EPRP (ethiopian peoples revolutionary party)
- the tabloid of Ethiopian politics -
By: Alemu Demissie
I am disgusted and dismayed like many of you by the recent UEDF (United Ethiopian Democratic Forces) and its main collaborator EPRP’s development. Despite my well-founded reservations and doubts about the success of the UEDF, I would have hopped this coalition would be more successful than its predecessor COEDF (The Coalition of Ethiopian Democratic Front)
Unfortunately, the harrowing experience of Ethiopian people and the Nobel cause worth fighting for comes second. For obvious reasons lesson has not been learnt. The so-called major political parties in the coalition rather played cat and mouse to pursue their egomaniac and divisive interest.
The UEDF leaders have made a ferocious attack on UEDP (United Ethiopian Democratic Party) and AEUP (All Ethiopian United Party) who allegedly tried to sabotage and undermine UEDF for the last 12 months. I have listened to Dr Beyene's and Dr Merara's radio interview in which both leaders have tried to push everything under the carpet by accusing UEDP and AEUP for not co-operating and making way for EPRDF's victory in the next general election. Ms Almaz Zewode's interview with "Ye-Hibret" radio had no subsistence what so ever. Apart from accusing these two parties for a reason they could not or would not put into a sensible sentence, the interview was a waste of time. In fact, they remind me of Mohamed Ali's dance before a fight, they went around and around but never made a convincing argument.
They all said, they would have done more had it not been for the negative activities of some parties within the coalition (UEDP and AEUP). Condemning these two parties as an enemy of coalition and at the same time accusing them for not being co-operative is a bit odd. UEDP has been accused for its peaceful struggle. It has been bombarded for using windows of opportunity and addressing its objectives and disclosing EPRDF's shroud tactics. The same leaders who have been accusing UEDP for taking part in conference, held with EPRDF in Addis Sheraton Hotel later this year, had a meeting with EPRDF's senior ministers early this month. In fact, one of the reasons, Dr Merara and Dr Beyene have remained in power after UEDF's 2nd congress was apparently to continue in negotiation with the government. What a U-turn and opportunism is that? Do not get me wrong, I am not saying they should not have engaged in negotiation, as long as it makes positive contribution to the straggle, I am only against conflicting and self-deceiving propaganda that dispirits others from doing their bit.
UEDP is the only party that set an example for unity and merger that functions. UEDF is waging a bitter campaign against these two parties while the common enemy is sitting back and laughing at them. I think this coalition dose not only lack vision, it is also confused and cannot even differentiates common enemy from the rest and prioritise its tasks.
The difference among member parties within the coalition could have been solved, if there were mutual respect and understanding. I do not understand whey they have to run to the media and try to fight the parties they want to work with. The way these two leaders have been behaving undermines the credibility of their leadership and above all the credibility of other cronies' left in the Coalition who cannot question their leaders' intention and action.
Dr Beyene's visit to London in the middle of October this year was a shamble and did really expose the true nature of UEDF leaders and left the majority of the public more suspicious than ever. I would have thought the reason for Dr Beyene's travel to London was to clear the air by discussing the matter openly with the public, Instead they invited the Deutsche Welle radio journalist to forward questions. While the public was eagerly waiting to raise some fundamental questions, Dr Beyene and the meeting co-ordinators gave a last minute chance for those who they want to convince most. According to Dr Beyene, the damaging report by Eng. Kitaw Ejigu the chairman of the Coalition’s auditing and inspection committee (not any more) was a personal opinion and negligible. The book does not add up and he did not bother to clarify the matter but rather dismissive.
I did not really understand the purpose of the visit, if Dr Beyene is afraid of taking direct questions from the public, what is the point of travelling thousands of miles, wasting money and time to answer journalist questions? Would not it be much cheaper to make telephone interview? Or are they trying to be creative? To my amusement this pointless meeting was considered as a success, what a shame. I do believe, by behaving like that, Dr Beyene has put his and UEDF credibility on the line and under suspicion. Power always has to be kept in check; power exercised in secret is always very dangerous, this might be a bitter pile for our leaders to swallow, but they better use it.
Alike, Dr Beyene (UEDF), UEDP believes in accountability and transparency and most importantly it exercises it. UEDF should be responsible and accountable for its action and its leader should have a little bit of respect for those who financially and morally support them. "The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say thank you. In between, the leader is a servant." Leaders are there to serve the nation and supporters should never be taken for granted.
