Hillary Rodham Clinton attempts to form parallels for non-parallels

By Balcha Huressa   07/06/10 

Although the diplomatic relationship between Ethiopia and America has remained cemented for years, various misunderstandings and misinterpretations have been made either by a few American individuals or the State Department. One of the typical examples is the recent comment by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.     

She said that intolerant governments across the glob are crushing activists, closing the walls for civic organizations, religious groups, rights advocates, and other non governmental organizations.

She mentioned Ethiopia as one of these countries. The point is that either she has no information about the country or she has determined to back the few Americans who have been attempting to distort the image of Ethiopia describing it wrongly or blindly paying little attention to the facts on the ground.

Unlike what Hillary Clinton said, the democratic and political space has been widening in Ethiopia. There is freedom of expression in the country. As a result, there are various private media that serve people to express their free thoughts and political agendas. Secondly, the 4^th national election witnessed how democracy has thrived in the country. Thirdly, the constitution never allows the government to interfere in religion and vice versa. Fourthly, a conducive atmosphere has created for civic organizations to fill the gaps in serving the Ethiopian society.     

Therefore, the issue raised on Ethiopia by Hillary Clinton holds no water. It’s simply the reflection of what anti-development of Ethiopia and the prosperity of Ethiopians have been claiming for years, which doesn’t reflect the reality on the ground.     No matter what the American Senators or the State Department leveled Ethiopia, Ethiopians have not only the courage but also the stamina and determination to walk their own ways.

The democracy in Ethiopia is not to make the developed countries like America happy but it is the very objective of the ruling party and the Ethiopian people. It is, therefore, inappropriate to blindly criticize what is going on in Ethiopia.   

Many scholars believe that America lacks respecting the interest of its ally, Ethiopia, in many ways. Various Reports from the State Department had focused on hearsays and lacked logical arguments. Hillary’s statement on closing the walls for civic and religious organization is one of the typical indicators for this fact.

Hillary Rodham Clinton attempts to form parallels for non-parallels. There is no parallel at all between what she said and the reality on the ground. In fact, this is something usual. So much was said so far. Many unfounded stories are being and will be presented about Ethiopians and Ethiopia. But Ethiopians will remain tolerant to all the blind allegations and prefer to put them aside. They rather have strengthened their efforts towards pulling their country out of the quagmire of poverty.