I wish reality stood by your side on that one, but unfortunately it doesn't. While people look at the civil service college graduate TPLF cadre from Addis as the man behind the gun that is shooting at them and behind the policy that is authorizing it, they look at the Tigrayan farmer from Welqait (an interesting choice, btw) - yes, specially the Tigrayan farmer from Welqait - as a quite beneficiary of the existence of that TPLF cadre. Inaction does have a symbolic meaning, which is mostly taken as consent.

When an Oromo student from ye Kotebe Memhran college, who was studying in the library, minding his business, is rounded up along with other students just for being a student and taken to detention; and the soldiers start dividing the students by their ethnic group - explicitly asking Tigrayan students and a certain other ethnicity to go to one side and the rest to the other - and take the "non chosen" ones to the usual a bread a day and sleeping on a runway like asphalt in the burning sun, etc until they were released few days later...now, did that son of a Tigrayan benefit from this or not? How many incidents of this nature happen in Ethiopia deep in the lives of many day to day? What then makes you think you can "fool" this student into thinking that it is "just the cadres" that are in it? This is not to mention the fact that there is, not only a state sponsored but, a Tigrayan elite supported gross criticism of a certain ethnic group who are accused of having exploited and oppressed the rest of Ethiopians in the past. It is cited on the media on an everyday basis, and all it does is "awaken" people to the possibility of being exploited by an ethnic group whose turn it is to do so now. What then exempts Tigrayans from being tried on the same scale?

And my point is, the bottom line is that we should manage to live in peace despite it all and people should be thought that. However, the problem is not limited to "just the cadres" as many of us would like to believe, unfortunately. You mention that the TPLF's main enemies are people of the Tigray region itself and that might be true, but aren't those the same people someone on ethiomedia was wondering the whereabouts of just few days ago? The silence doesn't necessarily indicate support but it does have a symbolic importance to the government. If people really want to penetrate the Ethiopian society with this issue and make a difference, there needs to be genuine honesty and acknowldgement of all this, IMO. There is a resentment, and I don't think it does anybody who tries to change that any good to dress up what people have seen and the obvious ways they have interpreted them.

Anyways, all this is a recycled discussion thats gonna take us nowhere like it has not, in the past. I don't think there's genuinity among most of us when we talk about the many aspects of Ethiopian politics. That is sad but "it is what it is" and I leave this one here.


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Says a tribal chief: “Here in Lesotho, we have two problems: Rats and the government.”

No body, no one, not even those who perpetrate or/and perpetuate it, deserve injustice.

Alex,Gooch

What a commendable post... but Gooch it was just yesterday when you put the ethnic slur "of donkey Amhara chauvinists'" . You assumed I am a Tigrian and you inserted the slur to say that would be my reply! Well what can you do.. I am a Tigrian, and no one in the world gave me a choice to be other than that, so those who hate me because I am a Tigrian have thier own issue. Last time I went to Addis, almost a year and half ago I felt like Addis is not my country, and I don't belong there. As if Tigrians shouldn't be in Addis at all. I saw many buildings that were owned by Gurages, including Dembele, Friendship, and many big buildings, but yet the Tigrians are always blamed. I have really given up, it is no use.. if Addis Abeban, and people frome Empress corner want to kick out the Tigirans well they can. Trust me we will not force ourselves to be unwanted neighbor.

Empress wrote:



What exactly do you want the Tigrians people todo? What have the people of Gonder done? What have the people of Wollow done? What have the people of Arsi done? etc... esti tell us please?

Well it's not GPLF (Gondar People's Liberation Front) that is writing the country's policy and ethnically dividing the people towards a tragic outcome now is it? Or if OLF was the one that was passing law that has brought the country to its current racist state then, we would have said the same thing about Oromos. Don't make it into what it isn't dude. TPLF has purposely used ethnicity to extend their stay in power. Unfortunately, I also have heard so many disparaging remarks about Tigrayans from other Ethiopians because TPLF has knowingly marketed and enveloped itself as a representative of the Tigrayan people. Therefore its actions are going to be interpreted as the actions of the Tigrayan population by some people. Can't change that unless you have a vocal Tigrayan opposition that is willing to challenge this regime.

But one point that hasn't been raised yet is this. Tigrayans have a lot more pressure to support TPLF than any other person. The almost homogenous support of TPLF goes beyond the parochial and monolithic thinking that pervades most ethnicities. It is very hard to have an independent thought when everyone around you espouses the same blind faith in the current regime. I think the fact that so many Tigrayans voted for CUD shows the fact that at least in private the support isn't as monolithic as is believed. However, it would be hard to convince most of the population of this fact unless they see visible opposition to TPLF. Like Empress said, everytime someone sees a Tigrayan benefit in some way it is further proof for them that TPLF=Tigrayans and vice versa.

This is just the reality of it. People should be careful not to devolve into ethnic hatred and violence, but while the government is constantly advocating exactly these sort of policies it would be difficult to counter this tragic end. Just look around the world and see how many countries that have been ethnically divided have lasted. Look at the recent news about the Republic of Congo and how ethnic based hatred is resulting in unspeakable acts.

