By Messay Kebede
The current leadership split within the CUD has become the object of an intensive and partisan quarrel among the supporters of each faction. The divided Ethiopian diaspora wallows in the exercise of one-sidedly blaming one faction for the split, while little effort is made to know its real cause. As is usual among Ethiopian political activists, what prevails is not the need to get correct information before taking side, but rather the propensity to support one side to the discredit of the other. Unfortunately, such an approach neither brings about reconciliation nor gathers momentum for the prevalence of one faction. On the contrary, it simply widens the split with further misunderstandings and confusions. Yet owing to its remoteness from the actual battle field, the Ethiopian diaspora should have refrained from taking side so as to emerge as a force of reconciliation.
In view of the fact that the split seriously undermines the effort to bring positive change in Ethiopia, all the more distressingly since the outcomes of the last national election seemed to show the end of the tunnel, I have painstakingly endeavored to understand the real causes of the split. This explains my silence in the face of the debacle of the great hope that the Kinijit movement had generated. Despite my sustained effort to understand by extensively reading whatever is posted on the web regarding the split as well as talking to influential people, I am little advanced. Where I long for reasons and analyses, I find venomous attacks, name callings, character assassinations in the outdated style of Leninist political discourse.
Yet only three months ago, most activists and observers had just praises and concern for the jailed leaders of the CUD without any distinction. How could one smear so vehemently what one had admired recently without a moment of pause to allow reflection and critical assessment to take place? Worse yet, I read here and there complaints of individuals blaming some websites for refusing to post their articles. Nothing is more distressing than to see the ugly face of censorship reappearing at the very time when we need information and open debate. Crises do not disappear because we silence people; instead, animosity and biased outlooks grow and spread.
Several people have suggested that the deep cause of the split is power conflict among the top leadership of the movement. I don’t rule out the explanation, even though I don’t understand how leaders would go to the extent of wrecking a movement that they have worked so hard to create even as the violent reaction of the present regime shows clearly that victory will require more sacrifices and greater unity and mobilization. The only way the suggested explanation makes sense is through the assumption that one faction considers the other faction as a weak partner. In thus thinking that it can go on without the other party, the major party can opt for the breakup, especially if the partnership only results in the marginalization of its leaders.
We need to understand this concern and especially refrain from alluding to a concealed dictatorial tendency. What the crisis shows is that the CUD has a structural problem that must be resolved. We need to find a democratic framework for reconciliation based on a fair assessment of the respective strength of each partner while carrying a provision for the protection of the rights of minority parties. But it serves no purpose other than division to ignore the forces in presence in the name of an abstract and, for that matter, illusory unity, just as it is useless to call for a return to unity so long as the problems persist. Needless to say, the concern should also include Lidetu and his faction, since his volte-face was actually the first expression of a burgeoning crisis.
That is why I place this plea for an honest and instructive debate. I ask all those who have first-hand information or knowledge about the crisis to speak up, not for the sake of blaming one faction, but for the sake of informing us. I implore that those who write cease to assign a hidden intention to this or that leader so as to reflect on the structural issues with an eye to proposing solutions. I invite those who run the popular websites to open a chapter for this kind of assessment. My belief is that if we do this review well, that is, if the diaspora conducts an honest and fair analysis of the crisis, the exchange could result in a rapprochement, perhaps even recommend an inclusive conference with the promise that the correct appraisal of problems could turn the diaspora into a force of reconciliation. The correct approach is not to blame individuals, but to alter the structural conditions that created the crisis in the first place.
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Prof. Messay Kebede can be reached at [email protected]
13 thoughts on “A Plea for Honest Dialogue – Messay Kebede”
That is exactly what is needed and not adding fuel to the fire. Dialogue is the solution to hammer out any major differences and misunderstandings. Let us not simply accept that the struggle and sacrifices made so far were not simply in vain. Rather, we have to build on them. Let us see beyond the small pie of having a power in this or that party. The much bigger pie is yet untouched: empowering the peoples of Ethiopia. The rest comes afterwards. If we fail to win over our personal ego, then we failed our people.
Dear ERites,
Please allow me to express my disgust in the so called intellectuals who come up with this kind of article every now and then. Professor Messay Kebede is asking as not to take sides, to look for more information, bla bla bla…
What is the point of looking for information, if in the end, you are not gonna analyse it and form your own opnion?
Do we not have tones of credible, first hand information that clearly shows who Ato Hailu Shawel is? What else do we need?
