Eritrea: Expecting a Pigeon from a Snake egg!

By Tibebe Samuel Ferenji
It would have been easier to say “we told you so” and walk away; but putting our citizens in harms way is never an easy matter. Few years ago, some concerned Ethiopians warned that dealing with the Eritrean despot Issaias Afeworki was a dangerous and risky game. I was one of those who attempted to shade some lights by writing several peace to warn my fellow Ethiopians that Issaias is someone who cannot be trusted. Those who were stubborn enough to ignore our warnings are now learning the hard way that Issaias would not allow anything in Eritrea that he cannot control.

"Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity." Martin Luther King Jr.

Reading various articles regarding the arrest of Colonel Tadesse Muluneh and others who joined the Ethiopian opposition group based in Asmara, I am amazingly surprised by the reaction of those who expected a different result from Issaias. It is unfortunate that individuals who lack vision and strategic planning are putting patriotic Ethiopians who could contribute a great deal to the struggle in harms way by trusting a despot whose sole interest is to put a puppet regime in Menlike Palace. It has been said that Insanity is doing the same thing again and again and expecting a different result.

Other than to those die hard Issaias supporters, it is clear to the world that Issaias wants to build the shattering Eritrean economy at the expense of Ethiopia. In order to achieve this evil objective, Issaias has to create a government that he could control from Asmara. Either because of utter ignorance or vengeance some in the opposition quarter are dreaming to bring a democratic change to Ethiopia through Issaias Afeworki. Unfortunately, mixing the principle of Democracy and Issaias is like attempting to mix oil and water. Issaias ruled Eritrea with an iron fist and with brut for the last 20 years. If it was up to Issaias, the Eritrean people would not breathe without his permission. If Issaias is not allowing a democratic governance in his own nation, it is clear that he will not allow any sort of democratic governance in the neighboring country.

It is unfortunate that those who relied in getting support from Issaias did not learn anything from EPRP’s relationship with Issaias. Issaias kept EPRA (EPRP’s army) from engaging in armed struggle after EPRA reorganized itself after a heavy blow by the Dergu military force in late 1970s. Issaias kept EPRA fighters under control of the EPLF army until EPRA became ineffective. The recent OLF history indicates the same pattern of behavior in part of Issaias. Several reports have indicated that Issaias have kept OLF leaders in Asmara under house arrest.

Recently, we have learned that an opposition organization based in Eritrea has an Eritrean Colonel “adviser“. It is not clear to me why “Ethiopian Freedom Fighters” need an Eritrean advisor unless the Eritrean regime has an enormous interest in controlling and directing the action of the fighters. Why in the world Ethiopians invite the regime in Asmara to interfere in Ethiopian affairs? Time nada again, we have seen Mr. Issaias acting against the interest of Ethiopia. The notion that Issaias would be an ideal liberator for Ethiopians is not just a cruel joke but also an ignorance of history.

Does anyone expect a Pigeon from a snake egg? Expecting Issaias to contribute anything for the true freedom of Ethiopians is not any different from expecting a pigeon from a snake egg. Issaias is someone who should be charged for crime against humanity in a court of international law; he is not someone who can be considered a trustworthy partner. Some in the opposition quarter who think politics is a child play because of their utter stupidity or ignorance do not seem to learn their lessons yet. It is bad enough that they put several Ethiopians in harms way and at the mercy of this brutal murderer, yet they are telling us that Mr. Issaias is not responsible for the detention of Colonel Tadesse Muluneh and others. They tell us it is because of Mr. Issaias’ subordinates that Ethiopian opposition organizations based in Eritrea have become impotent. They tell us that some rogue colonel is responsible for their dysfunctional organization failure to move forward even an inch for the last ten years. Until the recent terrible news coming from Eritrea, these same individuals were painting a rosy picture about the Eritrean accommodation of Ethiopian opposition organizations. Now we know that they have been lying to us. According to their own account, they were aware of the abduction, arrest, and mistreatment of Ethiopian opposition leaders based in Eritrea by the regime in Eritrea.

Instead of coming forward with the problem they have faced, and contribute in strengthening the true struggle for lasting peace and democratic governance, they mercilessly assaulted those who tried to warn them that the path they were following was dangerous. They wasted an enormous human and financial resources and contributed a great deal for the division among the opposition groups. What is sad is that they have not learned their lesson even today. Once again, I am here to tell them that they cannot bring a Holy alliance within the opposition by making a deal with the devil himself. Issaias has only one objective: to control Ethiopia’s resources by any means necessary-period!
For those who refused to listen in the past and were stabbed on their back, I want to tell them once again that it is not too late to change course. I want to tell them that they are dealing with dangerous despot who has an enormous disregard to human lives and to the rule of law. I want to tell them that Issaias will not allow any thing to function in Eritrea unless he has full control. If it is possible, please, save the rest of the “freedom fighters” by moving them out of Eritrea. Some who are working with Issaias are above their league. This is not child’s play, this is real. Several lives are at stake. You are incapable of thinking strategically; you are using your heart instead of your head. Leave the political leadership to those who are capable leaders. Stop labeling those who can provide effective leadership, and stop dehumanizing them just because your finger is capable of punching key boards. By your smear campaign, you are narrowing the political space and contributing to continuation of the predicament that we are in.

Let this be a lesson to you. Instead of taking dismissive and defensive positions, entertain ideas freely, listen, examine, study, and most of all know your real enemy. Don’t let your hate for the TPLF cloud your judgment. Ethiopians only have to depend on ourselves to bring the desired change to our country. Although the none violent opposition seems slipping to its usual habit of complacency, we need to poke them and wake them up. There is no time for complacency. Where are you MEDREK, and others? Politics is not only during the election period. The TPLF is working 24/7, 365 days a year. What about the rest of us? We all should demand the release of Colonel Tadesse Muluneh and other Ethiopians from EPLF’s deplorable prison camp. Please take your time, consult with one another and strengthen the none violent struggle and the opposition functioning in the country.

I like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a Happy New Year. I hope 2010 was a productive and joyful year for all of you.

Ethiopia’s Crippled Agriculture (Analysis)

By Andualem Sisay
Sitting near St. Gabriel church, which is located next to the national palace here in Addis Ababa, Birrara Teketel, 27, stairs at the worshipers on a cloudy afternoon of December 28, 2010.Birrara Teketel sitting next to another beggar around St.Gabriel Church, Kasanchis Dec. 28, 2010

‘Sile Kidus Gebriel’ (meaning for the sake of St. Gabriel)’, he howls, seeking money or food from the followers of Ethiopian Orthodox Christians who steadily flow to attend St. Gabriel’s annual worship ceremony.

But, he is not a fulltime beggar. A month ago he was at home with his wife and two children in Mugad, Weldya of Amhara region, which is some 300 kms from Addis Ababa. He is a farmer who owns a plot of land his family sliced to him when got married eleven years ago.

“We can’t earn enough from agriculture for living since our land size is too small and we can only harvest once in a year,” says Birrara, whose land size enables him to produce up to five quintals of sorghum or teff during good harvest season.

“The land is not suitable for irrigation either and I don’t want to be in debt by using fertilizer as the size is too small. I would rather prefer leaving my home seeking other ‘shekl’(business) in different part of the country after the harvest,” he says.

For Birrara and hundreds of farmers this is the season they leave their home and exile to other parts of the country to make additional income and feed their family.

For the past three weeks, he was working as a daily laborer in Minjar area of Amhara region, which is known for producing quality teff – the main dish of Ethiopia.

He was lucky and returned to Addis Ababa with a total of 2,300 birr by harvesting teff farm of rich farmers. He earned 200 birr per hectare for his service. “Thanks to God, now I will go back home and come back next year for similar Shekl,” says the father of 7 and 10 years old boys.

Only the younger boy goes to school while the older one stays at home supporting the family. He feeds the cow and ox of the family, collect firewood and help his mother fetching water.

He does all agriculture related activities, according to Birrara, whose decision on his older son’s life seems totally opposite to his name’s meaning, which means, ‘if he has sympathy’.

Ethiopia’s small-hold farm is often known for its rainfall dependency. Century old traditional farming system and lack of affordable modern agricultural inputs are also often mentioned as among the causes that lead to low production.

Issues associated with extensive grazing systems including deforestation and the growing degradation of rangelands and water sources due to unsustainable management practices also need attention to make productive small-holder agriculture in Ethiopia.

Agriculture VS Food Security
For the past decades millions of several Ethiopian farmers were unable to produce the amount of food the country needs to feed its citizens. In addition to the backward farming system of the country, the frequent drought the country experienced since 1970s has made the country foreign food aid dependent.

In fact, some of the drought-induced famines were even severely affecting millions of people so much so that famine is automatically associated with Ethiopia.

The country is still unable to make an end to the acute problem. Today, out of the total population of around 85 million around 13 million including those under the national safety net program are still dependent on food aid.

According to Rural Poverty Report 2011 released by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) early December 2010, a little less than 35 per cent of the total rural population of developing countries is classified as extremely poor, down from around 54 per cent in 1988.

