A Call for a Fresh Pan-African Dialogue
Imru Zelleke
An appeal to the Young Generation
To quote some parts of the statement: “This means that we would have to stand against actions that directly violate the well being of our country and the people…The focal point of our statement is that we boldly claim to be the future leaders of Ethiopia. We are her protectors, builders and caregivers.” These are manifestly noble and great aspirations. However, whether they can be accomplished outside of the political process is highly doubtful.
The Urgent Need for a Common Vision
What is needed presently and for the future, whatever political party comes to power, is a basic framework that establishes unequivocally the equal rights of all citizens without prejudice about their gender, age, language, ethnicity and personality. This vision is naturally embodied in a Bill of Rights or a Citizen’s Charter.
With this in view, I am tabling herewith a draft entitled Ethiopian Citizens’ National Charter (Ye’Etyopia’wian Ye’zeginnet Mebit’enna-Gidetta Ti’rri) prepared by Dr. Berhanu Abegaz for consideration by all compatriots. This is a charter that puts the focus squarely on citizens who are ultimately the guarantors and beneficiaries of free Ethiopian citizenship. It should be agreeable to all factions irrespective of their social, ethnic and political credo, as it is aimed to guarantee a level field of action and inclusive participation in national life for all people.
I am inviting all concerned Ethiopians, whoever you are and wherever you may be, to analyze it, make your amendments and suggestions so that we can together establish a shared vision that would serve as a foundation for our nation’s renaissance. I appeal particularly to the younger generation to take up this Charter as their cause because once people’s rights become the basic tenets our civic and political life, peace and stability will be secured for the present and for the future.
I believe that a national dialogue amongst all political and civic organizations must also proceed concomitantly. A consensus on fundamentals that is based and a common understanding of the challenges facing our country is bound to generate the cooperative spirit necessary to galvanize us all into constructive action.
The Need to Debate Our Future Instead of Just Our Past
I would, therefore, like to clarify certain important points that must be clearly understood before entering into a constructive dialogue:
First of all, we have to realize that we are living today in 2002 and not one hundred, or fifty years or even ten years ago. Today the world political context has changed radically. We are moving inexorably towards a globalization of world affairs be they political or economic. The trend in Africa is for Unity and regional integration, which have become unavoidable, if rapid and effective solutions are to be found for our under-development.
Secondly, we have to admit that we Ethiopians are at the lowest level of any aspect of political and economic development, and that our people are going through endless spiritual and physical suffering.
Thirdly, our problems are common to all, and it is only by pooling all our human and material resources that we can give a chance of survival and a better life to our people.
Lastly, we must admit that all this politicking is at the expense of the people who are the ultimate victims of these terrible vicissitudes. Admittedly, abuses have been committed in the past. No one can claim to be innocent of such deeds, and base one’s history on selective memories. Once these facts are established, we can discuss with a clear mind and find solutions to our serious problems.
Yes, there have been crimes and abuses committed on each other. Nobody can claim to be innocent of many misdeeds. Some factions claim that the history of Ethiopia began only a century ago. Most Ethiopians rightly have a much longer memory, maybe of thousands of years long, in which the Beja, the Tigre, the Agaw, the Afars/Somali, the Amara and the Oromo have taken turns in imposing their hegemony on the far-flung peoples of Ethiopia.
It is also sobering to note that none of them did introduce the Magna Carta, the Napoleonic Code or the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. They plundered, killed, burned and violated every ethnic group in imposing their rule. Notwithstanding these clashes, there has been a process of mutual acculturation and physical assimilation, within which the groups have been inter-acting, and incorporating with each other.
Eventually, they came to terms and managed to live mostly in peace as one nation and one people, profoundly conscious of their common experience. What was unique about our history has been our capacity to absorb each other genetically, politically, economically and culturally. What distinguishes the Amara culture is not merely a matter of language and customs, but rather its capacity of assimilation and its pandemic character in the Ethiopian context.
For centuries most of the Ethiopian Royal houses and the ruling classes have had Oromo and other ethnic lineage. Weren’t many of Ethiopia’s great leaders and patriots Oromos and of other tribes? Aren’t the majority Ethiopians of mixed ethnicity today in our country? (Names like Berento, Lentcha and Gobena are part of my own ancestry). Who is to deny them their identity as Ethiopians and their right to live and toil in their own motherland? Now! Do we have to go back and make this generation of Ethiopians pay for all the crimes committed in the past? Can we afford renewed internecine conflicts and bloodshed? For what gain and for whose benefit? When the rest of the world is converging towards unity and integration, are we going towards to dismemberment and disunity?
