Is There a Reconciling Middle Position for Amhara and Oromo Nationalists?
The current conflict between Amhara nationalists and Oromo Nationalists is a very good chance for the dictatorial Biltsigina to stay in power for longer time. The regime of Dr. Abiy is a friend of neither Amhara nor Oromo people, but simply power mongering click of dictators. The elites of these two big nations yet need to come to their sense. Especially, Amhara elites fighting against Oromumma (Oromo’s identity) and calling the Oromo with the derogatory G-word is the insanity par excellence of the 21st century. They need to stop this madness and have to respect Oromia and Oromo, if they want to live in peace in Finfinne particularly and in the whole Ethiopia generally. Trying to revers the hitherto victory of the Oromo is simply a futile excercise. Amhara elites have to come to the reconciling middle position of accepting the existing federal structure and they should strive together with Oromo republicans to democratize the country. The future democratic federal Ethiopia can be a very good common home for both the Amhara and the Oromo, who shall be the two main pillars of Ethiopia in particular and the Horn in general. In order to democratize Ethiopia, we better understand the ongoing politics. There are five positions in the existing political spectrum of Ethiopia:
– Derg style unitarist Amharianists, who claim to be Ethiopianist and advocate “geofederation”. This group believes in keeping the hitherto domination of Amharinga and rejects “ethnic politics”. Parties like Ezema belong here.
– Woyane type of pseudo federation under centeral government with Amharinga domination. EPP is such dictatorial party dedicated to subdue Oromiffa below the previlaged primary position for Amharinga.
– pro-independence forces like the OLF, who believe in complete self-determination of nations. Accordingly, Amharia and Oromia can live as good neighbouring nations without one taking advantage over the other.
– democratic multinational federalists like the OFC believe that in democratic Ethiopia, where the right of nations will be respected, both Oromiffaa and Oromummaa will be naturally in a leading position, thus more advantageous than having only independence.
– individuals like Fayyis Oromia believe that in a genuine democracy, no question that Oromiffaa and Oromummaa will be in a primary position, so that Ethiopia will be transformed to Oromia. Thus, the Oromo can even agree with dismantling of ethnic federation in favour of geo-federation.
The first two groups like Ezema and EPP are Amharianists, who strive to keep the existing domination of Amharigna and Amharanet with pretext of struggling for Ethiopian unity and promoting Ethiopiawinet (which is practically Amharanet). The last three are alternative goals (Kayyoo) of Oromianists or genuine Oromo nationalists.
Ready more: https://fayyisoromia.wordpress.com/2017 ... omianists/
Re: Is There a Reconciling Middle Position for Amhara and Oromo Nationalists?
To comprehend this more, let’s look at the following. I think at the “hot season of election 2010,” it was the right time for Medrek to make Birtukan Midhagsa its formal chairperson through nominating Andinet as the party in turn of taking the leadership from OPC of Merera Gudina. Of course, the representative of the chairperson could be Gizachew Shiferraw. It was both tactically and strategically important for Medrek to do this specially at that “time of election” for Birtukan was seen as a moderate politician by almost all citizens, nations and parties of the empire, including the members of the ruling party. She was like “Mandela” for most of them as Merera Gudina described her in one of his interviews. The question to be answered was: can Medrek be the same to the ANC of South Africa? Can it lead the troubled empire to a democratic transition as the ANC did in South Africa in the year 1994? If Birtukan was like “Mandela,” could Meles Zenawi act as Frederik Willem de Klerk? Why were Ethiopianists, including Ethiopianist Oromo, and even Oromianists (including both the federalists and the liberators) were in favour of Medrek? I here tried to give short possible answers.
Re: Is There a Reconciling Middle Position for Amhara and Oromo Nationalists?
Galla is a swear word.... okay then make Neftegna too a swear word it is hate speech against Amhara
Re: Is There a Reconciling Middle Position for Amhara and Oromo Nationalists?
Galla is a swear word.... okay then make Neftegna too a swear word it is hate speech against Amhara
Re: Is There a Reconciling Middle Position for Amhara and Oromo Nationalists?
Galla is a swear word.... okay then make Neftegna too a swear word it is hate speech against Amhara
Re: Is There a Reconciling Middle Position for Amhara and Oromo Nationalists?
