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IV. THE FASCIST GOVERNO OF SIDAMA AND GALLA

The Fascist " fundamental Law" of territorial organization simply called Galla and Sidama, a large territory in southern Ethiopia characterized by a mixture and amalgamation of a whole number of ethno-linguistic groups in the south of Ethiopia. This is a proof showing that the strict Fascist policy of ethno-linguistic dismemberment applied only to separate and liquidate Amharic speaking Christians of Shoa. Even that was not strictly followed as we have seen in the creation of the map of Shoal, which includes Guraghe, Hadia and Galigna speakers. There was particularly no separate "Oromia" or Gallaland on the Fascist map of Ethiopia. The reason appears to be once again military and preoccupation with security. The following were the Commissariats and residence of Galla-Sidama.

1. Commissariato of Jimma

Residence of Jimma - Jimma

Residence of Ghera and Gomma - Aggaro

Residence of Limmu-enarea -Saka

Vice-residence of Botor - Adaro

Residence of Guma - Dembi

Residence of Jianjero -Fofa

Vice-residence -Abalti

2. Commissariat of West Sayo

Residence of Sayo

Residence of Gambella

Residence of Ghidami

Residence of _Ghimbi

Vice residence of Konso --Jarso

Residence of Balta ---Chara

Residence of Amar Koche

Vice-residence of Gheleba -- Dande

9. Commissariat of Kaffa - Ghimira -Bonga

Residence of Ghimira --Wota

Ressidence of Mocha -- Ghechia

Residence of Dawro -- Waka

Residence of Konta -- Amaia

Residence of Gurrafarda

10. Commisariat of Sidamo --Yirgalem

Residence of Sidamo - Yirgalem

Vice-residence of Arbagona

Vice-residence of Sidamo - Hula

Residence of East Jem Jem ---- Adola

Residence of west Jem Jem -- Alghe

Residence of Darasa -- Banko

Vice-residence of Darasa --- Dilla

Residence of Zwai -- Sole

Vice residence of Zwai --- Adami Tullo

Residence of Burji

Residence of Zilmano, Tirma and Tide - Zilmano

Residence of Tishiana and Shiashia

Residence of Buma and Geleb -- Kalam

11. Commissariat of Boran -- Javello

Residence of Borana --Javello

Vice-residence of Arero

Residence of Neghele

Residence of Mega

Residence of Moyale

V. THE FASCIST GOVERNO OF SOMALIA

Fascist Somalia included, as has already been said, the Ogaden of Ethiopia beyond Jig Jiga, as well as the lowland areas of Bale and Sidama. The territory up to Jig Jiga and Jig Jiga itself, as well as Goba in Bale remained in the Governo of Harar, as we have seen The Commissariat of Sidamo in Galla -Sidama also kept Yirgalem and other territories of Sidamo. The inclusion of the Ethiopian Ogaden, as well as the lowlands of Bale and Sidama will, as we know, feed Somali irredentist wars against Ethiopia under Siad Barre, including Sidamo and Bale, under what was called Somali Abo Liberation Front. The same Fascist heritage has been applied by the British imperialists who had inherited Fascist Somalia territory with its borders on in which, with their colonial ambitions in Ethiopia, they had fomented the idea of Greater Somalia and instigated the Somali Youth League who led the war the war against Ethiopia since the 1950's. Following the British check-out pushed out by the American Big Brother, we are to-day living the CIA-Weyane anti-Ethiopia apartheid policy for the creation of a Somali state within Ethiopia extending to and including the Ogaden extending to Jig Jiga, including parts of Bale and Sidama as under Fascism, with the right of self determination up to secession.

MAP OF FASCIST SOMALIA

RESISTANCE AND REPRESSION IN SHOA: HIGHLIGHTS OF TRIBALISATION AND ETHNIC CLEANSING

RESISTANCE, REPRESSION AND COLLABORATION IN SHOA:

The war finished after Wechale, with the departure of Haile Selassie, Addis Ababa occupied on May 5, 1936, and the guerrilla resistance launched, Fascist authority in Ethiopia, had passed from Badoglio to Rodolfo Graziani. At that date notwithstanding the occupation of Addis Ababa, only the former colony Eritrea and Tigrai could be said to be under Fascist control, Ras Seyum Mengesha, the governor of Tigrai, who had fought, "bene o male" says Del Boca, the Fascist invader from the first day of invasion in Tigrai, had, after Wechale, not followed the option of organizing in Tigrai guerrilla warfare to continue resistance as Haile Selassie had asked him. Instead Ras Seyum had already since April contacted the invading fascist forces and given his hand on May 8, submitting to the "King of Italy and the just Duce to become as of to-day the sovereign and commanders of me and of my people."[7] The submission of Dejach Haile Selassie Gugsa of Enderta to Italy following the death of his father Ras Gugsa Araya who died while under Italian trap of "political medicine" predates Fascist invasion. [8]"Political medicine" is a well-known Italian imperialist strategy through which the patient, while under treatment, was being worked out to sell himself to Italy against his motherland. It was a practice applied at so-called Italian residences, consulates and commercial centers throughout Ethiopia. Cigarettes, Cognac, Champagnes or Italian "summate" were other means used to entice the Ethiopian feudal aristocracy as in the case of Dejach Ayalew Berru of Dabat (Gondar). As Raffaele de Lauro the agent working on him wrote: "He drunk to the health of Duce two or three glasses. He wanted to become a Fascist; then, slowly, while proffering words of praise to Italy, her King, and Government, slipped over the carpet and fall under the table, to sleep profoundly."[9]

The most famous banda collaborator in the service of Fascist Italy against Ethiopia was however Ras Hailu Tekle Haimanot of Gojam. Son of Negus Tekle Haimanot who lived under Emperor Yohannes and Menelik, Ras Hailu had the ambition not only of becoming "Negus of Gojam___" as his father, and perhaps aimed higher as any good feudal prince and dreamed of transferring the throne from Addis Ababa to Debre Marqos. In the tradition of power struggle among our feudal princes be it of Shoa or of Tigrai, of Gondar or of Lasta every means was permissible, including most often selling oneself with an amazing short sight, to a foreign imperialist power. Thus Ras Hailu was an easy prey to a well-known Italian Fascist imperialist agent Baron Raimondo Franchetti who traveled in Ethiopia in those pre-war years with hardly secret subversive objectives to incite Ethiopian communities (in Tigrai, among the Aria and Azebo, among the Danakil etc.) And prominent feudal leaders to rise in rebellion against the central government.

