Ethiopia should keep going to use river Abay or Nile as she
want.
August 15, 2010
Egypt is the historical enemy of Ethiopian for the last 2-3
centuries. The primary cause for her hate policy towards Ethiopia is because of
Abay River. From the beginning, Egyptian knew that
Ethiopia will raise legitimate question one day about the equitable usage of Abay both for upper and downstream countries. This is what
Egyptian and in some case, Sudanians are protecting
from happening. However, Ethiopia and other countries has reached to the point
where silent is not an option. No one has the right to tell us how and to what
extent we can use our rivers. The decision is ours. Therefore, Ethiopia should
keep going to use river Abay as she want.
Egypt knew the unlawfulness of the colonial era agreements, and
always wants to control the sources of Abay. It is
only Egypt who tries to do whatever is necessary to cause instability in
Ethiopia. The reason is to exploit this river and its tributaries forever by
making Ethiopia poor. Egypt has been attempted to invade Ethiopia during the
start of 19th century. However, she terribly defeated by our gallant
people, led by general Alula Abanega.
While Egypt capitulate the entire Sudan and its surrounding areas, it is only
Ethiopia who managed to defeat Egypt in 1866 and 1868 at Gundagundi,
Gundet, Keyhikor and Gurai (the last three battle places are in Eritrea). After
Egyptian knew that they could not materialize their egoistic interest by direct
invasion, they are behind of every conspiracy against Ethiopia. Shabia is the product of Egypt conspiracy towards Ethiopia.
Beside Shabia, Egypt is always behind Somalia and
Sudan. We all know that during the border war between Ethiopia and Eritrea,
Egypt is behind Eritrea and fully funded the war and still she is actively
supporting the dictatorial regimes with military hardware, logistic, finance
and in political sphere. As we all know, Eritrea is now an alternate member of
the Arab league. Isayas has deliberately done
this to get support from Arab nations in his effort to disintegrate Ethiopia.
Beside internal interference, Egypt is behind all obstacles and
conspiracy to deny Ethiopia from getting aid from IMF, the World Bank and or
other donor countries (the resent diplomatic maneuver of president Mubarek of Egypt is the continuation of this effort) for
any project on the river Abay.
Previously Egypt was systematically handling the politics of Abay secretly. However, at this time we should expect more
aggressive confrontation (from direct to proxy war) from Egypt. She will
do whatever is necessary to harm or to attack Ethiopia in diplomatic, military,
especially through helping domestic rebel groups and hostile neighbors like Shabia and Al-Shibab terrorist
groups. We should know that Al-Shibab is the product
of Shabia and other fanatic gulf Arab states.
We have to admit that we have to solve our internal problems if we
want to protect our legitimate right to use effectively our Trans boundaries
rivers. We have to remember that many foreign countries are not happy
when the Gilgel Gibe II hydropower was started. The
so-called “environmentalist” and their cohorts are trying to advise us to stop
the construction work.
Hostile countries like Egypt and Eritrea are exploiting our
weakness. We have to accept this and our national streangth
should not be measured by the political power the public officials have. The
power of any given country is measured by unflinching unity of its people in
good and bad time, and their determination to reach a common goal through
common purposes. No country will help us in our efforts to eradicate poverty.
Historically, we should know that the western countries are favored Egypt or
any other country than Ethiopia. Some western countries do not like us because
of our past pride history. They want to change that as they managed to change
the former Ugoslavia national identity. No
matter what we have to keep our independent thinking and self confidence. Our
unity is the key factor that keeps Ethiopia alive. That is what our enemies are
working hard to divide us.
American helped Somalia during 1969-70 aggressions. United
Kingdome supported Egypt during 1866 and 1868 failed aggressions. When Ethiopia
was unlawfully attacked by fascist Italia, led by Benito Mussolini, in 1935, no
one from the then League of Nation criticized Italy. Knowing the aggression of Shabia in May, 1989, no country has taken initiatives to
criticize Eritrea openly for its unlawful aggression. We should get lesson from
our past history. We Ethiopian are alone, both in good and bad times. We have
to work hard to reach acceptable standards of national unity through National
consensus. We shouldn’t put fire on us by exaggerating our differences. We have
differences between us, but we all are Ethiopians. Ethiopia is our identity.
Some of the policy EPRDF government is pursuing have a danger to
Ethiopia, especially the policy toward Eritrea. Openly we have to act the same
as our enemies are acting toward us. We should aware our peoples about our
enemies motives. I do not understand why the Ethiopian government is
indifference, while Asmara is working 7/24 and 365 days against Ethiopia interest
for the last 12 years. There is no need to wait until the hate is
spillover. It is more than enough! I am not agitating for war, but living
with this kind of status quo and hate propaganda (like Nazi Germany Gestapo)
from the other side, is war by itself. To me there is no difference between
psychological and the actual war in the battle fields. Both have their negative
repercussions to our societies. The more this mafia regime is staying in power,
the more Ethiopia will continue to face problems.
