“There were some bandas who spread rumors that the Emperor had fled the country. A Patriot would never say that.”
Grazmach Hagos Hailu
I. Introduction
Grazmach Hagos Hailu
I. Introduction
Now that we are hearing from BBC News that Prime Minister Meles
Zenawi is alive and recovering from undisclosed illness, I am
particularly incensed that I have to learn about the health condition of
an Ethiopian leader from foreign sources. I find the silence of the
officials of the Ethiopian Government, under the present situation of
the public absence of Meles Zenawi from view, irresponsible and utterly
callous and disrespectful of the Ethiopian People. As Ethiopians we have
every right to know where Meles Zenawi is being taken care of, if such
is the case. What is his current situation? Is he dead or alive? What
preparation of transfer of power is being arranged? Is there some kind
of accommodation being implemented to invite the opposition
groups/parties that are located in Ethiopia to participate in the
transition? No matter how this crisis of the condition of Meles Zenawi
is resolved, we are in a different phase from now on ward.
One important game-changer for a new beginning is to release right
away the courageous journalist Eskinder Nega, politician Andualem Arage,
the very young commentator Reeyot Alemu, and the many individuals who
are convicted under the draconian terrorism legislations. However, I do
not want anyone to misunderstand my statement as if I am gunning for
forgiveness and reconciliation. I am fully opposed with such approach
whether it is in connection with individual crime or collective
responsibility. Our Penal Code system must play out its course. I do not
support the idea that politicians, including those leaders from
opposition liberation fronts and parties, who have murdered/killed,
imprisoned, tortured, and/or abused Ethiopians at any time since the
time of Emperor Haile Selassie go free without any formal accountability
processes. Especially those who committed all kinds of crimes against
the people of Ethiopia during the seventeen years of terror of Mengistu
Hailemariam and his officials must not be allowed to escape proper
punishment. As to the crimes of Meles Zenawi and his officials, let us
have first control of the Government, and their prosecution could be
pursued in an orderly and legal manner. Right now, it is not the time.
“የጅብ፡ ችኩል፡ ቀንድ፡ ይነክሳል።”
The confusion between what is offered as an explanation with what is
presumed to be a justification is one serious source of misunderstanding
leading to violent verbal attacks, especially in cases of individuals
whose temperament leans towards psychopathic behavior. Some even see
unwarranted insults in my identifying individuals with their ethnic
group especially when I see such individuals pretending to be something
they are not in order to promote some perverted political goals. Giving
proper identification of ones ancestors is not an insult. There is
nothing wrong being an Amhara, or a Bantu, or a Beja, or Nilotic, or
Nordic or Tygré et cetera. What would be wrong for anyone to do is to
try to marginalize anyone on the basis of ethnicity, religion, or
gender. For example, one reason I respect Oromos is due to the fact that
every Oromo knows his or her family tree in great depth. Such awareness
of ones identity ties one in a meaningful manner to ones community.
Aleqa Taye in his monumental work on the history of the people of
Ethiopia pointed out that fact with great admiration of the Oromos
(Gallas in the lexicon of the time). Only those free-radicals (as in
chemical process) discount the value of knowing ones ancestral identity.
II. What “Struggle”?
What is tragic in our current political atmosphere in the Diaspora is
the fact of lack of civil commitment to a cause. The political and
social distortions and harm that the Ethiopian student movement caused
to our perception of the rights and duties of the Ethiopian individual
and his/her relationships to society in general is incalculable. Prof
Messay Kebede, one of the most astute and cerebral thinkers of our time,
wrote numerous articles and an entire book demonstrating the connection
between the Ethiopian students movement and the deterioration and
distortions of our value system that had weathered centuries standing
firm against hostile neighbors. Politically active educated Ethiopians
have caused more harm than helping us in building our own civil society
and our own political and economic developmental structures. In general,
starting from the most mundane practice of hiding behind fake names
while blogging some of the lamest inconsequential political statements
to some of the most reckless mob demonstrations against well armed
unscrupulous security forces, the record of Diaspora Ethiopians clearly
demonstrate both political and social immaturity, acerbic dogmatism, and
lack of political unity.