On Being Biologically Oromo, Psychologically Oromo and Ideologically Oromo
First, we need to answer questions like who is Ethiopianist or Ethiopianist Oromo? I think this group of people includes those who give priority to Ethiopiawinet (Ethio-nationalism) rather than to their ethno-nationalism like Oromummaa (Oromo nationalism). Ethiopianist Oromo are not those who, despite being biologically from Oromia, psychologically never identify themselves with the Oromo. Such people may be Ethiopianists, but they are not Ethiopianist Oromo. Ethiopianist Oromo accept at least that they are from nation Oromo nation and do also identify themselves psychologically as such, but ideologically they are vehemently supporters of Ethio-nationalism. Otherwise, it is estimated that there are significant number of Amharinya- and Tigrinya-speakers, who do not identify themselves with the Oromo, but who are in reality and biologically from Oromo.
First, we need to answer questions like who is Ethiopianist or Ethiopianist Oromo? I think this group of people includes those who give priority to Ethiopiawinet (Ethio-nationalism) rather than to their ethno-nationalism like Oromummaa (Oromo nationalism). Ethiopianist Oromo are not those who, despite being biologically from Oromia, psychologically never identify themselves with the Oromo. Such people may be Ethiopianists, but they are not Ethiopianist Oromo. Ethiopianist Oromo accept at least that they are from nation Oromo nation and do also identify themselves psychologically as such, but ideologically they are vehemently supporters of Ethio-nationalism. Otherwise, it is estimated that there are significant number of Amharinya- and Tigrinya-speakers, who do not identify themselves with the Oromo, but who are in reality and biologically from Oromo.
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Defining the Ethiopanist Camp
Ethio-nationalism/Ethiopiawinet is almost like an ideology with the belief in Ethiopia having history of about 3000 years, be it myth or reality. People, who do believe in this ideology, including the Ethiopianist Oromo, try to keep “national unity” and “territorial integrity” of this Ethiopia at any cost. Here is the very short definition given for such ideology:
“The meaning of Ethiopiawinet seems to be identified with Ethio-nationalism, and it was said that the term Ethiopiawinet was used by the late Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie to describe virtues of the divine nature of multi-cultural Ethiopia, which was tolerant, and economically flourishing, i.e. a movement assisting in helping to restore justice and democracy to Ethiopia. In short, Ethiopiawinet, as believed till now is – When Myth Becomes Reality.”
In relation to this definition, nowadays we do observe in Abyssinian empire the following two types of Ethiopianists:
– Conservative Unitarists are in first group which includes those, who do want to reverse ethnic federalism and build unitary Ethiopia for they fear that this language-based federation can lead to disintegration of the empire. There are Ethiopianist Oromo, who also believe like this; for instance, those in EPRP. This Ethiopianist group specifically targets Gadaa Oromia, and they want to get rid of this Oromo state, which – according to them – is almost a “country within a country.” Some supporters of EPRP have started to explicitly advocate for fostering “Shoa-kilil” at the center of Oromia (Ethiopia) – which will contain almost all areas of the previous Shoa province. With this maneuver, they want to divide Oromia into at least three pieces: Western, “Shoa-kilil” and the rest South-Eastern. Some very conservative parties had started even to cry for restoration of the monarchy. To describe them in short, such Ethiopianists are simply people with obsolete mindset.
– Democratic Fedralists are those in second group of Ethiopianists, who seem to have understood at least that it is not constructive to try to get rid of Oromo region, but who smartly try to win the hearts and minds of the Oromo for the sake of keeping “Ethiopian unity and territorial integrity” with the help of Oromo people. This group includes those in AG7 and ex-UDJ of Birtukan Midhagsa, which was participating in the alliance, Medrek. If they are successful, they are on the very good track to foster a country like a post-apartheid South Africa. Note that Oromo “federalists” in OFC, who do believe in the unconditional right of Oromia to have at least its status of autonomy in the Ethiopian context, are in the category of Oromianists, not Ethiopianist Oromo. They are not similar to the Ethiopianist Oromo in AG7, who have now opted to be ready to accept the status of autonomous Gadaa Oromia only as the compromise solution, but who do not necessarily believe in the right of Oromia to have its own autonomy.
Ethio-nationalism/Ethiopiawinet is almost like an ideology with the belief in Ethiopia having history of about 3000 years, be it myth or reality. People, who do believe in this ideology, including the Ethiopianist Oromo, try to keep “national unity” and “territorial integrity” of this Ethiopia at any cost. Here is the very short definition given for such ideology:
“The meaning of Ethiopiawinet seems to be identified with Ethio-nationalism, and it was said that the term Ethiopiawinet was used by the late Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie to describe virtues of the divine nature of multi-cultural Ethiopia, which was tolerant, and economically flourishing, i.e. a movement assisting in helping to restore justice and democracy to Ethiopia. In short, Ethiopiawinet, as believed till now is – When Myth Becomes Reality.”
