Ethiopia - Yes We Can! From Tahrir to Meskel Square

A Response to Yared Ayicheh and et al

By Tibebe Samuel Ferenji

The father of modern nonviolent movement Mahatma Gandhi said “I can not teach you violence, as I do not myself believe in it. I can only teach you not to bow your heads before any one even at the cost of your life.”

I was standing at the Red Light at the intersection of New Hampshire Avenue and University Boulevard at 11:05 AM, when I heard the news about the resignation of Egypt’s Mubarek. Few minutes before that, I was dissecting the piece written by Ato Yared Ayicheh and some of the comments written by the EPRDF supporters. I was replaying in my head Mr. Mubarek’s defiant and arrogant response to the people’s demand that he resign from his post ASAP. Then, I was thinking about the fate of Mr. Meles Zenawi. I was wondering if Mr. Zenawi is going to use this golden opportunity to rise to the occasion and leave a foot print in the political history of Ethiopia; or continue to be defiant and leave a finger print on his way to prison, or exit the country to live in exile to be hunted down like a common criminal. Then, the airwave was filled with the announcement of Mr. Mubarek’s resignation. I have no words to describe what I felt. I said to my self, Yes, today I am an Egyptian!
It is with the hope of similar result in Ethiopia that I am scribing this piece. In doing, so, I would like to point out some of the similarities between Mr. Mubarek and Mr. Zenawi. Mr. Mubarek ruled Egypt for 30 years with fake elections, just like Mr. Zenawi, except that Mr. Zenawi has been in power for 20 years. Mr. Mubarek imprisoned his opponent when the opponent won the election, the election was rigged and Mr. Mubarek continued to occupy his office illegitimately; Mr. Zenawi did the same thing. After decades of stagnant economy, Egypt Economy began to show growth particularly the last five years. Similarly, Ethiopia’s stagnant economy has been showing some growth the last five years. Mr. Mubarek used the Muslim Brotherhood and Muslim Extremists as Boogiemen to fend of criticisms for his continued State of Emergency rule, and human rights abuses. Similarly, Mr. Zenawi injected “Interahamwe” in Ethiopian politics to create his own Boogiemen and presented himself as a man who would fight terrorism in the Horn of Africa. He claimed that if he leaves office, Ethiopia would be destabilized. We heard the same claim from Mr. Mubarek. Both Mr. Mubarek and Mr. Zenawi introduced the concept of “Organic Democracy” to their respective countries. Both intentionally ignored the universal application of democratic principles.

There are several similarities that can be mentioned here; I think for now this will do. In addition to this similar characteristics, Ethiopia and Egypt share similar predicament. Both countries have high unemployment, hyper inflation, and the gap between those who haves and who have not is widening in alarming rate. Both Ethiopia and Egypt implemented State of Emergency; journalists are detained in violation of the respective countries’ constitutions; opposition political organizations operate under abusive circumstance. Both regimes enjoyed unshakable support from their Western allies despite the fact they continue to abuse the civil and human rights of their citizens.

The people of Ethiopia and Egypt expressed their displeasure with their regimes and demanded reform. They gave their vote to the regime’s opponents during the elections; but their voice was stolen repeatedly. Both people lived under brutal police states. They tried to make their voices heard. When they made loud noises, the security apparatus mercilessly abused them in attempt to silence them. Despite that fact, they continued to make silent noises. The regimes continued to be defiant, abusive, corrupt, and merciless. It is when a revolt erupted in Tunisia and the despot leader was thrown out from power he held for 23 years, the people of Egypt inspired and once again began making a loud noise to take over their government; and to take charge of their destiny. The people of Egypt nonviolent struggle was about to turn into violence when the regime hired thugs that resorted to violence to intimidate the public and crash the revolt. The people defended themselves but continued to be disciplined and demand the resignation of Mr. Mubarek. Despite the unwavering support of the West for Mr. Mubarek, the people of Egypt won this chapter of their struggle. Do not let the Westerners posturing and news release asking that Mr. Mubarek make orderly exit fool you. Deep in their heart, they wanted “a reliable ally” in Egypt. What they cared about was their interest. After all it is their guns and tanks that are used to silence the ordinary citizens. Now at least, it is an open secret that the “Western Democracies” interest is not similar to the interest of the ordinary people.

In his piece titled “The Case against Jasmine Revolution in Ethiopia“, Ato Yared tells us not revolt against a brutal regime in Ethiopia. Of course, he is entitled to his opinion, but, I beg to defer. Although Ato Yared’s intention is noble, what he has failed to understand is that the people from Tunisia to Jordan are revolting out of frustration and because their governments failed to listen to their voices. Up Rising is not a luxury, it is a result of frustration and a necessity for change. In case of Egypt, Mr. Mubarek had an ample opportunity to act in the best interest of his country and his people. Instead, he chose to look after his personal greedy interest. After all he did not become a Billionaire by acting in the best interest of his people. Some depots do not learn from other despots. They choose to scramble at the 11th hour to save their skin. Mr. Mubarek seem to be one of them. One of the smartest leaders in the Middle East in my opinion is king Abdullah of Jordan. King Abdullah began taking serious reform measures knowing that a revolution is knocking at his door.

