The New Under Ground Church-THE TRUTH MUST BE TOLD: Is Violent Change Inevitable in Ethiopia?

Tuesday, March 24, 2015

Is Violent Change Inevitable in Ethiopia?

03/20/15

06:27:00 pm, by admin, 720 words
Categories: Ethiopia

Is Violent Change Inevitable in Ethiopia?

Is Violent Change Inevitable in Ethiopia?

By Graham Peebles

As the Ethiopian government intensifies its violent suppression of the populace in the lead up to the illusion of national elections in May, there are many within the country and the diaspora who believe a popular armed uprising is the only way to bring about change in the country. The people’s frustration and anger towards the government is understandable as is their bewilderment at the neglect and complicity of Ethiopia’s major donors. America, the European Union and Britain collectively give almost half of Ethiopia’s federal budget in various aid packages, are well aware of the regime’s brutal form of governance and shamefully do and say nothing.

The ruling regime, the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) came to power in 1992 when they overthrew the People's Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (PDRE). The ideologically driven group of freedom fighters led by Meles Zenawi ousted the Derg dictatorship and drew up a new liberal constitution based on democratic principles of freedom and human rights. Once enthroned in Addis Ababa, however, they swiftly followed in their predecessor’s repressive footsteps and all democratic ideals where neatly filed away to be forgotten about.

The government has imprisoned almost all major opposition leaders, as well as large numbers of troublesome journalists. An array of repressive laws has been passed to suffocate dissent and virtually criminalise freedom of expression and assembly – all contrary to their own constitution and in violation of a plethora of international conventions which they have dutifully signed up to.

With the major opposition party leaders behind bars and the regime maintaining total control of the electoral process the result of the forthcoming May election is a forgone conclusion. It is a hollow piece of democratic theatre, which the European Union has refused to legitimise with a team of observers, a mistake in my view, but understandable given the distorted result of the past two elections which the EU observed but did not validate.

Unite and act

Given the repressive picture in the country and the regime’s total intransigence, the frustration of huge numbers of people inside and outside the country is unsurprising. But is an armed uprising the way forward, would it be successful in ousting the ruling regime, or would there be a tightening of repressive legislation – the ‘rebel group’ branded as terrorists, large numbers of deaths and arrests and perhaps a long drawn out civil war igniting conflicts between one ethnic group and another?

Is violence and hate ever the way to counter violence and hate? Not according to Martin Luther King, who presided over a largely peaceful civil rights movement in America, against an extremely violent, not to say ignorant adversary; “darkness”, he said “cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.”

That other giant of non-violence, Mohandas Gandhi’s civil disobedience movement undermined the British, united the population and was crucial in bringing about independence in India. His legacy is vital, the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki Moon has said, “in today’s world where the rights of too many people are still violated,” so is his means of achieving his goal.

Like all repressive regimes the EPRDF follows a systematic methodology of divide and rule; the answer to such crude means of control is unity.

We are living in unprecedented times, times of tremendous opportunity and potential change; out of step with the times the days are numbered for regimes like the EPRDF – it is a question of when they collapse – not if.

The people of Ethiopia, and those who make up the diaspora in Europe, America and elsewhere need to come together, and overcome their apathy and fear, organize themselves and take responsibility for their own destiny, be creative, be heartened and learn from movements in Tunisia, Hong Kong, Egypt, Turkey, Brazil and elsewhere.

They need to be inspired by the strategic actions successfully employed in the non-violent struggle led by Gandhi, and find the courage to act peacefully, to unite against what is a brutal group of men who are despised by the people and have no legitimacy to govern Ethiopia, and act with love not hate, to bring lasting change to their country

Graham Peebles is director of the Create Trust. He can be reached at:graham@thecreatetrust.org

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Comment from: Almaz [Visitor]

Mr peebles,
Why don’t you mind your business? Leave Ethiopian issues to Ethiopians. We can manage our own affairs without a (mis) guide from patronizing white “activists".

03/20/15 @ 19:54

Comment from: New York [Visitor]

Bogus Reporter Graham Peebles,
You wish, don’t you? If there is no violence there is no report, right? There will be no violence in Ethiopia, rest assured.

03/20/15 @ 21:23

Comment from: Ali Roble [Visitor]

Is this gut works for greedy Crises Group, WB and IMF, AIPAC and other western warmongers and exploitative outfits? Jusr wonderin’!

