Comment
on the Joint Call by NES and CUD Task Force
By Genzebu B.
I
fully support the call for a hunger strike over Christmas “
... to demonstrate … solidarity with the imprisoned CUD
leadership ….”. This is a very good call, to which
I would anxiously and happily respond, positively.
However,
my critical comment concerns the question of united struggle.
Although it is very obvious that one’s prime concern is
allegiance to one’s own party, the objective reality in
Ethiopia today requires an outlook beyond sector and parochial
interest. If we fail to learn from decades of past failures I
do not understand why we appear on open political arena, unless
we have hidden motives.
1.
Short Message for the NES
I
have been following up the releases of the comments of the NES
with a good degree of admiration. Apart from the good contents
of their messages, my admiration was partly based on the assumption
that it was a work of an independent, non-partisan gathering of
concerned Ethiopian scholars. The other day, I read on the website
about the formation of the CUD European Task Force, following
the London Great Demonstration. In no time, I read the above mentioned
Joint Call between the NES and that newly formed task force. My
comment to the NES is that they should continue with their previous
‘independent’ good work. However, if they wish to
join multiple bodies for a call to the Ethiopian people, then
they should include all relevant bodies, including other opposition
political parties and the civic groups all over the world, not
just the CUD. As far as my genuine understanding is concerned,
there has never been a time when good and self-less leaders such
as Engineer Hailu Shawel forgot to underpin the importance of
a strong collaboration with such bodies as the United Ethiopian
Democratic Forces (UEDF) in the efforts to conduct a concerted
struggle against the Woyane dictatorship, the collaboration that
is a sin qua non to shortening the life of that fascistic regime.
It is very obvious that the whole Ethiopian nation is on fire
and its citizens in concentration camps. Obviously the sufferings
of the CUD leaders, some of whom are not in good health, gives
any good citizen a nightmare. Similarly, one should not undermine
or neglect those tens of thousands belonging to other parties
or independent citizens that are paying sacrifices with their
lives. The panacea for bringing justice for all these people is
a joint struggle that brings together every genuine citizen that
has an equal stake in the matter. Otherwise, we will continue
to beg for hand outs for the rest of our lives.
2.
A Short Message to the CUD Support Committees
The
CUD support committee used to struggle in a joint task force in
the UK, together with the UEDF and the civic groups. Interesting
achievements were made during those harmonious periods of the
struggle. The last Europe-wide demonstration in London was, indeed,
prepared jointly, and successfully, by the support committees
of the CUD and the UEDF and the civic groups. My recent concern,
however, is that the spirit of a joint task appears to be diminishing,
as far as the CUD support Committee in the UK is concerned. I
have the following constructive comments to make before things
go out of hand:
a)
There are many genuine opposition Ethiopian political parties,
including the newly formed parties and those that have been struggling
for generations, for Ethiopian democracy, equality, peace and
prosperity. Prominent among these are the members of the UEDF
and the CUD that have entered into collaborative agreements for
a peaceful struggle to bring down the dictatorship of the Meles
regime. As far as I am aware of, the agreements reached among
the leaders of those parties are still outstanding, and they shall
continue in the future until the Ethiopian people achieve their
political freedom. No person in his/her right mind can evade this
fact.
b)
The CUD support Committee in the UK has the right to strengthen
its internal organisational structure and political programmes.
The same is true for the UEDF and the civic groups. Representatives
from the three groups shall form/strengthen a joint UK-wide national
task force.
c)
Similar bodies shall be formed and strengthened in every relevant
countries of the world. Representatives of each shall form joint
continental Commission which shall later develop an international
Secretariat.
d)
Collaborative calls shall also be extended to other relevant bodies
such as the OLF.
Final
Comment:
Such
all inclusive structures and genuine efforts can increase the
participation and active involvement of all stakeholders in the
Ethiopian politics, including the necessary fundraising, to support
the cause. Otherwise, the type of a little arrogance and short-sightedness
shown among the few individuals can be very dangerous, indeed,
in terms of future enthusiasm, popular participation and the sustainability
of current emotional achievements, including fundraising.
Peace
and Prosperity for the Ethiopian People.
(Information
from ER Dec 21, 2005: Representatives of
Ethiopian civic and political organizations held a meeting yesterday
at the CUD office in Washington DC. They discussed how to coordinate
the effort in the Washington DC area to support the struggle for
democracy and freedom at home. The group took over the responsibility
of organizing the protest march on Washington DC in January and
created a coordinating body named "Ethiopian Political and
Civic Groups Joint Forum" for this purpose. The two major
parties, CUD and UEDF, as well as several civic and media groups
are represented in the Joint Forum. The group will hold another
meeting Thursday at the CUD office in Washington DC.)
