It remains to be seen how the TPLF and indeed the Meles regime
will see the ‘writing’ on the wall. Dictators will try by any means to hang
on and maintain their power grip regardless of the untold suffering to the
ordinary citizenry. The Meles regime unsurprisingly remains aloof and
defiant despite the continued polarization of the Ethiopian political and
social environment as a direct result of its acts of commissions and
omissions. An increase in violence, intimidation of ordinary citizens and
arrests of opposition members across Ethiopia is clearly an attempt to
stifle any voices of dissent in the hope that the world will focus elsewhere
while the Meles regime maintains their iron grip.
Throughout history, Dictators with their rogue regimes almost always fail to
reform and change course-they characteristically wallow in self
aggrandizement and delusional thinking that only their political will and
leadership must be exercised and any such opposition must be silenced if not
crushed. Col Gaddafi in this self belief went to the extent of even writing
‘The Green Book’ all in a thin veiled quest for some grandiose charismatic
stamp on the politics of Libya. TPLF and Meles continue to believe that
the entire nation state of Ethiopia cannot but survive without TPLF.
Clearly the Meles and TPLF regime, just like all the dictators, are more
than happy to drag the whole country down with their inevitable demise. The
Ben-Ali and Mubarak regimes had continued to take their citizens for granted
almost appropriating the nation’s resources as if it was their family
fiefdom, Gaddafi and his regime as does the Meles regime continue to bury
their heads in sand denying any opportunity for new political ideas and or
leadership for their respective citizens.
While the Meles regime conveniently forgets that it’s the very same masses
that were instrumental in bringing about political change from a rogue
regime way back then. TPLF and the Meles regime continue to wallow in
the fallacy that these very same masses will not rise against such misrule.
In 2005 during the election, Ethiopia’s masses gave a hint to TPLF
and the Meles regime a clear message that true to a common cause- people
will sure rise regardless of any such threats and or realities of police
brutality. While it sounds acceptable to over patronize ordinary Ethiopians
and describe them as ‘peace-loving’, it is worth remembering that any human
being regardless of nationality, religion or race, when suppressed,
oppressed and cornered will act to defend their livelihoods by any means
necessary. A quick glance at world history and more specifically that of the
Ethiopia’s political evolution is there for all to note.
Treasonous charges continue to be made against any notable opposition
figures by the Meles regime in an attempt to quell the freedoms of Ethiopia’s
citizens, violence and intimidation is being meted out on the streets by
TPLF militias and state security agents against opposition members.
Opposition officials have to watch over their shoulders while attempting to
perform their day-to-day democratic mandates. It doesn’t come as a surprise
that to date opposition members and its senior officials are being dragged
to courts at such a massive and biased rate and yet no single such actions
are being witnessed among TPLF leading violence instigators (militias,
legislators and security agents alike).
TPLF and the Meles regime has had over two decades to show an inclination
towards some political rectitude but as is with dictatorships, the status
quo is always the preferred way and change is never a natural process but
one requiring a radical shift from the conventional ways.