Reports show that more than 60 per cent of the rural population lives on less than 1.25 US dollar a day in sub-Saharan Africa, where Ethiopia is categorized.

After several attempts over the past twenty years, the Ethiopian government in its recent Growth and Transformation Plan vowed to end this within five years. It aims to liberate the country from the longstanding food aid by making the agricultural sector contribute the development of industry.

Meanwhile, from the previous experiences of Ethiopian government, many doubt that Ethiopia will be free from foreign food aid within five years.

National Attempt
The Agricultural Development Led Industrialization (ADLI), which was first introduced by the government, has been considered as pro‐poor and the main instrument for alleviating poverty of the majority of small‐holder farmers in Ethiopia.

Meanwhile, the country’s agriculture was not able to achieve its anticipated goals of serving as the main engine of industrialization by providing the raw material, capital base, surplus labor and capital accumulation wasn’t able to address the core source of rural poverty.

Later, in 2002 the government issued the first Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP), known as the “Sustainable Development and Poverty Reduction Program” (SDPRP).

The SDPRP was based on the basic doctrine of ADLI with its major focus on agricultural and rural development. Its emphasis was mainly directed to stimulating rural growth centered on small land holder farmers, like Birrara.

The second round of the PRSP process, known as “the Plan for Accelerated and Sustainable Development to End Poverty” (PASDEP), covers the period 2005‐2010. Still the overall idea was to increase food production of small-hold farmers, expand commercial farms and reduce dependency level of the country on foreign food aid.

Unfortunately, below 50 percent of PASDEP II was attained in terms of increasing major crops production.

At the end of 2010, the government’s target was to produce 38.2 million tons of major crops, which is only one million tons lower than the new Growth and Transformation Plan.

Meanwhile the country was only able to produce a total of 18.08 million tons of major crops at the end of 2009/10 fiscal year.

Now, most of agriculture sector targets listed in the Growth and Transformation Plan aim to meet these unmet targets of the previous five years without major policy shift.

Is Large Farm Curing the Acute?
Without proper policy and regulations, the recent trend of allocating huge farming land to foreign investors do not seem to solve rural poverty and make the country food sufficient either.

In his paper entitled, ‘Governance of large scale agricultural investments in Africa: The case of Ethiopia’, which is presented at the World Bank meeting in April 2010, Emeru Tamrat stressed the need to recognize and enforce land rights while expanding large scale agriculture in the country.

Land conflicts, restriction on land rights and land use planning, public land management, expropriation and compensation issues also need government’s attention, according to Emeru.

He further suggested that the country needs to develop and implement rural land use master plans. There is also a need for a clear definition of the contents of communal and pastoral holding rights by law. The country should also put in place mechanisms to ensure benefit sharing from large-scale agricultural investment.

“Currently there is lack of regular and effective monitoring of compliance with safeguards related to agricultural investment by the responsible government agencies. The lack of mechanisms to monitor large‐scale agricultural investments once land is allocated has led to misuse of natural resources and adverse environmental and social impacts,” Emeru noted in the paper.

His paper also indicated that Afar, Somali, Benishangul‐Gumuz, Gambella and Harari regional states have not yet issued their own implementation legislation.

He questions how the land holding rights given to peasants and pastoralists under the constitution is being implemented within these regional states in the absence of detailed land administration laws in these regional states.

Until the current complex situations change, Birrara and thousands of small agricultural land holders in Ethiopia continue searching for part time jobs. And the burden of taking care of their family will fall on the shoulders of their kids who deprived of elementary education.

Note: This article is prepared in collaboration with Ethiopian Environment Journalists Association and UNESCO

So what!

By Alemayehu G. Mariam,

"So what! Soo what!! Sooo whaaat!!!" was the repetitive mantra of dictator Meles Zenawi recently in response to pesky questions lobbed at him in parliament about his so-called Growth and Transformation Plan[1] (GTP), which will presumably make Ethiopia self-sufficient in food production in the next five years and expand the "industrial-led export sector", infrastructures and what have you. It was vintage Zenawi. He gets a few challenging questions and he ignites into spontaneous self-combustion, a meltdown: "So what if the GTP doesn't work! So what if we don't have the money to implement it? So what if don't have the institutional capacity to do it?! So what? I don't have to tell you diddly squat. I will do as I please. It's my way or you're hitting the friggin' highway!"

So what about Wikileaks?

The latest droplet of Wikileaks cable leak shows that back in January 2010, Zenawi met[2] with U.S. Under Secretary of State for Democracy and Global Affairs Maria Otero and Assistant Secretary for African Affairs Johnnie Carson for a couple of hours and gave them a piece of his mind, or a tongue lashing depending on your point of view. There were two fascinating things about the meeting: 1) the summary of the discussions (or hectoring monologue), and 2) the ambiance of the meeting of which we get a glimpse.

After carefully studying and analyzing the cable summaries, one is immediately struck by the absence of any meaningful dialogue on the issues. Rather one is overwhelmed by a sense of unrestrained monologue directed at the Americans with rhetorical flair. Extrapolating from Zenawi's known demeanor, behavior and pattern and practice in Q & A sessions in parliament (particularly when he is asked challenging questions or is on the receiving end of an unexpected reposte from a member), media interviews, speeches and his recent shocking verbal assault on the European Union Election Observer Mission as "garbage", one can retrospectively imagine that Otero/Carson must have had a traumatizing 2 hours. Reasoning deductively and reading between the lines in the cable summaries, Zenawi appears angry, frustrated, defensive and defiant. He tries to persuasively convince Otero/Carson of his good intentions for the country, but ends up hectoring, lecturing and talking down to them on elementary principles of democracy. The tone of his voice seemed condescending and contemptuous. His words were tinged with bitterness, and he seemed impatient with his guests. Overall, the meeting seems to have been a 2-hour monologue delivered with rhetorical fury as Otero/Carson cringed in stunned disbelief.

In response to Otero/Carson's concerns about the crackdown on civil society organizations, narrowing political space and the imprisonment of Birtukan Midekssa, the first female political party leader in Ethiopian history, Zenawi tries to outplay them with clever sophistry. He said "his government placed no restrictions on its citizens' democratic and civil rights, only the right of foreign entities to fund them." He seemed conveniently oblivious to the fact that he receives billions in foreign aid annually which he uses to entrench his political party, a notorious fact known to the population and donors since the stolen election of 2005. He counseled "those Ethiopians who want to engage in political activity to organize and fund themselves". He said "foreign funding of charities" is welcome as long as the money is given to his side, and not to the other guys. It seems he lost his temper at one point haranguing Otero/Carson: "Ethiopians must organize and fund themselves and defend their own rights" because they "were not too poor to organize themselves and establish their own democratic traditions, recalling that within his lifetime illiterate peasants and poor students had overthrown an ancient imperial dynasty."

Zenawi made it clear to Otero/Carson that he had nothing but contempt for his opposition. They are all just a bunch of whiners and wimps. He pontificated, "When people are committed to democracy and forced to make sacrifices for it, they won't let any leader take it away from them." He preached that in "our own struggle against the Derg regime, we received no foreign funding, but were willing to sacrifice and die for [our] cause." He matter-of-factly declared that Ethiopians must "take ownership of their democratic development, be willing to sacrifice for it, and defend their own rights."

Zenawi flashed a moment of reasonableness as he assured Otero/Carson not to be concerned about the 2010 election because it "will be free, fair, transparent, and peaceful..." But a question about potential violence caused by the opposition sent him into total spontaneous self-combustion: "If opposition groups resort to violence in an attempt to discredit the election," Zenawi vowed, "We will crush them with our full force; they will all vegetate like Birtukan (Midekssa) in jail forever." He asserted with bombastic bravado that there is no power on earth that can save them. "Nothing can protect them except the laws and constitution of Ethiopia!" Capisci! Otero? Carson? One can imagine Zenawi pounding his desk and screaming, "Capisci! Capisci!"

It is apparent from the cablegram that Otero and Carson were stunned into silence by Zenawi's obstinacy and dogmatic single-mindedness in refusing to allow more political space, ease restrictions on opposition groups and civil society organizations and release Birtukan. As the two representatives of the World's Greatest Superpower left the 2-hour verbal mauling, there could be no doubt in their minds that they had just met the "law and constitution of Ethiopia." There is no indication that Otero/Carson learned any lessons from their close encounter of the fourth kind, but there are many to be learned indeed.

Lesson I. Crush your opponents with full force. Alternatively, vegetate them forever.

Anyone who opposes Zenawi will be crushed. Not with a teeny weeny bit of force. Not with reasonable force. Not even partial force. They will be crushed "with full force". They will be crushed like roaches, bedbugs or spiders. Squish!

If you can't crush them, then cage them like ferrets or rabbits; and sit back and watch them vegetate. Throw them in the dungeons. Let them rot in jail. So what! Who is going to save them? Better yet, coop them in solitary confinement and watch them turn into potted plants. See them go brain dead. Watch them go raving nuts, crazy. So what!