Ras Hailu met Franchetti met in Debre Marqos as early as 1928: Sensing their high interest, he had then offered Gojam and the Nile to Italy:� Why is that you Italians do not send your engineers to my land (Gojam). I will help you do any type of work you wish in the damming of Tana ". And adds in a racist terminology, which certainly reflects the personality of fascist Franchetti rather than that of Ras Hailu: "Tell your Duce that I want to bring civilization to my land and for that I need men of the color of your skin ". To crown it all Ras Hailu sent as a sign of great admiration a sword in gold to Benito Mussolini. Then Franchetti returns to Ethiopia in April 1932 with a new baggage of subversive anti-Ethiopia projects. This time, with the authorization of the weak government under Haile Selassie, Baron Franchetti comes with an airplane loaded with arms and lands not at the airport in Addi s Ababa but at an improvised landing site situated between Addis Alem and Holeta. This time Franchetti had come with a spectacularly grandiose subversive plan of removing the Shoan monarchy of Haile Selassie and crowning in his place Lej Iyassu, with Ras Hailu promoted Negus as his right hand, naturally Ethiopia becoming a protectorate of Fascist Italy. At that time Lej Iyassu was in prison at Fiche (Selale) under the care of Ras Kassa Hailu, (father of Abera, Wend Wessen, and Ras Asrate Kassa), another ambitious figure of the dynasty of Sahle Selassie of Shoa, who therefore, although said to be a trustee of Haile Selassie, may have been involved in the plot in one way or another.

According to the plan, once Iyasu's escape arranged by bribing and corrupting his guards, he was to be led to Franchetti's airplane, to be flown to Debre Marcos and join Ras Haile. Leg Yesus will declare himself Emperor of Ethiopia and following a popular revolt Haile Selassie will be removed. However, in the meantime Haile Selassie has intelligence information on the plot and deposes, confiscates the immense wealth and property and arrests Ras Haile giving a vague misgovernment charge .as a pretext, Thus after having waited in isolation for some time, Baron Franchise fears for his life and escapes to Asmara. Following his departure, benefiting from the absence of Ras Kassa Haile attending festivities in Addis Ababa, Leg Yesus escapes from prison and watched by the security people of Haile Selassie reaches Debre Marcos where he was arrested. Ras Haile admits the plot and was condemned to death, sentence later commuted to life imprisonment at Dandy (Ambo area) famous for its mineral waters. Ras Haile will gain liberty only following Haile Selassie's departure in exile in May 1936 (to which date is also attributed the death of Leg Yesus who was in prison in Harar). Ras Haile becomes, as we said, the most fervent supporter and collaborator of Fascist occupation of Ethiopia. The repression in western Shoa with its seat at Ambo was under the direction of General Belly with whom Ras Haile collaborated in negotiations to entice patriots to submit to Fascism or even participate militarily in the repression of patriotic resistance

In the same way many other razes and dejazmachs had become collaborators of Fascist Italy abnegating the motherland. In number and quantity the razes and dejazamachs and Addis Ababa, the centre of Government where Fascist attention concentrated, naturally out-numbered the collaborators of other regions The razes included Ras Get chew Abate, Ras Kerbed Magnesia,) and among the dejazmachs and higher aristocracy of Shoa as well as ministers of the bureaucracy the following may be mentioned: Dejach Magnesia Weber, Dejach Metaphoric, Dejach As rat Mulugueta (son of Ras Mulugueta, late Minister of War), Tsehafi Te'ezaz Welder Mescal Tarkio, Blata Shale Steal , A case which has surprised many was the submission to Italy of Dejach Wedih Ali, who had identified himself in the past for his service to unity and territorial integrity.[10]. In the same way among the high clergy there were those who had bent to Fascism and shined by the collaboration. Among these mention must be made of Abuse Perilous and Abuse Abraham of Gojam.

THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NATIONALIST YOUTH ON THE EVE OF FASCIST OCCUPATION

Educational literature for the construction of nationalist youth fill the then news paper "Berhanena Selam" That was also the time when Ethiopia will see the first civil society, all be it Government instigated, the first peaceful modern demonstrations, in the most important urban centers, particularly Addis Ababa, among the educated elite, both home-educated and foreign educated. The movement was largely dedicated to inculcate nationalism, and the sense of unity as a people, and prepare the youth against Fascist Italian aggression by inculcating the values of liberty, independence and sovereignty as well as pride in Ethiopian culture and identity That was what Baron Roman von Protozoa lived and hated in Addis Ababa from 1932 to 1934. We remember, he said, the Ethiopians felt that they were above the world. That was also why Mussolini targeted "Giovanni Entopic," the leaders of the movement, for wholesale physical elimination, first and above even the most patriotic giants.