In relation to this definition, nowadays we do observe in Abyssinian empire the following two types of Ethiopianists:
– Conservative Unitarists are in first group which includes those, who do want to reverse ethnic federalism and build unitary Ethiopia for they fear that this language-based federation can lead to disintegration of the empire. There are Ethiopianist Oromo, who also believe like this; for instance, those in EPRP. This Ethiopianist group specifically targets Gadaa Oromia, and they want to get rid of this Oromo state, which – according to them – is almost a “country within a country.” Some supporters of EPRP have started to explicitly advocate for fostering “Shoa-kilil” at the center of Oromia (Ethiopia) – which will contain almost all areas of the previous Shoa province. With this maneuver, they want to divide Oromia into at least three pieces: Western, “Shoa-kilil” and the rest South-Eastern. Some very conservative parties had started even to cry for restoration of the monarchy. To describe them in short, such Ethiopianists are simply people with obsolete mindset.
– Democratic Fedralists are those in second group of Ethiopianists, who seem to have understood at least that it is not constructive to try to get rid of Oromo region, but who smartly try to win the hearts and minds of the Oromo for the sake of keeping “Ethiopian unity and territorial integrity” with the help of Oromo people. This group includes those in AG7 and ex-UDJ of Birtukan Midhagsa, which was participating in the alliance, Medrek. If they are successful, they are on the very good track to foster a country like a post-apartheid South Africa. Note that Oromo “federalists” in OFC, who do believe in the unconditional right of Oromia to have at least its status of autonomy in the Ethiopian context, are in the category of Oromianists, not Ethiopianist Oromo. They are not similar to the Ethiopianist Oromo in AG7, who have now opted to be ready to accept the status of autonomous Gadaa Oromia only as the compromise solution, but who do not necessarily believe in the right of Oromia to have its own autonomy.
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Why Ethiopianist Oromo in Semayawi Should Have Joinedì Medrek Instead
Looking at the above two groups of Ethiopianists, it is simply a naivety of the leaders of the first group (i.e. the Conservative Unitarists) that they decided not to join the second group in order to effectively fight against the ruling fascist TPLF, which they also want to get rid of unconditionally. Semayawi opposing to join Medrek and was the main mistake done by the group. The joint action of the two main opposition parties (Semayawi and Medrek) would have send a message to the fascist regime, which could have make it shiver and tremble. I think specially Ethiopianst Oromo in the first group of Ethiopianists should now reconsider their stand and try to join Medrek in order to support the struggle against the current apartheid in Ethiopia.
Looking at the above two groups of Ethiopianists, it is simply a naivety of the leaders of the first group (i.e. the Conservative Unitarists) that they decided not to join the second group in order to effectively fight against the ruling fascist TPLF, which they also want to get rid of unconditionally. Semayawi opposing to join Medrek and was the main mistake done by the group. The joint action of the two main opposition parties (Semayawi and Medrek) would have send a message to the fascist regime, which could have make it shiver and tremble. I think specially Ethiopianst Oromo in the first group of Ethiopianists should now reconsider their stand and try to join Medrek in order to support the struggle against the current apartheid in Ethiopia.
Re: Is There a Reconciling Middle Position for Amhara and Oromo Nationalists?
The Helen Suzman’s of the Ethiopianist Camp
As far as Habesha unitarists are concerned, we just would like to ask: can any of them act like, for instance, Helen Suzman of South Africa, who was a white South African, but supported the genuine cause of black Africans and spent a total of 36 years in the parliament defending the right to freedom and democracy for all South Africans, for their individual as well as group rights?
I personally used to ask a question like “is there any Habesha who genuinely support the liberation cause of the Oromo?” till I read few years back a very nice article from Fekade Shewakena, and heard the different testimonies given by Berihanu Nega and Siye Abreha after they came out of prison and started to talk about the suffering of Oromo nationalists in prisons of fascist TPLF. Despite some Habesha scholars who do still lament against the ethnic federalism, we started to observe that a lot of democratic Habesha individuals have now started to accept and respect the legitimacy of Oromo people’s question. Of course, ethnic federalism is the least form of political arrangement, which can be accepted by Oromo nationalists in the groups of federalists (who struggle for true autonomy as well as in the groups of liberators (who do fight for free Gadaa Oromia, be it within or without a union of nations in the region).
As far as Habesha unitarists are concerned, we just would like to ask: can any of them act like, for instance, Helen Suzman of South Africa, who was a white South African, but supported the genuine cause of black Africans and spent a total of 36 years in the parliament defending the right to freedom and democracy for all South Africans, for their individual as well as group rights?