I hear and also read often statements and occasional essays by
Diaspora “activists” identifying their activities as a political
“struggle.” The meaning of “political struggle” has become exceedingly
murky for me. Something must be missing in translation, for I do not see
any “struggle” whatsoever in the Diaspora community, unless we consider
the occasional meetings in luxury hotels, such as the Sheraton and the
Hyatt et cetera as a form of struggle. In fact, that form of “struggle”
is to the benefit of the participants. The audience in that form of
“struggle” in luxury hotel auditoriums keeps itself sane and validated,
whereas the speakers and organizers are elevated in the eyes o the
Community thereby satisfying their egos. In a situation where the
suicide rate of the members of the Ethiopian Diaspora Community being
the highest compared to other Diaspora groups from other nations, such
activities would help us control those demons of self-destruction inside
of us. This observation which is quite accurate was voiced to me by my
compatriot
Dr.Mekonnen Meshesha, a psychologist of considerable experience and
community service. I have not observed any other form of “struggle” that
is political requiring great personal sacrifices by the members of the
Ethiopian Diaspora except the few engaged in non-profit charitable
organizations. What I see in the main in the Ethiopian Diaspora is the
common-place struggle to survive in the United States or elsewhere.
What I would consider a worthy involvement in the lives of Ethiopians
in the Diaspora is of the kind that considers the individual Ethiopian
and his or her circumstance in life here in the United States first and
foremost, real helpfulness whether individually or collectively
discharged. To very many Ethiopians that truly need help the question is
not about who is going to be king, but legitimate and existential
questions: where are the scholarship funds? The health assistance
foundations? The self-help trusts that cater to the Ethiopian community?
All I see is a bunch of loud-mouths endlessly lamenting human rights
abuses in Ethiopia and spitting out ethnic slurs year in year out.
Grow-up people and take your responsibilities from the ground up, not
the silly dream of boarding an Ethiopian Airlines and landing at Bole
with a welcoming crowed of Millions of Ethiopians awaiting the arrival
of enlightened “Diaspora” descending from the heavens to remedy the ills
of Ethiopia. This may come as a surprise to most Diaspora aspirants
that most Ethiopians I polled at home have no less contempt for Diaspora
Ethiopians than the one they have for Meles Zenawi or Mengistu
Hailemariam. However, there are members of the Ethiopian Diaspora worthy
of our respect our undivided attention too, but they are far too far in
between.
III. Response to my Essay and the Diaspora Community
Although there were some bloggers who were supportive, mostly the
reactions to the first part of this essay show some of the worst form of
hooliganism and irresponsible chatting/postings by individuals who seem
to be throwing endless tantrums hiding behind silly made-up names and
writing statements only psychopaths would write. The distortion by such
individuals/bloggers of what I wrote is monumental. I never supported in
any of my writings the 1995 Constitution. In Part One of this article, I
was just simply pointing out the fact that even if we desire peaceful
transition or transfer of power, it is not workable under the 1995
Constitution unless some steps are undertaken with the House of
Representatives to fix the problem. Moreover, it is appropriate to point
out here that some of such bloggers/writers have some very bizarre
ideas about the concept and operations of “law,” for one “law” is not
absolutely dependant on the whims and caprices of any one individual
even under a government structure of tyranny. The “Law” does not die
with the demise of any particular government. The “law” also includes
customs and practices of a society that drives its authority to great
extent from natural law and universal moral (divine) law. If we listen
to the narrow and rustic views of some of the bloggers/writers on law
and civil society, the Nuremberg trails against Nazi officials and
collaborators would not have been possible, for example.
Some of the comments by my detractors brought back dead-end criticism
on my earlier writings dealing with some of Ethiopia’s 19th Century
Emperors. I stand by every word I wrote then for what I wrote was
absolutely true supported by overwhelming evidence, except that I should
have added some of their great virtues not just focused on their
shortcomings. At any rate, whether it is Emperor Tewodros II or Emperor
Menilik II, their places in our history is unshakable and one person’s
criticism of some of their activities will not make a ripple of
difference. Even if I take back every single word I wrote about those
two emperors, the facts of their biographies and activities would still
be there. Facts are facts and are hard to change, all one can do is
offer various interpretations. I have much softer perception of Menilik
II now after my good friend Dr. Moges Gebremariam, by way of chastising
me as only good friends do, showed me a copy of a letter Emperor Menilik
II wrote to my Grandfather wherein the good Emperor was expressing his
concern about the health of an old man, with such humility. It is mind
blowing to think of an Emperor of great power could heed the welfare of
some Memhir/teacher in Boru, Wollo.
