EPRDF
Attempt to use Ethnic Isolation With “Incentives”
to Silence Gambellans Fails
May 5, 2008
Ethnic isolation accompanied by promised development
and other “payoffs” for “your group”
in exchange for your compliance with the EPRDF government
of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi is a favorite approach
by this regime.
On April 26, 2008 four Ethiopian government-sponsored
delegates from Gambella, Ethiopia and one from the Ethiopian
Embassy in Washington D.C. met with the Anuak community
and some Nuer in Minnesota and Nebraska. The delegation
included: Two Anuak, two Nuer (one is vice president),
One Mazengir (speaker of the house in Gambella, other
two, minister of transportation and the other minister
of Diaspora.
If these Ethiopian government-sponsored delegates who
recently came thought they could buy, flatter and persuade
the Anuak in the Diaspora into forgetting about the
Anuak massacre of 2003 and other gross crimes and injustices,
they underestimated the intelligence and memory of their
audience. They clearly did not succeed in doing so at
their meeting in Minneapolis; nor will they succeed
later on this month when the second delegation, led
by the Chief Administrator or the current governor of
Gambella, Mr. Omot Obang Olum travels to Canada.
Mr. Omot Obang Olum, is one of those TPLF or Woyane
considered to have the blood of the Anuak on his hands
and the stain is still there. In fact, it was the blood
of the Anuak that gave him entry into the fellowship
of the EPRDF and with it, the post of governor of Gambella.
He is one of the thousands of Ethiopians from different
ethnic groups who have gained access to special perks
by virtue of their loyalty to the EPRDF.
Together with the government of Meles Zenawi, they
hold the whole nation hostage through applying the “right
tactics”—fear, intimidation and human rights
abuses for some, but favors, opportunities and a full
assortment of bribes for others. The former do not work
so well outside the country and therefore, these “ambassadors
bearing gifts” from the regime have been trying
to silence their critics in the Diaspora for the last
year by offering invitations, opportunities and investments
in the country. Until this meeting, the Anuak and other
people of Gambella have been ignored, but for some reason,
they have now been approached with such offers.
However, most of the Anuak who attended the meeting
were outraged by the presumption that they could be
“bought” when what was really needed was
even a little acknowledgement of the government’s
direct involvement in the perpetration of the horrific
crimes committed starting on December 13, 2003. Other
crimes before and after have also involved additional
Anuak as well as other people in the region—the
Nuer, Mazenger, Komo, Opo and others from the highland—who
have all suffered due to the actions and policies of
this government.
Additionally, the people of Gambella know very well
how the EPRDF plays the game of divide and conquer in
order to create conflict between them, purposely to
gain more control of the region and its resources. Many
lives have been lost as a result and nothing this government
can offer will ever be able to compensate for the deep
and painful losses of family members, friends, community
leaders and neighbors.
That is why so many were disturbed because the EPRDF
delegates came all the way from Ethiopia to Minnesota
and acted as if the massacre of the Anuak and other
gross human rights crimes against them never occurred!
Instead, the representatives spoke of all the “promising”
development being planned for the Gambella region, inviting
those in the Gambella Diaspora community to “come
back” to contribute to the development in the
region now that they had an education. This should not
have been the subject of the first meeting with the
Anuak since the massacre.
It could have been an opportunity to address the genocide,
the widespread destruction of the infrastructure in
the region, the lack of holding the perpetrators accountable,
reparations for the families of victims, the lack of
electoral representation, and the two to three hundred
Anuak political prisoners who remain locked up. Instead,
the promises of “perks” for Gambellans was
clearly another “divide and conquer” game
by a government well-known to offer “gifts”
and “special perks” to some who are willing
to “cooperate” while terrorizing others
elsewhere.
They offered development, but the Ethiopian National
Defense Forces had destroyed a significant amount of
infrastructure. For instance, before December 2003,
there were 119 working wells; afterwards, only 5. Before
this date, there were 22 health clinics; afterwards,
there were 7 clinics, stripped of all supplies. Before
this date, there were 136 schools in operation, but
afterwards, only 27.
