A trial of the leaders of the Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD) that ran against the current ruling
party of the Ethiopian Peoples’ Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) in the Ethiopian National Election
of May 2005 will be held on February 19, 2007 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The Federal Special Court in Ethiopia is set
to make a final ruling against CUD leaders, journalists and anti-poverty activists. Most Ethiopians believe
that these leaders would have actually won the election had it not been rigged. Independent observers,
such as the Chief of the European Union Election Observer Mission to Ethiopia, Ana Gomes, reported that
the election did not meet international standards and has challenged the outcome of that election.
Many Ethiopians are asking – will there be any international media coverage of this trial and if so, will it
be biased or will it accurately represent the reality of the situation in Ethiopia? Will elected officials in the
United States and other democratic countries speak out for a fair trial, as emissaries of the principals of
free elections that gave them their own offices? Will pressure be put on the ruling government of Prime
Minister Meles Zenawi to release these leaders and thousands of others who are considered prisoners of
conscience, languishing in prisons across Ethiopia whose only crime was speaking out against the current
government?
In the US, we suspect this is because Meles and his EPRDF government is considered to be a strategic
partner in the War on Terror and that it is in the interest of the United States to advance this relationship
for such reasons as have now become apparent in Somalia. In fact, some believe it may be related to
gaining access to oil, gas and other natural resources in Somalia. Yet, as the Bush administration calls for
an end to tyranny and for the support of democracy movements, they and others are enabling the
repression of the democracy movement in Ethiopia by following such policy positions. As a result,
Ethiopians are experiencing increasing disillusionment with one of the primary countries they are
attempting to emulate in the struggle for democracy – the United States. The current US administration
and many in other branches of government are not alone in ignoring the plight of the Ethiopian people.
The media, in their silence on the situation, also appears to have colluded. When there has been coverage,
most frequently it has been highly slanted in favor of the EPRDF government.
We should be concerned, as members of the free world, with what happens in Ethiopia and in the rest of
the Horn of Africa. For instance, much of our oil for many free countries comes through the Red Sea and
if we destabilize the Horn of Africa, we stand to endanger our source of oil. In other words, if our
integrity on this whole issue fails us, let us look at it from a point of self-interest with the future in mind.
By holding up this regime that is alienating and terrorizing their own people, are we standing in the way
of democracy building by the people of Ethiopia and if we do, what are the potential consequences to us
of doing that?
Keep in mind, the US has provided millions of dollars in training to the same military that is turning
Ethiopia into a police state. In addition, Ethiopia receives a large proportion of the total financial aid sent
to Africa. Reportedly, the US has given 21 billion dollars to the EPRDF government since they have
come to power in 1991. Yet, most of the money is not reaching the people, most of whom remain in
poverty and underdevelopment. At the same time, recent reports indicate that the money coming from
Ethiopia to banks in the UK has increased by 103% in the last year.
We in the US do not need to sell our souls, denying Ethiopians their right to freedom and to the legitimate
process of exercising their rights, just because Meles is giving us what we think we want in the War on
Terror! It will create justifiable anger towards us if we betray the people in this way. Once this
government is gone, they may seek new alliances and many others are ready and waiting, hoping to gain
the vast resources in Ethiopia and in other African countries as natural resources are diminishing
elsewhere.
We are seeing abundant early warning signs already to what soon may become irreparable damage to the
relationship between Ethiopians and the United States. Many Ethiopians, many who live here in the US,
are greatly disappointed in what they see as an obvious bias in favor of the repressive and brutal current
government. They see this as being at the expense of peace, justice, freedom and the democratization of
Ethiopia. But we should ask—what happens when Meles’ time is over? Meles is so unpopular right now
with the Ethiopian people that his rule may be very short-lived, but peoples’ memories live on! Are we
willing to sacrifice the future relationship with Ethiopians who have previously considered us as amongst
their closest friends?
