By Elias Kifle
EthioMedia.com has been publishing a series of articles [1, 2] by some one pen named Tikur Chaka in the past few weeks. I have received requests by some EPPF supporters and Ethiopian Review readers to address the issues raised in the articles.
Ato Melke Mengiste, one of the senior members of EPPF who helped found the organization, has also asked me to publish a confidential report he presented to EPPF chapters and central committee members on August 1, 2010. Ato Melke’s report highlights some of the main problems facing EPPF. Click here to read.
The issues surrounding the Ethiopian People’s Patriotic Front (EPPF) are too complicated and after reading both articles by “Tikur Chaka,” I think it is important to address some of them based on my own personal observation. Again, the following are my personal observations.
1. The writer accuses many individuals, including me, of not taking a public stand regarding the problems currently facing EPPF. As a matter of fact, some of us have been fighting hard to fix the problems inside EPPF behind the scene, and there have been some serious, tangible steps that have been taken recently. For example, a few weeks ago, EPPF chapters have passed a joint resolution calling for suspension of all fund raising activities around the world on behalf of EPPF until a proper system for handling its finances has been put in place. The resolution also calls for revamping of the leadership. (click here to read the resolution.) There are a number of other steps that are being taken — the details of which I cannot discuss at this time.
2. The claim the writer makes that Eritrean officials do not want EPPF to become a strong Ethiopian polico-military force has NOT been supported by solid facts. The main reason EPPF is failing to make advances is that it has been infiltrated by corrupt individuals who seek fame and financial gains at the expense of the organization, as detailed in Ato Melke’s confidential report.
3. As the writer correctly points out, some members of the EPPF top leadership have been engaged in embezzlement of funds that were collected for the organization. I don’t think this will happen any more, because many of the newly elected central committee members have taken a strong stand against such gross misconduct. I am confident that those who have misappropriated funds from the organization will be held accountable.
Lastly, the writer is hell-bent on trying to convince his readers that the main source of EPPF’s problems is the Eritrean government or Shabia. This is a weak argument. If we continue to externalize our problems, instead of looking at ourselves and examine our own actions, we cannot find solutions. EPPF, and all Ethiopian opposition parties, for that matter, are weak because they are plagued with corruption, nepotism, parochialism and incompetence. The opposition parties need younger, well-educated, dynamic leaders with laser-sharp focus on removing the Woyanne cancer from Ethiopia. The opposition leaders need to also be immune to corruption, self-aggrandizement, and manipulation by other powers. A concerted effort is currently being made to bring such leadership to EPPF.