I am not aware if this subject has been properly researched at Addis Ababa University but it should, before we completely lose all our precious oral sources. Among the most known of these movements was, as we just said, the one called simply the "Young Ethiopians" in English and "Giovanni Etiopici" in Italian. I shamefully admit my ignorance regarding the exact Amharic name of the association. This is all the result of Western focused imperialist education. We will know the identity of the members of "Young Ethiopian" association as we move on. Then there was "Yager Fikr Mahber" somehow associated with Mekonnen Habtewold, brother of the cherished patriotic son of Ethiopia, Aklilu Habte Wold, executed by the Derg. The theatre with that name in Addis Ababa is clearly associated with that association. A third one was "Yehulu Teqem Mahber" which appears to have been particularly directed at mobilizing Eritrean nationalists in Addis Ababa against Fascist Italy.

We remember, Eritrea was an Italian colony for fifty years, from 1891-1941. The clear message of the association was therefore its liberation from Italian colonialism, and the return of Eritrea to Ethiopia. Yehulu Teqem Mahber was presided by Kifle Egzi Yehdego. And inspired by the cherished patriot and lawyer Lorenzo Taezaz. Born in Eritrea Lorenzo had his first education in Asmara to then go for further studies to Besancon in France. Unable to exercise his profession of a lawyer as a native in racist Italian colonized Eritrea, Lorenzo had come to Addis Ababa where he occupied a post of primary importance at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in company of two other Eritreans: Efrem Tewolde Medhin and Dawit Uqube'egzi. Lorenzo Tae'zaz who will represent Ethiopia in several international forums, who had accompanied Haile Selassie to the League of Nations at that historic June 30, 1936, will be one of the most devoted sons of Ethiopia to fight for our independence from Fascist Italy and the return of Eritrea to the motherland. The Yehulm Teqem Mahber counted some 600 members in 1933.largely young educated escapees from Akle Guzai, Hamassein and Serae. Finally a word on the association made up of cadets of the military academy of Holeta, later known as Tequr Anbesa or Black Lion, formed in Lekemt, Welega, in 1936 to fight Fascist invasion. We will deal in detail with Tequr Anbesa at a later stage,

The Anti-imperialist, anti-Fascist Italian friend of Ethiopia, Angelo Del Boca quotes the following poem taken from Berhanena Selam of those years:

My country, Ethiopia, my birthplace

Your enemies are many, do not worry?

We will not expose you to danger; we shall take our Gasha

We know, the enemy will not leave us free

Will not even let us have a piece of injera

Enemies all around surround us

As in a cage of lions

But if we your sons rise together with our Gash

We shall cripple the enemy;

Unable to walk, unable to speak.

He will not use us, as latrine for his urine. [11]

Mussolini describes the "Young Ethiopians" as being

At the head of every anti-Italian movement and precisely because of their claim to be carriers of Western culture, are particularly dangerous and poisonous. Therefore the Duke's order should be integrally applied without mercy and hesitation in their respect."

A word about Haile Selassie and his life in exile.

Opinions are many and forceful, often very negative, (exploited and nurtured by Fascist propaganda), regarding Haile Selassie's decision to leave the country and continue the struggle in exile, an option not in the tradition of Ethiopian emperors, But the sources we have been able to consult show that Emperor Haile Selassie has throughout his exile, starting from his memorable June 30, 1936 League of nations speech, amid insults of Fascists and general Western scorn, his memorable speech of "God and history will remember your judgment", Haile Selassie�s life in Exile was throughout of suffering and insult mainly coming from the British Government. A single glance at the reduced and tormented physical condition which pictures of Haile Selassie upon his return to Ethiopia so eloquently describe is enough to convince the unconvinced. In his exile, Emperor Hailer Selassie remained, as General Neggga Haile Selassie, one of the leading arbegoch just told me in a short interview, wherever he may go, wherever he may be, the Emperor remained the commander in chief of the armed forces. And indeed, practically every major patriotic move, specially in Shoa and Addis Ababa, or taken by the Provisional Government at Gore on the Sudan border, led by Bitweded Welde Tsadiq and later joined by Ras Emru.

All major patriotic actions, including the concerted attack against Addis Ababa, and perhaps even the Yekatit 12 attempt against Graziani's life, was attributed to Haile Selassie's instructions. This is a simple fact, which Mussolini and Graziani recognized, but one that we, even historians, often overlook. From the very beginning of his life in exile, Haile Selassie remained constantly in contract with the arbegoch of the first stage, (that is the one who followed the struggle following his departure), often his own supreme aristocratic generals, often related to him through marriage, never failing to constantly encourage and give moral support through telegrams and letters which were often intercepted by the Fascist authority. Perhaps only very few of his innumerable efforts to procure arms and munitions to the patriots have succeeded. On one occasion, at an hour of great moral break down among the patriots, including Ras Emru at Gore, seat of the phantom "Ethiopian Provisional Government", Haile Selassie had even decided to fly back to Ethiopia, to Gore through the Sudan, with Carl Gustav Von Rosen, and join the resistance against Fascist Italy. [12]. The Emperor Has however, been dissuaded by the British from persisting on the project. Haile Selassie may also have attempted to "bolshevise" the Ethiopian case by attempting to involve Stalin and the Soviet Union, according to information obtained by Graziani. The British had also refused to allow the Emperor travel to the United States and mobilize the blacks. Further strengthening the credit regarding Haile Selassie's patriotism is his determined and unflinching battle following his return to Ethiopia, against British Imperialist intrigues to colonies Ethiopia, a subject we shall deal with at a later stage. These are just a few thoughts and notes to animate discussion on this delicate and very explosive, almost taboo, subject.

However accustomed for millenniums to a disciplined feudal hierarchical society, and perhaps because of that, patriotic resistance in the absence of the physical presence of the neguse negest has not been, as we just said, an insurmountable problem at the first stage of the patriotic struggle that had followed led by the remaining already established feudal hierarchy set up by Haile Selassie himself, including even people, like Dejach Balcha, or Blata Takele Welde Hawariat, and perhaps even Belai Zeleke, opposed to Haile Selassie, who separated the survival of the nation from the fate of the Emperor. However that may be, Following Maichew and the departure of Haile Selassie, Fascist forces had precipitated south and occupied Addis Ababa, the capital, on May 5, 1936, and declared Ethiopia a Fascist colony under the king of Italy and Duce Mussolini. But Ethiopia was not conquered. Once in Addis Ababa the new Governor Rodolfo Graziani was like a prisoner in the forest city. Graziani wrote on June 10, 1936.