Where Do We Go from Here?
The people in Ethiopia have demonstrated more than once that they don’t care about the ethnic and racist politics introduced by the TPLF. For instance EDP (Ethiopian Democratic Party) has shown clearly, the great appeal that a straightforward Pan-Ethiopian political platform has amongst the general population. Therefore, political groups aspiring to power should base their claims on democratic programs beneficial to all the people of Ethiopia and not on ethnic or religious bigotry that is supported by the barrel of a gun. We have had enough of that with TPLF and company.
The terrible poverty and wretchedness of our people have shown irrefutably the necessity of common action:
a) to overcome these miserable conditions, and
b) that no single entity can do it by itself.
Hence, shouldn’t our own unity come first, in order to give some real solutions and some real benefits to our people?
We all agree on a democratic system of government, and to all the perquisites of democratic governance including one person one vote. Therefore, the political parties that claim to have the largest following have all the voting power they need to protect their own interests. Those that may have to worry, and for whom a constitutional provisions to protect their rights should be made, are the minority groups who risk to confront a permanent majority formed by the large political groups.
Therefore, our future actions should be:
Form a national coalition on agreed principles to install a legitimate democratic state,
Develop and implement the necessary strategy to change the political regime in Ethiopia and prepare a new constitution, and
Hold free and fair elections leading to the establishment of properly elected legislature, judiciary and executive branches.
This formula should be acceptable to any group with a modicum of good will and genuine regard for the welfare of ALL the people of Ethiopia. Neither the Parties who claim to have a large following of the population nor those purporting to represent small minorities should have anything to fear from such a procedure.
I hope to be excused for the bluntness of my statement. The terrible predicaments that our people are subjected to are homegrown and mostly self-inflicted. Even a minimum improvement in their standard of living of the people, would be an enormous achievement, which no political flag waving can accomplish. Ignorance, disease, poverty, environmental decay, inefficient and corrupt governance are battering our people and the land. The future might look rosy for those few who have, but for ninety-eight percent of those others, life is bleak, hopeless and divested of human dignity. Neither our people nor the country deserve this demeaning fate. The issue now is to reconstruct our country.
We must stop using past tragedies as terms of reference for the future. What we are facing today is a matter of survival. We don’t have the time and the energy to waste on marginal and unproductive issues. The challenge is to build a modern civil society, wherein all citizens have their rights respected and in which they can toil and live freely in equality, peace and harmony. It is only under these conditions that all the citizens can develop fully their creativity and their potential to build a dynamic and prosperous society. This has been made even easier in our times because of the new advances in science and technology. We might not solve all the problems at once because they are of monumental proportions, but we can make a good and positive start. We owe it to all the people of our country.
I appeal particularly to the young generation because you are the leaders of tomorrow. Your sacred mission is to save Ethiopia and make of it the land of great and well-to-do people that it should be, and can be. Ethiopia is a rich country; it’s natural resources are barely exploited; it’s human resources are abundant; and it offers a tremendous and exciting challenges for those who have the vision and fortitude to undertake such noble and exhilarating endeavor. The greater our ambition and the clearer our vision, the more formidable will be our achievements. Thank you.
Amb. Imru Zelleke
Washington, D.C.
June 12, 2002
Copyright © Imru Zelleke All rights reserved
Ambassador Imru Zelleke interviewed on Witness Histor, BBC World Service
I say let's open our minds and face our problems openly without fear of retribution by anyone, nor for personal gain.