Lesson II. If you get into America's face and stick it to her, she will always back down. Always!

American politicians like to talk big; but they rarely back up their talk with action. They have forked tongues, like serpents. They will jibber jabber about democracy, human rights and all that, but when things are down for the count, you will find them standing around twiddling their fingers and whistling Dixie. In fact, if you stand up to them, they will back down. There was a time when American foreign policy was guided by the old West African proverb: "Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far." Now, they just speak softly, and instead of carrying a big stick they carry a big wad of cash, billions of it, and hand them out to those who have committed crimes against humanity, war crimes and genocide.

The whole thing works backwards with the Americans. The more bad stuff you do, the more you are rewarded. Take the May 2005 Ethiopia election and all the nasty stuff that happened after that: an election stole, hundreds of citizens massacred in the streets, tens of thousands imprisoned, nearly all opposition leaders rounded-up and vegetated for nearly two years, anti-free press and anti-civic society laws enacted, Birtukan Midekssa incarcerated for 21-months incluyding prolonged periods of solitary confinement, Somalia invaded against the strong advise and disapproval of the U.S. (wink, wink) and on and on. So what did the folks at the U.S. State Department do? They patted Zenawi on the back and handed him blank checks for billions of American tax dollars. So what are the Americans going to do after the May 2010 elections? Send billions more in American tax dollars, of course. Duh!!!

Lesson III. "Democratization is a matter of survival."

Zenawi says, "democratization is a matter of survival." Zenawi's survival, that is. If there is real democracy in the country, Zenawi's regime will not survive because he will be voted out of office in heartbeat. If democracy stays alive in Ethiopia, Zenawi cannot survive. If Zenawi survives, democracy cannot stay alive. Stated more plainly, democracy and dictatorship cannot exist together in the same place and at the same time. Democracy necessarily means the end of dictatorship and vise versa. Therefore, there will be no democracy in Ethiopia as long as Zenawi's regime survives. So what!

Lesson IV: If you want democracy, you must struggle and sacrifice for it.

Democracy is not something you get in a ballot casting match. All that pluralism and multipartyism stuff is hogwash. If you want democracy, you must "struggle, sacrifice and die for it". What Zenawi is really saying is that "You ain't gonna get the democracy we got through the bullet by stuffing ballots in a box." There is no problem playing the whole election thing. It makes everybody happy, especially the American and European moneybags who dole out billions every year. But when push comes to shove, that is, if your idea is to push, shove and vote us out of power, it ain't happening because "We will crush you with our full force."

Lesson V. If your rights are being violated, defend them!

The opposition has been told, retold, advised and warned that the "international community will not be able to save them," says Zenawi. But it is not just the international community that is powerless to help them. International law, international human rights treaties, international conventions, international diplomacy, the International Criminal Court, international public opinion, whatever - they are all useless to the opposition. So what if their rights are violated?

Lesson VI. Elections are like children's marble game where everybody can play as long as the guy who owns the marbles wins all the time.

So what is all this hoopla and fuss about elections and democracy? The opposition is always whining, groaning and moaning about "free, fair, transparent, and peaceful" elections. The election business is not complicated. It is like playing marbles, except one guy owns all of the marbles and makes one rule: "He who owns the marbles wins all the time."(a rule that is sometimes referred to as the "laws and constitution of Ethiopia"). In his election "victory" speech this past May, Zenawi proclaimed, "The important point in the election process is not the result of the election. It is not about which party won the election." In other words, elections are not about winning or losing; they are about how you play the game. The opposition played the game, very badly and lost. So what if they don't want to play anymore? It's all good. They can hit the highway. We will bring in players who are willing to play the game and never expect or want to win.

Lesson VII. If you want to win, organize...

So what do you need to do if you want to win? Moaning, groaning, whining, wailing and sobbing ain't going to do you much good. You need to organize, mobilize and energize your base. You need to teach, preach and reach the people.

Lesson VIII. You want funding, don't beg for it like we do; dig deeper into your own wallets.

Cash? That is always a problem. It is OK to beg and collect billions in aid every year. It is OK to get Safety Net cash and Emergency Food Assistance and give it out to poor farmers in exchange for their votes. But no outside funds for the opposition because they and the "leaders of CSOs [civil society organizations] that receive foreign funding are not accountable to their organizations." It is all about accountability and transparency. Zenawi is accountable for all of the aid money he gets, the opposition and the CSOs are not accountable for the meager international donations they get. So what if they need cash? Let them dig deep into their wallets.

Lesson: IX. The Rule and Power of One.

Everybody, dig this: "There is one law, one regime, one ruler, one circus master and only one man who runs the show in Ethiopia."

Lesson X: If you don't like lessons I-IX?

"So what!"


RELEASE ALL POLITICAL PRISONERS IN ETHIOPIA.

The Politics of the Nile - Girma Kassa

Some accuse the Zenawi regime of using the Nile issue to divert attention away from its human right records and portray itself as nationalist. As evidence, they site the Ethio-Egyptian 1993 Nile Accord known as the “Framework for General Co-operation between the Arab Republic of Egypt and Ethiopia” which they consider to be a sell-out of Ethiopia’s interests.

“The July 1993 accord signed in Cairo strips Ethiopia of its right to use the Nile River for development schemes. Article 6 of the accord states: ‘The two parties agree on the necessity of the conservation and protection of the Nile Waters. In this regard, they undertake to consult and cooperate in projects that are mutually advantageous, such as projects that would enhance the volume of flow and reduce the loss of Nile Waters through comprehensive and integrated development schemes.’ In other words, Ethiopia must first get approval from Egypt before undertaking any development projects on Nile.”

wrote Ethiopian Review, a popular opposition website.

A careful analysis of the 1993 Accord though, does not support such claims. Nowhere in this accord do we see any clause indicating that Ethiopians must get approval from Egypt before undertaking any Nile-related developments. This 1993 Ethio-Egyptian accord solely highlighted that the two countries would try to address the Nile issue in a dialog conforming to International Law.

“The two Parties agree that the issue of the use of the Nile waters shall be worked out in detail, through discussions by experts from both sides, on the basis of the rules and principles of international law.”

declares Article 4.

From this Accord, we see that the Zenawi regime was successful in bringing Egypt to the negotiating table. No major decisions were made in this Accord that short changed Ethiopian interests. The decision that was made was to put aside any prior agreements Egypt may have signed with other countries and start a new dialog.

Ethiopia and Egypt agreed on the need to resolve their differences based on International Law. That by itself was an indirect admission by Egypt that the 1956 agreement it had with the Sudan would have no impact on Ethiopia. This indeed was the beginning of Ethiopia’s victory.

Since Egypt and Ethiopia have agreed to abide by International law, it would be helpful to understand the main focus of the Law.

Here are two major rules that are often mentioned when it comes to water usage. Article 5 of the United Nations Law of Non-Navigational Uses of International Watercourses , which is known as the rule of equitable utilization, unambiguously asserts that watercourse nations shall …utilize an international watercourse, in an equitable and reasonable manner.

Per this Article and contrary to the 1956 agreement which states that Egypt assumed the right to veto any construction projects that would affect its interests adversely, Ethiopia, the source of the Nile , does have the full right to use the Nile water for its critical development projects.

Article 7, known as the rule of no-harm, is another UN article that may seem to contradict Article 5. It states that “Watercourse nations shall exercise due diligence to utilize an International watercourse in such a way as not to cause significant harm to other watercourse Nations”.

Egypt may try to use the no-harm rule and put international pressure on Ethiopia to prevent it from using its Nile waters. It may saw confusion and exaggerated claims to mislead the International Community that Ethiopia’s use of the Nile would seriously harm its interests.

However, it would be a hard task for Egypt to sway reasonable minds against Ethiopia’s use of the Nile water, a country from which 85% of the Nile water originates and whose population is often stricken by drought; while at the same time it is irrigating millions of hectares of its arid land.

Though at times Article 7 and Article 5 may be seen as contradictory, the rule of no-harm is subordinate to the equitable utilization rule. Therefore, regardless of the no-harm rule, the right of Ethiopia to use the water is one that is very firm and undisputed.

Looking at the no-harm rule from another angle, one can clearly see that it can be turned around and used by Ethiopia to strengthen its position. By not using the Nile water, Ethiopia is basically letting millions of its people starve and be dependent on foreign food aids. Is that not harming Ethiopia? Couldn’t that be considered a violation of the no-harm rule when one riparian country (Egypt) is using all the waters and harming other riparian countries like Ethiopia?

Per the spirit of dialog displayed in the 1993 Accord, other Nile Basin countries were added and intense discussions continued until May 2010, when Egypt and Sudan took drastic and unfortunate measures that poisoned the spirit of dialog.

Allow me to list some of the major milestones unfolded since 1993 when it comes to the Nile water:

• The year the 1993 Ethio-Egyptian Accord was signed, the Technical Cooperation Committee for the Promotion of the Development and Environment Protection of the Nile basin (TECCONILE) was established.

