By Girma Kassa
As reported by Bloomberg news, Gavin Cook a spokesman for the British Embassy in Addis Ababa, said that the UK government had a frank and full dialog with the government of Ethiopia on human rights and democracy including Birtukan.
On multiple occasions, the former US Ambassador in Ethiopia Donald Yamamotto, his boss, the Assistant Secretary of State for African affairs Johnny Carson had expressed similar views that Birtukan Mideksa must be freed and conditions for a free and democratic elections must be met.
Particularly with the new Obama Administration Ethiopian Americans and Ethiopians all over the world had big expectations the US would re-assess its East African policy and refrain from coddling with dictators that are corrupt, and repressive.
Unfortunately and to the dismay of its passionate supporters, the Obama Administration has proven itself to be no better than the previous Bush Administration, when it comes to supporting democracy and human rights in Ethiopia. We have heard the speeches in Cairo and Accra. We have heard promises. We were told that the US will not support dictators and corrupt leaders. However deeds failed to follow the promises.
C’est deja vue again. The words and promises are continuing to flow from American officials. In a recent US Senate hearing to confirm a US Ambassador to Ethiopia, the newly nominated Ambassador, Donald Booth, promised that he will try to convince the Ethiopian rulers, not to hold people simply because they hold opposing political views.
“limitations on political expression and economic activities as well as shortcomings in respect to basic human rights, run counter to American principles and risk becoming the seeds of future instability” he said.
It’s been more than four hundred four days the most popular Ethiopian opposition leader, a former judge, mother of a 5 years old girl and care giver of a 75 years old mother, Birtukan Mideksa Mideksa has been incarcerated in the notorious Kaliti Prison at the outskirt of Addis Ababa.
From December 2008 to June 2009 Ms Mideksa was inhumanely placed in solitary confinement, something even serial killers and rapists had not faced. Except for a 30 minutes visit by her 75 years old mother, constitutionally allowed access was denied to her lawyer, spiritual fathers, friends and relatives. The US and UK knew all these very well. However they chose only to talk and give promises.
It was at the Imperial Hotel on October 30th 2009. US and UK diplomats were invited. Testimonies of more than 25 UDJ members and supporters from all regions were presented.
Belay Kassa, an old man from Eastern Gojam was taken to a nearby forest and beaten up to near death. Daniel Wolde-Gabriel, a UDJ activist from Illibabur, testified that his wife and kids were harassed and taken to prison multiple times. According to Mr. Daniel Wolde-Gabriel EPRDF security officers even took his 12 years old boy to prison. A young UDJ activist woman from Debre Tabor Gonder was raped. Genet Gemechu, another woman UDJ activist from Dilla southern region, was jailed for a month and fired from her 25 years old government job, solely because she allowed her property to be used as UDJ regional office. A farmer, Mohamed Daoud from Southern Omo was taken to prison by 10 EPRDF armed men and beaten up. Alemu Abayneh and Worku Mulualem from Kombolcha Wello, Getaye Wedajeneh from Wellega and many more shared their sorrowful stories and illustrated the atrocities unleashed on them by EPRDF security officers and local government officials. What were their crimes? …. being members and supporters of a legally registered and recognized political party, the UDJ.
When atrocities such as these are committed by the Zenawi regime, the US and the UK, knowing full well what have been going on, chose only to talk and give promises.
From Ambassador Brazilia, to Charge D’Affairs Huddleston, from Huddleston to Ambassador Yamamato, from Yamamato to Charge d’Affairs John Yates we witnessed multiple reshuffling at the US Embassy in Addis Ababa to no avail.
Some may have hope things will change this time with the new US Ambassador Donald Booth. I advise, though, Ethiopians and friends of Ethiopia not to expect to much. In spite of the good speech we have heard at the Senate hearing, one must not be naïve and expect changes with this new diplomat.
The Obama administration and Downstreet 10 will surely continue coddling with dictators like Mr. Meles Zenawi. They will do nothing to get Ms Mideksa released and make sure that the upcoming 2010 election is relatively free and fair. Should there be irregularities in the election, they will stand by their old repressive friends. (as they did with Pinochet of Chili, Mobutu of Zaire and Sadam Hussen of Irak back in 1980th)
This may be hard to swallow; but that is the fact and the pattern displayed by the US/UK policy makers continuously. That is why the most popular opposition party, the UDJ, Secretary General Andualem Aragie recently accused the US and UK governments for failing to stand by their rhetoric and support Human and Democracy in Ethiopia. “They are following the old way of doing business. They are partners in development with the Ethiopian government but I don’t think they are partners in freedom and democracy” he said as reported by Bloomberg News’ Jason McClure.
The US and UK may give their back to the 80 millions Ethiopians and support handful of repressive, corrupt and deceptive individuals who are currently terrorizing the whole country.
However the tens of millions who want to see a free, democratic, prosperous and united Ethiopia, must come out from silence and show who has the real power in Ethiopia.
The real power belongs to the people. The moment the people freed itself from fear; the moment it believes in itself and come out in full force for its right, it will with certainty be the end of tyranny, in Ethiopia. Whether Mr. Obama or Mr. Gordon Brown wanted it or not, Ethiopians can save their country on their own.
LET US DO IT ! LET US STAND UP NOW FOR DEMOCRACY AND JUSTICE ! LET US
PUT AN END TO RACISM, DIVISION, CORRUPTION, LAWLESSNESS AND
DICTATROSHIP !
Contact Girma Kassa at muziky68@yhaoo.com
An excellent article Girma. This should be in the national press. Brown and Obama are an insult and people need to open their eyes to these con artists