"All around Addis constituting a big circle, one could count thousands of armed rebels (the word the Fascist authority used to identify the patriots) who have no intention whatsoever to give up their hands and submit to Fascist Italy. On the contrary information obtained from reliable sources, following instructions received from the Emperor before his departure their intention is to Attack Addis Ababa from all directions during the on-coming rainy season. Even children in town talk about it."

In the larger area of Shoa. It is generally believed that the first among arbegoch to distinguish himself was the valorous son of Ethiopia Haile Mariam Mammo, who on May 4,1936, that is a day before the occupation of Addis Ababa, had attacked the advancing Fascist tanks at Debre Berhan. Also among the first to join the guerrilla resistance were the 138 cadets of the military academy of Holeta, later known as Tequr Anbesa or Black Lion who will soon leave for Gore to join Ras Emru. About seventy of them will remain in Shoa under the leadership of the legendary patriot Negga Haile Selassie, later General, with a good number of automatic guns. He is said to have remarked. "I lived killing at night to return back to my life as a monk with the name of " Memhir Haile Mikael ". [13] General Negga, an unflinching Ethiopian representative in Eritrea under British occupation (1941-1952), ever pursuing his nationalist struggle against Weyane, lives to day in London, in exile.

My subdued homage to the patriot in the hope of soon interviewing him on the subject. Perhaps the most important patriot in shoa threatening Fascist invaders in - Addis Ababa and the supply route along the Addis Ababa -Harar-Djibouti railway, in the first weeks and months following Fascist occupation of Addis Ababa was the great leader Dejach Fikre Mariam. Then we have Dejach Balcha, Menelik's patriot of Adowa, the indomitable Blata Takele Welde Hawariat, Balambaras Abebe Aregai (later Ras) who will soon prove himself as the one of the most able and successful guerrilla leaders, together with Belai Zeleke of Gojam and Geresu Duki of Woliso. The Kassa brothers Abera Kassa and Wend Wessen Kassa seconded by the sacred and patriotic blessing of Abune Petros in Selale, fief of Ras Kassa Hailu; Shaleqa Mesfin Seleshi (later Ras) Grazmach Zewde Asfaw, Fitrawrari Zewde Abba Kora, Basha Welde were some of the patriots who had brilliantly resisted against the Fascist invader and harassed Graziani.

Other than Addis Ababa and Shoa, the whole of Ethiopia, with the exception of Eritrea and perhaps Tigrai, remained to be conquered. Gojam, Begemidre, Lasta under the nominal administration of Governatore Pirzio Biroli, were in reality in the hands of patriotic leaders. In the south Harar was in under patriots s Shimeles Arti, Million Tedla, Bahade Gabre, Guangul Kolasse, Lej Abebe Degafews, etc. who will confront the bloody repression led by General Nasi, the Governatore of Harar. Ras Desta Damtew and Dejach Gebre Mariam at the head of some 10,000 soldiers in Sidamo, Dejach Beyene Merid leading some 10,000 soldiers in Arussi, Ras Emru at the head of some 3000 soldiers in Ilubabor (Gore) at the seat of the Provisional Ethiopian Government, together with the unflinching patriotic Abune Mikael, of Gore, an alterego of Abune Petros, will be confronting the generals sent by Governatore Geloso of Galla Sidama.

To defend the forest-city of Addis Ababa covered with eucalyptus tree that forbade free movement, leave alone the larger Shoa, Graziani had initially, in May-June 1936 only 9,000 soldiers with little hope of rapid reinforcement as the supply route leading from Asmara to Addis Ababa, "la strada imperiale" -the "imperial Route", was not yet completed. In July with the arrival of Tessitore FROM Dessie, Graziani could count 35,000 soldiers. However Graziani possessed not only thousands of native ascari, mercenary banda, composed of Eritreans, Somali and Libyans as well as Galla militia. But above all Graziani possessed the air power that burnt

From the airmen and tukuls indiscriminately through bombs and poison gas. Notwithstanding all that, the determination of the patriots to fight on and the frequency of their attacks grew unaffected. General Tracchia whose mission was to destroy patriotic resistance and force submission in the Debre Berhan, Ankober-Debre Sina area in the protection of the "strada imperiale" 25 times during the summer of 1936. In the same way the men of Dejach Fikre Mariam and Lej Abebe Degafews will repeatedly attack the Harar-Adama-Addis Ababa railway supply line and the vicinity of Awash causing considerable losses and frequent interruptions, in spite of the perpetual air cover and in spite of the almost 7000 bombs thrown in a few weeks against the presumed patriotic bases. [14]

The threat against Addis Ababa lasted long. At night, for weeks following the occupation of may 5, there was continuous gunfire animated by the patriots. One Italian city resident had written in her diary that the continuous shooting at night had raised tension to the maximum. Rumors, a very important instrument of propaganda warfare in the hands of the patriots, talked of the eminence of the attack to liberate Addis by the Arbegoch whose number has been swollen to 20, 30, 40, 000."[15] In Panic, Graziani's generals had started to kill indiscriminately in the city and surrounding areas. However temerarious it may seem, there was indeed a plan of the patriots of Shoa for the liberation of Addis Ababa. The plan was discussed at the beginning of July in Debre Libanos of Shoa, at a meeting, attended among others by Abune Petros, the Kassa brothers, and notably Abera Kassa, the city was to be attacked from five directions:

1. Abera Kassa, Mesfin Seleshi, led one column that should enter the city through Gulele the cadets of Holeta (including Negga Haile Selassie), targeting the take over of Arada and the Ghiorghis area.

