Heated, but important, debates are currently raging inside the Unity for Democracy and Justice Party (UDJ) on the future course of the organization. There are major disagreements among the top leaders of UDJ, which is formed by leaders of the Coalition for Unity and Democracy (Kinijit) after being forced by the Meles dictatorship in Ethiopia to change their name in order to be able to legally operate inside the country. Some outsiders try to characterize the disagreements as power struggle. But it is not as simple as that. According to ER sources, the debates evolve around the question of how to move the party forward, in light of its inability to freely operate inside Ethiopia.
Ethiopian Review’s recommendation to the UDJ leaders is to follow their secretary general’s lead and officially suspend all their operations inside the country. The head of finance, Dr Befekadu Degifie, has also resigned last week, since it is currently impossible to operate as a genuine opposition party in Ethiopia. Prof. Mesfin Woldemariam made it known this week that he will no longer be in the leadership of the party. More high level officials are expected to take the same measures. If the rest of UDJ leaders intend to continue to operate inside the country under the terms dictated to them by the Woyanne fascist regime, they would only be serving the interest of the Meles crime family, and not the people of Ethiopia.
Suspending operation doesn’t mean disbanding the party. The party can continue to exist, but until the Woyanne repression ends, it should suspend all its activities, as well as withdraw its application from the illegitimate Election Board. If UDJ engages in any activity, it should be trying to convince the other parties who claim to be opposition to also suspend their operation in protest of Woyanne’s repression. UDJ and the other opposition parties inside Ethiopia are not going to bring any change. Woyanne will continue to use brute force to stop them. In fact, their only use right now is to give Woyanne legitimacy. They are not serving the interest of the people they clam to stand for by giving legitimacy to the brutal dictatorship.
When Birtukan Mideksa and the other leaders of Kinijit (now named UDJ) returned to Ethiopia in September after their U.S. and European visits, they were widely popular. Right now, no body cares about what they say or do. They have not been doing much to begin with, other than holding endless meetings and begging Woyanne to give them legal status, in the process humiliating themselves and the people of Ethiopia. As a result, their popularity has now plummeted. They have expended all their political capital on a futile effort to get legal status from the Woyanne-controlled Election Board. If they think otherwise, they are only fooling themselves, not to mention insulting the intelligence of the Ethiopian people.
In addition to officially announcing their suspension of operations inside the country, the UDJ leaders need to inform their support groups abroad that all of them are free to decide what to do next. This will allow many of the Kinijit support committees around the world to rally around Ginbot 7.
Ethiopia is currently in extremely desperate situation. This is the time to think and act fast. This is the time to take drastic actions to save our country from falling apart, and her people from dying by the millions. This cannot be done without a strong and decisive political leadership.
Ethiopian Review urges all Kinijit supporters in the Diaspora who understand the extreme severity of the situation at home to join Ginbot 7 and help it become a strong force that will use any available means to remove the cancer that is eating away our country. Any thing short of doing that is failing the people of Ethiopia in this time of despair. The people of Ethiopia need a strong political leadership that will bleed and kill Woyanne, not beg and kneel down to Meles and Sebhat.
Our political leaders need to always put themselves one step ahead of Woyanne, instead of always reacting to what Woyanne does. Wzt. Birtukan and colleagues will be remembered as heroes if they outsmart Woyanne at its own game. What they are doing currently is not smart at all. If they continue on their current course, they will be totally discredited as political leaders.
Meanwhile, Ethiopian Review repeats its call to Ginbot 7 to take the following steps in the fight to save our country:
1) Form a transitional government in exile with OLF, ONLF, EPPF, and TPDM as soon as possible.
2) Bring the military forces of the OLF, ONLF, TPDM and EPPF under one military command that will operate as Ethiopian National Defense Forces.
3) Establish a diplomatic relation with Asmara without any further delay, which will send shivers down Woyanne’s spine. Don’t even waste time to explain to the fools why it is necessary to take such a step. Millions of our people are dying horrible deaths at this very moment and there are some dunderheads who still want to pick and choose who to work with to save our people in this hour of despair.
