In the face of national threat, is “unity” that elusive?

By Wossen H. Michael 

Ethiopia is beyond political crossroads. Now it stands on the brink...of being or not being. At international level, the UN and the government of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi are working fast to put in place what the Ethiopian people have unequivocally opposed: border demarcation that rewarded Eritrea with more territories from a country already punished as landlocked by its "leaders."

But such move being pursued at lightning speed is eclipsed by famine that has threatened 14 million Ethiopians. We are hungry. And as the saying has it: "An empty stomach is not a good political advisor." Hunger knows no demarcation effects, nor what would AIDS leave in the wake of its devastations. The charities that know Ethiopians wasting away to famine for generations don't like to cross the line and ask the one and only question: "Why is Ethiopia being punished by famine every year?" The answer would obviously implicate the TPLF/EPRDF regime among those responsible for the country's endless plight. If they ask, that would paint them as "dissidents" who raise political questions during humanitarian crisis the world has ever seen. Besides, changing a dysfunctional government is not within their jurisdiction. It is truly the duty of the people, the direct victims of state-sponsored pestilence.

At country level, Meles' attack to bring the entire country to its knees has continued unabated. Not only he is using the state machinery to impose "EPRDF" policies on the civil society, but he or his functionaries use "psychological war" planned to torment the conscience of their target group. Their language remains crude and vulgar that precede their evil deeds.

For instance, when Meles Zenawi sent his "Capacity Building" Minister Tefera Walewa to the Addis Ababa University, Tefera began his speech by warning: "We know the university is the Derg's last refuge." Would-be university president Prof. Andreas Eshete also followed suit, and had to utter these unforgettable words:

"...[I] don't think any of the University teachers would want to leave the University and go abroad, since “none of them would be able to obtain similar employment in universities abroad." (Makonnen Bishaw: Ethiopian Higher Education in Crisis).

Using the same pattern of striking fear and tormenting the minds of Ethiopian professionals, "Information Minister" Bereket Simon was repeatedly heard during his "indoctrination" seminar as saying:

"The problem with the private media is those involved in running the newspapers are ignorant to the field of journalism."

Government threats laced with a tormenting language were able to accomplish:

a) The clampdown on Addis Ababa University 

b) The death sentences on the Private Press, even if we exclude as irrelevant to our current topic nationwide government attacks on the Oromos, Amharas, Tigrians, Afar, Gambella, Somali, and many more that have gone unnoticed in the form of "government efforts to contain "religious" disturbances.

The Press Freedom, dubbed "brutal" by Committee To Protect Journalists (CPJ) since promulgation in 1992, is now being torn to pieces under the "guidance" of "Information" Minister Bereket Simon, only to be replaced by a more draconian law. Coming forth is a threat to an already badly bruised press. Journalists are crying loud for help before the impending disaster wrecks their livelihood, or shoves them into jail altogether.

Our Strength To Remove Tyranny Lies in the Unity of Our Opposition Forces

Yes, many Ethiopian writers and political commentators have put the solution to our multi-faceted crisis on the table: Dir biabr anbesa yassr! Our strength lies in our unity, and that unity is measured by how much the time-tested opposition parties are united in purpose.

The four major opposition parties are having hiccups over minor differences. After all, no one expects a smooth political ride to oust a regime whose roots go deep to every vice: an Albanian MLLT that developed into an Ethiopia-bashing Eritreanized leadership (of course till Isayas Afewerki's insatiable greed severed the chord that was milking the cow to death), to a corrupt tyrannical regime on the go to destroy whatever we Ethiopians cherish as our values.

When Meles says "land will remain under the ownership of the state as long as EPRDF remains at the helm of leadership" - even if that means famine would destroy Ethiopia year in year out) - is a frightening indication that another famine would set in before we overcome the current one, that the country is at the mercy of a political beast that can only be overpowered through the unity of the people, namely the opposition parties. The same "land maxim" is now being attributed to the press in the country: "Press Freedom would remain state-owned as long as EPRDF remains at the helm..."

Can the opposition parties that wield tremendous power among them adopt a common platform? They have the people's trust, and the answer is a big "Yes!" Ethiopia stands on the brink - and we hope mellowed hearts will prevail over emotional ones to pull the country back to safety.

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