2. A second column entering Addis Ababa through Entoto led by Abebe Aregai had as its objective the occupation and take over of the Tanashu Ghebi at Sidst Kilo- la residence of Graziani.

3. A third column led by Dejach Fikre Mariam will enter the city through the Dessie Road and had as its objective the take over of Talaqu Ghebi of Menelik.

4.and 5 Dejach Balcha Aba Nefso, the hero of Adowa, and the acclaimed patriotic leader Dejach Zewde Asfaw were to enter the city from the south and occupy respectively the Bole airport under construction and the railway station (Legehar or La Gare)

Emperor Haile Selassie in exile appears to have been the instigator and the originators of the idea. The principal Arbegnoch in the various regions of Ethiopia were also contacted and informed about the Attack. Some were called to join them. This was the case of Ras Emru.

The attack was launched at sunrise on a cloudy morning of July 28, 1936. Abera Kassa's men arrive at Merkato of Arada and Ghiorghis, the heart of the city, without firing a shot. Abebe Aregai had reached his destination -the residence of Graziani but was repelled by Fascist Black Shirts. While Dejach Fikremariam was held by the torrents of Qebena, Dejach Balcha and Zewde Asfaw had taken two days to penetrate rate the city because of the of the rivers swollen by the rainy season, and had reached when the fighting was already over. When Abera Kassa and the rest had already left Addis, on Wednesday July 30, the only forces to have continued to energetically attack the Fascist soldiers of Graziani in Addis Ababa were the men of Dejach Fikre Mariam and a handful of Holeta Cadets among who was General Negga Haile Selassie. To incite the arbegoch in their attack was the heroic Abune Petros who had accompanied the forces and remained to the last inciting the fighters. Refusing the call of Abera Kassa to retreat, Abune Petros had responded that he had come to Addis Ababa to die there. Indeed, the attack against Addis Ababa having failed, Abune Petros will be captured by the men of Ras Hailu who will hand him over to Graziani who will have him executed.

The principal factors for the failure of the liberation project have been said to be lack of communication and coordination between the parties itself caused by lack of the necessary te4chnology. Communication was then done through human couriers or runners, which inevitably took a long time. Another reason for failure of the project was the absence of mass uprising among the city population, largely uninformed. It is very intriguing on what basis Mockler raises in particular the "indifference" of the Guraghe of the Merkato of Arada regarding the liberation venture. [16] Had the liberation project succeeded to create a popular uprising inundating Graziani's men in arms, it would have written a new chapter in Ethiopian history?

The effect of the failure of the attack on Addis Ababa, on the other hand will push some to patriots to intensify their resistance while creating a rather deep crisis and loss of morale among some others. It was indeed following this incident that Abera Kassa, who was generally regarded as the leader of Arbegoch of Shoa, against the decision of his own soldiers and the rest of the arbegnoch [17], will decide to confide himself to Ras Hailu who will promise him a safe exit. As we shall see Abera and Wend Wessen will be handed over to Grazani's generals and executed Abune Petros too shall be arrested by the men of Ras Hailu, handed over to Graziani and executed.

THE DEMOLITION OF THE STATUE OF MENELIK -THE HERO OF ADOWA, A FASCIST ACT OF REVENGE

On 11 October 1936, Alessandro Lessona, Fascist Minister of Colony will, against the opinion of Graziani whom he held in little respect, as we have seen, arrive by surprise at Djibouti with the intention of taking the train to Addis Ababa, while Dejach Fikre Mariam and the indefatigable Dejach Balcha were harassing the railway line. Graziani will advise him to come by air but not to show the world that the patriots controlled the railway, assured by a powerful air cover Lessona will take way the train to reach Addis. Lessona's principal mission in Addis was to demolish Menelik's statue at Ghiorghis Square, which Graziani has persistently refused to do for fear of popular uprising and further provocation of the patriots. On the evening of October 16, Lessona will over-ride Graziani's decision and accompanied by a group of soldiers and demolishers will pull down the statue of Menelik, the Hero of Adowa and the symbol of Shoan monarchy.

The brave Fascist Minister who had to secretly perform his perfidy at night unobserved by the populace kept in general ignorance, then boasts that only a lone Ethiopian was weeping at the place of the statue the next day. He had not been able to measure the quite popular anger that will animate patriotic resistance throughout the occupation. Lessona was also responsible for the removal of the statue of the Lion of Judah at Legehar, another symbol of the Shoan monarchy, later returned to Ethiopia after liberation. Mission accomplished Lessona will leave Addis Ababa in the same secret fashion on 21 October, accompanied by a strong convoy and a powerful air cover.

We remember CIA-Weyane-Sha'abia soon after their rise to power in May 1991 had once again wanted to emulate the Fascist practice by attempting to demolish once again the statue of Menelik at St. George square only to be dissuaded my a mammoth demonstration of 500,000 protesters!!