Smaller political parties, the media, and civic groups, such as Tatek, Hibre Hizb, Tegbar, Gasha, Kinijit support groups, Kinijit Youth League, and others need to come under the Ginbot 7 umbrella.
This is not a time for debate. It is a time for action to save our people from holocaust.
Hopefully Birtukan and friends will make the right decision this coming Saturday when they will meet to decide their party’s — and their own — future.
26 thoughts on “Birtukan and colleagues need to be a step ahead of Woyanne”
Dear friends;
There is no way to deal with Woyane.The only languege which they can follow is “gun” They had innumerable chances to deal with the opposition / Ethiopians but they were/are not ready to listean the voice of the mass. They are still busy with the moto of divide and rule. Lets get together and show them the muscle of our unity. let them bleed economically (don’t buy from their buisenss), lets hulp the armed struggle. Unity in all fronts to get rid of them. The political role of UDJ is unclear let them unite either to Ginbot 7 movement or Hailu hawels party
Debate is an important tool to assure internal democracy.Disagreement or resignation of members is not neccessarily a sign of disintegration of the party.
I would sugest UDJ to stay around the people of Ethiopia instead of disappearing eventhough there will be no significant progress.Staying visible ofcourse serves the regim but more importantly it serves the people.
In case of the down fall of the dictatorial regem ,at least we will have people ready to lead the future and avoid destabilization.
It is very important to note that stability cannot be achieved unless there is an organized group to take over power.Once stability is lost Ethiopia is lost,we can’t regain stability in a nation severly divided for the last two decades.
The down fall of the current regem will cause an automatic rise of sessationists (OLF,ONLF etc)
Not only UDJ but UDF,Oromo Federalist Movement,Oromo National Congress and so on should stay visible under any circumstances.
Elias
What do you mean when you stated “Ethiopian Review’s recommendation to the UDJ leaders is to follow their secretary general’s lead and officially suspend all their operations inside the country” are you indicatting let them just seat at home and do nothing? or you proposal has another alternative.
Could you explain ?
Thanks
elias /your statement of suspending the struggle inside ethiopia is uncalled for .you do not necessarily have to cock a gun from asmara to win woyanne .there are many stratrgies they can consider to bring him toa negotiating table .let us be optimistic and always try to see the positive side as well.you are a good contributor and editor but some time you go overboard
mr Elias, i am not agree with your recommendation to UDJ’s officials to suspend officially all in sider struggles. Should they sit by putting their hand one over the other and allow for weyanes the playing ground alone? I think ethiopians in diaspora must push more diplomatic pressure to USA’s puppet melese. Melese must get one call from his bosses [ from USA or eu]. and then he will allow them to operate . But resignation from the struggle is not the solution. They must stand by w/t Birtukan.
At this point of time there is no one best way to overthrow the meles group. We need several ways, political, economical, gun, peaceful, legal, civil disobedience, etc. we need all because one way is not enough. Since some of the former officials of Kinjit give up on the so called “peaceful and legal struggle” I will say them congratulation to wake up, but at the same time I believe we don’t have to blame the rest of the people who are still believe in “legal and peaceful struggle”. Let them try, we have to respect people opinion and choice. Pleas let us not fight on issues like this. Different people my have different ways to follow, but one-way or other, the goal should be one and one. Justice, peace, democracy, freedom, economical growth, in Ethiopia . To see that in our country we have to fight meles and his groups in any ways we can. Not only in one way. Please let us not say “my way only”. Let the debate with this group go ahead, then people who say the “the legal and peaceful struggle is still have the chance” let them unit with Eng. Hailu group and try their best with their way. In other opinion, those who say we give up on that, let them join their friends. By doing that UDJ group at least makes clear for the people that the former kinjit has now has at least two different opinion at this point of time. So we will not be confused with different kinjit groups, things will be clear in two different gora. This is just my opinion as one Ethiopian.
I completely diagree with your idea that UDJ’s activities in the home front should be suspended. I know you intentionally pose controversial remarks at times, but your recommendatin is ill-advised and not a well-thought idea. You need to encourage any form of struggle, peaceful or otherwise, waged agianst these bandits that are selling and dismembering our beloved country.
