Title source,

date

Author’s Statement

My Comments

1. In contempt of ... the truth

By Alemayehu G. Mariam, ethiomedia.com, September 28, 2009

The dictator [Prime Minister Meles, PM] boasted that his “ethnic federalism” policy had saved the “country [which] was on the brink of total disintegration.” He marshaled anonymous authorities to support his fabricated claim that he is the redeemer of the nation: “Every analyst worth his salt was suggesting that Ethiopia will go the way of Yugoslavia or the Soviet Union. What we have now is a going-concern."

Isn’t it a fact that adoption of ethnic federalism kept the country intact? What would have been the alternative? The alternative would have been another Somalia. The numerous ethnic-based liberation fronts, including those that were created immediately after the fall of the Derg, were ready to fight for autonomy or secession. EPRDF with limited fighters, armaments and resources was not in a position to control the potential chaos. Peace prevailed when the EPRDF invited the forces and other organizations to draw up the transitional charter that lead to the adoption of the constitution that facilitated the creation of the ethnic-based federal system. Conclusion: the PM/EPRDF saved the country from “total disintegration.” Thanks to the PM/EPRDF Ethiopia now enjoys peace, stability and security and is in the process of democratization and development.

With respect to the second quotation, yes it was widely expected by analysts and the international community that Ethiopia was destined to disintegrate like Yugoslavia or the Soviet Union. The PM did not, therefore, need to “marshal anonymous authorities” (whoever they are) to repeat what the world was predicting. In view of this, he would be justified to claim that he and his group had redeemed the nation. In this connection, I never heard or read the PM claiming he is the “redeemer of the nation.”

2. Behind Zenwai’s Pathological Obsession with Sympathy Invitation to G8/G20 Summits by Selam Beyene, PhD, ethiolion.com, October 2009

Shunned by most of the world for his crimes against humanity, isolated as a despot because of his brutal treatment of peaceful protesters following the May 2005 elections, and reviled as a leader of one of the most corrupt and racist regimes in the world today, Zenawi has incessantly been lobbying unscrupulous African diplomats in Addis and other groups in the West for a sympathy invitation to every summit held by the G8 and G20 economies over the last several years.

The write-up is, as is the case with those from sources of the likes of the writer, loaded with all kinds of lies, exaggerations, denials, spinning, etc. The introductory paragraph shown in the middle column, however, seems somewhat new—hence requiring comment.

 The words ‘shunned’, ‘isolated’ and  ‘reviled’ are out of place in relation to PM Meles. On the contrary he is a respected African leader with high standing in the world community. The international awards, prizes and honorary degrees he received, in addition to chairing and co-chairing many African and international organizations and conferences—the latest being chairing discussions on climate change at the UN General Assembly— attest to this fact. His African colleagues chose him to represent them at the G-8 and G-20 summits as well as at the Copenhagen global conference on climate change. It should be recalled that both President Clinton and Prime Minister Tony Blair recognized his all rounded knowledge and ability and the latter invited him to participate in promoting African interests at the G-20 summits. Such credentials of the Prime Minister say it all and make nonsense of the writer’s allegations and accusations. (See “Ethiopia: Forging Ahead On the Road Toward Meaningful Democracy and Development”, by Tesfaye Habisso, aigaforum.com, 10/02/09).

3. VOA Amharic Program, 10/05/09

[In his statement during the opening session of parliament President Girma referred to the 10% rate of economic growth during the past six consecutive years. Dr. Merara Gudena reacted by saying the 10% is a “creation” of the government and the standard of living of the ordinary person has not improved.]

The statement in the middle column is a rendering of a report by the VOA Amharic language aired on 10/05/09. What Dr. Merera Gudina said is nothing new. It is a mantra of the oppositions and their supporters. They have been denying the growth rates, which third parties, including bilateral and multilateral donors, have been confirming. According to the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative, Fidele Sarassoro “though the economic growth witnessed slight decline currently as compared to the previous years, it will definitely fix up as the global economic slowdown is getting better.” This indicates the confidence third parties have on the fast growing Ethiopian economy. Donors

monitor how their aids are utilized and what changes and results they bring to the country. They know that, unlike in some countries, the government uses their aid properly. Because of this they have been substantially increasing their support from year to year, although the aid on a per capita basis is still very low compared to other aid receiving African countries.

