The
PFDJ Regime Creates an
Ethiopian
Opposition Alliance in Netherlands
In
principle a struggle aiming at promoting peace and democracy has to be
encouraged and be supported. An
alliance which stands for the interest of the people is commendable and has to
be supported too. Especially, we Eritreans as victims of a dictatorship, want
to see a genuine democracy working in our neighbouring countries in
general and in Ethiopia in particular. A democratic and stable Ethiopia is in
the interest of the Eritrean people. There is no doubt about this.
A
meeting intended to set up an Ethiopian opposition alliance was held from 19
to 22 May 2006 in a city called Utrecht, in the Netherlands which is about 60
kilometres from my place of residence. The parties which participated in this
meeting were the Ethiopian People’s Patriotic Front (EPPF), the Ogaden
National Liberation Front (ONLF), the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF), the Sidama
Liberation Front (SLF), the Coalition for Unity and Democracy Party (CUDP) and
the United Ethiopian Democratic Forces (UEDF).
What
are these fronts and parties? What is their common objective? Who is behind
this alliance?
I
think such questions (issues) should be addressed properly.
The
Ethiopian People’s Patriotic Front (EPPF) is recently created by the PFDJ
regime to fight the EPRDF government. As to my information, this front has not
yet clear objectives and programmes, it is rather a military wing dominated by
farmers now said “operating in Begemder and part of Tigrai”.
The
Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) as its name stands for the secession
of the Ogaden area.
The
Oromo Liberation Front struggles for the secession of the Oromo state. The
same the Sidama Liberation Front(SLF) stands for the Sidama people.
The
Coalition for Unity and Democracy Party (CUDP) struggles for united and
democratic Ethiopia. This party achieved
a popular support within a short time and
got a good result in the last election. But its leaders chose a
revolutionary approach than evolutionary success. Now most of them are in jail,
accused of attempting to overthrow the legitimate government by
creating mass unrest and street violence. This party,
leave alone to support self determination up to secession of
nationalities, it does not
recognize their existence . Even it does not accept federalism.
The
United Ethiopian Democratic Forces (UEDF) struggles for a united and
democratic Ethiopia. Relatively, this party is matured and stable. The leaders
of this party have participated in the Ethiopian parliamentary system for two
terms. UEDF recognizes the existence and equality of the various nationalities
in the country.
Now,
if we take the three fronts: the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF),
Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) and Sidama Liberation Front (SLF) have nothing in
common with CUDP or EPPF, except the common enemy which is the EPRDF
government. In fact, if it was a
matter of principle, the objectives of these fronts rather better fit with
that of EPRDF’s political programs than with
CUDP’s. Pity enough, the issue here is not a principle issue nor
strategic one but “the enemy of my enemy is my friend”.
Who
is behind this alliance?
While
the international community is frustrating by the lack of progress on the
peace talks between Ethiopia and Eritrea held in London this week, reliable
sources confirmed us that Yemane Ghebreab (Yemane monkey), the second man of
the PFDJ regime was openly directing the meeting from a near by hotel in
Utrecht.
On
Sunday, the representatives of the United Ethiopian Democratic Forces (UEDF)
walked out the meeting, meaning rejecting the created alliance. According to
reliable sources, the main reasons of
their rejection are the following:
-
the
alliance is created by the PFDJ regime and will operate under this regime.
-
UEDF
demanded the participation of Ethiopian civil societies and was rejected
-
the
way the meeting was conducted was a typical shabia style; the memorandum
of understanding was ready ahead outside the meeting (may be by Yemane
monkey); and the chairman of the meeting was appointed from outside.
-
UEDF
even did not agree on the name “Alliance for Freedom and Democracy”.
Where does this name apply to (to which country)?
Dear
reader, my intention is not to oppose the establishment of this alliance as
such, nor is it to interfere in the internal affairs of Ethiopia. In fact it
would be my pleasure if it was for the interest of the Ethiopian people.
However, as an Eritrean, what made me write this short article is the motive
of Mr. Issayas by forming such alliance. Is it for the interest of the
Ethiopian people?
How
do our Ethiopian brothers and sisters judge the act of Mr. Issayas? It is
quite a long time since he began to put his hands in the internal affairs of
Ethiopia. First he tried to help the OLF through Somalia, then the Al-ethad
and now the Alliance for Freedom and Democracy. I can’t believe that there
is a single Ethiopian by now who does not know Mr. Issayas. A man who does not
want to do good things to his own people, has neither the moral nor the sprit
to do good things to his neighbours. Mr. Issayas who treats his own people
prisoners in their own country, cannot and will not bring any positive change
in Ethiopia. Mr. Issayas, the most known brutal dictator in the regime cannot
and will not contribute any positive aspect to the democratization process in
Ethiopoia. He is doing all this not
because for the interest of the Ethiopian people nor the Eritrean people but
rather for his own power.
For
us Eritreans, it has another meaning. While out people are dying from hunger
and disease, the PFDJ regime is misusing the little resources the country has
for an evil purpose against the peoples of our neighbours. The regime is
spending millions of euros to create havoc and instability, not only in
Ethiopia but in Sudan too. A regime which lives in creating internal and
external problems. How do we judge it? And what is our perspective?
Adhanom
Fitiwi (from Holland)
25-05-2006
Comments:
Fitiwi@planet.nl