Nearly two agonizing decades has passed since first TPLF then
EPRDF took control of Ethiopian government by overthrowing former
dictatorial regime of Colonel Mengistu Hailemariam.
They have maneuvered the fate of the country in the direction of
their own likening while Ethiopian public at large pushed to
limits.
There is no denying that Ethiopia's legislature is devised to serve the
motives of the party officials, as is the judiciary system. Rule of law is
worked out overnight in order to silence opposing voices on their way the
following day. Free press, once mushroomed in the cities and towns, has
now died out. Policy force is hard-boiled with anti-public sentiment and
remained loyal to the party. Individuals and groups who have disqualified
their ill-conceived policy were being hunted down in side borders as well
as beyond borders. Apparently, Meles needed decades to perform clean up
jobs to settle his throne comfortably with out iota regard for other
Ethiopians. All said and done, Ethiopia has become land of milk and honey
for those who has clung to the EPRDF and its affiliates.
Fast forwarding to Ethiopian Millennium, besides carouse party nights for
the party people in Sheraton Addis, the millennium has arrived with
plethora of other gifts for Meles Zenaw. This time, his good fortune is
the kudos that only King Haile Selassie and his predecessors relished. The
chanting:
Meles!!!!!
shih amet yiniges!!!!!!!
(Meles,,,reign thousand years).
Farmers from and around Hawassa (Awassa) were gathered at cultural hall of
Sidama at Hawassa in the fine day last January. Then they were adorned
with flowers and were told they were model farmers and were made to chant
the above mantra at the presence of Meles and his cohorts. The government
controlled media depicted the event as Meles is adored leader and his bond
with farming family is categorically has grown to that level. Meles and
his followers seemed to like it that way. Technically, farmers were made
to give meles helping hand for his journey to set record breaking
government in Ethiopian history.
Meles's incompatible love affair with farmers goes back to early times of
his life in Dedebit desert. Meles, future Ethiopian president or prime
minister had cuddled Marxist economic principles to implement once he
would grab the power in Addis, which dictates embracing majority class in
the society is key to maintain steady government and promote economic
advancement. Meles, at times was seen attempting to entertain this
populism during his tenure in office. However, his principles, even
theoretically, has gone awry ever since leaving Meles naked to his bones
forcing him to hold on to his iron-fisted grip on farmers and other
Ethiopians.
In truth, Meles singled out farmers to full fill his destiny and
ruthlessly maneuvered farming community. To fatten his military might, his
men ghostly slipped in to farmers door step to amass unemployed youth.
Products of agriculture by hard working farmers of Ethiopia are also main
source of foreign exchange to make sure latest military technology is
under control of his generals while farmers are unable to feed their
families. And when he pretends to be democratic, for him, farming
community is safest place to plant ballot boxes.
As other Ethiopian public, farmers are equally, if not more, are victims
of ill devised policies and heavy hands of EPRDF. Only 5 years ago the
same spot of Hawassa was filled with scene of carnage. On the morning of
May 24 2002, farmers were sprayed on with bullets by the rapid response
army of the regime leaving many dead and wounded. To the agony of families
and friends, killers and individuals who implicated in organizing the
killings have never been brought before justice. Instead many were
elevated to higher hierarchy in the government offices.
And now, to no one's great shock, Meles and others red handed individuals
are honorary guests at the spot for his heroic deeds. In fact, for them,
by now it is long gone political incident; and it is episodic political
processes and normal. They have proved it over and over since and likely
happen again. For these who lost loved ones, it is unforgettable tragedy
and extinction of justice exacerbated their grief.
And, Meles's latest move is political equivalent of stroking the wounded
and caged lion from safe distance.