PART FOUR 

Lacrimosa For Ethiopia : Medrek and the �Code of Conduct�

By Tecola W, Hagos � December 1, 2009

All the world's a stage,

And all the men and women merely players:

They have their exits and their entrances;

And one man in his time plays many parts�

                       William Shakespeare - All the world's a stage (from As You Like It 2/7)

I. Introduction

Edward I of England in Braveheart said in frustration, "The trouble with Scotland is that it's full of Scots." I will not extend similar sentiment about Ethiopia and the people of Ethiopia ; however, I can say in similar vain about the problems now facing Ethiopia for most part is a self generated one. With some degree of reservation, I can say that the trouble with Ethiopia is that it is full of Ethiopian 'politicians' and their followers. In some cases, we seem to be developing a habit of being a nefarious and uncouth people when it comes to our relationships with our leaders, for we all aspire to be leaders. It also appears to me that we are increasingly seeking the limelight and the fame of heroes without undergoing the sacrifice, the pain, and the suffering leading to such success.

How many Ethiopians, among the opposition or in general, would have the type of personal individualized courage as some of Ethiopia�s heroes from our past, such as Abraha Deboch, Moges Asghedom, Belai Aschenaki, Zerai Deres, Abuna Petros et cetera? I am not advocating here recklessness or terroristic activities, but focusing on the mental preparedness and courage of such individuals. By contrast, I find Ethiopian politicians in the opposition camp in general (I know or heard about) to be not forthcoming and secretive. However, I do not want to be misunderstood here, for there are very heroic Ethiopians like Judge Birtukan Mideksa and others who are facing the brutal Government of Meles Zenawi with exemplary courage.

Indeed, we have to search deep and wide to come up even with few names worth thinking of as heroes and leaders in present day Ethiopian communities around the world. We are in far worse condition than we think we are if we think most of our public figures as national heroes and as all inclusive Ethiopian leaders. It does not take much to debunk such wrong evaluation by simply looking how narrowly ethnic based the leadership of some of our leading political organizations are. The presence of a couple of supporters from other ethnic groups like in AEUP or in the aggregation of EPRDF is just a freak albino-political situation that should not be taken seriously, for it is no different than narrowly constituted ethnic based organizations like the TPLF or the OLF.

Even worse we have now a new breed of unusually uncouth and illiterate Ethiopians in cyberspace blogging and chatting all over the Internet. They spew their venomous vulgar statements, often in broken English and in poor balege Amharic dictions, attacking people and each other while hiding behind false names. Even in cyberspace, they do not have the courage to face their targets of derision, using their own names. Such method of struggle or cowardice should truly be embarrassing to any Ethiopian. We must seek to change such destructive characteristics.

I expected a deluge as a response to my articles �Lacrimosa for Ethiopia� Part One, Part Two, and Part Three [www.tecolahagos.com] from the eternally disaffected Diaspora, and it turned out to be a trickle, and even then most were posted in chat stations. On the other hand, I find the level of participation and the intensity of questioning the actions of the Code of Conduct signers both surprising and encouraging. Moreover, the one criticism, worth mentioning here, was delivered by Dr. Mankelkilot Haile Selassie. I have given my proper response in Part Three of my �Lacrimosa for Ethiopia � series of Articles. Mankelkilot, at the very least wrote in coherent and readable English, even though his essay was a mixed bag inundated with ad hominem statements, factual errors, and some impertinence that a moralist like him should have kept out from a piece that he thought is the coup-de-grace to the �Lone Ranger� i.e. me. I wish Mankelkilot would realize the search for truth is a lonely venture, and the Lone Ranger, just like Zorro and Robin Hood, the symbol of justice, courage, and hope for oppressed people!   

II. My Participation in Political Organizations

In order to clear the platform for discourse, which is littered with misinformation and vulgarity, it is only proper to state clearly what my political party affiliation might be. First of all there is a misrepresentation by several individuals chatting or posting statements in Websites that allege I am a member or adviser of Medrek. Neither allegation is true.  However, I am a member of a civic organization that is aiming to bring together all political and civic organizations to a forum for closer relationship.  That civic organization has two main purposes: to defend the Sovereignty of Ethiopia and to keep the territorial integrity of Ethiopia intact as we inherited it from our fathers.