Some bloggers had questioned my commitment to Ethiopia, forgetting
the fact that I have far more deeply rooted stake in Ethiopia than any
squatter or some Johnny-come-lately blogger whose concept of
Ethiopiawinet is quite shallow and cursory. It is laughable to promote
the idea that a Mengistu-Hailemariam is more connected to Ethiopia and
more patriotic than I am. After all Mengistu Hailemariam and his
supporters have committed the worst brutality and criminal murders in
Ethiopian history, including the murder of Emperor Haile Selassie, Abuna
Theophilos, the Patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, senior
officials, and tens of thousands of innocent Ethiopians. Some of those
Ethiopians whom Mengistu and his thugs murdered were genuine Patriots
who bled for Ethiopia fighting the Italian Fascist military during the
occupation of Ethiopia for five long harrowing years. What amazes me
most is the fact that former officials and supporters of Mengistu, who
are eking out a living in the West as immigrants/refugees, are still
supportive and loyal to a leader who abandoned them like some garbage
and fled the country with his family looting furnishings and vehicles
from the Palace like a common thief that he is.
A few of the bloggers even stooped so low using my father’s name in
addressing me trying to belittle my Tygrian ancestry. Let me tell you a
thing or two about the patriotism and valor of Grazmatch Hagos Hailu, my
Patriotic warrior father who bled for Ethiopia to the day he died some
five years ago having lived a moral and rich Ethiopian life full of
heroic deeds. I do not know what your fathers or grandfathers did during
the Italian war; I cannot identify you because you are a bunch of
cowards writing filth hiding behind fake names. And even if I know your
identities, I will never belittle your parents (or ethnic background)
for what they had to do in order to survive under terrible circumstances
because I understand whether they were vending eggs to the Italians or
working as domestics for the occupiers that was the humane thing to do
to survive.
A piece of real history was hidden and buried in order to promote
Haile Selassie and his returnee entourage; a great many patriots from
North and South Ethiopia were systematically disfranchised and their
patriotic history deliberately buried under heaps of mumbo–jumbo and
exaggerated and fabricated accounts of selected individuals by court
historians. Even Bahru Zewde, the great historian of my generation, was
wanting for he devoted only a couple of highly generalized statements
summing the heroic deeds of such great heroes in his very popular book
on the history of Ethiopia from Emperor Tewodros II to the end of
Emperor Haile Selassie’s reign. To wit, my father, Grazmatch Hagos
Hailu, my great uncles, and motley of young warriors initiated the
“first” Patriotic Movement after their Commanders (including Haile
Selassie) abandoned them on Mereb to Michew battlefields [1936]. They
fought a great patriotic battle for five long years the length and width
of Ethiopia literally after picking the Ethiopian Flag where it had
fallen with the patriotic standard bearer. They fought for Ethiopia, not
for Begemder, or Gojjam, or Tygrai, or Wollo, even though they hailed
from those areas, and later in 1937 electing as their leader Yohannes
Iyasu, the son of Lij Eyasu of Wollo.
“Patriotism began just afterwards. I became a Patriot when I refused to be ruled the Italians who occupied the area after winning their temporary victory at Maychew… And so I became part of the resistance in Begemder[Gayan, Debre Tabor, and Beleso], the land of folk heroes, and spent the next four years as a patriot under my leader Lij Yohannes Iyasu, who came from Wello.”
Grazmach Hagos Hailu
[See Andrew Hilton, The Ethiopian Patriots: Forgotten Voices of the Italo-Abyssinian War 1935-41, Spellmount, (2007) p 75. Trans. Yonatan Sahle]
“Patriotism began just afterwards. I became a Patriot when I refused to be ruled the Italians who occupied the area after winning their temporary victory at Maychew… And so I became part of the resistance in Begemder[Gayan, Debre Tabor, and Beleso], the land of folk heroes, and spent the next four years as a patriot under my leader Lij Yohannes Iyasu, who came from Wello.”