May God bless our country
Thank you Elias for creating opportunities for people to exchange ideas. I have some points on this specific agenda and a little beyond.
I think it is good that they debate. They can come up with wonderful ideas. They also have to discuss with other opposition groups with open-mind.
I believe, the most ideal scenario could be to use different starategies and bring EPRDF to a negotiating table. That will yield win-win for all groups including EPRDF and would minimise any bloodshed. EPRDF has always been using the same hate propaganda and ethnic politics when it is challenged (their dirty propoaganda post-2005 election is a good example). At some point they may come back to their senses and realize that hate propaganda and the unhealthy part of ethnic politcs would be a benefit to NO ONE. Mind you, EPRDF could have won the hearts of all Ethiopians if it has promoted unity rather than the PM’s “risk of disingeration” and similar phrases. Pretty the same if they could have addressed real problems of ethnic groups rather than using ethnic politics beyond the limit to didvide the people. I wonder what type of political advisors he had. Yet, I believe that it would be a modus operandi if they are involved in undoing the mess they have done all along.
So, it is good if diffrent strategies are used and EPRDF is brought to a negotiating table. For that to happen, whoever has the vision to come to power should learn to avoid revenge mentality and hatred against the past rulers (including EPRDF) and other opposition groups. Revenge, ethnic politics (I mean the unhealthy part of it) and carelessness for the concept of united and strong Ethiopia are the three weaknesses that made EPRDF to be in the same state in all the years from 1991 through to 2008. Unstable throughout. Always struggling to stay in power. They did not realize that they could not get a development agent of any sort in whose mind is installed some kind of hatred. Even if the hatred is towards the DERGUE, it doesn’t matter. A citizen who harbours hatred of some sort will not have the orientation to be innovative and work for devopment. And it is easier for a hate loaded person to easily divert his hatred to his bosses. I think it is because the leaders of EPRDF are hate-loaded that they could not inspire their subjects to love them. It is natural that if you love your people, they will love you. As Meles always came to ETV screen ‘yetelemedewin hate propaganda lemalazen’ he could not inspire an iota of love towards him (unless some peole are loaded with a hatred that is exactly the same as Meles’). If he is always highlighting about DERGUE and NEFTEGNA, does he consider the people stupid enough not to understand what his regime is also really doing?
EPRDF has also to understand the fact that the hatred agaist it minus any association of EPRDF to any ethnic group could serve quite well to demolish EPRDF. Alas, they have trained our people how to use that bad politics. I would have loved if they have been promoting the use of harmony, mercifulness, unity…. and ruled Ethiopia for many years rather than just one week the way they did thus far.
Thanks.
one thing i admire about brother elias is that he has consistent messages unlike others.i am not a politician ,but some of his comments and proposition seem to tend very radical.in my opinion, this brother has a potential to lead ,thus we should give him a chance to express what is in his mind.he should be regarded as a true ethiopian who tries very hard to bring change in ethiopian in spite of his controversial views.at least he has served his people using his God given talent.i used to be cynical about his views and comments ,but now i understood very well his mission which is to put his country first.
I agree with the comments of Biniam. Which seems logical amid its some shortcomings.
May our Lord (Allah) help us in evicting these evils from our land!!!!!!!!!
thx Elias for taking this issue again .we have aready disscuse about this in Paltalk and a lot of peopple are with you belive me. i was a Big supporter of Birtukan Mediksa up untill now but this days i am starting to forget about even her existence . this so called peacefull staruggel is killing our country and destroying our moral /
This is an excellent idea that will save the country from further social, economic and political crises. Let us all give our hand and support to Ginbot 7. Lut us hope other oposition parties will also choose and join this rout as they come to realise the Meles tactics. God bless the work of our oposition leaders and the people.
Thank you Elias,
as you have mentioned it, we do not have time to talk about a peacefull struggle at this stage of very bad time. i personally agreed with your idea. let us organized and support the armed struggle. i believe this will be my last option to fight the enemy.
egziabhere amlak Ethiopian yebarke!
udj need to organize civil disobediance in addis and the rest of the country.That is the only way to fight.Lets organize and say enough is enough
Ato Elias, I beg to defer with you on this point. Let every individual join the party or the movement he/she feels comfortable with so far as the end goal is to kick out the monstrous weyane regime.
