Electoral Frustrations
April 29th, 2008 | EthioPolitics.com |Two weeks of elections have come and gone, and I have not yet experienced a more comic election process than the ones just completed in the capital as well as across the country. I suppose the word ‘farce’ would be the best way to describe the events of the last two Sundays and the obvious results that they are to yield.
To begin with, the only active and well organized political party that participated in the race was the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), which registered nearly four million candidates, an outrageous number as far as I am concerned, considering that they did not have much competition. The main reason, for this is the simple fact that many opposition parties decided to abstain or withdraw from the process because the requests they made to the National Electoral Board of Ethiopia (NEB) for transparent, free and fair elections with as equal coverage time on public media as the incumbent has, were not even considered, let alone met. Many of the parties also claimed harassment, which some international human rights organizations, such as Human Rights Watch, have agreed existed.
The Oromo Federal Democratic Movement (OFDM) withdrew its candidacy after the initial elections had already taken place, claiming intimidation and a lack of fairness and transparency. The United Ethiopia Democratic Front (UEDF) did not have its name on the ballot to begin with; they withdrew two days before the elections began two weeks ago. The Ethiopian United Democratic Party (EUDP-Mehdin), in one of their most famous manoeuvres, tried claiming that they should retain the seats that they had won three years ago. The Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD), or what used to be the CUD, did not participate, although the new bearers of the name were asking for voter support “just like they had in 2005” on public media, despite the fact that it was not their victory.
But it is not just the drama on the side of the political parties that makes this quite a funny situation; it is rather the reaction of the voting public. To begin with, I do not believe voter turnout was far from being the same as it was in the last elections, although the NEBE claims otherwise.
I received a knock on my door from someone reminding me that it was Election Day. I made it a point to remind him that I had not registered to vote. I was given an account of voters writing notes like “we are tired”, “please step down”, and “we want someone else”, on the ballot papers, instead of voting for the candidates on them.
I am not entirely sure what the Revolutionary Democrats were thinking of when preparing for these elections. We, as a political public, are not happy with the leadership that is currently being offered to us. This should have been our rightful time to put into position the people that we felt would take us out of the crippling rise in daily expenses and general discontent that has taken over our city. As a political public, we were not given a choice; rather we were mocked in the same manner as when one is invited to the theatre and then offered a puppet show instead.
To be honest, I do not blame opposition parties for not taking part in these elections, despite their shortcomings; this decision certainly was not one of their making. Rather, I blame the utter and total failure to bring about significant and tangible change on the part of the Revolutionary Democrats, because it was their responsibility to restore voter confidence. It was, after all, they who had lost them to begin with.
Aside from being the dominant party in the parliament as well as on regional, woreda and kebelle levels, it is the responsibility of those in power not only to restore, but also to implement the transparency and fairness of the state’s affairs. Not only has this not taken place, those in power have gone so far as to use those very means to ensure that they strengthen and consolidate their power instead of listening to the pulse of the people who they are trying to rule.
I have stated before in this column that I did not think that our country and people were ready for democracy. I take that back, it is not the people who are not ready, but rather it is the government, and to a certain extent the opposition. If indeed free and fair elections were the aim and final goal of all the players in the political sphere, then I would like to believe that there would have been a lot more compromise, better achievement and a lot more improvements.
On the contrary, we find ourselves in a throwback situation; it is like some bad story out of 20th Century African politics. Military leaders eras, times that we do NOT like to talk about in public. Since we are going to be having EPRDF as our leader for some time, I think it is time that they begin working a hell of a lot harder to make the political situation in the country more coherent to global standards.
At least, they should make the political space in the country more accessible to the public and more susceptible to change, energy and transparency.
BY Lulit Amdemariam
13 Responses to “Electoral Frustrations”
By Destachew on May 3, 2008 | Reply
Ethiopia made great stride politically for the last 15 years,compare to any time in Ethiopias history. Otherwise to measure Ethiopias political progress by the western standard may not be fair, afterall the west cultured the prcocess of Democracy for generations(hundreds of years). Democracy is a culture, it needs to be matured with time.
By OrthodoxLady22 on May 5, 2008 | Reply
Lulit Amdemariam, I tend to agree with what you’re saying.
I heard it has been said that “Some fear, Ethiopia is moving towards a one-party-state”. To me this sounds just completely ridiculous. Ethiopia is already a one-party-state, obviously. It does not matter much that there are some other parties, when they have no chance whatsoever to rule the country, does it? All power is with the EPRDF anyway.