Grazmach Hagos Hailu
[See Andrew Hilton, The Ethiopian Patriots: Forgotten Voices of the Italo-Abyssinian War 1935-41, Spellmount, (2007) p 75. Trans. Yonatan Sahle]
All other Patriotic groups, including that of Abebe Aregai, who
championed Melaketsehai Iyasu, the second son of Lij Iyasu also, were
formed from six to a year later copied after that patriotic front first
established near Michew, in Tygrai by my father and his warrior
compatriots from Begemder, Gojjam, Tygrai, and Wollo in 1936. The tragic
mistreatment and destruction later in the hands of Haile Selassie and
his returnee/banda collaborators of the patriotic group of my father and
his compatriots after all they have sacrificed for Ethiopia is a great
reminder of the dubiousness and the ruthlessness of those who pursue
power. Most members of the Diaspora may not know that Haile Selassie
exiled Yohannes Iyasu to Jimma, and it was the Derg in 1975 that freed
him from exile of over thirty years. My father was banned from traveling
to Keffa to visit his leader, all he could do was to name his third
most loved son after his Patriotic leader. Just a foot note to the
popular claim of the British in liberating Ethiopia, the fact is that
Dessie was liberated by Yohannes Iyasu and his Patriot followers, and
Gondar was liberated on Nov 27, 1941 by the resistance movement that
included my Father sent back from Addis Ababa by the order of the
Emperor under the leadership of Crown Prince Asfawosen. I suppose in a
scheme where their leader Yohannes Iyasu was asked to remain in Addis
Ababa and later exiled.
It is only fair for individuals to be suspicious and circumspect,
when it comes to Ethiopian politics and politicians, having lived
through almost half a century of atrocities, devious leaders, and their
sycophantic followers. Fighting Mengistu Hailemariam was not only a
political necessity, but also a moral imperative. I fully supported
anyone in what I perceived at the time as a courageous struggle against a
brutal dictator. Thus, I supported both TPLF and EPRP in their
courageous effort, what happened within the structure of each group was
not transparent to me from such a distance. My whole family, especially
my brothers and I, supported such resistance fronts, and a couple of
them were actually on the ground where engagements took place. I read
now all forms of revisionist effort to rehabilitate the murderous
Mengistu and his brutal supporters and collaborators which is clearly
the consequence of our social laxity and due to the irresponsible recent
decisions of EPRDF leaders especially Meles Zenawi not to pursue
vigorously such criminals. Now, they are raising their vicious heads
even threatening me in a recent blog in response to my essay.
True, Ethiopia as we speak resembles a salad bowel with distinct
communities, but tossed around in a mixture of great beauty and
vitality. [However, as attractive as it is, there is a real risk of
disintegration due to the malicious and destructive implementation of
the Kilil system of ethnic federalism that exasperated an already frail
balancing act practiced for millenniums.] Whether Ethiopia resembles a
salad bowel or something else, it does not lose its primordial origin
and later political and social history and its ever growing complexity.
The role played by my ancestors in the creation of this great nation and
also the maintenance of its continued existence through thousands of
years of history cannot be simply be denied by calling me names,
especially by individuals that do not have neither courage nor
knowledge. I am not just an Ethiopian, but a passionate Ethiopian,
period. Due to my blunt statements, some over sensitive individuals may
think that I am arrogant and chauvinistic. I would rather be seen
excessive in my sentiments and passion for my Motherland than be
considered as some “fair-weather” Ethiopian.
IV. Muslim Religious Leaders on Ethiopian TV
I watched ETV’s last week presentation of the incident that took
place In Addis Ababa of demonstrations by some Muslims protesting the
“interference” of the Government in their religious affairs (July 16,
2012, July 22-4, 2012). I was moved by the great wisdom and eloquent
statements made by several Muslim leaders and religious teachers being
interviewed on the recent destructive demonstrations by Muslim fanatics.
I was absolutely overwhelmed by the profundity of their thoughts and
grateful for their genuine love of our common Motherland. All along over
the years, I have stated that Ethiopia is our common Motherland that
each one of us no matter our diverse background have equal stake in its
welfare and no less responsibility fighting to preserve our national
integrity and sovereignty for our Motherland. I have said that our call
of duty and commitment cannot be carried out by a surrogate when it
comes to protecting and fighting for Ethiopia, it is everyone’s
privilege and duty. And in no uncertain terms these great Muslim leaders
and great philosophers laid out their inclusive and patriotic vision
for all of us. I wish our Diaspora politicians would have the humility
to learn from such great Ethiopians. In order to incorporate in our
lexicon in our discourses, here under I have encapsulated the views of
those Muslim scholars and leaders I remember by name:
1. Sheik Ahmed Ibrahim, a great sage of over 85 years from Addis
Ababa, talked of tolerance and the depth and wisdom of the Holy Koran
and the Hadith that counters fanaticism and promotes peaceful
coexistence. He literally cried recalling how the fanatics had defiled
the graves of many great Ethiopian Muslim scholars and venerable
teachers, one of whom was his own teacher. This was one truly moving
moment for me.