03/20/15 @ 22:52

Comment from: dallas [Member]

Where did you get your facts.Its obvious
You do not know anything about Ethiopia
or it’s current government.You are repeating
same old story we read from the Ethiopia
haters diaspora and humans riight watch
lies.Like the saying goes you may be entitled to your opinion but not to your Owen facts.You can not possiy care about Ethiopia more than the true Ethiopians.Agree with Almaz.Leave Ethiopian affairs to Ethiopians.Even if we make a mistake it will be our own.We will learn from it.
Decades of listening to out siders did not get us anywhere.Now that we are finally making progress you and people like you want to tell us what to do.Leave Ethiopia alone and try to help
Your Owen people.Thank you for your consern!

03/20/15 @ 23:29

Comment from: Elsabeth B. [Visitor]

Graham Peebles, fix at least your pinocchio nose before starting to tell lie. Really ugly.
Your “contracted journalism” is off limits. We know who you are, and who has hired your. Your are taking the profession of journalism down the drain. Shame.

03/21/15 @ 04:33

Comment from: Abdi [Visitor]

Mr Peebles;
Let me tell you that Ethiopians from all over the country are better off now under the leader of EPRDF. We suffered a lot from the Derg regime which was overthrown by the EPRDF, replacing Mengistu’s dictatorship system with a new wonderful federalism system will allows all people to rule themselves. I think it will be better to read and visit Tigrei, Somali region, and other regions in Ethiopia and ask our elders how much they suffered in the Derg era and alos ask them how they are feeling now rather than posting a baised article.
Thanks

03/21/15 @ 05:11

Comment from: C'est moi senait [Visitor]

What do n’t you investigate RIGH in your corridors. 1/3 of blacks are in jail in USA and here you are a payed stupid journalist with no iq.

03/21/15 @ 06:21

Comment from: Getaw [Visitor]

Yes, Mr. Graham. Good prediction. 5th graders do not understand the law that governs the universe and basics of social change. Social change for them means only to talk about empty LIMAT and to put jail and kill opponents. Back to their high school physics and chemistry classes to learn the relationship between temperature and pressure and to draw a good lesson for good.

03/21/15 @ 08:05

Comment from: er [Visitor]

is true Nazret ?
http://mereja.com/album/728

03/21/15 @ 09:28

Comment from: Extraterrestrial [Member]

What is this horse face is talking about, don’t you think you better talk about war on unarmed black male in the USA than Ethiopia.
We don’t need your poor argument about Violent vs. Non violent struggle. Shut the fuck up and leave Ethiopia alone. We don’t need you!!!

03/21/15 @ 13:16

Comment from: Ghion [Visitor]

Mr. Peebels! I am sorry to disappoint you, but you and your likes of the enemies of the Ethiopian peoples wishfull thinling will not ever happen again in our country. Mr. Peebles, I understand your forefathers have tried to distroy this ancient land, Ethiopia in vaine (without success) and therefore you the sons and daughters of the Facists and Nazis are trying to accomplish what.your forefathers was.unable to do. You are not the exception you will missarabily fail just like your forefathers and therefore your propaganda to create civil strife and civil wars in the great land of.Ethiopia.is another lost war with great disappointment fore your evil dreams and thoughts aginist my people and my country.

03/21/15 @ 13:47

Comment from: LTYAZGezaee [Visitor]

Narcissist, racist, the son of Colonialist, who the hell you wishing Ethiopia violence? I can see your Ugly picture here.
Sir, you need to stop sticking your stinking nose in our country. It is none of your business. Barbaric, racist, primitiv, … get out of our national affaires.
Mercenary

03/21/15 @ 13:48

Comment from: Molla [Visitor]

Journalism in its worst form.

03/21/15 @ 14:30

Comment from: Sparta [Visitor]

What?
Who?
You?
What surprise me most is this moron Idiot so called journalist didn’t even wrote his rubbish. Well he keeps saying “WE". & to my knowledge a white man never set his foot in that beautiful land. So such a stupid white man as a citizen is non existence .
My good guess is those cheap Retarded diaspora hired a cheap white man for cheap propaganda.
Keep on dreaming we know for sure that there is NO turning back.

03/21/15 @ 16:48

Comment from: Yohannes IV [Visitor]

Peebles! You are an ass hole! You know nothing about Ethiopia and the world. You have the gut to advise Ethiopia. We laugh at your idiocy.
Why do you fight the English Regime, who are corrupt to the core? What is your parliament doing? How about food banks for million english citizens?
I cry for UK because they have no leaders. Their politicians have created a self-serving system. Islamic fundamentalism has taken root because of poor politicians in UK, Germany, France and other countries of Europe.
Peebles! You better fight Islamic Fundamentalism and protect England from muslims. You better ask your government to deport all muslim fundamentalist and oppose the attack of muslims on English people.
Peebles! U are a sell out, a pig! Hands of Ethiopia.

03/21/15 @ 17:00

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