I personally used to ask a question like “is there any Habesha who genuinely support the liberation cause of the Oromo?” till I read few years back a very nice article from Fekade Shewakena, and heard the different testimonies given by Berihanu Nega and Siye Abreha after they came out of prison and started to talk about the suffering of Oromo nationalists in prisons of fascist TPLF. Despite some Habesha scholars who do still lament against the ethnic federalism, we started to observe that a lot of democratic Habesha individuals have now started to accept and respect the legitimacy of Oromo people’s question. Of course, ethnic federalism is the least form of political arrangement, which can be accepted by Oromo nationalists in the groups of federalists (who struggle for true autonomy as well as in the groups of liberators (who do fight for free Gadaa Oromia, be it within or without a union of nations in the region).
Re: Is There a Reconciling Middle Position for Amhara and Oromo Nationalists?
Join Our Own “Mandela” to Make History Like 1994 South Africa
Looking back to history, the best thing what Oromo nationalists being organized in Meison achieved as Derg came to power was the land for tiller program. The best thing Oromo nationalists being organized under OLF in TGE (the Transitional Government of Ethiopia) achieved as the TPLF came to power was the ethnic federal arrangement and the promoting of Afaan Oromo to the working language of Oromo region. Now, the best thing Oromo nationalists want to achieve if Medrek takes power is the further promotion of Afaan Oromo to a working language of the federation and the necessary change of the federation from its current fake status to true federation. I hope no democratic Habesha elite with sound mind will be against this move. We do even expect to see a lot of “Helen Suzman’s” from both Ethiopianist groups and even from the potential democrats in the hegemonist TPLF camp to join this move of Medrek.
Specially, Ethiopianist Oromo serving both the conservative unitarist camp and the dictatorial hegemonist camp as foot soldiers, are expected to take this step. Conservative unitarists definitely will not have any big influence in politics of the empire without the service of such Ethiopianist Oromo. Similarly, the fascist and hegemonist TPLF camp also will have no power without the enslaved servant Oromo still doing the dirty job for them. At the time, when such Ethiopianist Oromo in these two camps of conservative unitarists and fascist hegemonists stop their service and join the movement for freedom and democracy, then we can wholeheartedly say that we are not far from making similar history to the 1994′s history of South Africa. Unfortunately, we are still in search of Ethiopia’s future “Frederik de Klerk” – a true partner to effect change; can H/Mariam be the one? Unfortunately, most unlikely!
Looking back to history, the best thing what Oromo nationalists being organized in Meison achieved as Derg came to power was the land for tiller program. The best thing Oromo nationalists being organized under OLF in TGE (the Transitional Government of Ethiopia) achieved as the TPLF came to power was the ethnic federal arrangement and the promoting of Afaan Oromo to the working language of Oromo region. Now, the best thing Oromo nationalists want to achieve if Medrek takes power is the further promotion of Afaan Oromo to a working language of the federation and the necessary change of the federation from its current fake status to true federation. I hope no democratic Habesha elite with sound mind will be against this move. We do even expect to see a lot of “Helen Suzman’s” from both Ethiopianist groups and even from the potential democrats in the hegemonist TPLF camp to join this move of Medrek.
Specially, Ethiopianist Oromo serving both the conservative unitarist camp and the dictatorial hegemonist camp as foot soldiers, are expected to take this step. Conservative unitarists definitely will not have any big influence in politics of the empire without the service of such Ethiopianist Oromo. Similarly, the fascist and hegemonist TPLF camp also will have no power without the enslaved servant Oromo still doing the dirty job for them. At the time, when such Ethiopianist Oromo in these two camps of conservative unitarists and fascist hegemonists stop their service and join the movement for freedom and democracy, then we can wholeheartedly say that we are not far from making similar history to the 1994′s history of South Africa. Unfortunately, we are still in search of Ethiopia’s future “Frederik de Klerk” – a true partner to effect change; can H/Mariam be the one? Unfortunately, most unlikely!
Re: Is There a Reconciling Middle Position for Amhara and Oromo Nationalists?
On Oromianist Ethiopians
The very encouraging political development we did observe after the election 2005 was the emergence of Oromianist Ethiopians, i.e. Ethiopian citizens of non-Oromo origin who are now sympathizing with Oromo cause. I must say election 2005 was the time, at which both conservative unitarists and fascist hegemonists lost their shaking position strongly. The unitarists, who were almost on the verge of taking power, were beaten by the fascist regime, who already lost the election. The fascist hegemonists since then also lost the “legitimacy” they thought to have. They have already lost the legitimacy from Oromo people as OLF exposed them and left the TGE in 1992, but they had got support of the unitarist Ethiopianists with peak of support being at the time of war between Ethiopia and Eritrea (1998 and 2000). It was the time when TPLF almost felt to be part of the unitarist camp and even started to reverse the ethnic federal arrangement it already accepted during beginning phase of rule by the Transitional Government of Ethiopia, because of pressure from OLF at that time.
