Forum: Better to give up cutting the claws of the peace and democratic ambiance in Ethiopia
11/07/09
Forum for Democratic Consultations in Ethiopia has continued monkeying with the interest of peace loving Ethiopians. It nailed its colors to the mast that there is no need to have peaceful political debate in the country. The reason is obvious. Members of the Forum were among those who created trouble during 2005 election. So, by bringing various pretexts in to view, Forum rather wants to obstruct the upcoming election.
But that is really a failed plan. Ethiopians have the desire of promoting and encouraging the democratic process in the country. The only option for political power is via election in a peaceful and democratic approach. Since 1991, the political power belongs to the people and the political fate of the country is determined by them with no room left for any political party to come to power without majority vote.
So far three national elections had been conducted in Ethiopia. Despite the success in those elections, there were problems particularly in 2005 election. However, the problems turnout to be a turning point in the history of the country. Several turning points took in the country since the introduction of federalism in Ethiopia. The recent agreement on the code of conduct and its implementation guidelines is a positive development which shows the readiness of all negotiating parties to conduct peaceful and democratic election. Many political analysts said that Ethiopia is exerting all possible efforts to make the 4th national election transparent, free, fair, legitimate, peaceful and democratic. This agreement signed by EPRDF, EDP, CUD and AEUP on Electoral code of conduct and implementation guidelines is so pivotal that it is considered as another turning point in the country’s political history.
It was some 18 years ago that the first turning point in the political history of the country took place in which the Ethiopian people used their political power to nominate their leaders for the first time ushering the shift from the Unitary State to Federalism and from one dominating party to multi party governing system in the country.
The recent agreement among the four major political parties is so different in its kind. The comprehensive agreement on a joint electoral code of conduct and its implementation guideline as well as the accord on establishing a joint council to handle problems related to election disputes is a crucial step in strengthening the democratization process of the country. Many Ethiopians believe that the signing has opened another chapter in the political atmosphere of the country. It is only in a peaceful and democratic manner that political power is possible in Ethiopia.
The signing includes agreements on accepting fair and free election results, language usage, voting guidelines, ways of dealing with violence and the like.
Ethiopia has truck the right economic development and also is following the right trend of building democracy. It has established institutions working for the realization of human and democratic rights. Strengthening these institutions as well as enhancing tolerance and loyal competitions among political parties will help to forward and achieve what it has envisioned: to be one of the middle in come earner countries in the coming twenty or thirty years.
The recent modern and civilized approach and agreement among the major four political parties is, therefore, pivotal and a major turning point in promoting peaceful and democratic election in the country. Besides, it is crucial to starve anti-democratic elements but also to ensure sustainable development in the country.
Despite the readiness of most of the political parties in the country, there are still some that refused to participate in this historical event. These political parties are still looking for havoc and disharmony in the country. Many political analysts argues that they failed to negotiate for the mere reason that they have lost their acceptance by the people of Ethiopia and foretold that they won’t win the election. These parties rather prefer to mislead the international community with webs of lies and pretexts.
The government and people of Ethiopia at large and the responsible political parties in particular, by no means, should allow anti-peace elements in the upcoming election. The forum has only one alternative that is to join the debate and negotiations. If not there won’t be any difference between Forum and those political parties residing abroad and crying for armed struggle to disrupt the democratic system in the country. So, they should leave and join their colleagues abroad and attempt, if they could, to change the constitution in unconstitutional manner.
As Political parties in Ethiopia have begun to speak in one language that political power is possible only by peaceful and democratic elections, Forum and other political parties that have a different stance must come back to their consciousness.
Dreaming for political power in an unconstitutional manner has become an outdated fashion in the country. Forum is in the wrong truck, it has to change its stance. The present refusal to participate in the discussion to make the upcoming election free, fair and democratic is an indication of their lack of readiness for peace.
Forum and Ginbot 7 are simillar. The only difference is the fact that Ginbot 7 is based abroad. Both of them don’t want to lead peaceful struggle in the country. They don’t accept the power of people to determine the political situation of the country. They prefer to use undemocratic way to avert the democratic system. Though these groups remain as anti-peace, anti-development and anti-prosperity, their attempts to obstruct the peaceful efforts will cut no water.
Though to err is too human, one should learn from committed mistakes. The Ethiopian People have learned from their past experiences that they don’t want any havoc. They rather want to have democratic, faire and free election, which is also true for those political parties that have been negotiating to make election 2010 peaceful.
Berhanu Nega, the former friend and political partner of some of the members of the former Coalition for Unity and Democracy has still continued waging war against the democratic system in Ethiopia. His campaign to mislead the Diaspora has continued. In his interviews to voice of America, he emphasized that he is ardent to alter the constitution in an unconstitutional manner. He said, “Even by African standards, this is a suffocating dictatorship that has completely the life out of Ethiopian politics and for most Ethiopians now the only way out of this political quagmire is to get rid of this government by one means or another.” Berehanu’s concern is not to ensure democracy in the country but to come to power using any possible means. In contrast what he said, there is no totalitarianism in Ethiopia. The Federalism and multi party governing system have got the upper hand since 1991.
Shamelessly he also said, “All the issues that make a democratic election do not exist in Ethiopia at this time, starting from the independence of the election board, the independence of the military and the police, judiciary all are in the pocket of the ruling class. And in the absence of a fair and leveled playing ground there is no meaning in an election.” Though he altogether denied it, the situation in the ground is quite different from that. The political situation in the country is so participatory that his former colleagues at home are actively engaged in carrying out their political agendas peacefully. I think he is blindly denying all the good practices in the country.
Forum also seems to have the same stance as it has denied peaceful negotiation without any logical reason. Had Forum had convincing and logical reasons, splendid political alternatives, sound development plan, civilized and modern approach, democratic manner and values, there wouldn’t have been any reason for Ethiopians to fail to follow and support its agendas. However, the issue on the ground is so different. Ethiopians want reliable political party that is committed to alleviate poverty, ensure good governance and democracy as well as bringing sustainable development and prosperity.
I think Forum’s boot is on the wrong foot in this regard for some reasons. Firstly, it is impossible to mislead the Ethiopian people for the second time. Neither is it possible to mislead the international community. No room to misleading the Ethiopia people and the international community nowadays. They don’t allow self-centered power dreamers with such mercurial stances to disrupt the encouraging development and democracy. Secondly, no country encourages unconstitutional ways rather support peaceful. Thirdly, Ethiopian Diaspora, by no means, encourages such stand, which is as slippery as an eel rather they appreciate and help the practicality of the recent ever unique agreement made by the four political parties and is currently under discussion among more than 50 political parties in the country. Fourthly, the government of Ethiopia is determined to take its responsibility in keeping and maintaining low and order in the country, surely it will defend any anti peace elements in the country in collaboration with the people of Ethiopia and peace loving political parties. And finally, the media are also playing their positive roles in enhancing peace and democracy in the country and so they could also fight such arrogant and backward stances.
However, Forum seems forgetting the facts on the ground that it has lost its color and faded up. Therefore, Forum and other similar political parties had better give up cutting the claws of the peace and democratic atmosphere in the country bringing various pretexts and webs of lies into view. They have to know that the only option them is coming to the table and negotiate.
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