Bulcha Demeksa: A genuine dictatorship evolving in Ethiopia

June 20th, 2008 | EthioPolitics.com |


Opposition leader Bulcha
Demeksa says a genuine dictatorship is
evolving in Ethiopia

ADDIS ABABA, Jun 21 (IPS) - When it was announced last month that the ruling party of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi had swept local polls in this vast Horn of Africa nation, few expressed surprise.

Zenawi’s Ethiopian Peoples Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) coalition was declared by the country’s national electoral board to have won 559 districts in the kebele and woreda divisions of local government and all but one of 39 parliament seats contested in the by-election. Out of a total of 26 million registered voters, the electoral board claimed that 24.5 million, or 93 percent, voted.

April’s ballot was the first chance for the EPRDF to flex the muscles of its electoral machinery since general elections in May 2005. Though early returns that year suggested an electoral triumph for the country’s two main opposition parties, the Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD) and the United Ethiopian Democratic Forces (UEDF). Prime Minister Zenawi declared a state of emergency before final results were announced. In the unrest that followed, hundreds of people were arrested and at least 200 killed by Ethiopian security forces. Official results — not released until September — gave 59 percent of the total vote to the EPRDF.

[…Read the rest of the story]


  1. 24 Responses to “Bulcha Demeksa: A genuine dictatorship evolving in Ethiopia”

  2. By Medeksaa on Jun 21, 2008 | Reply

    CANCELLING AND VOIDING AMHARIC LANGUAGE AS ETHIOPIAS NATIONAL LANGUAGE IS LEGITIMATE PRODEMOCRATIC MOVE.

    Where is The Democracy,Where is the majority rule ?

    If there ought to be meaningful democratic reform and majority supported Democracy in ethiopia, then “Ethiopias National language should be changed from Amharas minority language (Amharic) to Ethiopias Majority (Afaan oromoffiaa).”

  3. By Megerssa on Jun 21, 2008 | Reply

    Dear Medeksaa, your comment and the topic on top are quite different. Unless you are crazy, amharic has never been a minority languagae and with many reports suggesting more than 80% of the ethiopian people as their mother tounge or second fluent language. As you are struggleing to learn english, a language quite abroad than your home, you have a nightmare of destructive the most developed language of the nation. To quest for having multilingual system is something else, get out of your ego adn illusion dream and dont intoxicate your venome in name of us, the peaceful people living in respect of each other.

  4. By Leta Gudetta on Jun 21, 2008 | Reply

    Mr. megersa,

    You must be one of those die hard Amara who oppresses oromos and degraded oromos as second class citizenary(slavery)for the last 100+ years of Amara dominated governments, and who hate to see Oromos langoge,history and culture be recognized.
    Fact is, why should we oromos be forced to learn and speak amaras langoge within our own land and regions ?
    I totally agree with mr.madeksa prodemocratic and promajority stand, that Ethiopias official langoge should immediatelly be changed to oromigna langoge.

  5. By Gambella on Jun 21, 2008 | Reply

    Mergesa,

    FYI,

    Amara and amharic language is minority in ethiopia, oromos and oromos language is Ethiopias undisputed Majority.

  6. By George on Jun 21, 2008 | Reply

    Dear Megersa.

    YOU ARE TOTALLY WRONG THAT ETHIOPIAS MAJORITY DO NOT SPEAK AMHARIC LANGUAGE.

    I think you are lacking the very basic lingustic demographic make up of Ethiopias ethncity and diversity.
    Most Ethiopians do not speak Amharic language, The Amharic language was imposed on non amharic speaking Ethiopians by showa amhara kings/king menilike and king haileselassie to expand amharas domination and influence on the entire nation.
    Non Amharic speaking were still ethiopias majority. I.e, Oromos people do not speak amharic language,Tigrians people do not speak Amharic language,Afar do not speak Amharic,Sidamo people do not speak Amharic,Gambela do not speak Amharic,Gurage`s people do not speak Amharic,kembata people do not speak Amharic,welayeta`s people do not speak Amharic,far Gonder do not speak Amharic,jimma`s people do not speak,Harer`s people do not speak Amharic.

  7. By Dr. Abuseyaf on Jun 22, 2008 | Reply

    Well WHY DON’T WE FORGET BOTH OROMIFFA AND AMHARIC AND USE ENGLISH.yOU OROMOS ARE NARROW MINDED AND FEEL INFERIORITY COMPLEX AND THE REVERSE IS TRUE FOR THE AMHARAS…

  8. By Gemballa on Jun 22, 2008 | Reply

    Dr. Abuseyaf

    Why are you amaras people underminding and insulting Oromos for demanding their majority rights ?
    Do not want to see Ethiopias national language be majoritysized and democratized and converted to majority language (Afaan oromoffiaa) instead of minority amaras language (Amharic) ?