A new generation of achievers is coming to be, let’s give them all the help they need
Published in Ethiopian Point of View - ethiopoint.com 96 years old former ambassador Imru Zelleke, son of a minister in Emperor Haile Selassie’s first cabinet praises Ethiopia’s young poet Hilina Desalegn for her recent popular poetry. (Below more about Ambassador Imru Zelleke)
I have had the fortune to participate in many significant historical events and have witnessed the unfolding of huge social changes both in Ethiopia and across the world. Through my memoirs I wish to share these extraordinary events with my readers and let them partake to all that has shaped, fascinated and motivated me. My memoirs are a work in progress and it is with pleasure that I am making a few extracts available on my website. It is may be too late to start a life story that spans eight decades. Memory fades, events get blurred, names are forgotten and places get hazy, softened by passing time events and things lose their edge. Neither I am writing a history, it is simply a narration about my life and of the events and conditions through which I have lived. Therefore, I plead mea culpa for what is missing, mistaken or misplaced. ________________________________________________________________________
We are one Ethiopian family that has lived and survived together since ancient times
You are in your twenties and thirties, you have grown up in one of the most painful eras of Ethiopian history ...this has certainly left you with some bitter view of your country ... We must build our new Ethiopia on solid bases, on our common history and common heritage ... Our people are talented and our land fertile and rich. Let’s make the Ethiopian renaissance with a national spirit and rejuvenating outlook...
Is Silence Made of Gold? The lack of freedom of expression and the jailing of journalists, bloggers and media people in Ethiopia has always been a hot topic in the Diaspora media, and justly so. We also observe that the Diaspora audio-visual media that has become a most important source of information for the public in Ethiopia about issues unavailable in the local media. This said the question is if there is censorship in the Diaspora media? For instance my article on Ethiopia’s Future was not rejected but not even acknowledged by some web-sites like Abugida, Ze-Habesha, ECADEF, 6Kilo. Thanks God! there are Medias like Facebook with millions of viewers worldwide including Ethiopia. Fear of Protests? I have been following on TV the protests by thousands people of Honk Kong to elect freely their own city government, and at the same I was also viewing what is happening with the few hundred protesters in Fergusson Missouri (population 21200) here in the United States of America. What I remarked particularly is the way that the authorities in both places have handled the protests. In Honk Hong the police were unarmed and the authorities have handled the matter peacefully with negotiations, which they are still doing after almost a month of the people occupying the town center. In Fergusson the police came out dressed and armed with military gear and equipment including armored vehicle, shooting rubber bullets and teargas bombs against a few misbehaving youngsters and against peaceful protesters. The contrast is evident; it is difficult to understand the extreme violent reaction of the police in America against neighbors who have lived in the same township for at least since the US has existed. With their violent reaction the police did not show strength and courage, but stark naked fear! And lack of confidence in one’s own national institutions and laws. It is sad to observe this decay of civility in the 21st Century America. Moreover, the political paralyses that has developed at home in recent years, has undermined the foreign policy in a world whose peace and stability lies principally with the United States. For billions of people in the World the US symbolizes Freedom and Progress to which they aspire. The people in Honk Kong are what they are protesting for. With the political and economic power center shifting from West to East, what the future bids is something to ponder upon with utmost concern. Obama will be gone in less than two years, then what??
I am neither a scholar nor a historian. The following are broad brush strokes of my personal outlooks about the epoch I have lived in and strived. I leave the descriptive details off events and facts to professional historians. The 1974 revolution that replaced the Imperial Regime and gave birth to an era of terror and lawlessness, since then Ethiopian history has been subject to many interpretations according to the ideological, political and personal persuasion of the narrator. Although a lot of well researched books and papers have been published by Ethiopian and foreign authors alike, there is also a lot of writing that borders the surreal, particularly by political bodies and their members. Assumptions, speculations, misquotations, fabrications and exaggerations make poor history. In my view Ethiopian history has changed by somersaults during the past nine decades, especially after the Italian invasion of 1935. The post Minilik period was a time of internal contentions, the Lij Yassu regency concluded with the crowning of Empress Zewditu Minilik with the crown passing to Emperor Haile Sellassie on her death. Thus began the embryonic modernization of Ethiopia’s polity with Haile Sellassie pursuing Minilik’s policies, introducing a western education systems and other modern reforms. A written Constitution was adopted, and Ethiopia became a full-fledged member of the Society of Nations. The 1930 Constitution marked the beginning of a constitutional form of government and the