• In 1995 the NRBAP Nile River Basin Action Plan (NRBAP) was prepared.

• In 1997 the World Bank, and the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) began working as “cooperating partners” to facilitate dialog among the riparian states.

• In 1998, all riparian states except Eritrea (Ethiopia, Egypt, Sudan, Burundi, Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Democratic Republic of Congo) began discussion

• In 1999 - A transitional mechanism for cooperation was officially launched in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania. The Process was named the Nile Basin Initiatives (NBI)

• In 2002 - A secretariat was established in Entebbe, Uganda.

• On May 14, 2020 - The NBI Agreement was finalized for countries to sign. Ethiopia, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Kenya signed the agreement. Burundi and Congo are expected to follow suit. (So will a likely future independent southern Soudan). Sudan and Egypt rejected the Accord and are currently engaged in the politics of intimidation and threat.

The other very important and significant achievement that needs to be stressed is the fact that Ethiopia has brought together many Nations to its side. It is not like the old times where Ethiopia had to deal with Egypt alone. Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania, possibly Burundi, Dr Republic of Congo are on the side of Ethiopia. Ethiopia has surely gotten the upper hand diplomatically, legally and of course morally.

Egypt has no choice but to sign the NBI agreement and try to solve any issues it may have in dialog and with the spirit reflected in the 1993 Accord it signed with Ethiopia. The threat of war is not the politics of the 21st century. It does not help Egypt. What is in the best interest of Egypt is to sign this agreement and work with Ethiopia.

Returning back to local Ethiopian issues, I highly stress that it is high time for Ethiopians to set aside their differences and send a clear and unequivocal signal to Egypt that ETHIOPIANS ARE UNITED WHEN IT COMES TO THE NILE. All truly patriotic opposition parties must release statements asserting that ETHIOPIA HAS THE FULL RIGHT TO USE ITS NILE WATERS.

Surely some of the local policies of the Zenawi regime are not helping to unify Ethiopians for a common cause. In view of the unhelpful track record the regime has domestically, the critical and bitter opposition some are exhibiting against the regime is understandable.

However, political differences must not blind us from looking at the long term interests of Ethiopia. Mr. Zenawi will go tomorrow. Ethiopia will be there for generations yet to come.

There is no Eritrean army, it is an Egyptian army??

There is no Eritrean army, it is an Egyptian army, there is no Eritrean leader, he is an Egyptian Spy. How Egypt successfully sabotaged and aborted the Eritrean revolution and became its colonizer .


Gidoen Bahtemariam

Dec 1, 2010

For the past forty years the Eritrean people labored hard to create a nation and a leader of their own, instead what they ended up is with an Egyptian spy at the helm of power, and with an Egyptian army ready to serve the interest of Egypt. For many political observers, and Ethiopians, this development is not surprising. Egypt has been working hard for many years to try to destabilize Ethiopia, and tear up Ethiopia into pieces. Even though it did not succeed in accomplishing this dream, Egypt was successful in sabotaging the Eritrean revolution, and its people's aspiration of independent nation. Now, the biggest question and puzzle is how did the Eritrean people struggle for forty years to become Egyptian servants, and not be able to really appreciate and enjoy their freedom and independent? This article will try to answer these difficult questions.

From my understanding, and historical records, the Eritrean people struggled to create a just, prosperous, democratic, and independent nation. This dream never materialized. The main reason, and the main assassin of this dream is the Egyptian intelligent services. Right at the inception of EPLF, the Egyptian intelligent services was closely working with EPLF leaders molding the leadership that will more likely be a puppet to its interest. After many close psychological evaluation of the EPLF leadership, Egyptian intelligent services, found Isays character, was fit for their purpose. The Egyptian intelligence services, made this decision when EPLF was at its infant stages. That been the case, Egyptian intelligence services became the shadow of Isyas. They cleverly manipulated, and shaped his decision making. They single handed helped him eliminate true Eritrean nationals. After Egyptian intelligent services, secured, Isyas position in EPLF, from that point they were able to influence, EPLF's cultural movement as well. Let me elaborate further on this.

EPLF focus was not only indepdence, but also the creation of the culture of hate.
Egyptian intelligent services, and the leaders of Egypt targeted the Eritrean culture, because they figured, if Eritrean continued to believe in the brotherly and sisterly relationship with the Ethiopians, then Eritrean Independence was not going to help achieve Egyptian goal. Therefore, it was very crucial for Egypt to control EPLF propaganda department through Isyas. It was for this reason that in the past forty years EPLF propaganda was not only targeting Independence, but also in creating permanent hate between the Eritrean and the Ethiopian people. In its propaganda, EPLF created fictional history based on Egyptian Intelligence creation. According to EPLF propaganda, as of now the root of Eritrean people has not been discovered. But EPLF has clearly articulated, that the Eritrean people do not have any relationship with Ethiopian people. This is the genius design of the Egyptian intelligence services.

Egyptian spy master controls Asmera, Eritrean jubilant about freedom, and peace?
Eritreans gained their Independence in 1991. The unsuspecting public were elated by the new freedom, peace, and potential for prosperity. The Eritrean people finally proclaimed that they have defeated their enemy? Really? Eritrean parents were happy that they did not have to send their children to war anymore, since Eritrea was independent. This joy and happiness only lasted for seven years. In 1998, the Egyptian intelligent services, cleverly manipulated Isyas to invade Ethiopia, and tear it up into pieces. Isyas rounded up Eritrean youth to fight for his master Egypt, and invaded parts of Ethiopia.

I ask readers, will a true Eritrean leader have taken that action? The answer is no. A true Eritrean leader would have told the Egyptians that his people were tired of war, and that this was a time for knowledge, prosperity, and peace. Isays been a true, and a loyal servant, he had to listen to his Shadow, the Egyptians.

1998, Eritrean revolution disolved, and it became naked to the eyes that Isyas is a spy for Egypt not a leader for Eritrea.
This war started after the Eritrean people felt that they had achieved their goal. It started when the Eritrean people were trying to enjoy the fruit of a brotherly relationship with Ethiopia, and a peaceful existence in their nation. A war that was started to cut Ethiopia into pieces, ended up cutting Erirea's social fabric, freedom, peace, and prosperity. By 2001 a group that became known as the G-15 finally realized the spy master that was planted in the Eritrean revolution. But, it was too late, the damage was done. Isays was always protected by his shadow the Egyptian intelligent services, nothing happened to him. Instead the true nationalist, faced life sentences in the land that they sacrficed for most of their life. They fought so that they can own a prison that isays could cage them in?

2000-2010 Egyptian Spy oiling the war machinery, Erirean dream wipted out, worst nightmare realized.
When Isays failed to accomplish the task of cutting Ethiopia into pieces during the Bademe war, Egyptian intelligent services retreated to plan B, which is to make Eritrea a threat to Ethiopia. To accomplish this dream Egyptian military leaders decided to turn Eritrea into a military boot camp, by closing all the traditional and formal educational institutions in Eritrea. This has never been done in the Eritrea history. Egypt basically made sure that Eritrean children remain its servants, and soldiers until the dream to cut Ethiopia into pieces is realized. This leads to the next topic,

A new war in Eritrea, Isays the Egyptian spy, verses Eritrean youth.
headline news: (Eritrean soccer team abondons the nation, Eritreans fleeing through Libya , Sudan, Ethiopia, Uk, USA, the list goes on)
For those of us who have been observing the Eritrean revolution, one can say that tens of thousands of Eritrean youth proudly served EPLF thinking that they were fighting for nationhood. Post Bademe war brought a new era. The Eritrean youth finally realized that there is no Eritrean leader, there is only Egyptian servant. For that reason Eritrean youth numbering in thousands began to flee Egyptian oppression. Finally Eritrean youth began to realize that Egypt has systematically colonized their country. But instead of trying to free Eritrea from Egyptian colony the Eritrean youth tired of war are fleeing to neighboring countries.

Finally, the creation of Egyptian army in Eritrea?
As we speak Eritrea no longer has an army to protect her. The current Isays army is an Egyptian army. The world is ignoring the modern slavery that is taking place in Eritrea. while the Europeans colonized Africans in day light, the Egyptians are colonizing Eritrea in the dark. Egyptian intelligent service annulled Eritrean Independence, and they are now playing with the lives of both Eritrean and Ethiopian lives. While Egyptian children enjoy modern education, Eritrean children are herded to Sawa to fight Egyptian war.

Reccomandation, for both Eritreans and Ethiopians.
As long as Egypt continue colonizing the Eritrean people through Isyas, there will be no peace in the horn. Ethiopia needs to help Eritreans regain their short lived Independence. The Ethiopian policy makers, and the public need to understand the root of Eritrean hatred toward Ethiopia. We need to understand the hate that EPLF spew against Ethiopians was created by the colonizers. Therefore, we have to help the Eritrean people get rid of the colonizers. A war has already erupted between the colonizers, and the natives of Eritrea. Instead of fighting for the colonizer Eritreans are saving their lives and fleeing all over the world. Now the biggest question for Eritreans all over the world is how long can Eritreans continue to flee? And how long could the colonizer subjugate the Eritrean people to internal military service? Is the answer until Ethiopia is cut to pieces? Of course this is the goal of the colonizer, but is this realistic? Could Egypt accomplish its goal by using the the native fighters?