So, TPLF started to fulfill political wishes of the unitarists. For instance, it separated Diredhawa from Oromo regional government; it planned to make more than 250 other towns in Oromia to be Amharic-speaking special “town administrations” which should have been free from the influence of Gadaa Oromia; it compelled OPDO to make Adama be the capital city of Oromo state instead of Finfinne, and so on. During the election 2005, both the unitarists and the hegemonists betrayed each other and back-stabbed each other. Then followed the formation of AFD as an alliance specially between the democratic Amhara elites and the liberator Oromo groups against fascist TPLF and planning new arrangement for the region in the future. I did appreciate the position of the visionary OLF leaders and some leaders of the democratic unity forces who signed the formation of the alliance, which took a necessary step to deal with the TPLF regime’s tactic of “divide and rule.” This was the moment at which time we started to observe the presence of Oromianist Ethiopians in the political scene of the empire, for instance, individuals like Fekade Shewakena and Andargachew Tsige, who explicitly started to sympathize with the cause and question of the Oromo people.
Now there are thousands, if not millions of such people, who do believe in the legitimacy of the Oromo question and who even started to accept Oromia as one of the should-be autonomous federal states of the future democratic Ethiopia and who have now started to suggest that it is possible to solve the Oromo question within the union, without a necessity of dismantling Oromia. I personally do salute such Oromianist Ethiopians in contrast to the conservative unitarists, who still have not recognized Oromia and who do still write in their articles the expressions like “the so called Oromia” instead of Oromia-kilil or Oromia regional state. My hope is to see that Ethiopianist Oromos, who are still rallying behind the conservative unitarists and who are still serving the dictatorial hegemonists, do learn from such Oromianist Ethiopians and then join the movement for freedom and democracy.
The very encouraging political development we did observe after the election 2005 was the emergence of Oromianist Ethiopians, i.e. Ethiopian citizens of non-Oromo origin who are now sympathizing with Oromo cause. I must say election 2005 was the time, at which both conservative unitarists and fascist hegemonists lost their shaking position strongly. The unitarists, who were almost on the verge of taking power, were beaten by the fascist regime, who already lost the election. The fascist hegemonists since then also lost the “legitimacy” they thought to have. They have already lost the legitimacy from Oromo people as OLF exposed them and left the TGE in 1992, but they had got support of the unitarist Ethiopianists with peak of support being at the time of war between Ethiopia and Eritrea (1998 and 2000). It was the time when TPLF almost felt to be part of the unitarist camp and even started to reverse the ethnic federal arrangement it already accepted during beginning phase of rule by the Transitional Government of Ethiopia, because of pressure from OLF at that time.
So, TPLF started to fulfill political wishes of the unitarists. For instance, it separated Diredhawa from Oromo regional government; it planned to make more than 250 other towns in Oromia to be Amharic-speaking special “town administrations” which should have been free from the influence of Gadaa Oromia; it compelled OPDO to make Adama be the capital city of Oromo state instead of Finfinne, and so on. During the election 2005, both the unitarists and the hegemonists betrayed each other and back-stabbed each other. Then followed the formation of AFD as an alliance specially between the democratic Amhara elites and the liberator Oromo groups against fascist TPLF and planning new arrangement for the region in the future. I did appreciate the position of the visionary OLF leaders and some leaders of the democratic unity forces who signed the formation of the alliance, which took a necessary step to deal with the TPLF regime’s tactic of “divide and rule.” This was the moment at which time we started to observe the presence of Oromianist Ethiopians in the political scene of the empire, for instance, individuals like Fekade Shewakena and Andargachew Tsige, who explicitly started to sympathize with the cause and question of the Oromo people.
Now there are thousands, if not millions of such people, who do believe in the legitimacy of the Oromo question and who even started to accept Oromia as one of the should-be autonomous federal states of the future democratic Ethiopia and who have now started to suggest that it is possible to solve the Oromo question within the union, without a necessity of dismantling Oromia. I personally do salute such Oromianist Ethiopians in contrast to the conservative unitarists, who still have not recognized Oromia and who do still write in their articles the expressions like “the so called Oromia” instead of Oromia-kilil or Oromia regional state. My hope is to see that Ethiopianist Oromos, who are still rallying behind the conservative unitarists and who are still serving the dictatorial hegemonists, do learn from such Oromianist Ethiopians and then join the movement for freedom and democracy.
