Meles and his hardcore TPLF gangs, guided by those Machiavellian strategists and advisors both from within Ethiopia and abroad, has repeatedly imprisoned, tortured and exiled countless Ethiopian intellectuals, political activists and free press journalists for the past two decades. To tell readers the names of those individuals and groups who were and are persecuted by Meles would be unnecessary since we all have lived and worked with them. Even if I want it is hardy possible to cover it by this short article. Nonetheless, I would raise some names that exemplify the point I am trying to make in terms of explaining Zenawi’s game of ‘convict and pardon’ that I outlined.
The game of ‘convict and pardon’ has been instrumental in destroying political oppositions, free press community and human rights advocates both of yesterday and today. The All Amhara Peoples’ Organization of Dr. Asrat Woldeyes, Kinjit / CUD/ of Dr. Berhanu Nega and co., Bertukan Mideksa, Andargachew Tsige, Andualem Arage, Eskinder Nega, Reyot Alemu are just some among so many of those TPLF victims. What I won’t leave unmentioned though is the imprisonment of Teddy Afro. Simply because it best explains the game of ‘convict and pardon’ in a different light. Besides opposition politicians, human rights activists and free press journalist those Ethiopian artists in the area of poetry, music and other forms of art are not exempted from falling under the TPLF guillotine, the so-called ‘anti-terrorism law.’ Besides the politicians, human rights activists and free press journalists, the jailing and release of Teddy was motivated by the same simple fact of creating fear to shut him, and potential others, up from making and promoting pro-Ethiopian and pro-freedom songs that inspires Ethiopians to demand a more equal and just system that they are denied for decades.
The basic common values of dictators are their attempt to control the overall socio-economic and political life of the society and shun the possibilities available to new ideas and values other than those prescribed by them. The one party dominant tendency, one media outlet, the banning of human rights organizations and control of the nation’s economy by party affiliated entities are all signs that add up to the argument that Meles Zenawi and TPLF are no different to Kim Jong Un and KWP/Korean Workers Party/, Isayas Afeworki and PFDJ/Peoples’ Front for Democracy and Justice/ and all those gone-for- good- Arab dictators from Muammar Kaddafi to Mubarak. As all dictators won’t let no individual or group to promote new values and systems other than the one put in place themselves, so does our own dictator at home.
The Meles policy advisors and strategists, especially political and security, includes those European and American ’intellectuals’ who are obviously willing to do anything as long as they are paid for it. In the time I was working in the Ethiopian government it was not strange to see people like Paul Heinz, Patrick Gilkes and many other western lobbyists and strategists leaving from Seyum’s or Meles’s office. On the basis of the advice and consultation of these and other individuals there are many strategies and tactics in place that are meant to protect the regime. Among others, the strategies adopted by the Meles regime involves the tactic of diffusing any hot and potentially strong opposition by detaining and convicting its leaders on the basis of some fabricated charges, including engaging in ‘terrorism’ and ‘inciting unrest.’ TPLF has used the ‘convict’ card on many occasions. Particularly, since the 2005 election it has been repeatedly used. Fortunately for the minority TPLF junta and unfortunately for the majority of Ethiopians, such evil strategy has helped to cool down and demoralize members and supporters of the opposition group and free media. Besides, it has also been used as a deterrence for others not to envision any future and demand any better than what TPLF has to offer.
Just like the ‘convict’ card the ‘pardon’ card is equally thought to be a wise political maneuver intended to bring good name to the TPLF junta as being ‘compassionate’ and ‘forgiving’. After some time, when the regime is certain the risk from those individual or groups it jailed for political reasons as ‘convicts’ is neutralized and their release has no potential threat it let them go. In so doing the regime attempts to be in good terms with the international community as if it has let go people who had in the first place committed crime, other than calling for freedom of expression, democracy and justice.
Since the whole world knows the human rights violations and political oppressions committed by the Meles regime, its attempt to disguise itself as being a ‘compassionate’ regime is futile. A regime that violates human rights, inhibits people freedom of the press and rigs peoples’ trust could not be anything but Tyrant. And a tyrant will not rest until it feels secure and its grip of power is unchallenged. That is why the Meles regime has long been engaging in the game of ‘convict and ‘pardon.’ It could be a game for them to jail anyone with ideas, vision and passion from coming and growing the nation. But for millions of Ethiopians it is a genuine worry that under such circumstances their future and the future of their sons and daughters is bleak.
No one should be deceived in to thinking that those people Meles jailed and released are indeed convicted criminals freed just because the regime pardoned them. Those members of opposition party, human rights activists and independent journalists, who exposed its TPLF’s dark deeds and treacherous acts against the nation, are victims of injustice. What the regime does, however, when it ‘convicts’ and ‘pardons’ is promote its own narrow minded interest of letting the nation down by blocking any new vision or idea from reaching the public and making the change that will help it embark on a better and brighter future. Many people were victims of Meles’s game. And he will continue the strategy as long as it is an effective deception tool. So, don’t be surprised to hear next time that Meles jails this and that. Be self assured that he will let them go as soon as he feels that there is no more political damage they could cause the regime.
When TPLF ‘convicts’ the leaders and activists and jails them for sometime, it cools the temperature of millions of freedom thirty Ethiopians and disperse and weaken the passion and strength. In so doing TPLF safeguards its hegemony. On the other hand when it ‘pardons’ there are buffoons like the regime itself who dare to believe that it is one step forward, while indeed it was ten steps backward!
