Domestic Opposition Parties: Are we Helping Them or Weakening Them?

Commentary By: Muluken Tefera

In the province of Gojjam there is an Amharic saying which goes like this: “BEKLO GIZU GIZU ANDEM CHEW LAYAGIZU”. Roughly interpreted, “ …they tell us to buy a Mule over and over again but they are not willing to give even one unit of salt”. There was a time when a unit of solid salt was serving as a medium of exchange in Ethiopia and this traditional saying must have been concocted over that period of time. 

I read with interest the article by Ato Sissaye regarding his observation on EDP’s political tour in the US. However I felt a little embarrassed by the level of hypocrisy of we people in the Diaspora who always find some excuse not to be part of the struggle being waged against tribal politics in our country. If some one can be objective from his/her heart, I have never seen any other political party than EDP that have gathered popular support among the Ethiopian people in a very short period of time in the Last 11 TPLF/EPRDF rule of our country. No one can be perfect in such type of arduous journey to freedom, least of all political parties. Perfection only comes through time. 

The main thing in such political discourse is to get basic things right from the outset. Measuring from such a reference point, EDP has shown a spectacular achievement in its short lifetime. First of all it is not an ethnic party and has become the anti-thesis of Ethnic politics of the TPLF/EPRDF regime. It has organized itself on multiethnic basis and has become purely Ethiopian political party. It has shown tremendous growth and power in a very short period of time, thereby reflecting the true feeling and desire of the Ethiopian people in rejecting ethnic politics. By doing so it has proven to every one (including to the EPRDF regime itself) that the only potent way of acceptance in our country is to be an Ethiopian first. 

Secondly, it is the only Ethiopian political party who has managed to mobilize the Ethiopian people and take one solid stand in opposing publicly the policies of the regime in matters of vital national interest. It is the only political party who bravely broken in to the provinces taking opposition politics out of Addis Ababa (including Tigraye, thanks to the historic level of participation by the people of Tigray), and it is still battling the regime in every place and direction. 

EDP has not done this without any sacrifices. The leaders have been imprisoned many times, including in the infamous Nazi-type concentration camp called Shoa-Robit, exposing them deliberately to be infected with lifetime diseases like Malaria and denying them early medication so that they will remain infected for life. Some of its members are killed in broad daylight at public demonstrations and many are still languishing in prison. 

What more do we expect from EDP? What have, we, in the Diaspora done to support the fight for freedom? All we do is talk. Just talk! Our sacrifice is very marginal, almost close to nothing compared to what EDP, or other domestic opposition parties for that matter, are doing back home. But we are always the first one to belittle their effort undermine their morale and stifle the whole struggle. Sometimes it is sad to see when History repeats itself. Probably as a curse, we have a habit of cannibalizing our own heroes. We killed Belay Zeleke, Bealu Girma, General Tariku, etc etc. Every time a nation builder seems to rear its head from the ground, we quickly come and kill it from the bud. The Result: A rule by the worst of the worst. I just can’t fathom what kind of society we have become. Jealousy overrides everything including the national interest. Should we then be surprised if we are classified under the poorest of the poor countries of the world? 

“A society gets a government which it deserves” and we have got what we deserve. I am not saying that Domestic political parties should not be criticized at all. By any means, they should be. What I am saying is that the criticism needs to be constructive rather than destructive. It should take us one step ahead not two steps behind. To level EDP leaders with Meles is not only destructive but also irresponsible and treasonous act by itself. At least the writer should have remembered one significant difference between Meles and EDP leaders. Meles has given up our Sea out let willingly while EDP fights hard to get it back. 

The writer Ato Sissay argues that EDP is not opposing Meles’s regime very strongly. What does he mean? Has EDP not put its maximum effort in opposing the regime? Is it not EDP that has organized all those massive public protests and thunderous demonstrations against the Meles regieme right under its nose? 
Is it not EDP that has broken the political enclaves of the regime in the provinces? What more do we expect from EDP? EDP has made it clear from the outset that it will fight the regime in a peaceful avenue of struggle (with the famous Indian Mahtem Gandhi Doctrine) like civil disobedience, public gatherings and demonstrations, boycotting, winning up elections etc which finally may lead to bringing power back to the Ethiopian people in less costly way. Others may try the other way. It is their right. 

Is the writer Ato Sisaye urging EDP to give up its way of struggle and opt for the armed struggle? What advise is he giving to the party? He should make it clear. Condemning the regime from afar and flying press release every time the regime hurts the country’s interests, or withdrawing from all political activities altogether ( YEKURFIA POLITICS ) cannot be a solution to our problems. We have to be in the action to make a difference. 

If we in the Diaspora are determined to rid our country from ethnic apartheid rule we have to support the Domestic struggle both financially and in the Diplomatic arena. That is where we can make a difference. The Domestic opposition parties are doing their level best. If we can’t help them at least let us not distract them.

Back to main page!