Newsgroups: soc.culture.african

gbeka@world.std.com writes :-
> Comment to Zemen's article. Mr Zemen, about the University student
> demonstration, even though I am not a supporter of the students action, I
> strongly disagree with the governments response and the explanation given
> by you and other individual on this network.  I think according TG policy
> and its supporter (like Zemen and others) the Ethiopian people have a
> "right" to express their opinion if and only if it is through legal
> channel (have a permission) , if the students didn't follow the rule I do
> not think that shooting is the way to teach them, there are so many
> alternatives to stop them before shooting them. Obviously poor judgment
> was made by the government, so please (Mr. Zemen) do not try to find a
> silly explanations to justify this uncivilized action.  
>
First, I must say it is refreshing to see someone who is arguing his point of
view in a very reasoned but firm manner, unlike the few chauvinists who can
not swallow the truth that Ethiopia is a multi-ethnic country and that each
one of them have the right to speak their language, be proud of their culture,
and rewrite their own history, and not the history fabricated by the likes of
Menelik, Haileselassie or Megistu. 

Having said that I beg to differ with you on your above point. From what I 
heard [and it is possible it is not true - but if that were the case, how come
in the last 20 months or so that the Transitional Government has been in 
power there have been perhaps at least a demonstration of one kind or another 
every week (on average - this is my guess) then we should have heard of 
killings during these demonstrations every week] armed elements who are not
even students organized the illegal demonstration to incite unrest.

The government has a policy that it does not allow demonstrations of groups
that PROVOKE hatred among various ethnic groups. The Addis Ababa University
demonstration from what I have heard was denied permission because it tried
to incite hatred under the guise of opposition of Boutros Ghali visiting 
Eritrea. Moreover, it was reported, armed sabouteurs of the former 
governemnt's military had opened fire on the police. In this situation, I say 
that any democratic government anywhere will take exactly the same action, to
defend itself. It is unfortunate anybody has to die, and if what I have heard
is true, what is the government to do. Get shot at and not return fire? 
 
It is interesting to note that another demonstration was planned by the All
Amahara Peoples Organization which some say is a very chauvinist organization,
but when their demonstration was denied, they were at least wise enough to
not hold the demonstration. My feeling is the government wanted to assure
security with all the big meeting going on in Addis Ababa at that time to 
try to broker peace among the 14 Somali factions. On the other hand, the 
chauvinists tried to get a "little" attention by staging an illegal 
demonstration.
>
> mentioned that OLF is begging to return to TG. Mr.Zemen this comment is an
> insult to Oromo people who believe in their independence and who have
> great pride. Mr. Zemen if you follow the history of different liberation
> fronts in our area you wouldn't make such comment. 
>
I said I heard a rumour. I apologize for any offence I may have created,
although, I specifically talked about the OLF leadership, and certainly not
of the Oromo people. I believe that the OLF leadership didn't help the 
cause of the Oromo people by withdrawing from the governemnt and the Council
of Representatives. Next to the EPRDF, the OLF was very dominant in its 
presence in the government and the parliament. Also, it miscalculated by not
finding a common ground with the OPDO (the Oromo Peoples Democratic Organiz.)
which is a member of the EPRDF. I think to say that OLF is the ONLY spokesman
for the Oromo people is in essence to deny the right of other organizations.

Also, another weakness of the OLF leadership is to lump the EPRDF with the
same vein as the chauvinistic organizations, and just crying foul on 
everything that the government does, which it itself was a significant 
member of. There could be disagreements, some major and some minor, but to 
lump everything that the TG does as enemy activity is missing the mark of the
ABC of politics. 

The various brutal killings that the OLF elements (including tying live people
and throwing them over a bridge and burning them - The OLF leadership admitted
this gross misjustice on televised hearings of the case in the Council of 
Representatives) just because they had different political beliefs or because
they were Amhara, or Tigray, etc showed that the OLF leadership has a lot to
go in the way of working with the people and respecting their rights.

I think the policy of the TG and EPRDF not to arrest any OLF leadership, and
clearly stating that OLF members can advance their political beliefs peacefully
without any fear of persecution is a very wise decision. Thus, OLF leadership
go in and out of the country. In fact, for those who left the country, the 
only thing they were asked was to handover any government property they
had when they were part of the government.

Now, the OPDO is a powerful organization in all of Oromo. It would be wise for
OLF or its members to work with organizations such as the OPDO so that no
chauvinism of any kind rears its head in Oromo or any other place. But you
don't do that by blowing bridges and burning trains that serve the very 
people you are claiming to defend. I haven't heard OLF doing this lately,
but when it was part of the government its armed wing used to do that.
>
> years and today they are close to achieve what they want. So mr Zemen what
> makes you to think 25 million may be more people can not accomplish this
> task.  May be you are fulled by the current balance of power, but you have
> to know that there is no nation who fought a war on it's back yard and
> lost it (example Eritreans and even Tigreans). Any way regardless what you
> think (wish) history will show us who is begging whom. 
>
The Oromos (by their struggle and together with the other peoples struggles) 
are members of the government (even when the OLF minsters withdrew, other 
Oromos took their place) and they have the right to organize, demonstrate,
excercise their culture and write their history, like any other ethnic group
in Ethiopia. These are the facts in Ethiopia. That is why the OPDO is one of
the largest growing organizations in Ethiopia. I believe that the EPRDF 
leaders are sincere, pro-people, and above all smart enough to realize that 
you don't oppress any people whether small or big. Their 17-year fight against
the previous government has taught them how to work with people and defend
their rights.

The EPRDF didn't destroy a half-million armed-to-the-teeth army just by itself,
no army can win a vicious enemy like the Dergue's without the people giving
full, total, unconditional, and willing support. That is what the EPRDF did.
It got the support in Tigray, Amhara, Oromo and many others to 
win the war. The huge battles in North Shewa, in Gondar, in Gojjam and in 
Wellega in the final decisive days of the war, which the people together with 
the EPRDF army won is a testimony to the strength of the people and also shows 
their support of the EPRDF.

If anything, with peace and democracy in Ethiopia and the needed support that
the TG is getting from the West (they got $2B US till June, 1994), I would
say the people will choose to stay the peace that they have gained.