Priority to Peace! At all Costs!!

By Fitsum G.

June 16, 2005

Where are all those bright hopes that dawned on the eve of May 15? Where are all those hope-filled expectations of the people? Should Ethiopia be rocked and destroyed by egocentric party rivalry, by exacerbated, fierce spirit of competition, implying make or break?! How can Ethiopia come out of the dangerous party-inspired and party-directed abyss? Who said that fidelity to party is superior to fidelity to the nation? We have heard many people saying publicly that they would die for their party, but isn't this too farfetched, an aberration?!

Winning in an election cannot by itself bring about change, development, progress! It takes much more than that, unfortunately. And to start with, we should agree that there is no one who loses in a democracy, because democracy is supposed to be a win-win concept, not a struggle where one 'loses' and is humiliated, jailed, and the other 'wins' and should take all the jackpot! This must be a very shortsighted and parochial understanding of democracy. Ideas such as, 'As long as I win, I remain democrat; but if I lose,....!' are clearly dangerous political stances, and that is what we Ethiopians should now carefully guard against, in unison. All parties should avoid such confrontational and uncompromising attitude with this in mind.

It is not hard to envisage that the danger of extremist partisanship risks to leave an indelible scar amongst society. And this cannot be accepted under any sane and healthy democracy. Because democracy is intended as compromise and tolerance. Democracy is never exclusivist. Rather, it is accommodating of all views and voices. That is why we see it succeed in leading to progress and wealth the societies that have adopted its principles. Our question is 'can we stand up to such ideal? Our answer is, 'why not?!!! Has anyone prescribed clashes, disputes, wars etc as a permanent way of livelihood to Africans (Ethiopians)? Has any one decreed that Africa cannot govern itself according to the rules of democracy?

As the families, relatives and friends of all those who (knowingly and willingly, or not, happened to have been caught amongst those violent incidents of the past Ethiopian days, sharply touched and grieved,) have been trying to cope with the impact of the new situation, Ethiopians in diaspora, wherever they were, seemed to compete amongst themselves in trying to express their enraged sorrow, vigorous indignation and firm solidarity. Taking advantage of what real, firm democracies gave them, they voiced their feelings openly, trying to inspire us here at home. It is clear that they have vested interests in what happens here, although they may be materially distant. All their families, relatives and friends, their heart live here! The other question to address promptly is: until when will the tragic scars of these days linger on, in the minds and thoughts of citizens, and hamper them from reasoning in hopeful and positive terms? Would the regrets for the victims officially expressed by the premier help dilute such lack of confidence and subsequent outrage?! These are things to be checked in due time.

From the scores of students beaten and arrested to the various alleged ring leaders of the strikes of June 8th, to those who actually became casualties of the ensuing violence, the events of last week rocked the entire nation, risking to divide it sharply: ruling party supporters or sympathisers, on the one hand, opposition party affiliates or critiques, on the other. Such polarization and discrepancy, perhaps one of the negative consequences of the way the election campaign unfolded, (full of fierce debates and controversies, with positions hastily adopted, at times motivated by sheer hatred and/or prejudice/intolerance, at others with distorted/dangerous propaganda, spreading unabated on all sorts of media outlets (including the benefits of newly emerging high tech devices, internet web sites, e-mails and mobile phones with SMS), coupled with the uncompromising and rigid attitude on both sides, seemed to push the entire nation to an all-out chaos! Alas, the much praised election process was about to end in utter failure, tainted with violence! 'Democracy' was once again to be overshadowed by uncontrollable emotional outbursts. Reason and logic were to give way to irrationality and madness! That was the moment when every one needed to stop and think of the country! That was the moment when neutral and knowledgeable people and organisations were needed most to raise their indignation. Otherwise, the promising democratic beginning would risk to be swept away by a flood of human blood, by another Tsunami!

Every Ethiopian, irrespective of their political positions and beliefs, should be convinced that they have lost something important during the past few days! No body has gained. This fact cannot be overestimated! Some cynic comments have been heard by some people, but they should be dismissed as highly irresponsible. Once again, our country has hit the headlines of all international media for something we cannot claim to be proud of. Rather!

There is every reason to believe that the country is undergoing a major, historic transformation, as perhaps no one would have dared to conjecture just a year ago. Then, little attention was granted to the upcoming Election 2005, later destined to echo so much every where, positively or not! Only the ruling party, and perhaps certain opposition forces, parties as well as some individuals, were anxious about the election, the general public not heeding it so much. It would be even more interesting to note that it was the ruling party itself that was more insistent and committed to show to Ethiopians, and to the outside world alike, that it was ready to stage the most democratic and free of all elections ever held in the country, (the famous word was 'flawless'). On the other hand, the general Ethiopian public, at least, the ones who were watching events developing gradually, were intent into concluding that 'yes, there will be 'formal' elections, but no substantial change as opposition is inconsistent. Let's hence be prepared to be governed by the same policies, with same results for another five-year period!' This was of course to be contradicted as a very pessimistic and self-defeating view. Perhaps, even the so-called 'seasoned' opposition parties that had strived to be a challenge to the total domination of the ruling party, hardly hoped that one day, they would be enjoying a chance to contend with good prospects. But all that applied to pre-May 15 days.

As the weeks and days rolled on, and preparations began to assume ever newer shapes, the campaign began to unveil new alliances, new line-up. New faces and ideas got introduced into the political arena, and politics began to interest a lot, even to a generally apathetic and apolitical citizenry. Leaving aside the faces, names and particular traits of those who have been governing them, people were very much curious and fascinated by the new names that continued to emerge from the various novel parties. A whole elite of intellectuals and experienced people were seen joining the political contention. Evidently, this added a lot of spice, colour, if not highly flammable material, in the election campaign.