end of feudalism, which was abolished further by the Italian occupiers who introduced a colonial system of governance. Although the occupation lasted only turbulent five years, it changed radically all aspects of the Ethiopian way of life. Primarily to consolidate their occupation and secure the future development of the colony, the Italians built a network of roads and infrastructures throughout the country. This factor revolutionized the traditional political, social and economic structure of the nation, by facilitating large population movements and commercial exchange amongst the various provinces. A uniform system of governance was also introduced, transforming radically the feudal relationship between the rulers and the people. The post liberation era 1941/1973 was a time of reestablishing the state and keeping the integrity of the nation. Thanks to the popularity of the Emperor and patriots forces the country remained united. Starting with establishing a new government administration the challenge was extremely onerous, there was no money but a small loan granted by the British; there was no trained personnel but a handful people with formal education; no equipment of any kind as the British forces had taken away anything movable even office and household furniture; all Italians were also evacuated, depriving us of some technical labor. In spite of some difficulties created by the British in the early years, by 1960 the government was firmly established. Organic Laws were codified, National Bank and National Currency, Ethiopian Commercial Bank, Ethiopian Airline, Highway Authority, Telecommunications’ Board and many other institutions and structural changes were made. Eritrea was federate with the motherland and Ethiopia had regained a direct access to the sea. However, the political system did not evolve according to the innovations the country underwent with its socio-economic development and its large exposure to the world. Addis Ababa had become the HQ of the OAU, the ECA and of many International organizations, increasing the country’s role in world affairs. Nevertheless, domestically all powers remained centered with the Emperor, all officials were by appointment and the Parliament although partially elected was actually an advisory body with limited prerogatives. The Emperor, lulled by his worldwide popularity was more focused on world affairs than those of the interior. The first shock came in 1960 with the Mengistu Newaye attempted coup d’etat, that culminated with the senseless murder of some of the most important leaders whose voice influenced all Imperial decisions. Unfortunately, the Emperor nor his government learned much from this tragic event, although the country was fermenting with discontent from all classes of society and things went on as usual. Triggered by the famine in Wollo this period climaxed with the 1974 revolution, spearheaded by students and joined by the military. To their credit the Emperor and all high officials surrendered peacefully all powers to the revolutionary. Although their peaceful surrender did not prevent their eventual assassinations. Thus, began the Ethiopian tragic Odyssey. The revolution had started with a lot of ignorance and good intentions by most of the student’s movements, slogans such as “land to the tiller” had some popular appeal, although land ownership in Shoa, Wollo, Begemdir, Tigray and Gojiam was communal, and it was a matter of returning to the rest the ownership to the “tiller” that was already in place, in his ancestral land. The actual intention was to disown the people of any property, and have full control of the peasantry that consisted of eighty-five percent of the population. The same goes to the campaign of “Idget Behibret”, whereby high school teen agers were dispersed around the country to foster a development nobody knew about including its authors. Again this was contrived to break-up the student movement from growing into a political force on its own. It was also a malefic program contrived to denigrate the middle class. Thus, a whole generation of youngsters were thrown into an unplanned and disorganized foray, where many were diseased, raped, maimed and perished. The revolution turned into a murderous struggle for power amongst the revolutionary themselves, one faction allying themselves with the ignorant and uncouth military subalterns and providing them with some half backed Marxist political notions. Eventually, the military took over all powers after a campaign of terror and mayhem in which thousands of innocent young people lost their life; millions lost their livelihood, their property and even a modicum of basic rights. The governance of the country fell to a regime with no moral compulsion of any kind, but brute force and unbound lawlessness. After seventeen years of misrule that destroyed and tainted the historical and traditional values of Ethiopia, maligned its institutions and cultural vestiges, denigrated its defense establishment and left a bankrupt country to the vagaries of an ill fated future. The power vacuum left by the Derg regime was replaced by an ethnic cabal in the guise of an alliance with other liberation movements led by the TPLF. Admittedly, they fought and won the battle on the ground, but they also abandoned their Marxist leaning for some sort democratic platform that won them the support of the US and other powers and institutions, without giving up their ruthless and corrupt governance. They have conceded to the independence of Eritrea land locking Ethiopia, and transferred a large amount of national territory to the Sudan. With the preceding nationalization the ownership of the land having passed to the state, millions of acres of prime land are sold to foreign investors