Ethiopia determination to develop hydropower or agricultural
development program from its trans boundaries rivers,
will certainly gave Shabia a good opportunities for
getting support from Egypt and other hostile Arab countries. Understanding the
regime behavior, I am certain Egypt and Eritrea will soon reach a military
agreement between them. The target will be Ethiopia. Isayas
knows that the majority of the Eritrean people will be behind him whatever
measures he chooses to takes to harm Ethiopia. There is a perception gap
between Eritreans and Ethiopians. They think differently about us as oppose to
the way we think about them. As far as I know, we are not creating problems to
them, the way they are creating problems to us. I know the hardships they had experienced
with the past two Ethiopian regimes. But that is the result of
maladministration, not because the Ethiopian people are against the Eritrean
people will. That needs to be understood by the Eritrean people. If things are
continue as they are now, I am certain that the future Ethiopian government
policy towards Eritrea will not be the same as the current EPRDF government. We
should not be ignored what the mad man in Asmara has said during his boring
interviews with Egyptian and his parrots local journalist. The psychopathic
president of the state of Eritrea preferred the friendship of Egyptian than the
Ethiopian people.
What need to be done to stand strong and to protect Ethiopia from
all these odds? The only thing what we should avoid is fear itself. However, we
have to concern about the situation to better prepare for unforeseen events.
We should know at this time, Ethiopia is surrounding by hostile and very
dangerous neighbors. If we prepare for unforeseen events with good judgment, we
can effectively tackle the situation when it happens. I have a concern because
of our political fragmentation and polarization. Even our Orthodox churches
fathers are divided very badly! They failed to bring peace for their followers.
The top religious people and some of their lieutenants could not be an example
to give forgiveness to their fellow countrymen. They stand to the opposite what
the holy bible is teaching us. They choose their personal ego than the safety
of Ethiopians. They carry cross and holly Bible on their hand. However, God
knows what is in their heart. Religion become politicized or become mixed with
ethnicity (we shouldn’t forget the role Diaspora political organizations are
playing to aggravate the situation). These infantile political organizations
are exploiting the divisions of the religious fathers for their cheap political
purposes. No one will be benefited from this kind of primitive political
approaches. Is it the end of the world, as the holy Bible has said? Where are
we going? Except blaming one another, and pointing fingers to each other, no
one is interested to take initiatives to make peace for the sake of the
Ethiopian people. Did they forget that the luxuries they are enjoying daily are
at the expenses of the poor Ethiopian people financial contribution? What do we
expect when the religious people failed to stand up to their standards? How
come we expect to resolve political differences when we see the religious
people are terribly failing to bring peace among them? Does the bible teach
them this? We always failed to solve differences, because every politician as
an individual or as a group are giving priority either to personal or group
interest. Calling the name of Ethiopia and raising her flag is a cover up.
While we are fond of with the name Ethiopia and her flag why does we terribly
failed to respect fellow Ethiopian? What is the secret behind it? We are
on the opposite what the former US president J.F. Kennedy has said at one time
to his people. Me first country second is the motive both for the politicians
and for most religious people (I have admiration and respect for those Politian
and religious people who serve their country with honesty). That is the
key issue we have to be addressed. If we give priority for the Ethiopian people
there are no issues that could not be solved. What is required is
willingness, honesty, and be open minded. Peace is easy to get it if we truly
seeking it. However, it could cost us dearly if we do not handling it properly
or failing to use the opportunity of getting it.
Both the government and the oppositions should come to their
common sense, and should realize the geo-political situation of our region. The
safety of Ethiopia is beyond every individual or political party interest or
survival. Both the government and the opposition should solve their differences
with civility. The Ethiopian people are tired of with lip services. They need
action, action that could bring them lasting peace. As the EPRDF has
promised after the last election, the government should extend its hand to the
oppositions, and should prepare the platform for them to participate in
governmental activities. Government is chosen by the people, not to dominate
the public offices, but to share with other political parties for the
betterment of the country. That is the essence of modern democracy. It bring
peace, it bring confidence and mutual understanding between different political
parties.
Egypt will vigorously try to support any political or radical religious
groups to get advantage from weak Ethiopia. There are groups who never hesitate
to cooperate with any external forces not to bring positive change but to
revenge the current government. History is a witness. Hitler is not empty
handed when he invade Europe. He got support from some sector of the society he
invaded.
If someone or certain social groups have hates against some one or
another social groups what we should expect is not peace, but war and peoples
suffering. We should learn from Rwanda, former Ugoslavia,
and Somalia history, and we should not be the next. Why do we drag ourselves to
this kind of situation? This is a symptom what we are observing especially in
Diaspora politics. If you oppose everything without reasoning or alternatives, it
is not a healthy political approach. It is a social disease that will not be
cured easily. I understand, to bring political consensus will be very
challenging especially with the 60’s and 70’s “All I know, and I am right”
generation. However, it is the responsibility of the government to handle this
kind of complicated situation diligently and wisely. If the other side is
acting irresponsibly, it is the responsibility of the government in power to
assess every possibility that could bring lasting peace for our country.
Especially, some sectors of our societies in Diaspora are becoming so stubborn,
and dishonest, filled with hate and anger (some with their own reasons, some
without) against the current government. This kind of social behavior is not
only damaging to our unity, but also it could create a loop hole for external
enemies. That is what they are exploiting. It is up to us, to have a bird eye
view to look far and protect our beloved country from danger. Remember, our
strength is our unity. We are weak if we divided.
God save Ethiopia from her enemies