By Ambanesh Cherenet
Once again, a fear of secessionist activity is dominating Ethiopian thinking both at home and abroad. However, with the exception of some hirelings the vast majority of Ethiopians are in a state of high alert not to get duped by any backdoor dealings ever again.
Honestly, though without affectation or pretense, it is a known fact that all the integral parts of AFD with the exception of CUD are liberation fronts engaged in armed struggle against the “Abyssinia Empire”. Aside ONLF, and SLF, OLF is an old liberation front and who is also an old hand at the foundation of AFD, which is why millions of Ethiopians are skeptical about this new deal fearing that it may result in crisis. Once again fearing that the Holland’s conference is yet about to reinforcing the London’s’ conference many Ethiopians are tending not to believe but to question it.
Be that as it may, as ethnic-oriented they are, they always do promote ethnic politics and always do speak in favor of disintegration. Isn’t that the reason why they declare themselves liberation fronts fighting to free their respective regions from the rest of the “Abyssinian Empire”? Amassing all these facts and more of their nature, who can easily be duped into thinking that the set up in which these liberation fronts operates is intended to play a role of unity building process? It is an unworthy of serious risk for CUD to suppose that it doesn’t know what their political objectives are all about. However, unlike CUD, the rest of pro unity forces are concerned not only for they find the nature of liberation fronts is threatening to Ethiopia’s sovereignty, they also learned that their political ideology is fetal to the existence of Ethiopia as a nation as well.
The question here is how possible that be for CUD and OLF to reconcile their diametrically opposite ideologies and come to the point where they can be willing to adjust actions in response to the call of unification? This is the question at the core they ought to resolve first. If not, AFD will suffer from a lack public support and will be adversely affected by the anger and rejection of the public at large. In other words the vast majority of Ethiopians are not willing to accept their formal piece of writings that compromise the unity and territorial integrity of Ethiopia and the pro unity force shall remain adamant to that of the general doctrines and principles that formed the basis of AFD. One suspects that the ambition of assuming state power by any means possible might be the only factor CUD has in common with OLF and ONLF. Whether or not, this formation of alliance was intended for a strong yearning of power to achieve or a set of procedure for achieving something greater than power is yet to be seen. But the question here is again how one can expect to have the same end results from a unit of measurement that has different values in different context? So, at this point in time, neither the political shift CUD made nor the nature of OLF or both can sway the publics’ opinion on their side nor can it change the very deep seated skepticism millions of Ethiopians bound to have about their motives. Who is happy with the claims that these diametrically opposing organizations have said they achieved in Holland is also yet to be seen. Little did we know what the settlement is for, however, one would say for sure that the political shift CUD made to be a junior partner to the OLF and ONLF is good breaking news for the old guys involved.
The irony is that all organizations participated in Holland’s conference CUD included were unanimous in their agreement to work on so-called Ethiopian constitution. Silly and amusing as it sounds the trouble about CUD seems to be ridiculous because of being irrational, incongruous, and illogical to the point where it find itself confused, not knowing how to cope with and fulfill what is required in a world of diplomacy and politics. Giving up too easily to a belief contrary to its moral principles is nothing other than declaring to the world that the enemy has won and that fighting can ease now! What a paradox! The paradox about CUD is also displayed at a time when it transformed itself from centralist to a moderate political ideology that plays down unitary system which is contrary to what it once declared in a plain, open and of course on its own emphatic way. What a political makeover! However, it has moved to a more moderate position which is from promoting a unitary system of government to accepting that of WOYANES’ model of ethno-centric federal arrangement. Decentralized governments that permit policy to be made at the ethnic-based regional level in which constituent elements are retaining a measure of their own autonomy based on languages and ethnicity is what WOYANES’ model of administrative structure is all about. Why moving fast to promote self-determination based on KiLLiLL in stead of preserving its original position and the status quo and traditional values and customs, Ethiopians of all convictions valued? Besides, accepting the basic laws by which Ethiopians are forced to accept against their will is by no means going very much against the interest of the public. Ethiopians are no longer in the mood to deal with a leadership who is devoid of moral compass and irrespective of Ethiopian unity and territorial integrity intact.
