By Messay Kebede
Various Ethiopian websites exhibit articles that highly congratulate and praise the achievements of mediators in the long-drawn-out attempt to free the CUD leaders. According to these articles, thanks to the aggressive and unrelenting effort of the mediators, the dreadful outcome of life imprisonment has been reversed into a happy ending. Had such articles appeared only in websites supporting Meles and the TPLF, I would have no reason to share my perplexity, obvious as it is that Meles alone comes out victorious from the ordeal of CUD leaders. Unfortunately, the consensus among Ethiopians opposing Meles and his regime considers the release as a laudable achievement of Ethiopian negotiators.
Let me begin by expelling a misunderstanding: in a previous article, I stated that the desire to humiliate is behind the liberation of the CUD leaders. Several readers reacted to my interpretation with the suggestion that I do not seem to welcome the liberation. Some such reading of my article is anything but accurate, all the more so as I was convinced for quite some time that their continuous imprisonment had lost any meaning. Outside the exposure of their determination not to recognize the kangaroo court, the prisoners were not achieving anything. As dignified as the refusal to recognize was, I had constantly wondered whether the gain was worth the sacrifice.
The continuous imprisonment of CUD leaders would have had a positive outcome if it had led to a deterioration of Meles’s relation with Western governments of the kind entailing the complete cessation of financial aids and diplomatic support to his government. Nothing of the kind happened: after an initial verbal condemnation, the whole drama of the election did not upset for long the business-as-usual approach of Western governments. I don’t know what is required for Ethiopians to understand, once and for all, that national interests, and not what is right, essentially drive nation-states. Haile Selassie made this same mistake when he believed that democratic states will not tolerate the fascist invasion of Ethiopia.
In my previous article, I also indicated that the intent to humiliate reflected the deep and harrowing embarrassment of Meles and his associates following their unexpected defeat in the election. Meles was humiliated in front of the world, he who thought that the Ethiopian masses had nurtured an eternal gratitude to the TPLF for being liberated from the Derg, not to mention the exacting effort he made to appear as a new African leader to Western governments. Alas, now the whole world knows that he is only another dictator in the long list of bouffons parading as heads of states in Africa’s sickening post colonial history.
The sharp depreciation of Meles’s supersized but bleeding ego in his own eyes and that of the world needed some appeasement, which could come only through the attempt to humiliate those who humiliated him. Neither mere imprisonment nor court procedures would give him the much-needed remedy, since in both cases the prisoners would continue to claim their innocence.
What else could wipe out Meles’s deep humiliation but a confession of guilt and a plea for forgiveness? Herein lies the major role of the mediators. For Meles had to make sure at the same time that whatever confession is obtained from the prisoners, it must not seem to be extracted by means of force. Confession obtained by force has no soothing effect on him if only because constraint is devoid of vindicating virtue. By contrast, consent can be inferred both from the process of mediation and the involvement of independent and respected people. Since nobody is openly forcing anybody, the outcome can be construed as the product of free admission. Without free consent, the admission of guilt is not usable for the purpose of rehabilitation.
What this means is clear enough: since only Meles comes out as winner, the mediation was nothing but a scheme used by him to obtain confession of guilt. The involvement of independent and respected people put heavy pressure on the prisoners through the argument that the common good, the prospect of reconciliation alone motivates their effort. How could prisoners who fought for peace and democracy refuse for long the appeal for reconciliation? They would agree to anything rather than reject a goal coinciding with their political agenda of peace and democracy.
What other term than soft coercion can characterize a mediation with such a one-sided result? I have read many comments concerning the release, but I have yet to see what concessions Meles made. Yet, mediation is a two-way street; it results in mutual concessions done for the purpose of achieving a higher common goal.
It could be argued that the mediation saved the prisoners from life imprisonment. This argument has no substance given that the prisoners could have obtained the same result without the mediators, if they had admitted guilt. European or American envoys could have easily broken a similar deal even a year ago.
