Woyanne is perhaps the most hated regime in the history of Ethiopia. In May 2005, the people of Ethiopia made it clear that they don’t want Woyanne to govern the country. Meles Zenawi & Co. responded by brutally attacking the opposition parties and their supporters. Two years later, this much hated group is still in power and continues to cause death and destruction upon the people of Ethiopia and neighboring countries. ER would like to ask the following:
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67 thoughts on “Poll: Why is Woyanne still in power?”
The answer is NONE of the above.
The EPRDF is a front of ethnic fronts led by one front. Can you see how fake this is? Where is the strength? TPLF controls the economy and the administration 100%. However, its power lies in the army, the police and the security.
The opposition have the people’s vote; the source of their power(not yet realised). So You are asking us to compare a government with all the means and power to control and opposition parties who are disunited, disorganised and recovering from the two years onslaught and as if this is not enough you tell us that the oppo sition is weak and timid! Absolutely unfair and wrong!
The problem is not about being morally weak. NO no! Your emotion is running wild!
A number of factors can be listed but the main ones
1- lack of unity of opposition parties (the source of their power)
2- lack of vision (like that of citizen’s charter
or a party programme that could bring majority/make a party like kinijit (now UDJ) dominant).
3- lack of vangardship – a party that can lead not lead by the people.
The answer is none of the above because
oppositions care about Ethiopians and any thing against EPRDF
is a big crime in Ethiopia.what can they do? they have only one option, armed struggle but this option hurts ethiopians?+++
eprdf is democratic that is why
ur seating in a comfortable country and critisizing us and the gov. am not EPRDF’s supporter but i belive things will be better. i marched and campained for the so called Kinijit, and they pay us by showing the world that they r nothing For Good. and u blame Woyanne(in ur case)for thier weakness? think clear.
there is no opposition in ethiopia as you claim but bunch of hate mongerers in and largely in the diaspora.i wonder if you try to present these lunatic individuals as opposition with vision,programmes and policies instead of looking around for the emergence of of political prganizations that basis its programmes oon the current reality in ethiopia.
Elias, the choices should be modified to include the U.S factor as well??
The reason why ineffective, ethnocentric, racketeering, mafia gangs are in power for close to 20 years is not because of their strength or weakness of opposition. It is just because the building blocks of thinking in Ethiopia are never been right.
Unless the number of people able to think properly reaches critical mass, we cannot break the vicious circle that we are in. Until we replace churches and mosques with modern schools to teach science instead of primitive fairy tales, any desire for better government or life is just wishful thinking.
To find out why the regime is still in power, we need to investigate the grave errors the so called revolutionaries made since the out set of the revolution that resulted the advent of Derg and then these.
i AGREE WITH GUST 1. iN ADDITION TO THAT THE ANSWER IS NON OF THE ABOVE IS WOYANNE is helped by Forigners,his programe is to divide and rule the westrn helped him. The historical enmy of Ethiopia assisted alot to Woyane,i.e Money,gold , Alamoude etc. so,he still in power.
the opposotion is to weak
None of the above: Again, the government is in power by killing, jailing, weakening, creating havoc all over in and around our neighbours (Er and Somali), by making distruction from the main problem at any cost (religious war, corruption, inflation). I am not saying the government is the reason for the some of the latter (corruption/inflation), but it is the reason for not tackling the problem appropriately and being negligience, disrespect of the people- as the people say NO for them.
it takes courage and sacrifice to be in power , it is not all about talk.
my bro/sis who give a comment about …, I think your comment claims the weakness of opposition parties but you try to oppose Elias`s ideas of voting … i mean you write the weaknesses of opposition parties and try to claim that they are strong … funny thing!!! sorry saying that (-:
None.None is None.
Hi Guest1:
You answer “None of the above” and you go on outlining the shortcomings of the opposition :
1- lack of unity
2- lack of vision
3- lack of vangardship
Are those not signs of weakness??
Let us not forget the crucial role played by the United States in bringing and keeping the TPLF in power.
There is substantial evidence that the US secretly funded the TPLF to fight Mengistu Haile Mariam — over $150 million in food and cash. This is according to the author John Pendergast in his book “Without Guns on Tanks.” A small, unrepresentative minority group was shoved down the throat of 70 million Ethiopian people.
This was partly motivated by Herman Cohen’s, then Undersecretary of State for African Affairs, ill-conceived desire to help Falasha’s and to put a pro-Israeli government in power in Ethiopia.
There is also evidence that the Bush administration made a high level decision to keep the Meles regime in power at all costs in the aftermath of the May 2005 elections. American secret services and the US embassy in Addis Ababa waged a substantial disinformation campaign to demoralize and dismantle the opposition.
During and after the 2005 elections, the Meles regime and the US had other big agendas which they thought were more important than the well being of the Ehtiopian people.
