By Yilma Bekele
“Why, O my friends, did ye so often puff me up, telling me that I was fortunate? For he that is fallen low did never firmly stand. – Boethius, The Consolation of Philosophy
When the prison guard shouts: Dead man walking! You step aside. The guard is warning people that the inmate walking by is on death row and he has nothing to lose by killing you. You just step out of the way and let the dead man keep his date with destiny.
The President of Sudan General Bashir is a dead man walking. He has a date with the International Criminal Court (ICC). A year ago ICC warned the General that his actions in Darfur were a cause for concern. Human Right watch put him on notice. Amnesty international said Al bashir was abusing his authority.
General Bashir was intoxicated with power. The General with the brain of a foot solder was not in any mood to listen to reason. He told his army full speed ahead. Scorched-earth policy of raping, killing and destroying villages was in effect. Why would he listen to a bunch of ‘liars’ bent in tarnishing his image?
He has friends. He is famous. He is the president of Sudan. He doesn’t have to listen to anybody. He has always said the western colonialists are out to get him. So what if they complain? General bashir is smart. Now that he has oil, he is rich too. They want his oil and those greedy westerners will not lift a finger against him. Especially since his newfound friends the Chinese are not concerned with such trivia as Darfur or human right he is safe. That is right he will play his Chinese hand no one will touch him. Not to mention that he is also surrounded with good honorable friends. No one can ask for better criminal neighbors than Eritrea, Ethiopia, Egypt and Libya.
So ICC in its slow and deliberative process went ahead gathering information, interviewing victims and buttressing the case. There was no hysteria here. ICC knew this process couldn’t be hurried. Accusing someone of genocide, torture, and human rights abuse is a grave matter. Warning shots were fired for those who can hear. Close friends of the tyrant were briefed. The media was kept in the loop. Al Bashir due to his unsurpassed ability to bully the Sudanese people was not to be bothered by some prosecutor in far away Europe.
The African Union and fellow tyrants were recruited to warn the ICC of the dire consequences if an indictment was returned. Delegates were sent to European capitals to explain how democracy works in Africa. The Ethiopian Foreign Minster appealed to Turkey to stop this process. It was said that Africans have their own solution and it cannot be hurried. In the mean time Al Bashir kept busy by denying the scope of his crimes, accusing the court of lack of jurisdiction and insulting the prosecutor as unrepentant colonialist hell bent on interfering in the internal affairs of Sudan.
Thus, on march 4th. 2009 ICC issued an arrest warrant for Al Bashir. The charges against the tyrant include:
1. five counts of crimes against humanity: murder; extermination, forcible transfer, torture, and rape;
2. two counts of war crimes: intentionally directing attacks against a civilian population as such or against individual civilians not taking direct part in hostilities, and pillaging.
So where do things stand today? Al Bashir is squirming like a cornered rat. He has showed his defiance by visiting fellow tyrants in the neighborhood. He has expelled NGO’s and aid workers from Sudan. The indictment still stands. The ICC has threatened to add new charges regarding his expulsion of aid workers. Al Bashir is vainly trying to show the support he has in Sudan by ordering, bribing, threatening the people to come out and march in his support. Too little too late.
In an interview with the BBC this is what fellow tyrant Meles Zenawi has to say:
Question: Why are African Union leaders turning a blind eye to the suffering going on in Darfur?
Zenawi: Well clearly there is in justice in Darfur and the AU recognizes that. But there are different methods of addressing injustice. There is the type that we saw in South Africa and everybody aggress that the apartheid system in South Africa committed crimes against humanity. Nobody I know of had opposed the African method of restorative justice and I do not see any reason why similar approach cannot be followed in Darfur. The thing is the crisis in Darfur is primarily a political crisis it is not a humanitarian crisis.
Question: You talk about the reconciliation process of what happened in South Africa but Darfur is a war crime and the war crimes trial suggested by the Sudanese government is a bit late in the day isn’t it?
Zenawi: Well the African Union is suggesting the indictment be differed for a year so that an already complicated peace process does not get more complicated….
You see what I mean. This is a perfect example of mixing apples and oranges to cloud the issue. The reconciliation process in South Africa took place after the Apartheid regime gave up power and authority. The De Klerk regime saw the writing on the wall and moved aside. The reconciliation process was put in place by the newly democratically elected government. Thus, to suggest such a process in Sudan while Al Bashir is in power with his army and security intact is bizarre and self-serving. Even in the South African process there were those that mentioned the weakness by pointing out that justice should have been a prerequisite for reconciliation rather than the alternative to it. Ato Melese’s so called ‘African method of restorative justice’ is another version of ‘revolutionary democracy’. It sounds cute but it is hollow inside.