Shrewdly, Meles encouraged mediation because it is all to his advantage. The direct intervention of Western governments would have further exasperated his humiliation by showing that his government is run, to use his own words, “like a banana republic from Capitol Hill.” His oversensitized ego, quite reminiscent of Mengistu Haile Mariam, would further suffer if the prisoners and the Ethiopian people they represent believed that they owe their liberation to Western pressure. No, if he is to pardon the prisoners, it must not be because of Western governments, but because he yielded to the exhortation of his subordinates. In this way, he recovers his original condescending grandeur while appearing concerned with reconciliation.
The way of mediation is all the more advantageous to Meles the more it refurbishes his shattered image in the West. Let no one be misled into thinking that the timing of the release of the prisoners has nothing to do with American politics. The illegal invasion of Somalia and the ousting of the fundamentalists from power was, no doubt, a calculated risk that Meles took to regain American support. This alone would have been enough to sustain the support of the State Department. But the change of majority in the Senate and the House has complicated the issue by reviving the postponed bill known as H.R. 2003. The only way to stop the bill from being voted on as a law was to give some signs that the democratic process is back on track in Ethiopia. In other words, Meles had to make a significant gesture and he did so by releasing the imprisoned elected members of the opposition.
Both to appease his mortified ego and stop the bill, Meles needed a successful outcome from the mediation process. He faced one problem, to wit, the stubborn refusal of the prisoners. To obtain from them the confession he needed, he was compelled to force them, though not directly. So he instructed his court to expedite the process and sentence the prisoners to life imprisonment. The sentence gave him the upper hand he needed to blackmail the prisoners.
We know the rest of the story: Meles pardoned the prisoners in exchange for their admittance of guilt and their plea for forgiveness. At last he had his revenge for the humiliation he suffered, but also much more since he will appear in the eyes of the West as the leader who for the sake of reconciliation reversed the harsh judgment of his own court and even went to the extent of reinstating all the rights of the prisoners, including their right to continue their political struggle. Clearly, thanks to the mediators, Meles emerges, by all accounts, as the only winner.
One last comment: I heard on the radio the chairperson of the mediating team, Professor Ephraim Issac, justifying the mediation effort in nationalist terms. He finds that what the team did revives the old Ethiopian tradition of conflict resolution through elders while ascertaining the ability of Ethiopians to resolve their own problems without the intervention of Western powers.
To begin with, the fact that the professor is in Washington to lobby against the bill clearly shows the link between the liberation of the prisoners and the discussion of the bill in the House. But more yet, his justification is particularly disappointing because it does no more than kill what he claims to revive. One cannot preach the revival of tradition if its outcome hinders progress.
In many of my writings I have tried to show that one of the tragedies of Ethiopia is that it undertook its modernization without the support of its traditions on the ground that the latter are outdated, if not barbaric. Aware of the detrimental effect of this direction, some Ethiopians scholars, among whom I include Professor Ephraim as a precursor, are increasingly involved in the laborious task of rediscovering and refurbishing the traditions of Ethiopia, which are also the secrets of its amazing survival.
One thing must be clearly stated, however: the revival of tradition is good if and only if it couples with the critical spirit separating the good elements of the past from the bad ones. So that, if tradition is used to retard progress or deprive people of their legitimate rights, it must be denounced with utmost firmness.
As regards the liberation of CUD leaders, the tradition of shimagele has indeed favored one side. We should refrain from hailing its outcome while underlining that Ethiopian history testifies that the intervention of mediators has convinced more than one king to even give up the throne for the sake of the common good. What this shows is that the tradition is invoked for normative purpose even as its actual implementation is distorted. So, for the future, let us make sure that the usage of the traditional way of conflict resolution is firmly harnessed to the cause of democracy, freedom, and collective interests.
Messay Kebede, Professor, Department of Philosophy, University of Dayton (Ohio).
[email protected]
27 thoughts on “Mediation and the mazes of a dictator”
Bravo Dr. Mesay,
I am glad to hear your intellectual opinions, these days, frequently. I hope many will appreciate the shrudness and the poisened chemistry of the Kangaroo court theater of Meles & COs. The main thing is to focus on the struggle to force the dictator to the floor of reconciliation. For this to happen, an all round, consistent and unified effort is of prime importance. Dr. Mesay and others, please come out with with your mighty spirit of those university days.