The professor seems to think that by treating both sides the same way, we can turn a dictator into a democrat or vise verse.
The good professor does not seem to understand that by being indifferent and watching from the sidelines we are killing both sides.
My advice to all of you is that if you have to be indifferent, it should be because you do not have enough information. When you are convinced that you have enough information, there is nothing wrong in choosing sides.
The professor alleges that we have taken sides without enough first hand information. Who told him that? How can he say this after having been exposed to the lies, insults and contradicting interviews of Ato Hailu for so many months?
Do we need to know all the lies and contradictions through out the life of Ato Hailu Shawel not to support him?
I am deeply troubled with the so called Ethiopian intellectuals to come up with such lame excuses not to call a dictator by its name.
AleQa Bru
Ato Messay Kebede, I can not believe you undermined everyone of us who took sides one way or another.
Mr. Johhny Come Lately, there is no question in my mind that you are a late comer for all the political activities that have been going on for the last three years or so. I don’t know where you popped up from no where to tell us about our lack of the real cause of the split and siding one group without any reason to do so.
First of all, the problem in KINIJIT is a core philosophical and leadership between the feudal-minded Amhara chauvinists who still believe the crown belongs to them and do not believe in a democratic process on the one hand and the leadership comprised of different nationalities who aspire democratic ideals and aspirations. It is an open secret that Hailu Shawel instigated all this drama for its own survival. What dialogue do you what to have between these two groups? They were merged for convenience in the first place never ment to work as one political party. I did not even comment about Hailu Shawel’s irratic behaviour and lack of leadership quality. You are out of touch.
Trully speaking, you sound like that cripped mind Getachew Haile.
you are right, Ato Messay. But those of us, who are in Ethiopia need that information too, not only the Diaspora.
Dear Dr Mesay, I can not believe a person of your caliber would find it difficult to make out the cause of CUDP’s leadership crisis after three months. What kind of political discource are you suggesting? Countless articles imploring and pleading the renegade Kinijit leadrer to come to a round table discussion have been written. Other medium of communications have been used to sort of the differences;but to no avail.I respectfuly disagree with your assessment of the cause of the conflict as being “Structural Problem within the party”. The root cause of the problem is not that intricate;rather it is plain and simple: the unwillingness of Ato Hailu to be abided by the rules and regulation of the party. I can not blame him for that as it is not in his nature. No wonder the Woyane Web Site Aigaforum called him Hailu, the Bulldozer,Shawel.No amount of structural adjustment in the party would change the rigid attitude of Hailu shawel.The party needs attitudinal not structural change. Hailu Shawel is currently holding Kinijit and the Ethiopian people hostage. Dr Messay, if think there is still a chance of reconcilioation, please pick upthe phone and talk to Ato Hailu. His opponents have been expressing their willingness to accept him as their leader though they know his leadership ineptitude. As far as I am concerned, Ato Hailu is misfit in the party. I donot envisage Kinijit Ato Hailu as its leader. An Ethiopian who aspires to see Kinijit as the party of the people would not recommend a futile political discource. We need the other leaders to take decisive action and show their resolve to get on the business of leading not imploring a cluless person.
Lemma ,
why do u have to condemn the Amhara people just because certain people that you disagree with are Amharas? You see your problem is that you are pro-democracy only in writing and forget that all the poor Amhara people in remote areas are suffering as much as others.Practically all Ethiopians are suffering. Note that the crowning of Ato Hailul Shawul or Dr. Berhanu will not help any better the poor Amharas or the poor Guraghes, if it’s helping it will help all Ethiopians ,if it’s not it will damage all Ethiopians. And I want you to remeber that although the current regime prevails Tigrayans in the high rank positions there are millions of Tigrayans suffering. Therefore if you have to condemn indivuduals please confine your resentment around them and do not extend it beyond the borders.
Hope you will think twice next time before trushing poor citizens.