Re: Is There a Reconciling Middle Position for Amhara and Oromo Nationalists?
Medrek and ENM are Alliances to Stop the “Divide and Rule” of TPLF
After the farsighted political leaders forged AFD and with that killed the very important instrument TPLF, i.e. divide and rule method, the political trend was towards re-approaching to one another of specially the very polarized Amhara democratic forces and Oromo freedom fighters. The two sides started to ask: why was it easy for TPLF administration to rule over Ethiopins in the last about 26 years? Why even can it probably be easier to rule for further many decades? Then, they got an answer which can be put in a simplified form as “it is just because of some misguided elites, specially from the two big nations – Amhara and Oromo.” It was already written that Meles Zenawi, must have said: Amhara-Oromo conflict, i.e. the historical face-off between them, is a unique historical advantage for TPLF to perpetuate its rule. He also said regarding the dialogue between two forces within AFD, that it is a marriage between “fire and water (isat ina wuha).” It is really pity that the elites of these two big nations did live in such conflict against each other, which is just caused by hitherto ruling class of the empire and by sponsors of the ruling class – European colonizers, the effect being the fate of both nations to live now under subjugation by the minority group of fascist TPLF.
Fortunately, the trend which was started by forging AFD continued till formation of Medrek, which brought together not only Amhara democratic forces and Oromo freedom fighters, but which also included democrats from Tigrai, Somali, Southern nations and others at the beginning. The “legal and peaceful” political parties as well as the reasonable citizens came together to forge an all-inclusive alliance, Medrek, at home in order to seek a lasting solution for that troubled empire.
Medrek’s members at the beginning included those, who were part of the:
– unitarist Amhara elites (UDJ),
– hegemonist Tegaru elites (ATSD),
– “secessionist” Somali elites (SDFC),
– federalist Southern elites (UEDF), and
– unionist Oromo elites (OFC)
For all these political groups, by whom being an Ethiopianist and being, for instance, an Oromianist at the same time, is accepted, the concept “Ethiopianist” is very different from the Ethiopianist version of the conservative unitarists and even from the version of the dictatorial hegemonist TPLF (who do talk federation, but walk unitary centralism).
Most of the opposing opinions from Ethiopianists against AFD were because of its “ambiguity” regarding Ethiopian unity. But, Medrek and ENM came with very clear and unambiguous stand on the issue. Theoretically, there is no reason why there should be any opposition from “unity forces.” Medrek was so far the very good compromise and consensus solution as far as the conflict in the empire is concerned. So it is now the right time for all citizens, nations and parties to come together under such alliance and to rally behind it with the motto: ALL against the one EVIL (fascist TPLF). No question, the evil in the Horn of Africa is this hegemonist party; all nations in the region have now this one common enemy. All nations in Ethiopia and the neighbouring countries need to build an alliance against this evil. I think the above mentioned parties of different nations, which have started to cooperate in Medrek, have rightly decided for the new version of such a necessary alliance. This will be surely beginning of an end for this evil of the Horn. Specially, the necessity of such alliance is clear, when we read one of the best sentences said by Berihanu Nega till now: “weyanewoch iyekefafelun yalut, kenesu bilxinet yetenesa sayihon, kenya monyinet yetenesa newu”! (i.e. Woyanes are not dividing us because they’re smart, but because we’re stupid!)
After the farsighted political leaders forged AFD and with that killed the very important instrument TPLF, i.e. divide and rule method, the political trend was towards re-approaching to one another of specially the very polarized Amhara democratic forces and Oromo freedom fighters. The two sides started to ask: why was it easy for TPLF administration to rule over Ethiopins in the last about 26 years? Why even can it probably be easier to rule for further many decades? Then, they got an answer which can be put in a simplified form as “it is just because of some misguided elites, specially from the two big nations – Amhara and Oromo.” It was already written that Meles Zenawi, must have said: Amhara-Oromo conflict, i.e. the historical face-off between them, is a unique historical advantage for TPLF to perpetuate its rule. He also said regarding the dialogue between two forces within AFD, that it is a marriage between “fire and water (isat ina wuha).” It is really pity that the elites of these two big nations did live in such conflict against each other, which is just caused by hitherto ruling class of the empire and by sponsors of the ruling class – European colonizers, the effect being the fate of both nations to live now under subjugation by the minority group of fascist TPLF.