I will be more than glad if Prof. Efraim Issac and his group revisited their philisophy of “Shimgilina”. Cautious credit to their efforts!
awko yetegna biterut ayisemam ! that’s all what I have to say about the west
On one side, your explanation of the over all only winner with prisoners pardon case is to be Mr. Meles as a notion of implication that is as if the prisoners were at fault to begin with is true, but on the other side, it did not really address the prisoners position and Kinijit’s situation as an effective opposition to continue as effective as it used to be after these situation. My point of view, on the Kinijit’s leadership problem side, I am glad this guys are out to take over the leadership role but I am not glad that Meles humiliated them again by using the traditional method. Doing so, he calculated another opportunity to please his supporters and the West. Like you rightly said it, tradition is a gravity to pull backward in the case of democracy such as on my previous thought different titles but for the same subject(The title H.R 2003 is dead is a discouraging one. You could have expressed your anger in a different way such as ‘we should not quit because of this repeated postponements. This is not a marathon fight. Remember, Woyane is being supported by the U.S government as in any other undemocratic governments in the rest of the World in its foreign policy. To change this policy, it takes forceful campaign to teach the American public and their representatives to change their government policy as the South Africans finally became victorious on turning around the similar problems of ours. The pressure must go on even this seems to be helping Mr. Meles temporarily. One thing Mr. Meles and the ‘Shemagles’ should understand is that democracy and tradition do not always go side by side. Mostly, while Tradition opens for change at a very slow pace, democracy pushes society for change at a faster pace. So, the democratic advocacy groups should not necessarily expect traditional ‘Shimagles’ will help to facilitate their means. That is why Meles’s group is turning to the ‘Shemglina’ politics without real substances for change of minds. In democracy, ‘Shemglina’ should be used to teach the society to get along with a new culture as intruding the old culture in a progressive way and people in both camps should behave in a peaceful manner during this transition. The target of my comment should be addressed to Dr. Ephrame Issaq to act in this manner that is leave the democratic struggle alone, instead, tell Mr. Meles not to be guided under the influence of U.S international terrorism policy. The struggle for democracy continues regardless!). Mr. Mesay Kebede, I appreciate for most of the time you write about Ethiopia with a reservation of one that I still remember you wrote about a decade ago, that is ‘Ethiopia will be better off without a seaport than wasting more efforts to have its own’, if I state it right. Thank you for your thought again. Shumet
It is very easy to write beautiful articles away from Meles’s guns. The TPLF regime could have locked Kinijit leaders just like Seye Abraha for many years.No power would have them out free. Now these elders atleast made themselves as catalyists for their release. I do not find one reason that would benefit Professor Ephrem Issac personally or the other Shimaglewoch.
The Ethiopian people fully appreicate what this Weyane regime is capable of. If Kinijit leaders sign any papers admitting guilty no one would a thinking brain will hold them responsible or see them with shame.
The good prof., I strongly believe is misguided
It is Amazing how Dr. Mesay is SO WORRIED about what the WEST thinks, rather than the release of the prisoners. This leaders have sacrificed their LIFE (Two years) in prison to appease and listen to egoistical Ethiopian Doctors in the WEST preaching about what it should be done in Ethiopia, meanwhile leaving their comfortable life in the WEST. This whole article is about the feeling of the WEST and the ego of the Diaspora Ethiopians who live a guarded and comfortable life, and want to sacrifice the CUD leaders. Enough… If you want go to jail and become a martyr, THEN DO IT YOURSELF but don’t discount the sacrifice of the CUD leaders!
Thank you for deciphering the myth that the traditions of conflict resolutions in Ethiopia by shemaglies are always right. Certainly not in the case of the Kinijit leaders. As much as I am happy with the release of the Kinijit leaders, I am not impressed at all by the spin of the professor telling us the magananimity of the Meles’ government. Meles is a dictator, pure and simple.
I am glad to see that there are people who can read the evil motives of this wtetched dictator. Meles is one saddist personality, who always rejoiced on the agony of others and made fun of people. Colleagues who knew him since his youth days always tell about this deformed personality.
