For a while now people concerned about the fate of Ethiopia have been analysing, protesting, prophesising and ranting about the terrors of this regime and what needs to be done too get rid of Meles and Co. The more I read accounts of human rights abuses such as the powerful statement by Obang O. Metho to the
House Subcommittee on Africa, Global Human Rights and International Operations, the more I am convinced that this government has no good intentions towards Ethiopia at all. It is a deep, somewhat awkward treasure trove for them to get fat on. The awkwardness of Ethiopia lies with the 77 million that farm the fertile soil, exploit the gold resources in an unregulated manner and are sitting on oil and gas reserves.
However, let us think beyond the current struggle for a minute to find ways of avoiding the fate of the Oromos and other tribes under Haile Selasse, Tigrayans under the Derg, the Amharas, Guraghes and most other tribes under the current government. How can we, as citizens of Ethiopia, make sure that we drive the next government to work
for us, using the riches of this country for the greater good of all in a manner that doesn’t denude the country and degrade the resources for generations to come?
You can argue that it is human nature to look for one’s own advantage and prosperity with utter disregard for the long-term consequences to others and oneself. However human beings and societies can evolve far enough to admit the evil that is lurking within all of us and have found ways of staving it off and muting it. We do not need to ram machetes into each others’ faces, or rape 6 year old girls in order to live a good, peaceful life enjoying our rewards. Governments such as the Scandinavian ones may have some flaws but they seem to be the most equitable, fair and democratic way of ruling
with the people while looking after the natural resources and also granting some perks for the rulers (and that from Vikings...).
The way the TPLF took over 14 years ago was all too easy, all that the citizens of Ethiopia could see was that their feared and loathed Mengistu was out of the country. There were attempts to include as many stakeholders as possible in the formation of a new state and government, the US brokered treaties forming a brittle base. However, the TPLF had it mapped out right from the start, taking over power under the guise of a multi-ethnic, multi-party , inclusive and participatory modes of government. They were given carte-balnche because at least they weren't "bloody commies". A false hope for greater ethnic and personal freedom was fostered by the misleading notion of regional states based on the ethnicity of people. This wasn’t seen by many as a “divide and rule” tactic, many genuinely believed that their ethnic identity was respected and valued. However a tyrant of the Ethiopian variety is not just a
Chiraq who sheds blood and instils overt terror of the Nazi variety- he also knows how to give the impression of granting some liberties based on apparently civil negotiations and generous statesmanship.
It is a bit like a manipulative, passive-aggressive husband- if he marries a woman used to being battered daily by her father she will not mind the “lighter”, subliminal physical and psychological terror he lets loose on her occasionally. He can behave like a complete brat and do outrageous, disrespectful things like shag his secretary once so that she ends up not minding the affair he has with her sister… It’s always the lesser of two evils she has to contend with. And so the Ethiopian people are just looking forward to a better time than the present: The escape from Mengistu was enough for most, will the mere escape from Meles be as good? Will the people both in Ethiopia and in the Diaspora lean back now that the EPRDF is gone only to witness the next round of abuse, exploitation and state terror?
What makes the current situation different is that the Ethiopian people are much more politically savvy than they were 32 and 14 years ago, they have been had twice- the first time it was a bewildering, bloody ride and the second time was a steady progression towards oppression and violence masked by talk about democracy- and that talk was the little window for the spirit to realise what the people really want for themselves. The increasingly widening disparity between the talk on state-owned media and during woreda "limat zemecha" speeches and the daily lives of the people spawned questions and realisations. The opportunity to actually cast a vote against the much feared and awed authority of the state was enough as a catalyst for new thoughts and ideas regarding political and personal freedom and rights. The votes may have been stolen, but the window cannot be slammed shut by any force anymore.
Ethiopians in cities, towns and abroad have even better awareness about democracy and what constitutes a truly democratic state. It is up to us to ensure that people know that democracy and a new freedom don’t mean bloody revenge acts against those of the old regime, that destroying infrastructure put in place by the EPRDF doesn’t hurt Meles in any way, that a relapse into apathy and snide resistance is not conducive to a new beginning.
Ethiopia is increasingly becoming attractive for potential exploitation of natural and human resources while the world is entering a new era of dire resource scarcity; when the middle east dries up the tiniest drop from Ogaden and Gambella will be enough justification for those who have put all their eggs in the petroleum basket to warrant exploitation and abuse of the country and its people. If we do not act consistently and unrelentingly in a united and mutually accomodating manner then the next government could be worse than the present one by not just submitting us to the abuse by our own but to the abuse by greedy, unscrupulous outsiders. The carte blanche for EPRDF/TPLF has been reissued under the theme of Fight against Terror and the thirst for Oil.
That is where the thinking like a top-class athlete comes in: Go beyond envisaging the race and visualise how it will look, sound and feel to come first in the race- the rush of adrenaline and excitement when you realise you have actually left the others in your dust, the adoration form your fans and the acknowedgement from rivals.
Translated into modern Ethiopian politics this means looking beyond the struggle and the vicious despair and hate that are clouding our vision. We have to be able to play make-believe, draw up plans and scenarios of how the next government will function, what our roles, rights and duties will be, how we will interact and -most importantly- how Ethiopia will look after 5-15 years of this kind of government. Daydreaming and envisaging the ideal outcome is a great stress-reliever at the least- and a brilliant plan of action for the best scenario.
