“Hope Springs Eternal through…..” like Barren-Hope Feleke Ayalew 08/11/13   It’s been years of disappointment considering Ethiopia’s opposition parties' silliness. Most of them don’t seem to know anything about medium or long term plans. They are a bunch of short-term fixated opportunists. And their short–term goal happens to be a short cut to power without election or the wish of the electorate. These opportunists instead of seeking the democratic will of their people, they chose to romanticize with foreign controlled democracy. They on the surface might claim that ‘they are after the political office operating within the constitutional frame work’; but what we will find once we scratch their surface is that, a prayer that goes something like 'Dear foreign forces, we ask you to help us seize the power (at whatever cost).’ And in order to shorten the ladder to power with the help of these forces, they propagate about what they really don’t understand and also which happens to be a complete misfit to them- that is Neo-liberalism. They summon on meetings these foreign forces host on account of their own political interest and are even hopeless delusional who jump with joy, thinking they're getting into the “Arat kilo palace” every time these foreign force call upon their name. They don't even care that these forces called them angling for their own end. Senior opposition parties, who operated within the multi-party system for years without a single clear policy and strategy while putting their one leg on the democratic pedal, and the other on their un-democratic personality which emanates from ‘the grass is always greener on the other side’ type of opposition and the new opposition parties who barely celebrated their one-year anniversary – are 'one and the same.' And I don’t need to try hard to back this statement with proof. Mentioning the recent interview given by Engineer Yeliqal Getnet President of ‘the Blue Party’; who after only a year of registration from the election board managed to stage mass demonstration and float the agenda of opposition-fanatics profiteers operating under the guise of religion, with ‘Lomi’ magazine is enough. In this interview the engineer slash politician said “I put up an ‘analysis’ about the situation in Ethiopia and the region in front of 35 foreign donor countries dignitaries at the American embassy'’, which reflects this reality. The fact is the engineer's summon to the American embassy is a testament to our country’s burgeoning democratic system and culture not to be taken out of proportion, like he did in his interview with the journalist. Because the occupation of an Embassy residing in another country is to serve as a bridge between the host and the sending countries, not to dwell (interfere) in the host country’s internal matters. So, it’s my belief that the engineer’s proposed ‘analysis’ whatever that maybe cannot serve more than as a sort of general knowledge to the embassy. That is if the engineer; who clearly demonstrated his amateurish political posture with this action, has the ability and eloquence to give analysis about our country or the region. All in all It’s the belief of the writer of this article, issues the Blue party president voiced at the American embassy like, “I tried to show my party’s alternative Policy; ‘the Ambassadors’ have asked me if the Arab spring’ can be exported here’; ‘I’ve declared that my party will come out as winner in the ’07 election’ and also ‘I’ve put pressure on them to intervene on the case of those who were arrested simply because of their political inclinations and the fact that they demanded the government to not interfere in religious affairs’,” is not only baffling but also puts light on the embarrassingly dunce political posit thinking of the man. This comment or interview that is devoid of sturdy personality and reality, which also happen to include prophetic-like predictions in addition to his clearly demonstrated undemocratic approaches; like undermining  an ongoing judicial-court-bound case of religious fanatics and alleged terrorists through floating it  as his own agenda, goes out to show his amateurish capacity. It’s my belief that the 'good' engineer and his party are not only ‘not-ready’ to canvas these kind of issues, but also as a rookie politician they have to finish political school, since they are in baby steps for a full-fledged opposition. Going through the man’s alleged buoyant barren hope like ‘commentary or presentation’ will shade light on how tried to finesse his way through his fledgling and tiny supporters along with foreign Ambassadors with a non-existing personality. First let us see what policies the infant 'Blue – Party’ have in store. Does the ‘Engineer’s party' really have an alternate policy? ....... First it’s helpful to understand what it means when the good old Engineer Yiliqal say an 'Alternative policy’. Any way what does even an 'Alternative policy' really means? --------------- 'Alternative policy' means providing peace, development and democratic path different from the governing party in detailed manner. In light with this, Ethiopia’s opposition parties aside from spewing close–minded (hateful) blabber on the ruling party’s work and propagating Neo–liberal scraps which they are not familiar with, don’t seem to have any kind of strategy. They didn't in the past either. Their main policy and strategy is to seek, escalate (exploit) and to propagate as an agenda, any problem and grievances that might occur as a result of the country’s socio-economic realities. But it’s not surprising considering senior opposition political parties don’t have any lucid policies themselves. So what the rambling Engineer means when he say ‘alternative policy', is to continually blacken everything the ruling party’s is doing, not offer his own distinct political programmer or direction. It can be understood from their unsavory