This article was written for the Bureau by MEP Ana Gomes, a Portuguese politician who is a member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs.
The EU Election Observation Mission (EUEOM) in Ethiopia assessed in 2010 that ‘the electoral process fell short of international commitments for elections, notably regarding the transparency of the process and the lack of a level playing field for all contesting parties’.
Results of 99.6% in favour of the ruling party were telling about the lack of credibility of the elections.
An unsurprising conclusion: results of 99.6% in favour of the ruling party reflected the lack of credibility of the elections. Tellingly also, the Ethiopian government refused to allow the EUEOM report to be launched in Addis Ababa, as it had already refused in 2005.
Elections 2010
For anyone familiar with Ethiopia, it was highly disturbing that the EU decided to observe the 2010 ballot. Previous elections in 2005 had been stolen and followed up with brutal repression, as the EUEOM denounced at the time.
I led the more than 200-strong team of observers of the EUEOM in May 2005. The electoral campaign had been relatively open and citizens flocked to the polling stations massively, as never seen before.
Ana Gomes – Flickr/European Parliament
But once confronted with a landslide victory for the opposition in the capital, the ruling party, Ethiopian Peoples’ Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), prevented EU observers from continuing to watch the vote counting in rural areas and the aggregation and tabulation at the national level.
Overnight, Prime Minister Meles Zenawi imposed a curfew, forced independent media to shut down and declared victory in the next days, bypassing the National Electoral Commission.
In Addis Ababa alone more than 200 peaceful protesters were massacred on June 8 and on November 2.
Crackdown on critics
Thousands were wounded and thousands more were arrested throughout the country.
Hardest hit were the most oppressed regions, such as Oromia, Gambela and Ogaden.
All main opposition leaders remained jailed until mid-2007.
Waves of people have been fleeing the violence since then, depriving Ethiopia of real opposition.
In 2008 Meles Zenawi re-arrested and sentenced to life imprisonment a brave young woman who persisted in leading a main opposition party, Birtukan Mideksa, preventing her from running for the 2010 elections.
All critical voices were silenced: the 2009 Charities and Societies Proclamation, which Human Rights Watch (HRW) considered more restrictive than similar legislation in Zimbabwe or Russia, drove all independent NGOs to cease human-rights activities or close down.
Ethiopian and foreign journalists were jailed, intimidated or expelled, as was in 2006 Anthony Mitchell, an outstanding British reporter for AP, now deceased.
Meles Zenawi boasts that his regime jams radio’s ‘Voice of America’ and ‘Deutsche Welle’.
Conspicuous silence
Despite the blood being fresh on his hands from the June 8 massacre, Zenawi was invited by Tony Blair to join the G8 meeting at Gleneagles in 2005. He was never shunned to speak internationally about good governance, sustainable development, the fights against poverty and against climate change.
Western leaders resist speaking up against Zenawi’s repressive regime by invoking stability interests… EU and the US like to portray their ‘aid darling’ as a partner in the fight against terrorism and a crucial actor for stability in the Horn of Africa.
Meles practices none at home, where the people are now confronted with the devastating impact of the land grabbing promoted by his regime.
Western leaders, yet, delight in politically correct jargon and disregard reality and deeds. So does the African Union, well placed to know, with headquarters in Addis Ababa. Or the UN and the World Bank, keeping conspicuously silent.
Despite violating human rights clauses in the Cotonou Agreement biding it with the EU, Ethiopia continues to be one of the largest beneficiaries of European support and the second largest recipient of global aid, after Indonesia if you exclude war-affected Iraq and Afghanistan.
In the interests of ‘stability’
Human Rights Watch published in October 2010 the report ‘How Europe contributes to Ethiopia’s repression’, describing how the Ethiopian government ensures that aid is handed out in exchange for support for the ruling political party, without EU monitoring.
Despite European Parliament concerns, the EU Commission and Council did not even bother to investigate these extremely serious claims.
‘The EU is not only misusing European taxpayers’ money, but supporting an illegitimate status quo, letting down all those who fight for justice and democracy and increasing the potential for conflict in Ethiopia and in Africa.’
Western leaders resist speaking up against Zenawi’s repressive regime by invoking stability interests. Besides attempting to depict Ethiopia as a success story of development assistance, EU and the US like to portray their ‘aid darling’ as a partner in the fight against terrorism and a crucial actor for stability in the Horn of Africa.
Turning a blind eye
But Zenawi’s rule is, in fact, a source of regional instability, as Somalia is showing. As many predicted, the Al Shabab militia have only grown stronger and survival has been made more difficult, as current famine attests, since Ethiopian troops invaded in 2006, at the behest of George W. Bush.