We know there is a problem in Ethiopia, in fact, the whole world knows our problem. Preaching the problem that our nation encounters year after year does not make them good politicians, in fact, prefix before or after our politicians' name does not qualify them to be good politicians. We need a coalition that can be trusted and accountable for its action, a party that can tell us the problems our country faces without exaggerating and at the same time provides feasible solutions to these problems. "In a democracy dissent is an act of faith, like medicine, the test of its value is not in its taste, but in its effects" so actions are more important to us than rhetoric.
As we always do, many naively believed the UEDF press release accusing UEDP for exposing and being obstacle for unity before knowing what UEDP has to say. Without being pedantic let me mention some of the facts that divided these coalition. UEDP disagrees with the formation of transitional government, rightly so. It has questioned the absence of financial report by the audit and inspection committee. It also believes that nominated candidates for the next general election should be from individual parties they represent, most importantly, individual parties should not loose their identity and integrity.
The UEDF insists it will only participate in the next general election if the precondition set would be met. It talks about forming a provisional government by winning an election in which it is not committed to take part. Even though UEDP has always stressed the importance of unity it has never compromised the principle of democracy and the future of our nation. UEDP has achieved more in three years, what EPRP could not achieve in thirty years (than any party for that matter). UEDP is organic in every sense what you see is what you get. Its determination and popularity must have alerted EPRP. This last minute call for coalition was not for victory, the dying parties like EPRP and it cronies would like to prepare a comfortable grave for their silent death. I am glad that UEDP's vigilance has paid off. Being spoiled by the divisive, manipulative and infectious hands of EPRP would have been a major drawback for UEDP.
We are not too young to remember or too old to forget that provisional government is the EPRP's unfulfilled 30 years ambition. It is unimaginable how this bunch of matured political party leaders couldn’t see why forming a transitional government is so important for EPRP. Edmond Burke once said "all that is necessary for evil to prevail for Good Man to do nothing". The formation of transitional government can only serve EPRP and its cronies outside the country. It would give them time to pack their luggage and fly back to take part in a victory parade they have never fought for. Theodore Roosevelt once said "The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again, who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause; who at best, knows the triumph of high achievement; and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat."
The idea of forming transitional government after being democratically elected is absurd and crazy. Above all, it only confirms the international communities' argument that the opposition parties are not fit yet to take over from current government. Taking into account the current situation, a landslide victory in the next general election would be unimaginable, so, where do they leave EPRDF and the rest when they form transitional government? If they cannot reach agreement on this fundamental issue how on earth are they going to resolve policy issue and lead 67 million people?
Once again, EPRP is only interested in its future not for unity or the future of our nation. Suggesting unpractical solution for egocentric reason is insulting the intelligence of Ethiopian people. This party never changes. " If we do not change, we do not grow. If we do not grow, we are not really living" so I do not think EPRP exist but its ghost is still stirring and obliterating the hope of our nation. If you listen to "Finote radio" or "Ye-hibret radio", you may get an idea, what I am talking about. EPRP is becoming the tabloid of Ethiopian politics. They talk how they have been fighting EPRDF in all fronts and that EPRDF is always frightened of them. "If wishes were horses beggars would ride". They say, the only solution for Ethiopian political problem is to take arms against the regime and at the same time they talk about their intention to struggle peacefully since 1991 if EPRDF had not discredit it.
Does EPRP really thinks it can overthrow EPRDF by sitting on a comfortable chair somewhere in US and saying "Zeraf!" thousands of miles away from battlefield? Or does it possess a long-range missile that can hit "Woyane" from such a distance. No, let me think it must be that old trick of inciting young Ethiopians into armed struggle. According to EPRP, the 2nd UEDF congress would have taken place in Addis as AEUP has demanded. But EPRP delegates would have been arrested by EPRDF and jailed like Abera Yemaneab. The risk was too high, so, it was not worthwhile travelling.
