Web Letters: Bush's Somalia Strategy Enables an Ethiopian Despot

Aleqa, thank you for your response.

"Maybe through dialog, peaceful demonstrations and strikes, and applying pressure....(all these are being done by may courageous people right now).

But demonizing the government or violent demonstrations and actions, in my opinion may retard our move to democracy and could lead to instability...I support our move towards democracy while doing everything possible to avoid conflict and chaos, and not just wait and see what might happen."

I completely agree. Even though it seems that the government has taken peace out of the option by arresting and getting rid of those who sought a peaceful way, and frustrating many and making us feel helpless, we have to hold onto the belief that there is always a peaceful way. What we have to do is not drop peace as an option but try harder and be smarter to go around the obstacles. But we have to also realize that this is putting a very high expectation on those involved in the struggle and we should never forget that people wouldn't have to be subjected to all that had the government been willing to talk genuinely.

One thing I would like to stress, though, is regardless of the pressure we put on our government, if such governments as the United States continue to stand by its side and provide it a way to relieve that pressure, the government will never listen to its people. (And I am not talking about humanitarian support). So, I think, just like you want some westerners to stop demanding a "quick" democracy, it also seems fair and makes sense to want the likes of the US to stop supporting.

"Most people will agree that a violent overthrow of this government will lead to civil war, right?"

That is a matter of perspective and speculation. Even though for a very short period of time, Ethiopians have proved to be remarkably calm during a power vacuum in the past. Perhaps it could be different after this government's introduction of ethnic federalism (which is fine in principle), but it is still speculation.

However, I do understand why you brought it up. Whether we believe it is going to lead to chaos or not, we should do our best to try to break the cycle of changing governments with violence.

M. M. Sibhat

Los Angeles, California, US

The main reason I wrote my comments was to add perspective to the views of foreigners regarding the current situation in Ethiopia. I believe foreigners need to take into context the previous governments that we had, the progress currently being made, and the potential for instability and conflict (as a result of our current political climate and historical and ethnic background) before condemning this government entirely. I mentioned China not because it has particular similarities with Ethiopia, but because they are having difficulties achieving democracy, just as we are.

Ethiopians amongst ourselves have our work cut out for us in getting involved in discussions, debates and working towards achieving democratic progress. I acknowledge the faults of the government, but I advocate a gradual movement towards reaching our democratic goals, while avoiding the risks of instability and chaos. Of course, a time may come when change might be necessary at all costs, if the situation under this government reaches a certain point. I don't think we are at that point -- and avoiding conflict, strengthening our institutions and reaching certain agreements and understanding amongst our different constituencies must first be achieved. Some might ask how could you do this under this government? Maybe through dialog, peaceful demonstrations and strikes, and applying pressure....(all these are being done by may courageous people right now).

But demonizing the government or violent demonstrations and actions, in my opinion may retard our move to democracy and could lead to instability. Most people will agree that a violent overthrow of this government will lead to civil war, right? I support our move towards democracy while doing everything possible to avoid conflict and chaos, and not just wait and see what might happen.

Aleqa Gebrehana

Los Angeles, California

A response to Aleqa Gebrehana of LA:

"Ethiopia is a very complex amalgam of ethnic groups, religions and cultures, with a frightening possibility of instability that can result in tragic consequences. Foreign observers including journalists, US Congressmen or European diplomats, who do not understand the country's historical, cultural, ethnic and political realities, are quick to demand Western-style free democracy ..."

One notable time I heard a similar idea as this one told was when Meles and Museveni told European countries not to try to "impose western style democracy" (paraphrasing) on them at some meeting they were invited to by the EU. These two individuals had been recieving aid from the EU for long without exactly having any problem with EU's requirement of "good governance". What changed now is the fact that they both had problems with their latest elections at home.

Anyways, what I would like to say to you is that, while I understand the essence of your message and believe your concern may be valid (I don't know...I prefer to stick to the things I can see), you forget to mention all the forces involved in wanting to bring democracy to Ethiopia. You only mention foreign observers, journalists, US and European diplomats and leave Ethiopian farmers who are tired of being pushed around and told how to vote because of the fertilizer debt they owe to the government. Perhaps including the latter will spoil the argument that the West is trying to impose its version of democracy on us and makes it hard for the government and its appologists who do anything to avoid international scrutiny.

It is like some cultural relativists who say anti-FGM activists are brainwashed by the west to hate our culture and that any anti-FGM movement should be locally grown. But really, is there anything more Ethiopian than an Ethiopian woman who dies while at labor because of injuries caused upon her by FGM? This is just an analogy. What I am trying to say is that, no, the "quick" need for democracy in Ethiopia is not a result of western doctrination, but a need that arised out of persecution of the people by the government. It is only natural for Ethiopians to resist persecution and repression.

And Ethiopia as we know her now has been around for more than 100 years and most of those were lived under repressive monarchies, so what does "quick" in this context mean, exactly? When is it going to be enough or okay for democracy to be wanted?