Ethiopia and the US were actively supporting Somali warlords, preparing for the invasion of Somalia and collaborating in extra-ordinary renditions (grabbing people on the street and throwing them in secret jails.) and torture.
Some $25 billion of dollars have been officially transferred to the TPLF in the last 18 years. In addition, the TPLF is estimated to be paid up to $100 million per month for its invasion of Somalia and for doing the dirty work of the United States.
With all this cash floating around, the TPLF has managed to buy off key ferenji players, from American embassy bureaucrats to functionaries of international agencies such as the World Bank and the United States. Ethiopians on the ground know how bad things are. But these ferenjis keep telling us how good things are, how the economy is growing at 10%, etc., etc.
Former American ambassadors such as Tibor Nagi and Vicki Huddleston continue to have business relationships with Woyane directly or through their families and associates. The infamous Jendayi Frazer, Under Secretary for African Affairs, is also bound to be entangled in some sort of relationship with the TPLF as soon as her job with the Bush administration ends
Now, this is not to say the opposition does not have any weaknesses. The crucial weakness, in my view, is to believe that TPLF will give up power and the good life it’s used to through electoral/peaceful means. The other weakness is to fall into the enemy’s divisive trap.
We cannot beat ourselves up for everything that went wrong. In my opinion, the United States played a disproportionately negative role in suppressing the desire of the Ethiopian people for freedom. It’s a question of time before the details this period will come out.
There is a consistent pattern here. The TPLF and its ferenji partners make out well and congratulate each other for a job well done. The losers? The Ethiopian people. They are being crushed by poverty and political repression. Let’s hope it won’t be for long.
God save Ethiopia from her enemies.
It is because of you and your likes who fight the evil of ethnicity with the evil of ethnicity, that is why it is still in power. Evil with evil will not bring change, tiqur gulucha be tiqur gulucha biteka lewt ayametam! People like you need to be reborn to true Ethiopianism. To us you and the party that calls itself Woyane are wicked and antiEthiopian unity.
The answer is none.
Whoelse is expected to keep the people’s vote other than the people themselves. The leaders of the opposition announced that it is rigged and stolen and boycotted parliament, and called the people to struggle the tyranny.
So, the answer should be lack of heroic nature of the people or ‘ferinnet’.
This is clear but we don’t want to speak out the truth.
Hi ER,
I think your poll has only 2 alternatives eventhough it looks like that there are 4 alternatives:
For example, what is the difference between (1) and (2). You can say the Opposition is too weak if you believe that Woyane is too strong for the Opposition and vice versa. So in effect what you poll says is this:
Is Woyane still on power because it is stronger than the Opposition OR for some other reason?
And we all know the answer for this question. Obviously it is stronger than the Opposition; otherwise it would not be on power.
A meaningful question should have been this. Why is Woyane stronger than the Opposition?
Dear Elias :
Please ammend your poll question.
The EPRDF is still on power because not only two factors.
And the fourth option “none of the above” also is not a correct option beause it automatically remove the two issues( EPRDF’s ‘strength’ and oppositions’ weakness).
I would suggest: a) control of the army and security forces b)the Economy c) the constitutine and its fedral system e) The oppostion’s ideology(separatist idea) or creating radicaly Unitary state etc…
Thanks
The opposition group are not united. The all talk about unity but when it is serious they do not like each other. Woyanne gets the benefits. Woyenne is also financial strong party. It is obvious where money come from.
MILITARY …. sometimes we complicate things and forget the simple facts.
ER, that you didn’t mention:
1. Support from the Western (e.g.war on terrorism)
2. support from betrayer (le hodachew yaderu)
3. lack of communication (Mass media)
Ethiopia Will Prevail!
THANK YOU ELIAS!
BIG TIME! WEAK, TIMID AND INCOMPETENT OPPOSITION PARTIES THAT ALLOWED WOYANES TO BE IN POWER FOR THIS LONG. NO DOUBT ABOUT IT!
KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK IN KEEPING THE HEAT UP!
THE FACT HAS TO BE TOLD IN ALL AND EVERY WAY POSSIBLE!
THE OPPOSITION PARTIES ARE PLAYING A GAME ON THE LIFE OF THE ETHIOPIAN PEOLE! THEY NEED TO WAKE UP AND FIGHT THE EVIL WOYANE WITH FULL FORCE!
ALUTA CONTINUA!
THANKS.
for me woyane seems a good solution to keep ethiopia for now as none of the opposition are good enough to bring peace or democracy…When the time comes we will find a power which will bring everything that we need to lift the strong ethiopia we all want to see. you will see!!!! for now consider it woyane is an occopying force that has no base except ethiopia itself that means they can’t leave it as they will perish if they do…i think let them enjoy the power till some years and you will see them falling life leaves, what i regret it that only a small proportion of woyanes enjoy it but most are liable fot the paybeack!
the blind support of th e bush admin of so called war on terrorism, who labled also Mandela as tterorist, sabotaged the election result and deny ethiopians their freedom. all th e intimidation and killing is articulated by the Us security service advisors and money. That is the one which keeps the savages in power. for our opposition it is difficult to fight the nation of america.