Another proposal floated by the AU is to ‘differ’ the indictment for one year. I guess this is what you call not ‘unclear on the concept’. You just do not indict and un-indict at will. The indictment took place because there were irrefutable facts that showed a pattern of criminal behavior by the individual. You cannot put the genie back in the bottle. People have died, some have been maimed for life, villages have been burned and lives have been disrupted. You cannot undo the damage. What the Africans are saying is the tyrant has killed half a million so let us not upset him further so he does not kill more. It does not work like that.
This sort of suggestion arises due to the practice of using the courts for political ends in most of Africa. If memory serves us right that is the game the Ethiopian regime plays. Kinijit leaders were indicted for attempted genocide, attempt to forcefully overthrow of the regime and other charges. There was no proof, no witnesses and no case but it did not stop the regime to carry out the judicial theatre for two years while the opposition leaders were kept in jail. The two years gave the regime time to disrupt the party, exile it opponents and murder elected leaders. Ato Meles is asking a ‘deferral’ for a year so Al Bashir can do some more house cleaning.
Genocide Watch is calling on UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to investigate Meles Zenawi regarding atrocities committed in Gambella, Awassa and Ogaden. The massacre that took place after the 2005 election is still waiting for resolution. As was the case with Al Bashir the ball has started rolling.
The recent confiscation of coffee in collusion with the so-called ECX is further crime against our people. I see dark clouds hovering over the TPLF Empire. The danger of indictment, the inflation, the economic meltdown, lack of foreign currency reserves and general lawlessness in the country is a clear indication of a crumbling system on its last legs. The criminals are watching each other closely. There are those prone to panic and abandon ship. There are those who are unwilling to take the rap for crimes of the politburo. There are those ‘teletafe’ organizations nervous that they will be the first ones to be thrown to the hyenas at the first indication of trouble. That is the problem with criminal enterprises. It is each to his own. We are familiar with the actions of TPLF. No one is indispensable. As sure as the sun will rise up from the East tomorrow morning, Ato Meles will join Al Bashir in The Hague soon. I believe he is a dead man walking.
11 thoughts on “Dead man walking”
Ato Yilma Bekele said “No one can ask for better criminal neighbors than Eritrea, Ethiopia, Egypt and Libya.”
“Criminal”?????
Can you tell us why Eritrea is a “Criminal” neigbbor as you stated above? My comments will follow upon receiving some explanation from Dr. Yilma….
Mr al-Bashir has achieved what he wanted, undermining the ICC’s authority. Yet while he crows and postures, he may have overplayed his hand and galvanised the opposition. […]
The ICC indictment was never going to fix Sudan’s problems. It was a judicial response to criminal action and should be seen, and respected, as this, rather than as a cure-all for the political diseases afflicting Africa’s largest nation. To suggest that it should never have been issued for fear of upsetting Mr al-Bashir is as ridiculous as to suggest that his arrest would end Sudan’s crisis.
But the Arab League and African Union should hesitate in trumpeting their support for Mr al-Bashir and their denouncement of the ICC, and instead recognise the severity of Sudan’s problems.
History may not be kind in remembering their gratuitous display of loyalty for the Sudanese President, which may be contributing to a meltdown that will involve dismemberment of the country. The impact of a widescale civil war in Sudan would be felt by all. Its neighbours would feel it worst of all.
Elias or for that matter anybody please give every information you know for the human right office or people if you have any information about the criminal Meles or about his Mafia members do not hesitate to inform instead of talking later do it right now don’t waste time, the time is now to speak if not now stay silent forever. Please Elias make contact with every person you might think he or she will help this case against Meles.
Quote:
“Another proposal floated by the AU is to ‘differ’ the indictment for one year.”
I think the word is ‘defer’ meaning to delay or to postpone.
good insight mr. yilma
The Justice Train
Oh, ICC the justice train
Please go through Ethiopia before Sudan
Carry off first the weighty burden
The culpable heavy stone
It leashed fear and hopelessness
It has beaten to death countless
It feels like the Justice train is on the mission
Genocide and deception on the run
The criminals are acting strange
Rambling around as if they do not scared
Only God and they know
How fast their heart is pounding
certainly our broken heart thrilling
Please come soon ICC the justice train
We have been waiting for so long
For you to take away the criminal
Who are always profane and wrong
Day and night, we pray to God
in order that injury and suffering will come to end
Oh, ICC the justice train
Please go through Ethiopia before Sudan
The International Criminal Court (ICC) may have issued a warrant to arrest al Bashir of Sudan for crime and genocide against humanity, but this warrant-arrest does not mean death for al Bushier, and al Bashier is still alive and well just like his friend Meles Zenawi is alive and well; therefore, the “Dead man walking” by Yilma Bekele is not the right or perfect analogy; it is just a wishful thinking.
It seems to me that Mr. Bekele is ridiculing that once a person is dead will never walk again, and once al Bashir is arrested, he will never be free again.
