Ethiopia's Election 2005 has left us with a number of live memories, both boon and bane. The hottest inter-party debates, the unprecedented level of first-hand participation of the public in political affairs, policy assaults and defenses, excessive McCarthyism from the ruling party in Ethiopia, the outwardly wholeheartedness of CUD officials, and the passion of freedom as well as change constitute some of the salient features in the run up to the polling day. Most of us, if not all, had expected that the ballot-for the first time in our history-would catalyze peaceful transfer of power at a moment when “change” became a universal theme and every one got involved in to contribute their own share to that end. Unfortunately, it was what we feared- not what we had expected-that actually happened.

As is the case with most plays, the May electoral theater had its own heroes and villains. CUD had dominated the arena as the ‘hero’ of the game. With in a few months time right from its formation-virtually at its infancy-Kinijit was able to shake a mountain. It had managed to drive members of the ruling circle restive, sleepless, and in practice out of their mind. Talks and insinuations about Kinijit had for some time complemented our morning coffee. We really enjoyed it. Sensing the dominant mood of ‘CUDmania’ throughout the country, some of us had moved even further to suggest on the composition of the future Cabinet and allocation of portfolios to key CUD officials. Everybody was overly sanguine about CUD’s victory as we all needed change.

Today however, this is not the story. Kinijit itself has become a problem and its leaders are ceaselessly bickering over self-centered priorities ignoring the prime mission that necessitated the creation of the party. Once we were told that Kinijit was ‘love’, now we see it is not. The senior officials had preached us that their objective was to help bring equality and justice to the oppressed, now we learn they themselves are fickle and oppressive. Disgracefully, those who were vociferously calling for national unity and reconciliation now found themselves bogged down in a quagmire of intrigue, revenge, wickedness and division. They cannot even reconcile their egoistic differences, let alone the formidable social and economic contradictions prevailing in the country. Their bad deeds can only reaffirm the bitter truth that no group could liberate the entire people of Ethiopia.

What they tell us about themselves false, about the others true!

After the collapse of Communism in Soviet Russia, a joke on the streets of Moscow these days, according to a World Bank official goes this way: “Everything the Communists told us about communism was a complete and utter lie.Unfortunately,everything the Communists told us about capitalism turned out to be true.” Modifying this joke to fit the treacherous moves of some Kinijit members we can put it in this form: Everything that Meles told us about EPRDF/TPLF was a complete and utter lie. Unfortunately, everything that Meles told us about CUD turned out to be true! Why? On the eve of the election, PM Meles-vertiginous at the head spinning rate of CUD penetration deep into the hearts of Ethiopians- accused the Coalition of being a power hungry clique. Despite the fact that some of the accusations like Interahamwe were goofy and senseless charges from irresponsible and frustrated politicians, the power hunger is worthy considering. This, in fact, will not affect in any way my assertions that the PM is the most insatiably power hungry figure; but, I am obliged to acknowledge that he is not alone. There are many more with voracious appetite for power!

The merger towards a coalition of four independent parties, on the one hand radically transformed the old and scattered nature of the opposition (by creating a strong challenge to EPRDF as a result of pooling meager resources and largely the human capital).On the other it became a bone of contention in a fierce competition for party leadership. It was imaginable that in the new party structure, some could be relegated to a less important position from the chairmanship of their previous parties. One such victim was Ato Lidetu Ayalew.He bitterly resented being reduced to an 'ordinary man' in CUD. As a result, in order to save himself from being swallowed, he decided to take to his heels with the stamp of UEDP-MEDHIN there by hampering the transformation from coalition to unification. Lidetu laid the first prickly obstacle. He betrayed his country and his people at a very critical moment. His power hunger far outweighed the plight of the people.

We ought to take the case of individuals like Lidetu very seriously. Such people are potential destroyers of this country as they always put their position first and Ethiopians second or third. These people target the palace which is their destination provided that they ever happen to make their nightmare a reality. But they know they cannot get there unless they operate under the camouflage that they represent the interests of the broad mass. We discovered that it was only a disguise when Lidetu perfidiously rejected the unification in order to save his position as a chairman. Imagine how demanding it would be to bring down Lidetu if he suddenly made his way to the throne. We would have ended up receiving an other Meless! Hence, toppling the Meless regime cannot be a solution per se. Change for the sheer joy of change is suicidal. We need to be careful so that we will not pass from the frying pan to the fire.

