A Conference of Hodgepodges!

Can Atse Haileselassie and Derge functionaries in cooperation with Isaias Afeworki messengers deliver democracy, peace and prosperity to the Horn Region?

Zeru Hagos 03/30/2010

The horn of African Region is a volatile region. If it was not for Ethiopia's strong and stable government along with that of Kenya the region would have been prone in a continuous civil strife. Somalia has been without a government for too long and Eritrea is simmering under a brutal one man dictatorship. If it was not for Ethiopia's strong and stable government, the region would have been a safe haven for inferno. The role Ethiopia is playing in quashing budding terrorist cells in Somalia and taming the Eritrean mad man ambition to cause havoc in the region is exemplary. Ethiopia's diplomatic effort to pass the recent UN sanction on the Eritrean regime and  the last military push deep in to Somalia by  Ethiopia have taught a lasting lesson to terrorist like Al Shebaba and Shaibea. However there are extremist forces in Diaspora mainly in Washington DC who cannot see a horn of Africa region where Ethiopia is a key player. These forces are doing everything possible to derail the relative peace all in the name of their handler Isaias Afeworki of Eritrea.

Some time next month, a who is who from the Ethiopian Diaspora opposition and extremist messengers of Isaias Afeworki will gather to chart their new course of action to topple the Ethiopian government. The theme of the conference is "the Horn of Africa region". When you read the announcement you can see the people listed are either people from the Atse Hailesellasie era, or the Derge or simply Isaias Afeworki’s messengers. Almost all, except the foreign agents who are in the wish list, are from the opposition forces that have been trying to undo the EPRDF government. How is it that the Horn of Africa region can be "saved" by the clapping of the one hand of the opposition forces?

The main actors for this conferences are the Berhanu's from Ginbot wanted in Ethiopia, a certain Neamin who was leading a demonstration in support of Isaias Aferowki’s regime and  and the who is who from the Derge era starting with Negede Gobeze to Major Dawit Wolde Giorgis and not to mention the Colonial Viceroy, Ana Gomez. Had it not been for the brutality of the Derge regime and MEISON (All Socialist Movement of Ethiopia), Ethiopia and the horn region would have been a far better peaceful region. Derge destroyed Eritrea in the name of one Ethiopia so much so Eritreans had to choose another dictator to run their life to ruin. That Dictator is Isaias Afeworki which Ato Neamin is on the record in support of.

Atse Haileselassi may have gained high remark for being a statesman by westerners and as God’s messenger by the Rastas! But when it comes to democracy and human rights the King was simply a tyrant. Reading some of the conference participants I am baffled on how an aging carrier diplomat during the king’s era can all of a sudden be converted to become a human right campaigner? Can one teach a new trick to an old dog?

The Derge regime may have buried the feudal regime for good and there is nothing to worry now but I wonder how and what binds a Derge functionary, an EPRP cadre and Isaias Afeworki’s messenger to come under one roof?  I can only see one and only one reason, which is hate. Hate has blinded these forces, there is no way they can see the new prosperous peaceful Ethiopia striving to be a fully fledged developed country under the EPRDF government.

What these folks do not know is that EPRDF is a well grounded Ethiopian entity that cannot be undone by hate speeches and conferences. The EPRDF government cannot be toppled.  Let alone by "jelewoch" from afar, the “ jelewoch” from close proximity have been unsuccessful.  The failed attempts of the Al Shebab of Somalia, Isaias Afeworki of Eritrea and the hodgepodge Kinijits of 2005 are indeed the few evident examples that come to mind.

The new Ethiopia is built by the strength of its diversity. The government’s strength and weakness cannot be measured by how many huffing and puffing articles are written at the Huffington post or by the love hate relationship some US congressmen demonstrate from time to time. Sorry Donald Payne that is the truth!