Woyane is composed of shrewd bandits who will plot 24/7 to eliminate any opponent. I do not think this group is strong. Had it not been for the backing of the US, this terrorist group would have been history by now. The absence of strong military group is also the reason for the bandits to keep on sucking our blood. But the end is inevitable. The will disappear like a dew
None, because I also go with the reasons that are including
1-Lack of unity
2-Lack of patience among oppositions
3-Lack of admitting mistakes which includes strong leaders, memebers and supporters of the oppositions
4-Lack of missing goals
5-Selfishness
6-Iggnorance
7-Lack of listesning among individuals
and many more problems including minimizing and avoiding little diffrences among oppostions are the main factors.
This narrow minded, narrow based and cruel authoritherian government is in power because:
1) We as Ethiopians are not committed to stand for our freedom. Freedom not in the archaic sense of protecting a sovergn land mark but freedom of the individual life, justice, and equality
2) We as Ethiopians don’t stand or have hard time standing in unison to fight for a common higher level cause. We value lower level goals (ethnic, geographic, language, etc) over higher level goals as justice for all, equality for all, prosperity for all, individual freedom for all
3) We as Ethiopians (singling our leaders makes little sense, because they all look like us) have lost or badly severed our values as a good neighbor, as a good member of the community, and as a good citizen. Now we are all driven by emotions, and frustrations – not reason and vision.
3) We Ethiopians have failed to learn from our past horrific failures (draught, civil war, injustice, disease). Our successive failures did not seem to motivate us to re-invent ourselves (interms of socio-political, economic, culture, technolgy) and in many ways. We always do pray for the worst not to come and surely the worst comes and we still keep praying for the worst not to come and it surely keeps coming…..we failed to re-invent ourselves
4) Off course “ Yalzerut Ayebekelm”, in what ever way they come to power we produce “leaders” as Mengestu and Meles who are the embodiment and reflection of our social fabric.
Yohannes S.
The choices are very limited. You should include host of factors that contributed for the prolonged rule of woyane
we are not fighting weyane we are fighting each others that why!!
Those murderers are in still in power just because the so called opposition parties have taken the wrong direction to unseat the JUNTA.
This MINORITY junta will not give in peacefully, why ? Beacuse:
– It has illegally incorportated land from Gonder abd Wollo. It will by no means allow this to be reversed (They said over our dead body). So, the only olternative is to do it over their dead body.
– This Minority Junta has caused the Tigray people to be the most hated ethnic group in the WORLD. And they are dead scared to let go the helm of power (like the saying, You do not hold a Tigers tail in your right mind; if you hold it, you will not let it).
So, to unseat this evil junt, we have to take up arms and fight.
The Only reason Weyanne is still in power despite being rejected by the Ethiopian people: Unconditional military and financial support of Weyanne by the USA.
The Reasons are two. 1) CIA and 2)The Diaspora
1) CIA is the backbone of TPLF. CIA finances, advises and helps TPLF under the cover of “Key US Ally in East Africa” and/or “War of Terror.” Meles’ political, foreign affairs, and security advisers are hired by the CIA. This is the Power of the TPLF. Not to mention, TPLF controls every sector of economy, security, media and judiciary.
2)The Diaspora is the weakest link in the opposition camp. The few diaspora “political elites” have disunited and weakened the oppositions by creating rifts within opposition, by not financing them fully, by not providing mass media (2hr /7days a week radio) program, by trying to lead the oppositions from abroad, and by their hardline view (lack of flexibility). These few diaspora “political elites” are responsible the failure or weakness of oppositions.
SOLUTION:
1) Expose TPLF by all diplomatic means available. Help to pass HR2003. Inform or Educate Senators and Congress about the true face of TPLF. Write to Newspaper Editorials exposing TPLF crimes… and so on
2)Diaspora’s role should be remain as financial providers and diplomatic lobbyists. Leave the Oppositions alone. Let them do their job. Let us stop interfering in Opposition’s Affairs. Let’s Help them Financially and Diplomatically. Media! Media! Media! A strong 2 hr radio broadcast to Ethiopia ( 1 hr Amharic, 30 minutes Oromifa, 30 minutes Tigrigna programs). And also help any pro-Unity armed group!!
UDJ will revive the struggle!
Justice for All!
United Ethiopia.
God Bless!!!
Woyanne did not come to power through democratic process. In 1991 while decsending from the hills of Tigray region and entering Addis Abeba and the rest of the country, TPLF did not seek the permission of the Ethiopian people if they can occupy the seat of power. They helped themselves instead. They came by brute force and Meles himself never not minced his words in stating that he came by force and by implication will stay by it.