When we consider how these Gambella delegates are encouraging
the educated Anuak to return to contribute to the development,
no one said it out loud, but many Anuak must have thought
about the 424 educated leaders who had worked hard to
obtain an education only to be killed because of it.
Many sitting in that room must know that had they been
there at the time, they too would be dead. There are
still 191 Anuak buried in a mass grave and their families
are still seeking to recover their bodies in order to
give them a proper burial.
These realities will not disappear simply when asked
to enter the world of illusion. However, this was only
part of what was so wrong about this meeting. The EPRDF
loves to “deal” with groups on a “one-to-one”
basis. The entire Meles system is a policy of ethnic
isolation along with the promotion of division between
Ethiopians.
It is based on the belief that Ethiopians only care
about “their ethnic groups” or their regions
and therefore; if the “price is right”,
they will “sell-out” at the expense of everyone
else. This system only works if Ethiopians are self-interested
enough as well as foolish enough to negotiate in isolation
and without concern for others throughout the country.
We say foolish enough because the agreement you make
will eventually backfire on those who actually think
it is sustainable.
Consider this—the EPRD want to buy your silence
and compliance because you, or especially you and others,
have something they fear—perhaps power, unity,
truth, wisdom or influence—meaning, if you are
a threat of some sort to their complete control, they
will engage with you, but always, secretly or in isolation
from others.
For instance, whether true or false, we in the Anuak
Justice Council have heard rumors that Omot Obang Olum
wants to meet Anuak and other Gambellans in Canada—including
in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan where I live. Why should
he come to Saskatoon when I am almost the only Anuak
here? If such a meeting should take place, it should
be in Washington D.C. or in Toronto in the presence
of other Ethiopians and other advocates for Ethiopian
national freedom.
It should be obvious to most everyone that the goal
of such a meeting is to undermine or discredit the worldwide
protest and demonstration for freedom and the Solidarity
Movement for a New Ethiopia where ethnic affiliations
are left behind for the national interests of all Ethiopians.
Such unity based on shared principles of freedom, justice,
equality, harmony and the rule of law, is a real threat
to them.
What they do not understand is that Ethiopians are
beginning to see through these tactics and that is why
the voices of Ethiopians calling for unity and reconciliation
are increasing in volume. None of us will have a better
Ethiopia by thinking we can advance our factionalized
self-interest groups at the expense of everyone else!
We Ethiopians must never accept selling out to others
by settling for the “promises” of the EPRDF.
If we stick together, we should be able to address those
real needs in every region of the country much more
equitably and justly than this current regime who comes
with its own ulterior motives. We will all fail if we
fall for this TPLF divide and conquer game, which requires
isolating us from each other.
The divide and conquer tactics are at the foundation
of the EPRDF regime. Article 39 is the foundational
cornerstone, which gives every region the right to govern
themselves and the right to self-determination, even
seceding. It sounds good to start with—to good
to be true! What country includes in its Constitution,
the right to secede from the country? This in itself
shows its lack of genuineness.
Instead, the EPRDF have incorporated a systemic divider
of people into its Constitution that gives it ample
room to manipulate the good parts of “decentralization”
to its own advantage so they can survive as a minority
government that is not “of the people”,
“by the people” or “for the people.”
They have been doing it all along and have unfortunately,
succeeded in dominating the rest of Ethiopia because
of it.
Reaching out to each other to form coalitions based
on shared national interests is the greatest of threats
to the EPRDF. The democratic process is a threat. Any
group willing to work together is a threat. That is
why I must warn all Anuak, Nuer, Mazenger, Komo, Opo
and other Gambellan people to not fall into the trap
these delegates are attempting to hide under the ruse
of promised development. It is something I must make
public. If they wanted to make a genuine attempt for
reparations with the Anuak, this is not the way to do
it. We Ethiopians must set conditions and a transparent
structure when there is genuine motivation to deal with
the injustices and crimes committed.
We know instead, these representatives from Meles are
trying to put the Anuak in a corner by themselves and
by doing so, to silence and control them. For them to
come to the US to tell Anuak to come back, bringing
their money and skills, when not one perpetrator of
the massacre has been held accountable, is a tool of
deception and entrapment. It is the moral obligation
of all of us to expose and inform the people and the
government that we understand their game.