Mr. Zenawi has similar opportunity today before it is too late. Failure to act would be disastrous to his regime and the country at large. Ato Yared argues that revolution may have an unintended consequences and cites the 1960s (1970s G.C) as an example. What he failed to realize is that the situation in 1970s is a lot different than 2011. Then, the world was divided in to two camps. Both the United States and the Soviet Union were more interested in putting stooges who promote their ideologies and their interests. Particularly we Africans were victims of a turf war between two “big elephants”. Today, that condition des not exist. More over, we have a more politically conscious society in Ethiopia than the one that existed in 1970s.

One of the major factors absent from Ato Yared’s piece is the role of the leftist elements in the 1970s revolution. The military regime was able to sustain its power because it was supported by leftist intellectuals particularly by MEISON and its allies until 1979. When the Military regime filled the power vacuum, we did not have organized political entities. Today the situation is different. There is no conducive atmosphere in Ethiopia today for any military junta to sustain its rule even if it takes power with some miracle.
Ato Yared raised two important questions in his piece: “Do Ethiopians need to change the Ethiopian government by popular uprising? Can Ethiopia afford to go through another ‘revolution’?” My answer to Ato Yared and others who support the regime is it depends. In principle, Ethiopians don’t need popular uprising to change “their government” as long as the government hears the people’s voice and reform. When I say reform, I am not talking about a cosmetic reform. The regime needs to be honest with itself and with the people. The whole world knows that there is no democratic governance in Ethiopia. Just like Mubarek, Mr. Zenawi has rigged the election. Mr. Zenawi could continue to lie to himself in believing that his party won the election. As Mr. Obama put it clearly last night, the fact that you hold an election does not mean you have democratic governance. If the regime is listening to the quite noises of the Ethiopian people and address the peoples concern, promote a national reconciliation, have an open dialogue with all concerned parties how to establish a democratic governance in Ethiopia, and transfer power to duly elected government in a free and fair election, then only then, the popular uprising will not be necessary.

However, just like Mr. Mubarek, if Mr. Meles continue to live in his delusional denial state of mind, be indifferent to the voices of the people, continue to be defiant to the suffering of the people, and continue to rule with the Iron fist under the State of Emergency, then the popular uprising is not only necessary, it is feasible. As we have witnessed, the popular uprising in Egypt was inspired by the revolution in Tunisia. Since such outside influence is a great factor in Egypt’s uprising, to the dismay of EPRDF’s ardent supporters, Ethiopians in Diaspora could play a crucial and significant role to inspire the uprising in Ethiopia.

To answer the second question, I would say Can Ethiopia afford not to revolt? If the regime fails to reform, the only option we have is a popular uprising. The people of Ethiopia cannot afford not to revolt at this juncture. This is the right time; this is the time where oppressed people from coast to coast are showing solidarity with one another. The world has opened its eyes and ears. We know that to the Westerners Mr. Zenawi is their “indispensable” ally; we Ethiopians know that is not so. Ato Yared tells us “the best alternative to popular uprising is reforming the toxic, uncompromising Ethiopian political culture.” However he failed to realize that the regime holds the key to lead in reforming the toxic political environment. It is not up to the people but up to the regime to change its toxic political discourse. As Gandhi asked, we are asking the people of Ethiopia not to bow to the threats of despots and their cronies. If the regime continue to ignore the people’s quite noises and fail to reform, then the best alternative for the regime change is nonviolent popular uprising, and nonviolent civil disobedience. Short of that, the choice would be between resorting to armed struggle and the continuation of a police state.
Those who support the regime and the regime have a golden opportunity to make history. They cannot any longer hide behind a fake election, Egypt had that. They cannot hide behind the illusion of stability; Egypt had that. They cannot hide behind the concept of “organic Democracy” Mr. Mubarek had tried that. Most importantly, they cannot hide behind the “Economic Growth” façade, Egypt had that. What is interesting in reading the comments of EPRDF supporters is their threats to those who advocate for the popular uprising in Ethiopia. They tell us that there will be blood shade in the streets of Ethiopia if Ethiopians revolt against the regime. If anything, they are confirming how brut the regime that they are supporting is. I have not read a single comment that shades light regarding the democratic governance and the existence of civil and democratic rights in Ethiopia. EPRDF apologists defend the regime by simply stating that “There is Economic Growth in Ethiopia.” May be we need to remind them that there is Economic growth in Egypt, in China, Saudi Arabia and other countries ruled by despots. They should know that Economic growth does not equate with political freedom and civil liberty.

Mr. Zenawi had fumbled the political football and the opportunity to be a great leader repeatedly. He has a chance to be remembered as the “Father of Democratic Ethiopia” if he has the courage to change course and bring all political factions for dialogue to promote national reconciliation. He has the opportunity to be Africa’s another Mandela. Failure to cease this opportunity however, only will lead to public discontent and eventually to public uprising. The ball is at Mr. Zenawi’s Court. Thus, it is up to Mr. Zenawi to have or not to have a revolution in Ethiopia. Some of Mr. Zenawi’s apologists have complained that we are using the word dictator to describe Mr. Zenawi. If they realy want its definition, I humbly refer them to Webster Dictionary.

I would like to conclude this piece by reiterating a slogan from Cairo’s Liberation Square that struck a cord with me:

We were Tunisians Yesterday, we are Egyptians today, and we will all be free tomorrow”. We all should congratulate the people of Egypt for their perseverance, discipline, devotion, dedication and determination. They started this revolution with the spirit of YES WE CAN! We Ethiopians should also begin our version of uprising with the Spirit of YES WE CAN!
God Bless the people of Egypt and Ethiopia!