Meles knows that he has lost the support of the Ethiopian people; but he equally knows that he can still present himself as a better stooge to the west. The aftermath of the 2005 elections primarily shattered that false image of Meles. As a matter of fact,the imprisonment of the CUD leaders bothered Meles more than any other person. He initially thought that throwing his opponents in jail would humiliate them and also send a lesson to all other opposition leaders. Contrary to what he thought, it tarnished his image badly and became his nightmare.
As far as my knowledge goes most of the so called mediators had Meles’s blessing before they even started the “mediation effort.” He knew very well that they will serve his interest in no uncompromising terms. That is what has happened. The so called Shimageles served as catalysts to castrate the popular struggle and blackmail these prisoners of conscience. For me the CUD leaders will not do any good anymore as far as being organizers or leaders. They started their mission heroically but concluded it with shame. It will be for history to attest or it would be for them to repaint their heroic name. I am terribly sorry and disturbed by what is taking place after the release of these prisoners.
Dear Professor
Mikir na Buti le setchiwu qelal newu.
Professor,
Your audacity to discredit the CUDP leaders from your safe haven in the West is disappointing, more so that you did it shortly after their release from jail and without giving time what the response of the West will be to the brutal dictataorship of Meles. In my opinion it was wise for the CUDP leaders to ‘accept’ the so-called ‘clemency’ in order to advance the cause for which they had so dearly sacrificed. How many of us would have had the guts to rise up in revolt if their life imprisonment were to hold? Except write articles in protest from our comfortable abode in the Diaspora – which articles will appear on websites to which Ethiopians back home do not have access.That is all.
The Ethiopian people at home are quite smart to appreciate the action taken by the CUDP leaders.
RA
Professor? What does it mean?
I have one simple question for you? What have you done for the last 2 years for the release of the elected leaders and to the people struggle? You mean writing stories sitting in your warm, bread and clean room/office? Ask yourself about your doing first and then blame or criticize others
You are in US and you are a professor. When we are talking about west, symbolically we are talking first about US. What was/is your role regarding the elected leaders/Ethiopian issue with US govt/officials? What have you done while few handful so called Ethiopians in the name of KNA/KIL/KIC paralysing the people struggle back home and in the Diaspora community? Did you try anything practical matching your professor title to stop them? I don’t think so.
We don’t need so called educated individuals to vomit their impractical knowledge on poor Ethiopians. We need any one who can work and bring some practical benefits. If really you are a professor you wouldn’t come to gossip here but you would go directly to shimagle Issac Ephrem who is a professor as you are claiming for yourself, too.
We have more than enough from talkative groups/individuals. We want actions. Each and every one needs to behave according to the expectation. We expect from a professor actions come from a professor. Not a gossip such as I told you so, he did this; she did that or the likes. If really you are up to what you are saying, make contact with the shimagles, CUDP leaders, the GOVT, the people and others involved to the matters rather than too much nonsense talk from your luxury home base. Show us some sacrifices if you have some truth about your saying. Create unity and strength among the Diaspora community started from the area you are living with.
We are tired of bombarded by individuals such like you with stories have no practical meaning. Action professor. We want actions. If professors, doctors, lawyers, teachers, students and the likes are behaving the same way just talking and doing the same thing we are witnessing with disbelieve in the past, who is going to take the responsibility about the country matters? You mean those who are struggling to survive the day and cannot read and write such as poor farmers and day labourers?
Good nightmare pro.
Dear Professor Messay Kelele;
Be happy and satisfied to some extent that these leaders are free no matter how. The whole world knows enough in black and white about the delusional psychopath tyrant, Meles. Above all the “shemagles” have promised to make their own statement at a latter date as to how the mediation went. You are really confused, professor, stop your empty analysis which satisfies no body but yourself. It is all about you, isn’t it? Do you really know what is like a day in Kaliti prison? A million of you would not add up to just one of the released prisoners. You are really a fool to think Meles came out as a winner.
Hi! every opportunist who carried the vision of Ethiopia but delivered fragmentation, end of its sovereignty.
