In light of the rapidly worsening conditions in Ethiopia, the recently formed Ginbot 7 Movement for Democracy and Justice has a very short time (may be less than 6 months) to prove to the people of Ethiopia that it is serious about getting rid of the Woyanne dictatorship.
ER believes that Ginbot 7 can carry out some concrete actions in the next few weeks and months that could create a great deal of pressure on the Woyanne dictatorship. Some of these actions include:
1) Establishing a shadow government (a government-in-waiting – ተጠባባቂ መንግስት). This is perhaps the most critical step that should be taken by Ginbot 7 if it is serious about saving Ethiopia from the ongoing calamities. Ethiopia’s very survival is now under threat, and the people of Ethiopia are hungry for strong leadership. Unless Ginbot 7 leaders do not have the confidence in themselves that they are ready to take over government, jointly with other parties — or by themselves if necessary — they should not be taken as serious political leaders. (Read more about shadow government here).
2) Initiating dialog with opposition parties such as the Oromo Liberation Front, the Ogaden National Liberation Front, and Ethiopian People’s Patriotic Front that will lead to the formation of a transitional coalition government in exile (TCG). Members of the Ginbot 7 shadow government (government-in-waiting) would play a major role in helping setup the various branches of the TCG, but ministerial portfolios need to be divided up based on agreements reached among the parties that agree to form the TCG. The TCG’s term should not exceed two years, and one of its primary responsibilities should be preparing the country for general elections.
3) While the formation of Ginbot 7’s government-in-waiting and the TCG is underway, Gibot 7, in collaboration with the other opposition parties (if possible), need to call on the people of Ethiopia to prepare for massive nationwide civil disobedience campaigns to pressure the Woyanne junta to lay down its weapons and come to the negotiation table. Once this message gets out, the people will start organizing themselves at the grass root level in small groups, among friends and family members, etc. The fact that Gibot 7 is making such a call to the people would by itself unnerve the already paranoid Woyanne leaders and build up the pressure on them.
4) Ginbot 7, in collaboration with the other opposition parties, need to send a series of messages and warnings to the Woyanne armed forces to turn their back on the Woyanne leaders and start siding with the people. Depending on how well this is done, it could create more pressure on the Meles-Sebhat regime.
5) Ginbot 7, in collaboration with the other opposition parties (if possible), need to setup a tribunal in exile that would prepare the ground work for prosecuting Woyanne leaders, military officers, heads of security services and bureaucrats who are committing crimes against the people of Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa. Members of the tribunal could include Judge Woldemichael Meshesha and others who had investigated the 2005 post-elections massacres in Ethiopia. Ginbot 7 can easily raise the necessary funds for the setting up of the tribunal in exile. Ethiopian Review hereby pledges $1,000 for such a project in the name of Shibre Desalegn.
6) Launch an aggressive diplomatic campaign to convince the governments of the United States, Western Europe, and others to stop their support to the Woyanne fascist regime. But in order to succeed, setting up the transitional coalition government in exile is a must. It is necessary to present to these governments, and the international community, in general, that there is a better alternative to Woyanne.
7) The Eritrean government can play a critical role in the removal of the Woyanne cancer from the region. Ginbot 7 needs to establish, without further delay, a formal diplomatic relation with the Eritrean government and setup offices in Asmara.
The above are just some of the steps Ginbot 7 can take in a matter of few days. We Ethiopians want to save our country from the Woyanne reign of terror and destruction. Are Ginbot 7 leaders ready to step up to the plate?
38 thoughts on “Ginbot 7 has less than 6 months to prove itself”
Armed struggle needs committement,Courage,Patience…..LIB
anything that makes better the current situation in ethiopia
is wellcome. i hope ginbot 7 will have its contribution for betterment not for worse. let’s think the other way, not always armed force. it didn’t take us any where not only in ethiopia but also in africa.
The only way that the people of Ethiopia be free from the the devil Meles rule, We all must fight this mindless monster. This will bring a great happniness to the people of Ethiopa When Meles is being killed by.
First and foremost, it needs to bring all the armed movements in some sort of an alliance or umbrella organization. It has to prove to these parties that it stands for the whole Ethiopian people irregardless of creed, ethnicity, language and religion. Be it from Asmera or wherever, this entity will have to aim to create justice within Ethiopia and peace with its neighbors.
The time has come to throw weyane into the dustbin of history!
I’M willing to sign up when the armed struggle starts!
with the help of GOD the ethiopians will rid of this evils.
Ginbot 7, is formed at the right time, by the right individuals( who can commit themselves),for the needy people,at the critical time. They have courage,carisma, support,time, every thing to defeat Ethiopia’s enemies.They will bring unity, peace,victory and wealth to the people of Ethiopia.That is why we support them from every direction, by any means and from the bottom of our hearts.
