Professor Mesfin and the Issue of Enmity

By: Dagmawi Dawit, ethio_dagmawi@yahoo.com

INTRODUCTION

We have heard from few committed North American Diaspora Community members and media outlets known for wide and courageous coverage expressing disappointment against the speech delivered by the renowned human right activist, geographer, poet, historian, politician, and seasoned academician Professor Mesfin Woldemariam. He reportedly said, “EPRDF is not an enemy [of UDJP].”


PEACEFUL STRUGGLE

Make no mistake, for a party which is registered at the National Board of Election (NBE) submitting itself to a peaceful struggle, EPRDF is an opponent and not an enemy. UDJP is registered at NBE and pursuing to a peaceful struggle. Therefore, EPRDF is an opponent of UDJP, an adversary in contest. UDJP’s goal is to contest through ballot. Parties in the western countries, like the Democrats and Republicans of USA, are widely opponents. They compete for the voice of their people, literary contest to win. Their power emanates from their people by way of ballots. On the same token, UDJP is set to be part of establishing a democratic system in Ethiopia by contesting in election(s).

As we all know, it is the core value of a peaceful struggle to set parties contest for the people’s voice against their opponents (i.e. adversary in contest). Both winners and losers stay in what they achieve and loose. They will have seats in the same parliament and enact laws as a unit. The only difference between the winners and looser is that the winners gets to have its message through enacted laws, policies and regulations. Furthermore, it will take over the executive branch of the government. The judiciary branch of the government and the defense force including the law enforcement agencies suppose to stay neutral. Are we there now? Not yet, but that is what it takes for peaceful struggle

ARMED STRUGGLE

On the other hand, for those parties/fronts that are not registered at NBE and chose to pursue armed struggle, EPRDF is their enemy (i.e. a party/front who hates or seeks to harm them). For these parties/fronts, EPRDF is a party/front and a military force that fights against them in combat or battle. If they win, they will assume government power and bring EPRDF’s existence to end. They are not going to share parliament with EPRDF. Their power emanates from their barrel of guns and not from the voice of Ethiopian people via ballot. Unless they give a way to multiparty system, they may end up establishing another dictatorial government. We may not know at this point if they are for multiparty system or not.

Armed Struggle/ Peaceful Struggle (“Hulegeb Tigil”)

EPRP claims, “Despite the party's open and public declaration of a readiness to struggle peacefully and legally,” EPRDF lacks willingness to see EPRP as opponent and kept it EPRP out of the multiparty system it wishes to be partaker. It must be as a result of this that EPRP’s means of struggle could neither be considered peaceful or armed. No body has any knowledge if EPRP is for armed or peaceful struggle. The only sure thing we know is that EPRP without fail calls for “Hulegeb” struggle. In doing that, EPRP has aligned with Professors Beyene Petros and Merrara Gudina’s parties, parties which registered at NBE and have a seat in the parliament by pursuing peaceful struggle. On the other hand, it often calls for establishment of transitional government. At times, it calls for insurrection and public uprising and for the downfall of EPRDF. Hence, regardless of being the first party in our history, the writer is not sure how EPRP chose to pursue its struggle.

CONFUSED (MEHAL SEFARI) MEANS OF STRUGGLE

Sadly, from all corners of the aisles of Ethiopian political groups/fronts/parties, there are several people who do not know or want to understand the distinguishing features of peaceful struggle vs. armed struggle. If party chooses peaceful struggle, that means it submits itself to the core value of democracy and will contest to hold power through ballots. If it wins, it will hold a government power, form a government and pursue the policy of its choosing through the laws enacted prior to its coming to power or will enact anew.
However, few supporters of parties who chose the peaceful route tend to make grave mistake by considering EPRDF as enemy. For example, by his own admission a staunch supporter of CUD, a party registered at NBE and pursuing peaceful struggle, once wrote, “… [Any] one who does not consider this vicious Woyane Tigreans enemies of Ethiopia is an enemy of Ethiopia himself/herself.” (Please see http://www.kinijit.org/content_JIL.asp?ContentType=Opinion&contentid=2787.) And yet again, some media outlets were viciously collaborating in the attack against few vocalists. What I could not understand is that UDJP is in Ethiopia and pursuing peaceful struggle. What is wrong with singing about unity (Andnet) and Balager? (Please view http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6nnCFKyIXM&feature=related; and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eb3b3SlVE9k and be a judge to yourself.)


MISGUIDED AND UNFORTUNATE COMMENT

Some really good people made huge mistake by calling Professor Mesfin, “Politically Ignorant.” I respectfully dissent from this comment. Choosing a peaceful struggle does not make ignorant. Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, and Martin Luther King, Jr. were for peaceful struggle, and we all know they were the icons of the 20th century. Talking in line with peaceful struggle and walking the walk is not wrong. From the get go, Professor Mesfin is no fan of armed struggle. He is consistent and has not been flip-flopping between armed and peaceful struggle. Furthermore, I don’t think that we have to be reminded about who Mesfin is and his accomplishments. To call this beacon of peaceful struggle and staunch defender of human rights “ignorant” is very unfortunate.

We all know Mesfin is an Ethiopian peace activist, who has been actively engaged in a peaceful movement to bring justice, equality and peace for all the people in his country. He is a founding member of the Ethiopian Human Rights Counsel (EHRC), and later founded the Rainbow Ethiopia: Movement for Democracy and Social Justice which was the instrumental for creating Kinijit, the party which has been adored by millions of Ethiopians. He has published several major publications and won several awards for his contribution to humanity in general and Ethiopia in particular. How many publication of each of us have? What did we do for our country comparable to Mesfin’s five decades service and commitment to our country? We all know the answer, and I am not going to put it down here.

Once again, for parties who chose the peaceful route, “EPRDF is not [their] enemy.” He is right. With respect I would like to ditto the speech of father of our nation, the beacon of our history, the hope of our future democracy, Professor Mesfin Woldemarim!

Ditto Sir!

God bless Ethiopia!