Scorned by Lessona, Graziani determines to deal massively and decisively against the patriots. Graziani here is one instruction of Graziani (13 May 1937) to the generals and officers stationed in Shoa:

"I am following with extreme attention your work of repression which should conclude with the absolute submission of Shoa even if it means razing to the ground the last tukul (house) and eliminating all who refuse to surrender their arms. I count on your Fascistic spirit."[18]

Graziani orders were to be executed by General Sebastiano Gallina with the assistance of General Mariotti's four Eritrean ascari banda battalion to hunt the rebels who were hiding in the mountains around the railway. Repeating Lessona's instructions Graziani orders Gallina: "All this must end soon so that the outside world will not say that Addis Ababa and the railway are under the mercy of the rebels (patriots)." The first Fascist attack was naturally directed against Dejach Fikre Mariam whose men have never stopped attacking and disrupting the rail way service right up to Addis Ababa itself. To facilitate the operation on 21 and 22 October 25 fighter airplanes razed to the ground all the villages found in the vicinity of Zequala and Debocogio .To complete the operation the Fascist general had spread poisonous mustard gas over the fleeing innocent population. Following this the men of Generals Galena and Mariotti will round up the target area along the railway line, and finish off the tukuls and civilians and peasants that had escaped from air bombardment and poisoning. Graziani applauds Gallina's atrocity: "You have to continue to the end with the mission of destroying everything, "opera inesorabile distruzione di tutto." In another instruction to General Maletti (June 2, 1937) Graziani wrote:

"In any case your efforts shall be rewarded if you penetrate the territory in connivance with Abebe Aregai, and raze it to the ground eliminating all (tutto e tutti). Only thus we will succeed to break away the resistance in Shoal"[19]

The Heroic Death of Fire Mariam: On 27 October 1936 the four Eritrean battalions of General Mariotti will finally succeed to reach Dejach Fikre Mariam's camp on mount Dobocogio close to Bokan. The fighting will start at 10.15 in the morning and will last seven hours. With heavy losses on both sides. Fikre Mariam's force of arbegnoch at the time of Fascist surprise attack consisted of 1500 men of whom only 600 regulars. About 17.00 hours the engagement was finished with 321 dead on the Ethiopian side, among whom Dejeach Fikre Mariam himself.

"The myth of Fikre Mariam was thus finished, " wrote one Fascist observer. "We will not hear any more of him. We will no more hear of him as a fabulous and powerful leader who incited the population against us. We will not hear any more of him as a leader of Shoa as if he were a man endowed with extraordinary magical power of ubiquity (omnipresence), said to be everywhere. We shall no more be threatened by his arrogance. A great relief to all!"[20]

Following the death of Fikre Mariam Graziani reinforces still more the ruthless repression and indiscriminate execution of patriotic forces. General Archimede Mischi stationed at Mojo and Luigi Cubbedu heading the cruel Libyan forces at Arba on Awash, as well the Galla Territorial Banda of Adama, which Piero Belli has described in his book (Milano 1937) " Un'Orda barbarica al servizio della civilt�" (Barbaric Horde in the service of Civilisation") under Lieutenant Beltrani a component of the column of General Mischi, led by Amharic speaking banda, seconding Gallina and Mariotti along the parallel lines made up by the valley of Awash, and the railway line, a total force of 20,000 men[21]. Both Mojo and Adama were located along the railway line separated by a short distance from each other.

The End of Dejach Balcha Aba Nefso: On 6 November a small force of 200 soldiers commanded by the 73 year old general of Menelik, Dejach Balcha Aba Nefso will attack at Abe a force of several thousands led by Colonel Princivalle on his way to Jimma, a desperate suicide attack, to die after fighting heroically.

After trying to challenge the Fascist forces in the Welega-Gore area, surrounded by huge Fascist forces of General Tessitore, Colonel Malta and Colonel Princivalle Ras Emru will on 16 December give his hand to the Italian authorities close to the Gojeb River. His life will be saved and shall be condemned to life imprisonment. We will deal with that subject at a later stage.

The End of the Kassa Brothers: However, the Kassa brothers, Abera kassa and Wend Wessen Kassa who had given their hands to Graziani will be executed by General Tracchia who had occupied Fiche (Selale) on 16 December And on 21 December the Kassa brothers who, as we said were guarantied safe exit on submission, will be handed over to General Tracchia on 21 December to be executed. Reproducing two identical letters found following the killing of Dejach Fikre Mariam (27 September and 5 October 1936) and that of Dejach Balcha, Graziani accused Abera Kassa of plotting to launch a second attack against Addis Ababa for the liberation of the capital. As a reading of these letters tell us a lot about the not only about Abera Kassa's intelligent thinking and calculation, recognized by his comrades in arms, but in general regarding the arbegnoch of Ethiopia, their unity in the patriotic struggle, their plans, methods of building up the resistance, their hopes and illusions, we will here reproduce the pertinent parts. Abera Kassa's first letter to Dejach Fikre Mariam read:

I have received your letter of 19th and 21 September. I appreciate your judgment regarding the resistance. You tell me that you had approached Bishoftu but then retreated preferring to attack Addis Ababa. The best thing for us to do, in order to avoid our men remaining inactive change their idea or are taken by laziness, Is to continue our vigilance of every road and place continuously making surprise attacks. We should fight On small scale through small actions while waiting for the arrival

of the other forces.

It will be good to send messengers to Arussi (Dejach Beyene and Ras Desta) to ask them to send forces. The people we have sent to Welega assure us of the arrival at Gore of Ras Getachew, Dejach Mekonnen and Qegnazmach Belehu with a large number of war material and money; Further the arrival at Gore of an English air plane (see further) with ten thousand thalers to distribute tour one thousand soldiers who have attacked the Italian air plane (see further) and who are now in Welega; we have also heard that a boat is transporting material to us, profiting from the full waters of the rivers, and that the Emperor will reach Gore on 25 September. Therefore, because it means waiting only for a month, try to encourage the people making them swear fidelity and using the threat of excommunication. The enemy cannot leave the city because it has not received reinforcement from Italy. It cannot in any case bring them by sea as that has been refused to Italy (by the blocus). But all the same the enemy is recruiting vagabonds of our country, paying money, in order to destroy us, making us fight against each other among ourselves .We must stop the recruitment of our people by the Italians. We should destroy the property and houses of those who collaborate with the enemy.

The second letter of Abera Kassa to Fikre Mariam read, among others:

"As you suggested what the people want is to create problems along the enemies communication lines

To enter Addis Ababa with the intention of occupying the city is a difficult thing given the entrenchment; as a result we should constantly attack the roads of communication.

