How loyal is loyal enough?
This week Time Magazine gave Meles Zenawi an excellent PR opportunity. The interviewer, either not having done his homework or intentionally*, left many opportunities to challenge Meles’ assertions. For example after Meles’s assertions on what is happening in Ogaden the interviewer stirred clear of mentioning specific evidence and eyewitness accounts that have been making the rounds in the media. The interview was very much about getting Meles’s message out than getting to the truth about what is happening in the Ogaden and in Ethiopia in general.
But that wasn’t all that surprising. We are used to Meles’s spin and perhaps can even understand his rationale; but what about that of his Ethiopian supporters? Do a quick reading of the pro-TPLF/EPRDF websites and this is what you will find: they contend that the New York Times and the Washington Post are unreliable; institutions such as Amnesty International and HRW are liars; the Red Cross, WFP, and MSF are just pure fabricators of news bent on destroying the good name of the Ethiopian regime, or worse, supporters of local armed movements. Everyone who says the Ethiopian regime is doing wrong are themselves wrong or biased. The only voice to be trusted is that of the [impartial?] EPRDF leadership. Loyalty has replaced any sense of rationality.
It is inescapable that the legacy of EPRDF will also be the legacy of its supporters. Ignoring what is happening or vocally supporting the EPRDF under some pretext as it commits these atrocities on Ethiopian-Somalis is to be party to its actions. It is even more so since you are perhaps the only group of Ethiopians that have sway on EPRDF's actions. Would Meles’s word be good enough for you if these reports were about areas that your families lived in? Would this unquestioning loyalty be the norm?
The response from the rest of the Ethiopian community, especially from those of us that are abroad has been disappointing to say the least. The abuses in the Ogaden are a test for all Ethiopians who believe in a shared identity. Where is the fervor of two years ago when many were gunned down in the streets of Addis? Where are the protesters, and the organizers that were holding signs and vigils at the White House? Where is the opposition? As Ethiopians, how each of us individually and collectively responds to the abuses of the government in the Ogaden will also be our legacy.
We have read reports of how thousands are going to the Airport tomorrow to welcome the Kinijit leaders. They certainly deserve a very warm welcome, but our brothers and sisters in the Ogaden need our presence and voice even more. Now is the time to fight for all the victims of EPRDF, to do all we can to stop what is happening in the Ogaden. As residents and citizens of the US it is our responsibility to make people aware about what is happening, to make people question the cozy relationship the US has with the brutal Ethiopian government. The time to show that we are loyal to the discourse of a shared Ethiopian identity is now.
_________________But that wasn’t all that surprising. We are used to Meles’s spin and perhaps can even understand his rationale; but what about that of his Ethiopian supporters? Do a quick reading of the pro-TPLF/EPRDF websites and this is what you will find: they contend that the New York Times and the Washington Post are unreliable; institutions such as Amnesty International and HRW are liars; the Red Cross, WFP, and MSF are just pure fabricators of news bent on destroying the good name of the Ethiopian regime, or worse, supporters of local armed movements. Everyone who says the Ethiopian regime is doing wrong are themselves wrong or biased. The only voice to be trusted is that of the [impartial?] EPRDF leadership. Loyalty has replaced any sense of rationality.
It is inescapable that the legacy of EPRDF will also be the legacy of its supporters. Ignoring what is happening or vocally supporting the EPRDF under some pretext as it commits these atrocities on Ethiopian-Somalis is to be party to its actions. It is even more so since you are perhaps the only group of Ethiopians that have sway on EPRDF's actions. Would Meles’s word be good enough for you if these reports were about areas that your families lived in? Would this unquestioning loyalty be the norm?
The response from the rest of the Ethiopian community, especially from those of us that are abroad has been disappointing to say the least. The abuses in the Ogaden are a test for all Ethiopians who believe in a shared identity. Where is the fervor of two years ago when many were gunned down in the streets of Addis? Where are the protesters, and the organizers that were holding signs and vigils at the White House? Where is the opposition? As Ethiopians, how each of us individually and collectively responds to the abuses of the government in the Ogaden will also be our legacy.
We have read reports of how thousands are going to the Airport tomorrow to welcome the Kinijit leaders. They certainly deserve a very warm welcome, but our brothers and sisters in the Ogaden need our presence and voice even more. Now is the time to fight for all the victims of EPRDF, to do all we can to stop what is happening in the Ogaden. As residents and citizens of the US it is our responsibility to make people aware about what is happening, to make people question the cozy relationship the US has with the brutal Ethiopian government. The time to show that we are loyal to the discourse of a shared Ethiopian identity is now.
*This account of how governments and their lobbyists operate, including building their image by using “friendly” press, explains how this may have happened.
3 comments:
Excellent point made. The Ethiopian identity must transform to capture all Ethiopians.
At a time when economic and political power is diffused so rapidly through more advanced technology, to continue with the assumption that Addis Ababa [and now Mekele] constitute Ethiopia is a tragedy without equal. It will lead only to disintegration of the country.
It is not enough you falsely accused the Ethiopian army of massacring Mogadishu residents by posting a picture of a helicopter from "Black" Hawk down" movie, you are now fanning terrorist propaganda citing "eye witness account" of ONLF sympathizers.
You are one crazy dude. I doubt you're Ethiopian. You are one of the many shabia bloggers mascarading as Ethiopians.
[Anon2] As if I needed you to prove my point...
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