So, all this is too much of a hassle for EPRP leaders, they prefer to fight from a distance. But those parties they do not want give credit for but continue in character assassination and undermining their peaceful struggle are fighting EPRDF regime, the regime, EPRP leaders did not want to face at Bole Airport. UEDP and AEUP have so far shown their devotion, determination and resilience to bring a positive change in Ethiopia while EPRDF targets and harasses them on a daily basis, irrespective of the ongoing harassment they have persisted in their struggle to bring a democratic change in Ethiopia. They are struggling on front line resisting everything this monster government has imposed on them. They paid a high price to be where they are now. Though constructive criticism is always welcomed, criticism from those with no moral ground is not what this party needs, if nothing else, they deserve a huge support from peace and freedom loving Ethiopians at home and in Diaspora.
EPRP has always tried to underestimate EPRDF, whether we like it or not at least TPLF has fought for its chair and trying to hold onto it, fairly or unfairly. Which part of the country did EPRP freed in its 30 years struggle?
Does it control a single village in Ethiopia? Do not tell me, they fought against Mengistu. EPRP's madness and red terror, has caused distraction of younger generation in the seventies. Do we know how many died in vain? The so-called struggle has destroyed our people and left a big scare in our history. It made our youth weak to upraise against "woyane". So, engaging in words of war and self-deceiving propaganda is only counter-productive. Please, for the sake of the nation, let alone those who are genuinely trying to make a difference. "You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today" so, listen carefully or else history will catch up with you.
If the rumour we are hearing is proved to be true and the newly formed party, AEUP and UEDP can form a coalition, I would urge those parties trapped under ever obsessive EPRP should join them. Leave the gossip for a tabloid newspapers and do what a party is supposed to do. "Our greatest glory is not in never falling but in rising every time we fall" so, it is never too late.
Finally let me say something to those Ethiopians in Diaspora who claim not to be interested in politics. If I am not mistaken, we are all here for political reasons. Are not we making our life better in the name of those who have died and those in prison for our freedom? Did not we capitalise one way or another from their sufferings? How many of us have never been a party member? Why we all suddenly loose interest in politics just after a few months or years of our arrival? For obvious reasons I would not go into details but you all understand the point I am trying to make here. Remember, the more we distance ourselves from politics the longer we will be dictated by those politicians who have no better knowledge about politics than we all do. On this occasion my gratitude and appreciation go to those who are always there for their country, I can only say, keep it up! and thank you.
When it comes to Ethiopian history, we all are proud. Hirose like Tewodros, Belay Zeleke, Alula Aba Nega, Abdisa Aga, Zereay Deres and many more make our life and being an Ethiopian worthwhile. When Haile Gebresilase, Kenenisa Bekele or Derartu Tulu waves our flag, our contentment and pride has no limit. Ethiopia the only African country never has been colonised, it sounds great and I would love to have it on every day newspapers' front pages. Who wouldn't?
The big names I have mentioned and many more have paid a high price so that we can be proud of our country. They lost their life the most precious things in the world to guard our country. Ethiopia used to be a basket of bread, a pride of all Africans and many peace and freedom loving people around the globe.
Now, Ethiopia is rather known for man made problems and natural disaster. The first thing that comes to peoples' mind, when they hear about Ethiopia is starvation, poverty or life aid. The regime once boosted that its first priority would be feeding our people three times a day is now silent. Unfortunately, the figure has since tripled and the sign of democracy and prosperity in the nearest future is invisible. Does all these make us proud? No! Have we done anything about it? No! Is this a county we would like to hand over to our children? No! Would they be proud of this? No! Whose fault is it?
I am sure every one of us must have complained about this. We have complained about politics and politician. We must have asked ourselves why our politicians do so little to change this deplorable condition in Ethiopia. A wise man once said "If you do not like something, change it, if you cannot change it, change your attitude. Do not complain". If we really care about our country and want to make a difference and let our children be proud of Ethiopia, the time of idleness and indifference is over.
Think of the country, think of where your standard of living and wealth originated. Think of financial contributions as an investment in the future of yours, the country and the other 67million. Margaret Mead once said, "Never believe that a few caring people can't change the world. For, indeed, that's all who ever have" so do not underestimate your contribution, every little helps.
For me the glass is not half-empty but half-full so be optimist! Democracy will prevail be part of it! This county and its people have been good to you put something back! For me, a country is like a big pot you can only get tomorrow what you put in today. "As human beings, we are endowed with freedom of choice, and we cannot shuffle off our responsibility upon the shoulders of God or nature. We must shoulder it ourselves. It is our responsibility." Let us be party of the change we wish to be in Ethiopia and make the next generation proud to be an Ethiopian.
[Opinions in this article are solely that of the writer.]