God BLESS ETHIOPIA AND GOD BLESS OUR PEOPLE.
it seems time is coming for the freedom of our beloved land from the evils Meles – Sebhat – Bereket (Mergemt) mercenary rule.
May agod be with the opperessed….
No need of armed struggle in support of G7.
My brothers and sisters please stop this blind wishes that woyane will give power back to the people. It will be easier to extract a piece of meat from a crocodile jaw with a tooth pick while chowing.Think the better alternate.
Dear Elias,
Everthing is in critical condition.But be patient not to put presuure of Ginbot7 officials.Otherwise,if we put them all strategic plan on the internet,we will be a loser.Be tactiful and do not try to be recognized as a good planner.Some strategic plan needs patiency and being low profile.If you have new idea,contact the Ginbot7 officials directly otherthan putting all information on the net.Mind you,the Ethiopia enemy has more money and resource than Ginbot7 officials.So we should prepare our self to face this Ethiopia Mafia.My suggestion to be on agenda at this time is to encourage people to donate money.If you have resource and money,I can assure you Woyana will be come vanish into thin air soon.
Everything should be done based on realistic assessement.I think that is what makes the leaders of G-7 movement different and we sholud give them ample time to do their job.For me the priority work should be to reach a consensus with other political groups(OLF,ONLF,Arbednoch gibar…) to come under one umbrella based on a clear obejective and goal and to announce this to the people of ethiopia both in diaspora and homeland.then after the people of ethiopia should start contributing their support to this movement by everymeans to get rid of this devilsh regime which has no morale ground.
UNITED WE STAND
DIVIDED WE FALL
RISE UP RISE UP ETHIPIAN PEOPLE,LETS SHOW THEM WHO WE ARE
GOD BLESS ETHIOPIA
Great move by Ginbot 7, and thank you elias for giving $1000 for the on going process. Yes we need to say no more dictatorship in ethipia. No more weyane. Lets bring our unity. Go Ginbot 7 Go….
What will be diffrent for ethiopia and specialy for the Oppressed Ethiopian Muslims if I sign for the struggel along with other Ethiopians to freedom ?
Elias;
who are you to pass instruction. they have their time frame. i hope they are doing alot with a limited time resource. no hurry Elias
Armed strggle is the last method that should be considered for many reasons that I am not going into now. I do want to see a more democratic system in my country and I want my people and myself to enjoy democracy, but not if it is going to come through war. I would like to believe that we are smart enough to come with ways of pushing EPRDF out of power than fighting with our own brothers and sisters just to get rid of EPRDF.
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Don’t you think it’s too early to give our hearts to Ginbot 7?
Don’t expect Ethiopian will go for third time distruction in the history of Meles, he will kill and will send to jail all people he expected are involving. Don’t talk from outside, go and check the real condition of Ethiopian people. Every Ethiopians by now are thinking about their daily bread, you guys!!!!!!!!!!!u are not thinking properly. Weyane has killed everybody morally and economicaly in the country.
Good luck but I don’t dream another ‘keyshibir, Nechshibir, and Ginbot7’ massakar to Ethiopians. Ethiopia and Ethiopians have got big assignment by weyane, think over agian how we could come to one.
It is a good start. I believe OLF may play a key role in this regard. This is because OLF has a lots of support and its supporters are already working in the vast majority of the Oromiya regional state. The ethiopian military is also has an idea to support OLF. Please come togerther and talk to each other for the betterment of this nation before it gets worest.
there must be visible solidarity with all opposition parties willing to sacrifice for fredom,democracy and human rights under one ethiopia .there is only one ethiopia and its children in various parties must renounce seccession and team up to avoid the woyanne cancer .we need a unifing leadership to create a unified ethiopia with various parties excercising theit civi and democratic rights .
Elias! Now you’re getting on my damn nerve by setting time table. Heck! Are you playing God. I think you to close to what ever you are doing, you are not able to see the big picture for the Eriteria thing is standing in front of, and it may benefit you to step back and reconsider “IF” this is still the Direction you wants to go?
God bless Ethiopia
At any rate woyane will hand over the power to Ethiopia, as Dr. Berhanu has said we’ll use any means to take the power from woyane junta!! What ever it takes , we’ll defeat woyane !!
God Bless Ethiopia!!
While all inclusive government-in exile and more pressure on weyane from within is a welcome approach, Ginbot 7 leaders should ensure that Ethiopia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity remains intact.
Elias!
Don´t open the door for the contra attackers against G7.” Sirotu yetatekut suri sirotu yfetal” endayhon. a simple hurry co-opration is not mean the only way to ride off weyane.
hahah !
Tribunal in exile my Ass !
