(I-Newswire) February 13, 2006 - Please type your press release here
Historical Retrogress or Historical Irony?
Elshaday Tobiyaw
Society may hope, sometimes probably against hope, that modernisation would generate common social values and norms, which in turn help to create harmony and co-operation among groups and states, guaranteeing peace and development at national and international levels. This is the premise for the assumption many people that the demise of authoritarian and totalitarian systems of rule, whatever shape and colour, monarchical despots or ultra nationalist regimes, nazism, fascism, or communism, would usher a new era of universal democratic governance based on popular consent, respect for human rights and the rule of law. For freedom and peace loving people the world over, specially Africans, the overthrow of the obnoxious apartheid regime in South Africa, was meant to be a historical turning point, "the end of history", to borrow Fukuyama's jargon, in the sense that the evil system of rule has been thrown into a dustbin, not to raise its ugly face, once and for all.
But what has been going on in Ethiopia for the last fifteen years is a vivid reminiscent of the now defunct apartheid rule in South Africa, despite its democratic facade. Empirical observation and close scrutiny of the ideology, policies and behaviour of the two regimes proves beyond any reasonable doubt that, they are inherently one and the same, albiet differences in name. The crimes being committed by the TPLF regime against the Ethiopian people corroborates that history has not made itself redundant with the death of apartheid as a state policy. In other words, what we are witnessing is history repeating itself, with the perpetuation of an evil system and criminal activity, under different name and shade, at different place and time.
Whether historical retrogression or historical irony, more than a decade after the demise of Stalinism and the triumph of democracy in most of the former communist countries of Eastern Europe, and the coming to power of majority rule in South Africa, a self declared seudo-democratic, ultra-nationalist, proto-fascist regime reigns in Ethiopia, committing the most atrocious human rights violations against the defenceless Ethiopian people. The apartheid system in South Africa and the ethnocentric regime in Ethiopia, the former dead and the later alive, have had many fundamental common features and practices of historical parallel. Recently, the reporter of the widely read Daily Telegraph newspaper, Mr David Blair, concluded that the closest similarity or parallel one could draw with the current fascistic rule in Ethiopia, is the defunct apartheid system in South Africa. According to this reporter, the prevailing in situation in Ethiopia is far worse than what was in apartheid South Africa.
In 1948, when the racist nationalist party introduced the abhorrent system of apartheid, which means "separate development" in Africanner language, it sought to segregate the various racial and ethnic groups in to their respective "homelands, known as the Bantustans. To the white supremacists the mixing of the two races, blacks and whites, was an immoral act that should not be allowed to take place by nature or nurture. They argued that, "a natural hierarchy existed between different races, and the mixing up of two such alien elements as whites and blacks ….results in racial miscegenation, moral deterioration….. and clashes, and too many other forms of social evils". So, apartheid, as an ideology based on race and culture, believed that …."in terms of culture and civilisation, the duty of the native was not to become a black European, but to become a better native with ideals and a culture of his own".
The underlying motive of the policy of 'separate development' was none other than maintaining the dominance of the minority white settlers over the majority black natives. The policy condemned the black majority to servitude as they had no right to rule even the so called 'homelands. The whites controlled the reigns of state power enjoying all round support from political pundits in West European metropolis and multinational corporations which controlled the economy. With sheer arrogance and blind faith in their racial superiority, the white supremacists disfranchised and alienated the blacks from every aspect of the political, economic, social, and cultural life of the country. The economy, mining and industry, commerce, banking and service as well as fertile land, was in the hands of the whites and trans-national corporations. The state apparatus, including the legislative, executive and judiciary, and all key posts in the administration, military, security and police were reserved for the 'God Chosen' whites, and the black majority had no say in the affairs of the country. Any social interaction between the two races was criminalised as blacks were considered not only uncivilised, but also sub-humans.
As third class citizens, the only right black South Africans had was to work as slaves and daily labourers in the factories, mining and agricultural fields owned by whites for nominal pay or daily ration to keep them alive to continue working for their masters. Movement outside of domicile required carrying a permit pass, and residence was restricted to the homelands, and even those working for the whites wee not allowed to live in the area where they work. The white minority regime perpetrated all sorts of crimes and atrocities, including torture of prisoners, extra-judicial killings, and manipulation of social divisions and tensions. Innocent people who protested against the gross violation of their civil and human rights were indiscriminately massacred in the streets of cities and towns such as Sweto, Johansburg and Sharpevelle. Human rights activist such as Steve Bicko were murdered and thousands were made to suffer in the torture chambers and prison cells of the brutal racist regime. Many South Africans fled their country to avoid persecution and death. Opposition political organisations like ANC, and the Communist Party of South Africa were banned and their leaders such as Nelson Mandela, imprisoned, to crush the popular national liberation movement.
