The
croaking of the frogs doesn’t keep the elephants from drinking - Message to the
EPRDF
Observation on the Election campaign
Ethiopia is
changing- peoples of Ethiopia have raised their voices and finally make themselves
heard. The political development model of the past that have served as
reference point up until a few couple of years - the model of eliminating
opponents - are finally being challenged and gone once for all. It is now a
period of high point! Development of democracy has reached to the point where
it can never been reversed back. The forth election campaign has confirmed
this.
Surely, now or
in some time in the near future, the international community as a whole would
admit the reality that Ethiopia is one of the countries that are able to build
a consolidated democratic system within a very short period of time. The
practical move in the process of the 4th Ethiopian national election,
especially the election campaign, is vivid evidence.
Power or a
thirst for power has strange effects and can often blind us. In the election campaign,
the thirst for powers let some political entities be carried away until they
lost any common sense of understanding the realities of their own country and behave
like a ghost. Yes, we must industrialize; we must produce hydroelectricity,
irrigate and give drinking water to our citizens. Yes, the country must be able
to satisfy its populations’ needs. But it is also clear that it would not
happen overnight; it did not happen overnight in the wealthy countries, either.
Unfortunately, some opposition parties were trying to take the advantage by feeding
an empty promise as to accomplish everything over night - a white lie. We do
not need false promises, but concrete facts.
They no
longer appreciate the changes that the country has achieved so far. But value
only what they produced by imagination- it is a kind of hyper-reality that is
completely disconnected from the living reality of the country. it is dangerous products- dangerous of the new uncertainties.
In the election campaign, these political entities were putting themselves in a
position that they can do everything so that to make put us on top of the world
economic ladder. But no one knows how? For them too, it is too soon to tell the
way on how they will do it. But who will pay the bill for their mere promise? A
Sad Fact- a deep breath!
Observation 2: - A snake eating its own Tail
- Coalition PLC.
Many have tried to cover up the internal
strife and to break the vicious circle of the snakes eating its own tails, but
their internal state of affairs is simply getting worse. UDJ is eating its own
tail and the tails of Medrek as well. But it is not
end up with UDJ. It continues. The nature and mindset of the coalition is based
on hate of others- exponentially increasing blind hate of other parties within
and outside the coalition. All political ideology- the socialist, the
capitalist, the liberalist, the neo-liberalist…all are there. In the election campaign, representatives of
each of the party of the coalition perform its own variation on the same
objective. Each party claims to have its eyes fixed solely on its own
objective.
Unfortunately,
still some people in their madness are simple advertising the coalition
industry as a pretext for their weaknesses as well as to cover up for their
hidden motive of creating violence as a vehicle to seize power. But this may be for “Anyone, who disturbs a wasp’s nest, had
better be able to run.” Hence, the formula and sense of coalition is
losing its meaning and value. This is serious. If voters of 2010 election have
to fear one thing, it should be Medrek - a coalition
without any internal bond of synergy for coalition.
Observation 3: Painful Lessons of History -
The Derg
In time of
History - in the Derg regime - we experienced the
agony of man’s atrocity by man. The painful lessons of history are still there.
Although that page of history has already been turned, the painful lesson of
the time is still there. The point to mention that regime here is because of
its consequences on our view and on the current election campaign. We thought
that the regime is gone. But in this election campaign we have clearly seen
that there parties who have the tendency towards or the political elements of
the Derg just forgetting all our pains and traumatic
experience of the time.
From the
ideas propagated by some opposition parties during the election campaigns, it
is a must to take in to account and view parties objectively not to return back
but to move beyond the Derg elements once for
all.
The Derg regime has affected millions of people. There was
purely political activity of eliminating people of different political views.
But now we have 68 political parties. However, some political entities in the
election campaign are still within the circle of ideology of that regime. Of
course they share a great deal. We have seen nine rounds of debates. But we are
not sure that not only the ideology of the past regime but also the regime
itself would not come back again if some political parties will win the coming
election. It is important to understand how this country and its people were
confronted with that terrible regime.
So, it should not be forgotten in the blink of an eye. Even if some
people have not realized it yet, we are observing a new retrospective move. Values
of the past regimes have raised their heads to take back the keys to our
country. The ball is in voters’ court, Watch out!!
Observation 4:- When hope overcomes
misfortune - we are not fated to be poor
The election
campaigns have lucidly singled out our arch enemy- poverty. The fight against
poverty in all its manifestation is a major immediate challenge of our country.
It is now
that the country has got a government that explicitly recognized poverty as a
threat and stand to fight against it and its danger. As a result, we have seen strong economic
growth over a period of seven consecutive years. If this trend economic growth
continues, we will able to eliminate poverty. Perhaps, it is only the development and economic growth that will
come to relief our people by contributing further to our survival.
So, we are
convinced that we will reduce our poverty, and we are devoting all our
resources to this end. There are hopes over the misfortunes.
Everyday in
Ethiopia, we see changes for the better as we watching public housing
construction, roads, access to drinking water and health care. Universities,
hospitals, airports are being built. Our highway network is growing. The
autonomous hydroelectric power plants are being completely overhauled. These
are sources of hope. The necessary structures are being created. Good things
are starting to happen. Little by little we are making changes and our country
is emerging from poverty. The country is making itself.
Of course,
it is not always easy to live in Addis Ababa according to western model or so
it would appear. These progresses may not be self –evident if one observes the
way of life of a New Yorker compared with that of Addis Ababa or jigjig or Awassa or Adama or Bahir Dar or Mekele, etc. But within
the last 15 years, we have confirmed that we are not fated to be poor and
hungry. We are not waiting for Manna from heaven because we are confident that
we can get it from our own land. We are
the right solutions to the lacks and problems of our country. All in all, we are beginning to leave our
misfortune behind us.
Observation 5:- The croaking of the
frogs doesn’t keep the elephants from drinking - Message to the EPRDF
Proverbs
gave us wise advice. The croaking of the frogs doesn’t keep the elephants from
drinking. It may be too soon to tell the outcome of the election. But it is
possible to become certain on one thing. That is, there would be countless warnings,
allegations, claims and accusations and whimpers. So, the EPRDF has to turn its
deaf ears and continues to strive despite all the warnings, baseless allegations,
claims and accusations of countless.
The
Ethiopian government has set a target to middle income country within the
coming 20 years. This commitment is already represents a big step forward! But,
there is a lot of work to do to achieve this goal on one hand but on the other
hand through our combined efforts, we are succeeding and we can succeed more.
So, we must ensure sustainable growth and development for the next 20 to 30
years.
Of course, despite
the slowdown in the world economy, Ethiopian economy continues to improve. Our country continues to post quite strong
result, with an average growth of 10% for the last six years. Our consumption
is rising- a good sign of growth.
But we must
continue building schools, health institutions, improving water services,
creating jobs. We must actively explore all the leads offered by the new
millennium and by the new global economic system that can help us to achieve
the development we are aspiring for. And to represent the future, we have to
shift gears and pick up speed.
Observation 6:- Neo liberalism and poor
countries - An egg dose not dance with a stone
To be
continued