Deamer! And most of all loser! The funniest thing was the pledged donation of $1000, if we call it donation! $1000 for the fight against WEYANE and co. including the richest black man on earth His excellency Mohammed Al Amudin. But I didn’t know you were so poor. Feel pitty for you.
Niftam “Editor”. You will die moaning. By the time WEYANE is gone either you are dead or chained to your bed in a mental hospital.
LOVE PMMZ!
VIVA WEYANE!
Elias,
I appreciate your initiative. I for one support, especially NUMBER 5. We have to mobilize ourselves to gather all the necessary documents and evidences to brings these monsters to justice. Most of the time when I talk to those who are pro-woyannes and challenge them about the attrocities done by woyannes for the past 17 years, the main thing they say to me is “do you have evidence?” So let get our evidences compiled to a greater cause and fight for justice.
“endih endeteqeledebin ayiqerim”
thx Elias this is what i was saying for the last 2 years i hope they will make it soon than later
i strongly agree with elias idea that we have to look for every opportunity to free our country from the dectatorial regim.but do you really think that it just work out to use Ertrea as our all taking the consideration of sudan and Ertrea.secondly can you give me the detail about an exile govt what are the condition to establish an exile govt.
thank you
One more year!
Let us give Ginbot 7 a year to come up with a shadow government in exile; then we will have two governances in exile: the Patriarchate of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church and the new government of Ethiopia.
Let us not forget that the Church and the state go hand in hand; we should always include the Church as part of the future Ethiopian government. When Ginbot 7 establishes a shadow government, it must recognize the existence of the various faiths in Ethiopia – faiths such as Christianity, Judaism, and Islam, and there must be a convenient place for each of these different faiths in the shadow government to succeed; other wise, it will always remain in shadow like the kingdom of the Crown Prince of Ethiopia in England.
This shadow government must be like John the Baptist, who declares the message of Isaiah the prophet: “A voice of one calling in the desert, prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him….I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire” (Matthew 3:3-12).
The shadow government symbolizes John the Baptist; as John the Baptist prepares the way for the coming Prince of peace by declaring his new ways and rules to the people of Israel, in the same way, the government in the shadow must tell to the people of Ethiopia the new rules, the new way of life, and the new freedom the new government establishes in Ethiopia. We see John the Baptist witnessing that the one who comes after him is more powerful than John the Baptist himself, and he further attests that his (Jesus’) “winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” Can the new government be less powerful than the government in the shadow? The answer is no, because the new government is going to be more powerful than the government in the shadow, and his winnowing fork in his hand means his new supreme authority on his shoulder, and with his new authority, he would clear the mess Meles Zenawi had left behind, and he would gather his wheat – the people in diaspora – into the barn- high post, and he would burn the chaff – the Meles Zenawi’s political gangsters into the fire – Kaliti jail. As the one that comes after John the Baptist baptizes the people of Israel with the Holy Spirit, so also the new government would baptize the Ethiopian people with the spirit of new democracy and the rule of law.
The new government, once it has given the authority by the Ethiopian people, it should not use its power for its glorification rather than for the glorification of the Ethiopian people.
The shadow government, once it is in power, must focus on the main issue that has divided the country into various groups, and that dividing issue has been ethnicity. This shadow government, now transformed into the new government, should never run the country based on ethnicity rather on the needs of each region through its representatives.
The present Ethiopian soldiers are a bunch of bandas recruited mostly from one region, and they do not represent the Ethiopian people; therefore, they must be disbanded and later recruited on the histories of their backgrounds, knowledge, and understanding of the rule of law and democracy.
The Ethiopian people must have the right to own or buy a land for cultivating, harvesting, and selling their crops, and the new Ethiopian government must encourage the Ethiopian farmers to effectively use the land they owe. When there is a draught, the new government must find a way how to conserve the grain so that it could be used during draught time. The best way to solve the draught problem in Ethiopia is to train the farmers to use irrigation and how to grow variety of crops instead of growing mainly tef, maize, potato, wheat dagush, barley, and some vegetables. Ethiopian farmers must find out any crop that goes with each season, and according to each season they must plant their crops; therefore, there will be no hunger in Ethiopia. They must also avoid preparing lavish festivities that completely deplete their entire yearly income; therefore, the new government must educate the Ethiopian farmers how to manage their incomes.
The new government must reverse Meles’ unjustified possession and annexation of Wolkait-Tegedie, Homera-Setit and restore these territories to the Gondar region. Of course, Sudan is not going to give up the fertile land of Gondar it received from Meles Zenawi without a fight, but the new government should not start war with Sudan right away until it has assumed a complete power aver all the Ethiopian people with a sound economy and a good friendship with the state of Israel. We must not forget that we have now over one hundred thousands of Ethiopian Jews who would like to help their mother land – Ethiopia – if Sudan goes to war with Ethiopia about Gondar’s land. Also, it would not be a bad idea to have a strong relationship with the West.