Following the failure to unite all opposition political forces under one party, the UEDF, Union of Ethiopian Democratic Forces, another group, the Coalition for Unity and Democracy, CUD was later founded. And that was the big change or surprise in the political scenario of the country. Four non-ethnic based parties (unlike UEDF or EPRDF) composed of scores of western style liberal democrats managed to disregard their minor political differences and stood up as CUD, 'Kinijit', its famous Amharic acronym. To such organization, to such consistence, many attributed the credit to the farsighted personality and prestige of veteran scholar Professor Mesfin W/Mariam (author of recent political book, intended to boost opposition to establishment). It was he, they said, that first formed the 'Rainbow Alliance, Movement for Social Justice' and then advised and pushed hard the other three to prepare one, single, solid, viable and popular platform for the election campaign, enough to lure and commit many.

The rest was taken care of by the scores of debates and political rallies held everywhere in the country. Slowly, even those who normally avoided involvement in politics began to show enthusiasm and interest in party politics, and the election fever went very much (too much?) high up. Analysts were heard commenting that the psyche of the people had begun to change drastically, and the various 'weaknesses' that the EPRDF campaigners made, helped the opposition to gain even more, (especially from the 'alienated' sectors of society.) But many feared, including the international observers, that may be the expectations of the public were more than anyone could guarantee.

As the 'live' TV debates got hotter and hotter, observers (and opposition) were heard commenting that EPRDF was found short of new and attractive ideas, other than defending its policies. A few weeks from the polling day, it must have realized how serious the challenge to its policies, applied or not, might have been. Ministers faced open 'accusations' by the newly emerging opposition leaders. People 'enjoyed' the 'exchange of words' and ideas, even if at times 'overcharged' with emotional outbursts! Many began to conjecture, (in the face of opposition leaders' confidence), that if the polls were to be 'flawless' as promised, the incumbent party could face serious setbacks, if not outright débacle! Such eventuality did not comfort many, because opposition leaders still remained a little known quantity. There were even positions taken comforted by the famous proverb 'Better the devil I know than the saint I don't! Hence, the curiosity of many turned into veiled anxiety: 'what would happen after May 15, if the outcome awarded victory to the opposition?!' 'How would a defeated party take the verdict?!'

Almost predictably, in the aftermath of the election, and before the complete results have been officially declared by the National Electoral Board, fierce polemics arose over claims and counterclaims of victory, allegations of fraud and irregularities, by both sides, opposition and incumbent. Hence came about the first concrete scenario of confrontation. 'Exclusive victory' was the preferred subject. No one party was heard talking about 'compromise', 'concessions', 'coalitions' or 'collaboration'. Instead, the issue became only of 'victory or defeat', 'to be or not to be'!

It was amid such state of affairs, that university students stroke the first match kindling the fire of protest (against the government announcement showing EPRDF's victory). And other social sectors followed. This meant that something serious had been brewing underneath, (government says it was the hidden agenda of opposition elements) and spreading dangerously! The protest then involved the transport and business community, the service sector, offices. This sequence completed the build up to the zenith of violence: the Mercato clash on June 8th! 'Demonstrators/protestors' found themselves in front of a high police fire power, absolutely resolved to quell any uprising! The clash eventually left scores dead, many more injured, leaving every Ethiopian who experienced it with the worry: what next?!

Reports of mass arrests and a threateningly heavy and unusual presence of the army in Addis Ababa cast a spell of uneasiness, if not danger, over every one's head! Some foreigners were seen almost panicking while many citizens said they were forced to recall the chaotic period of the Derg's worst days! Until when shall such state of tension reign?! was the worry of Addis residents who had nothing else to talk about except this 'fever'.

In the meantime, diplomatic communities both here and abroad have been laudably trying to fill the 'terrible abyss' between the ruling party and opposition towards an all-inclusive, and acceptable solution. The EU was particularly committed and active. This was very encouraging. They did not want to see that all their efforts to help build a fully democratic Ethiopia should vanish right in front of their eyes, without them not playing their due role to reverse it. After all, many accusations (by opposition) have been forwarded against them for having strengthened the muscles of the incumbent government while not checking well with its good governance or human rights records! Every body agrees that parties should know and admit that above their interests, above their strategies and plans, above whatever issues they could raise concerning any matter, political or not, there stands high up the basic and immediate interests of the Ethiopian people to live in peace, to look for solutions in peace, to negotiate in peace. Peace is indeed a sine qua non for any issue to be tackled! Without peace nothing constructive could be planned nor attained and any irresponsible or emotional act hence, by any political group or personality, could lead the Nation into a point of no return, a vicious circle of confrontation and violence that could put at serious jeopardy the very survival of the country as an entity! If this does not sound tragic enough, what else will?!

Rewriting the sad episodes of many an African nation would be an unpardonable blunder to us! History should not repeat itself as we should know better. This has been the persistent view expressed by many conflict and political analysts. That is why a new voice that calls for peace is now rising high up (and it should be welcomed and supported by all!). It is imperative. Peace! At any cost! Any political discrepancy should give absolute priority to this factor, considering the numerous, complex interests and needs of the multiplicity of Ethiopians. Ethiopia is and should remain above the showdown between CUD-UEDF and EPRDF (and any and all parties for that matter!!). Any polarization. Every solution must be sought through peaceful negotiation and compromise, because Ethiopia belongs to all its nationals, not to one interest group or nationality, or party. Such confrontation can only dead to a dead end! Any other solution could only lead to chaos and that is self-defeating. Hence, all nationals, friends and sympathisers of Ethiopia, here and abroad, please act with this idea in the back of your mind! Compromise and tolerance are two key terms to watch! Blind partisanship and egocentrism will defeat all our purposes. We must give priority to peace!