Tecola Hagos's piece on the present Ethiopian Reality

By Amare

I just read a well written and well reasoned piece by Tecola entitled ETHIOPIAN REALITY: QUO VADIS* OPPOSITION? [ETHIOPIAN REALITY: WHERE TO FROM THIS POINT ON?]'.

Tecola has started out by offering his readers a brief historical sketch of Ethiopia's past governments which I think will be helpful in putting the gist of his piece in proper context. I would like to focus on few points that are very relevant to the present situation. And, I hope responsible citizens will carry on constructive discussion and dialogue along those lines.

1) Best of circumstances and opportune historical moment:

Tecola is absolutely right when he said EPRDF' had one of the best chances (beginnings) to bring about enduring and beneficial political and economic changes in Ethiopia than any other leader.' I don't think we could add much to this. It is a fact. They have had their chance, and a best chance, but regrettably they have not led. The question now should not be whether we should sit and wait for history to hand us over another golden opportunity to right our mistakes and move forward. Rather it should be how we could best channel our collective wisdom to transform our political culture into one whereby the deciding factor is the ballot box only.

2) Election 2005 and Protest Vote

The election has indeed proved beyond any doubt that the people of Ethiopia took this election seriously and they really wanted their vote to count. The huge gain by the opposition is a testament to this fact. I share Tecola's argument that the gain of the opposition reflects more of a protest vote than a vote for the opposition. Others may argue otherwise, which is fine. A protest vote or not, the opposition has gained considerable success. Now what? That is the question we all should address and bring forth constructive ideas the opposition and I may add the ruling party could use.

  Dear Prof. Tecola,

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Warm greetings!

I always give priority for reading your articles from all other articles which are used to be released in "Deki Alula .com". I read your last article on ""ETHIOPIAN REALITY: QUO VADIS* OPPOSITION? ". The article is logically and chronologically argued. It is good that you have touched the consequences of the first Woyane uprising in Tigray , though have forgotten the mass exodus( "sedet" ) of the Tigrians to the present Eritrea since then. 

Tecola , you seem to be worried about the comments made on your previous article about Tedros and Menelik. The Diaspora guys couldn't swallow the objective historical realities of the country. Don't mind them! One problem I repeatedly noted in your articles pertains to Meles, mainly in connection with the Eritrean issues. You had rightly dwelt with the root causes of the Eritrean uprising. Whether we like it or not , the Eritrean Independence was inevitable. Was Meles responsible? Yes , you have a point that he shouldn't have rushed to Algiers and that you could have saved TPLF from being weakened due to split, which was exclaimed by Prof. Mesfin Wolde Mariam as a miracle ! 

I hope we meet face to face and share common issues of interest in the future. I may come to Michigan during the coming Christmas. Otherwise, I appreciate your untiring endeavors in producing articles , sacrificing your time , for I know that writing articles is very demanding and painful. I think we can go along despite some differences in our approach to the Ethiopian fundamental problems. 

Back to my request: 

I have one pending question to you-- when you were in Chicago in a conference, I e-mailed you to share me your opinion on the EEBC rulings "final? and binding?" in line with the prescribed treaties and relevant International laws. I thoroughly read their analysis and conclusions reached. As a layman as Demographer/statistician, the verdict is masked with full of flaws. What is your opinion as an International Lawyer? Tecola , don't tell me that Meles is committed in Algiers to abide by the rulings of the Hague as final and binding ! That is besides the point ! I am asking experts' opinions to prove myself as wrong or right in my conclusion from the analysis of the commission. The second request is to write to me the e-mail addresses of Ato Mitiku Ashebir and Dr. Ghelawdewos Araia, if you know ,in your earliest convenience.

Best Regards and keep well,

Hadgu ( Ph.D)