Dr messay kebede, are you still living with your principle or motto ” A” FOR LENNIN, B FOR ME AND C for my best philosophy student?”I remember when you fired one of your colleages for the simple reason he gave more ‘A” for his students, later you asked him to show their exam paper, and he refused to show you and said i gave them because they gave me a good answer for my questions, for that reason you fired him from AAU in1977 in ethiopia calender. Finally , let me tell you about the dialoge. CUDP problem will never solve by dialoge for more reasons. 1,HAILU shawul is talking about democracy , but he doesn’t know and doesn’t like to respect any of the democractic principles. look all his lies in his accusation from 1—-20, all are baseless,lies and full of allubaleta,2, hailu shawul agreed to form CUDP only to become ethiopia’s PM, NOW HE KNOWS HE WILL NEVER GET THAT CHANCE , so if he will not get that chance , there is no need to stay with in CUDP with highly educated and respected ethiopia’s intellectuals, because their aticulation in politics , dignity and with high level of vision darked his personal cult.3, ENG hailu shawul firm has signed a lot of business deals with weyanes with millions of dollars like baherdar air port , tena belese project and others. hailu shawul’s firm is competing with weyane’s companies now. 4, eng hailushawul mafia’s group has already misused 1.2m KINIJIT’s money , hailu’s wife has involved in the embezeling of Kinijit’s fund. according to reialble sources , hailu’s wife recieved around 72 ,000 dollars from his cousin yosef yazew,for thjis reason hailu has already decided to destroy kinijit and go with FORMER AAPO” AEUP”, AHILU’S BUSINESS deal with melese includes to destory kinijit and go a head with AAPO” AEUP’ AND WE CAN add more reasons , but HAILU is wearthless ,out dated old man with feudalistic mentality who doesn’t like to see a ginue democracy in ethiopia.So the plea here should be for God’s sake , ahilu should leave other kinijit leaders alone and go with his AAPO. OTHER WSIE THERE WILL BE A BACK FIRE FROM THE PPL AGAINST HIM AND EVEN AGAINST HIS ENTIRE FAMILIES. BECAUSE SO MANY PPL LOST THEIR FAMILIES FOR KINIJIT AND NOW THEY DO NOT KEEP QUIET WHEN HAILU IS KILLING THEIR HOPE FOR HIS PERSONAL PROSPERITY.
Dr. Messay,
You do not need any further discussion on the problem of cudp. Don’t you see what attitude is reflected in number 3 above in the name of Lemma. As long as we have people with this type attitude, there is no need for discussion. Those who developed inferiority complex because there is a people called Amhara need to see a psychiatrist. The Amharas have to move forward with progressives who believe in the principle of democracy. Let the people decide not a bunch of power cravers.
hailu shawel did more to destroy kinijit than any other individual or organization.his corrupt feudal friends wanted him to be a king so that they can get what they want and it seems he is believing that. it is more than clear now that atse hailu can’t deliver a democratic and accountable strong party. your highness atse hailu we don’t have any urgency to crown a king.you and your corrupt and feudal friends can go to hell!!!
1. I share Professor Messay’s concerns and am happy to see someone else shares my thoughts and views about this issue. Even though I am not a member of either group, I am deeply disappointed to see that the internal conflict reached to this level. I value the contribution the CUDP has made to the struggle for freedom and I am deeply disappointed that the personal conflicts has led (is leading) to the split of the party.
2. What is disappointing is the interference of outside opposition parties in the internal affairs of another opposition party, this time, Kinjit being their victim. It is extremely disappointing to see that the groups or individuals never learn from the mistakes they have made in the past. Their interference exacerbates the internal conflicts and destructs our main objective – to liberate our country and people from the yolks of the dictatorial, paranoid, terrorist regime- the TPLF!
3. It is also important for the opposition parties to recognize that competition between opposition parties serves the interests of our nation very well. In many respects, competition among two or more opposition parties is just like competition between two or more companies – competition is key to survival in many respects. Therefore, trying to destroy other opposition parties by interfering in their internal affairs, or siding with one and being against the other, does not really benefit anyone in the long run. Just like companies die or thrive, parties and individuals come and go. However, the interests (or the suffering) of our country and people will still be there forever, and it is about time to think this way. Stop interfering in the affairs of other opposition parties, period!
4. Having said the above, and as I tried to explain to the ECADF participants about a week ago, the problems, as Professor Messay clearly stated it, are structural and internal and the solutions can only come from within! I urge, as fellow Ethiopian, members of both groups TO DEMAND accountability from both sides of the leadership. I urge each individual member of each group to think one or two steps ahead in order to understand the main objective and the ramifications of this conflict (division). The objective is the liberation of our people from dictatorship. The continuation of the conflict has created disillusion on the both sides of the isle and it may even lead to destruction. No one, other than the dictatorial regime, would like this outcome! No one! We all have to understand that our grand objectives cannot be achieved by throwing the baby in the bathtub in order to cleanse it. I urge each individual member of each group to stop aggravating the situation. I urge each member to look inwards and find a solution to the problems ASAP. I urge each individual member to DEMAND their leaders to come to their senses. If they do, I am sure that even A RECONCILATION between the leadership is within reach, with some give and take, of course.