on concessionary terms. Under the governing tribal oligarchy all economic and financial institutions are owned and controlled by the regime through state or party owned corporations and affiliates. Large infrastructure projects such as dams, railroad, highways, industrial and agricultural projects have been undertaken through international, bilateral loans and private investments. Depending on the source the Ethiopian economic development has risen from six to ten percent a year in the last decade, resulting in huge disparity of income, that leaves the ninety-eight percent of the people in retched poverty, and endows Ethiopia with the highest brain drain in the world. Debt servicing has also risen over $1.2 Billion per year, in addition to capital evasion that amounts to more than $20 Billion since 2004. Corruption and malfeasance at all levels of governance are the modus operandi of the regime; with the extensive political and financial support of the US the EU and sundry “democratic” countries. Presently, we have entered a New Year 2007 EC and a new national election is to be held in a few months, most probably with the same concocted results as the preceding one in 2009 when the TPLF/EPRDF won by 99.6 percent. On this occasion the regime says barefacedly to have spent some 900 million Birr from the national budget to promote its own election, at the expense of the public. However, due to the general disappointment, particularly with donor countries, that its loutish and coercive governance is causing, and fearing that the growing opposition might turn violent, the regime may be pressured to make some nominal political space to affiliated parties, while maintaining the monopoly of power until the next election in 2012 EC. The emergence of a burgeoning middle class seeking to maintain its status in a stable and lawful political system, plus foreign elements wanting security for their investments, may induce the regime to give some space to some selected parties. Nevertheless, in spite all the political gerrymandering, sooner or later the failure of the deficient regime is inevitable. The question is what bodes for our country after the present tribal clique will lose powers in one way or another? Is it going to be a tribal battle ground by parties contending for power of some kind? Or even separation? Or, a most likely outcome, another civil-cum-military dictatorship will replace the present oligarchy? Where are the Ethiopian people in all this tumult played over their destiny? What do the powerless multitude of the opposition factions promise? Will it be another half-baked compromise under the macabre dance of peaceful struggle, or political reconciliations over the head of the real stake holders, the people of Ethiopia? The following is a personal comment for those indulging in the Politics of our country; it should not be construed as a self promotion. Given my age, I am quite conscious my own limitations, I merely want to impart my views about the future politics of our country. This message is mainly addressed to the young generation; it does not exclude the veterans of our political melee, but for those with an unsavory past as high officials of the delinquent Derg regime. After all politics are implemented by people, its success or failures are measured by their integrity and irreproachable demeanors in office. When in 1948 we joined the UN forces in the Korean conflict, the standard of living of the Korean people at that time was not better than our own, the same could be said of China’s after the traumatic ordeal of the cultural revolution. When I visited Panama in 1949, but for the American Base and some official sites, the city was a slum with a couple of hotels and sundry shops, today Panama rates with 61% of wellbeing on a world scale. While these countries and others around the world have achieved a high degree of development, why have we failed? is a legitimate question to ask ourselves? Ethiopia is a great country whose history dates from ancient times, our land is varied and rich that contains large natural resources of all kinds, from agriculture to minerals, and abundant water and energy potentials. The Ethiopian people are intelligent, courageous, cultured and diligent in all endeavors. Their social mores and moral values are second to none. With all this spiritual and material wealth in our hands, shouldn’t we have achieved higher standards of wellbeing for our people? Why have we become a swarm of terrorized and servile citizens deprived of their birthright in their own country? Ethnic and cultural divisions have been imposed on us by the point of the gun, creating disharmony and animosity amongst people. It is time to say NO to this unjust and abusive rule. The remedy for this sad situation is a national democratic political movement genuinely geared towards restoring freedom and justice to the people of Ethiopia. It is not ideas and methods that are lacking, a plethora of political programs have been pronounced by many parties; most of them advocating democratic principles in their own terms. However, personal rivalry and diverging objectives that prevail amongst leaders, has impeached the formation of a united national front. Consequently, no party has been able to establish a constituency large enough to play a leading political role. The only successful political coalition was Kinijit, whose winning a popular majority was revoked forcibly by the regime. Kinijit’s ambivalent leadership was also instrumental for its demise. Assuming that the regime will remain in power for the next five years, I believe that the opposition must belong to the young generation whose future is at stake. They would have the contemporary vision and the energy to regenerate