Western leaders delight in politically correct jargon and disregard reality and deeds. So does the African Union, with headquarters in Addis Ababa. Or the UN and the World Bank, keeping conspicuously silent.
Western leaders also refuse to put pressure on Zenawi to abide by the international arbitration on the border demarcation with Eritrea. This provides his cousin, Isaias Afewerki, with an excuse to repress even more brutally the Eritrean people and to keep meddling in conflicts anywhere in the region, from Somalia to Sudan.
By turning a blind eye to gross human-rights violations, fraudulent elections, impoverishment and dispossession in Ethiopia and on the impact of Ethiopian policies on neighbours, the EU is not only misusing European taxpayers’ money, but supporting an illegitimate status quo, letting down all those who fight for justice and democracy and increasing the potential for conflict in Ethiopia and in Africa.
Ana Gomes MEP, August 2011
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August 5th, 2011 at 12:54 am (#)
We thank Ms Ana Gomes for defending Human Rights in Ethiopia. Yes indeed the incumbent is the worst when we compare it with other dictators and criminals around the world. This fact has been extensively reported, by Ethiopian peace activists together with the Third World Solidarity, Human Rights Groups, members of the International Community, and other responsible individuals using texts, shocking pictures and video films.
The brutal and undemocratic actions of TPLF have been intensified in the last 20 years against the innocent People of Ethiopia. It is sad to tolerate such a crime in this civilised and integrated world. Now it is the duty and responsibility of the International Community and funders to abandon this criminal group and support the Ethiopian people at this very difficult time.
Alem
August 5th, 2011 at 7:23 am (#)
Thank you Ana Gomes.
Ana Gomez, and many politicians in members states, have expressed their grave concern about the appalling human rights situation in Ethiopia since 2005.
We, Ethiopians, are very greatful for them.
August 5th, 2011 at 8:31 am (#)
Ethiopia is the most stable country in africa which managed to conduct free,fair and democratic election three times in 2000,2005 and 2010. EPRDF is the party God gave Ethiopia to change history of Ethiopiauntil ethiopia take its appropriate position in global arena. Long live to ethiopia andprime Minister Meles Zenawi!!!
(Editor: This comment was redacted as it contained libelous comments).
August 5th, 2011 at 10:09 am (#)
Yes of course you can say that, because you are the only who are benefiting on the regime of Melse. We Ethiopian people majority I can say suffering lot a lot, in so many ways, you can not feel it because the only person who have the resource is the nearby people of Meles Zenawi and its colleague how could the feel,. Do you think that the people of Addis is eating ?????????? look the inflation……………… ! you talking about Somalia starvation, there is big big starvation in the capital toooooooo! go down and ask, the children who are going to school at government school, with empty lunch box, go down to ask the children who are spending the time to get daily food. WOOOOOOOOOOOO Fed up of MZ regime! let God Bless Ethiopia!
August 5th, 2011 at 10:41 am (#)
Ms Gomez has scores to settle with the democratically elected government of Ethiopia.She went to Ethiopia as an election observer but completely failed in her mission. She was partial and not fair and balanced. Her obsession with Ethiopia has taken new heights. She is relentlessly attacking the government at every opportunity. She has been overtaken by her emotions and it is sad indeed to witness a member of European parliament behave in such an atrocious manner.
August 5th, 2011 at 11:05 am (#)
God Bless Ana Gomez,
This may sound a bit pejorative, but some times it feels like the world is conspiring against Ethiopia and Ethiopians other than a few honorable people like Ana Gomez. There is no political will in the western power corridor to help Ethiopians. To the contrary the west is underwriting the misery in Ethiopia with money given to the tribal regime with no string attached. None of the excuses thrown around to support Zenawi are true. East Africa is in famine now. Less stable by the day. The regime is amassing money and using aid money to tighten its control and despite this reality, Meles Zenawi enjoys unfettered support from EU and the British government. How could this not be unconscionable? Is it because Ethiopian are half human?? May be a 3/4??
God bless Ana Gomez.
August 5th, 2011 at 11:09 am (#)
Why we Expect the unexpected ??? Since when Te US/UK expoed its loyal Sevants of WRONG DOING ??? Meles is Ethiopias Mubarek The West only Louds its crime When we Uprise like the Egyptians and Demand ENOUGH OS MELES DICTATORSHIP,Until then without a doubt will arm and finance him up to its tooth -THE QUESTION SHOULD BE TOWARDS US(ETIOPIANS)_ARE WE READY TO ASK OUR BASIC HUMAN RIGHT RESPECTED BY DICTATOR ZENAWI AND ITS DONORS AND FINANCIERS ??? OUR OWN ANSWER WILL DETERMINED OUR DESTINY
August 5th, 2011 at 11:13 am (#)
Talking about the 2005 Elections, a landslide in Addis does not mean a landslide in rural Ethiopia where over 80% of the voters reside. As one who has been residing in Europe, Ana Gomes ought to know better that a swallow doesn’t make a summer!