I supported Medrek as a viable opposition forum, for its innovative and clearly stated goals as contained in its final version of its Minimum Program where it laid out promising major principles and goals as its political and social programs. I am in favor of the Minimum Program mainly due to the fact that it did not mention even once the divisive Article 39 of the 1995 Constitution, and also due to the fact that the Program clearly stated that the Members of Medrek are for unity and the preservation of the Sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ethiopia . These goals are goals I fully support. However, I do have my criticism on the fact that they did not establish a clear hierarchy between individual rights and group rights. I presume such issues would be resolved in the process of change taking place on the ground. However, it would have been helpful had there been some indication of the preferred theoretical or normative base in the Medrek Program itself.

With deep regret, I report that I am not a member of Andenet or before that I was not a member of Kinijit or of any other political organization. I do not consider this lack of direct political connectedness as some kind of virtue. However, it will not be fair to leave the matter at that for a number of Ethiopians may want to hear more the reason why I am not a member of any political organization. It is not I who shy away from membership in such political organizations. The reason of my isolation from all political groups is not that simple to understand. I would want to express clearly how far disappointed I am for being a victim of what is obviously conspiratorial decisions of exclusivity on the part of the leadership of such political organizations. It is not because I refused to be a member of any of the political parties, but I simply cannot force myself on any group that deliberately shunned me.

I know most of the leaders of those political organizations; some even are/were very close friends. For some reason that is inexplicable and beyond my understanding none of them seem interested to have me as their member, though they lap up my ideas and publicize my supportive articles of their political agendas. No one else has written as extensively on matters that concern Ethiopia or the welfare of its people, as I have done, except for Professor Al Mariam whose proficiency and productivity no one can mach even though he infuriates me at times on the issue of Ethiopia�s vital interest that he failed to distinguish from his animosity and outrage against Meles Zenawi and his Government.

A few years back, I spent a couple of years traveling all over the United States , Canada , and Europe promoting the Sovereignty and Territorial Integrity of Ethiopia. I even barged on the Boarder Committee at its formative stage three years ago with my unsolicited advice and a series of articles condemning the alienation of Ethiopian territory to the Sudan . However, when it comes to organizational participation, I was actively brushed aside with insidious campaign by faceless and gutless individuals within the existing Board who could not dare confront me with anything I have done wrong to be so avoided. I had to bring into the discussion my personal experience in order to state firmly my analysis, and not for personal vanity.  

III. Meles Zenawi: A Superb Machiavellian

If Machiavelli were alive today and if he were to be asked who would be his best student, I believe, he would have answered, �Meles Zenawi of Ethiopia !� No surprise on that; moreover, it does not require a Stephen-Hawkins-brain to understand the choice. This is not a complement to Meles Zenawi, but recognition of the craftiness of a formidable individual. I admit grudgingly what Meles Zenawi did in having the Code of Conduct signed at this particular time, on such public forum, was a brilliant counter move to neutralize Medrek and its political agenda. In Meles we have someone who has mastered the art of publicity and changing the political dynamic that is not favorable to him or to his liking, with serious public impact. Most importantly he moved the debate from focusing on his failed leadership of oppression, corruption, and famine on to the opportunist political party leaders, such as Hailu Shawel, Lidetu Ayalew, and Ayele Chamiso, who were used as pawns on the political chess board of Ethiopia . 

I realize my criticism of Meles Zenawi and his new partners may sound like closing the coop after the fox has escaped with the chicken. No one should close the book as yet, for the current political situation in Ethiopia is not that bad but a new opening for our struggle. Meles Zenawi and his new partners only dug more trouble for themselves. Moreover, I need not remind anyone that I have been criticizing Meles Zenawi for his destructive policies as regards the economic, social, and political life of Ethiopia and its people for sometime now. I have posted numerous articles on Meles Zenawi�s failure as a progressive and visionary leader. Just as a reminder, I have incorporated the more serious specific items on the failed and disastrous leadership of Meles Zenawi as follows:

I have read comments posted by Meles supporters that assert that my criticism of Meles might be personal for being spurned by his Government. What ever criticism I have leveled against Meles Zenawi and his Government has never been due to any personal animosity. I have criticized Meles for his misdeeds, for hurting Ethiopia and for brutalizing Ethiopians. I have criticized him for his balkanization of Ethiopia . I have criticized him for ceding Ethiopian territories of Kunama, Irob, Afar coastal territories, Ethiopian villages and vast border disputed territories with Sudan et cetera. I have criticized him for compromising the Sovereignty and Territorial Integrity of Ethiopia. I have criticized him for interfering with the justice system and for being lawless. I have criticized him for his crony based selective economic development policy. I have criticized him on many more items of national concerns. Thus, I wish people will stop trivializing my legitimate and serious effort of standing up for the best interest of Ethiopia as some act of personal animosity toward Meles Zenawi or anybody else.

Meles Zenawi has committed inexcusable crimes against the State of Ethiopia and all Ethiopians. Starting from destruction of the education system to destroying civility, Meles Zenawi is responsible for the insurmountable social, political, and economic problems engulfing Ethiopia for the last seventeen years. He alone is the main force for the land locking of Ethiopia . The detention and murder of many Ethiopians since the day EPRDF took power is also another responsibility he will be required to account for. Meles is the ideologue, the crusader, and the enforcer of the current divisive ethnic federal structure of Ethiopia based on narrow ethnic identity. This was done in pursuit and fulfillment of the agenda to divide and weaken Ethiopia , which was the main goal of the Eritrean secessionist political organization, the EPLF.

Meles�s state crimes are not limited to the State of Ethiopia. He has also destroyed the TPLF and corrupted the EPRDF. The TPLF that is now claimed to be in existence is not the TPLF that heroically fought Mengistu�s brutal Government. Meles has transformed that political organization into a Mafia-like private organization now. The present Meles Zenawi�s TPLF is fully involved in criminal activities murdering people, torturing people, looting the wealth of a nation et cetera. The recent uncovering of gold bar heist, replacing authentic gold bars with fake gold bars at the Ethiopian Central Bank to the tune of several hundred million dollars loss to Ethiopia, is alleged by some to be the work of TPLF�s highly placed officials to benefit their organization and themselves. This is the tragic end of an organization, which had as its members some of the finest patriotic Ethiopians I had the privilege to know, to be associated now with international fraud.

[Extract from Tecola W. Hagos, �PART TWO: The Ugly American: The Horsemen of the Apocalypse: Meles Zenawi and Mohammad Al-amoudi,� March 23, 2008, www.tecolahagos.com.]

Compared to most leaders of Ethiopian political organizations, both inside and outside of Ethiopia , Meles Zenawi is a consummate political strategist. Even with his occasional gaffs, some extremely serious like imprisoning Judge Birtukan Mideksa and other political leaders, selling Ethiopian land to foreigners while millions of Ethiopians are starving, et cetera he was able to turn the table on the opposition. His most recent political tactics to destroy Medrek I believe is planting Professor Ephraim Isaac as a Shimagle right in the middle of Medrek�a type of ruse he had used several times in the past, specially when his activities have the potential to evolve into a situation that would eventually expose his soft underbelly of a brutal little man on the international stage.  It seems that Ephraim Isaac is connecting with Professor Beyene Petros as his first link with Medrek. What I have heard from individuals who claim to have some reliable source of information is that Ephraim is suggesting that he would work some compromise between the Government and Medrek because he has good contact with Meles. Well, �beware of Greeks bearing gifts� remember the fate of Troy; and in case of Ephraim, Birtukan Mideksa and how unwilling Ephraim had been even to explain exactly what he did during the negotiation to have the Kinijit leaders freed a few years back.

One mistake that is repeatedly committed by opposition politicians is undermining the abilities and survival instinct of Meles Zenawi. It is not without wits and unflinching determination that he survived so far in a pit of vipers, the TPLF. The annals of very many battles in the world seem to confirm the fact that most battles were lost by those who undermine the valor and courage and wits of their enemies.  