and build a new Ethiopia. In fact this is already occurring in the country where the youth have already taken the vanguard of the democratic movement as exemplified by Skender Nega, Andulam Arage, Reeyot Alemu, “group9” bloggers, and scores of journalists and activists, the Semayawi Party and countless others that are persecuted and imprisoned around the country. What they need a strong support from all elements of the society, particularly from the community in the Diaspora that enjoys freedom of action with abundant human and material resources. Unfortunately the opposition parties in the Diaspora are fragmented and the leadership still tied up to defunct notions and groups, that do not reflect the present realities in Ethiopia. Neither have they have been a convincing voice to influence the foreign affairs establishments of relevant countries. Aspiring for power over ninety million people from ten thousand miles away seems to border the fantastic, internally Ethiopia is not lacking of talented people. I believe that the youth in the Diaspora should organize itself into an effective and credible pro-democratic movement representing legitimate parties at home, instead of wasting time in useless pal-talk and sundry internet debates. It is time to open a new page of Ethiopian history. Imru Zelleke
A year has passed leaving us with the nostalgia of things past, but also with the distinct feeling that this year been a turning point in Ethiopia’s destiny. The general lethargy prevailing over the mood of the Diaspora community, that had found comfort, distraction and even amusement in devotional practice, the restaurant/bar scene and gossipy rumours, has awaken with a surge of patriotic fervour. What caused this high irruption and indignation was the loutish behaviour of the Saudis towards the Ethiopian citizens who had migrated to their country in search of some menial job which they could not get in their own land. Migration of Ethiopians to Arab and other lands has been going on for forty years. Beginning from our murderous revolution, which has denied the people of basic human rights, confiscated their properties, abolished law and order executed mass assassination and imprisonment of innocent unarmed citizens; then collapsed disgracefully and surrendered the country to a regime of ethnic servitude. For those of us who were lucky enough to find refuge in civilized countries where we have lived in peace and freedom and even prospered, the sad fate of our unlucky compatriots is not new. What is surprising is this sudden awareness or “prise de conscience” and angry Diaspora manifestation against the Saudi Kingdom in particular. Ethiopian refugees are spread all over the Arab lands thus the selective indignation at the Saudis is rather bizarre, unless is it because of their enormous wealth. Anyway, it has caused the creation of a Global Alliance of the Diaspora to deal with the problem of Ethiopian immigrants. Most of the immigrants in Saudi Arabia being already repatriated back home, it is sending a fact finding mission to Yemen. However, sending an inquiry commission is a good gesture, it denotes a serious commitment from the Diaspora regarding the fate of Ethiopian immigrants. At least it might give some hope to those whose conditions are desperate. I also hope that it will not fizzle out into some publicity stunt, because it is a very grave problem that requires large amounts of funds and sustained logistical support. The death of the venerable President Mandela and the contribution that Ethiopia has made to the struggle against the white racist regime in South Africa was discussed at length, and justly so. This gave occasion for some of our intrepid reporters to resuscitate and interview Mengistu Haile Mariam and some of his collaborators. Since Mengistu’s role in the Mandela history and his opinion of the present TPLF regime is utterly irrelevant, one would have thought that a subject of great interest, primarily for the young generation of Ethiopians, would have been his own murderous history. How with US assistance he arranged to hand-over the country to the TPLF, and himself escape with his family and friends, betraying the Ethiopian Army and the country. This was one of the most violent and horrific pages of Ethiopian history for which he is accountable, and worth remembering for future generation. I have a lot of respect for the valuable service that ESAT has given for the Ethiopian people in opening a free access to information that is denied to them by the present regime. Myself having had the opportunity to express my views on ESAT, I am grateful for the chance given to me. However, I was deeply outraged together with millions of Ethiopians, by the callous indifference shown by ESAT for the enormous suffering and crimes committed by Mengistu against the Ethiopian people. We all respect and aspire to a democratic Ethiopia where the freedom of expression will be a fundamental tenet of its governance, we also believe that freedom has also its limits when it is concerned with acts of genocide and crimes against humanity. Unless of total amnesia, seventeen years of lawless bloody mayhem and genocide cannot be ignored. A serious apology is in order. The end of this year marks also the fortieth anniversary of the calamitous Ethiopian Odyssey. Four decades of pain and pangs, of terror and persecution that still continues. It should also be time to ponder over our lasting failure to bring solace and peace to our people. I don’t think that it is a mysterious phenomenon that impeaches our actions, but the lack of courage to face unpleasant circumstances in their real context. The TPLF came to power by a long and protracted struggle in the field by which they gained political power, and