Tell the soldiers who have arrived from Arussi, to advance to Addis Ababa while destroying the railway line, so that the soldiers who are stationed around Addis could enter and occupy the city permanently. It is good that you start the action now with you remaining at Yerer and Bejirond Let Yibelu at Debacogio inciting the people to join the guerrilla warfare, according to their preference. Our plans (of attack) should not repose only on our dependence on the rainy season and the mud created by it (impeding movement), but on the help of God as well, because it appears to me that He is watching us with a supportive look. Lasta, Begemidre, Wag, Tigre and Yejou have started guerrilla warfare and cutting of communication lines as of September 5. Informing us about their action has filled us with joy and they have promised to join us by the middle of October and together liberate the country from Italian occupation. I will communicate my views and thinking to Selshi whom I am sending to you. Inform me when you start the action and keep me informed on all your activities.

As Del Boca says Abera Kassa must have decided to give his hand to Graziani and wait for better days, following the fallacy of news regarding above all the arrival of Haile Selassie, coming from Gore and disastrous events in that direction regarding Ras Emru and Bitweded Wellde Tsadiq, (see further) as well as, following the death of Dejach Fikre Mariam and Dejach Balcha, on whom he visibly counted a lot. [22]

The End of Ras Desta Damtew: and Beyene Merid: By the end of 1936, therefore, among the principal patriotic leaders largely loyal and associated with Haile Selassie who kept the fire of resistance burning since his departure and in constant contact with him, will remain only Ras Desta Damtew with his chiefs Dejach Gebre mariam, Beyene Merid, Bezabeh Seleshi, brother of Mesfin Seleshi, and Shimeles Arti. Ras Desta was married to Tenagne Worq Haile Selassie (1924) while Beyene Merid was married to Romane Worq Haile Selassie.

Instead of proceeding forward let us go back to that dreadful experience of Ras Desta in the patriotic struggle, which had dealt a blow to his military career. Ras Desta was the commander of the southern front at the end of 1935, with a mission to block the Fascist t forces of the Southern Front led by Rodolfo Graziani, advancing through Italian Somaliland into Ethiopia. Ras Desta's with his base at Negele, commanded a force estimated at 15 000 well armed and trained valorous soldiers, perhaps the largest and the best among all the patriotic forces in the field. Graziani had advanced to the Ethiopian border and had fortified his base at Dolo. Graziani forces were estimated at 12 000 Italians and Somalis together, 50 tanks, 76 warplanes. Ras Desta had projected to march the 380 kilometers from Negele to Dolo and attack Graziani. His forces had left Negele on 20 November 1935 in three directions, along Dawa Parma in the right, the Dolo road in the middle, and Ganae Doria, on the left. Haile Selassie was coordinating the offensive. Further, Ras Desta who expected to reach his destination by the end of December expected receiving the forces of Dejach Beyene Merid and Dejach Nesibu in the Ogaden. In the meantime Graziani starts bombarding from the air and showering the advancing forces of Ras Desta's with poison gas. On January 2, Ras Desta writes to the Emperor

"The Italians are bombing the three columns as well as Negele. But as of 7 Tahsas 1928 (December 17, 1935) they are throwing bombs with gas, which rain like hail (snow). The smell of the gas does not permit us to stay within the fortification. Doctor Hylander has told us to be careful as it was a poisonous gas (mustard gas).

The small wounds caused by this gas swell up to become huge plagues."

The closer Ras Desta's forces approached Dolo, the heavier the bombardment and the poison gas used by the coward "hyena of Libya" against brave soldiers with no means to resist such a dreadful arm forbidden by so called international law. Graziani targeted and destroyed even the small Swedish Red Cross hospital that saved so many lives threatened by the poison. Once Ras Desta's forces were extremely debilitated by such arms the brave Graziani with 663 Fascist officers, 11,614 Italian soldiers, 13,030 Somali and Eritrean ascari, and the offensive against the advancing Ethiopian troops of Ras Desta. 1030 automatic guns, 46 canons, 35 tank, 12 fire launchers, and covered by 76 warplanes launches the offensive against Ras Desta. Among the Somali banda there were in particular the infamous soldiers of Somali banda Sultan Olol Dinle who will penetrate 350 kilometers inside Ethiopia to Attack the forces of Dejach Beyene Merid at Goba (Bale) destroying all the way systematically all the water wells all the way through, and burning villages and pillaging all property in a move to transform the area into a uninhabitable desert. And thus eliminating the possibility of any reinforcement from the right by Beyene Merid. Under the circumstances, Ras Desta had pushed forward up to about 60 kilometers from Dolo. (Receiving 1200 kilograms of gas on January 12, 1936).

A large number of the valorous forces of Ras Desta have been put out of action by the gas, the bomb, and malaria. Graziani estimated the total I forces of Ras Destra disbanded soldiers at 4-5000. and instead of limiting himself to the defense of his position at Dolo, decides to march and attack Ras Desta's headquarter at Negele over 350 kilo meters distant, finishing up on the way the hungry and thirsty disba need soldiers of Ras Desta who gave the image of "walking skeletons", as one observe described them. Perhaps no other battlefront of the resistance against Fascist aggression has been has cruel as the southern front and the complete decomposition and putrefaction of Ras Desta's forces. As Del Boca says, Ras Desta never indeed recovered from the shock produced by the heavy and indescribable loss inflicted on his men, to be able to take any initiative in the patriotic struggle. [23] Such were the sacrifices paid to keep this nation free!

A year later, Ras Desta who after establishing himself at Yirgalem, capital of Sidamo for some time moves out with the approach of the men of Governatore Geloso of Galla-sidama, and retires at Arnbagona, and will soon start negotiating with Graziani for his submission, To do that there was the handy presence of Sebastiano Castagna, a businessman who has lived 39 years in Ethiopia, shared some business interests with Ras Desta. Many suspect Castagna as having been an Italian secret agent, at least under Fascism in close contact with Graziani. In the negotiations Ras Desta wanted in exchange an honorable post, responsibility and pay for himself and his followers.

