By Adugnaw Worku
Dear brothers and sisters in the struggle for democracy, human rights, and the rule of law,
I am hereby breaking my self-imposed silence on the matter of the Kinijit leadership crisis. And I am motivated to do so by Professor Mesfin Woldemariam’s recent interviews on Deutche Welle and VOA. I did not want to say anything thus far for two reasons. First, I knew instinctively that the problem was bigger than the explanations given by both parties, and I did not want to speak prematurely. Secondly, I did not want to make an already bad situation worse by adding fuel to the fire. Well, the proverbial genie is out of the bottle now, and I am in a position to express my views based on reliable eye witness account, thanks to Professor Mesfin Woldemariam.
I am quite comfortable to take Professor Mesfin woldemariam at his word. Telling the truth and telling it like it is has been his trademark both as a man and as a professional. And I am certain that he would not misrepresent the truth just before he went for a major surgery. Democracy requires openness, and I have taken my cues from him. I have read and I have heard the attacks against him for being open, and that is the price one pays in Ethiopian political discourse. The alternative is to disengage and do nothing, but that does not help the cause. So, I have chosen to stay engaged and risk the usual response from expected and unexpected quarters. I strongly believe that we should not be afraid to criticize our friends if they are wrong and wrong headed.
I know this runs against the grain of our secretive tradition, but we must overcome it and move on. We can’t talk about democracy at every turn and ignore the rules of democratic engagement. If all we do is criticize those we don’t like and glorify those we do like, no matter what the facts on the ground tell us, we will not be helping the democratic cause at all. Some people are criticizing Professor Mesfin for being open and for telling the truth. I for one applaud him and respect him even more than I have ever respected him in the past. Oh how I wish and pray that we could all catch his dream and determination to chart a truly open and democratic path.
I have followed the current drama surrounding the Kinijit leadership crisis with a great deal of interest, consternation, and dismay. I have read the accounts written on the subject so far, and I have listened to radio and website broadcasts and interviews. But I was still at a loss as to what the real problem was until I listened to Professor Mesfin Woldemariam’s recent interview with VOA and Deutche welle.
On the surface, it appeared that the problem was one of protocol and process, and that is what the protagonists told us at every stop. But the script never matched the realities on the ground, and it has not explained why the Kinijit leaders, fresh out of prison, would engage in such open and risky displays of political gamesmanship on a world stage. It simply does not make sense, and it does not add up. And why did they bring their dirty political laundry across the ocean for all to see and hear? Wouldn’t it be better to resolve their differences before they came, or wait until they return home? What is to be gained by this divisive spectacle?
The public statements made by both sides have been window dressing at best and misleading and unsatisfactory at worst. We now know what the real story is. According to Professor Mesfin Woldemariam, the crisis is caused by personal ambition and power struggle within the core Kinijit leadership. But power struggle for what? Is Ethiopian history repeating itself once again? Oh how true it is that “the more things change the more they remain the same”. Someone else said that “insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expect different results”. Life does not work that way. Wreaking havoc for power and personal gain has been the whole mark of Ethiopian politics, and the current crisis is so familiar, and it fits that age-old profile Ethiopian political tradition. It is high time for a radical, political paradigm shift. Ethiopian politicians of all stripes must learn their role as “public servants” and recognize and accept the fact that power belongs to the people.
In his interview, Professor Mesfin expressed frustration, disappointment, and justified anger, and he extended a clarion call to the Ethiopian people to own their freedom and say no to unbridled personal ambition by incumbent and aspiring political leaders alike.
In his usual blunt and unambiguous manner, Professor Mesfin has gone on record condemning blind personal ambition for power and the shenanigan surrounding the efforts to gain it. And I couldn’t agree with him more. Professor Mesfin gave his interview just before he went to surgery to make sure that his thoughts are registered for the record. Mindful of unforeseen and unintended complications in surgery, he wanted to make sure that the truth would be known as he saw it. And I for one am convinced in the veracity of his statements and the motivation behind them. I find Professor Mesfin a credible witness, a clear communicator, and a fearless individual.
