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Webster New World Dictionary defines opportunism as the practice or policy of adapting one’s actions, judgments, etc. to circumstances, as in politics, in order to further one’s immediate interests, without regarding for basic principles or eventual consequences. (Webster New World Dictionary of the American Language. Second College Edition). See if you can find the trend in the argument I am going to share below.
There are two camps in Ethiopia today. The camp that belongs to the people of Ethiopia and the camp of Meles and his collaborators. In my opinion, in Ethiopia, today, this is the major irreconcilable contradiction. Due to the nature of the contradiction it can only be resolved by an up-rise, as I have been saying for a long time, not by compromise or through negotiations. As long as organizations remain in Meles’s camp, by extension inside Medrek, the people of Ethiopia will see them as organizations against its interests and its aspirations. They have to come out clearly, with no strings attached, not one foot inside Meles’s camp and the other outside the camp. From the outset, AEUP was, and still is inside the people’s camp. AEUP rejecting Medrek did not surprise me. I was expecting it to reject it. It did a commendable job.
Medrek is actually a barn (beret) constructed and controlled by Seye Abrha and Gebru Assrat. Ultimately, these TPLFites, the gate=2 0keepers, are the ones who would tell when to come out of the barn, when to feed, where to feed, where to drink water, and finally when to go back to the barn. By the way, the parliament in Ethiopia is the other mother of all barn (beret), fully controlled by Meles and his mafia group.
In my opinion the only formidable opposition force in Ethiopia is AEUP. It is a party that has the potential to form a coalition government and run the country. The manner it performed, with discipline and with the full confidence that the people will win , before, during, and at the election of May 15, 2005, attests to that fact. And, please note this. When Western countries deliberately, with the full knowledge what Meles and his collaborators did to the election of May 15, 2005, and that divisively shun a formidable opposition force, particularly a nationalist, in a country where a ruthless and blood sucking individual is at the helm, it is a good sign that that organization is in good stand with the people, not bowing to leak the feet of the dictator. An opposition that questions the legality of Article 39 would not be in a favorable position with the Western countries, particularly with those who conspired for the separation of Eritrea. The major role player being the government of the United States of America.
Bottom line, AEUP has the potential to repeat what it did before the election of May 15, 2005. Therefore, it is important to focus on AEUP and build it up. Encourage it to do better and more when its actions are positive, and offer it constructive criticism when it goes wrong.
Medrek, which is composed of opportunists and with those of specific motives, is inside the camp of Meles and his collaborators. To find out whether some of those who joined it are opportunists or not, read what they wrote, and listen to what they said. The bottom line of these opportunist’s action is nothing but the collaboration with the regime, the enemy of Ethiopia and its people. One can boldly say, that, sharp and decisive political struggle would not and could not be fought while these opportunists are in the field of the struggle. They would be satisfied if Meles won again. They get their monthly salary on time. They live comfortably. Their children go to school with full protection. Their health is protected, because they can afford to have the top treatment. So, there is nothing they would lose if the current regime continues to rule. Perhaps this could be their daily prayer. These are termites. And they are on the rise too.
The rise of opportunism hence opportunists is the expansion of Meles’s camp, hence the struggle between the people of Ethiopia and Meles becoming vicious and brutal. They aught to be cleaned up by an up-rise. In the mean time they aught to be targeted. An up-rise is the only instrument, handy, to uproot Meles and his mafia group. Of course the opportunists would fight it out, to the hilt, for an up-rise not to take place. Because, if it did, it is going to sweep them out like a hurricane does to what ever is in its way. In my opinion, armed struggle would take time. Because, as I have indicated in my previous articles, time is the essence of the struggle in Ethiopia. The longer Meles rules the more the destruction. You don’t give time for an enemy bent to tear down the unity of Ethiopia. Here is what this entrenched and sworn enemy of the unity of Ethiopia stated in 1991. He started it with a lie too. “A feudal monarchy and a repressive dictator couldn’t hold Ethiopia together,… Now we are trying another way. If Ethiopia breaks apart, then it wasn’t meant to be.“ Time, November 4, 1991. A leader whose would be interest is the well-being of the nation he is going to lead would not in the first place run an experiment, particularly when the country is made up of over eighty ethnic groups. Please read the first statement and see whether it was true or not. Was Ethiopia breaking apart during Haile Selassie’s rule? Was Ethiopia breaking apart during Mengustu’s rule? A blatant lie.
I have also shared my opinion a number of times regarding armed struggle. What is baffling is that why those pursuing armed struggle do not try to combine it with an up-rise? They are inside Ethiopia. They have the potential to disguise and move from place to place inside the country and organize the people. I think it is time to be bold, be creative and combine these two strategies of struggle.
By the way, not to join them does not mean not to talk to them. Keep the line open and try to sway them. At least to make them not to interfere in the field would be a wise tactical move.
Mankelklot
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3) the hardliners ..AEUP, EPRP etc. and not knowing where to place the Ethiopian congress and the Solidarity Movement.
The distribution of diaspora supporters and voting public at home are aligned along these political models to contribute to a normal distribution curve at home should the 7-point preconditions prevail and there is fair and free election, what you projected for AEUP will be manifested with its broad base support to form a coalition with EPRP and other hardliners. The basic tenet for that freedom of individuals must prevail in order for the individuals to choose freely with coersion the party they want to govern with their consent, a democratic system of government. Justice and balance of power among the the thre branches of governent and reform of the constitution follows that and made available for refrendum by the public. This want be realized without the peaceful strugle for peace, freedom (political, economic), territorial integrity, sovreignty and unity of Ethiopia (one flag(untainted), one language, one country of federated states) is supported by the strategies adopted by the hardliners with vigour and urgency to save Ethiopia from disintegration and /or economic and political strangle hold of Ethiopians by Ethnic dictatorship
as well as human rights abuses.