analysis that the party's agenda (game-plan) is to capitalize by bad–mouthing others work. Likewise the party instead of teach their plan to the public; they are continually involved in blackening the governments every move, while colliding with the constitution by undermining the rule of law and apologizing for alleged fundamentalists. So, I believe Engineer Yiliqal’s party has never heard of 'alternative policy’, let alone have one. The other thing that baffled the writer of this article is engineer’s not germane like barren-hope quote, which goes out like; ''will the Arab spring come  to Ethiopia?” of course this quote goes out to show the man and his parties’ desire of having power through short cut without the will of the people. But, I think it’s better for him to understand that this kind of day dreaming won’t happen in the new –Ethiopia’s reality, since it’s obvious that the ‘out of lunch’ Engineer is not aware of both Ethiopia’s current state and the root cause of the 'Arab spring'. Although his revolt-crazed propagation is nothing more than a testament to his  I think it’s helpful to readdress (understand) the Arab world’s revolution. As it’s known the Arab world’s social strata which caused the revolution is totally different to our country’s reality. Most of the Arab world is not familiar with democracy, are ruled by kings and emirs, the hefty sum gained from the oil resource goes directly to the pocket of very few and the fact that the worsening condition of the living of the majority are the few reasons mentioned for the social revolution that erupted (two years ago). On top of this, the governments’ in ability to cope with the growing cost of living and to create jobs for the youth made them victim to the revolution. When we shift to Ethiopia, the situation is totally different. Democratic Multi–party system have been developing (rooting) in the country for the last 22 years, it was confirmed from the last four electoral process that power (political office) is gained by the vote of the people. Also the ruling party that is governing the country has been able to achieve on average, more than 10% of economic growth for the last nine years, and benefit the people on every level. It has especially been able to let the youth and women benefit from the country's development through setting them up on micro and small scale enterprises. Therefore, Engineer Yiliqal’s desired Arab world’s revolution will never be exported to Ethiopia– it will always be the illusion of the blue party and its masters. We all know that our people being administered by the government’s accurate developmental direction and policies, is guaranteed of its benefit and is hopeful for the future considering the Grand Transformational Plan (GTP). This is why the public is mobilized from border to border sacrificing its own food for the realization of the GERD. As any of my readers can attest, this patriotic (good-hearted) and rational people cannot be fazed, for the sake of revolt–crazed ambitions, by what these Neo–liberal fanatic’s domestic liaison disseminate. The people don’t want to shade the last 22 peaceful years of sunshine, with the color revolutionaries' lackey's day-dream. It doesn’t also want the democratic system process which safeguards its ‘unity within diversity’, to be reversed backward by everything-that-happened-in-the-world-should-happen-here-too, havoc fanatics. So, people who are enjoying these benefits won’t have any reason to think about the 'alien' Arab revolution. The engineer and his minion party should know that the Arab –like revolution barren –hope exists only on the engineer’s revolt –nostalgic head. This chaos-crazed squad by the name of Blue Party disseminated Instinct-driven propagation; without understanding the realities of the country, goes out to clearly show their knowledge of our country and the people are walled within their own ignorance –circuited minds. It’s embarrassing to see them talk about 'fast growing Ethiopia', from pure hateful (close minded) point of view or even without understanding their master’s Agenda. The party is out-dated and color revolution nostalgic, betting on neo-liberal fanatics instead of its people. However, they should know that the people doesn’t have a hint of interest to host a political party who is after buttering-up it’s masters’ color -revolution failure wounds and the usual riot-mongering that erupts from time to time (like every other opposition parties), by stepping–out of the development track. Its unrealistic day-dream for Arab-like revolution is the same as chasing 'UNICORNS'. The other thing that proved our country’s opposition parties’ ‘get the power at whatever means’ principle without having any kind political objective and goal, is engineer Yiliqal’s shame-laden (distasteful) claim or prediction of his party’s win of ’07 election, which also undermines the people’s sovereign right. Of course it’s not forbidden to dream, and anybody can blabber whatever they want. The engineer not only has the right to say that he‘ll win the '07 election, but also claim he will one day replace G/secretary Ban Ki Moon for the UN secretary in two years time. But, then again a dream (desire) has to be based on competence and tamed with feasibility; fantasizing the impossible and the impractical cannot be more than “Vanity”. From this light, the engineer’s few months’ old party is still feeble. It’s not even known within the public, and the party doesn’t have any objective and goals except for flat-out opposing. A party with no clear and known (distinct) political direction declaring its victory of an election two years in advance is ambiguous to say the least. However, this declaration (comment) forces us to suspect something. That is the party with the backing of neo-liberal fanatics is getting ready for a color revolution by undermining (taking away) the peoples’ sovereign control of