Now to me there is no way that TPLF will relinquish power through democratic means or any other peaceful arrangement. Power is corrupting and toxic and unless there are safeguards built in the political system of the country, those in power will always fight to the end.
In conclusion, you regain what you lost by the same way you lost it in the first place. In other words, if you lost it through ballot box you wait for the next opportunity and try to win. However, if you lost it by the barrel of the gun and violence then you regain it by the same method i.e fight. It may sound sad but truth is not always convenient.
It is not the dedebs of dedebit ( WOYANIE) in power right now. the power is Washington. and Ethiopia is run by none Ethiopian president YAMAMATO (YAMAKUTKUT). WOYANIE is simply the best modern slave to serve the American interest on the horn of Africa.woyanie never had strong power, never have it now and never will have it . that is why the choose to slave themselves to America.
#22 you are right, but do you think it is greater than the people? So,continuous public outrage (‘amets’) is the solution.
UDJP,
Stop saving your coward ass, and start acting. Do not blame others for your fucking failure. Act now and save your motherland.
we have to study first how EPRDF came to power.we have to know the weaknesses of the party…..
Woyane is still in power and will be in power for we have become preachers of PEACEFUL STRUGGLE while TPLF thugs are destroying our national identity.
Hell with peaceful struggle lets do something
I read most of the responses but, did not found the reason why TPLF is still in the power today. The reason is no party or organization is willing to give Ethiopians what TPLF had given them. Let face it, there will never be any Ethiopian government that would promise or give Ethiopians less than what TPLF had given in term of freedom, right of governing self and rule eventhough these values were half given and half controlled. Every Ethiopian party or organization is affraid of promising Ethiopians of more than TPLF, for the fear that the country would disentegrate. Ethiopians do not realize that what disetegrate this country is holding it by force like TPLF doing. Any organization that come up with the real and true federalism where the states govern themselves with no intervention from federal government, and states are accepted to the union based on willingness not corcion would be the golden party and every Ethiopian and ethinic group will accep it. Untill we Ethiopians realize that there is no way Ethiopia and Ethiopians will be govern by strong centralized government after TPLf, the question of “why TPLF is still in power today”? would be arround for a very long time. The answer is let any Ethiopian party come up with a plate form that garrantee the freedom of states governing themselves, realizing the equality of all states, no strong centeral government, and the right to self determination when discriminated then all Ethiopians and states would be more than willing to unite and remove TPLF by any means necessary. Please study the country, the regions and the people’s mood carefully and you will never ask anyone again and you may come to the same conclusion of mine.
Elias,
I suggest you need to modify the question as open-ended. You then can get all the veiws.
This poll does not make any sense. Why? Because those who are running this poll with such a question, I can say, they do not know woyanne at all if this is their analysis. Woyane is the most complicated and evil sprited organization commited to destroying Ethjiopia. Woyane came to power and is in power with the help of anti Ethiopia.
I agree with Dan, they have made the people of Tigry look worsen than the Nazis. Look the hatered they caused amongst all Ethiopians, look the hatered they caused between the people of Ethiopia and Tigry, and the most dangerous hatered between the people of Tigry and Eritrea. If this thugs got to enjoy life they must invent, reinvent, kill, loot, deceit, betray, and so on because there is no SHAME in their little brain; and above all of this look who their masters are: Dr. Frazer and the rest child molesters NGO.
the foundation of their organization is strong and their objectives are also clear.
This is most ambiguous poll I have ever read. Woyen is strong because the opposition party’s try to paint bold their difference rather than uniting for a big purpose and Woyen understand that. Moreover woyane knows that any Ethiopian can be easily manipulated by money. Therefore woyane is paying for cadres to do what ever it takes to keep them safe over their brother. But the main thing that gives power to woyane is our culture and tradition undemocratic nature. Still in 21 centuries our people believes power can be achieved by gorilla fight only.
All of you are wrong. The reason is because there is no strong armed movement to pressure meles to sit down and consider a peaceful movement.
It is the weakness of the opposition party that gave woyanne more extra power.
Let’s take examples:Ato Lidetu has betrayed Kinijit, many divisive tactics that are intentionally made in the Parliament by woyanne cadres more weakened the opposion party.There are other factors also to be mentioned–Woyanne cadres are not visionary and not ready for change,they are running only to fullfil thier needs,they are totally blind about the future the country.
May be we should compare your question with this one, What is the difference between Hitler’s Nazi and Zenawi’s Weyane?
soon or later Zenawi will pay for the horrific crimes he commited on Ehiopians.
Apalabup: If so, howmany states we need? More than 70 states in that country. Didn’t you learn from the 2005 election that the people is in favour of unity with democracy?