorred legacy of vendetta and
victimization. Of crucial point here is that none amongst Seye Abraha
et al is being asked to account for substantiated and specific
violation of human rights, as was the case, for example, with Kelbessa
Negawo from the Derg era, who was unsympathetically deported from the
US to Ethiopia to serve a life sentence; but are being decried for
serving a regime with broad shortcomings, including of course
extensive human rights violation. But almost all of them have at one
time or the other addressed the issue, publicly expressed regret and
are now challenging their former party at the height of its power.
Only two days before the meeting in Seattle, Seye Abraha had
acknowledged his share of responsibility for what he termed as EPRDF’s
fiasco on the Eritrean issue in nationally televised debate
between political parties: “ Medrek will peacefully opt for Ethiopia’s
outlet to the sea; this is one of our national security objectives.
The EPRDF has committed a grave mistake in handling the Eritrean
issue, and I concede my share of personal responsibility.”
And so the questions loom: Is there room for redemption in the
political space? Could there be a moral imperative to deprive the
capacity to forgive and reconcile? And on a more practical level,
would the nation be able to bear the human and emotional cost of the
alternative? The answers are too obvious to merit detailing here. They
have also been thoroughly addressed on numerous occasions by others
and to entertain them further here will be to merely repeat the same
arguments. What is of importance is that Seye Abraha et al are test
cases, carefully being watched by all political actors, and how they
fare will for a long time determine which way the nation goes.
The fall of the EPRDF is not an end by itself. It is desirable only insofar as
it is a means to an end, in this case, a means to a
pluralistic democratic order. The quest for such a political setting
in Ethiopia has to date not closed its door on ex-WPE (Derg) officials
and members untainted by personal violation of human rights; it can
not fairly do so against ex-officials and members of the EPRDF held
to the same standard.