Secondly, fearing that the movement of all secessionist groups in Ethiopia is once again in control of its own destiny and believing that ethnically based liberation fronts would not stand in line with the unity forces to go to war in order to preserve Ethiopian unity, millions of Ethiopians are still held up with fears and tension allover. Part of the reasons why millions of Ethiopians are held up with such an unpleasant feeling of apprehension is once again because of the experience of London’s Conference, a conference in which EPLF was the brainchild, and secession was the pet topic, and OLF and TPLF were part of the principal forces to decide on the fate of Ethiopia and her people which in the end created the so-called Ethiopian constitution. Primarily, the so-called Ethiopian constitution was framed by secessionists and ethnically based liberation fronts and was cautiously framed to fulfill their grand interest. And yet, the constitution was arranged to bring about the “formal withdrawal” of SHABIA from Ethiopian political arrangement altogether and to allow the province of Eritrea to break away from the main land of Ethiopia. The constitution was resolutely put together in a ways things were arranged in an appropriate order so that they can use them effectively against the unity and territorial integrity of Ethiopia. Think of article 39 that brought about the meeting of Addis Ababa following the London’s conference to a close and provides access to every ethnic group to secede from Ethiopia. AFD accepted the so-called Ethiopian constitution for the fact that OLF is part and parcel of the trio conferences that took place in London, Addis Ababa, and Holland now.
It is no wonder though that Ethiopians are stricken with a sudden fear; dismay and shock by the news brought to them about the formation of AFD in Holland, an alliance that limits to one thing and excluding everything else about Ethiopia, an alliance that undermines the unity and territorial integrity of our nation state, an alliance that fails to have a mark of respect for the nation of Ethiopia and more importantly being organized by secessionists altogether like that of the nameless London’s conference. Similar to the London’s conference, the formation of AFD and the resolution it adopted was a bit unconventional, which in turn have a direct consequence of national negligence at the core.
Be that as it may, here are some questions that millions of Ethiopians may inquire to whom they once had the honor and admiration for. CUD that is! What made you change your mind to take a different route showing hostility to Ethiopian unity and hostile to your survival which in turn affects the future of the whole? What happened to the promise once you made to keep to the promise land? The promise to be one of the moral voices in Ethiopia; The promise once you made to support the moral values and principles of Ethiopians, the promise to defend the unity and territorial integrity of your country including and up to the coastal line of Red Sea and the official promise you made to respect the voice of your constituency and the promise to join the patriotic order and live in accordance with its rules. One thing is for sure though that continuing to decide against the will of the people and trying to overturn any decision made by your rank and file is a signal for any political entity to become dictatorial which Ethiopians are no longer willing to allow happening. In short millions of Ethiopians are outraged allover by the outrageous decision and action taken by your leadership in Holland. As a result, they are voicing against it and are saying that it was wrong and has to be changed immediately.
Why belittling your political status to the point where you find yourself unimportant and too small to be relevant to that of Ethiopian main political stream? What made you fail to see the difference between forming an alliance with arch-foes that do not have anything in common with you and to sneering at friends who are at the most defending and supporting your own cause and principle at any cost? In other words why with others in stead of joining ranks with your own type in order to help our unity force maintain its position in spite of heavy attack from enemy? As a result of which neither millions of Ethiopians are happy nor are they attracted or satisfied with your discouraging measure taken against their will. Why? That is not something we hoped for to hear from you CUD. One needs to be on familiar terms with your political position before he comes to a decision where he can join you in your endeavor to sign up a document with OLF, ONLF and others to tackle TPLF and more. All the questions mentioned above are for the current leadership to provide the Ethiopian people with more of explanation, justification, and proof about the agreement it reached with OLF and ONLF. This time nothing else but genuine Ethiopians are criticizing you and critiques of all persuasions are urging you to correct your mistake? So listen to your own people instead of obeying to foreign pressure if that is the case for you to accept the offer and swim against the current. BEFORE I FINISH, why region is mentioned as a point of reference to your goals than the name Ethiopia from start to finish of your document?