Ana’s colonial mindset doesn’t fathom how the Ethiopian voter is able to turn a deaf ear to neo-liberal agitations and choose a party of their choice. Hence she disparages the outcome of the 2010 Elections. Ethiopians will not accept any dictation from the likes of Ana Gomez whose conduct of affairs ever since she first set foot on Ethiopian soil had run counter to established norms of EU Monitors. Post 2010, she had been calling for the removal of the legitimate government of Ethiopia. Her role all along has been one of – to borrow Meles Zenawi’s descripition of Ana Gomes – “a colonial viceroy.” Hands off Ethiopia! It surely would be far better to Any to pay heed to the cries of her own constituencies who continue to suffer from the worst economic mailase Portugal had witnessed in living memory.
(Ed: Some sections of this have been redacted as they were libelous).
August 5th, 2011 at 11:47 am (#)
the regime in Ethiopia is one of most repressive one in the World and even so they are the main ally of the Western nations in Africa.
August 5th, 2011 at 12:14 pm (#)
The minority Tigre tribe is invaded the Amara region. In the name of Ethiopia they are looting the rest of Ethiopia and build their own little territory Tigray. Unless this stopped and all the people of Ethiopia rule and govern themselves there will be no peace. Biritikan Mideksa is also from the Tigre tribe and she is not the solution. Only self determination is the solution, this includes Ogaden Oromo , Shewa and Afar.
August 5th, 2011 at 1:26 pm (#)
#Eyaasu:
very true
August 5th, 2011 at 2:41 pm (#)
Dear Ms Ana Gomez,
Well done! We the people of Ethiopia never ever forget you. You are the single person of the world that truly sacrificing yourself towards to the much oppressed, poor, Hungary and very deprived people Ethiopia.
I really remember in 2005, still you have been working and putting your pressure on tyrant, Melesse regime. We are really indebted for your effort.
Now, I am sure your very well aware, the people of Ethiopia all in all under “food insecure- alarm region». The problem is not an incident of global warming or natural, it is the outcome of the dictator policy and political depression. The western society or any first-hand or road side visitor may be surprised and proud of after having seen the buildings erected next to the air port or on road sides of roads of Addis Ababa. Most of owners are the people of themselves who are unlimited access to credit and political favors.
However, the people are living in a much disrupted way and leading their misery life. You can observe that the people who has little hope, very destitute and misery life both economically, socially and of course …dead politics.
Where this huge-western tax money is goes?
-They sent hard currency back to western countries for their investments found there, build very expensive houses, school fee for their children found in USA and UK;
-The try to share the rest of the money among brutal EPRDF leaders, party companies who have more than 50% of the little commercial business.
-And they busy non-economic goods and services for themselves and enjoy their life on behalf of the Hungary people and mother of Ethiopia.
May god bless Ana Gomez! I wish to the time for the end of the evil Melese regime. And when you will back to see to the people of Ethiopia has been strong politically and economically. Praise your work over there! Long live to you and God be with you and people of Ethiopia
August 5th, 2011 at 3:05 pm (#)
Woyane/tigre do not have brain to think about the future they only have large stomach to eate. We will see in the near future how they will continue to kill, loot, torture, imprison etc. as this is their means of existence since their creation. If they think crime will produce peace and prosperity let us watch them where they will end up soon.
Belachew
August 5th, 2011 at 3:14 pm (#)
Thank you very much Ms. Ana Gomes,
The Ethiopian government is very deceiving to everybody. The people of Ethiopia are under repression and gross human right abuses. All the west countries are supporting the oppressor regime for the sake of their interest.
One day the Ethiopian people will be free and all the supporter of the repressive regime will be in the wrong side of history.
August 5th, 2011 at 3:34 pm (#)
Dear Ana Gomez (aka Hanna Gobeze).
Ethiopia is not Angola so pls hands off of our country and internal affair.
You are a foreigner and has no business . If there is someone who is abusing European TAX money, it is you and your country poor Portugal. You contribution to the European Economy is almost zero but extract money from European funds in terms of salary, subsidies and bailouts.
So please fix your own backyard instead of wasting your and our time through your unfounded allegations and lies about
our governmet and beloved Prime Minister Meles Zenawi!