Now, it is undeniable that the people of Ethiopia have become beneficiaries of the impressive changes—peace, stability (discounting ICG’s false warning), democracy and development—brought about by the government, changes oppositions and supporters do no want to admit and others to know. As to the standard of living, yes millions of Ethiopians lead better living thanks to right government policies, priorities, strategies and implementation of critical public programs and projects. Yes, there are, however, millions waiting their turn to join the ranks of the self-reliant and the successful. While adopting market-oriented economy the Chinese have been reported to have said a few Chinese have to be rich before all Chinese become rich. This applies to Ethiopians as well and it is working. Let us hope that the negative impact of the recent global recession on the fast economic and social development in the country will be minimal. 

As a learned person holding a PhD, and a professor at that, Dr. Merera knows there are a number of reasons (which he ignores) why the lot of all Ethiopians cannot improve over night. They include:

• stagnant economy during the previous regimes and therefore accumulation of worsening conditions;

• high rate of population growth (2 million per year) thereby absorbing a good part of increased production;
• inadequacy of resources (financial and trained manpower);
• inadequate infrastructure (physical and institutional);
• starting at very low level of development aggravated by backwardness and abject poverty;
• time consuming switching from communist to capitalist system;
• changing work attitude and ethics of the people inevitably requiring time;
• sabotage by feudal and Derg remnants and members and supporters of oppositions; and
•  increasing frequency of devastating drought.

In all honesty, Dr. Merera and his likes should have recognized these impediments and congratulated the government for its success against all of these odds, including the obstacles he and his likes create.

The TPLF "kilil" is an arbitrary drawn line that has no legitimacy in the Ethiopians eye and we are not going to be scared by what will happen after the demise of TPLF and its servants.

We know the divide and rule of Kilil politics is on its last breath and it is up to us to deny them the remaining available Oxygen by saying no to Kilil Politics and rejecting their election circus this coming summer.

What is arbitrary about the kilil boundary? The kilil structure encompasses nations/nationalities with the same or similar ethnic group(s), languages, traditions and cultures. It is in fact the most logical of all other options for the specific complex conditions pertaining in Ethiopia. It is accepted, supported and defended by the people of Ethiopia except a tiny minority, both at home and abroad. In plain language there will not be Ethiopia without it. In other words, the tiny minority are wasting their time in wishful thinking and hallucinating that the “kilil politics is on its last breath…” It should be recalled that they have, since day one, been predicting the end of EPRDF and its government and, therefore, that of kilil.

The writer tells us Kilil politics is on its way out, meaning his likes will take over no matter  “what will happen after the demise of TPLF and its servants.” In other words, they will do anything (Yetim Fichew Duketun Amichew) to usurp power and like the proverbial donkey (ene kemotku serdo aybqel) are not bothered by the dire consequences. It is a fact that the writer and his likes have one and only one common objective, to remove the EPRDF government. The sure thing is, assuming they succeed—which is highly unlikely—they will turn against one another. We have seen time and again how self-centered the leaders of parties have been and have been playing against one another—both within and among parties—in order to be at the helm (see Reporter interview with Eng. Hailu, 11/08/09). We have seen how undemocratic they are, for instance, not participating in and walking out of meetings objecting to the participation of certain party(ies). Competition would be hundred fold ugly within the marriage of convenience of disparate groups compared to that within a single group subscribing to the same ideology. The possibility that they will agree on one of them to occupy the premiership is practically nil. Fighting among them like the Somali war lords is what would await them, thus plunging the country into endless chaos and terrorism worse than in Somalia.                            