2. Shiek Ahmed Zeyin – From Amhara/Wollo area – spoke of the
verification and ontology of truth. He stressed how fanatics distort the
truth through partial-truth and fallacious statements, and cover their
hidden agenda with claims of Koranic mandate.
3. Sheik Abdi Ibrahim – From Oromo region expressed the concern of
Muslim Ethiopians in the role played out by foreign influence of
fanaticism from Libya, Syria and other Arab countries and foreign
organization such as Al-Ahbash aimed to create conflict within the
Ethiopian community. He laid out the long history of communal life in
Ethiopia.
5. Sheik Mufti – From Bale/Oromo area, an elderly leader who stressed
the importance of law and order. He expounded the relationship between
constitutional freedoms of religion and the limit set by the interest of
the Government to keep peace and security among all Ethiopians not just
for one religious or political group.
6. Sheik Abubeker from Addis Ababa was the youngest among those
patriotic Muslim leaders and teachers/scholars, but his youthful
appearance did not diminish the depth and profundity of his thoughts on
the role that ought to have been played by the Government in curbing the
destructiveness of the fanatic fundamentalist group much earlier. He
pointed out that every one must be vigilant to stand against those who
are aiming to turn Ethiopia into a failed State like Somalia.
I was reflecting on that TV discussion far into the night after
watching the interview program with wide open eyes. No interview in my
life had ever profoundly affected my thinking about the future of
Ethiopia as did the interview of those truly great leaders. I am more
than ever convinced that the Diaspora as a community is more of a burden
and more of a destructive force for Ethiopians at home. For example, a
group that calls itself Ethiopian Christian and Muslim Council had
issued a statement condemning the arrest of members of the group that
organized and carried out an insurgent movement in the guise of Muslim
revival/sediqua in Addis Ababa a couple of weeks ago.
I do believe that the problem of Muslim fanaticism was brought about
by the Ethiopian Government’s ill advised and divisive policy to allow
Wahabist involvement in the Ethiopian Muslim community through Mohammad
Al’Amoudi who seems to have worked for years in collaboration with the
Saudi Security officials’ setup in undermining the long term interest of
Ethiopia. Al’Amoudi is a disruptive variable whether his involvement
has to do with Ethiopia’s economy and/or its national security. It is
truly tragic that some members of the Diaspora joined hands in
supporting fanatics without knowing the destructive agenda of such
foreign sponsored group (Al-Ahbash, Wahabists) that was clearly using
religion to disrupt and create chaos in our Ethiopian society. One must
be careful not to be blinded by ones hate for Meles or for Tygreans from
acting out in a way that will hurt Ethiopia and its security interest. I
hear and read the writings also of infantile aspirations of some
members of the Diaspora to have unlimited individual freedom to say
anything they want, do anything they want, create and join any type of
organization, and ultimately become every single one of them Prime
Ministers and high officials of the Ethiopian Government. The Ethiopian
Diaspora community must really look at itself very carefully not in a
self indulgent mirror but in the mirror provided by Ethiopians back
home.
I wish also the great religious Fathers and leaders of the Ethiopian
Orthodox Church take the initiative to form a truly patriotic and
nationalist connective organization that will have as its members such
patriotic and wise Muslim leaders as partners and work for better
understanding and close cooperation as one people living in a single
Motherland that is equally dear to all its children. At my age, I cannot
be swayed easily by high sounding words and phrases. I know that the
vision of a truly one Ethiopian people is not a figment of my
imagination, but the reality that is deep within each of us. I ask all
here, what person would truly want to see such a wonderful country with
the richness of diversity, the cradle of mankind and civilization
perish? God Bless Ethiopia.
Tecola W. Hagos
Washington DC
Copyright © Phineaus St. Claire, 2012
Washington DC
Copyright © Phineaus St. Claire, 2012
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