Hundreds and thousands of Ethiopians went out on a limb and stuck their necks out to defend and support Kinijit and its leaders during the hour of crisis. Ethiopians with democratic dreams supported and identified with Kinijit’s dreams for Ethiopia’s future, and went out on demonstrations and lobbied against tyranny and arbitrary rule. In addition, Kinijit supporters provided badly needed financial assistance. Soul searching and stirring poems have been written, and powerful lyrics and patriotic melodies have been sung by talented artists praising Kinijit’s new and refreshing vision for Ethiopia. Hundreds died for the democratic dream, and hundreds more sustained life-long scars and wounds fighting for the cause. Thousands suffered, and still suffer, in unsanitary prisons and solitary confinements. And now this!
Kinijit’s current state of affairs is confusing, incomprehensible, disappointing, untimely, and politically suicidal. Inability to deal with political in-fighting in an orderly and timely fashion is a serious flaw for any political party, and it casts a long shadow on the party’s maturity, credibility, and staying power. Squabbles among party members should not be allowed to rise to such high levels of interference with weighty national matters. In the case of Kinijit, the stakes are sky high, and the challenges ahead are formidable. Squandering political capital unnecessarily and unwisely is the worst possible mistake a political party can make. Political credibility takes time to develop and promote. But like anything else in life, it can be lost quickly.
Meles Zenawi and company must be laughing their heads off right now, and they probably wish that they had released the Kinijit leaders much sooner, and perhaps not jailed them at all. This kind of dirty laundry with an international audience watching and listening is devastating. And the lack of accurate, convincing, and timely information makes matters worse, because it gives the rumor mill a chance to fill in the blank and exacerbate the problem, which is exactly what has happened here.
In a democratic system, political parties and political leaders have an obligation to inform their constituency and explain issues that impact the public good. That is why many feel that Kinijit owes its constituency an explanation regarding the current situation. Both sides in this crisis admit that there really is no major problem in the party. But they can’t even talk to each other. So, what actually happened? When did it happen? And why did it happen? As indicated above, the public statements made so far are simply inadequate and unconvincing. It is claimed over and over that the issues surrounding Kinijit are trivial. But trivial or not, the conflict has caused the head of the party and the delegation to boycott the much publicized North American tour. Engineer Hailu Shawel is no ordinary party member. He is the head of Kinijit and the designated leader of the delegation currently touring North America. But so far, his interviews and public pronouncements have run parallel to the rest of the delegation.
It is not uncommon for political leaders to have strong disagreements and serious differences of opinion on issues. And no one expects the Kinijit leaders to be perfect. But by the same token, the current spectacle is clumsy and unbecoming for a political party that claims to have the ability and the wisdom to govern a country. This is not acceptable behavior and it is not responsible. And the sooner this situation is brought under control the better it will be for Kinijit and its future, as well as the future of Ethiopia. More often than not, what hurts politicians most is not the mistake they make. What hurts them most is the subsequent effort of cover up and rationalization.
For far too long, Ethiopian politicians have made mountains out of mole hills and have thereby caused incalculable pain and suffering. The last forty years will go down in Ethiopian history as the most mindless and misguided period. And what is so ironic about the tragedies that have taken place in Ethiopia in the last forty years is that the most educated and the most traveled Ethiopian elites have been responsible for such tragedies.
Antagonism, rigidity, lack of meaningful communication, lack of cooperation, misunderstanding, trigger-happy reactions, character assassination, a false sense of pride and personal honor, a know it all attitude, a tendency to demonize and dehumanize real and imagined opponents, false steps and assumptions, wrong conclusions and divisiveness, personal ambition, and endless power struggles have been trade marks of Ethiopian politics so far. And as the African saying goes, “when two elephants fight it is the grass that gets hurt”. The Ethiopian people have been victimized by such tragic political miscalculations and flaws, and it is time to stop such destructive behavior once and for all. People are tired of political business as usual. Talk is cheap after all. It is not enough to talk about democracy. It is now time to walk the democratic walk by resolving political differences with accommodation, communication, compromise, decorum, and statesmanship.