Putting aside all the platalk and Internet politicians that are invited to the meeting, the question that pops up is how and for what reason did the conference organizers decide to hold this conference? And why name it Horn of Africa conference?  It is clear that this is a conference for the hodgepodge extremist and vocal Diaspora opposition from Ethiopia?

Why would the two foreign NGO who are named as co-sponsors taint their good office by joining these forces of evil?

On Personal A Note

I am sure someone may have said it before but I heard it for the first time form Prime Minister Meles Zenawi during one of his public engagements either in parliament or media interviews. The phrase is “…sasebew sasebew dekemegn ena salhed temelskung”, it means “when I thought about it I got really tired and headed back”.

The story goes like this: a mother asked her child to go to the next village to bring her some stuff. The son, from the distance saw the valleys and mountains he had to cross to get to the village. Before he set foot he got tired by looking and never made it to the village.  He returned home empty. What got me to think about this age old saying is the way the extremists in the Diaspora have been trying to prolong their dying political life. Ever since the  girigir (ginbot 7) left for Asmara and ever since “kinjit” the “Menfesu” (spirit) showed the world that it was an amorphous conglomeration of dead woods, the extremists have been trying to masquerade as human rights advocates to strength their political life. Little did they know similar efforts were made by the likes of Professor Mesfin who experienced a heavy blow of their own making and ended up with failure!

But these are dying souls who are trying to distract the innocent and lure them in to their dogma.  I suggest to those that adamantly oppose the progress of Ethiopia learn from the story of the boy who said "sasebe sasebw dekemegn ena tewkut”.  It is high time they resign unless they have chosen to die a slow death and have their names be engraved in the history books as the main players to deter Ethiopia from moving forward! How could they forget what price was paid to create an atmosphere of development?  It was the just cause and tenacity of those who died for it that has shed light to the great progress in Ethiopia.  It will be a tragedy if we let extremists derail the hard earned freedom Ethiopians enjoy today. What are the extremist doing these days to endanger Ethiopia’s democracy at its infancy?  They are creating a miniscule gathering to propagate and design how they will stifle the already founded democracy in Ethiopia.

Way back when, websites like the Reviews and Medias, who are the mouth piece of the extremists, were fanning all kinds of white lie fabricated news in tandem.  With amusement and at times with sadness many said wow! and asked how ignorant can these people be? Many were dumbfounded to see such hate based on lie being expressed by these few self appointed individuals. Well, today the extremists have been crushed by their own hate so much so the website owners from Reviews and Medias do not see eye to eye, not to mention the animosity between gigigir 7 and AEUP as well as EPRP, OLF, ONLF and the splinter siblings they have managed to create. Yet lessons have not been learned!

Ethiopia is not a fiction. It cannot be made or broken by foreign machinations. In the first place, Ethiopia has a farsighted government that knows how to play diplomacy.  Second, it has a long history of being independent. These two attributes of modern Ethiopia will allow her to continue on the development path for years to come. Then why labor on the extremist too much? Why can’t one say “sasebw sasebew dekemegn” and leave these folks alone?

These individuals that are incoherent and far removed from Ethiopia have no intention to really bring about change.  Their whole intent is to try and dissipate the energy of the majority of peace loving Ethiopians.  They are busy organizing obscure events with ideas of yester years.  It sort of seems this time around they will be holding their last event in Washington DC.  I guess it sort of seems like it is their last gathering since the young are stepping in to continue the leadership in Ethiopia.  Archaic thinking is outdated in Ethiopia today.  They know they have no place in Ethiopia not because they are not allowed to go but because their outmoded thinking has no place there.  The future is being developed and what will sustain and remain activated in Ethiopia is a result oriented thinking that will provide answers to the many challenges it is facing in its path to make poverty history.  Whether one organizes a formless event or not as the Amharic saying goes “wishaw yichohal gimelu yihedal” translated as “camel will continue going while the dog is barking” which means Ethiopia and its future developmental path will far surpass the nay Sayers since they are entitled to waste their time in a futile attempt to arrest the progress of Ethiopia .