Seid Hassan, Ph.D.
Any time you read an article on a web-site, pause these questions to see through the writer(s).
1- Journalism question: Does the lead paragraph answer the five Ws of journalism without bais? (who, what, where, when, why).
2- Does the article follow basic journalism methods of writing? (date, city,independent analysis.)
3- What types of sources are being used by the writer? And are the sources clearly defined or somewhat fudged?
4- Who is the writer?
Is the writer using a Pen name? Why do you think the reader chose to Pen name it?
5- What is the writer’s main purpose that he/she wants to achieve by using the article? in other words, what is the motive of the writer?
Go ahead Prof. Messay and say it like it is. There are stil people who do not like to see and hear the thruth. The Truth is that, the Ethiopian people who are living in Ethiopia who are suffering from the weyane dictarorship, will solve their problem. Leadership problem has been Ethiopias’ difficulty for the last century. I believe God will send Her A Great, Balanced Leader who can lead Ethiopias to the Promise land, Democracy, economic progress, and love to oneanother. We the Diaspora are a bunch of strangers, like crabs in the barrel, who do not even listen to one another. There are exception, like Messay, Seid, Aregu, workamaw and of course others, like Lemma, Hhhhh.
Offended by Mr. Lemma’s comment, I’m of the same opinion with Ms. Aregu’s.
The way to adhere to one political organization, the way to lead a political party successfully, and the way to have finally a unified country, is not, by any means, by merely finger pointing at a particular ethnic group. The more a person, like Mr. Lemma, singles out one tribe – in this case the Amhara – the more divisions that person creates among different ethnic groups who are perhaps trying to burry their differences and come up with something cohesive, with something salient that unites them and makes them functional without destroying their uniqueness.
With all my respect to Mr. Lemma who dubbed wittingly that the Amhara people are feudal minded, chauvinists who believe that crown belongs to them, and so on and so forth, in reality the Amhara people for a long time have been the scapegoats for any significant or insignificant mishaps, for any political divisions, for any misunderstandings between groups, and for any natural or man-made disasters.
By the way, someone may ask, without blaming the Amharas as Lemma did, where the Amhara people live. The Amhara people mostly live in Gondar, Gojam, and in some parts of Shewa, Wollo and Harar. Anyone who has visited those Amhara regions as I did long time ago will recognize how many people of these regions deserve to be called feudal or lords (getoch). Indeed, the Amhara people like many other tribes in Ethiopia have owned lands; therefore, if owning a land makes one a lord or a feudal, then every person who owns a piece of land is entitled to be called a lord. The Amhara people are by profession hard-working peasants, merchants, and Church-goer Christians. Of course, the Amhara people like many other Ethiopians are loyal to what they believe in but not bigots as Mr. Lemma believes they are.
To one of your accusations, Mr. Lemma, what has the Crown done particularly to the Amhara people? Has it taken them out of poverty? Has it educated their children, built roads, hospitals and churches for them? What makes you believe, Mr. Lemma that the Amhara people still think that the Crown belongs to them? If there were such a Crown, that Crown had been the Crown of all Ethiopians, not only the Amhara’s.
You have also blindly charged that the Amhara people “do not believe in a democratic process….” This shows how misguided your thoughts are. For centuries, the Amhara people have been conducting their duties democratically: the mahiber, the ekub, the senibetie, the edir, the funerals, and many other big and small religious ceremonies. All these activities the Amhara people have been running effectively and democratically. To run such sophisticated organizations effectively, one requires good leadership, so the Amhara people, whom you accused lack leadership, have been effective leaders in running their businesses. If you have personal animosity or vendetta with Hailu Shawel deal with him personally, but you should not blame the Amhara people for your personal matters with Hailu Shawel.
Following are some of the accusations you put on the innocent Amhara people:
– the Amhara people are feudal-minded people
– the Amhara people are chauvinists
– the Amhara people believe that the Crown belongs to them
– the Amhara people do not believe in a democratic process
– the Amhara people lacks good leadership
– the Amhara people do not cooperate with other nationalities
– Hailu Shawel is using the Amhara people for his own political purpose