IV. Is Medrek Stinging or a Dud?

Until a couple of days ago, on the surface it seemed that Medrek had lost a golden opportunity to position itself for serious discussion and negotiation with the Government of Meles on election procedures. The analysis of the situation in a recent article by Genet Mersha �Election 2010: Who Would Win�Politics or the People?�  [www.tecolahagos.com, November 17, 2009] is focused in pointing out that Medrek lost a stellar opportunity to put Meles on the defensive. Professor Messay Kebede, who is generally positively disposed toward Medrek, wrote an article more or less cynical in its import. [See Messay Kebede, �Much Ado about Nothing� November 20, 2009. www.tecolahagos.com] For Messay what ever we do will not amount for much for the ultimate and absolute control of power is in the hands of Meles Zenawi. Thus, he saw no point in criticizing Hailu Shawel. But the problem with that type of argument is that it prejudges the capacity of people and also it is equally valid to criticize Hailu Shawel since all such discourse in Ethiopia terminate at the bidding and hands of Meles Zenawi. Such position also suffers from serious logical invalidity for it is either tautological or nonsensical. These are the types of sentiments that should be very carefully analyzed.

The recent announcement at Ghion Hotel, Addis Ababa (November 25, 2009) that the Former President of Ethiopia, Dr. Negasso Gidada, and the former Minister of Defense, Seeye Abraha are joining Andnet Party is a positive and balancing politically savvy move. I welcome the news, for it lowered my anxiety that Ethiopia would suffer into perpetuity not only the brutal oppressive iron hammer of Meles Zenawi but also the added continuation of exploitation and manipulation of the Mahel Sefari Hailu Shawel. However, my earlier hope was to some extent tarnished by recent development where it is reported in several news media that a General Assembly called by Andnet for November 29, 2009 was disrupted by individuals led by Professor Mesfin Woldemariam. Mesfin is creating havoc in that organization due to his allegation that certain internal procedures were violated by the leadership in associating with Medrek and now the admission of Dr. Negaso Gidada and ex-Minister of Defense Seeye Abraha. The activities of Mesfin could only undermine the only true opposition to the Government of Meles Zenwi. It serves no positive purpose to continue this form of public protest disruption of meetings by Mesfin and supporters.  I demand that he stop.

Medrek is truly multi-ethnic political organization, where concerned Ethiopians met on a horizontal platform where they looked at each other face to face at eye level and tried to solve our national problems as equal partners. Whereas the relationship now consummated on the bed called Code of Conduct, the parties are in vertical hierarchical relationships, whereby Meles Zenawi is at the top then the rest in descending order.  This new group constituted by a command is not a good model for us. It is a continuation of the abusive, brutal, and violent governmental relationship Ethiopians had to suffer over thirty years since the demise of Emperor Haile Selassie.

As I stated above, I have read carefully the Minimum Program of Medrek, which is more than adequate to start the process of change in Ethiopia . I am a unitary state of Ethiopia supporter, and I believe the Kilil system is a divisive and destructive structure. Soon Ethiopians who are growing up during the life of the current system will be adults. And as adults, they would have lived a life of isolation and localized history without many interactions with Ethiopians from other Kilils. Here is then the tragedy, they will have nothing in common, and with guns and ambition there is nothing that will hold them together for they will end up fighting each other for their locality and limited resources. By then Meles and most of the leadership that brought about such a disaster would have died out, due to nature taking its own course, and living Ethiopia a tattered place with several mini states fighting each other. Who benefits from such situation?

Foremost, those who would benefit the most when Ethiopia continued in chaotic state are the children and relations of Meles Zenawi and Azeb Mesfin with their extended families and close associates. They would then be living the high life on looted wealth from Ethiopia worth hundreds of millions of dollars and Euros that no one would contest due to the ensuing chaos. The other beneficiaries are going to be Egypt , with unhindered access to all the waters of the Blue Nile, and Sudan lording it on all the land already ceded to it by Meles Zenawi. The other predator is going to be Somalia , for it would have by then occupied most of the Ogaden. Eritrea would have claimed all of what it had claimed and some more in Afar probably adding all of Afar all the way to Yifat. 