Having gained public recognition in a particular sphere of activity would not mean everything in politics. It would not mean that it lasts forever either unless carried out for reasons that best serve a desired outcome and for reasons that are morally justifiable in terms of principles and accepted national standards. To that end, what made you turn your back on Ethiopia and ranked region very favorably than the nation Ethiopia itself in terms of magnitude and importance? After all, Ethiopia is a nation where a greater human society with a defined territory existed for centuries under legally organized and officially institutionalized form of government. Why compromising that? Like it or not, what you have done is not good enough for your tiny, teeny but frustrated sympathizers clustered beneath you much less persuading your voters to agree with you, support you, and give you permission to join OLF, ONLF and others in their endeavor to dismantle our unity and our official institution recognized by the UN in Geneva and NY for centuries.
In conclusion, clearly though the vast majority of Ethiopians are not in the mood to usher another exclusive political club to assume state power in Addis ever again. Being grouped by type within a party representing a political ideology and attempting to have more power over the party itself and continuing on deciding issues and matters according to a classification system would undermine egalitarianism from within and weaken public participation from outside. And those are bad combinations of political functioning that any democrat organization has to avoid in order to bring about a democratic system of government to our country. Instead of tending to make unfair dealings with other organizations and foreign powers behind closed doors that may weaken the morale, motivation, and optimism of our people, it is better to be conclusive in a way that brings a clear and definite decision recognizable for all. Plus, in a democracy, transparency is a must, without it democracy may not continue to exist. And also any responsible committee has to accept and respect that inclusiveness and collective decisions are as important as collective responsibilities are. But most importantly, one has to recognize that if and when the fate of our nation is determined must be determined not by a small group of people who desires to control state power but by the people itself. That is what Referendum is all about. Freely expressing opinions and preferences by casting a ballot and the process of voting out or voting in by the whole population on issues including national affairs is what referendum is all about as well. To that effect, going along a different direction and pursuing to be an exclusive in any important decisions that affect the future of the country is a dangerous trend for one to pursue. But most importantly in order for any political entity to win the minds and the hearts of Ethiopian people it has to learn how to respect their voices. And in order for any political entity to be believed and embraced by the ordinary people it needs to open up and make things more accessible to a wider range of people to get involved into such important decisions that one way or anther affects the security of our country and her people as a whole. Especially those of us who have been at war against all odds are not happy to see the new generation gets demoralized. Do not discourage our rising stars in politics and the uprising of our people against the dying ethnocentric dictatorial regime of Meles Zenawi
Final note To Whom It May Concern
In a world of politics, one has to have clarity on telling the enemy apart from the friend. Having said that, here it is a tip one would like to share with the ardent sympathizers, affiliate and leaders of CUD in the Diaspora, especially with those of us who have a hard time dealing with individuals of different perspectives and range of vision.
Refrain from being highly preoccupied with a feeling of satisfaction in your own organizational achievements, but instead work on your clarity so to have it all correct. Refrain from evaluating yourself an unrealistically higher than is true, instead work on your clarity to be realistic, precise and free from errors as much as possible. Try your level best to sustain and dignify some sort of lofty purpose serving the interest of your country rather than ostensibly displaying the selfishness of your character in your own action and behavior. Refrain from glowing with a fictitious zeal, and from using language vehemently, instead work on your clarity to make CUD a success. Refrain from considering anyone whom you think is politically sophisticated as enemies instead, learn how to get along with them. Look out for logic and reasons to support your argument thereby to win over more friends than creating many enemies everywhere. WOYANES and affiliates are the only enemies on board and we must focus on that to fight and defeat them. Best of all, please do not abuse but use the Pal talk Room called Current Affairs Discussion Forum by accommodating more of independent thinkers. As they are resourceful, they have the ability to clear the confusion and have the ability to interpret the information brought to your forum and beyond.
Ethiopians have had it in London, and could not afford to have seen history repeating itself in favor of their national rivals for a second time so it is a period of time in which their state of alert must be put in full force to discourage hirelings from taking further illegal and subversive actions against the security of Ethiopia. In point of fact, the party in power doesn’t have a clear mandate to rule, the election was bogus, so was the claim the TPLF made and everything else thereafter went wrong including CUD’S decision to go into partnership with the OLF, ONLF and others.