August 5th, 2011 at 3:47 pm (#)
you are lier Anagomes dont do this ok you are not Ethiopian so dont talk more
August 5th, 2011 at 4:02 pm (#)
Those who are trying to deny what Ana Gomez has said and trying to attack her are no doubt those that are beneficiaries of the current ethnicist draconian regime of Meles. They either belong to this narrow tribal group or are mindless opportunists who are interested on their own wlefare while millions of their compatiots are suffering from famine and oppression as a direct result of lack of good governance in Ethiopia.
Why focusing on Anna Gomez while the evidence is documented amply in the last two decades by independent international organisations, human rights groups and numerous Ethiopians who fell victim of the brutal regimes excess treatment just because they decnted.
The reality of the matter is the current Tigrean minority click led by Meles, his wife and a few of his close tribal gangs are plundering the country and hvae full control of the countries political, military, security, economic and buisness sectors. It has been and it is even more now clerer than ever that a one man& one party state. Anyone who has followed the countries political affairs just broadly would know that there is no freedom of speach, freedom of association, independent judiciary and rule of law as the amount fo human rights abuse reported is just the tip of the iceberg.
On top of the terror the regime is waging on its own subject through its tightly controlled machinery of spies, security forces, the police and the military, life has become unbearable even for the millions living in the cities, due to the rising corruption and economic mismanagemnet of the ruling clique.
The regime is also displscing tens of thousands of farmers in the region denying them their rihgts by selling lands to foreign companies based in the Middle East, India and China.
As a result Ethiopia and Ethiopians find themselves at the lowest ebb of their long existence leading millions to flee their country and become refugees in the negihbouring countries and though out the world.
The west should stop playing its double standard game of propping a despotic regime and, if not supporting Ethiopians to gain their freedom on their own, to at least not act as a deternt by being a life line to a dying regime.
August 5th, 2011 at 4:38 pm (#)
A person of integrity, Ms Anna. Ethiopian will never forget you. You are a friend in need for Ethiopian. God bless you.
August 5th, 2011 at 5:26 pm (#)
By now the ethiopian people should know who their real enemies are. it is not Eritrea, Somalia, or the heroic freedom fighters of the Oromo people. It is the west.It the the U.S, British, Germany and other Europeans that are funding the atrocities of the Ethiopian people via their puppet regime. The 3billion dollar a year aids to the regime has not brought developments to Ethiopians but suffering and starvations. And as long as the puppet regime continues to protect their interest, which is to destablizing Somalia, sudan and eritrea, they will give the regime the green light to kill, rape and torture whom the regimes feel as a threat to their ruling. Ethiopian people don’t look for the west for justice,Look north.
August 5th, 2011 at 6:26 pm (#)
Dear Ana,
Thank you for your generous effort for human rights in deed! All what you have discovered and revealed are true. As you have already discovered in your analysis, the most oppressed people are people from Oromia, Ogaden, Gambella and the Southern People. As one of the former TPLF founding member who was imprisoned by Meles Zenawi and released once said, more than 90% of the prisoners are Oromos.I, myself was the victim of this tyrant regime and I know better than those who tried to defend this tyrant dictator because they never face any problem for they are loyal to Meles. They never feel what other ordinary people feel out there.
About the Western or even Europeans they hear but chose to be deaf to hear the voice of these oppressed and victimized people! They also chose to be loyal to Meles, giving their back to people. It looks like they follow their interest not the truth on the ground. AS once one of the late Kenyan, Dr. Newton Klundu said ” they preach water and drink wine”, the Western preach about Democracy but practice against Democracy. If they really care about Democracy they have to practice accordingly. Promoting Democracy is not by supporting the dictator and choose to be deaf of the voice of the people.
Keep up your generous human rights activities, Ana! be the voice for voiceless! listen to their cry! put yourself in those marginalized,oppressed and victimized people and speak up for them, reveal the truth; then finally, you will be the winner of the truth!
Thank you in deed!
God bless you!
August 5th, 2011 at 7:15 pm (#)
We all Ethiopian know how bad is our government, but I never seen some one like Ana Gomez So biased and hateful complement person in the world. OMG just don’t follow your instinct only, be fare we need balanced opinion.
August 5th, 2011 at 8:36 pm (#)
Belachew told us that Woyanes do not have brain but have Large stomach. Let me add one more thing about them. They are BALEGIE Worobelas. Look how the so called young/dying TPLF said. They do not have limit for their shameless behaviour. The guy told us that he is TPLF Which Means he represents only the Tigre. Does this guy think he is Ethiopian after he declared that he is Young TPLF. Because of the crime he committed he is the one who looses his Ethiopian citizenship. So he made it clear himself that he is not an Ethiopian (GILGIL!!. Please do not Pass your border to attack Ms. Ana Gomes. She is the most respected Humanist, and historical friend of Ethiopia. We Ethiopians say ” We Love You Ana”.