And no, we don't compare Meles's work to his predecessors', but to what is right. The time of settling for a dictator that is "better" than the dictator before him should be over with. And how exactly is it that China should be the measuring unit for our democratic aspirations and westerners shouldn't? What are the special similarities between Ethiopians and the Chinese that makes them undeserving of democracy?

And I don't understand why China is often brought up by people who argue in the line of "we should take democracy slow". Who said economic development is the ultimate aspiration for all soceities? If some (political prisoners) have to be killed and their skin used to make cosmetics out of, according to some reports in Europe, so that the state that keeps "economic miracles" happening could continue to operate smoothly, isn't it self-defeating? Isn't the economic development to benefit the Chinese? And who decides which Chinese gets to live to benefit and which one gets to die? Or are you a believer that some should be sacrificed for the "good of the masses" (still the question of who gets to choose not answered)? Well, that might work in China...they might have a culture or religion that justifies that as morally correct; I don't know. But I know for sure that in Ethiopia, a country where the majority are Muslims and Christians, that would be wrong.

As for the possible scenarios you described if power had been completely turned over to the opposition, I can't really agree or disagree because what you said is simply a speculation - a "could be". And I think if we all start to speculate and build up scenarios from our respective perspectives, there will be no end and we will never sleep because there are tones of possibilities.

But let's stick to the things on the ground. We agree on something - the building of democratic institutions. I think that is what so many Ethiopians are crying out for right now without exactly articulating it that way. Even many of those who support the opposition leaders in prison and demonstrate for their cause, including myself, have less to do with identifying with their political agendas than believing that had we had well functioning democractic insititutions, such as independent judiciary, those people wouldn't be in prison right now.

So, let's not miss the point. The point is not who is better fit to lead the country, which by the way is never gonna be universally accepted because everybody has their own pick and that is why we have elections; the point is whether the system put in place to allow the population to vote for the ruler of their choice functions well. It has been seen that it doesn't, and as we all know, opposition leaders are currently in prison, not because they contested the alleged rigging of the election (they had conceded that at the end) but because they put forth suggestions on strengthening our democratic insititutions based on the provisions of our very constitution, and refused to enter parliament until these are secured because, obviously, they didn't feel secure under the existing circumstances. So the government is obviously standing against any genuine attempt to build well functioning democratic institutions. So you say let's stop the usual attacks against the government and start working on building democratic instituitions, and I ask you, under this government, how exactly are we going to do that?

Thank you.

M M Sibhat

Los Angeles, California

I read your article about Meles and the current situation in Ethiopia with great interest. I understand there are many faults, mistakes, even criminal violations being made by the government. But as stale as it may seem, I still agree with Meles' contention that democracies do not emerge overnight. This, while I acknowledge Meles' dictatorial tendencies and inevitable corruption. (What government isn't...look at the Bush administration and Big Oil, Halliburton, lobbyists etc...)

Ethiopia is a very complex amalgam of ethnic groups, religions and cultures, with a frightening possibility of instability that can result in tragic consequences. Foreign observers including journalists, US Congressmen or European diplomats, who do not understand the country's historical, cultural, ethnic and political realities, are quick to demand Western-style free democracy not realizing that the necessary institutions for its success are nonexistent.

Democracy is not an easy destination to arrive at--let alone economic growth, and the eradication of poverty. For example, the Chinese are doing miracles with their economy, but are still far from achieving democracy. Why? Not just because the government is all corrupt and dictatorial (obviously it is doing some things right), but also because it is difficult in the context of the country's reality. Of course, I do condemn all human rights violations in China, Ethiopia or elsewhere.

What would have happened if power was completely handed over to the Ethiopian opposition in 2005? A flowering democracy with respect for human rights, economic growth, and the march towards the elimination of poverty? Maybe. But for many observers with a grasp of the whole reality, instability, ethnic conflict, more widespread separatist movements, more corruption, and retribution seem more likely. In my opinion, continued dialog and less demonization is necessary to bring about democracy in Ethiopia.

After all when we absolutely demonize the current government, who are we comparing it to? Haile Selassie (did some great things but was ancient, feudal and certainly not democratic), or Mengistu and the Dergue (genocidal)? Easing the rhetoric and gradually and deliberately building the necessary institutions is the way for the achievement of democracy, in our particular country.

Aleqa Gebrehana

Los Angeles, California

Paul Wachter and The Nation need to be thanked for this insightful article--with a level of detail on the Ethiopian government’s transgressions not commonly found in the US and European media.

his is particularly to be appreciated at a time when even those media outlets (e.g. The Economist magazine, and others) who before provided clear-eyed analysis of the brutality meted out domestically by the government, suddenly have started crooning about the efficiency of Ethiopian operations in Somalia, with barely a mention of the internal dynamics and external motivations behind the decision to prosecute this war. So once again, kudos to Paul Wachter for his strong piece!

