To Human Rights Watch

5/27/10

Dear Sir/Madam,

I have been following your organization's responses to the current situation in Ethiopia. As an American citizen and Ethiopian by origin, the impact of your biased and constant meddling in the internal politics of Ethiopia is of great concern to me. Although I do have a great respect for what your organization's name stands for and would like to support, your approach and methodologies to support the fledgling democracy in Ethiopia is rather destructive.

The fact that many so-called “civic and humanitarian” organizations like yours benefit from the chaos and instability of poor nations is a public secret. These big name organizations hiding behind big names pretend to stand for the poor and the voiceless and yet thrive from it. These organizations have more influence and some times play as the king maker in poor African countries like Ethiopia, and by doing so they remain relevant.

Where have your organization been when all the pre EPRDF governments were killing and jailing our people? Where were you when the people of Ethiopia turn into mass beggars? Where were you when the nations and nationalities of Ethiopia were living ashamed and afraid of whom they are?

Now when Ethiopia is starting to make use of its vast human and natural resources, and is starting to show some development and baby steps to democracy, you are siding with those individuals who were part of the military dictator running his red and white squad and states who have ill will against Ethiopia.

Concerning the Election: The necessary ingredients for a democratic election were there:

As the European Observer Mission (EUOM) stated, the election process was calm, high turn out, and peaceful. That means 32 million Ethiopians were able to exercise freely their right and opportunity to choose. The EUOM also praised the National Electoral Board of Ethiopia (NEBE)-the organization entrusted to conduct the election process) for conducting a “competent and professional” election process. This means that the NEBE was fair - able to conduct honest balloting and counting. The competitors were free to assemble, they were able to move freely and safely in all corners or the land, and were free to speak (however vulgar and inciting) on public media and other sources. The private and international media like the Voice of America has given the opposition more media coverage than was given to the Government.  

Concerning EUOM’s criticism that NEBE has “failed to gain the confidence of opposition political parties,” is misplaced. Who is at fault here? Could it be that the opposition continued to seek and depend on foreign entities than respecting the hard work and integrity of its own citizens? If the EUOM can see the NEBE as competent and professional, why cannot the opposition? Perhaps it is that they are not willing.

Lack of playing field: Even in the most advanced western democracies, the parties or individuals ruining for office do not compete on a playing field. The ones with more money, strong grass roots level organizational structure, and the ones perceived to have a good chance of winning (most likely favorites) the election will have more resources than others will. In this regard, EPRDF’s organizational maturity and leadership experience as well as its discipline is not comparable, by any measure, with the ad hock leadership of the opposition (MEDREK). The EPRDF has utilized effectively its allotted airtime and print Medias. Unlike the EPRDF, the opposition (especially MEDREK) failed to make use of their allotted airtime and print media. They wasted valuable time with in internal squabbles and a trip (pilgrimage) to the US .

Why EPRDF did win such a landslide? Although the lack of a meaningful alternative (opposition) contributed to the outcome, the fundamental reason to EPRDF’s success is that it (EPRDF) worked hard to provide an avenue for the participation of women, minorities, and disadvantaged groups, who traditionally have had less access to politics and governance, and who happen to be the more than 90% of the Ethiopian population. Respect the Will of these people!

Ermias/TX