A great deal of talk has occurred about accountability. Like any other political party, Kinijit must be held accountable by its constituency. And a good starting point right now is providing accurate information so people can make informed and rational decisions. True to form in Ethiopian political discourse, there has been a lot of posturing, name-calling, and mud-slinging in the last few weeks. Each side claims that the other side is to blame for the problem and that only the other side must change its ways. Ladies and gentlemen, we have heard that before, and we know its consequences too well. It is a deadly habit that has caused irreparable damage to our country, our history, and our long suffering people. There will be no democracy if we can’t live at peace with those whose views differ from ours, and respect them in spite of the differences. We have tried everything else, and nothing has worked. So, it is high time to try something new and fresh, and submit to the will of the Ethiopian people to choose their political leaders and hold them accountable.
In June of 2006, Tsehay Publishers organized a conference in Los Angeles to discuss wide ranging issues related to Ethiopia. Among the participants of that conference were Dr. Negede Gobezie and Ato Kiflu Tadesse. I will never forget the statement Ato Kiflu Tadess made in his speech. He said that if EPRP and MIESON leaders had communicated and compromised, the death and destruction that ensued would have been avoided. Henry Kissinger once said that “great tragedies in history occur, not when right confronts wrong, but when two rights face each other”. It is clear that we have not learned the crucial lesson from our sordid and painful political past. It is said that compromise is the art of politics, and it is that lesson we have yet to learn.
At that same conference, Alemtsehay Wodajo made what I thought was a profound statement. With artistic flair, she stated emphatically that it is time to stop begging political leaders for favors. Instead, she recommended that the people must reclaim what is rightfully theirs and exercise their legitimate power. It is politicians who should ask the people for favors, not the other way around. Alemtsehay concluded her remarks by reminding her audience to stand up and be counted, and warned political leaders that time will catch up with them if they keep thinking that political power is an entitlement with no accountability.
In conclusion, please allow me to share some personal views. I have never been a member of any political party, but I have supported causes that I feel are just. And I have actively contributed to causes I believe in. I believe in the causes of democracy, human rights, and the rule of law that Kiniit has been fighting for so valiantly and with a great deal fortitude. But I must admit that the current crisis among the Kiniji leaders has hit me between the eyes, and I am fighting cynicism and discouragement with all my might. I just can’t believe that a group of people who have fought hard and who have paid dearly for a democratic common cause can trip over each other so easily, and so soon after their release from one of the harshest prisons in the world. Hard times that are commonly shared usually create bonding and strong common cause. What exactly went wrong here? Why would there be power struggle when there is no power? And why now when the very survival of Kinijit as a party is at stake and uncertain? God knows what the next months and years will bring. To engage in power struggle motivated by personal ambition at this particular time simply makes no sense.
I am well aware of the fact that some people may think that I have criticized the Kinijit leaders unfairly, perhaps even harshly, in this article. And I may receive the usual treatment of name-calling and mud-slinging. So be it! I do not believe in vilifying and demonizing those I don’t agree with, and glossing-over and glorifying those I like and support. Instead, I believe in accountability and fair play as well as openness. I sincerely believe that Kinijit has contributed to the democratic cause in Ethiopia in significant ways, and I have said so publicly on more than one occasion.
The Kinijit leaders have paid a heavy price to promote democracy, human rights, and the rule of law. But unfortunately, the party’s internal workings have not been stellar when it comes to conflict resolution among its ranks. Both before the 2005 election and since, Kinijit has been beleaguered by internal squabbles and serious divisions, so much so that even the name Kinijit may not continue to be its name in the future. To reassure its members and supporters, Kinijit needs to be more disciplined as a party and speak with one voice. The sky has not fallen and all is not lost yet. There is still time for redemption. But Kinijit needs to shift gear as soon as possible and move from damage control and spin doctoring to dealing with the fundamental issues at hand.
I believe that the current situation with Kinijit is symptomatic of personality vs party politics. The Kinijit leaders talk a great deal about collective leadership. But the party is often undermined and seriously compromised by key individual players who hijack the collective cause. I believe Kinijit has a democratic vision for Ethiopia, but that vision has to be translated to credible, consistent, mature, and disciplined party politics. Accommodation, compromise, and discipline create stability and reassurance. I support Kinijit and its noble and sacred national cause. But I refuse to support any party or individual blindly and slavishly, no matter who they are or what they have done in the past. I hope and pray that Kinijit comes out of this crisis stronger and more cohesive. And may God help its leaders! A friend of mine said the following recently; “Ethiopia must be God’s full time job these days.”
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Prof. Adugnaw Worku can be reached at [email protected]