Mr. Haile Mariam Desalegn, the new Ethiopian PM, marks 100 plus days in office and brought frustration to all pro-democracy
campaigners starting from his first exclusive interview with Peter
Heinlein the Voice of America – VOA news correspondent.
Some people
predicted he will be a compromise candidate to bring more political
freedom. Some say the predatory TPLF ruling party replaces the deceased
Meles Zenawi by another stooge figure to continue dictatorial control.
But it was not a secret that he is woven into TPLF autocratic regime in
the past several years. In as much as he is the closest ally of the
aristocracy of TPLF regime, in some of us thinking there is magical
expectation he might bring better vision for the country, or at minimum
he will make an effort of some kind for political reform including
freeing political prisoners or respect – its own existing constitutions
such as press freedom, guarantees of the right of public assembly, etc..
In reality what we observed so far is our citizens continue to carry
the yoke of oppression.
It is evident that ethno-centric TPLF
paternalistic and arrogant views to Ethiopian people continued by
forming a corrupt dictatorship political structure that contain three
deputies to control the people along the ethnic line effectively. Due to
highly personalized and abusive power structure from top to bottom,
Hailemariam Desalegn is incapable of providing any adequate political
reforms. Mr. Desalegn is retained by TPLF on this position mainly to
give legitimacy to ethno-centric TPLF’s reign. He supports the status
quo unequivocally. He demonstrated – his determination to carry out past
tyrant legacy on interviews, on news press releases, or addressing his
rubber stamp parliament.
The past twenty one years is a legacy of
ethnics based rule by TPLF. Furthermore, the TPLF leaders built their
political group on marriage ties, nepotism, sectarian loyalties and
extensive network among them and other political cronies. Hailemariam is
a perfect fit as political cronies. PM or TPLF failed to focus on
common causes and shared values of all Ethiopians. As we all know, some
of the predominant factors for ethno-centric TPLF survival on power is
based on divide and rule strategy. Consequently, the ethno-centric TPLF
leaders become big fat fish in the country. They have created state
apparatus bloated by rampant corruptions, bribe, and accumulation vast
illicit fortunes and became a champion in running robust black market.
Flourishing Corruptions and human rights abuse are cited with
accompanying evidence on several free media (also for TPLF’s
individual’s characters just read the recent Amharic series articles
posted by (Eyerusalem Araya). It is upsetting and also an embarrassment
to all fair minded Ethiopians.
The new PM unwillingness to rise to
the responsibility as true leader and not launching better system is
missing opportunity for him to be part of Ethiopian history legend. He
has not expressed common vision of the people demands for freedom and
social justice. Mr. Desalgen paid no attention to learn from past tyrant
mistakes at all. As things stand now, the country is divided along
ethnic lines, which is a ground work for anarchy. Examples include the
recent ethnic-based clashes that erupted among university students on
Arat Kilo campus of Addis Ababa University. Universities supposed to be –
power house to disseminate knowledge in variety of field and search-
out solutions for social ills.
As we all know, Addis Ababa University
which was once the home of the student activism inspired by Marxist
ideas of class struggle, upholder of democratic freedoms and hot bed for
dissent transformed by TPLF to recruitment center for single ethnic
militants. TPLF leaders are proven to us again and again they are not
capable of rising above their ethnic line. TPLF’s ethnic leadership
behaviors followed by deception, blatant ethnic–based discrimination and
try to alienate the Tigreans from the mainstream is not working.
Ordinary Tigrian people understood that the systematic pitting each
other on ethnic line will not bring peace, democracy or justice. They
knew all along we are multi-ethnic nation and have coexisted side by
side peacefully for generations. Unfortunately the TPLF’s leaders failed
to recognize that but relentlessly attempt to include them in part of
their crimes.
Let me quote from Mr. Obama January 21, 2013 inaugural speech “What makes us exceptional – what makes us American – is our allegiance to an idea, articulated in a declaration made more than two centuries ago:” As we know it, America is most multi-ethnic nation allegiance to an idea
not on ethnic origin. This illustrates that allegiance of an idea for
national unity is key to achieve economic and social goals in Ethiopia.
Imposing the century old Lenin’s polemics nationality rights (ethnic
politic) above liberty of individuals will not bring about true
political changes, it will sustain the current corrupt thugocracy.
The
new PM has not shown even symbolic gesture to free up political
prisoners or other needed political changes. Even simple symbolic
gesture can be powerful because it does describe something significant
is at stake. Freeing up political prisoners is one of thing that got me
to the heart of what has been bothering me since Mr. Desalgen becomes
PM. I concluded that he is hopeless and lacks political leadership and
must be viewed as a continuation of the previous fails politics. He is
strengthened the ethno-centric TPLF power. As witnessed to this date, he
neglected the needs of Ethiopian people and become a de facto conduit
to impose TPLF’s dictatorial repression.
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