Eritrean on the other hand need to be realistic about the tragedy that is taking place in Eritrea. On the map Eritrea is independent, but physically Eritrea at this point is been colonized by Egypt. The struggle of forty or fifty years has ended in Egypt colonizing Eritrea. Before it is too late, Eritreans need to wake up and reclaim their nation. If Eritreans want to reclaim their nation, they must work hard like they did before.
In the final analysis all this clever design by Egypt is to preserve and ensure a successful future for its golden race, by destroying two brotherly neighbors. The question is will we both Ethiopians and Eritreans allow Egypt to execute her plan? The answer is found within every Eritrean and Ethiopian person

Thirsty child of the Nile versus the Nile accord irony

by Robele Ababya

Harnessing Ethiopia’s rivers for development

“Thirsty child of the Nile” is a popular proverbial irony in water-rich Ethiopia where hunger and thirst are rampant amid plenty

The Amharic version widely used is “Ye Abayin lij wuha temat”; it is meant to ridicule the paradox of abject poverty amid plenty; it extends to laxity in solving a problem in the face of untapped ideas, resources, knowledge or skills.

The first serious widespread slogan to harness Ethiopian rivers was enshrined in the revolutionary poem/song presented in 1974 to the Ethiopian people by the then famous Ethiopian Air Force. Two lines of the poem are reproduced below:

ወንዞች ይገደቡ ይዋሉ ለልማት፣ (wenzoch yegedeebu yewalu lelemat)
በከንቱ ፈሰዋል ለብዙ ሺ ዓመታት። (bekentu fesewl le bizu shi ametat)

It simply means that rivers have been flowing in waste for thousands of years; it is long overdue that they are harnessed for development by building dams for power generation and irrigation.

It is irrefutable that the patriotic song, with no Marxist ideological undertone, rallied the Ethiopian people for peaceful bloodless change aimed at development and prosperity for all - irrespective of ethnic origin or creed. Unfortunately the song was taken of the air after a few months under extreme pressure of communist ideologues labeling it ‘nationalistic’. The coward and ignorant Mengistu succumbed to the pressure of the leftist extremists.

It would be appropriate at this juncture to state that our forebears brought the indispensability of our rivers to the development of Ethiopia. School boys staged dramas on parents’ days attributed to our rivers. Those rivers that started and ended in Ethiopia like the famous river Awash were given the accolade of patriots; others like the Nile River in particular were branded traitors for they carried not only waters but also massive fertile soil across national boundaries. This sentiment is engraved in the minds of the past and present generations in spite of puppet regimes like TPLF serving foreign interests overtly and covertly in order to stay in power.

So the thorny issue of the Nile waters and indeed of all the waters of Ethiopia shall remain at the center of our relations with interested parties, including Egypt. This is more so in view of rising poverty in Ethiopia coupled with shortage of water for human consumption on our planet.

Nile accord 1993 & languages used in the accord

The centerpiece of the accord is the River Nile although the title reads “Framework for General Co-operation between the Arab Republic of Egypt and Ethiopia”. The preamble of the Framework reads: “Recognizing the importance of traditional ties existing between the two countries that have been consolidated during their long history of close relations and linked by the River Nile with its basin as a center of mutual interest”.

The above is obviously a cheap propaganda given the centuries-old acrimonious relations and mutual suspicions between the two countries always provoked by Egypt, which had launched multiple military aggressions against Ethiopia; each time, the aggressor suffered a humiliating defeat by heroic Ethiopians fighters under the able leadership of genius patriots like Ras Alula Aba Nega.

Nile Accord 1993 was made in the Arabic and English languages both texts being equally authentic. It is an insult to Ethiopia in that it is Amharic that has been the official language of independent Ethiopia for centuries. Tyrant Meles openly showed his hatred for the Amahars and our official language as well as contempt for the Ethiopian people.

Nile Accord 1993 is a two-page small document comprising eight short articles, five (5) of which pertain to the Nile basin. The Nile is actually also mentioned in the preamble as stated in the first paragraph of the under the above caption. Salient comments on key articles of the accord are briefly provided below. For the benefit of readers, wherever the word “shall” appears in a clause, it means in legal parlance that the provision therein is mandatory to comply with by the party concerned.
Article 4 stipulates that “The two parties agree that the issue of the Nile Waters shall be worked out in detail through discussions by experts from both sides, on the basis of the rules and principles of international law”. It is mandatory, a command to meet the conditions of Article 4. Article 5 is another command; it reads: “Each party shall refrain from engaging in any activity related to the Nile waters that may cause appreciable harm to the interests of the other party.” Article 6 commits Ethiopia to cooperate in projects that would increase the volume of flow of the river Nile. This is preposterous in that Egypt is actually warning Ethiopia that she has to commit to undertakings to ensure the increase of the volume of Nile Waters crossing her boundary. Article 7 in effect underlines that regional peace and stability will be threatened unless the two parties to the accord create a mechanism for periodic consultations “on matters of mutual concern, including the Nile waters”. Article 8 stipulates it is mandatory that “The two parties shall endeavor towards a framework for effective cooperation among countries of the Nile basin for the promotion of common interest in the development of the basin. It is strange that Ethiopia which contributes more than 86% of the Nile waters should join the major beneficiary Egypt for “effective cooperation among countries of the Nile Basin.

In the above picture President Mubarak displays aloofness and contempt unbecoming of a host, while tyrant Meles is apparently perusing the ‘English’ text of the accord. What a shame!

The entire accord is clearly in the interest of Egypt. It is null and void for it is not ratified by the Ethiopian people. And this affront by the boss of the brutal TPLF regime is an open invitation for coordinated, urgent and decisive response by all opposition forces in unison.

Déjà vu rhetoric

Each time there are serious domestic political upheavals, the regimes in power used the issue of the river Nile to deflect attention of the public. This was the case during the Imperial regime; leaflets/ flyers inundated Addis Ababa in a futile attempt by government officials to convince the public that the solution to permanently stem the kind of famine of 1974 and usher in prosperity was to build dams on the Nile for power generation and irrigation farming. The Derg regime went so far as to express its intention to exact price for every barrel of water reaching Egypt. The cunning Meles reassured the sovereignty of the Egypt over the waters of the Nile in the accord signed in 1993 to get political support of Egypt for his fledgling Transitional government. The cunning tyrant is now playing cheap politics to fool Ethiopians once again staging demonstration by few his supporters in Washington purportedly seeking the support of the Obama Administration to reign in Egypt so that it will not interfere with Ethiopia’s plan to build dams on the Nile. Most ridiculously, the tyrant is accusing Egypt of beating the drum about the impending war with Ethiopia starting with destabilizing the latter by supporting dissidents.

The pronouncement by Meles may have come as a surprise to Mubarak. But this is only for public consumption, because, as the saying goes, the duo keeps its tents apart but its hearts together. The President of Egypt will never let down Meles who has surrendered veto power to Egypt over all issues relating to the development of projects using the waters of the Nile - 86% of which emanate from Ethiopia.

It is absence of democracy, stupid!

Ethiopians understand and respect the natural dependence of Egyptians on the Nile waters as a sole source of their survival; they understand the moral, political and legal consequences of denying neighborly countries of their fair shares of waters under international law. However, Ethiopians can no longer afford to go thirsty and starving while their own fair share of waters cross national boundaries. What is needed is amicable solution to this age-old problem through civilized dialogue. But the problem is that the masses of Ethiopia and Egypt are ruled by despotic regimes that repress their respective peoples.
The status quo in the sharing of Nile waters cannot continue. The young generations in both countries, Egypt and Ethiopia in particular, should rise up in earnest to foster democracy in their respective countries while cooperating to seek solution in a friendly frame of mind to the present grossly and unacceptably skewed share of the Nile waters in favor of Egypt.

Conclusion

The so-called “Framework for General Co-operation between the Arab Republic of Egypt and Ethiopia” is nothing but the first ever formal endorsement of the power of veto bestowed on Egypt by the arch colonial power of the time. Period!
Meles surrendered Ethiopia’s rights of veto power, in any issue involving riparian states, on the strength of her contribution of 86% of the Nile waters. There is no need for Ethiopia to run an errand for Egypt to promote cooperation among states of the Nile basin. Ethiopia’s decision on how best under international law to protect her interests over the Blue Nile within her territory will in no way affect states contributing 16% of the waters of the White Nile.