5. Ethiopia - 44% of Ethiopians undernourished – FAO Report, nazret.com,

10/15/09

35 million Ethiopians or about 44% (reduced from 71% in 1990-92 to 44% in 2004-06) of the total population are undernourished according to a report released by the UN Food and Agriculture Organaization (FAO)…This compares to… 66% in Eritrea…

This item may look out of place for it does not relate to a specific writing by the naysayers. It does, however, expose the numerous vocal naysayers who not only vehemently deny that there have been positive changes, that there has been development, etc. but also claim that the Ethiopians are worse off than during the previous regimes. They welcome and exploit any negative statements, whether justified or not, by foreigners. On the contrary they attack the foreigners when the latter say or write in favor of the incumbent government, as is often the case. They behave as if they know more than the foreigners when, in fact, it is the other way round. Through their close contacts and working relationships, including implementing, monitoring and evaluating programs and projects they finance, using their field staff and missions, they know in detail what goes on. In other words, most of what they say and write is based on facts, not on hearsays.

So, despite the high population increase and all other challenging obstacles (see item 3 above), the government was able to reduce the number of malnourished Ethiopians from 71% in 1990-1992 to 44% by 2006. With the high rate of economic growth post 2006 it is likely that the figure was substantially lower by 2007/08. It is unfortunate that, because of the current drought and economic situation, the rate of decrease may be affected in the short run. The public works being carried out under the Productive Safety Net Program (PSNP), in addition to graduating more and more participants to self-reliance, will contribute to enhancing the overall development and therefore to the reduction of the number of the undernourished. Recently the World Bank approved $480 million of which $350 million is grant “to support an innovative program” which “has registered some impressive results”, i.e. the PSNP. This aid will surely contribute to and enhance the implementation of the PSNP covering 7 million people in all states except Addis Ababa as well as to overall development. Note that these people are dependent for half of the year every year—they cannot grow enough food for the whole year.

6.

WASHINGTON UPDATE, ethiolion.com, October 15, 2009

Famine still stalks the Ethiopian countryside.  In areas of the country not favored by the ruling regime many people are starving.

Right now millions of Ethiopians face the choice of supporting the regime or seeing their families slowly starves to death.

It [Ethiopia] should seek to use the resources of the Blue Nile and Awash rivers to foster the introduction of extensive agriculture. The projects would also yield electricity via hydroelectric power benefiting wide areas of Ethiopian life.

Which are the areas not favored by the government and starving? The pockets of drought prone areas are mainly in the north, northeast, east and south. If Ethiolion.com is referring to those in the Afar and Somali states they do receive aid as those in other drought areas. These states are, in fact, among the disadvantages states that are given special status with access to more budgetary allocations and other resources. Many projects are under implementation that would enable them catch up with the more advanced states. People who do not support the government face starvation to death is, of course, a myth.  

Since the current government is engaged in implementing comprehensive policies, plans, priorities, programs and strategies there is nothing left for the opposition to articulate. So what do they do: echo what the government does and own it as if it is new. A case in point is Ethiolion.com’s solution to the recurrent drought: the last paragraph in the middle column. Isn’t this what the incumbent government is exactly doing and will continue to do so?

7. Brian Stewart and CBC a journalist and a media Ethio-Canadians never stop worrying about, by Aie Zu Guo, ethioilion.com, 10/19/09

… But with the right agriculture policy, this could be offset through the introduction of irrigation.

…Three federal elections were held and won by the incumbent regime with 99.9% vote since 1991…

Monthly the GoE pays US$50,000 (US$ 600,000/year) to DLP Piper a US lobbying firm…

The writer is obviously unhappy about the positive impressions of Mr. Brian Stewart on Ethiopia. The figures in the first and third statements reveal his lack of perception of statistics. To prove his argument he gave us numbers that do not make sense. It is apparent he cannot concoct by any stretch of the imagination the years in the parenthesis and arrive at three-year intervals. The frequencies work out to 4, 10 and 2 years. In regard with the federal elections it is a folly to write that the incumbent government won by 99.9% margin in three consecutive elections. Had this been true there would have not been a single opposition member of parliament.

As observed by many writers, oppositions have practically no policies on development. They resort to and propose policies that the government has been and is implementing (see item 6 above). “The introduction of irrigation” the author proposed is another case in point. He has the audacity to inform readers of his brand new idea of developing irrigation!