Perhaps one item we would like to clarify: The diaspora pro-democracy movement consists of wealthy, middle class and working class alike--Ethiopian and Ethiopian-American lawyers and scientists are just as much the drivers behind this movement as are cabdrivers and parking lot attendants, who give of their time to attend demonstrations, organise, and appeal to the US Congress to make good on this government’s pledge to stop supporting dictators out of expediency. And, for that matter, passionate liberals and staunch Republicans within the Ethiopian community find themselves strongly united in their fight to see democracy prevail in their homeland.

As part of the pro-democracy movement, we are keenly aware of the diversity of Ethiopians the struggle for human rights in Ethiopia has attracted. Last but not least, if journalists don’t see a "vocal opposition" from within Ethiopia, that is because being vocal is not much of an option in the current repressive state. But speak in private to taxi drivers, shoe shine boys, grandmothers and businesspeople in Ethiopia, and the unanimity of the rejection of the regime under prime minister Meles Zenawi is overwhelming, as those of us found out who travelled to the country.

Dr. Kassa Ayalew
Ethiopian American Civic Advocacy (EACA)

Lorton, Virginia

Good job, Mr. Wachter!

I follow current events pertaining to Ethiopia every day and you are by far the only foreigner I have seen writing about the missing $600 million-$800 million from state budget. It is beyond mind-boggling that the so-called aid partners haven't said a word about it publicly. It just shows that the West is only with Meles to do their dirty work, and don't necessarily care much whether the money they pour to his hands has reached the people it was meant for. And I think they are specifically attracted to dictators because they know it is easier to have them doing whatever they want because they have a leverage over them, and they know the dictator will have nowhere else to go since he doesn't have support from inside.

I live in the United States and everyday I meet people who seem to care and sympathize as to what is happening in my country. I know that there are many Americans who care because I live here and interact with them everyday. But those outside America only see America through its government. And what the American government does out there in the name of Americans is not fair at all.

The United States government is aiding and providing financial and moral support to a dictator that sent out his security forces on a shooting spree of protesting civilians and even those who were peacefully minding their businesses in their homes, walking home from school, etc. He imprisoned a father, fatally shot a mother and left children without parents. He sent out the military on a revenge operation in Gambella, southwestern Ethiopia, killing hundreds of indigenous people, raping the women, destroying properties, etc. (Read Harvard Law School's Human Rights Program report.) As you reported, 193 civilians were killed in June and November of 2005. But that is not the only one. In 2002, 128 civilian protesters were shot dead in the same manner in Awassa, in the southern part of the country. In a protest initiated by Addis Ababa University students in 2001, tens of protesters were killed and many students were expelled from school. Today, opposition leaders, journalists, human rights activists etc. have been in a rat-infested prison for over a year, on trial with fabricated charges of treason and genocide (later reduced to attemped genocide). People still continue to be arrested arbitrarly and tortured on the basis of being opposition supporters.

This government has lost the support of Ethiopians; the only thing keeping him standing is the support of the US--financially and morally. The US goes further in its support for the government when its diplomats justify what is happening in Ethiopia as "just part of an emerging democracy." Meles himself says that; he currently told Chanel 4 news of England that democracy is going to take time and told the interviewer to think about how it took centuries in England. Isn't it funny?! Yes, today's matured democracies of the world went through rough stages, however, we are in the twenty-first century when we are more enlightened, and most of all, the experiences of our friends in the west is for us to learn from, not to repeat it! Besides, does Meles Zenawi even have the moral ground to tell people to be "patient" with him because this is how "emerging democracies are"?! Isn't that like asking for a license to kill and imprison as he likes in the name of our country being an "emerging democracy"? When Western countries were going through the process of democratizing, the people leading and participating in the revolutions certainly did not have someone telling them to be "patient," which is really to say complacent. Had they had settled for injustice, as Meles Zenawi and American diplomats have been suggesting to us, maybe we wouldn't have the picture we have today!

The former American chargé d'affaires in Ethiopia, Vicki Huddleston, had even gone further in her rescue efforts of Meles's government, when she personally lead an effort and took part in creating a party to replace the popular party led by the leaders in prison. Her shamelessness was beyond comprehension when she went to prison and asked the imprisoned leaders to authorize the formation of this party. What is even more troubling is what this means about her opinion of the level of intelligence of the Ethiopian public. Who exactly did she think she was fooling trying to replace the people's favorite party with a fake one?! Do these diplomats even have a clue as to what kind of people the country they work in will have?!

Again, thank you, Mr. Paul Wachter, for your truthful article. In the light of the fact that information is suppressed in Ethiopia and those who speak out are targeted, it is great to find people like yourself contributing to bringing the truth to light.

Links: Harvard Law School's Human Rights Program on Gambella; 2002 killing of 128 civilians in Awassa; Recent Amnesty report on people being held incommunicado and at risk of torture.

M. M. Sibhat

Los Angeles, California