IntoductionIt is well known that since the history, we the Ethiopians are not lucky for peaceful and democratic power handover. From our history it is easy to see that all of our governors have been going from the power by forcing them using the military ways. The biggest chance for the peaceful political power change-over was expected on the previous 2005 national election, which could not be materialized due to unwillingness of Meles Zenaw regimen. So, what is the way to remove Meles´ regimen from the power?
Even so it is much evident that the Meles Zenawi regimen is sub estimating the vote and voice of Ethiopian population to fight for national fair governance, except two or three political part, the majority of Ethiopian´s political parties agree that at the current national and international condition the only visible way to get governiment change in Ethiopia is the peaceful struggle. What is peaceful struggle? It is nonviolent protest and persuasion to get fair and free elections that help to bring democratic governor and democratic system in a nation. Examples are:
1) The African-American Civil Rights Movement (1955–1968) refers to the reform movements in the United States aimed to resolve racial discrimination. Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929 – 1968) was an American activist and prominent leader in the African-American civil rights movement. His main legacy was to secure progress on civil rights in the United States and he is frequently referenced as a human rights icon today.
2) Liberation from colonialism: Many of liberation fronts from colonialism had started by using non-violent or peaceful struggle. Good example of this Indian liberation history. Gandhi first employed non-violent civil disobedience while working as an expatriate lawyer in South Africa, during the resident Indian community's struggle for civil rights. When he returned to India in 1915, he organized protests by peasants, farmers and urban workers over excessive land-tax and discrimination. He became the pre-eminent political and spiritual leader of India during the Indian independence movement. He earned the title Mahtma Gandhi or 'Great Soul', and is officially honoured in India as the Father of the Nation. http://www.newsnet.co.zw/index.php?nID=17162
3) The history of Nelson Mandela and he’s struggle against apartheid is full of peaceful struggle. The British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said Mandela would be remembered for ever as "the man who no prisons cell, no intimidation, no violence, no show trial, and no threat of execution could ever silence."
If it is so, what are the advantages that the peaceful struggle should gain from the upcoming but apparently already won election? There are many advantages among these the principal are there:
1) Less human life sacrifice
2) Less damage to economy
3) Victory comes with civil struggles without purposely designed war or violence
Ways of peaceful struggles
There are numbers of ways. On http://www.starhawk.org/activism/198ways.html are listed 198 ways. If you observe them the main idea involve about the government is un-able to survive without the citizen support.
The main questions that will be answered on the day of poll are:
1. Will the general public (not incluiding few supporters of EPRDF) go to the vote?
2. Will the general public get generally accepted political party that represents the their interest?
I believe Ethiopians shall to go to the poll just for the peaceful struggle againist the anti-democracy. People should say "NO to Meles regimen again”
No more static governers
Ethiopians, we don´t want static governors like:
· Fidel Castro, Cuban comunist leader from February 1959 to February 2008, for 49 years. He is currently the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba
· Chiang Kai-shek, a governor of China from 1928 to 1975 for 46 years
· Kim Il-sung a governer of the North Korea ruled the nation from1948to 1994 for total 45 years
· Omar Bongo politician who was President of Gabon for 42 years from 1967 until his death in office in this year 2009
· Muammar al-Gaddafi who is ruling to Libia since 1969 for more than 40 years
· Robert Mugabe who is governing for 30 years (from 980 upto date)
· King Malietoa Tanumafili II, the head of state, a position that he held for life, of Independent State of Samoa from 1962 to 2007
This is just to mention some of dictators known in the history.
What is looking Meles, breake this records of governing time? Why he is refusing the idea of changing Ethiopian constitution? Why he is refusing the change on Ethiopian National Election administraion rules?
It is better to go to poll than not going
What should be the public reaction to the backward minded idea of Meles to stay in ruling office for ever?
As way of peaceful strugle, I thing people shall to go to the poll like the election of May 2005, just to vote against the Meles regimen and defend the true-vote by any means available. What is the gain for not going? I think there is no gain. By any means the Tigrean people and few people from others region will vote for him. I think, by any means will stay in power for a couple of election terms. Hence, Ethiopian people should go to the vote station to say "NO to Meles dictatorial governance".
Changes that Ethipians should feel and work on
In our world every thing is changing: the earth move and changes happen in it´s contents. On the same ways it is human nature to get change in life: change in our economical income; change in our social relation, change in our works and boss. The same is true and it is good wish to work on changing our political leaders. Generally, in history of ethiopia, politicians keep their office by making election fraud. The question is how to reduce election fraud. The following are some well known methods.
1 Oposition political parties shall be able to win the voters mind by presenting good programs. if so, people does not want to be governed again and again by the same ruler: the same persone and the same teory. Hence the majory of popblation need this change. So if a given political party is able to present a better or at least not so much criticable policies, people will vot for the new competitor by defending thier votes.
2 The new political paty should try to get support from the militray, police and civil services bodies and members because at the end the regimen will try to use the state power though these podies.
3 Try to get the presence of many international observers like UN election observars, USA governiment, Carter center, EU, AU … etc, they can check the voting and counting operations and also to train local personnel to avoid and correct mistakes and to resist pressure of election fraud. As much as possible they can monitor the electoral process to make sure that the rules are followed. If they notice something wrong, they report it to their superiors who give the new to UN and to the press of all the world.
However, Intenational observars have limitations: economical, diplomatic, ethiopian governimet rules .. etc. Hence they can´t cover all the voting place though out the country knowing that Ethiopian government is not comfortable with participation of truly democracy organizations. Examples are the controversial measures of Ethiopian government to expulse a senior European election observer Siegfried Pauswang and three American Organizations during election 2005. Being poor and uneducated,the masses always fall prey to the machinations of politicians as most of them do not know their rights.
Conculsion
The next election in ethiopia looks like already know result and nothing interesting. Major reasons are:
1) Mischief full and layer behavior of ruling party with the aim of being static into the governiment palace,
2) Selfish military, security forces and government based legal system to manage the election process.
3) Exhausted of no result by voters
4) Non experienced, poor and non-spirited opposition parties
5) Unsupportive (unfavorable) international climate for Ethiopian people ... etc
The owner of this blog is strongly convinced that Ethiopians shall to do their historical homework to progress on the democratic and peaceful ways. The war history should be changed by peaceful struggle that may take longer time to wine but more safer. Ethiopian people should go to the vote and should vote against Meles even knowing that his governiment system will steal the vote and he will be on power for next years. We, Ethiopians should do our homework and asks international democratic nations and respected people to support our cause. Nothing is free and we have to pay some sacrifices and challenges. We have seen thought our history how destructive and backward leading is a war, let try a long time peaceful struggle by leaving a destructive short-time war. Let work for the peace and common goal. This is the only way to ensure long term development for our nation.