The signing of the Nile Accord 1993 coupled with ceding of large tracts of fertile to the Sudan, which is also a beneficiary of the Nile waters, is another recipe for popular uprising in self defense. Add to this the stolen elections in the last two decades particularly elections 2005 and 2010 that culminated not only in daylight robbery of votes but also in premeditated execution of democrats; incarceration of tens of thousands of peaceful demonstrators by security forces under the direct command of Meles Zenawi.

Opposition forces that Meles publicly branded as enemies have every right to defend and protect the rightful wealth of the country in unison holding their political difference in abeyance. Those that may have fallen to the age-old intrigue of Egypt will not get anything back in return. For Egypt too it is better to deal with a democratic, prosperous and law-abiding Ethiopia.
Finally, I wish to remind readers that despot Meles once said that democracy is not an option for Ethiopia but a necessity for her survival. Those who took him at his word should now know that thousands of political prisoners are still in filthy jails suffering unprecedented mental and physical torture. All pillars of democracy have been shattered. Election 2010 has been stolen. Immoral funds from some Western donors continue to flow generously to the coffers of the brutal ruling regime.
Therefore, it is long overdue to commence massive coordinated and effective civil disobedience.

LONG LIVE ETHIOPIA!!!

Judges for yourselves!

Ethiopian-Unity a Source of power or a source of Misery?

By Yohannes Haile

            First of all I want everyone who may read this article to take it as alternative-as something that can be put on the table in case the antiethiopian elements in Ethiopia want secession as the one and only option.

            Is Ethiopia really indivisible? If the answer is yes I believe at least the majority of Ethiopian nationalities should think so. Otherwise it can be a nation where warring factions exist in the same house to bleed its children and cause misery. We have been a nation that is condemned to live in abject poverty. We live on western handouts just to fulfill the least any human being in a normal condition should do, i.e. food, clothing and shelter. What is really the matter with the state of Ethiopia as a nation and we Ethiopians as a people? Why that is our starving people are screened on the global media, year after year, saying that Ethiopia is begging for food “again”.

            We Ethiopians had passed through many ups and downs during our long history. Our forefathers have done countless things that we are proud of. Taking the history of the world in to consideration it would not be rational to blame the generation before Tewodros II except for the creation of the Zemene Mesafint.  Menilik II was one of the genius leaders that Ethiopia has produced. I believe our problem as a nation/people can be traced to the ignorance of Haile Sellasie I to the timely land and political reformations (like the abolition of feudalism), the stupidity of Derg/Mengistu Hailemariam and the evilness of woyane/Meles Zenawi.

            We should learn from the mistakes of the past regimes ( Haile/Mengistu) as they didn’t work, purposely,  to bleed and destroye Ethiopia .But woyanes are evils beyond imagination. They are born to destroye anything Ethiopian whether it is people, religion, culture, history. All Ethiopians should unit for the common cause of saving our country and people from the vampire woyanes. If we able to unit all Ethiopians, at least those who don’t have any problem with Ethiopia as a nation, we can get rid of the mafias in no time. The more time we give for woyanes, the closer they get in achieving their goal of destroying our country/people. Instead of waiting OLF/ONLF to denounce their objective of liberating themselves from “Abyssinian colonization”, it would be wise to unit those  people of Gondar, Gojame, Wollo, Shoa, SNNP, Afar, Gambella, Benishangul Gumuz) who have no problem with Ethiopia as nation but its wicked governance. With determination nothing is impossible.

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            Ethiopia after Woyane?

If we want to have a lasting peace and prosperity, we need to be ready to see all the alternatives to solve our deep rooted problems even if that means reshaping Ethiopia. I know this idea will be unacceptable for many nationalist Ethiopians who think Ethiopia is a creation of God and should last forever regardless of its seemingly endless problems. I myself want Ethiopia to last for eternity if it is possible. But it is essential to think outside the box and face the fact that Ethiopia have some elements that want to see her bleed and will never rest no matter what kind of democracy and good governance we will have in the future.

            I personally believe there are three groups (TPLF

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            The case of Woyane and Tigrians from the past till the present

-Tigrians are and always will be first Tigrains and then Ethiopians. Forget the nonsense of Tigray being the foundation/base of Ethiopia. They have been doing everything they could to undermine Ethiopia. They are to the most part responsible for the creation of Zemene  Mesafit (the era of the prince), a century of war and turmoil. They have been bleeding Ethiopia and its people whenever they feel like they could even if that means siding with foreign invaders. Yohannes IV sided with the invading British army and killed the visionary leader Tewodros and ravaged the people and animals of Gojame/ wollo /Gonder and shoa.  The decendants of Yohannes sided with the colonizing Italian army and created chaos in wollo and its environ as they got countless of weaponry from the retreating Italian soldiers-they call it woyane I. Again the bandas of the north (woyane II) opened fire on unsuspecting EPRP members and killed many of them just to fulfill their narrow agenda. They used the cold war opportunity to bleed Ethiopia/Ethiopians. Now they are using state power to eliminate nationalist Ethiopians. They are killing the people of humera, wolkait and  tsegede while settling their own “golden people.” They are evicting the amharas from Gondar and wollo-killing the young men- raping the young girls and forcing them to marry handicapped “Tegadalayes.”  These people are evil to say the least. I will never forget what my Gojame friend told me as how TPLF fighters used to shot, from the back, and kill countless of young Gojames who fought alongside with them against Derg, thinking that they may give them power/job when they assume power. To add salt to the wound TPLF fighters used to bring flower to the graves of those who they massacred mercilessly saying that they got sacrificed for democracy and equality.  Woyanes massacred the farmers of Gondar who were fighting the Sudanese army that came to take the land given to them by the banda and miniorty regime.

TPLFites are behind all the religious and ethnic conflicts that have claimed the lives of so many innocent Ethiopians. They have been preaching hate by telling people fabricated and inflammatory stories that have never happened in the first place.  They give weapon for one ethnic group to attack the other and after the loss of so many lives they come as a middle men acting as a “peace maker.” They have no respect for human life what so ever. We all are witnesses of all the crimes committed by agazis  in Oromia, Gambella,Gonder, Ogaden , Addis Ababa and all over the country.

They hate Ethiopia and all non-Tigrian Ethiopians in general and amharas in particular. They consider all amharas, from the past till the present/future, enemies to be destroyed. That is why they have been committing hidden genocide against the amharas.  TPLF have been committing systematic genocide against the amharas for the past two decades that claimed the lives of 2-3 million amharas. This is not just a fabricated story but a fact that is proven by woyanes census bureau. According to the 2007 census the population growth rate of amharas was just 1.7 % while the national average was about 3%. How is this possible unless there is some hidden genocide against the Amharic speaking people. By woyanes own admission there is a depopulation of amharas by about 2-3 million. The census was even repeated in the amhara region as it seemed unlikely for this to happen. But the repeat count came up to be the same. And the only explanation given by woyanes was HIV/AIDS and Contraceptive-high degree of birth control. This writer believes that woyanes are systematically using diseases(HIV/AIDS ,malaria) and other methods such as disabling amhara women from having babies(contraceptive and others) to eliminate the Amharas. As the poverty of the amhara region is so severe amhara women are almost singled out for prostitution and sexual exploitation. During the 1994 woyanes own census( which is basically consistent with the previous censuses), the amharas comprised about 31% of the Ethiopian population. During the 2007 census the amharas comprised just 25% of the Ethiopian population which is a big difference given the shortness of the time which is just 13 years.

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[ While the 2007 census was announced by the head of the census bureau, Meles was not in the parliament as usual. He was reportedly celebrating, with his founding colleagues( Bereket Simon , Sibhat nega , Seyum Mesfin ….), the success of TPLF as a guerilla movement and as a government. They all talked about how they set up the bombing of Hawzeen. We always love the people of Tigray . But we had to use Hawzeen to reach to our goal said the crime minister Meles Zenawi. On one hand the stupid Derg was condemned by the international community giving us incalculable political advantage. On the other hand, we got the unflinching support of all Tegarus. We sacrificed 1200 Tigrians to the Derg bomb but it was worth the gain. Meles Keep on saying it is not how many people you kill but how you kill that can get you to the spot light. He also proudly spoke about how TPLF eliminated about 2.5 million amhara chauvinists and their children within such a short time. If the trend continues it won’t be long before the threat of our enemies put to rest for once and for all said the crime minister Zenawi. He went on boasting about how TPLF managed to snatch the land from wollo and Gondar. Meles was overheard saying-using our policy of aggressive resettlement , Tigrianization, elimination of the local men, impregnating the local women by Tigrian  men, wolkait-tsegede and other amhara lands that we took, will be as Tigrian as Adwa and axum within few years.  He also said how TPLF is built and lead by smart people even than those of the Nazis. He said ,you see, it is due to the smartness of TPLF that no one ,let alone the international community and ordinary amharas ,even the so called amhara intellectuals, knows what we did to them. Bereket also has this to say: TPLF one of the best organizations ever existed on this planet has three basic characteristics for its success, namely
                        1. Ability to keep its Secret
                        2. ability how to eliminate its enemies
                        3. Alertness never to repeat mistakes ]

Desperate Chauvinists' Crusade Against Historical Ethiopian Personalities

By Mathza

Nov 03, 2010

“Ethiopian-Unity a Source of power or a source of Misery?” By Yohannes Haile, (ethioLion.com, September 2010) is among the latest articles on bashing TPLF and Tigrayans. It is a must read for all well meaning Ethiopians.

