The threat to democracy from within at the highest levels is becoming clearer with every passing day- an undeniable reality. Despite the Arab Spring, we live in a time when the ability to sincerely express justified indignation and outrage peacefully at the right time and place in effective ways is systematically discouraged and curtailed not only by powerful circles but also by the ever growing general Angst and uncertainty on a global scale. I think this goes hand in hand with our general inability to celebrate life in simple ways beyond consumerism and corporate interests. We cannot blame everything on others alone such as the unofficial global US empire, nor on our ruling elites in poor countries who are selling our lands to foreign companies. Part of the problem is, of course, that politicians and the so-called free media everywhere, including the free press, have mostly developed now for long time too close and cosy a relationship that is not honestly in the interest of democracy and social harmony. I have no answers to the problems I am raising here. But raise I must. I refuse to assume the role of helpless isolated victims. Human solidarity is required and can effect change if we change our own fixed perceptions and attitudes.
The witch hunt for Edward Snowden who courageously blew the whistle exposing the US and British governments’ large scale eavesdropping on their own and other people, the denial of right to fly across four European democracies to the Bolivian president, a democratically elected head of state, the military coup against a democratically elected government in Egypt, while fascist dictators and absolutely corrupt oligarchs in counties such as Ethiopia and Saudi Arabia, for example, are pampered and allowed to enjoy the spoils of power with complete impunity, all this against a backdrop of the mass murder going on indefinitely in Syria while the world looks on silently – – – are these developments chance coincidences, or events directly or indirectly connected? Does merely talking about these practices make difference? Is internet becoming a curse as much as it is a blessing? Somebody accused me recently of being under the influence of conspiracy theories. I did not feel like defending myself. He is entitled to his opinion.
I know not only from history books but from our own Oromo experience now and in the past under the Amhara and Tigray dominated Ethiopia that nothing is more disastrous to mankind than hiding behind imperial rationalizations, imperial history and imperial legitimacy misusing archaic sentiments and dogma, religious or otherwise to divide and rule while practising indiscriminate violence and brutal techniques for controlling the masses., equivocating constantly and pretending normality or even preaching some form of ethics. We know from our own experience how the Abyssinian ruling elites and their slaves from oppressed nationalities are capable of making most rational statements while butchering innocent people.
I hate pretending to stand on moral high ground by making merely logical or factual statements in bariisa.com from time to time. Recently I jotted down quickly the following lines from ancient Chinese philosophical text: “The master understands that the universe is for ever out of control and trying to dominate events completely goes against the currents of life. Let go of rigidly fixed plans and concepts, and the world will govern itself. The more prohibitions you have, the less virtuous people will be. The more weapons you use the less secure you will be”.
Actually we see, what is lacking is not philosophical insight and good intentions either. Why are so many beautiful ideas and concepts failing? That is perhaps why the Greek philosopher Diogenes had nothing but disdain for abstract philosophy, superficial morality and general human decency cloaked in logical terms.. For this reason he was cynical about generally accepted judgements and value systems. He taught discernment by living example, not pure rationality divorced from human social reality. This means working with what is already here, with nature, not against it. We must expose the misuse of even most perfectly scientific and logical arguments in the service of deception. It is reasonable to ask: can we consistently uphold the idea that water is good when we are thirsty and bad if we are drowning?
Speaking of water, I assume the Woyane elites in Finfinne (Addis Ababa) are bubbling over with excitement and high spirits in the wake of the military coup in Egypt. Any failed democratic experiment in the region boosts Woyane’s morale. Besides, the Nile project, they believe, can give them a new lease of life to further tighten their grips on power to save their empire from disintegration for some more decades. It is possible that they are dreaming of developing an atomic weapon to immortalize their domination and perpetuate the everlasting Ethiopia of their myth… They think that poor North Korea is today becoming more respectable than when it did not have nuclear weapons. Why not do likewise if they can? The Woyane dam project is multidimensional: political, economic and military. It can whip up Abyssinian chauvinism among Tigray and Amhara masses to neutralize their opposition by humiliating the ‘historical enemy’ Egypt. In addition, it can create the illusion of imminent prosperity. For certain types of human beings fantasies are more real than reality.