Personally, I hate to write on the e-net- but I am provocked by what I read. The only news I always check is if any ‘belay zeleke’ is born yet. Ethiopia has ceased to exist begining 1991, but got its ‘cancer’- Marxist Leninist theoreticians and militay came to power, as they did a lot of harm to the national interest of the Ethiopia in the name of their ‘militarist nationalism’. Now it is under mafia-clique that needs to be removed by ‘force’ and military resistance alone. If anyone denys this he is
opportunist wants to suck the blood of our childern, mothers, and fathers that is spilling every day at every corner of the nation. The only solution wether we like it or not is armed uprising, not talking or hipocracy.
Meles has told us million times- he is a good critic for the so called pacifist opposition/all responsible for the sufering of this generation since they study scientific communism, maoism,etc. / he said be men!!!
Let us be men!! come on!! Take your arms, keep quite and do your job!
Pretention does not solve Ethiopias problem, does not regain its pride, does not bring the lost teritories, does not bring its ports back- but action. Those of you who think you know better that the Ethiopian peasant – tell the truth- meles needs military action to leave office, nothing else:- no rehetoric, analysis,
peaceful struggle, negotiation, all futile exercises.
Ethiopians have never begged their enemy- they dies
in millions to defend their country, national interests,they were burnt by napal bomb,clustur bomb and war machines- they didn’t preserve our country which is our pride just by talking, begging the mercenary, they dies in dignity. It is incumber upon this generation- of course with silence of the ‘looser generation all above age 55 wether educated or not- that sofocate the world wide web with their old and unupdated methode of struggle- which emphasize talking.
The armed struggle is long over due- let us beyond ‘Meles- and his Eritrean Mafia group in TPLF’. They have hijacked TPLF, so our action should focus on this mercinary grop alone- the tigrean Ethiopian are our brothers who are victims of meles’s hipnosis-they will joing the struggle when they see men!!!Let us do it.
All the talks should be about this nothing more- St–pds!!!!
You have no idea how subtle and smart Meles is in his actions!Unlike those opposition figures who take the circumstances,with fervent enthusiasm or hot “yehager fikir”,as they unfold,he is a rare kind of politician who plans his actions(whether you like’em or not)very well ahead with cold-blood.And he can also implement his plan with a razor sharp focus on the end objective he set.I guess that is what the Derg and currently the naive opposition(at home and in diaspora as well) could not overcome with their bare hands and minds.
You can’t win the EPRDF with your postmortem diagnosis of situations everytime something happens in ethiopia.Now,even if I think both sides have won from this mutual arangement of seeking apology and giving pardon,it seems that Meles has won the whole case on these points:
1.He has already held them in jail for almost two years…meaning that they have already been partially punished.
2.They have admitted their guilt and nobody is now going to look for any other culprit about the post election violence and death of many.
3.He has bought some time and space,free of hassle and disturbance from the violent local opposition,to reform his stance on the very reasons that caused EPRDF’s utter failure in the elections in Addis and other urban areas.
4.He has shown magnanimity as a statesman by arranging their pardon.
5.A reconciliation has taken place free of external pressure.He must be proud to have resisted foreign interference but finally gave in for local mediating elders.
the list could go on…
What is left as a challenge for the CUD is not the issue of EPRDF but their own differeces.What kind of kinijit has such a fierce antagonism as we see in these five or more factions CUD currently has(two in diaspora,Ayele’s temesgen’s kinijit,the kality)leaders…).
Take care.
I totally I gree with the write. Melse is the real winner here. Melse did not have any choice but to release them but the shrewed perpson that he is. He did it in a very smart way using this so called shemagles. These are innocent people who should have not been in jail in the first place thus its EPRDF who should have come out asking for mercy if these were real Shemagles.
Dear Tassew,
as far as i understand this issue,
Pro. Messay don’t blame that the miditor didn’t do a good job. Even though the CUD Leader are now released,they were forced to sign as if they were guilty for the crime which they have nothing to do with.
I think the role of the midiator should be find a solution in which both side can live with it.
Although I was pleased by the release of the CUD leaders, I hated to hear professor Ephrem Issac chanting that Zenawi is a very good leader. Did he forget that 193 protesters were killed following the May 2005 election?
