Medrek Senior Officials, Engineer Gizahew Shiferaw, Ato Gebru Asrat and Dr. Negasso Gidada, were received by hopeful Ethiopians, who want to see a pragmatic opposition party in Ethiopia, at the meeting they held in San Jose, California on April 11, 2010. They racked their audience with huge enthusiasm. Kudos for them for delivering their message of hope that there is still another chance to bring democracy in Ethiopia! New faces from different ethnic groups have attended the meeting. It was encouraging for Medrek leaders to see Ethiopians from different parts of the country starting to discuss their issues in one room. From the scene of the meeting one can say that unity of the people is within reach.
Organizers of the meeting were delighted by the fact that they were able to bring people together from different aisle of political views, membership and/or support groups. The meeting was a vivid indication of the brotherhood and sisterhood the community in the bay area regardless of our political believes/memberships and ethnic group – UNITED ETHIOPIANS.
Issue Number One: Democracy
Engineer Gizachew Shiferaw, vice chairman of Unity for Democracy and Justice (UDJ) party, unequivocally expressed that Medrek is for peaceful struggle. He continued, “The primary cause for all numerous problems our people and country have faced is lack of democracy. Embarking on democracy would yield to solving the economic menace of the country as well as adhering to respect for human rights, due process of law, and good governance. In order to achieve Medrek’s political program, a peaceful struggle is the only means the coalition would embark upon.”
A question was raised from the audience that given the National Election Board, the military, law enforcement organs, the judiciary are under the control of EPRDF and the activities of the press and civic organizations are curtailed, how on earth would Medrek dare to win the upcoming parliamentary election.
Engineer Gizachew replied “Yes, EPRDF controls those institutions of the country which ought to be neutral. Medrek doesn’t control an army, doesn’t have any say on almost everything relating to these institutions. However, Medrek has what EPRDF doesn’t have. We have the people of Ethiopia who were the biggest resource for Kinjit in 2005, and as long as Medrek is ready to deliver, the people of Ethiopia, including those who serve the EPRDF for different reasons, are ready for change. Therefore, we have the biggest resource we need and can win elections on the face of the threats you mentioned”. Additionally, Engineer Gizachew spoke in details on the current economic situation of Ethiopia, peaceful struggle and economic policy alternatives Medrek has for Ethiopia’s development.
Stubborn Supporters of the Status Quo of Ethiopian Politics
Following Gebru Asrat’s speech on Medrek’s political program, the first question raised for Ato Gebru was that unless he is trying to regain power under the auspices of Arena/Medrek, he was part and parcel of the “grand corruption” he mentioned in his speech and what made him think that he could do better this time around. According to the questioners, he had the chance to fight corruption while he was a politburo member of TPLF and Governor of Tigray, if in fact there was/is such corruption and tyranny in the inner circle of EPRDF. The fact that Ato Gebru and others walked out of EPRDF’s meeting in Meqelle and Dr. Negasso couldn’t stick with EPRDF showed that they couldn’t be trusted on their current bid, either. The same question went on to Negasso.
Both Dr. Negasso and Ato Gebru answered the questions well. Basically what they told the audience about what they did when they were within the inner circle of EPRDF is status quo ante (the state of affairs that existed previously) and it has nothing to do with their current view, membership, and commitment to bring change in Ethiopia. They told their audience that if they were up to chasing power and fame, they had it all when they were within the inner circle of EPRDF, but to leave that comfort requires devotion and principle. What was happening within the EPRDF was not what they believed in when they left EPRDF and nothing has changed since then.
From Politics of Anger to Mature Politics
Of course there were legitimate concerns, if addressed well, could potentially mobilize the Ethiopian Diasporas’ resources and boost determination toward correction of wrong behaviors, promotion of social justice, communication of negative sentiment and redress of grievances. The trios, Gizachew, Gebru, and Negasso knew that and acknowledged and reaffirmed their commitment to address these concerns.
Their maturity in politics was a vivid sign that they wouldn’t budge for simple anger that potentially can be destructive for Medrek’s agenda. Because some people’s anger would impair Medrek’s ability to process information and to exert its agenda unless it finds appropriate outlet from the response of these officials, they skillfully managed to respond to all difficult questions, as well. It didn’t matter to them how seemingly some questions lost objectivity, empathy, prudence or thoughtfulness, they know the potential harm and dealt with the questions skillfully.
And… the trios focused on delivering their message proving that there is hope in Medrek’s political future in bringing democracy. They told the audience that Medrek has a real alternative to EPRDF’s revolutionary democracy where people can freely live without fear of persecution on accounts of his political view, membership in social or political group, race, religion, gender, age or social strata. Unlike EPRDF who has been exclusive of groups and individuals since it took power, Medrek is inclusive and struggles for the entire people’s betterment of life.
San Jose also saw hope in Medrek, and the Officials left the meeting hall assured that in their struggle to bring democracy for Ethiopia, the Ethiopian Diaspora in the San Francisco Bay area will stand together with them.
