Ladies and Gentlemen of the Jury, on August 18, 2007, I wrote an article entitled “Let us Develop the Culture of Holding Leaders Accountable.” In the first two paragraphs I wrote:
“When I conceived the idea of writing my article “How would Nelson Mandela have dealt with the Shimagles?” I knew that I would be provoking discussion. To question positions taken, policies, tactics, and strategies devised by our leaders is a taboo subject in our political culture. For some unknown reason, it is assumed that since they are leaders they must know. They must be omniscient. Hence leaders are not questioned and/or held accountable for their misdeeds and blunders. In my humble opinion this has to change. Leaders are humans and therefore fallible.
This was the driving motive behind my article. Some of the written responses I had a chance to read indicated to me that we are not there yet. Instead of discussing the ideas and issues raised and argued in the article, I found people questioning my motive and or my right to write an article that “dared to question” the decision made by the CUDP leadership. To these individuals I would say I do not want to dignify your ignorance with a response. But Mr.
Ephrem Madebo is different. He is articulate, civil, respectful and thoughtful. He chose to engage me in a dialogue. I like this. I accept the challenge hoping that not only will I learn but also in the process many open minded individuals will learn as well.”
Now then, I do not know if Mr. Wondemhunegn had read that article. From the evidences he had presented in his accusatory diatribe or tirade, he must have. But I will be gracious to him and assume that he has not read that civil and educational exchange between Mr. Ephrem and myself. If this is to be the case, then, I encourage and urge him to read it for I do not want to take your, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Jury, precious time by reproducing the same thing. But if he had read it, he must be one of those individuals who will never learn to respect the rights of others to their opinion. And this Ladies and Gentlemen of the Jury, is the ABC of democracy. He should know that he can not bully me. He cannot silence me. He cannot coerce me. He cannot intimidate me. I had never submitted to bullies in the school yard growing up nor shall or will I submit to a mercenary like him today who has no principled stand or commitment to Ethiopia’s downtrodden. For if he were a principled individual, he would have had the intellectual courage to express his opinion even when they are not popular. If he were a principled person, he would be asking the very question that I am asking. But instead he has chosen to direct his mercenary mind and poisonous pen to engage in argumentum ad hominum.
By trying to discredit and malign me he thinks and hopes he could discredit my arguments. As you might have read his article, his contempt for the downtrodden and the masses is beyond comprehension. If he had a very minute and tiny-winy concern and feelings for them, the massacre of the 193 individuals should rankle and torture his conscience. But no, not only is he oblivious to their decimation but worst still he is trying to silence those of us who dare to ask. Ladies and Gentlemen of the Jury, I will be crystal clear. This is a debate between a supporter of political elites and one who dares to hold these elites accountable for their blunders. Even though he admitted that his intention for writing his so called letter to me was not to address some of my “…nosy questions targeting Professor Mesfin’s decision to find his way out of the TPLF heavily funded Kality Prison in Addis Ababa…(but)… to inject some antidotes into your poisonous loquacity that is intended to consciously cast aspersion on the well-liked Professor” ( page 1). On page 2 he does exactly the opposite. He says:
“…People were greatly frustrated at the evil intention of the government to harm the leadership in one way or the other. It was at this juncture that—at the height of domestic and international pressure—the TPLF government promised to set them free but
insisting that they must assume responsibility for the post election violence. They know, we all know and the world community knows that it was like saying: “If you confess
that your winning of the election and your supporters’ protest are criminal, you will be released otherwise you will face death sentence or life imprisonment.” The whole scene was obviously ridiculous but it was wise that the leadership probed its way out of Kalit.y at any price. So Dr. Solomon what has this decision to do with acting against one’s principle or integrity? Now that the Professor is free we are happy he did not languish any more for no crime he committed. Now that Dr. Berehanu is free he is coordinating efforts to remove the tyrannical regime that ruled out any peaceful transition of power to the legitimately elected groups. Now that W/o Birtukan is free she is trying her best to intensify the peaceful struggle at home though her “equipment” is incompatible with the political play ground given the curmudgeon nature of TPLF toward democratization” ( my emphasis)
Apparently, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Jury, this mercenary and apologist of the “leaders” has no clue what leadership is and what it entails. Leaders lead and teach by example. Leaders are those with vision. They commit and dedicate their life to bringing and realizing their vision to reality. In the process they could be tortured, murdered, imprisoned and the like. Unfortunately, this is their lot in the African context. They are at the fore front leading and forging ahead. It goes with out saying therefore that they know or should know that they will pay any price and endure any hardship to achieve their objective. But no, this mercenary would rather have the masses be cannon fodder for the ultimate objective, dreams and ambitions of the political elite. This is why he does not want them to be held accountable. He wants them out of prison regardless of how that is to occur. Even by taking responsibility for creating, according to Meles’ concoction, the condition that contributed to the massacre of the 193 innocent lives by the tyrannical regime. What is more disgusting than this? What is more disdainful and contemptuous of the masses than this? Ladies and Gentlemen of the Jury, just think about what these leaders have taught the next generation of leaders in Ethiopia? If one has the good will and open mind, one can learn from the exemplary leadership-lives of Dr. Martin Luther King and former President of South Africa Nelson Mandela.