the recognition of major foreign nations. The opposition for its part being totally absent from the ground, was incapable to assume any role out of the debacle left by the Mengistu regime. The only opportunity that was offered to the opposition was the election of 2005 when it received a large public support, that was forcibly shanghaied by the regime, and against which the opposition had nothing to counter with. To add insult to injury the leaders of the opposition were sent to prison, a measure that still continues to be practiced against all opposition politicians, journalists and Human Rights activist .Yet, in spite of its blatant violations of all democratic principles of governance, international aid continued to flow in support of the regime. It was Senator Barry Goldwater of the US who said that “Extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice, moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue”, which might describe the criteria lacking in the spirit of the opposition and the cause of its chronic demise. Forty years of continuous failure to form a coherent and effective political movement cannot be explained otherwise. This year was also the 100th anniversary of the passing of the beloved national hero Emperor Menilik II. His memory should remind us of the best patriotic character of our cultures and traditions. Recommended reading by Tekle Tsadik Mokria, Paulos Gnogno, Professor Sergewu H. Sellassie, etc. Ethiopia is not a Paper Tiger created by some fiction, it is a nation built by sweat and blood, with thousand years of heroic defence of its independence. Unfortunately, of late, her destiny had fallen into the hands of an alienated generation that has destroyed its great heritage with nothing to replace it. The rebirth of the nation will demand a lot of soul searching and a return to those basic values of our own. We are not Europeans, Asians, Arabs or others, throughout millennia of interactions we have evolved our own civilization and way of life. Our traditional manners and morals are second to none. The fermenting affairs of the Diaspora never cease to distract us with new subjects and events. A formation of a Transition Government has been announced by a Transition Council who counts amongst its members a member of the former Imperial Crown, a high official of the Derg and sundry people of undetermined background. It would be interesting to know what this new government will be, and from where to where the transition will proceed. Whatever the case organizations created in the Diaspora, more than often, have a resonant name containing little substance. Therefore, it is wiser to check the personal history of the people in the leadership, and avoid embarrassments running after a ghost. On the bread and butter side a lot of development projects are implemented in Ethiopia; in fact the amount of money involved is simply staggering. Foreign investors seem to have found a worthwhile environment for their business in Ethiopia, in spite of serious comments made concerning the viability and sustainability of a development dependent on foreign aid and deficit financing. China announced recently a 16.5 Billion project financing program, that may involve the influx of maybe a million Chinese citizens? In the meantime the same amount of money or more, is to have taken the high road out of Ethiopia. Having become foreigners in their own country, but for a very small minority, the Ethiopian people are estranged from all these developments. To crown the year with unique originality the TPLF regime has put under arrest the Patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, an event that has not happened in the 1600 years of the Church History, but maybe once. I guess that the regime has taken this action out of a profound sense of fairness, to balance its own outrageous behaviour against our Muslim community. It could also be out of the profound paranoia and apprehension that things are getting out of control. Monopoly of power captured by a mafia ethnic cabal, dominated by pervasive corruption and inefficiency, that have little respect even for their own keen have doubtful permanency. After many years of reflection a matter for which I have yet to find a rationale is our relations with Eritrea and Somalia. Years of bloody conflicts, misery and mayhem have brought neither peace nor freedom to anyone. We all have a good and industrious population, we each have abundant natural resources, and we have no external enemies. We had the opportunity and the time to build reasonably stable and progressive societies. Yet, we have failed our people and our countries. If we look at the progress that China has accomplished in the last three decades, ours conclusion would be comparable to marching backward during the same amount of time. Characteristic of our peculiarity the heroes of Eritrean independence Woldab Woldemariam and Issayas Afwerki are both Tigrean while the many TPLF leaders are Eritrean. Cost accounting resulting from their conflicts and contentions, millions in human losses, displacement and all round misery that still continues to keep our people in a quagmire of poverty, ignorance and backwardness. Yet, there are more Somalis living in Addis Ababa than in Mogadiscio, more Eritreans living in Addis than in Asmara. With some common sense in their leadership the Countries of the Horn could have realized an advanced and prosperous community that could have been an asset to World peace and stability. Personally I have faith in our people and that they will overcome the obstacles that constrain their growth, and will emerge healthy and strong nations in the near future. Let’s do it!!! I wish all a Very Happy and Prosperous New Year. ETHIOPIA LEZELALEM TINOUR.