Desperate measures by a desperate regime

By Mulugeta Logicho

February 4, 2006

A Ethiopian protester is knocked unconscious by police and security forces of Meles Zenawi now spreading terror across the length and breadth of Ethiopia. (Photo: EMF)

Dear Editor,

What prompt me to write this is that the report that farmers in Ethiopia are somehow forced to sell their produce to the regime under the guise of “helping farmers to get better prices.”

This is sound and good until one pays closer attention to the underlying motives of the regime. The Voice of America (VOA) Amharic Program reported on January 18, 2006 the market situation in Addis Ababa. According to VOA, grain and poultry product markets reported almost double price increases. Though the reporter asked the merchants and consumers what was the cause for price hikes, those asked feared to give the right answer because of government retribution. The government is on record for punishing those who speak their minds and tell the truth. On February 1, 2006 Radio Tensae also reported the plight of Ethiopian farmers in this regard.

December through early February is harvest season in Ethiopia. The government told the farmers to sell their harvest only to the government not to private businesses. Of course, the farmers were offered higher (in some case double the market prices) for their harvest. The farmers were told not to sell to private businesses and only the government or government affiliated businesses under the name of government can buy the grains. In places like Bale, Arsi and other parts of Ethiopia, the government bought and stored the grains in government-owned storage facilities.

There are many reasons why the regime is doing that:

• To control all supply of grain to the consumer and even to the very farmer who sold and feed the army while starving others.

• To punish the urban dwellers for their vote to the opposition and hold them hostage if they do not support the regime.
• To make profit by selling to the foreign aid agencies for areas that are affected by the famine and profiting from selling as well as transporting.

This indeed is the extent to which the Meles regime has gone in an attempt to stifle and destroy the hopes for a democratic governance in Ethiopia. The recent slaying of General Manager of the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia is no accident when the regime wants to rob the bank of 3 billion Birr. After all, what guarantee do Ethiopians have that there would be peace and order under a regime which depends on terrorizing the people?

Sincerely,
Mulugeta Logicho