When its futile attempt of arresting the popular struggle failed and the resistance intensified, the apartheid regime brought trumped up charges against the nationalist leaders, accusing them of treason, one of collusion with the "red menace", a reference to communist subversion. Of course, the aim was to deny leadership to the movement. And, one of the defendants accused of conspiracy and treason against the state was none other than the charismatic Nelson Mandela, leader of the African National Congress, (ANC). Mandela and his comrades were put on trial at what is known as the "Rivonia Trial" of 1964, facing a serious charge of treason that carried the death penalty. The charismatic and indefatigable Mandela faced the kangaroo court manned by white racist judges, unshakable determination and unwavering commitment to his cause. He told the court boldly and firmly stating that;
"During my life time, I have dedicated myself to the struggle of the Africa people. I have fought against white domination, and, I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal that I hope to live for and achieve. But if need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die."
As expected, to no ones surprise, the court sentenced Mandela, along with his co-defendants, to life imprisonment, condemning him to spend 27 years of his precious adult life behind bars, in the infamous Robben Islands prison, confined to a cell which was not big enough to enable him stretch his leg. Recalling his sad experience in his prison cell, Mandela once said, "when I lay down, I could feel the wall with my feet and my head grazed the concrete at the other side. The width was about six feet. I was 46 years old, a political prisoner with a life sentence, and that small cramped space was to be my home for I know no how long".
The historical parallel between the now dead apartheid system of rule in South Africa, and the ethnic policy of the TPLF on the verge of death, though sad, is interesting. Since their usurpation of state power, Meles and his cronies have been implementing the policies and practices of the white supremacists in Ethiopia using "cut and paste". Beyond the propaganda cliché of ethnic federalism, ostensibly embellished as " Self -determination of nations, nationalities and peoples", When scratched deeper, TPLF`s ethnic policy is inherently racist identical to the policy of bantustanisation and balkanisation, pursued by the white racists to divide and rule. Behind the façade of self-determination, the stark reality remains that its motive is ensuring the supremacy of the TPLF in every aspect of the Ethiopian social fabric. The white racists drew a colour bar to materialise their policy of balkanisation, while the tribo-phile TPLF diehards employ language as the main benchmark to implement their policy of tribal segregation. In actual fact, there is no a fundamental difference between 'separate development', and the ethnocentric administrative structure, "Kilil" as executed by Woyanes.
Ethnic policy, disguised under the principle of self-determination, is a version of the policy of 'separate development' in South Africa, which is consciously devised and nurtured by the TPLF with the strategy of divide and rule so as to ensure its political and economic supremacy ad-infinitum. The underlying motive, in both cases, has, of course, been securing and maintaining the supremacy of the minority over the majority. As the white were having the supremacy in apartheid South Africa, we are witnessing an absolute dominance of the TPLF in Ethiopia. TPLF is the engine, the driving force, the power and final arbiter of the policies that are devised, planned and executed in Ethiopia, and all is geared to serve its selfish interests. It controls the key economic resources and infrastructure, including manufacturing, distribution, commercial, financial and service sectors-transport, bank, major hotels -and above all land, media outlets, including press, and electronic media (radio, television, internet access) printing and distribution. Government beauraucracy and administrative institutions, including the key cabinet posts such as defence, Foreign Office, security, police, and information are the domains of the TPLF cadres and a few opportunists who are willing collaborators, popularly known as 'bandas'. The so called regional governments are front organisations that are controlled by TPLF vicroys.By any standard, TPLF rules Ethiopia, and TPLF means Meles Zenaw and his gang of seven lieutenants, "fitawuraris", Siyoum Mesfin, Sebhat Nega, Abbay Tsehay, Berekt Simon, Alemseged Abbay, Arkebe Equbay, and general Samora Yunus. This is the closed knit of narrow nationalists which wields the real state power in Ethiopia. The rest is mutatis-mutandis.