The new government must avoid going to war with neighboring countries: Somalia and Eritrea. Somalia may give a difficult time for the new government because of Somalia’s ambition for a “greater Somalia” by taking the oil-rich area – the Ogaden region. The new government should solve this problem with Somalia diplomatically first, and then it must stationed two or three army brigades at the boarder between Somalia and Ethiopia in case Somalia wages a war against the new government.
The Badime problem must be solved as quickly as possible by giving it to Eritrea, and in its place asking Eritrea to give Ethiopia one of Eritrea’s seaports. In fact, the new government must convince Eritrea by visiting the country and creating a closer economic and political tie between the two countries and finally joining together and living under the rule of one federal government that takes care of the two sister countries.
Finally, the new government must be transparent, open, and frank to all the Ethiopian citizens unlike Meles Zenawi, who secretly made a land deal with the Sudan government without the knowledge of the Woyanne parliament. For example, when the new government makes a treaty or declares war with another country, it should clearly tell the Ethiopian people why it is making a treat or a war with a foreign country.
What is all the rush Mr. Elias?
Ethiopians have been suffering for the last 18 years. It is true that ethiopians have no more endurance to shoulder additional pain and suffering. But the point is by rushing to pre-matured solutions we are risking the long term strategic strengthes of G7.
So what is better? well i think G7 should develop their own SECRETIVE ACTION PLANS, which shouldnt be exposed for the woyanes at all. Of course ordinary people like me can communicate their view points on the matter but that should be made in an orderly manner such as emailing or calling directly to the office of G7.
Coming to the contents of the essay, their are some good points suggested but i dont like the time frame. It is better to be patient and let the movement go through its natural progression!!
Please the editor,
Forget about the old fighters. If the Ginbot 7 strategy is to form an army then the army should be a new, with new vision, strategy and support. The old fighters can have contributions but it doesn’t mean that Ginbot 7 must rely on them. Ginbot 7 army is very large and strong. This is because it represent all the tribes of the country. It represent all Ethiopians. That is why always we say unity is strength. This is the time to have one big, strong army for Ethiopian new democracy. The landlords army or a tribal army is a sign of division, a sign of weakness, and a sign of power selfishness.
Thanks.
well. g7 can play a big role for saving our one ethiopia country. but i think we got let give them a little time to have a good cooperation with other political party which has big demand to be one love of etiopia.
Elias
While I agree with you on items nos. 1 through 6, I have reserverations as to whether item no. 7 is feasible. I am not sure if shaebia is a friend to us in our struggle. Shaebia is afterall after Ethiopia’s natural resources and it is its wish to see a weaker Ethiopia so that it can take advantage of it. So, obviously, Shaeabia used Woyanne to get legitimacy and recognition for Eritrea’s secession and after Woyanne’s use has expired, it just dumped it. I am sure the same thing will happen to Ginbot 7 in the event it becomes successful in removing Woyanne with Shaebia’s help. I think we need take Shaebia as an eternal enemy of Ethiopia and should send a clear signal that we will reclaim our inalienable right to access to the sea whether it likes it or not.
Death to Shaebia and Woyanne, two faces of the same coin!!!
ሚዛን የሚደፋ ሃሳብ የለወም;;
ኢርትራን እንጤቀም የሚለው ጊን
የዎያኒዎች ምክር ናት ኪኪኪኪኪኪኪኪኪ
ተነቓቕተናል ማን ሃሃሃሃሃሃሃሃ
Number 19 statment is made under my nick name. Shame on you! Paid by AlShbab?
Elias,good job, and I hope G-7 party will execute the project to its beautiful end. If they decline, I don’t mind taking this noble and humanly responsibility. Your proposal is stated very well; what else can you do for your beloved country? Remember negotiation requires skill, and the end to inclusive and establish a fair system for the common good.
Elias, what you have to understand is that you are not the one to lead Gibot 7. It is one thing to advice/consult you ideas, but it’s another thing to judge and set rule of the game. So, would you please shut your mouth up and let the new party do whatever they are planning to do? ? ? ?
Please Elias,
Leave ginbot 7.they have their own program and they know how to go forward.So do not disrupt them by giving unnessary comment.Otherwise,if you have briliant idea,start and keep on working in your plan.Do not interfer in other issue especially to Ginbot7.I ma not interested some of your comment and see in 360 degree before commenting something.
Regards
Daiwt from Sudan
guys why did you compare G 7 WITH OLF ,OLF IS FIGHING TO SEPARET OROMYYA FROM ETHIOPIA BUT G 7 IS STRUGGLING TO UNITE ETHIOPIA ,long life for G 7