ultimate power. However, this kind of lackey antics has tried and failed during election '97 and election '07, and it won’t succeed now. Why? Because there aren’t any strata in our country current state suitable for a color revolution to take place. Ethiopia’s democratic Multi–party system wouldn’t give a chance (an opening) for this kind of anti –people antics, not now not ever. I think if the party may be is nominated by neo-liberal fanatics; who by losing out options to get into the country’s internal affairs are screening unpatriotic, power-crazed oppositions that can help undertake color revolution to take-away the people’s power through riot, then they should look in to themselves real hard. A short cut to power through foreign forces calculated blood-spilling color revolution not only is out-of-the-way in Ethiopia, but also couldn’t possibly be done (in the current reality). It’s even a shameful act that could put the party to be charged with ant–constitutionalism. So, it would be of be behoove of me, if I were to suggest as a concerned citizen to the Engineer and his Party the saying ‘be good for your own good’, because it would be very sickening to see the ‘Blue party’ as a ‘foreign forces driven venomous political lackey’ as opposed to a peaceful grass root domestic opposition party. The other thing the erratic engineer propagated was ‘I underpinned to the Ambassadors that journalists are being imprisoned because they criticized the government, its interference in religious matters and for their political attitude (inclination)”. Floating not only this entirely unfounded lies but interfering with judicial courts bound case is not totally acceptable. It’s known that there are no journalists imprisoned for the simple fact of their article in our country. Those who are under lawful incarceration are the ones who are either convicted of criminal enterprising or alleged of criminal activities. All things considered the government like other governments in the world has the right and responsibility to uphold and protect the country’s rules and law. So, curbing any anti –government and anti –people activities and protecting its citizen falls within the shoulder of the government. Thus the regime has the duty to those who violate the law or acting unlawfully be it journalists or engineers, government officials or politicians or any other citizen to bring them to the law. Therefore, it imperative to understand that there is no procedures that allow a criminal to walk free because he’s a journalist – since a ‘criminal is a criminal’ no matter his choice of profession. Considering this, the engineer’s grapevine is not only unacceptable but also a false statement given which undermines the rule of law, and should be amended. The blue party which has panache for supporting religious fundamentalist as a political ploy is striving to create a ‘hyper reality’ which suggests the government is interfering in religious matters. This is what he told to the Ambassadors in the American embassy – using the journalists. This could be one the routes to color revolution by obliterating peace and spewing unfounded anti-constitutional talk by aligning with riot-mongering ‘religious politicians’. The party should accept the bitter reality that its hope of religious riot is not acceptable with the majority of the Muslim community. The party should have done its home work, cause had they done that they would known Ethiopian Muslims, within itself and with other religions, always had a respectful and brotherly relationship. This historical and long standing tradition won’t be tempered by very few religious fanatics. The Muslim community; which adhere to peaceful and loving living, like every other Ethiopian citizen knows fully well the blessings of peace, unlike the wish of the blue party. Since the community knows the glee not agony of the country’s peace, there are no possible (logical) reasons for it to pay attention to a very small anti–peace forces. Taking into account it’s (adherence) appreciation to peace, it doesn’t want to host any kind of rampage from anti–constitutional forces like the Engineer’s riot-praising party and a very small fundamentalists. Not only this, the Muslim community now understands (appreciates) the government’s pursuit of the small member of venomous and ‘anti –peace’ force stacked within the portion of the community; who were carrying lawful question citing the constitution’s article which stipulates the ‘separation of religion and state’, as part of its duty of upholding the ‘rule of law. The community is also aware of the Blue party- lobbied fundamentalism breaks freedom of religion; which is part of human rights, by imposing ‘only follow my faith’ type of forceful and inhumane anti-democratic attitude. Most of the followers seeing how unlawful congregation are carried out, how riot-propagating flyers were given out by coming from abroad and how a riot call is been giving by taking away with force microphones from the pulpit of religious father’s in the middle of a sermon etc … now understands with confidence that the government is doing its duty of upholding the rules and law of the land without interfering with religious matters. It has since then closed all riot avenues recognizing politicians like the engineer and religious fundamentalist readiness to steer it’s just demands into their own havoc path and an unwanted direction. With this peaceful loving behavior, it was able to oust small rioters stacked within from the majority Muslim community. So, this act is not comfortable for the wish of the Blue party. This why I am arguing vehemently that the party’s riot craze won’t be quenched it’s just abrader hope. Because what they have in their court are a very small fundamentalist; who like their party are ready to terrorize by cutting through religion and state separation, not the majority peace–loving Muslim community.