There is a
general consensus now that the dictator has been suffering from cardiovascular
and other complications, which in part are attributed to his appalling
lifestyle. His infirmity and mental instability became even more apparent to
the world when he literally broke down following a confrontation by the
audacious AbebeGelaw at
the World Economic Forum in May of 2012. His infirmity was further confirmed
when he was observed as a ghost-like figure in a video clip of his meeting with
Chinese officials following the G20 meeting in Mexico. Many observers believe
that the lack of credible explanation about the conspicuous absence of the
dictator from official appearances or about severity of his mental and physical
condition by the state-controlled media is an attempt by the Woyanne public relations office to thwart the abrupt
disintegration of his jittery power base and to calm down his increasingly edgy
followers.
“There is
no direct relationship between economic growth and democracy, historically or
theoretically. I don’t believe in bedtime stories, contrived arguments linking
economic growth with democracy.”
While the
death of the dictator may or may not be imminent, the current state of his health and his delusional behaviors have
considerable import for the next stage of the ongoing struggle for democracy
and justice in Ethiopia. Unlike most dictatorships where the cult of
personality is principally built on a projection of nationalism, Zenawi’s totalitarian rule has in large measures been
constructed on anti-Ethiopianism and inter-ethnic
animosity. The army, whose leadership is dominated by a single minority
ethnic-group, is unlikely to be in a position to prop up the continued
dominance of the totalitarian rule perfected by Zenawi.
In essence, the vast majority of the military leaders have either failed to
shed their guerilla mentality or have completely been absorbed in the ongoing
pillage of the country’s resources, thereby making them insensitive to the
democratic aspirations of the people. As such, the allegiance of these
officers, who have not been properly integrated into the Ethiopian society, is
to the dictator or to their narrow self interests. Further, since the immense
network of internal security apparatus and others in the civil service are
basically sustained by the power of money rather than by ideological convictions
or love of country, their loyalty to the tyrannical regime is predicted to
evaporate as soon as favorable conditions are created in the country for a
democratic alternative. Therefore, the continued survival of the TPLF under an
ailing dictator is extremely precarious.
Increasing
Repression of the Free Press and Journalists
Faced with
the beginning of the end, Zenawi’s regime has predictably
resorted to heavy-handed measures to silence dissenting voices. A case in point
is the recent draconian measures taken against Eskinder Nega and several other journalists and political
activists using vague anti-terrorism laws that have made the regime an
embarrassment even to those in the West who have thus far turned blind eyes to
the crimes committed by the dictator.
Of course,
dictators never act completely alone. Hitler was able to come to power and
maintain his grip over Germany, thanks in part to such ardent supporters as
Rommel, Von Manstein, Himmler, and most importantly,
his propagandist Goebbels. It was Joseph Goebbels who justified the delusional
aspirations of the Führer declaring: “If
you repeat a lie often enough, it becomes the truth.” It was also this
same miscreant who promulgated: “Think of the press as a great keyboard on
which the government can play.” Unsurprisingly, Gobbels’
sentiment about the free press was echoed recently by Zenawi’s
despicable propagandist, the contemptible Bereket
Simon. In justifying the draconian press rule that sent journalists like EskenderNega to prison, the
shameless scoundrel ignorantly proclaimed to the world: “I don’t think that type
of media [i.e., the free press] will help the developing world
.”
The Moslem
Factor
There is
no better predictor of the looming demise of a dictatorship than the occurrence
of spontaneous uprisings by the various sectors of an oppressed society. The
ferocious and determined resistance demonstrated by the Moslem community in
Addis and other parts of the nation has shaken the oppressive machinery of the
totalitarian regime to its core. A remarkable feature of the Moselm uprising in Ethiopia today is that it is in total contradiction
to the divide-and-rule policy that Zenawi has
futilely implemented to foment inter-ethnic and inter-religious animosity. To
this day, despite the brutal attacks by the regime against their faith and
religious institutions, Moslem Ethiopians have unswervingly expressed their
determination to stand hand in hand with their Christian compatriots, as they
have estimably done so for centuries, to deracinate the evils of
totalitarianism once and for all.
The
Endgame
In the
absence of a credible alternative to the collapsing TPLF regime, democratic
forces inside and outside of Ethiopia should now formulate a cohesive
transition plan to avoid a scenario akin to the one that replaced Mengistu Haile-Mariam’s dictatorship by Zenawi’s
style of totalitarianism. With the army leadership in the hands of a minority
ethnic group, and immeasurable resources at the disposal of Zenawi’s
cronies, the potential for chaos and re-emergence of tyranny are within the
realm of possibilities. It is therefore critical that the pro-democratic forces
immediately join forces to accelerate the collapse of the tyrannical regime and
to ensure the formation of a government of national salvation. At a minimum,
the immediate focus of attention should include:
Agreement
on a platform for the creation of a unity government that guarantees individual
freedom, equality, and justice for all citizens of Ethiopia, without regard to
ethnicity, race, religion, party affiliation or other prejudices.
Formulation of short and
long-term plans to influence donor countries and foreign backers of the
dictator to immediately discontinue support and aid of any kind to the
totalitarian regime. Those in the United States with voting rights
should particularly take advantage of the current electoral process to
influence Congress and the Obama administration, including the State Department
and the Pentagon, to desist from aiding the dictator and to censure his
tyrannical policies.
In this regard,
we trust that pro-democracy journalists and Websites will play a more proactive
and aggressive role to bring together the fragmented opposition groups and to
enlighten the wider freedom-loving community about the significance of this
historic opportunity.