We should respect other peoples’ choice.
WHAT WE SHOULD BITTERLY OPPOSE TO IS INSULTS AND NAME CALLING OF INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE TAKEN DIFFERENT STANCE FROM OURS. LET’S STOP BLAMING ONE ANOTHER FOR THE SPLIT OF KINIJT AND RATHER FOCUS ON THE BURNING ISSUES AT HAND.
ESPECIALLY, I APPEAL TO OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN THE DIASPORA TO DESIST FROM GOING ON DEMONSTRATIONS AGAINST THE VERY PEOPLE WE WERE CALLING OUR HEROES JUST RECENTLY AND BRANDING THEM AS BANDAS, ANJAS, ETC…. IT ONLY MAKES US A LAUGHING STALK OF THE WEYANES AND THEIR CRONIES. NO OPPOSITION WILL BENEFIT FROM SUCH EMBARASSING ACTS.
LET’S GROW UP GUYS.
Elias,
You never disappoint me. You nailed it. I agree with every word you uttered in this article. UDJ is not going to make any practical progress towards achieving democracy in Ethiopia while it is under the mercy of the brutal woyane. They are rather drying up resources from other potentially effective groups like Ginbot7.
The one point that got me really excited was your suggestion of Ginbot7 forming a gov in exile and forming relationships with Asmara. Brilliant, to put it simply. Not just with Asmara, but with other govs who would be sympathetic to the plight of the Ethiopian people. Establish a formal consulate in Asmara and other dictator hating countries. That would discredit woyanes and elevate Ginbot7 to a prominence. I think that is an idea that needs to be pushede.
Elias, I love you, man. High five!!!
Elias stated:
“Establish a diplomatic relation with Asmara without any further delay, which will send shivers down Woyanne’s spine.” I couldn’t agree more. But, and this is a big “But”, Ethiopians who really care about the well being of the two brotherly (literal meaning) people need to act with out “ifs, ands or buts”. It must be done or accept the responsibility of misery and infighting when organizations that are supported by foreigners like the Weyane would basically get free ride. And I do not believe that is what most Eritreans and Ethiopians wanted!
Which ever way we think for the long term, I think what is crucial now is that every opposition forces should come together and work in cooperation. The opposition should look for common grounds to work in unison at least to topple the Woyane. Forming a transitional government may require lots of changes in the goals of some of the major opposition forces and a high level of maturity among leaders and followers. This seams farfetched. If we have reached that level then that would be an inch from Weyane’s grave. But I do not think we reached that level. I urge the leaders of the opposition to make light of historical costs and focus on the future to oust Woyane and creat better life for the peoples they claim to represent. To do that let us make some concession, look common grounds and create un umbrella that will help us to act as one force.
The other thing is we have to appreciate facts. Opposition forces should try to show the USA how they can be better support its interests in Africa. Americans can not be for democracy always. They preach about it only when it serves its interests. So we can not make American government support the opposition by showing that Woyene is un democratic or how it is cruelly killing the Somalis. Look what they themselves are doing in Iraq, what the Israelis are doing to the Palestinians. Look who the other closest Americans friends are: Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, or Pakistan. All are being run by Dictators or kings. You can not see a shred of Democracy there. But that is OK. It is OK to be undemocratic for the Saudi king in so far us it is willing to regulate oil in the interest of the oil ring among others. It does not matter if the people believe in you, love you and elect you as what happened to Hamas or the opposition in Algeria. You will be condemned and crushed when you stand against them or sometimes when you are found to be neutral when they seek your active service.
So we have to convince the American leading ring that the opposition will be a viable and reliable support to the west interest. If we could also show them that we will be democratic at the same time that would be fine but it is not the first requirement.
For all these we have to play a win-win to one another by coming together in one table and agree on all these. Let us focus on this rather than keeping on forming new parties.