In fact, there may be a more urgent matter evolving than is commonly known. We are hearing that if
things go worse in Somalia, with insurgency groups killing increasingly more Ethiopian troops, the
Ethiopian military may defect and take it into their own hands for several reasons: (1) they are fighting for
an unpopular government that is not paying them very well, (2) their families are being suppressed at
home by that same government, and (3) they believe they have been pulled into this war by a government
that is a puppet of foreigners who have their own interests in mind. As a result, some are concerned that
the makings of a coup de tat may be evolving, which could result in greater chaos, violence and
repression than what Ethiopians have at present with Meles. On a worse note, there are no guarantees that
those with the guns, might not be “for sale” to the highest bidders and those bidders may, in all
probability, not be free, democratic countries, like China or Russia. We could all lose in such a situation
and if it occurred, the failure of the West would have heavily contributed to it.
Many Ethiopians believe the United States and others are now actively standing in the way of their own
freedom, peace, justice and democracy. Do the interests of those in free-societies have to conflict with
those who are working for freedom, justice and the rule of law in Ethiopia? Is there a way to stand up for
what we in the US believe and need, not only for ourselves, but for others as well?
It is important to consider our own situation in a free country. Many of us in the United States, Canada,
Europe and in the free countries of the world take for granted the preciousness of our freedom and
democratic government under which we live, work, raise our families and in most every aspect of life,
flourish as people and as a nation. We are beneficiaries of the work and sacrifice of many honorable men
and women who have struggled for the life, liberty and pursuit of happiness that we now enjoy.
We take enormous pride in what we have achieved and believe we have become entitled to enjoy the
great economic success, privilege and power in this world that such a society of opportunity has brought
to us due to what we believe is our own hard work. As we continue to benefit from our position in the
world, we frequently have become severe critics of those countries and people groups who do not enjoy
the same. Although it is seldom openly spoken, we believe that the difficulties and struggles of those in
corrupt, totalitarian, violent and impoverished countries are the result of their own bad choices,
backwardness, passivity or that of their leaders.
Instead, we believe that to get what we have, they must struggle like we did to free their societies and to
develop robust economies from within that would enable them to join others in the larger global
economy. Therefore, when they do not succeed, we tend to ignore or blame them for their plight.
When we feel guilty about all we have, usually because of some international attention, we provide
humanitarian or developmental aid, but then, when this frequently does not succeed in creating durable
change, we tend to accept superficial excuses for the failure rather than looking more deeply into how we
might be contributors to the problem. This is not to say that these developing countries do not bear a
major responsibility for creating and sustaining change for themselves, but oftentimes, such as in the case
of Ethiopia, we in the free world may be sabotaging their efforts from the outside.
We invite you to consider how you might re-examine what you could do to give life, not death to the
struggle for justice, peace, freedom, democracy and the rule of law in Ethiopia. On Feb, 19 The Federal
Special Court in Ethiopia is set to make a final ruling against opposition party leaders, journalists, human
rights activists and anti-poverty activists.
On that day we ask you to do your best to speak out the truth for the people of Ethiopia in whatever
capacity you can for peace, freedom, the fair execution of justice and democracy building in Ethiopia and
then, act on it. Amnesty International has declared these “prisoners of conscience….imprisoned solely
on account of their non-violent opinions and activities” and has condemned the trial for its ‘failure
to observe internationally recognized standards of fair trial before impartial and independent
judges.’
Refuse to compromise the truth and what is right! Too many of our “political” decisions are based on
reasons that we might be embarrassed to admit to even ourselves should they be brought into the light of
our individual or group consciences.
We hope you will do your best to face the conscience that must guide America and other free nations—it
is God-given. It is only by courageously living by the higher moral principles that we have held dear for
many years, that we will maintain the integrity needed to be real leaders in this complex world. We need
to hear your voice on February 19, 2007!
—
For additional information, please contact:
Mr. Obang O. Metho,
Director of International Advocacy:
Phone (306) 933-4346
E-mail: [email protected]