Hi Prof. Messay
U know what, u could be a good professor and writer. Still u may make mistakes. No one is perfect after all. Regarding the release of CUD, personally, I am so pleased so whatever the reason could be. We all know that, the west is in favor of meles and even without the west still Meles can do what ever he wants through the recently emerged countries like China, vietnam, India, Mexico, Brazill, Arabs, etc. Thus, it is waste of time to focus in this globalized world help from west as they don’t mind us economically as well Meles knows there are ways to go other than west. I owe great respect to Prof. Isaac and Haile for their efforts to free CUD leaders. I believe this is a good start for any body in the diaspora to work with Prof Isaac and other concerned people to solve our problems by our own. We all know that their is no way to achieve democracy by gun. If one ethnic group come to power by force, for sure their would be disproportionate in power and other stuff and hence another decades to the next ethnic to come to power. I don’t know if I am right, the diaspora should use this chance to talk with the government and work on all necessary technical and socila issues to boost our country economy. See china. No democracy. Still, the diaspora works hand in hand with the government to boost the economy. I am very much sure, we got sufficient number of educated people in any field u name it to support our country. The issue here is how the diaspora works with the government without political involvement. Through time, change will come. Otherwise, fleeing towards abroad doesn’t help to the people. Talking a lot got nothing to the development of the country. A little action is much more than talking and writing a lot.
I understand it is hard to do it, however, we need to organize our selves to help the country in all aspects without involving in politics. Change will come latter.
Thank u
Get
I liked the philosophical argument of Dr Messay. As a professor, he is teaching his audience the way it has to be. I dont see any wrong-doing. Do you guys expect Dr Messay and other intelectuals to join a rebel group for armed struggle? I hate such drum of rebelion. It brings nothing but chaos. If you start to stuggle you have to finish it. The CUD leaders have strated the stuggle the way it should be…but finished it in a humilated version…disarraying the future of the kinjit party. I was loughing while reading articles which even are dare enough to say the Kinjit leaders are —the Ethiopian Mandela. A very nasty comparison!!
As much as I admire the good Professor’s thoughts on Ethiopian politics, I think that some of the points he made in the article above are misguided or outrightly inaccurate. The article mentions that the CUD leaders have made “a confession of guilt and a plea for forgiveness”. I have not seen the signed document as of today where they have “confessed” and “pled for forgiveness”. If the professor have read the document, please post it in future articles. It’s only on the government run media where their “confession” has been loudly propagated without the actual document being posted. My understanding is, they (CUD leaders) as well as the government have admitted to “mistakes” during the past election. It’s not just semantics, but there is a huge difference between mistake and guilt. And also, the admittance is from both parties rather than by just Cud leaders. So, when the good doctor said that they could have easily admitted their guilt earlier than later, he’s basing his argument on wrong information (from Walta and the like) rather than actually reading the document signed by both parties. My other point is, when Meles said that, “Ethiopia is not some banana republic run from the Capitol Hill”, the whole drama (the prosecutor’s request for the death penalty, the eventual sentencing of the prisoners to life, and the “pardon” given by Meles and Co) actually proves that Ethiopia (or the current government) is a banana republic that caters to opinions of the Western powers.
“Even though the statement released by the government is different from the agreement reached between the elders and us, it is our belief that the elders will make public the true content of the agreement at a time and in a manner that is convenient to them. “
The first press release by Kinijit’s former detainees leadership.
Signed by Vice Chair woman W/t Birtukan M. and Press Chief Dr. Hailu Araya
—————————-
More arbitration could be forth coming by the same members of THE ELDERS led by Dr. Ephrem or others in the group. Feed back and opinions that have been published by others as well as Dr. Messay’s could be analytical and also assist in getting to the core of what has been in a controversial meditation, and especially after Prof. E. Yishak’s lobbying effort against H.R. 2003.
In my opinion, to over dissect the mediation at this point may not be the right time, although some of the messages sent to the mediators might have served practical awareness to be cautious in their trusted role.