I know Mr. Wondemhunegn would not want me to remind him of what Mandela’s response was to Botha’s condition for his release. Botha demanded that Mandela condemn and renounce ANC and the armed struggle that the liberation movement was waging. Remember Mandela was, by now, in the Apartheid dungeon for 27 years. Mandela said:
“….I am surprised at the conditions that the government wants to impose on me. I am not a violent man….It was only then, when all other forms of resistance were no longer open to us, that we turned to armed struggle. Let Botha show that he is different to Malan, Strijdom and Verwoerd. Let him renounce violence. Let him say that he will dismantle apartheid. Let him unban the people’s organization, the African National Congress. Let him free all who have been imprisoned, banished or exiled for their opposition to apartheid. Let him guarantee free political activity so that people may decide who will govern them.
I cherish my own freedom dearly, but I care even more for your freedom ( he is referring to the people of South Africa). Too many have died since I went to prison. Too many have suffered for the love of freedom. I owe it to their widows, to their orphans, to their mothers, and to their fathers who have grieved and wept for them….But I cannot sell my birthright, nor am I prepared to sell the birthright of the people to be free….What freedom am I being offered while the organization of the people remains banned? What freedom am I being offered when I may be arrested on a pass offense? What freedom am I being offered to live my life as a family with my dear wife who remains in banishment in Brandfort? What freedom am I being offered when I must ask for permission to live in an urban area?... What freedom am I being offered when my very South African citizenship is not respected? Only free men can negotiate. Prisoners cannot enter into contracts….I cannot and will not give any undertaking at a time when I and you, are not free. Your freedom and mine cannot be separated. I will return.” (Nelson Mandela, Long Walk To Freedom,P. 522-23
Now then Ladies and Gentlemen of the Jury, don’t you think that the leaders of CUDP should have made their release or signing of an agreement for their release contingent upon Meles’ respecting the voice of the people and handing over power to them? Their sole crime is winning the 2005 election and not transgressing any other law. No Mr. Wondemhunegn says we are happy they are out. I want to know if the mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters and relatives of the 193 victims and also millions of Ethiopians who feel betrayed are sharing in his happiness. I am baffled. It is mind boggling. The absence of an outrage and a call to hold them accountable for their shortcoming does not indicate acquiescence to their capitulation. What it does however is reflect the backwardness of the political culture of the country. A culture where holding political leaders accountable is an alien phenomenon. Ethiopia has had a political culture that regards political leaders as omniscient and hence making them well beyond reproach and censure. Ladies and Gentlemen of the Jury, I wish I could say Mr. Wondemhungen’s behavior is a reflection of this backward political culture, for it is not. His action is dictated by a mind that has chosen to serve the interest of the political elites. He has chosen to silence those of us who have dared to hold the CUDP ‘leaders’ accountable. I pity him. God knows how he can live with his conscience.
Oh by the way his effort to link or relate me to Eng. Hailu and Ato Lidetu, people that know very little of me, if at all, is an eloquent testimony of the diabolical nature of the people that have bought his service. How little they know me!!!!!
Ladies and Gentlemen of the Jury, please allow me to close by relaying to you that the effort to silence me has been joined by the ethiomdia.com which has declined to publish my open letter. It is unfortunate that this website has decided to compromise its independence and therefore its integrity.
Solomon Terfa (PhD
Associate Professor of Political Science and International Relations
MVSU
He can be reached at st251@bellsouth.net
