The Untold Story: UEDP Stands Above the Crowd

It has been a week since the government of Ethiopia through a parliamentary majority voted to take preventive measures to stop the unprovoked attack of the extreme element of the Somali Islamic Court, the Jihadists.  This is a proper, legal and just measure that a sovereign state is obliged to take.

I was bewildered and saddened when I first heard that only one among the major opposition groups supported the government's proposed measures. The position of some opposition parties defied all logic.  One would naturally guess that it is only appropriate to stand guard against an aggressor that openly and publicly declared war against Ethiopia.  The point is not whether this band of extremists will do much harm to Ethiopia.  It will not.  In fact declaring war on Ethiopia might be the beginning of the end of the group at the helm of the Somali Islamic Court.  The silver lining in this situation (the situation of war) might be the strengthening of the Provisional/Transitional Somali Government and establishment of peace in Somalia.  This is in direct contradiction to the prediction of self-styled experts including the International Crisis Group.

I want a sane Somalia, a cordial neighbor that wants to live in peace with all its' neighbours.  Ethiopia has no ill-conceived motive to hurt Somalia.  It has no any other interest except having a Somalia that has no expansionist desire to take territories from its neighbours.  Make no mistake: none of its neighbours want that kind of Somalia. Hence, when Ethiopia prepares to defend itself from the expansionists, it has the right to do so until such expansionists cease to try to realize their unfortunate dreams. If I were a Somali, I would dread to have an expansionist neighbour that poses a threat to my country by waging an incessant war to nullify an internationally set national boundary.  I wouldn't want an expansionist Ethiopia.  The feeling is mutual.

And who are these people declaring a "Jehad" on Ethiopia?  Do they know its meaning and does their thick head know the Prophet's stand on Ethiopia?  Let alone these late converts, even any legitimate leader of Islam has no power to declare Jihad on Ethiopia.  Ethiopia is a Muslim country as it is Christian.  I wish there is someone who could tell them to stop this utterly useless exercise.

More on these and other issues at a later date.

Rather, it is the behavior/action of the opposition political parties that has been a cause of concern to me since last week. For a while, I thought that the position that they took was as grave as the position of the opposition parties that has transpired the 2005 election crisis and the subsequent death of mostly innocent demonstrators.  I almost felt that through the position that they took the parties that opposed the motion in the parliament were putting themselves to a position of irrelevance in the Ethiopian politics for the foreseeable future.

A reasonable person would conclude that if all parties can't agree on an issue as serious as the question of safeguarding the sovereignty of a country, then there is no hope, and there is no reason to believe that the ruling party and the opposition parties will see each other eye to eye. My hope is to the contrary.  I hope that all parties take this as an anomaly and work towards narrowing their differences.

There is one big news in the midst of this illogical and almost theatrical event that took place in the Ethiopian parliament last week. The role and noble stand of the UEDP is a cause for celebration.

People make the mistake of equating UEDP to Lidetu.  Lidetu is, but one mind in the midst of young, principled, determined and committed group of individuals.  Through Ben's Internet Radio, I had the chance to listen to other leaders such as Abdulrahman, Mushe and lately Mesfin.  These are leaders who see beyond tomorrow and seek a strategic means of getting this country out of misery, evil political machination and feudal arrogance that is characteristic of almost all Ethiopian political parties. Once more this party of the young has demonstrated its resolute and principled stand by not bowing to outside Diaspora pressure.

As one shrewd politician said UEDP has absolved itself from the camp of those who try to combine legal/constitutional means and illegal/unconstitutional measures (hgawina hgwai yalhone tgl be maTaqes).  The fact that the other opposition parties shy away from endorsing the motion for the fear of upsetting Eritrea, OLF and ONLF is going to haunt them for years to come. In fact, looking at them on video clips, I noted how agonized the opposition leaders were in explaining themselves why the opted for opposing the motion.  They were not following their heart/ conscience but the threat of the roaring vocal Diaspora, the perceived intimidation of ONLF, OLF and Diaspora Kinijt (ADM).

UEDP has in an unequivocal manner told us that it is a party that is ready and able to win its adversary in a legal and peaceful way.  It has clearly demonstrated to all Ethiopians that party politics is one thing and the issue of safeguarding the integrity of the country is a different animal altogether.

Times for UEDP are not good.  It is a target of hateful propaganda.  The feudal elements, remnants of the Derg and other Diaspora politicians hate UEDP to their bones.  Hate, innuendo and vengeance is ingrained in their brain.  But these elements will pass.  They will be consumed by their hate.  I think the future belongs to the youthful party UEDP.  It is a party of hope, a party of principle and a party well positioned to bring all Ethiopians irrespective of their ethnic and religious background into one fold.

This is a party of tomorrow that is capable of transforming Ethiopia into a prosperous and united nation.  My advice to these leaders is to stay their course and not to lose any sleep on the negative propaganda of organized Diaspora politics and their hirelings at home. The majority of the Diaspora is on your side.  If it does not display this visibly, it is because it is intimidated by the gangster-like organized Diaspora politics.

Ethiopia is as old as the name implies.  But we never had a politically united Ethiopia.  UEDP has the vision, the desire and the determination to create this united entity –united not geographically but politically, spiritually and economically.  Peace-loving and positive Ethiopians will be on your side.  March forward with your positive ideas.  And we will be on your side telling the world your untold uplifting stories.