Lela Mar, Alex, Empress,

Empress:

What you saying could be to a certain extent true but the general perception of blaming everything on Tegaru, and associating everything TPLF does on Tegaru, is there and its just perception. In Ethiopia today, if you support TPLF views of the world, Ethiopia, regardless of your ethnicity you will get a nice govnt job, you get everything you wanted. That is a fact. But its also a fact that the general perception of hatred towards Tegaru is there. The good thing about this perception in Ethiopia is that people (Tegaru and non Tegaru) still live together in harmony, still go to the same church (alike so ridiculous Diaspora), still eat together in neighborhoods. That is the fact I saw last time I went. Only people show this PERCEPTION of hatred towards Tegaru on an individual convo with other ethnicity. (I should have used a better word than hatred because it really not hate, its more of aww yea that nice house belongs to a Tegaru, this solder is from tigray,....)

Lela Mar,

if you have read all of that, who brought up that attitiude towards Tegaru? Its EPRDF/TPLF/Its not the CUD problem nor any opposition. If there is anyone to be blamed its EPRDF/TPLF. They are the once who originally started struggle for Independent Tigray and advocated their association with the people of Tigray.

So, you look at it every angle if there is anyone to be blamed its TPLF/EPRDF. Living in a country where a day for light murderer gets to spend three million dollars of Tax money for his attorney (because rule of law, true justice, and fair trial in court for four years), a terrorist American becoming so controversial in Court, whether he should be tried as an enemy combatant or his constitutional right should be respected, a Guantanamo bay prisoners becoming a main debate of human right, justice, in a country you live,

You, in face of out right in justice, and drama of Ethiopian justice system, trying to tell us what has transpired yesterday is Just and right. If someone, not me, perceived you to support it just because you are a Tegaru, I think its hard to defend otherwise. I mean you have to be inhuman, or just mindless human or someone who is intellectually monotonous (trust me Meles and co know very well, this is not a JUSTIC, its the end justifies the means).

TO ALL,

the perception of ethnicity is sadly to say much worst here in the Diaspora that in Ethiopia. There are only hand full Tegaru in the Diaspora who could see things beyond their Tigrayan background and speak out for injustice, human right and democracy. Almost all, not a perception, associate themselves with Abuna Paulos, because he is tigrayan, EPRDF/TPLF because they could speak tigrigna. Non-tigrayans animosity towards Tegaru is to the same degree in the Diaspora. Well, yediasporawn neger tewut.

So, the problem of Tegaru, blaming on Tegaru that is luckily merely a perception and not something Thinking, intellectually enable Tigre should not worry about, nor a genuine non-Tigre should feel anxious about possible ethnic conflict because IT WONT HAPPEN IN ETHIOPIA, NEVER. A poor tegaru in Ethiopia vote for EPRDF/TPLF not because TPLF preaches they stood for them, but who could bring a bread to the table (well at least who campaign to do that), an Amhara or Gurage in Ethiopia doesn’t say I wont go to that church because it’s a Tegaru church, or cant be neighbor with a tegaru, Let alone to the degree of haterd in the Diaspora to each other. Everyone, Amhara, tigre, gurage, goes to church not because they accept Abuna Paulos, or A tegaru goes to church not because he accepts a tegaru abuna paulos but because to worship God.

So, the problem is only in the Diaspora both tegaru, who are blinded by their tigrigna language speaking ability, and non-tegarus who feel left out because they are not tegarus. So, Lela mar, open your mind and eyes. Thank you.


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I speak the truth and I am free

That's exactly what I've been trying to say. This is why people, specially politicians like Ato Bedru Adem, need to carfully choose their words. TPLF will leave office at some point; let's make sure they will leave us a country, too.


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EthioTube - Broadcast Ethiopia
http://www.ethiotube.net

Don’t forget this is a slippery road you are taking. When Mengistu (An Amhara/Wolamo?) president massacred thousands, then it should have been The Amahras and Walmo responsibility to protest in the mass, right? When OLF masscarred the Amharas in the South or when OLF placed those bombs in Addis then the Oromos should have been out on the street too right?… How about the ONLF killing recently, are we saying the Somali people in Ethiopia are advocating it because of their “silence” too? they are not protesting. Well what is good for the goose is good for the gander too.. But I know your answers are in negative. Any way.. like I said to Empress… we will not force ourselves to be your neighbors, God has given us a blessed land too, and if time comes that we are no Longer Welcome as Ethiopians we will congregate to it. But it is sad I have to Say “WE” here, as if I am not Ethiopian, but the reality pushes me to do so.

oh please. Lela mar, no one is pushing you not to be ethiopian. even if anyone did, you shouldn't let them to. you should insist that you are ethiopian. thats how we can stay intact.

abo the discussion is drifting here and there. i'm out.


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"It's only us who can hinder us." - Alex

So begins the pity fest.


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Says a tribal chief: “Here in Lesotho, we have two problems: Rats and the government.”

No body, no one, not even those who perpetrate or/and perpetuate it, deserve injustice.

Abo, ye azo emba atamibabin ezihhh.

