We live in exciting times, both at home and in the Diaspora. Despite the confusion and mind-boggling disillusionment of Diaspora politics, I see another window of opportunity for EPRDF to make a bold move. It is time to take stock of your achievements and start listening to what the people were saying to the opposition. It is time to scrutinize what the opposition groups were advocating to their supporters to move them away from you.
The former Kinijit leaders visiting the Diaspora supporters have achieved superstar status. Wherever they go they are received with unadulterated love and bouquet of flowers. The internal division within the leadership, which has becoming overtly conspicuous, does not seem to deter these hungry supporters, who want to see them, touch them, hug them and talk to them. They seem so eager and willing to open their pockets and doll out those hard earned dollars, even without any clue as to what agenda these leaders my reveal before their return back home.
If one is to assess the direction of that agenda from the speech made by Dr. Berhanu Nega in Washington, DC, then I have news for you. There is a lot of disappointment festering within that euphoric crowd, waiting to express it as soon as the reality on the ground hits home.
They are not angry that they were released from Kality after an apology, but they do want them to give due credit to all parties concerned, including the government. They are upset with the cat fight going on between the top leaders and the apparent lack of respect for the Chairman and his own lack of leadership. Although he is old and fragile, they are upset with the division that is fast becoming a reality within the visiting group and the supporters themselves.
What is the message for EPRDF from this disarray within the Kinijit leadership and the dissatisfaction of the Diaspora supporters? Is it another angry response using words that will deplete the vocabulary in the usual cadre propaganda manual? Is it going to be another message of hatred and intolerance? Are we going to resort to another round of detentions and imprisonments? I hope not on all counts.
The EPRDF leadership should take this opportunity to rally support through some bold measures. They should re-examine the message from the 2005 elections. The path for democracy has been charted. There is no turning back from our pursuit of freedom, liberty and democracy.
The single most important message of the 2005 elections is to show tolerance to the emergence of different parties and party programs so long as they fall within the purview of the constitution and are done peacefully, for all intents and purposes. The reconstitution of the election board and the steps initiated to make it completely free of government or party influence should continues unabated. The media should open up more and both written and televised venues should be freely available to all parties.
The nations and nationality issues have been addressed sufficiently and the steps taken in the last 17 years have proved the effectiveness of that policy. People in the various Kilils have been empowered far beyond their expectations. But it is now time to concentrate more on individual freedom and to take steps that would foster good interethnic and intra-kilil relations. It is time to visit the merits of article 39 and consider revoking the word "secession" out of the constitution.
The liberalization of laws regarding personal property and private investment has triggered a new wave of young entrepreneurs perusing a diverse set of business opportunities. This measure cannot be a half-done deal. We have to go all the way. No red line. The full potential of these young capitalists has to be exploited to the maximum. Unoccupied land has to be freely bought and sold and not just owned and parceled out by the government.
Our relationships with our neighbors have continued to divide us. There is no consensus on the solutions put forward about the problems with Eritrea. The jury is still out on the issue of our ports. It is time to publicly debate the validity of those voices that claim Assab to be part of Ethiopia.
I do not claim to be an expert in any one of these areas. But unless we open up such pertinent issues for public discourse, we are liable to repeat the same mistakes of 2005. A significant segment of our society is looking for an alternative. You can remain to be that winning alternative provided you take some new bold steps in this new Millennium.
May God bless you and help you to make the right choices.
Sep 23, 2007
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