Fortunately, the trend which was started by forging AFD continued till formation of Medrek, which brought together not only Amhara democratic forces and Oromo freedom fighters, but which also included democrats from Tigrai, Somali, Southern nations and others at the beginning. The “legal and peaceful” political parties as well as the reasonable citizens came together to forge an all-inclusive alliance, Medrek, at home in order to seek a lasting solution for that troubled empire.
Medrek’s members at the beginning included those, who were part of the:
– unitarist Amhara elites (UDJ),
– hegemonist Tegaru elites (ATSD),
– “secessionist” Somali elites (SDFC),
– federalist Southern elites (UEDF), and
– unionist Oromo elites (OFC)
For all these political groups, by whom being an Ethiopianist and being, for instance, an Oromianist at the same time, is accepted, the concept “Ethiopianist” is very different from the Ethiopianist version of the conservative unitarists and even from the version of the dictatorial hegemonist TPLF (who do talk federation, but walk unitary centralism).
Most of the opposing opinions from Ethiopianists against AFD were because of its “ambiguity” regarding Ethiopian unity. But, Medrek and ENM came with very clear and unambiguous stand on the issue. Theoretically, there is no reason why there should be any opposition from “unity forces.” Medrek was so far the very good compromise and consensus solution as far as the conflict in the empire is concerned. So it is now the right time for all citizens, nations and parties to come together under such alliance and to rally behind it with the motto: ALL against the one EVIL (fascist TPLF). No question, the evil in the Horn of Africa is this hegemonist party; all nations in the region have now this one common enemy. All nations in Ethiopia and the neighbouring countries need to build an alliance against this evil. I think the above mentioned parties of different nations, which have started to cooperate in Medrek, have rightly decided for the new version of such a necessary alliance. This will be surely beginning of an end for this evil of the Horn. Specially, the necessity of such alliance is clear, when we read one of the best sentences said by Berihanu Nega till now: “weyanewoch iyekefafelun yalut, kenesu bilxinet yetenesa sayihon, kenya monyinet yetenesa newu”! (i.e. Woyanes are not dividing us because they’re smart, but because we’re stupid!)
Re: Is There a Reconciling Middle Position for Amhara and Oromo Nationalists?
Rally Behind Medrek and Hope H/Mariam “de Klerk” Becomes a Dialogue Partner
Last but not least, we need to comprehend and accept the two phases of the struggle for freedom and democracy planned firstly by AFD and now propagated by Medrek and other oppositions. The first phase is struggling to achieve our freedom from the evil hegemonists, and the second phase is to build necessary institutions for our future multi-national and multi-party democracy in the future union. Now, in the first phase, we all need to cooperate for achieving freedom from TPLF, who is lording over as well as looting all nations in the empire, and then later in the second phase, all parties can compete for power in the union to be forged in a democratic way. It is now good time for all opposition democratic parties to come to their senses after the last 26 years of foolishness and division. All of them need to agree on one common ground joining the parties in Medrek. The common ground is fostering national autonomy for all nations like the Oromo within the necessary regional federation like the future union, we call it either Ethiopia or Oromia. I do now believe and think that parties with such common ground have already forged a new all-inclusive alliance, in a form of Medrek, in order to get rid of the fascist TPLF. Other parties with similar motive should join them. Of course, the central figure of this alliance was Birtukan “Mandela”. If she would have got a right “Frederik de Klerk” as dialogue partner, definitely Medrek could have done similar history to that of ANC. I think this was the reason why Medrek was an attraction for both Ethiopianists and Oromianists. It seemed that the compromise vision of both nationalists (Ethio-nationalists/Ethiopianists and Ethno-nationalists, for instance, Oromianists) is incorporated in the alliance, Medrek and in a person – Birtukan “Mandela”. That was why I liked to wish the best and the necessary victory for this alliance in “the election” of May 2010, in case the election really would have been a little bit fair and free, as the ruling party wanted to convince us. To answer the question I Raider, it seems that OLF’s position is the m iddle position.