Like I said, this conversation is luckly/saddly true in the diaspora. Luckly because the general public both tegaru (those alike you blinded by their ethenicity and cant see themselves may be not even as a human but a tegaru, and those non-tegarus who plain out thier brain and eye see only ethenicity and both segregated in 21 C America) and other ethenicities in Ethiopia are living reletivley together and peacfully. So, again atanbabin ezih and think like at least try like to think Ye gonder Gebere who isnt educated and living in third wold country. Then we will see difference....

I said Sadly because its most of Ethiopians who couldnt think rationally and see things beside their ethenicity that came with natural birth...live in a modern society.


Degmo Menge Amara new bilo man negereh? woy gud.


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I speak the truth and I am free

Defar,

I am tired of trying to convince people I am an Ethiopian, and I have a RIGHT to believe in a the current Federalism Poltical system and the Right to support EPRDF. Apperantly being EPRDF is being anti-Ethiopian to some people. We are being told, everyone who is EPRDF supporter is not an Ethiopian. So Forget about multi-party system in Ethiopia. I am also tired of this too... it is just that I couldn't sit still and ignore when someone is telling the whole world that Tigrians should be doing more than other Ethiopians... I just wanted to know what that would entail... u know.. since I am a Tigrian...

yaltaltesafe atanib....site one moment anyone say you are not Ethiopian here in this forum. I noticed you ignore most of my questions to you and if you were real supporter of EPRDFer based on policy, you could have talked about that. When I challenge you the justice system under the watch of EPRDF, you yap about this and that.

That is what EPRDF failed to do, that is what the disiples failed to do, as I said before and will say it EPRDF/TPLF could have what it takes in a multi party atmospher. but luck of confidence by the elite and luck of knowledge by the diciples, it couldnt market itself and you vote for me or I will rule you by force attitude and we will see how long that will take.....


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I speak the truth and I am free

Ethiopia,



Well SELECTIVELY asking the Tigrians to do what others in Ethiopia aren't asked to do is the akin to saying Tigrians are not Ethiopians and need to prove their Ethiopiawinet. You know that aydel..



I didn't ignore ur post.. I think I have responded to your post.. it is just that you didn't find my answer to your liking which made you think I ignored u..



My "yap" was my response to you.. sadly it is not to your liking..

This 'ethnic slur' is regularly used, not just colloquially, but systematically, by the EPRDF, and I think that as a supporter, Tigrean or not, you have to account for that. You can say it's wrong, it has the following negative consequences so my party should not do it, or yes, they should, and give explanations.

Anyone could've told you Tigreans aren't liked in Addis, and if you think Addis is bad, try the Oromia hinterlands. And it's been this way for sixteen years. That's the price to pay for having a repressive government dominated or perceived to be dominated by your ethnicity. You are feeling the same way non-Tigreans living in Tigray and Eritrea during the Dergue felt! Feels good to join the club, huh?!

Needless to say, no one's talking about kicking Tigreans out of Addis except for the EPRDF, which wants to terrorize Tigreans into supporting it. Standard minority vanguard party behaviour.

The funny thing is that the pro-democracy movement is the most harmless political movement in Ethiopia. Unlike the ethnic movements of past and present - EPLF, TPLF, OLF, ONLF, etc. - it is a non-violent movement, which de facto entails a certain degree of moderation. It is this moderation that has prevented the rise of armed struggle for all these years. In addition, it is non-ethnic, which means that on the face of it, at least, it does not see power as an ethnic zero-sum game. In reality, success of the pro-democracy movement would be of net-benefit to Tigreans.

However, I don't think we should for a moment expect Tigreans to believe this. Such is the nature of minorities and minority politics, especially in underdeveloped societies, that they will always and naturally stand by their vanguard party under nearly all circumstances for fear of the alternative. So it's unrealistic to expect Tigreans (particularly) to change the EPRDF.

The key to change lies in the development of a culture of democracy and cooperation among Ethiopians as a whole, in all aspects of their lives. A culture has to develop where, for example, people will be able to hold effective strikes because they trust their neighbours to cooperate and not wilt, like they so easily did in November 2005. Once the population is able to peacefully demand and obtain its rights, not only will dictatorship end, but the resulting democracy will also be successful.

Lela Mar,

Please call me an 'ignorant', 'lier', if you help me find your answer to my question. Just in case there is a misunderstanding about what I am asking, here we go,

You accused the CUD leaders for not respecting the justice system, constitution of the land. While I will leave the constitution aside FOR NOW at least, I challenged you about the reality of Justice system being free from EPRDF/TPLF and all the outcomes, pro/against the defendant is to any purpose.

For that I gave you an example of most prolific case SIYE VS. ETHIOPIAN GOVNT. BTW, I aint no big fan of Siye here nor these accused CUD leaders but my argument is for justice being done regardless of who. So, Siye was FREED by THE COURT SYSTEM but is langushing in jail for the past six years. ITs so drama that they come up with so many excuses to extend his case for so long.

What do you have to say ?

I dont believe you said a word for my question, if you do I do appologize sincerly and help me finding it if not,

Thank you for your time


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I speak the truth and I am free