Please leave Professor Messay alone. He is expressing his views freely as he should. It is for reader to argue the facts but calling names is not what should take place here. For me, Professor Messay is very daring and insightful. He has never been one of those king makers but a critical thinker. Messay like anyone else supports the release of the CUD leaders but that is not the issue. He is trying to examine the whole process to see who has benefited from this whole exercise.
Humanity is one thing and rationality is another. The so called Shimageles are not independent and could not have gone to see Meles without his consent. The list of elders has been sent for his approval before they even started their tasks. So be it.
However, they were able to convince the CUD leaders that they would not be released unless they admitted they were at fault and asked for pardon. As far as all of us know the CUD leaders were not at fault and I do not see any grounds for pleading guilt. The fact that they asked pardon when they were never at fault is unacceptable. It might be good for their immediate family members and for their personal life but that does not serve at all the popular struggle.
Do they want to go for another election? They know now that they cannot even go back to parliament even if they wanted. Don’t forget that there are still some defiant and gallant sons & daughters of Ethiopia languishing in the Woyane jails because they refused to surrender and ask for clemency. There are other thousands and tens of thousands who are arrested and their whereabouts are unknown.
The Ethiopian people have stood together and fought for the release of the CUD leaders. Did the people expect their leaders to kneel down and beg for pardon from Meles or did they want them to stand firm and force their release through perseverence? Their lies the crux of the matter.
Leave Messay alone and try to be objective.
Folks.
Here we are again! Dancing at the drumming of the ruthless dictator fox dressed in sheep skin to fool the 80 million Ethiopians and the 10 million Somalis.
Bickering about people who have been illegally captured, illegally jailed, illegally tortured, illegally forced to sign fake self incriminating documents and forbidden to talk about their ordeals and imposed agreeements can not help us.
While we are busy bickering, the dictator is peacefully and proactively planning the next move, and whom to capture, torture and lengthen his dictatorial life span.
We should not be fixed or arrested in our thinkings and let the dictatorial system to manipulate and force us waste our time on his tricks, but go forward and let the struggle continue by any means.
Anyone who is so nostalgic as well as romantic and think that people who have been in jail for two years, tortured for two years, forced to sigh humiliating documents under duress and still under the direct influence and possible manipulations of the dictator will surely come to save 80 miilion Ethiopians is just cheating him/herself.
The struggle need necessarily forge forwards with or without the ex prisoners and independent of the dictator’s influence what so ever.
For the first time I read the real truth about the release of the CUDP leaders. Yes it is clear how the cruel leader used to escape from the battlefield..The SHIMAGLES are really the pretext of the release of the innocents By the way had it not be Meles’s shrewed interest, the Shimagles would not be even given a go ahead VISA…
Looking at some of the responses/reactions to Prof. Mesays articles, it is quite evident that, there is clearly a problem. It looks like there is a gap in mastery of the English language of respondents (or they just gloss over), and probably compounded by the depth of Dr. Mesay’s thoughts/arguements.
For many in the country and outside, it was quite clear that the goverment establishment in power has been out-witted, out-argued, out-smarted, out-shined,out-loved, out-“intellectualed” – you name it – during the election process in 2005. And the establishment and specially the top few who run it, are humiliated, and therfore the urge to degrade/”humiliate”. However degarding is a weapon of the wicked. It does not, fortunately, work on the strong, the confident and the principled.
Let the almighty help us in coming to a proper democratic path.
thank you
I am happy that the CUD leaders are free. I am happy for their family and for themselves. Moreover, nothing could be achieved from their continuous imprisonment. But I am against the interpretation of the release as a political victory and the attribution of the release to the mediators. In other words, let us continue the struggle with renewed vigor and commitment. Victory is to overcome defeat.
I am happy that the CUD leaders are released. I’m sure they did the right thing weighting the situation they are in.
1. The CUD movement is almost paralized in the country.
2. The western countries are not to be trusted on their words about freedom and democracy. Especially, at this moment they go to bed with any one who is willing to help them on their “war on terror”.
3. The CUD international support group has been crippled.
Based on these facts on whom should they count for their freedom and the democratic struggle.
dear prof, thanks for this wonderful and enlightening analysis.keep it up!