There is no denying the fact that the TPLF, in collaboration of with its surrogate organisations, the 'teletafis" Monopolises the socio-political life of the country, and has succeeded in promoting its narrow interests, while alienating and dehumanising millions of citizens. Paranoid by Its own sin and greed, it has committed and continues to do so, the most despicable human rights violations, murdering its political opponents, and massacring peacefully demonstrating innocent civilians, and detaining tens of thousands of innocent citizens for showing dissent. Tens of thousands of innocent citizens have been dismissed from their jobs. Meles has banned political parties from functioning in the country with impunity just like his counter parts in apartheid South Africa. The magnitude and nature of the crime being committed by the murderous TPLF regime has no parallel in the long history of the country.
Post election political developments have shown the true nature of the TPLF. A political drama, TPLF type, has been performed, in a manner and fashion the white racists did in South Africa against Mandela and his comrades. The TPLF gang of seven, the masters of deceit and fabrication, rigged election results, and unashamedly declared themselves winners. When challenged, they concocted and brought up charges against the leaders of he main opposition party, the Coalition for Unity and Democracy Party,(kinijit) and illegally incarcerated its leaders, members and supporters as well as journalist and leaders of civic organisations. The CUDP leaders are accused of treason and genocide and put on trial. This melodramatic kangaroo court legal proceeding might be intended to frighten and subdue the opposition to accept the whims and wishes of the TPLF Bothas. But assuming that the quest for democratic and human rights will wane in the face of incarceration of political leaders is being short sighted for simple reason that the struggle is not CUDP V TPLF, as the TPLF cadres try to portray it. The struggle is a popular movement to regain inalienable human and democratic rights which have been denied by the fascist TLF regime.
As political developments in South Africa and else where clearly showed, any legitimate struggle waged for political, economic and human rights cannot be arrested indefinitely. There might be ups and downs or the gravity of the sacrifices may be high, but, no conscious human being accepts servitude, oppression and exploitation eternally. The British colonialists had once said that the "sun never sets in their empire". But it did set in the face of popular revolt who fought back to regain their independence and dignity. The apartheid regime had savagely tried to liquidate the national liberation struggle but to no avail. It tried hard, but never succeeded in breaking the stilled spirit and determination of the South African people and their freedom fighters. A policy of pariah state isolated and condemned, and an evil system labelled as "crime against humanity", by the international community, apartheid was doomed to failure. At last, the white supremacists were forced to swallow the bitter truth by accepting majority rule and national reconciliation, and South Africa became a democratic state with the transfer of power to the majority in a free and fair elections.
Ethiopia under the TPLF is neither revolutionary, nor federal or democratic. Aside from the propaganda ploy, Ethiopia is the fiefdom of TPL and Ethiopians are its serfs. There is no rule of law and respect for human rights. As the white minority regime used force to maintain its supremacy, the TPLF ethnocracy rules using excessive force to keep itself in power. It propagates that It is the source of the solution and saviour of the nation. As the white racist Botha claimed to have descended from the `God chosen' Afrikanners, the TPLF guru, Meles Zenawi, has audaciously and boastfully declared that he feels proud to be a descendent of the "golden Tigreans", unlike the rest of us, "riffraff" Ethiopians. The regime is bent on continuing its dictatorial rule with brute force. In such a situation, the Ethiopian people have no other alternative, but pursuing the struggle with full determination and commitment, to liberate themselves from the shackles of an evil system, TPLF ethnocracy. The way forward is building ones organisational capacity, and waging a co-ordinated multifaceted struggle, politically, diplomatically and propaganda wise, so as to regain our freedom and dignity as people and nation.
If history is a lesson for us all, the ethnocentric Tigrean nationalists, the opposition and the Ethiopian people at large, that lesson must be uphold dearly by all the players. The only viable, sensible peaceful solution to the current political impasse in Ethiopia is for the incumbent to release all political prisoners and resuming political dialogue with all the stakeholders, as South Africa did. Without dialogue with the inclusion of all the stakeholders leading to national reconciliation, healing the wounds of the nation is hardly possible . Without accepting the principle `of one man one vote`, which is a basis for democratic governance, the problem persists to haunt us all. The South Africans looked to Ethiopia for support and inspiration during their struggle for national liberation, and we should look to them to do away with the malaise of ethnic dictatorship the consequences of which might be grave and regrettable. TPLF diehards are advised to come to their senses and accept the wish of the great majority of the Ethiopian people, which is the only guarantee to bring about lasting peace and stability in our beloved country, Ethiopia.
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Elshday Tobiaw
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Elshday Tobiaw
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