The author who claims to be in his twenties is saturated with all kinds of evils. He is racist, hateful, jealous, prejudiced, vengeful, etc. The lies, allegations, diatribes, etc. in every paragraph of his long article testify to this characterization. Although each and every one of them can be refuted, I will limit my commentary to one of them that reads:

-Tigrians are and always will be first Tigrains and then Ethiopians. Forget the nonsense of Tigray being the foundation/base of Ethiopia. They have been doing everything they could to undermine Ethiopia. They are to the most part responsible for the creation of Zemene Mesafi[n]t (the era of the prince[s]), a century of war and turmoil. They have been bleeding Ethiopia and its people whenever they feel like they could even if that means siding with foreign invaders. Yohannes IV sided with the invading British army and killed the visionary leader Tewodros and ravaged the people and animals of Gojame/ wollo /Gonder and shoa…

Every sentence in the paragraph is refutable. For example, what proof has he got to categorically state “they are to the most part responsible for the creation of Zemene Mesafi[n]t”? This is pure lie and unheard of. Apparently, he made it up. On the contrary Ras Michael Sehul of Tigray was invited to Gonder to help the declining monarchy. For brevity’s sake, suffice it here to state that he defended the monarchy in all possible ways but conditions did not allow him to prevent the situation from deteriorating to the Zemene Mesafint starting around 1760s during the reign of Emperor Yohannes II.

Now, let us concentrate on Emperor Yohannes IV and the people of Tigray. The statement regarding Yohannes IV is outrageous. His reign was a period when Ethiopia faced a series of invasions from Egypt (twice), Italy and the Mahdists of Sudan. In all over eight battles (between 1875 and 1889 mostly in Eritrea) were fought and won. The two victories over the Egyptian invaders sealed the aspiration of Egypt to control the headwaters of the Blue Nile. Egypt, apparently realizing that force was not the means, started to destabilize Ethiopia by: (a) creating, abetting, financing and supporting through other means, the so-called separatists/liberation fronts, religious extremists and expansionists and (b) mobilizing support of international institutions to starve Ethiopia of financing the development of its water resources. This heinous process continues to this very day. It was recently reported that Egypt openly declared its ethnic division strategy and that Egyptian investment in Ethiopia would enable it to retain its belligerency in relation to the Nile waters! It is time for the Egyptians to wake up from their thousands of years sleep.

Who defended Ethiopia during the above aggressions? Unlike the battle of Adwa when Ethiopians from all corners of the country participated, Tigrigna speakers from both sides of the Mereb River fought all the above invasions in which Ethiopia came out victorious. It was Emperor Menelik II who gave away the territory now known as Eritrea to Italy. During Yohannes IV’s rule, Kebessa and other parts of Eritrea were part and parcel of Ethiopia and administered by the legendary Ras Alula.

As regards, the allegation that Yohannes IV “sided with the invading British army and killed the visionary leader Tewodros “ the truth is Yohannes IV was, as all Ethiopians were, fed up with the atrocities of Emperor Tewodrs II and let the British pass through his territory. (Of course, the former did not kill the latter as insinuated.) The British expedition promised they would pull out after achieving their objective and they kept their word. On the contrary, Menelik II in his letter to Napier wrote “I was first willing to send (supplies) to you in a suitable manner, but my enemies are between us… Now I am far off, but I have no hesitation (to help).” This should not surprise readers as he had repeatedly sided with external enemies of Ethiopia. (See asteYohannes)*

As the above and the links show, the chauvinists of whom the writer is one conceal the heroism and country love of non-chauvinist Ethiopians. In the case of Yohannes IV, they intentionally exclude his name when talking and writing on or praising the most recent emperors. They jump from Tewodros II to Menelik II and Haile Sellassie I. The purpose of this tactic is obvious. It is to show that there is no history other than that of Amharas. By the same token, the history made and being made by Prime Minister Meles Zenawi has no place in Ethiopian history. It should be noted here that the chauvinists comprise of an infinitesimally vociferous miniscule minority of Amhara and wannabe Amhara.

The exclusion referred to above applies to historical sites as well. Very often when writing about or advertising Ethiopian tourist destinations on the historic route, Axum and other historical sites (including the over 120 rock-hewn churches) in Tigray, are not mentioned let alone their historical significance described. Many years ago a friend told me that when he approached the woman at the tourist desk in Gion Hotel to reserve a room in Axum, she advised him to go to Bahdar, Gonder and Lalibela, noting that there is little to see in Axum. My friend experienced exactly the same thing a few years later. These two incidents show that there is a deliberate attempt at re-directing tourists to specific areas of the historic route. Statistics of the number of tourists support this conclusion.

The chauvinists, who by the way, include disgruntled Derg and EPRP remnants, vehemently resent the loss of political power and everything that went with it during the previous regimes. This is the main reason why they are avowed anti TPLF, Tigrayans and other Ethiopians that instituted the federal system and irreversibly made it work. This group is the one that was predicting the imminent disintegration of Ethiopia a la Yugoslavia when the EPRDF took over. They have continued with this daily rant ever since because of the ethnic-based federal structure to which they are vehemently opposed. This group was and is highly frustrated and worried. It knows that the adoption of federalism is what saved the country from being another Yugoslavia. It, like Menelik II, sides with external enemies of the country and encourages, supports, cooperates and joins forces with separatists like OLF and ONLF in undermining Ethiopia’s security, territorial integrity and interest. Note the participation of Eritreans, OLF and ONLF in the New York demonstration against Prime Minister Meles Zenawi. It is ironic how the chauvinists can be bedfellows with President Isayas Afeworki’s regime. It is very well known that they have not accepted the independence of Eritrea and want to repossess Asseb if not the whole of Eritrea. Despite this fact, they are doing every thing and will do anything to disintegrate Ethiopia, thereby fulfilling President Isayas Afeworki’s aspiration.

This group, which finds the change brought about by the EPRDF far too hard to swallow, is the source of most of the pathological lies, deceptions, exaggerations, rumors, spinning, etc. against the EPRDF, the government, the TPLF and the people of Tigray. The five part, particularly the last part, audio program (Gemena: Keguada…Eske…Godana) prepared by Zerihun Teshome posted on ethiopiafirst.com, 10/24/10) says it all.

The TPLF and the people of Tigray were and are in the forefront in defending the country against external invaders and bringing peace, stability and development that the Ethiopians increasingly are enjoying now. To the chagrin of the chauvinists, the majority of Ethiopians know this. This is why this radio active group and some of the oppositions would leave no stone unturned to avenge their loss and undermine the process of democratization and development. This is why the chauvinists incessantly and vehemently target TPLF and the people of Tigray.

Ethiopia, a large country, both in terms of area and population, is home for about 80 ethnic groups and multiple religions. These coupled with the complex negative interactions with the corresponding number of languages, traditions and cultures could have been a recipe for disaster following the fall of the Derg and the numerous liberation fronts at that time. In view of this, Ethiopia would have been in a situation much worse than that of Somalia had the chauvinists been in place of EPRDF.

History that will be written by genuine historians will surely expose the machinations of those who have been and are writing their versions exalting their ethnic leaders and ignoring the deeds of those of other ethnic Ethiopian heroes and leaders. The tactic of excluding historic personalities in writings and oral presentations and communications with the intention of denying Ethiopians of accurate information on the latter’s contributions to Ethiopia’s continued existence and historic events of significance will not work. There will come a time when the young generation who had been and are being hoodwinked by the old diehards spreading politics of hatred among Ethiopians will know the truth about the TPLF and Tigrayans. It has already started thanks to pioneers, particularly former Ethiopians who were against EPRDF, such as Negusie Woldemariam. The process is accelerating as shown by the Washington and New York demonstrations in support of the Prime Minister and the Ethiopian government. The nasty commentaries (about 23 out of 30) on Prof. Alemayehu G. Mariam’s Ethiopia: Feed Them and Bleed Them (nazret.com, 10/25/10) is another proof of Ethiopian Diaspora awakening to hate-mongers’ and ethnic bashers’ misinformation, machinations, lies, spinning, intimidations, etc, etc.

The Ethiopian nations, nationalities and peoples will not permit the chauvinists to highjack the victories that the former parents and brothers and sisters won with great sacrifices. There is, for sure, no going back. The federal system is here to stay. The recent WSLF and ONLF welcome steps taken show that Ethiopia has found in the federal structure solutions to its perennial ethnic and religious divergences and manipulating and distorting Ethiopian history. To the chagrin of the chauvinists, the nations and nationalities are now developing their languages, cultures and traditions and rewriting their true histories.