The TPLF believes peoples in Africa would not mind who would rule them indefinitely if their bellies are full. In 1992 I heard top TPLF cadres say something like this openly. There was also a doctrine in TPLF that goes like this: if the Tigrayans have to run the country, it is not because they are Tigrayans, but because they are more heroically committed to revolutionary democracy than others as they have proved it in practice by their armed struggle. In other words they know the interests of the Oromo nation, for example, better than the Oromos themselves!
The same can be said of the Amhara political elite. They think they are best destined to speak for every Ethiopian. Their delusion and conceit is even worse to the point of tirelessly pretending self abrogation. The bravado of some of these people in opposition goes as far as saying that if the TPLF leadership suddenly disintegrates, its army should hold together. Otherwise Ethiopia would disintegrate. They are against TPLF but not its army! This shows the true face of the Abyssinian political and military elite, and the extent of their contempt for, and fear of the oppressed nations. As the debate became heated between Egypt and Ethiopia on the so-called grand renaissance dam, they started voicing their support of the fascist regime, basking in Ethiopia’s reflected glory.
Strangely, some weeks ago I met some Oromos who wanted to talk to me unexpectedly. They started by criticizing me for criticizing in this website what they called the non-existent Amhara political elites. Then some remarked that I was trying to lecture or teach the Abyssinians. I unsuccessfully tried to disguise my astonishment by smiling and trying to laugh. I ended by giving them what I thought to be a non polemical answer. Teaching and criticizing, I said, is not bad. I kept a wary eye on their vain restlessness and agitations. While preparing tea, I looked over my shoulder to see how curious they were, and what they were up to. Then I tried to relax to address their criticism in some detail in a friendly manner. They were not interested in serious discussion avoiding even eye contact. I assume these are Kamal Galchu boys even though they denied it. Some Arsi Oromos support Kamal Galchu for no other reason than he is an Arsi or perhaps a Moslem though they are not practising Islam in traditional manner. My guests did not seem interested in anything particular. Yet they tried to approach me. I hoped it could be just for socializing. But that was not their point. What a mess!
I must admit I was amused by the story about the Egyptian dignitaries, raising among other things, the Oromo issue when they met President Mursi to discuss the Nile crisis. In the seventies I had difficulties in explaining to the Egyptians the right of the Oromo nation to self-determination, even with the help of Osman Saleh Sabbe. They still think that we are a tribe, not a nation. Paradoxically this is what the Amhara elites like to hear even though they hate it if the Arabs say that. They think the Arabs are determined to Arabize us at some point, which may not be entirely untrue. I do not resent the Egyptian behaviour as a matter of fact that much. The Arab regimes misuse Arab nationalism itself systematically. Just look at what the Ba’athists have done and are still doing to Iraq and Syria- an appalling tragedy, inviting colossal foreign intervention. I know also that the Arabs have never developed sound and transparent policies concerning non-Arab ethnic groups in their midst.
Today the corrupt Egyptian military owns Egypt. They have the lion’s share in most economic enterprises in the country. As if this was not enough they are now playing with fire by overthrowing a legitimate government to the consternation of ordinary people, a real conundrum also for neutral observers everywhere. Some ordinary Germans are really outraged. The problem is many Germans are in the habit of withholding their outrage. It must cost them lot of nervous energy.
TPLF will do all it can to undermine Egypt. The Abyssinian elites firmly believe a strong Egypt will somehow pose in the long term a threat to their empire. They seem determined to blackmail Egypt to bring it to its knees if they can. Their success in deepening division among Somalia’s opportunist political elites is encouraging. Their real problem, however, comes from inside, from the nations and nationalities they are holding down with iron fist., especially the Oromo people. Playing with the waters of the international river to blackmail countries utterly dependent on it will expose the true nature of Tigray dominated ‘ federal parliamentary republic of Ethiopia’. Such exposure must be welcomed and correctly assessed in the service of the struggle of oppressed people in the Ethiopian empire.
All great thinkers teach us that the power of discernment comes from seeing reality for our selves as it is, not as powerful egotistical minorities wish or imagine it to be. True global interdependence can come about only when nations are allowed to make or determine their own choice in the most democratic way possible and in their own interests. This is self determination in its broadest sense. It applies to all nations on earth, strong and weak alike and irrespective of the level of their development. Only in this way can the dangers of political extremism be dealt with effectively in peaceful manner. The extremities of man made disasters can be averted or avoided altogether.