Dejen
August 5th, 2011 at 11:46 pm (#)
I wat to advice the people from region one, plaese when your writing a coment make sure that the rest of the Ethiopia society new you for long time when you were asking for food assistance. But today your trying to tell us that your the Golden generation from the the Golden state, give me a break your are the most backward and selfish community the world have ever seen.One day you will regret for your words, your action and for your way of life when all the Ethiopia people form one united front and push you to that rock state where you becom the sanduch of our time.
August 6th, 2011 at 12:09 am (#)
The real enemy of the Horn of Africa is the west not famine or poverty. The troubles in the horn is cooked in the annals of white house and downing street, where these leaders are hiding behinde good words of democracy while they are activley supporting leaders like melles, museveni and kibaki to kill and sajugate the people to missery and destituion.
The western population should pay attention to the atrocities being committed in this part of the world not surprisinlgy supported by white house and dowining street.
Sucsessive leaders of the west have argued for securtiy and other reasons, they could not careless the lifes of African children and at the minute of not raining the west are quick to shade a corocodile tears.
Stop meddling in our affairs, stop supporting the brutal leaders and act decently rather than deceptivley.
August 6th, 2011 at 4:16 am (#)
Viva to Alex george!! of all the commentators you make the absolute sense. Only wish half of the population in the region can think like you genuinely. The 3billion dollar/year aid did not lift Ethiopia from its missery. In contrary, it allowed EPRDF (TPLF) regime to break international laws left and right, engage in hineous crimes against humanity, further desstabilize Somalia in 2006 when the country was almost in recovery stage after 15 years of clan fighting and destruction.
One question I would like to pose to Ms. Ana Gomez? Whenever you write something about the Eri-Ethiopia border conflict, you seem to always bring the issue of “blood linkage” that exist between the leaders of Eritrea and Ethiopia. What does the leaders been cousins have to do with the core issue that Meles regime, as a representative of a country called Ethiopia, defied the internationally endorsed verdict and refused to evict from Eritrean territory? In Africa, there’s this thing called “colonial boundries” with which a given country’s territorial integrity is defined. Eritrea’s case is no different. Whether Meles and Isaias are cousins has no relevance to the issue at hand and should not even be brought up unless there’s a sinister motive. What must be stressed is that Meles should not be allowed to destabilize the entire region to please his masters and needs to listen to the voices of reason coming from his own backyard.
August 6th, 2011 at 11:38 am (#)
Ethiopian dictator should look around and learn from what happened to his likes. The west have the habbit of abondoning the dictators when they realize they can no longer survive. Look how they abondoned Mubarak of Eygpt.
August 6th, 2011 at 11:40 am (#)
Thank you Anna. There will always be someone who will reveal the truth.
August 6th, 2011 at 1:12 pm (#)
All the european’s tax payers money is in the hand of terrorists. UK and USA know this very well but as you see the above lists, most of the money returned back to it’s inncial places. UK and USA are associating them selves with the most terrorists group [ TPLF] and are terrorizing our people and lead our country like somalia. It is clear, UK, france ,germany and Italy have been involving in the lootting of ethiopia in different ways, but most ethiopians do not under stand what the hell America gets from TPLF expect USA takes loan from china ,japan and saudi arabia and gives to the terror group TPLF. How on earth we ethiopians believe USA’s allegation about Al shebab’s terrorism when the same USA is working with TPLF who terrorize 80m innocent ethiopians.If America continues dancing with the terrorists group [ TPLF] on ethiopian’s wound, let it continues. we know America very well. America stood with mehamed saidebari and fought against ethiopia in ogaden, America supported Italian’s invassion of ethiopia and the killing of innocent ethiopians in their own villages. What has not America done against our country? America has done all the odd things against our country and our people. Based on these odds which America has done and the way how America and Uk are dancing with terrorists group like TPLF , most ethiopians arrived at their conclusion that both USA and Uk are anti ethiopia and anti democracy. The whole westren countries stood with Italy and supported the killing of innocent ethiopia by chemical weapons in ww2untill adolf hitler raised and burned their countries.
August 6th, 2011 at 5:05 pm (#)
Anna Gomez (Anna Gobaze) has never been impartial beginning 2005 for reasons known to all Ethiopians (I don’t want to go into detail). She has been an advocate of the old Derg regime’s remnants and never acknowledged the stark reality of New Ethiopia–an Ethiopia where all nations ,nationalities and peoples of Ethiopia are the masters of their destiny. The social and political dynamics of Ethiopia has changed forever for the better. No turning back. The train has left their station long ago.