What we have heard from the Anuak is that this meeting
brought back the trauma, wounds and pain of that day
when they heard about the death of their loves ones.
Yet, some were afraid to speak out to ask why they were
asking them to come home when many of the Anuak in Gambella
still live under fear, intimidation and repression,
just like the millions of other Ethiopians throughout
the country.
Some Anuak, like other opportunistic Ethiopians, will
fall for their enticements, but not the majority. In
fact, it might actually unify the Anuak to work more
closely with their Ethiopian brothers and sisters in
Gambella and throughout the country. These delegates
may have been trying to convince the Anuak to be on
their side or to divide the Anuak, even perhaps try
to get the Anuak to pressure the Anuak Justice Council
to stop speaking up against this government. Even if
the Anuak choose to do this (doubtful), we are not following
the Anuak, but instead, what is right in the eyes of
God.
In other words, it is our goal to do what we believe
God wants us to do as revealed in his Scripture by standing
up for the oppressed and needy because they are ALL
PRECIOUS to God. This means caring about others in the
family of Ethiopians as well as caring for the Anuak.
This is in complete opposition to the ethnic policies
of the EPRDF. Each of us must choose which companions
we want on our road through life. Please consider this
reference: For he [God] will deliver the
needy who cry out, the afflicted who have no one to
help. He will take pity on the weak and the needy and
save the needy from death. He will rescue them from
oppression and violence, for precious is their blood
in his sight. (Psalm 72:12-14)
We are all to reach out to others in love, including
EPRDF, but with uncompromising truth, not accepting
their distortions of it. They may want to silence us,
but they chose the wrong way because genuine justice
for all Ethiopians is the only way to our silence. For
those Anuak at the meeting, from what we hear, the delegates
did not accomplish their goals.
With the AJC, it will not stop the work because the
train has already left the ethnic railroad station.
The politics of a few on the top, of ethnic hatred,
of selective justice, education and opportunity only
for those connected to those in power, is a system doomed
to implode. The politics of ethnic loyalty and tribalism
is a disease that is killing Ethiopians and Africans.
EPRDF and their supporters need to know that the AJC
no longer is advocating only for the Anuak, but for
all Ethiopians who are suffering because the pain of
the Anuak who lost their son is the same pain of the
Tigrayan, the Oromo, the Ogadeni and any other group
in Ethiopia. We will not only advocate for the Anuak.
We will not give in to ethnic isolation accompanied
by pay-offs that will ultimately defeat all of us. We
will speak up for the truth and urge all other Ethiopians
to do the same. I give thanks to the Anuak community
in Minnesota who attended the meeting who did not fall
for these tactics.
To create a better life in Ethiopia or anywhere, it
will not be through this kind of government. It is not
worth supporting because what they stand for is temporary
and not based on the principles of truth, justice and
the value of all humankind as God has laid out in the
Scripture. Promising to give Anuak or the people of
Gambella something much better than to those in the
rest of Ethiopia, is not genuine and it is not right.
All we need to do is look at the nature of a pack of
hungry dogs. We all know you cannot throw meat to a
pack of dogs and not expect them to fight over it. The
same thing with people, you cannot give privileges and
justice to one particular ethnic group and leave all
the others out because you will not succeed.
Everyone has to work for the betterment of everyone
in Ethiopia. All of us, including the EPRDF and their
supporters, will help Ethiopia thrive as a country if
we contribute to genuine liberty, justice and concern
for all. Devaluing others, while thriving alone will
not bring about the kind of sustainable environment
of peace, stability and harmony for the children of
Ethiopia.
Dividing people will not free anyone. If we want true
freedom, let us be people of integrity, love and justice
who love God above anything else and act like it!
May each one of us stand up for the truth for not only
will the truth set us free, it will connect us together
as a people, enabling us to thrive as a nation. May
God help us build up relationships that will bind us
together for the good of those who come after us.
May God bless Ethiopia!
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For more information please contact
me by email at: Obang@anuakjustice.org
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