Dear Mersea,
I have read your article about EDP in Aiga Forum. I respect your opinion and appreciate aiga for posting it. Here is my opinion, very short and clear.
To be honest and genuine, I do not have any problem with today's EDP. However, there are unsettled things which will continue to be a problematic to the party when it comes to Tigrai. Personally, When I think of EDP- not as an alternative party in my view but just think of it, it always reminds me Lidetu's speeches and propaganda against the entire Tigray people and not against a Party/TPLF/EPRDF. I can give you few examples, which you have also mentioned some in the end of your article. His party repeatedly declared that
1. The Mekelle Hawlti does not represent Ethiopians and Ethiopian history. And the sacrifices paid in the struggle were to destroy bridges and wealth, free Eritrea and Tigray from the rest of Ethiopia. Isn't it painful?
2. EFFORT (those industries) is a stolen property from Ethiopians to benefit only minority Tigray people while the rest suffers. Is it really stolen?
3. Lidetu in the Sheraton debate, which was chaired by Ato Kifle Wodajo and Ato Markos told his audience that EPRDF and Meles Zenawi is in power to benefit only the Tigrai people. Accordingly Tigray gets un proportional budget in compare to other bigger Kilils. etc.
Mersea, all are not true. These statements are repeatedly propagated in printed Medias and TV for years. And it is an insult against Tigray people and have already injured so many. That was the main reason for the rejection of EDP/MEDHIN meeting in Mekelle city some years ago. You might remember that meeting and the speech made by some ordinary citizens. It is not only because the party has former Esepa/Derg members. You might give your own explanations to the above statements but it is hard to justify it in any form, except making an official Apology to the people of Tigray. Otherwise, these will continue to be problematic in the party's relationship with Tigray. Any opposition party that wishes to come to Tigray must officially acknowledge the sacrifices paid by the people including the prognose in Hawziewn. The rest, whether EDP can be a good alternative in Tigray or not will be left to the people and is not a problem at all.
You have a good point when it comes to the Algiers agreement- an agreement that repeated Minilik's grave mistake and re-gave Eritrea the best opportunity to play against Ethiopia. The Algiers agreement gave recognition to the dead Ethio-Italo treaties. But do you really think EDP will solve the Algiers problem, if it is elected in Tigray??? This needs to be checked and analyzed deeper. Anger and hopelessness cannot be enough to resolve the problem.
Regarding the court proceedings in languages other than the mother tongue in other Kilils, it is difficult to discuss details in this short note but let me drop you few words, which I think is correct. It is important to have one national language that unites all Ethiopian citizens. However, it is also absolutely right for ethnic groups to use their own language in their regions in their day-to-day activities but squarely, other citizens who do not understand the language has a constitutional right to have an interpreter. It is up to the individuals or groups to fight for it or appeal for the concerned bodies such as the Council of Federation and Ethiopian Human Rights Council to correct the issue. It will otherwise be extremely wrong to deprive Kilils their language in the name of using a national language. The political problems that Ethiopians faced in the century will be back to square one. By the way, Amharic is taught everywhere in Ethiopian schools. I also suggest that Ethiopians should learn at least three Ethiopian languages in schools.
I always think that it would be very great to use two languages (kilil's + Amharic) in every kilil. India for example had the same problem in the post independence decades but they use Hindu and English as official languages and regional states can legislate using their own official language of the Kilil. Do you think EDP will correct this problem? How? Do you think any force that will dissolve the federal state and form a new unitary state will be acceptable to any kilil today or in the future? In my view, the latter is not acceptable and will create a problem.
The last question is what is your guarantee that EDP will solve the Algiers and language problem if it takes power in Tigray, as you have recommended them? Many question.
Again, I appreciate your concern for our people but it is also important to consider the problems and obstacles that Ethiopia has today as part of its transition for the better. No nation on earth has developed without such obstacles. Therefore, the best things we all can do is that to be deep and far sighted, less despair and emotional on temporary hot issues but struggle to change those possible issues such as the Algiers agreement. Aboy Sibhat told us in his last interview that people raise question but they don't come with a solution. We do not have to tell them to only do it; rather we have to come up with some degree of details, which are helpful on how to do things. If they don't listen, that is something else, which we have to fight. That is all.
Al the best
Paulos F. (06/28/09)