August 6th, 2011 at 8:19 pm (#)
Anna
A woman of exceptional power and courage. Thanks to the womb who produced you. You are our heroine like our beloved Taitu of the 20th century. When freedom comes your statue will be errected in the center of Addis Ababa because you are the only white angel in the ocean of white devils. A placard to the BBC too.
August 6th, 2011 at 9:04 pm (#)
God only knows why the author felt compelled to criticize Eritrean Leadership when the story is about aid money in Ethiopia? And, like some of the commentators above, I would like to know the relevance of blood relationship (cousins really?) reporting style.
Before accusing the President of Eritrea and talking on behalf of the Eritrean people, the author should have taken into account one fact – Eritrea is one of the few developing countries to meet the Development Millennium Goal in health care. – Doesn’t this mean that the Government of Eritrea is investing its non-aid-money to create a healthy no-to-aid-population. How does this lead to the harsh statement of “brutally repressing”?
Could it be that western special interest group representatives do not whish to see an independent, self-reliant and equitable African country? But then, if only Africa could manage its own resources by itself to the benefit of its population how many make-believe MEP authors would be out of job?
My 2 cent to the author :”please stick with the country of your knowledge and the government of your knowledge i.e Ethiopia and its puppet regime”
August 6th, 2011 at 10:36 pm (#)
Dear Ms Gomes,
Meles Zenawi stole the 2005 Election. Fact.
Eritrea is meddling in conflicts from Somalia to Sudan. Not fact.
When Eritrea was fighting for its independence Somalia and Sudan helped Eritrea. Sudan is our neighbor and they gave us refuge in our time of need. Eritrea returned the favor by helping solve the North Sudan and South Sudan conflict.
The Somalis helped us tremendously, by giving Eritreans Somali Passports (because no nation recognized Eritrea at the time) and Eritrea returned this favor by giving refuge to Somalis when their legitimate gov’t (ICU-Islamic Courts Union) was overthrown by Western mercenaries i.e Meles and US Special Forces. The truth of the matter is Eritrea never sent any weapons or soldiers to Somalia and you should stick to facts. Eritrea is not meddling in anybody’s affairs.
God bless Eritrea and its Leadership!!!
August 7th, 2011 at 6:42 am (#)
ETHIOPIA: TPLF’s “crab mentality” an obstacle to regional peace, stability and security – Sophia Tesfamariam
The other day, I was talking to an Ethiopian friend of mine who found himself apologizing for the minority regime’s latest diplomatic faux pas. He was referring to the latest Ethiopian “diplomatic” charade at the UN Security Council. He was having a hard time understanding how any Ethiopian would stop so low as to deprive Eritreans of the right to development. No apologies necessary. I told him that Eritreans know full well that the people of Ethiopia never harbored such evil and willful thoughts about Eritrea or Eritreans. I explained to him that the “crab mentality” was unique to the minority regime in Ethiopia and its ignominious leaders.
For those who don’t know about “crab mentality” is, it’s an attitude that afflicts those, such as the regime in Ethiopia and its Tigrayan leaders, who suffer from inferiority complex. The term “crab mentality” is used to describe a kind of selfish, short-sighted thinking which runs along the lines of “if I can’t have it, neither can you.” This term refers to people who pull other people down, denigrating them rather than letting them get ahead or pursue their dreams. The regime’s delusions of grandeur prevent it from facing the facts on the ground and for facing its own inadequacies.
This concept references an interesting phenomenon which occurs in buckets of crabs. If one crab attempts to escape from a bucket of live crabs, the other crabs will pull it back down, rather than allowing it to get free. Sometimes, the crabs seem almost malicious, waiting until the crab has almost escaped before yanking it back into the pot. All of the crabs are undoubtedly aware of the fact that their fate is probably not going to be very pleasurable, so people are led to wonder why they pull each other back into the bucket, instead of congratulating the clever escape artist.
For the last 10 years, the minority regime in Ethiopia and its mercenaries have undermined Eritrea’s development and food security policies. It ridiculed Eritrea’s National Service program, the Warsay Yikaalo program for development and labeled it “slavery”. Today, instead of learning from Eritrea, which has managed to develop its war torn economic infrastructures using its own human and material resources, built hospitals, clinics and schools to improve the quality of life for its citizens, and built the necessary agricultural infrastructures to ensure food security for its people, the regime, in what has to be the ugliest forms of jealousy, is now trying to strangulate Eritrea’s economy and prevent it from reaching its potentials. Inflicted with this “crab mentality”, the minority regime is hell bent on destroying Eritrea and if need be, taking all of the Horn of Africa down with it.