Last but not least, we need to comprehend and accept the two phases of the struggle for freedom and democracy planned firstly by AFD and now propagated by Medrek and other oppositions. The first phase is struggling to achieve our freedom from the evil hegemonists, and the second phase is to build necessary institutions for our future multi-national and multi-party democracy in the future union. Now, in the first phase, we all need to cooperate for achieving freedom from TPLF, who is lording over as well as looting all nations in the empire, and then later in the second phase, all parties can compete for power in the union to be forged in a democratic way. It is now good time for all opposition democratic parties to come to their senses after the last 26 years of foolishness and division. All of them need to agree on one common ground joining the parties in Medrek. The common ground is fostering national autonomy for all nations like the Oromo within the necessary regional federation like the future union, we call it either Ethiopia or Oromia. I do now believe and think that parties with such common ground have already forged a new all-inclusive alliance, in a form of Medrek, in order to get rid of the fascist TPLF. Other parties with similar motive should join them. Of course, the central figure of this alliance was Birtukan “Mandela”. If she would have got a right “Frederik de Klerk” as dialogue partner, definitely Medrek could have done similar history to that of ANC. I think this was the reason why Medrek was an attraction for both Ethiopianists and Oromianists. It seemed that the compromise vision of both nationalists (Ethio-nationalists/Ethiopianists and Ethno-nationalists, for instance, Oromianists) is incorporated in the alliance, Medrek and in a person – Birtukan “Mandela”. That was why I liked to wish the best and the necessary victory for this alliance in “the election” of May 2010, in case the election really would have been a little bit fair and free, as the ruling party wanted to convince us. To answer the question I Raider, it seems that OLF’s position is the m iddle position.
Re: Is There a Reconciling Middle Position for Amhara and Oromo Nationalists?
Rally Behind Medrek and Hope H/Mariam “de Klerk” Becomes a Dialogue Partner
Last but not least, we need to comprehend and accept the two phases of the struggle for freedom and democracy planned firstly by AFD and now propagated by Medrek and other oppositions. The first phase is struggling to achieve our freedom from the evil hegemonists, and the second phase is to build necessary institutions for our future multi-national and multi-party democracy in the future union. Now, in the first phase, we all need to cooperate for achieving freedom from TPLF, who is lording over as well as looting all nations in the empire, and then later in the second phase, all parties can compete for power in the union to be forged in a democratic way. It is now good time for all opposition democratic parties to come to their senses after the last 26 years of foolishness and division. All of them need to agree on one common ground joining the parties in Medrek. The common ground is fostering national autonomy for all nations like the Oromo within the necessary regional federation like the future union, we call it either Ethiopia or Oromia. I do now believe and think that parties with such common ground have already forged a new all-inclusive alliance, in a form of Medrek, in order to get rid of the fascist TPLF. Other parties with similar motive should join them. Of course, the central figure of this alliance was Birtukan “Mandela”. If she would have got a right “Frederik de Klerk” as dialogue partner, definitely Medrek could have done similar history to that of ANC. I think this was the reason why Medrek was an attraction for both Ethiopianists and Oromianists. It seemed that the compromise vision of both nationalists (Ethio-nationalists/Ethiopianists and Ethno-nationalists, for instance, Oromianists) is incorporated in the alliance, Medrek and in a person – Birtukan “Mandela”. That was why I liked to wish the best and the necessary victory for this alliance in “the election” of May 2010, in case the election really would have been a little bit fair and free, as the ruling party wanted to convince us. To answer the question I Raider, it seems that OLF’s position is the m iddle position.
Last but not least, we need to comprehend and accept the two phases of the struggle for freedom and democracy planned firstly by AFD and now propagated by Medrek and other oppositions. The first phase is struggling to achieve our freedom from the evil hegemonists, and the second phase is to build necessary institutions for our future multi-national and multi-party democracy in the future union. Now, in the first phase, we all need to cooperate for achieving freedom from TPLF, who is lording over as well as looting all nations in the empire, and then later in the second phase, all parties can compete for power in the union to be forged in a democratic way. It is now good time for all opposition democratic parties to come to their senses after the last 26 years of foolishness and division. All of them need to agree on one common ground joining the parties in Medrek. The common ground is fostering national autonomy for all nations like the Oromo within the necessary regional federation like the future union, we call it either Ethiopia or Oromia. I do now believe and think that parties with such common ground have already forged a new all-inclusive alliance, in a form of Medrek, in order to get rid of the fascist TPLF. Other parties with similar motive should join them. Of course, the central figure of this alliance was Birtukan “Mandela”. If she would have got a right “Frederik de Klerk” as dialogue partner, definitely Medrek could have done similar history to that of ANC. I think this was the reason why Medrek was an attraction for both Ethiopianists and Oromianists. It seemed that the compromise vision of both nationalists (Ethio-nationalists/Ethiopianists and Ethno-nationalists, for instance, Oromianists) is incorporated in the alliance, Medrek and in a person – Birtukan “Mandela”. That was why I liked to wish the best and the necessary victory for this alliance in “the election” of May 2010, in case the election really would have been a little bit fair and free, as the ruling party wanted to convince us. To answer the question I Raider, it seems that OLF’s position is the m iddle position.