An Outbreak of Meles Fever
By: Afera Gebru
Commentary
In the aftermath of the split central committee of TPLF, many Tigrain Ethiopians have come forward to voice loudly their criticism of the Meles dictator personality and his corrupt polices that put Ethiopia into submission. In this heated political season Meles with his cohorts, in open defiance of the will of the people, continue to play dirty political tricks. What worries us is that the emotion being suppressed in Ethiopia is beginning to boil; Meles regime's continues belligerent attitude against students, opposition parties and the dissident members.
Such a fast deteriorating development is compelling the regime to take measures against unforeseen circumstances as we have witnessed in Addis campus. Now, everywhere, concerned citizens are protesting against aggressive arrogant leader and tyrannical ruler. His behavior has imposed its will against the interest of the country and the people. There is no limit to his arrogance. Meles is a much-hated enemy of democracy and the Ethiopian people. He is truly a war criminal with the blood of the people on his hands.
By controlling the media Meles tries to control public opinion, often by the intimidation of the society as a whole into submission of few corrupt views. Meles actions transgress the law of the nation, create disorder and cause immense public suffering and inconvenience. His attempt to pressure his rule has costly social and political consequences. His desperate move to squash democratic movements and inner party struggle is pushing its leadership to restore to violence. His continue action of removal public elected officials who oppose vehemently his suicidal policy is creating rift.
Ethiopia's current upheavals are a testament to the destabilizing effects of Meles bad policy. As we all know when genuine concerned Ethiopians try to resist cadres for political favor subdued them. Now under Meles rule there is no prospect for peace, our country is sliding towards violence and impunity. Meles action has created a wild distrust and division among our people. For EPRDF, having sided with Meles to be re-elected for a second time, the risk of failure are far greater and the rewards for future outcome is narrower. With such a disastrous path of the PM it is doubtful whether EPRDF as a coalition with its present leaders will survive the remaining years. What is happening is totalitarianism, pure and simple. The Parliament under Meles yes men has become a mockery of justice.
The Parliament's decision against dissident members was irresponsible for the fate of democracy. The resolution that has passed against the dissidents have failed to take adequate measures to guarantee equal rights for elected public officials and curb the PM's absolute control. The very tone of the intended decision welcomes nepotism and corruption towards the rule of law. This unwise action has been under harsh criticism for the Parliament member's blind support of the PM; many Ethiopians condemned parliament's actions as illegal and said it threatens the Ethiopian institution.
Now Meles regime has proven itself as a corrupt government that extends and engages in unlawful jurisdiction over the people it is supposed to protect. This corrupt government is acting beyond its rightful power by erecting laws that do injury to liberty, justice and the nation. What's most laughable is the claim that Meles actions openly display's political intimidation, while falsely claiming it is acting in the best interest of Ethiopia. Dissidents and those of permanent Ethiopian Tigrain origin who oppose Meles are being labeled as enemies of the Tigrian people.
Representatives of democracy must provide accountability to the public, but what we are witnessing under Meles leadership is demagogue authoritarianism. A true leader understands that undemocratic means must not be used to achieve democratic ends; such attempts can never successfully serve the long-term interest of a leader and the people. A leader cannot lead unless the nation is behind him, especially when it comes to issues involving security and strategic concerns. A good leader has to take initiatives to build support by explaining to the nation, parliament and consider public opinions rather than hiding behind closed doors. Meles actions have proven many times that it has taken a catastrophic path and caused many lives to perish, and put our country at permanent risk.
The crisis of the Meles administration continues to intensify, in the absence of any political explanations. The ferocity of the assault on dissident members and opponents is taking bizarre forms. As a result of the reshuffling of the dissident members bodyguards, their whereabouts are unknown. The group, headed by Meles, has suspended 12 members of the central committee who are opposed Meles. Now he has free reign to continue to choke Ethiopia once more. Meles group could nourish hope for a favorable outcome.
It has become clear to them by now that the problem will persist without any chances of resolving the matter in their fever. Meles cowardly action is bound up with the fear of raising issues that might encourage the army to engage in a loggerhead with his personal decisions. His witch-hunting methods represent an immense assault on civil liberties. We cannot rely on the semi-corpse of Meles diehard socialist policies. Many genuine concerned citizens are trying hard to introduce a conflict resolution mechanism to the crisis, but it would be naïve to expect effective conflict resolution for the sake of justice and truth from a stubborn pro Eritrean PM.
Unfortunately, the psyche of a self-confident dictator is not very receptive to logical argument. Now Meles is being haunted with the Alger's deal that robs Ethiopian rights and its own shattered glass house of the EPRDF. He is hanging by a slim thread of survival; the outbreak of Meles fever with all it represents is coming to an end.
[Opinions in this article are solely that of the writer.]