I think it is also really unfortunate, that the opposition is so divided and split, at a time they should be all the more united. I suppose, it would be better for the country, if there was one strong opposition. Doesn’t all this division weaken the opposition?
However, it is not only the government’s fault that the country’s economy is in such a bad shape, the West is also to blame. What about the subsidies that the U.S. gives to cotton farmers, for example? Why is Ethiopia not the world’s biggest exporter of coffee (or incense for that matter)? And why are not many more spices exported? …
Meles is terrible, but really it’s not only his fault that the people are suffering. The West should also open its markets for Ethiopian products!
Then finally, we should all pray for our beloved country.
Please, pray for Ethiopia.
Throughout history, He has not deserted us. Let us not forget that the country is blessed.
He will help us.
By Gambella on May 6, 2008 | Reply
Practicale speaking America is two party state (republican and democrat). China is one party state (The communist party of china). Germany is two party state (libral democrat and conservative). United kingdom is two party system (Libral and conservative). France is practicaly one party state,since almost impossible to make meaningful distinction between the libral and conservative party. In the other hand, Ethiopia is multi party state, but the opposition run debunk since there is no vast confidence and support for them from the mass, the other problem is there is too many political parties in Ethiopia, even though their ideology or platform is almost similar. So far the only meaningful political party in Ethiopia is EPRDF, and some what Kinjit also used to be some what aparty, before it fragmented in in internal desertation and uncompromising division between its top leaders.
By MesqelKebra on May 7, 2008 | Reply
Hi Gambella!
Yes, you definitely have a point there.
But, I don’t agree with you 100%. I mean, there’s nothing wrong when only one or two parties are in the government, but what matters is whether the parties who are in the opposition can also make their voices be heard and influence the political process.
In Austria, for example, where I live, the government consists of the Social Democrats (the party that got the most votes in the parliamentary election 2006) and the (so called) Christian Democrats (party that came second). But in the parliament there are the Green (environmentally friendly, left-leaning party that came third) and a right-wing party that got the fewest votes. The third party does also have some influence, although it is not in the government.
I mean, what I’m trying to say is that, what matters is whether the opposition has any influence in the policy of the country. In Ethiopia, this is not the case, obviously.
Anyways …
Let’s hope it will be better for Ethiopia in the not too distant future.
May He help us.
By Gambella on May 7, 2008 | Reply
It is true the opposition in Ethiopia does not have no grassroot support base since they are organized based in mono tribal line.
I.e, Cud/ Kinjit can not be trusted by Ethiopias majority (Non Amharic speaking Ethiopians/Oromos,Tigreans,welayetas,gambellas,sidamos,Afars,Gambella,wourages…) since 92% of Kinjit`s top leadership dominated by single tribe (Amara tribe only).
By MesqelKebra on May 8, 2008 | Reply
Gambella,
Yes yes, you are right: the opposition is dominated by Amharas.
But EPRDF committed murders and all kinds of human rights abuses. The people don’t trust them, even less than they trust the opposition, I dare say. I mean, for example, if the opposition came to power and they would do things better than the government, people would also trust the opposition, although it is dominated by Amharas. Don’t you think so?
Actually, I believe, we should not think “along ethnic lines”, but we should think of the wellbeing of the country and its people. The way it is now, it is definitely not good for the country, right? So, others should come to power and hopefully they’ll make it better. Ethnicity is irrelevant in this context. Does that make sense to you? Hope so.
But, really we should all pray for Ethiopia.
May God help us.
By Beratu on May 8, 2008 | Reply
For the first time in Ethiopians history, We Ethioppians have the right to critisize our government without fear. Unlike the Amara era, For the first time in our Ethiopian history, all Ethiopians have equal educational opportunity and acsess. For the first time in Ethiopias history, there were high schools,colleges,universities and other learning institutions in every region of Ethiopia.
Of course such developement will contenue scare the Amaras(historical opperresors). For the last 100+ years, the Amara dominated governments educationally discriminated against non Amara Ethiiopians(Oromos,Afaras,Tiogreans,wolayetas,gambellas,Sidamos,harrer…).
The Amara dominated governments provided education only to their own tribe (Amaras). The Amara tribaklist kings (King Menilike and King Haileselassie) were concocting to keep Non Amara Ethiopians uneducated and illitrates.
