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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