As an Ethiopian, he was embarrassed by the regime’s attitude towards Eritrea and its people. He recounted the time in 1998-2000, when the bigoted minority regime expelled over 80,000 Eritreans and Ethiopians of Eritrean origin because Meles Zenawi did not like the “color of their eyes”. He mentioned the terror experienced by Eritrean fathers, mothers and children when they were awoken by security officers in the wee hours of the morning, yanked out of their beds and thrown out of their homes, to be rounded up and deported across mine filled borders. He recounted the agony and fear experienced by Eritrean children who were left to fend for themselves, breastfeeding infants abandoned in empty homes. Some Ethiopians tried to help their neighbors, but many watched helplessly as the ruthless genocidal regime abused and tortured Eritreans living in Ethiopia.
Today, Ethiopians are once again watching helplessly as the ruling junta in Ethiopia commits genocides in the Gambela, Ogaden and Oromia regions of Ethiopia. They watch helplessly as their fellow Ethiopians starve as Ethiopia’s fertile lands are “rented out” to feed populations in other countries, and as the regime begs for food aid on the hand while buying weapons with the other. Ethiopians watch helplessly as young Ethiopian men are used as cannon fodder and minesweepers in the regime’s destructive and deadly wars of aggression and invasion of neighboring states and beyond. Ethiopians watch helplessly as US lawmakers send billions of dollars of US tax monies to the regime through various schemes, and watch as the regime diverts aid to buy deadly arsenal to be used against its own people, to suppress their voices and cower them into submission. Meles Zenawi might very well be the darling of the West, but he is the cancer that is bleeding Ethiopia and the Horn.
Having failed to convince African leaders to sanction Eritrea at its behest, the minority regime sent its cadres to the Security Council to try to convince Africans on the Council to sponsor an anti-Eritrea Resolution on its behalf. After getting US support to pass a sanction Resolution against Eritrea in 2009 which included an arms embargo, the regime is now seeking economic sanctions against Eritrea. It also wants to sanction the Eritrean Diaspora and prevent it from supporting development programs in Eritrea, and also wants to kill Eritrea’s budding mining industry. In short, it wants the diplomatic, financial, military and political isolation and crippling of Eritrea. It wants to use the UN system to advance its regime change policy for Eritrea.
What is ironic is that the reckless, myopic regime is calling for economic sanctions against Eritrea at a time when the regime’s cadres are campaigning in cities across the United States and Europe, trying to and convince the Ethiopian Diaspora to invest in their country of origin. Under the guise of a dialogue about Growth and Transformation Plan (GTP) in Ethiopia, the regime’s cadres were calling on Ethiopians to buy bonds in State (TPLF) owned enterprises, open foreign savings accounts in Ethiopia, and boost Ethiopia’s foreign currency reserves by sending remittances through TPLF dominated financial institutions etc. etc. The Ethiopian Diaspora does not trust Meles Zenawi’s regime, so the cadres received a very cool reception…some of their meetings turned into brawls and police had to intervene.
My Ethiopian friend also wanted to bring my attention to another self serving article posted on the Ethiopian Government site Walta Information Center. As I said many times before, you have to stay up late and burn the midnight oil to keep up with the minority regime in Ethiopia and its propaganda machinery. The article’s headlines got his attention. It said, “The UN Monitoring Group Report: The proof of Eritrean regional destabilization efforts; IGAD’s position vindicated”. I explained to my friend that this only showed the regime’s contempt for IGAD members and that it was an insult to the intelligence of the people of the Horn.
The headline should read, “IGAD members taken for a ride, used by Ethiopia to advance its regime change policy against a member state, Eritrea”. The article’s hollow and childish contents are a regurgitation of the lies concocted by the regime at various forums, and repeating them will not make them fact. The minority regime in Ethiopia has single handedly brought the total destruction of Somalia. Its invasion and occupation of Somalia has created the greatest humanitarian disaster in the history of Somalia. Eritrea does not have any links with Al Shabbab and has never given weapons or any other material support to Al Shabbab or any other groups fighting the Transitional National Government of Somalia headed by Sheikh Sharif Ahmed, once a guest of the Eritrean people who by the way, saved his life when Ethiopia invaded Somalia in 2006.
