From: sofia_g@athena.mit.edu (Sofia Gebru)
Subject: Speculations about the future of Ethiopia (Re: Ethiopia: response to Zemen's misinformation.)
Organization: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Date: Fri, 22 Jan 1993 02:05:33 GMT

In article <63576@mimsy.umd.edu> matt@umiacs.umd.edu (Mahteme Metaferia) writes:
>I am often fascinated by all these anonymous correspondences between 
>Oromos, Eritreans, Tigres, Amharas, Monarchists, etc,.  However, due to the 
>enormous lack of objectiveness that most of these articles suffer, I 
>frequently find a good number of them too boring to read to end.
>
>Assuming that the majority of those with network access are somewhat highly
>educated, it surprises me that such a high volume of arrogant, racist and
>pointless rubbish flows through the traffic.
>  
>I don't recall ever reading an article whereby someone expresses concern over
>Ethiopia's perpetually crumbling economic system, or views on how to establish
>a functioinal government -- not even one article based on a shred of truth.
>Modern technology at our disposal; and all those who talk loudest express 
>factional militantism, tribal affiliations  and shallow emotions. 
>
>I don't believe it is constructive and intelligent to write things like,
>how many Ethiopians were killed by Eritreans, or how the Oromo are going to
>rise up and kill off everyone else, and why the Tigre are in power just to
>dismantle Ethiopia's economy and return to Tigrei to live a rich and wealthy
>life, and all sorts of other juvenile and unfounded opinions.
>

Though I don't completely agree with the paragraphs up there, I would just liketo comment on the following:

>How about some civilized discussions on:
>- the outcome of the upcoming referundum vote

Since you don't have a smiling face, I will assume that you are serious..:-)  I
say the people would vote for independence for sure.  

>- predictions on the future of Ethiopia (with or without Eritrea)

The economic future of Ethiopia seems contingent upon the political stability of the country and not on whether or not Eritrea becomes independent.  (You did not make this allegation but i feel compelled to say it since some people say that the secession of Eritrea would damage Ethiopia economically.) The fact that in the last 30 years Eritrea has been the sight of heavy bombings, killings, etc...with numerous factories destroyed, other dismantled and moved to various places, the population scattered all o

ver the world, etc has made it a rather unproductive place.  As for the port, the leaders of Eritrea had made it clear from the very beginning that they would be very cooperative about the usage of the port if the governments would just let them negotiate the terms for a referendum to decide whether or not the people would want to secede.  At the present it seems that the Transitional Government of Ethiopia and the EPLF are on amiable terms so I don't think there would be any serious economic disadvantage 

to Ethiopia if Eritrea secedes.  

[The strongest opposition to the present government invariably seems to come from people who cannot stomach the thought of Eritrea seceding (or becoming independent....i don't want to be taken to task for saying seceding).  Anyway my point is that if people can just forget about Eritrea and focus on Ethiopia, some of the opposition forces might see more eye to eye with the present government.
Also some of the forces that are agitating and saying that they would go to warand "save" Eritrea could channel the money they are collecting to some productive ends.  I hope that all this tension surrounding the referundum will soon dissipate once Eritrea officially secedes from Ethiopia.]

I personally believe that the present government has been doing a good job so far.  If all the members, be it the OLF, the AAO, the EPRDF, etc would find a common ground and all work together to restore the decades of damage on the Ethiopian economy, all would be good and well.  However, if all the parties resort to force to make their opinions the law, I fear that Ethiopia would become another Somalia.    


>- or any other though generated by the HUMAN brain!!!!
>
I would let others comment on the above....do you have any other specifics in mind? 

>
>
>M. Metaferia
>College Park, MD

PS I heard that AAU was officially closed.  Does anybody know some details about the situation?  No malicious speculations please.   



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