Ethiopia - Open Letter to President Lee C. Bollinger, Columbia University

Ethiopia - Open Letter to President Lee C. Bollinger, Columbia University

September 17, 2010

President Lee C. Bollinger
Office of the President
Columbia University
202 Low Library
535 West 116th Street
New York, NY 10027
By Fax: (212) 854-9973 and
Email: officeofthepresident@columbia.edu

Dear President Bollinger:

On September 22, 2010, Mr. Meles Zenawi is scheduled to deliver the keynote address at an event sponsored by Columbia University's Committee on Global Thought. There is widespread belief among Ethiopian Americans that Mr. Zenawi's invitation to speak at this event necessarily implies the University's endorsement and support of Mr. Zenawi's views, policies and actions in Ethiopia. I am writing to request your office to issue an official statement clarifying your position concerning Mr. Zenawi as you so eloquently did when Mahmood Ahmadinejad of Iran spoke on your campus on September 24, 2007.

Let me say at the outset that I believe Mr. Zenawi has a "right" to speak at your university, though he is not a United States citizen or lawful resident. I firmly believe, though others may reasonably disagree with me, that any individual who is present in this great country has the right to free expression under the protective umbrella of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution. I make no exceptions for Mr. Zenawi.

In your prefatory remarks preceding Mr. Ahmadinejad's speech in 2007, you offered an exposition on free speech that is instructive to all who believe in freedom of expression.[1] You said that the "genius of the American idea of free speech" is to empower us not "to retreat from engagement with ideas we dislike and fear" and "to have the intellectual and emotional courage to confront the mind of evil." Nowhere is your statement true than in a university where the denizens "have a deep and almost single-minded commitment to pursue the truth." I believe, as you do, that there must be no obstruction to the free exchange of ideas in the university setting. . As you correctly pointed out to Mr. Ahmadinejad, open inquiry, debate and dialogue are "required by existing norms of free speech in the American university."

In your remarks you specified five substantive issue areas for which Mr. Ahmadinejad deserved just condemnation and censure. One of them was Mr. Ahmadinejad's "brutal crackdown on scholars, journalists and human rights advocates" in Iran. Citing Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch reports, you deplored the execution of more than 200 persons in Iran in 2007, including at least two children. You also expressed just outrage over his denials and mockery of irrefutable facts about the Holocaust, his failure to adhere to international regimes on nuclear power and his support for terrorism. In righteous indignation, you told Mr. Ahmadinejad: "Mr. President, you exhibit all the signs of a petty and cruel dictator."

Petty and cruel dictators, Mr. President, have also infested the African continent and threaten the lives of African peoples on a daily basis. In Ethiopia, for nearly two decades, Mr. Zenawi has lorded over one of the cruelest dictatorships in the modern world. Let the facts speak for themselves:

In 2005, security forces under the personal command and control of Mr. Zenawi massacred 193 unarmed protesters and inflicted severe gunshot wounds on 763 others.[2] Today, the murderers walk the streets free.

In May 2010, Mr. Zenawi made a travesty of democracy by claiming that his party won the parliamentary election by 99.6 percent. The European Union Election Observation Mission described the same election in its preliminary report as "marred by a narrowing of political space and an uneven playing field."[3]

In December 2008, Mr. Zenawi arrested and reinstated a life sentence on Birtukan Midekssa, the only woman political party leader in Ethiopian history. He kept her under extreme conditions in prison. In describing Birtukan's situation, the most recent U.S. State Department Human Rights Report stated: "She was held in solitary confinement until June [2009], despite a court ruling that indicated it was a violation of her constitutional rights. She was also denied access to visitors except for a few close family members, despite a court order granting visitor access without restrictions."[4] Birtukan is considered to be a political prisoner by the various international human rights organizations. "Amnesty International considers her a prisoner of conscience, imprisoned for peacefully exercising her right to freedom of expression and association."[5]

A couple of weeks ago, Mr. Zenawi shut down all distance education programs in the country, including those providing higher education and technical training to over 75,000 students in flagrant violation of the applicable laws of the country on the pretext that such programs were interested "only in collecting money."[6]

For the past several years, Mr. Zenawi has misused the legislative process in Ethiopia to institutionalize repression and legitimize gross human rights violations. According to Human Rights Watch[7]:

In 2009 the government passed two pieces of legislation that codify some of the worst aspects of the slide towards deeper repression and political intolerance. A civil society law passed in January is one of the most restrictive of its kind, and its provisions will make most independent human rights work impossible. A new counterterrorism law passed in July permits the government and security forces to prosecute political protesters and non-violent expressions of dissent as acts of terrorism.


Mr. Zenawi has shuttered private newspaper in Ethiopia and effectively eliminated the independent press. The Committee to Protect Journalists in its recent report stated[8]:

The government enacted harsh legislation that criminalized coverage of vaguely defined "terrorist" activities, and used administrative restrictions, criminal prosecutions, and imprisonments to induce self-censorship... The government has had a longstanding practice of bringing trumped-up criminal cases against critical journalists, leaving the charges unresolved for years as a means of intimidating the defendants... Ethiopia as the only country in sub-Saharan Africa with 'consistent' and 'substantial' filtering of web sites...

In your remarks, you challenged Mr. Ahmadinejad on his abuse of the Press Law to ban writers for criticizing the ruling system and rhetorically asked: "Why are you so afraid of Iranian citizens expressing their opinions for change?" You need to pose the same question to Mr. Zenawi: "Why are you so afraid of Ethiopian citizens expressing their opinions for change?"

Mr. Zenawi has jammed the Voice of America, the official external radio and television broadcasting service of the United States Government, claiming that the 68 year-old service is the equivalent of the Radio Mille Collines, which coordinated the Rwandan genocide in 1994. Mr. Zenawi said: "We have been convinced for many years that in many respects, the VOA Amharic Service has copied the worst practices of radio stations such as Radio Mille Collines of Rwanda in its wanton disregard of minimum ethics of journalism and engaging in destabilizing propaganda."[9]

When Mr. Ahmadinejad outrageously denied the occurrence of the Holocaust, you told him without mincing words: "You are either brazenly provocative or astonishingly uneducated." Mr. Zenawi needs to be similarly rebuked for equating the Voice of America with the wicked and loathsome Radio Mille Collines.

Mr. Zenawi runs one of the most repressive regimes in Africa. Human Rights Watch in its recent report stated[10]: "Ethiopia's citizens are unable to speak freely, organize political activities, and challenge their government's policies--through peaceful protest, voting, or publishing their views--without fear of reprisal." The report described Mr. Zenawi's regime as one masquerading in "a veneer of democratic pretension hiding a repressive state apparatus."

Since 2006, a number of bills have been introduced in the United States Congress to restrain Mr. Zenawi from engaging in gross and sustained human rights violations, and to help him move towards democracy. H.R. 2003[11] ("Ethiopia Democracy and Accountability Act of 2007") co-sponsored by 85 members passed the House of Representatives in 2007, but failed to clear the Senate. That bill sought to support human rights, democracy, independence of the judiciary, freedom of the press, peacekeeping capacity building, and economic development in the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia; strengthen U.S. collaboration with Ethiopia in the Global War on Terror; secure the release of all political prisoners and prisoners of conscience in Ethiopia; foster stability, democracy, and economic development in the region; support humanitarian assistance efforts, especially in the Ogaden region; and strengthen U.S.-Ethiopian relations.

Just last month, Senators Russ Feingold and Patrick Leahy introduced S.B. 3757[12] ("Support for Democracy and Human Rights in Ethiopia Act of 2010") to ensure the autonomy and fundamental freedoms of civil society organizations, to respect the rights of and permit non-violent political parties to operate free from intimidation and harassment, including releasing opposition political leaders currently imprisoned; to strengthen the independence of its judiciary, and to allow Voice of America and other independent media to operate and broadcast without interference in Ethiopia [and] to promote respect for human rights and accountability.

It is vitally important for academics to speak truth to power. When you stood up and spoke truth to Ahmadinejad on September 24, 2007, you proved to the world the value of "hav[ing] the intellectual and emotional courage to confront the mind of evil." On September 22, 2010, you have another golden opportunity to show the world that you and Columbia University will "confront the mind of evil" regardless of its origin on the planet. As millions of Iranians and others rejoiced hearing your words on September 24, 2007, so now millions of Ethiopians eagerly await your statement on September 22, 2010 that Columbia University condemns all violations of human rights, repression and theft of elections in Ethiopia by Mr. Zenawi and his regime.

Permit me to conclude my letter by paraphrasing your eloquent words when you expressed your disgust for Mr. Ahmadinejad's actions: "I am only a professor and a lawyer, and today I feel all the weight of the Ethiopian people yearning to express their revulsion for what Mr. Zenawi has done to them over the past two decades."

Sincerely,



Alemayehu G. Mariam, Ph.D., J.D.

Professor and Attorney at Law

Department of Political Science

California State University, San Bernardino



Cc: Profs. Joseph Stiglitz, Jeffrey Sachs, William Easterly (NYU)

Columbia Daily Spectator