The Engineering and Economic Thoughts within CUD have been the major sources of conflict after Lidetu sneaked out of Kinijit. The 'new techniques' of the Doctor must have clashed with the 'old ones' of the Engineer. I think Dr. Berhanu considered the saying "you cannot teach an old dog new tricks" in manipulating the decision for the tour in Europe and America. Thus Hailu Shawel might have felt marginalized under the new techniques. As Shakespeare put it, "Revenge is sweet". For Engineer Hailu it was even sweeter. He took his turn to punish the group of Dr. Berhanu under the old system. It was worse. He issued a statement that revealed the suspension of five key members of the Executive Committee including Dr. Berhanu and W/o Birtukan Midikesa.The curtain became even tougher. Some argued that the Engineer's measures were just and timely. Others described the action as dictatorial and illegal. Now commonsense testifies in part to En.Hailu's selfish and unreasonable dreams to grab power. His refusal to an interview to face Dr.Berhanu on NPR's Kojo show and the strict warning that he made to Dr. Taye not to 'touch the internal affairs' of CUDP makes it very clear that En. Hailu has surely personalized the Kinijit issue. It would be tantamount to saying "do not touch me; the internal affairs are sole responsibilities and duties of mine." That stands inherently wrong as Kinijit does not belong to an individual or to a certain group. It is a people's party. Moreover En. Hailu's vehement recoil from the radio discussion forum with Dr. Berhanu carries the impression as if he was a bit ashamed of his bad deeds –otherwise, as the saying goes, a clear conscience would not fear accusations. This incident reveals at least the vengeful, unforgiving, intransigent and destructive positions of the Engineer against reconciliation with Dr. Berhanu's group and the rebuilding of Kinijit. How can we bring the peoples of Ethiopia closer when it is impossible for us to see the face or to hear the voice of our colleague that we disagree with? That is really heart-breaking.

Dr.Berhanu, on his part, refused to go to Ethiopia on the pretext that he got scholarship. Thus, according to the Doctor, the struggle would be postponed for over six months which is some what farcical and irresponsible. Where is all that ambition and enthusiasm? The main reason that Ethiopians gave their lives for Kinijit is not simply to help its officials ascend to power rather it was to 'liberate' them from the tyranny of a minority rule and to bring them relief from the age-old socio-economic woes. Today; Dr. Berhanu does not seem to live up to the urgent requirements of this mission. By now he should have been at home to guide the young and coordinate efforts towards the desired objectives. None the less, this is not happening. It appears that now is not the propitious time to act for Dr. Berhanu.Perhaps he is looking forward to 2010.That is certainly against the principles and purposes of CUDP. To be busy only when national parliamentary elections approach would justify more of our secret agenda than our commitment to the helpless. The theory of power hunger!!

My requests are to Ato Lidetu, Dr. Berhanu and En. Hailu to put aside their personal ambitions and desires for the sake of the helpless who are suffering the rough ends of TPLF military rule. Life has become a veritable hell at home. Soaring inflation and chronic poverty coupled with the ever increasing brutality of the incumbent regime will certainly lead our people to make a resort to violent mechanisms if the peaceful way does not work. Now is the time to intensify the peaceful struggle in order to avoid destruction from a hawkish approach against TPLF.In fact, we would not make such calls to Kinijit officials if the majority of our people were not prone to the domino effects of illiteracy. If most Ethiopians were educated, we would not have needed an Engineer or a Doctor as everyone would stand for themselves. After a generation, surely, this will not be the story-the adobe rural and urban schools will produce killers of a tyrant in their own era.


The writer can be reached at bishangary@yahoo.com

The opinion stated in the articles submitted to EthiopiaFirst (EF) are those of the writers and not EF or the publisher of EF.