Of late, I read in blogs that I am no more the �intellectual power-house of Medrek� or the �friend of Seeye� or of �Gebru Asrat,� but a �soldier� of Seeye Abraha and Gebru Asrat. At my age and taking into account the fact that I am a product of a decent legitimate Church sanctioned marriage of two great families from Tigray and Wollo/Shoa, families of great heroes and warriors not to mention of great scholars that served Ethiopia for generations, including in the heroic Patriotic resistance during the five years occupation of Ethiopia, I can accept no less titles than �Field  Marshal� or �General� or �Head of State� or �Prime Minister.�  On a second thought, I have a far better idea, why not �Emperor� of Ethiopia ? After all when I take into account the types of leaders we had crowned as �Emperors� or �Presidents� or �Prime Ministers,� or �Commanders� of our forces in the last century and a half, individuals that were either �ye bet woladge bastards� or �street brawler ignorant brutal savage Mahel Sefaris� or �sons of turn-coat bandas,� I find myself far more superbly qualified to be crowned �Emperor� more than any of our past leaders. There you have it, let me see if you would chock on it or throw a tantrum foaming from your mouth!

V. The �Code of Conduct�

There is nothing especial about the document referred to as the �Code of Conduct� signed by Meles Zenawi on behalf of the Government and EPRDF (It is not clear which hat he is wearing) and Hailu Shawel, Lidetu Ayalew, and Ayele Chamiso on the other. The basic document that was the basis for the Code of Conduct was a draft model prepared by the Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA) group. The IDEA group is an intergovernmental organization formed in 1995 pursuant to a conference held in Stockholm , Sweden , by fourteen Governmental representatives. Currently, it has twenty eight States as its members, and has an Observer Status at the United Nations. The Members of its Board of Directors are drawn from former government officials of Member States. Ethiopia is not a Member. The purpose of the organization as stated in its basic document is as follows: �International IDEA�s mission is to support sustainable democratic change by providing comparative knowledge, and assisting in democratic reform, and influencing policies and politics.� It is financed mainly by the governments of the Member States.

When using a �Model� legislations or codes of any kind drafted by think-thank organizations such as IDEA, there is the risk of irrelevance or oversimplification. The Ethiopian version of the Code of Conduct is not relevant and it also glosses over serious problems. It moralizes, when it should be regulating conduct with a non-political enforcement system. The problem in Ethiopia is that there is no independent judiciary, no independent Electoral Board, and the Police is simply an extension of the military forces commanded by Meles Zenawi and his group of supporters. By contrast the Georgian political parties that signed the National Democratic Institute�s (NDI) Code of Conduct fully recognized and anticipated the role to be played by international observers in addition to Party sponsored observers at their polling stations during elections. The Ethiopian version of the Code of Conduct does not anticipate nor make any reference to international observers. There in lies its serious defect, and lends to the validity of the accusation that the whole thing is just a smoke-screen. This Ethiopian Code of Conduct is a dud, a toothless contraption.

Another serious problem with the Code of Conduct is that it created another bureaucratic layer made up of the four political organizations (that signed the Code of Conduct) to act as a kind of first line of defense or a clearing-house before any other political organization could touch the Ethiopian Government functionaries. In other words, Meles Zenawi has created another ring around him to defend his position by the very people that were supposed to challenge him. I think Sun Tzu would have been proud of such brilliant military strategy turning ones enemies to be one�s defenders!  At any rate, it pits political organizations against each other, creating disharmony and chaos in all opposition groups in Ethiopia . How is it possible to serve the national interest of Ethiopia as a State if its constituent parts are feuding all over the place? Already tremendous tension and confusion has been the consequence of the public signing of the Code of Conduct.

VI. Conclusion: What is to be done?

The recurrent famine in Ethiopia affects no less than twenty million people every year for almost two decades. No less than ten million Ethiopians are under permanent food care by the international community of donors year to year for all of the life of the EPRDF run Ethiopian Government. In short, Ethiopia is in dire circumstance, and the record of the Government of Meles Zenawi is not what the West is projecting as that of phenomenal positive growth. Yes, there are some major infrastructure works that will still be of benefit to the people of Ethiopia long after Meles and his nightmarish Government and close associates are gone for good. Major public works constructions, such as the Tekeze Dam, the Gilgel Gibe Dams, the many airports, buildings around the country, roads, et cetera, no matter how they were financed and built, would be of service to the people of Ethiopia for a long time.

