Siye Abraha and Ethiopian Election 2010 politics

Zeru Hagos  Jan 28, 2010

Last time Aite Siye Abraha was in the states I was bemused by his choice of bad selection (so I thought!) of having the Atse flag in front of him and said “entay weridewo!) what is wrong with him?

 Today I am speechless! Why you say!  Well, Siye commenting on his recent trip to Tigrai said,( listen to the interview) according to his supporters in the area ,if the coming election is to be free and fair as much as Atse Haileselassie elections were  the people of Tembien will surely vote for him!

Never mind election during the Atse era was simply a farce where the Dejazmach, Gerazmachs’s (Nobel person) and few aristocrats run. And never mind Siye the idealist rose to challenge that very system and defeated the system along with the leftovers of that system- the Derge and likes! But how does Siye explain the fact that he run and won twice in the same area before? Who elected him then? I am sure his supporters will not say election 1995, 2000 was just like the election during Atse Haileselassie era. If so am I glad Tehadeso came in  time before the third woyane revolution started, for it was Atse Haileselassie brutal and corrupt system that got started first and second woyane revolution.

 What made me speech less is though, Siye’s assertion that “TPLF cannot defeat Siye” (tay koyna eya TPLF zeytesereka ata hawna!)why can’t TPLF defeat you! Siye is your beef with your once upon a time individual comrades or with the organization that is built and nourished with our thousands of martyred brothers and sisters? How is that possible any of the millions of Tigreans who support TPLF will be unable to defeat you in a fair and free election?

 I am sure your opposition will have a readymade answer to my question and tell me…duh! Don’t you get it! Election 2010 is nowhere close to be like the election Ethiopia had during the Atse days thus Siye is right to say  what he said about his supporters. He can only win if the clock rolls back and feudalism sets in and elections are run according to the whims of a king! The only problem is that Atse Haileselassie is dead and if UDJ agrees with Siye and his supporters then they must crown a king fast, unless they have crowned one already behind the door!  That is what I think your opposition will say and I am sure they will use this during campaign time. But for heaven sake Siye! What is that the people from Tembien see in UDJ Siye and are willing to vote for you over Teklay of TPLF?

Over the years many political organizations, for some reasons yet unexplained, undermined and belittled TPLF at their peril as we have come to realize today! EPRP, EDU, ELF, OLF and yes UDJ godfather Kinjit can attest to that!

TPLF does not live and die because individuals run it or betrays it. If it was so Siye’s TPLF will not have survived after Aregawi Berhe and Meles’s TPLF after Siye Abraha! TPLF strength comes from its idea. An idea any Ethiopian can carry and win not only over an individual but also over nature! Aite Siye have you seen the mountains of Degua Tembien and the valleys of Qola Tembien. They are witnesses to what TPLF idea means today!  I wonder what those supporters of yours saw in Tembien that tickled them to yearn for Atse time governance! Do not they like Tekeze Dam!