I explained to him how Meles Zenawi’s minority regime undermined the credibility, integrity and efficacy of the regional organizations-African Union and IGAD- and how it used them to advance its “regime change” policy for Eritrea. I showed him the 4 July IGAD Communiqué which said:
“…The IGAD Assembly of Heads of State and Government held its 18th Extra-Ordinary Summit in Addis Ababa, on 4th July 2011, under the Chairmanship of H.E. Meles Zenawi, Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, and Chairperson of IGAD…”
The “evidence” used to convince IGAD members that Eritrea was destabilizing the region was the made in Menelik Place fairy tale about “bombing the African Union” and “Eritrea was behind the Uganda bombings”, was taken right out of the UN Somalia Eritrea Monitoring Group’s (SEMG) report, which had not been released at that time. I wrote to Matt Bryden, the SEMG coordinator and asked him why the SEMG had given a copy of the report to Ethiopia and not to Eritrea. He denied giving the Ethiopians a copy. Bryden told me:
“…The SEMG did not provide a copy to Ethiopia, but I believe that one of the permanent missions to the UN may have done so…”
We may never find out who did that and that is not the issue. The issue is that Ethiopia took that unpublished SEMG report and used its unsubstantiated allegations against Eritrea to convince IGAD members to condemn Eritrea and call for even more sanctions. The ruthless, lawless, street smart Prime Minister used IGAD to advance his hate-filled bigoted and ugly agenda against the people of Eritrea.
In 2009, the minority regime used Eritrea’s absence at IGAD and its position at the African Union Peace and Security Council to pass a sanction resolution against Eritrea in violation of the African Union’s own rules. As the paper trails and the records show, despite claims about Resolution 1907 (2009) being an “African Initiative”, it was in fact, a decision made by a handful of Africans, in violation of the African Union’s own rules which clearly state that:
“….Any Member of the Peace and Security Council which is party to a conflict or a situation under consideration by the Peace and Security Council shall not participate either in the discussion or in the decision making process relating to that conflict or situation. Such Member shall be invited to present its case to the Peace and Security Council as appropriate, and shall, thereafter, withdraw from the proceedings…”
Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia and Uganda who are parties to the conflict in Somalia participated in the meetings and pushed the resolutions against Eritrea, the one nation that has no bone in this fight.
Ethiopia invaded and occupied Somalia in violation of UN Security Council Resolutions 1724, 1725 and Resolution 1744. Ethiopia is militarily occupying sovereign Eritrean territories, including Badme. The illegal meetings (African Union and IGAD) and decisions were orchestrated by Ethiopia who served as the Chair of the Peace and Security Council when the decision against Eritrea was made in 2009. Not surprisingly, it was also Ethiopia that Chaired the IGAD meeting when that entity decided to call for sanctions against Eritrea. Where is the integrity in “ganging up” against a fellow African State? Where is the pride in suffocating an African population, just to score political points? Where is the responsibility to the people that they purport to represent? It’s a shame and an embarrassment to see such vicious and childish antics from grown men who hold the lives of millions in their hands.
Inflicted with this ugly “crab mentality”, the minority regime is trying to poison the minds of the brotherly neighboring people of Djibouti, Kenya, Uganda and Somalia, who just want peace and stability so that they can use their meager resources to develop their countries and fight their only enemy-poverty. The overt and hostile campaign by the regime’s cadres at the Security Council only shows the regime’s contempt for the UN system and international law. It also shows the extent that the regime and its cadres will go to subjugate not just their own people, but also other populations in the region.
The cure for the “crab mentality”
Dignity, pride and respect are earned, they are not given. Today, Eritreans having implemented developmental policies which allow for the full participation of the people, including women, and by developing creative programs that enable the youth to develop to their full potentials and become partners in the development of their beloved nation, are able to hold their head up right and walk with dignity and pride. Eritrean youth have earned the respect of the entire nation and its Diaspora population. They are confident in their ability to develop their nation without seeking external support. They are providing immeasurable service to their country and people.
Today, Eritrean youth are sharing their experiences with other youth in the region and encouraging the youth to play a greater role in the development of their own nations instead of raising arms against each other and stretching their arms for handouts …no “crab mentality” there!
The rule of law must
prevail over the law of the jungle!
Sophia Tesfamariam
August 9th, 2011 at 6:50 am (#)
What is going on in the Horn of Africa is just a plain genocide with Western powers (both US and Europe)extending support to an old fashionated fascist/racist regime.
I said fascist because the regime fullfil all the criterion of the fascist state: State control of everything and everyone in one hand and high level repression in order hand.
I said racist because the “Ethiopian” state established by Menelik with the support of European colonial powers of (Britain, Italy and France) is yet another parasitic/backwarded colonial empire which is sucking life out of the colonized people of Southern and Western Ethiopia.
The western world is complice of genocide because the weaponized aid is leading to the extermination of people hailing from:
-A specfic type of culture: the Pastoralist
-A specific type of religion: the Muslims.
In the last 20 years, Meles TPLF repressive regime has claimed more lives than Sudan Al Bashir.
However neither US nor Europe moved to stop Meles mass extermination campaign in Ogaden, Gambela and in Oromia let alone bring him in front in the international criminal court.
Instead bloody, rape ridden, Meles was just a honorable guest in your diner.