Let us be wise not just ‘Kuru Ethiopiawi’
DEAR ELIAS , I TOTALLY AGREE WITH YOU ABOUT YOUR LAST SUSGESTION TO GINBOT 7, THERE IS NO TIME TO WASTE. WEYANES ARE PREPARING THEIR BAGGAGES. TRANSTITION GOVERNMENT FROM Ginbot 7, OLF,ONLF, TPDM AND EPPF. AND ONE STRONG UNITED ARMY FROM OLF, EPPF, TPDM AND ONLF , WHICH WILL TAKE THE FUTURE RESPONSIBILTY AS THE NATIONAL ARMY. NOW IS THE TIME. ONE STEP FORWARD.
It is true that we may not see the results of what w/t Birtukan and her collegues has done so far.But they are still fighting.What i really don’t understand is this,what is the need of forming a new political party when we already have enough of them.What i think we should have is a strong leader who can unite the opposition parties not the other way around.Let us ask ourselve this same questions,Who are the new so called Ginbot7 leaders?Are they not for some part or even at all members of the former Kinijit party or former different opposition party members.This is not the way you go about to bring change.Please work out your differences before you even announce the creation of a new movement or party.Ethiopia does not need a million opposition parties.Can’t you see the West and European nations.
In other words “Diset Belewawet Wete Ayatafitim Endilu”.Whenever you have a difference of opinion try to solve your problems before running away and announcing the formation of a new opposition party and telling the Diaspora to rally behind it.We had enough.In my opinion if you can’t do the job,give it up to the ones who can.It is making a lot of Ethiopians to give up and loose hope in the process.This will not help bring young generation leaders to the process.So please do your homeworks first.Don’t be “Bemokebet Tetage”.
I strongly believe that the Meles crime family should be brought down by force.If they don’t believe in Ballots they will definitley believe in Bullets.The time is near.
If you want to reach me [email protected]
Selam Brother Elias:
I couldn’t understand the logic of your argument. I am lost …..
The UDJ is currently and actively working to mobilize Ethiopians under very difficult situations. Mind you its leaders could have stayed in the diaspora and live comfortable life like anyone of us. However they showed they courage and love for their country by returning back to Ethiopia, be with the people of Ethiopia and continue the struggle from there.
6-9 months ago Kinijit was alsmost dead. These people saved it and now embodied in the UDJ Kinijit has come back again as a major force. Yes individuals have left the UDJ/KINIJIT. However Kinijit has never been about individuals. It is about the struggle for peace and democracy of the people of Ethiopia.
Saying this let me remind you that all those groups you mentioned that we rallied behind has not offered yet any meaningful solution other than rethorics that we are all tired off.
What we need these days are matured, visionary, practical, an Ethiopia-based struggle.
Regards,
GK.
Let the struggle continue by all possible ways. Those who choose the peaceful struggle path should coninue to do so, although the result is very minimal or mariginal. Resigning from a political party and sitting down idele has no use at all. Those who are fighthing with arms should also continue to do so and Ginbot 7 movement should play a centeral role there.
Befelekew menged ledemocracy zemet
This is not a time to take about a peacefull struagle, that is over. we shoud stand with ginbot 7 and sart strugling by any gun . I think the pepole who are saying peacefull srugle is the only soultion are woyane or they affred the alternative means of srugle.
Ethiopians don’t want to earn freedom for their country and themselves by begging the illegal crimebosses.
Yes, Ethiopians and their lgitimate leaders can win freedom by fighting tooth and nail against the invaders.
As the the invaders collaborated with other enemies of Ethiopia and acted against the security of Ethiopia, and now facing an intense battle against the united forces of Ethiopia, for sure, they will be defeated.
Democratic forces of Ethiopia must continue intesifying the heated battle both inside and outside Ethiopia until the enemy is foced out of Ethiopia and take a detour back to their eternal home, the prision.
I like Win-win idea. We have to accept the rule of the game when we play it. The rules are given. We can not ignore the west or influencial people in the west even when we do not love them – even when we hate them. It is politics and we have to put our national interest first but we have to take the major foreces as given, if we disregard we fail!