Patronization is Unacceptable.
By Meles A. 04/21/10
In one of the latest developments in the ongoing baseless
accusations of the US funded VOA in its diatribe against Ethiopia has recently
said that its website in Ethiopia was not accessible and
attributed it to a blockage by the government by the Ethiopian government. This
latest accusation is part and parcel of anticipated charges by some foreign
agencies, media or not, such as the VOA.
In the run up to the 4th National and Regional
Elections in Ethiopia some irresponsible media outlets, so called human rights
organizations, think-tanks, and others are issuing "reports" claiming
that the political space has shrunk, political parties are finding
it difficult to effectively challenge the ruling party, government is silencing
its critics, has curtailed press freedom and there are out human rights abuses.
The recent fabricated reports by the BBC, Human Right
Watch, and the U.S. State Department, VOA, International Crisis Group are all
cases in point in these unwarranted accusations of a rollback in the democratization
process in Ethiopia .Individuals such as Congressman Donald Payne,
Glennys Kinnock, Ms. Anna Gomez and Senator Feingold have also joined this
chorus. These attacks are driven by ideological extremism rather than
constructive criticism. Some opposition leaders could barely hide their satisfaction
over the allegation made, of which they are the major sources. The government
is committed to peace, development and democracy for theses are vital for the
survival of Ethiopia as a nation and not to please our partners or to
be seen as meriting more positive reports.
Ethiopia which some two decades back was under the grip of a
military dictatorship, with tattered economy and bloody conflicts is
presently emerging as a beacon of democracy in the Horn of Africa. In a
very striking contrast with many countries of the region, political
pluralism is becoming the order of the day. Three successful multi- party
elections have been held in the country. Something of an extraordinary event
took place in the 2005 elections: Ethiopians from all walks of life
voted en-masse and elected their leaders, opposition parties won the metropolis
and 172 seats in the National parliament. Currently preparation is
underway for the 4th National and Regional Elections.
Ethiopia is committed to make the upcoming elections democratic,
free and credible to its people. Sixty-five parties have endorsed the Electoral
Code of Conduct, which has been promulgated in to law. Financial subsidies have
been allotted to competing parties based on the number of candidates
they fielded. Political parties continue working together to amicably
resolve problems encountered in two election processes and during
campaigning. This is a new and commendable political step which for the
first time proved the way for discourse and discussion among political parties
in the history of Ethiopia, which has been full of mistrust and hatred.
The policy debates between the political parties which are devoid of name
calling ,defamation, hate speech and ethnic hatred are one step forward in
the culture of political discourse . Such debates would enable
voters to judge political parties based on their policies and
strategies other than mere rhetoric and unattainable promises.
Despite these positive developments in the democratization
process, certain quarters are dying to find faults and defects. This of
course is nothing new. But come the May 23 elections, Ethiopia is
poised show its friends and foes alike that it is in the right path by holding
democratic, free and credible elections .
While Ethiopia is bracing for a democratic and peaceful conduct of
the elections, some groups are engaged in a smear campaign to discredit and
delegitimize the process. The current analysis of the situation depicts that
the choreographed and unsubstantiated allegations coming one after
the other are all same in content and format. They make no effort to
check accusations were substantiated or have been addressed by various organs of
the government. These parties are disinterested to appreciate positive
developments that took place in the country in the aftermath of election 2005.
Besides, the sources for the report are opposition groups
including those that attempt to overthrow the elected government through
unconstitutional means and terrorist elements such as OLF and ONLF. What else
can these groups tell HRW, the U.S. State Department, BBC, VOA you name it about
the country other than portraying it as hell? The government is duty bound to
maintain peace and stability in this country by taking legal deterrent measures
to contain terrorism. However, this was labeled as "violation of human
rights" those behind the heinous crimes were described as
"political prisoners" by the Statement of Sate Department
while saying nothing about of the prisoners, including US citizens,
locked up in Guantanamo indefinitely without any court order
which this writer believes is a double standard. It is an insult to our
conscience by a want to be human right crusaders.
The comments and statements by those parties’ raises questions
why they are hell bent they hell bent on distorting the right picture of
Ethiopia and try derailing the democratization process of Ethiopia... The
matter does not demand any prophecy. These forces have already concluded that
EPRDF wins in free and democratic elections. Therefore their strategy is to
tarnish the ruling party, and try to change the outcome of the election
which for sure will be a futile exercise.
Advocates of color revolutions from outside would like to see
a stooge or client government that receives guidelines and executive order from
so and so capital. Above all the pro-poor, people centered nature of the
government and its determination to bring social justice is not in line
with the current global fashion of neoliberalism So they leave no
stone unturned to nip it in the bud. Nevertheless, they are doomed to
fail.
As a piece of advice, it is time for these groups and
their cohorts to stop using human rights, political space, press freedom and
other adjectives as a camouflage to advance their futile political
outlook and sterile ideological bias. Patronization of any sort is incompatible
with the DNA of Ethiopians and this ancient and historical country. Patronization
is tantamount colonization .Let them not intervene in our
internal affairs for we are in charge of our destiny and defy any
pressure with hidden agenda .EPRDF or the government are totally a
different character as compared to other governments , and its history proves
this .It will not at all bow to impositions .
We are only ready for genuine partnership. Our development
partners are expected to help us in consolidating the democratization process
through building institutions. Otherwise, the current trend of vicious
accusations does not serve the consolidation of a democratic process
in Ethiopia.