As to the dead people walking again, I will give my readers four examples:
1. The Shunammite’s son died because of severe headache; however, the Prophet Elisha restored the dead boy to life and he walked again. (2nd Kings 4:8-37)
2. When the Israelites were burying a man, all a sudden, they were attacked by the Moabites so the Israelites threw the dead man’s body into Elisha’s tomb. When the body touched Elisha’s bones, the man came to life and stood up on his feet, and he was seen walking again. (2nd Kings 13:20-21)
3. A certain woman by the name Tabita died and “her body was washed and placed in upstairs room.” Then when it was known that St. Peter was in Lydda, he was asked to come to Joppa where Tabita was living. Peter came in, prayed to God, and brought Tabita to life again, and she was walking again among her friends. (Acts 9:32-42)
4. Lazarus was dead and buried for four days, but Jesus brought him to life, and Lazarus was seen walking and enjoying life with his Jewish friends. (John 11:38-44)
Here we see again and again that dead bodies walking and enjoying life, so we should talk the reality that the dead bodies indeed will walk again as the author of the article thinks it is impossible for the dead people to walk again. In abstract terms, we are all dead, and yet we are still walking, working, laughing, and enjoying life on this earth.
Mr. Bekele further says: “I believe he is a dead man walking.” The truth is he is not dead yet; we are not dead yet, but in the final analysis, we are all dead, and we are dead people walking and waiting for Jesus to come and give us eternal life, never to die again.
I have seen many times the ” Ethiopianreview.com ” interfering with the Sudan’s internal affairs instead of concering with it’s own Ethiopian huge matters. I as a Sudanese man, i believe that the so called “ICC” is nothing than the white man’s law on others. Omar Al-Bashir is not a “dead man walking” he is a life and he will remain a life among the all Sudanese peoples. We will defend our country and our heros from any harm and historically unfriendly neighbors.
Wad El-Madani, Sudan
What does Abduljalil mean by saying ” unfriendly neighbors ” ? If some individuals like Mr.Bekele or a group like ” Ethiopianreview.com ” interfer with other countrys internal affairs do they represent Ethiopia ? I dare say NO. They only represent themselves and will be responsible for what they have done or written. Ethiopia and Sudan are not unfriendly neighbors, they were friendly neighbors for many years and it will continue in future in spite of some odd jounralists and individuals who do not know what they write and what they leave. Mr.Abduljalil must look to the majority and friendly Ethiopians rather than looking to the hand full odd Ethiopians who are acting as if they are siding the ” ICC ” .
My dear Abduljalil Al-Gazi (#6),
We Africans are one family, one nation under one organization – OAU – so that Ethiopianreview.com is free under the Freedom of Speech to criticize, scold, denounce, disparage or praise, appreciate, admire, and exalt any leaders on this planet, especially any African heads of states for their wrong doings or for their good leaderships.
In this case, Sudan, our good neighbor, is not an exception from being criticized for the disproportional tragedies its leader al Bashir brought intentionally upon the Black Darfuri, our brothers and sisters.
As your close friends, the Ethiopians have the privilege to amend their friends’ leader’s bad leadership on the Darfuri; in the same way, the Sudanese have the right to denounce our dictatorial government, because Sudan’s concern is Ethiopia’s concern, and Ethiopia’s concern is also Sudan’s concern.
I’m sure you know that well-known African saying: “To raise a child, it takes the whole village.” Therefore, to make our continent perfect, we Africans must work together believing in the word “interference’’ and avoiding its antonym “aloofness” or “indifference.” We should not avoid the word “interference” during the time of adversities; as you know, we Ethiopians have political crises, and we need help from our neighbor, the Sudanese; we don’t mind if Sudan interfere in our political turmoil and help us correct this upheaval we are facing under Meles Zenawi.
The world knows that Sudan also has the same problem, may be more severe than the Ethiopia’s problem because of its oppressive dictator, al Bashir who intentionally allowed the Janjawits Arabs to slaughter thousands of innocent Black Darfuri, and the indictment by the ICC against your leader is justified: the two dictators, al Bashir and Meles must go and let the Sudanese and the Ethiopians once again be free from the tyrannies of these two countries’ dictators.
So, the word “interfere” should be fully practiced by all African people with full measures of exposing one’s internal conflicts, internal affairs, internal sufferings, internal economic growth and decline, and the whole political systems to the neighboring states and for that matter to the whole world.
The way Ethiopia interfered in the Somali’s internal affairs was not a friendly interference; it was not an interference to satisfy or help the Somalis but to fulfill the desires of Washington – to destroy terrorism.
Had we interfered in the ethnic clashes between the Hutu and Tutsi tribes in 1994, we could have easily avoided the Rwanda Genocide. We shut our mouths and said nothing about it because of the doctrine of political interference in other state’s internal affairs.
Finally, as Africans we should not put power into the hands of one person for unlimited time; we have to rise up and bring down any African leader who believes in one party and refuses to give up power to the opposing party. To do this, we should interfere in the internal affairs of any African country and help our people become independent and prosperous.
Of course he is “YEMIRAMED ERESA”