    The good thing is, The Amaras are minority in Ethiopia and not in position to determine what Ethiopias national language should be. The nefetegna Amaras must obey to democracy and majority (Oromos) or will be broken and forced to accept it through the hook or crook.

  9. By Alemu on Jun 22, 2008 | Reply

    Mr/Ms megersa,

    What is population of oromo tribe comparing to Amhara tribe ? ?

  10. By Abdi Gudina on Jun 22, 2008 | Reply

    Dear friends,

    I do appreciate differences of views and opinions without politicising the matter at hand.
    Let us be honest for ourselves. Just imagine going from one useless language to another more useless language. Please forgive me if I am offending you guys. Why I said useless and more useless is simple in terms of contribution to our current complex and multifaceted problems; and level of development of both languages.

    Wouldn’t a privilege and advantage to use English language both as national and local media of communication? I think that would connect us with the rest of the world swiftly and block wishy washy argument.

  11. By kirar on Jun 22, 2008 | Reply

    Dear ppl woyane is trying to divide you by the commets they leavve, they are pretending to be oromo and amara. they are lying the y are woyane banda

  12. By Washentu on Jun 22, 2008 | Reply

    “There is nothing to fear but fear it self.”

    Why not make oromigna language as Ethiopias official language instead of replacing amharic language with English ?
    We should not fear oromos or oromigna language, because they are Ethiopians too.

  13. By Leta Gudetta on Jun 22, 2008 | Reply

    For the past 100+ years of Amhara domination of Ethiopias politics and Ethiopian governments, the Amharas did not even want oromos to be educated to be awaken from their slumber ages,the Amharas wanted oromos tobe treated as second class citizen/slave to Amharas dominated and amhara ruled country, considering this shameful ugly historical facts How do you expect Amharas to surrender their langoge and accept Afan oromofaa to be Ethiopias notional langoge ?

  14. By zellalem on Jun 23, 2008 | Reply

    .Believe or not Amharic language is the most dominant language in Ethiopia now and forever .don’t cry my dear stupid Oromo parasite’s you are not representing the rest Oromo people in Ethiopia just you are beggar who is living by the willing of other’s in your immigrated place. Just keep silent. And wake up from you bad illusion. Let me tell you one more thing Amharic language now is developing in the internet computing system and mobile accessories what do think? I know you will not killing yourself. Just try to learn how to use this language don’t west your time. I am proud to be created on this world as the part of Amharic speaking families’ member. God is great he create us to be the most religious and chosen people. Look at our tribes we don’t get bad inferiority feeling we are proud of ourselves. Shame on you that you are narrow minded. But we are true Ethiopian who wants to live in our lands with the rest of another language spoken people with respect to each other based on true love and respect. You don’t get any where this is the truth that you must accept .Ethiopia only for Ethiopia’s not like you poor diversionist.

  15. By zellalem on Jun 23, 2008 | Reply

    Believe or not Amharic language is the most dominant language in Ethiopia now and forever .don’t cry my dear stupid Oromo parasite’s you are not representing the rest Oromo people in Ethiopia just you are beggar who is living by the willing of other’s in your immigrated place. Just keep silent. And wake up from your bad illusion. Let me tell you one more thing Amharic language now is developing in the internet computing system and mobile accessories what do think? I know you will not killing yourself. Just try to learn how to use this language don’t west your time. I am proud to be created on this world as the part of Amharic speaking families’ member. God is great he create us to be the most religious and chosen people. Look at our tribes we don’t get bad inferiority feeling we are proud of ourselves. Shame on you that you are narrow minded. But we are true Ethiopian who wants to live in our lands with the rest of another language spoken people with respect to each other based on true love and respect. You don’t get any where this is the truth that you must accept .Ethiopia only for Ethiopia’s not like you poor diversionist.

  16. By Almi on Jun 23, 2008 | Reply

    Dear Ethiopians,

    Why are we not learning from time to time? The issue is not the language. The issue is saving our country from this brutal, butcher and dictator Meles for sailing our country to everyone. He sold a good portion of Ethiopia to Sudan and next will go some portion of Ethiopia to Somalia, Djibouti, etc, etc. We Ethiopians are just fighting and fussing each other for language issue. Language is not the issue here. If Oromo is primary we can learn Oromo, if it is Gurage learn Gurage, if its Tigrinya learn Tigrinya so on. Why don’t we be civilized? The more we fight and argue we make Meles stronger and give him more power. It is a really a shame on some of us. We are educated, have seen the Westerner how they run countries, etc. but we are just selfish, don’t give a dam. Come-on ladies and gentlemen let’s not hurt our citizen who struggles for democracy in Ethiopia. We all live in a free country of speech, vote but think once or twice about our families, our people, and our nations who is starving, dying and fighting for free life. Stop your film and drama!!