In regard to lobbying, please refer to item 4 of PART 15. From the way the statement reads one gets the impression that the GoE is still paying DLP. This is absolutely false.

8 MELES REGIME INTENSIFIES ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION, by EPRP, ethiolion.com, October 22/2009

The regime that has imported genetically modified seeds has also intensified the use of dangerous fertilizers that have harmed the soil and contributed to pollution.

As with all EPRP’s writings this one is a litany of repetitive lies, exaggerations, innuendos, etc. That in the middle column is one of them. Which genetically modified seeds have been imported? EPRP has not given one as an example because there is none.

EPRP writers do not seem to know what they are talking about when they say “intensified the use of dangerous fertilizers.” Firstly, it is a fact that the use of fertilizers per hectare in Ethiopia is among the lowest, if not the lowest, in Africa. Secondly, to characterize fertilizers as dangerous is bizarre. If fertilizers were that “dangerous” how come the world continues to use them for over a century at increasing per hectare rates, several multiple times that of Ethiopia? Except in rare circumstances, we do not hear of adverse impacts due to the appropriate use of fertilizers. This means farmers should be trained and guidance provided to minimize harmful unintended results. Does EPRP have any suggestions to increase the badly needed agricultural productivity or yield without fertilizers? I am sure the government would adopt it if it works and is cheaper than fertilizers. If EPRP has in mind the use of compost, farmers, thanks to the government, are already producing and using it in increasing quantities. Unfortunately, the nutrient content is low compared with fertilizers. Please note that fertilizers are, at this juncture, needed to double, triple, etc. yield to meet the fast growing demand for food. Besides, the Ethiopian soil continues to be denuded by rain and wind thereby losing its naturally occurring nutrients that need to be replaced. There appears to be no alternative to intensive use of fertilizers supplemented by compost in the face of the ever-diminishing yield and size of farming plots. 

9 Every crisis is a blessing in disguise for TPLF'

By Tesfaye Kebede, Sidist Kilo, ethiomedia.com,

October 27, 2009

TransEthiopia, a sister company of EFFORT, which has an absolute monopoly in heavy freight transportation sector in Ethiopia, is the biggest beneficiaries of famine. Almost all contracts to transport the food from ports [notably the Port of Djibouti and Port Sudan] to different distribution centers in the country are provided to this company without bids…As a result of this, foreign donors are paying disproportionately high amount of their fund for transportation. By the time the food reaches the end users, its total cost mostly is as much as twice the price of buying it at the local market…In a rare event TransEthiopia is unable to do it on its own, the job is subcontracted to other private companies at a significant amount of commission.

Note some of the key words: absolute monopoly, without bids and subcontracted.

They reflect purely and simply hate politics. Let us look at the first one. The writer has the temerity to write that one and only one company, TransEthiopia, has an absolute (total, 100%) monopoly. Sad, he and his likes think they can fool readers by simply making general statements without supporting evidences. He is telling us, the readers, that he can fool us, including the donors. He is insulting the donors for not knowing what they are doing, wasting taxpayers money by paying transport cost considerably higher than normal. He must be a fool to accuse them of not doing their jobs properly. He is, in other words, saying they should be held accountable.

10 Sales men for China and Ethiopia on World Focus Radio !!! by Tedla Asfaw, ethiolion.com, 10/31/09

The least we Ethiopians in the diaspora do is to stop the Starbucks and others exploit our people with collaboration with unelected regime in Ethiopia.

The writer accuses the government of collaborating with Starbucks and others in exploiting Ethiopian coffee farmers. On the contrary what the government is doing is helping them get their fair share. No amount of lie and spinning can change this fact. The Ethiopian Commodity Exchange (ECX) is in the process of establishing branches to enable farmers’ easy access to latest price information and facilitate transactions. As a result they have already started to benefit from the new arrangement. Currently ECX is in the process of making use of existing local warehouses, ‘Field Warehousing,’ and arranging for specialty coffee farmers to deal directly with international buyers. It should be recalled that coffee farmers have previously been at the mercy of unscrupulous coffee middlemen, traders and exporters. In other words, they now are in a position to maximize their benefits and get paid immediately.