I have in mind a series of fundamental changes that need be implemented to change the cycle of famine and the general degradation of human life in Ethiopia, and it starts by supporting Medrek as an alternative to that of the new coalition formed in the guise of signing of a �Code of Conduct� between Meles Zenawi and so called opposition parties. Medrek would be developed further into a viable true opposition to bring about fundamental changes and turn Ethiopia from heading straight in to political abyss. In order to achieve such goals Medrek must expand its reach and bring into its fold all Ethiopians from all backgrounds as long as they are willing to serve Ethiopia and the People of Ethiopia.

Hate politics must be left behind once and for all. Instead, Medrek must play the galvanizing role for unity, solidarity, and humanistic approach to solve our many problems through peaceful means. This goes even to opening its arms to those who are currently supportive of Meles Zenawi and Members of the EPRDF or any of the affiliate organizations to join and work together to save our Ethiopia . We should not think of any of us as enemies, but as possible friends for tomorrow. If possible we must even work to reverse the decisions of misguided political groups who are standing in line to work with Meles Zenawi. Politics is the art of the possible, and such possibility in Medrek is open ended and helpful to Ethiopia �s political and economic development.

Allowing criticism and tolerating dissention is a sign of strength and not of weakness. Thus, I level my criticism of Medrek leaders for making one very serious mistake. In my views, they almost forfeited their leadership right. They should all consider reassessing their actions of the last couple of months and ought to consider advancing new breed of leaders. Their misjudgment in that they would try to negotiate on one-to-one basis with the Government of Meles Zenawi while shunning the other political organizations was a serious error of judgment that would be very difficult to mend. Such error should never be repeated. This is not the place or time to seek vengeance or settle old scores. It is simply unacceptable to disfranchise any political organization at a point when one ought to show unity and solidarity with everyone.

To me the fact of the signing of the Code of Conduct to join Meles Zenawi and his political group is more of a reaction to the degree of that poor political judgment on the part of Medrek. I learned some very important lessons from those mistakes of the leaders of Medrek. So far it seems to me that Medrek Members kept their political organizations to themselves thereby affecting the over all support level of Ethiopians both locally and internationally. I have not seen much of a drive in the direction of recruiting new members here, for example, in Washington DC where I reside. I must emphasize the fact that the Members of Medrek have sacrificed much and have faced off with tremendous courage the most oppressive regime in the World. Thus, all of my criticism is done without malice and in full support of Medrek and its leaders.

The first order of business for Medrek is to focus on expanding membership in each of the constitutive political organizations. There should be an active campaign to add new members and supporters also in the Diaspora. No political organization would be effective in Ethiopia without the support of large number of actively recruited members. I am writing from my own experience of the fact that no one had actively sought to have me as a member or supporter of his or her political organization except one because of personal knowledge of my uncompromising commitment to the cause of Ethiopia . I was available to all, and expressed my support openly in numerous articles. I also made my Website available for posting important press releases from such political organizations. At any rate, Medrek is the future of Ethiopia , it has all the right elements to evolve as a multi ethnic party into the ultimate unitary Ethiopian major political party.  

It may be too early to write a requiem or an elegy on Ethiopia , for this ancient nation seems to have more than �nine lives� at any critical point in its long and fabulous history. It might even be premature to feel anguish and write a Lacrimosa either. The vitality and the spirit of greatness of Ethiopians is asserted, to those whose eyes are open to see, every other week in a most dramatic fashion by Ethiopia�s World record holders and ever increasing champions�the greatest athletes the world has ever seen�and all that happening during a time of political corruption, an invading famine, political turmoil, betrayal by leaders, the looting of our national wealth, and the ceding and alienation of our territories and farm lands. We are one great people! We have a wonderful land of untapped wealth, and great fabulous history. We all must fight for Ethiopia and for each other. No Ethiopian should lose hope and give up on Ethiopia !

Tecola W. Hagos

December 1, 2009

Notice to Visitors of www.tecolahagos.com: I will maintain �Lacrimosa For Ethiopia� as a series name for future articles dealing with the economy and political life of Ethiopia . TH