While Castagna was thus negotiating with Ras Desta for his submission [24] the other "arbegnoch" Dejach Gebre mariam and Bezabeh Selashi were opposed to his submission. Indeed Mesfin Select had attempted to convince Ras Desta that the Kassa brothers have been executed after submitting to Graziani. And that his fate will not be different. While Ras Desta was still undecided to give his hands without conditions, Geloso ordered his general to occupy Ambagona and Desta has move elsewhere after having lost more a thousand dead, thousands captured, and thousands of guns confiscated, Ras Desta escapes to the mountains of Bale and joins the forces of Beyene Merid and Shemeles Arti. On 20 and 21 February 1937 following a battle a Goggeti , Dejach Gebre Mariam commits suicide to avoid being capture, while Beyene Merid was captured and execute. Graziani adds: "It is understood that the population of Gogetti over 18 years old shall be gunned down."[25] Gogetti was set on fire but Ras Desta escapes once again. He is at Makan on 22 February, at Elgia on 24 February. There he will be encircled by the Tigrai banda under Teklu Meshesha . The same day, exhausted with a disordered beard and a face that gives him ten years more, Ras Desta has been gunned down, some say hanged, by order of Graziani. [26]

Thus at the end of 1936, the patriotic campaign in the east in Harar and along the along the railway line, in the south (Arussi, Bale, Borana) as well as in the west (Welega-Gore) may be said to have come to an end. At this date and perhaps more properly following the attempt against Graziani life on Yekatit 12, (February 19) by the Eritrean patriots Moges Asgedom and Abrham Deboch, and the ensuing indiscriminate massacre of the populace of Addis Ababa and a few months later of the of some 400 monks, priests and deacons of the famous monastery of Debre Libanos accused of complicity with Moges and Abraham, will start the second stage of the patriotic struggle. The Shoan patriots (Abebe Aregai, Haile Mariam Mammo, Geresu Duki, Olana Dinkel, Geleta Rundasa, Mesfin Seleshi, Takel Welde Hawariat, Zewde Asfaw, Weizero Kebedech, daughter of Ras Seyum and widow of Abera Kassa, one of the many women patriots who followed the arbegnoch in arms or in humanitarian service), reorganized anew, more determined and more creative having moved north and concentrating in western Shoa, specially around the Ghinde Beret area, in constant contact with the patriots of the north, notably Gojam, will continue to inflict losses upon losses on the men of the "hyena of Libya", This will mark the beginning of the second and final stage of the Ethiopian anti-Fascist patriotic struggle, more or less independently from Haile Selassie, and with much more independence in planning their struggle, and organizing and establishing their own hierarchy, the final stage of sacrifices paid by the arbegoch who alone will lead us to independence in May 1941.

TO BE CONTINUED:

FASCIST DIVIDE AND RULE: A CASE OF TRIBALISATION AND ETHNIC CLEANSING UNDER GRAZIANI

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[1][1] Archivio di Stato, busta 26 Facicolo 29sotto fascicolo 32, Mussolini to Badoglio 20 Maggio 1936

[2] see Del Boca. , Gli Italiani in Africa Orientale, vol.III La Caduta dell'Impero, p. 39 sqq.

[3][2] Archivio dello Stato, Scatola 30, fascicolo 29, date

[4][3] op. cit.

[5][4] op. cit.

[6][7] op. cit. June 19, 1937

[7] Del Boca, op.cit. Vol.II, La Conquista dell'Impero, p. 730

[8] Del Boca, La Caduta dell'Impero, p.187;

[9] Del Boca, La Conquista dell'Impero,p . 187;

[10] My annotated book of letters in Amharic " Who is the Patriot ? Who is the Collborator" censored by the Derg remains unpublished to this date. You may be lucky to find a xeroxed copy at the Institute of Ethiopian Studies in Addis Ababa.

[11] Del Boca, La Conquista dell'Impero, p.190 quoting Leopoldo Traversi, "L'Italia e l'Etiopia da Assabn a Ual Ual, (Bologna, 1935);

[12] Tadesse Mecha, , Tequr Anbessa be Me'erab Etiopia, Asmara, no date but under Haile Selassie.; John H.Spencer, , Ethiopia at Bay ,(U.S 1987, p.173; Del Boca, La Caduta dell'Impero p.34-35

[13] Anthony .Mockler, Il mito dell'Impero, Rizzoli, Milano 1977, 159 , quoted by Del Boca, Vol II, la Conquista dell'Impero, p. 725;

[14] Del Boca , La Caduta dell'Impero, p. 18;

[15] Del Boca, La Caduta dell'Impero, p.20;

[16] Anthony Mockler, Il Mito dell'Imperor (Milano 1977) quoted by Sdel >

[17] Oral interview with General Negga Haile Selassie, December 13, 2003;

[18][6] Archivio di Statoo , Busta 30, fascicolo 29

[19][8] op.cit. See the 83 page general report by General Maletti on the repression in Shoa including the masscare of Debre Libano in Scatola 31, Fascicolo 29..

[20] Del Boca , La Caduta dell Impero, p.52.

[21] Del Boca , La Caduta dell'Impero, p.52;

[22] Del Boca, La Caduta dell'Imperor, p. 62-63;

[23] Del Boca, La Conquista dell'Imperor, Charter IV, Graziani e la Battaglia di Ganale Doria, p.501 sqq.

[24] Castagna who would on a later occasion try to play the same game with Geresu Duki, will end up his life there.

[25] Del Boca, La Caduta dell'Ijmpero, p. 74;

[26] Del Boca, La Caduta dell'Impero, p.68, La Fine di Ras Desta.