By MesqelKebra on May 8, 2008 | Reply
Beratu,
I agree with you.
The rulers, whether they be Amhara or Tigray, favoured their ethnic group.
But also, we should remember that if it was not for the kings, Ethiopia would have been colonized by the British or Italians. I think this is a fact that cannot be denied.
And, are you really sure that there is complete freedom of speech in the country, and that all have equal opportunities to get education?
We should pray for the country.
God will help us.
By Beratu on May 9, 2008 | Reply
It is The Amara tribalist king (Shameful King Menilike) who sold half of Tigraye region, now known as Eritrea to Italians.
You amy wonder and ask, Why did This shameful braindead Amara king(King Menilike)sold half of Tigraye/Eritrea to Italians ????
Because The Amara king (king menilike) was afraid of Tigrians rebeling against his kingdom/power, by deviding and selling hald of Tigraye region the amara king thought he could control and dominate the Tigreans. Fact is, King Menilike was dumb of history, he ended up selling the wrong region of Tigraye. because,Considering historical facts,most of the challenge and social rebellion did`t come from that part of Tigraye, but from central region of Tigraye, namely from “ADWA” and some times from Axum region.
Even the the smarter version of Amara king (King Haileselassie) considering historical facts, he convinced that the best way to handle Tigryans is not through guns and agression but by devide Tigryans in regional drama, which is King Haileselassie to destroy “the first woyane” he had to give his own daughter to Tigrian novelities(mengesha syom), Haileselassie may had managed temporary weaken and delay and black mail the First woyane by using Mengesha syoum, but even Haileselassie new house nigger (Mengesha syoum)failed to oblitrate the Woyane, woyane resisted defied Mengesha`s meaningless idiotic novelity. What is funny is almost all woyanes leaders then were from ADWA,AGAME and AXUM regions. But in the mean time, the foolish people from Mekele supported Haileselass`s house nigger/Mengesha.
By MesqelKebra on May 10, 2008 | Reply
Beratu, you definitely have a point there. You could argue like that, yes.
But, at least the rest of the country remained free from colonization. Yes, of course, it is bad enough that the Italians took what is now Eritrea, but at least the rest of the country remained free, and we should give the kings credit for this, I think.
Hey, by the way: did you hear Eritrea was rated “worse country in the world” when it comes to freedom of press by Reporters without Borders? Many are becoming disillusioned. So I was thinking, maybe if they’re beginning to see that independence did not make things better for them but worse, they’ll want to unite again. (OK … I know it’s a pretty unrealistic idea…. but just a thought….)
May the peace and love of our Lord be with us all!
By Beratu on May 10, 2008 | Reply
Mesquelkebra,
What good is to be free of colonization, when Ethiopias majority (oromos) systematically degraded enslaved by Amara tribalist kings (King Menilike and King Haileselassie) ?????
By Beratu on May 10, 2008 | Reply
Historically speaking, “AMARA KINGS WERE ETHIOPIAS MISFORTUNE.”
The Amara lazy shameful kings (King Menilike and King Haileselassie) to preserve their personal power/kingdom they sold all Ethiopias ports to Italian,Brits and France.
The Amara shameful King (Menilike) sold Dejibuti to France, Eritrea to Italian, somalia to Italian and Brits.
The only true Ethiopians kings were northern kings (King Yohanse and King Tewodros), they live as kings and died as kings while defending Ethiopias territory and Ethiopians.
By MesqelKebra on May 22, 2008 | Reply
Hey Beratu, you got a point there!
Also I agree 100% with you about Emperor Yohannes and Tewodros. They did a lot for the country.
But I was also comparing to other countries, not only in Africa, but also in Asia and Latin America. I mean they also had their rulers who favoured their own ethnic group and so on, it’s comparable to Ethiopia. But, in addition to this (rulers that favoured their ethnic group) the people in these countries were also oppressed, made slaves, their culture was destroyed, their heritage lost for ever (for example, the Native Americans in the US.). Despite of all, this did not happen in Ethiopia, at least in a comparable extend.
And yes, of course, the Kings did make mistakes, but the cultural heritage of the country is better preserved than in other countries that were colonized. I mean, if Ethiopia would have been an Italian colony … - we can speculate if the Orthodox Church would still exist today.
Anyways …
May God help us.