  17. By Olbamo on Jun 23, 2008 | Reply

    Some of the comments are really ironical and unhelpful for healthy Ethiopia in the future. The argument of swithing from Amharic to Oromifa or English at this point is just self satisfying and purely political. This needs to be addressed appropriately and timely when all of us get the democracy we are seeking for. It has to be seen on all sides of the dice: Economically, socialy and practicality. Anything can be done as long as we are not afraid of discussing the issue openly and respectfully. Unfortunately, the current Government is not letting anyone to discuss the issue. But what I am reading is just political and hate words. Be wise and composed.

  18. By gadissaa on Jun 23, 2008 | Reply

    Pls pls, for all the crimes the so called leaders made from time in memorial in our togetherness, let us not blame each other, everybody knows this does not help anyone. So many wrongs have happened learning from them and streangthening our unity through our diversity is the way forward, everybody knows this, But still many can not forget what might have happened. That is understandable, but it will not also be difficult to imagine where acting more vicious than those who put us in these situations would lead us. Is that what one wants to pass on to his/her childeren, who are going to live in this centurey of global world?
    Take any language and develop it to the point it can be used world wide not just in Ethiopia for all I care. I do not know why that requires abandening those whome people are using right now in any capacity. Our believe of change must be in our understanding of all the good and bad history, and trying to do better and just. Say never again and move forward equally, like in South Africa, and Israel.

  19. By zellalem on Jun 24, 2008 | Reply

    Still you are at the back ward time try to walk along the rest people of Ethiopia, just keep forward. Amharic language have its own alphabet I never seen that oromigna in history using its own word how come one language specially oromigna with out its own compliment standing the most developed Amharic language? You try to use foreign so called Latin version bla bla …and making the innocent people getting confused because of your jealousy on Amharic language I don’t think you guys thinking properly. If you have eyes you can see and using them properly to understand the other’s view. Any way Amhara is not the minority you try to insult the Amhara people. But we are not like you to respond any of your bad and back wards thinking of mentality. We will guide you how to live with respect to each other if you really want to live together with Ethiopian people just ask for help, we are there ready to help, try to avoid your bad mental sickness ones and for all. God will help you to think as human being.Dont forget this time millions are starved our land transferred to our historical neighboring enemy instead of working together you are discriminating yourself by using unnecessary argument this can cure easily, the difficulty is loosing our land and our freedom plus our people. Again and again I am asking you to open your eyes so wide to see those obstacles covering Ethiopia. If you really concerned about the disastrous problem in Ethiopia just stretch your hand to get the sour drink and make ready yourself to scarify for the needs to destroy that obstacles from Ethiopia .Side by side we can build our Great and prosperous Ethiopia so that the next generation at list living peacefully by remembering us what we did for them.

  20. By Gambella on Jun 24, 2008 | Reply

    Do not worry about Mr.Zelalem,

    Mr. Zelalem is just another desprate hollow minded Amara from amara minority tribe who hate oromos and hate to see Ethiopia oromos history,oromos culture and oromos langoge be recognized and become Ethiopias official langoge.
    These were the same kind of Amaras and amara mentality who ruled Ethiopia for the last 100 years and injected tribalism and educational discrimination in ethiopia, these were the same Amara people who refused to provide educational opportunity and educational access to oromos,tigrians,welayetas,afaras,gambellas,saidamos,woehrages………

  21. By Zeleke Maleda on Jun 24, 2008 | Reply

    Oromos represent 47% of Ethiopias total population, while Amaras represent only less than 24% of Ethiopias population.

  22. By Gambella on Jun 24, 2008 | Reply

    Mr/Ms Gambee,

    Good logical fair question, THANK YOU !

  23. By zellalem on Jun 25, 2008 | Reply

    Ha ha ha haaaaaaaaa ho ho…blind and deaf can’t listen and see what the realty show IS. Just breathing even plants have there own use for our social life but you guys are useless born to die. there is no history on such kind of personality I am not sure that YOU really an Ethiopian person may be you are one of Woyane’s spy or shabia you are not belongs to Oromo people you just using them to spread your hatred for the great Amhara population. Poor bold heart. WHAT CAN I SAY

  24. By Legedade on Jun 25, 2008 | Reply

    How did you know that Mr. Zelalem is an Amara, even though Mr. zelalem is avid supporter of the Amara language and the Amaraism.

  25. By Bakalcha on Jun 30, 2008 | Reply

    So called Dr. Abuseyaf & please tell me who is superior?

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