By Sereke Berhan
August 2005

Some fourteen years ago European and American political obstetricians in collaboration with
ethnic based separatist guerrilla fighters initiated the in-vitro fertilization of democratic ideals in the Horn of Africa. Blinded by self-interest, they ignored the needs and desires of the Ethiopian people and carelessly aided stale seeds to fertilize the egg of democracy. This unholy research produced one notorious set of twins who proceeded to wreak havoc on the Ethiopian people.

Conceived with assisted rape, and delivered prematurely against the people’s will, this devious
duo took advantage of a power vacuum and grabbed the helm unopposed. The older twin took over the northern territories and imposed one party rule while its younger clone advanced to infest the rest of the country with hate by instituting an ethnic based system. Proponents of the experiment heralded the underhanded and deceptive rebirth of these two entities as a significant leap for Africa. It was widely announced as a triumph and the two sworn enemies of Ethiopia, to the people’s horrified chagrin became known to the world as “Young Democracies.”

When it first came to them after being delivered in London through a surrogate, Ethiopian’s couldn’t believe what they saw in “Young Democracy.” It had a hideous face wrinkled with anger and its whole body was disfigured with intervention and various kinds of incurable ailments. It had a pair of severely crippled short arms unfit to unite and rickety legs unable to carry the responsibilities of moving forward towards progress. It lacked coordinated motor skills
and trashed around nervously with vengeance. Its stiff joints and stunted limbs were unable to
move with the necessary agility to tackle the problems of poverty and underdevelopment. Its eyes were blind to see the importance and beauty of diversity. Severe degenerative disorders known as ethnic hatred, revenge, corruption and secession inflicted its whole body rendering it useless to fulfill the dream of building a democratic system. With a heart filled with rage and a mind affected by schizophrenia, its physical disability was aggravated as a result of a poisoned mental capacity, which misguided its movement. Overall, it scarcely resembled democracy and lacked the wisdom, depth and character that usually precede a genuine commitment to social
equality.

As it continued to grow, “Young Democracy’s” true identity became evident. Because it suffered from congenital abnormalities, which could not be corrected through indigenous intervention, its badly deformed body failed to show any sign of improvement. Its ability to allow and tolerate freedom of speech and freedom to protest were severely compromised as time
passed. Its capacity to move forward towards an equitable society continued to be impaired because of its crippled legs, which became even more stunted with dictatorship and intolerance.

Its malformed body and disturbed brain became liabilities to the nation instead of enhancing its
redemption.

What makes “Young Democracy” different from other imposed false democracies is its ability to
change its colors like a chameleon. For those who look from the outside, its mental and physical
handicaps are carefully concealed with props. To its foster parents that monitor its actions and sponsor it from afar it is a perfect model. It obeys their orders, accepts their demands and satisfies their every need. It shows them what they want and pretends when necessary. It squirms submissively when they reprimand it and swaggers when it gets their support.

However, for Ethiopians whom it is supposed to serve and protect it is a messenger from hell. It uses the people’s power and the country’s resources to fulfill the goals, dreams and ambitions of a few hateful souls. In its quest to realize the failed dreams of secessionists it ignores the needs of the nation. It is pretentious, shrewd and uses every ounce of its energy to exact revenge and spread hate. When challenged, it throws a thunderous temper tantrum and is quick to retaliate with vengeance. It interprets freedom in obtuse terms and lacks the capacity to uphold the basic principles of democracy. It is cruel, savage and vindictive. No amount of cajoling, good will or tolerance could calm its wrath. It demands undeserved loyalty but it betrays Ethiopia and its people in every way possible. It has no limit to its eccentricities and doesn’t know when to quit.

It underestimates patience and abhors criticism. It has a voracious appetite but it shows no sign of physical growth or mental maturity. It takes everything but gives nothing in return. It
endorses hate instead of cooperation. It has become the catalyst for underdevelopment instead of
being the motivating force behind sustainability. In summary, its reason for existence is the gradual and complete disintegration of Ethiopia and it has abundantly demonstrated that it won’t stop until it plunges the country into anarchy. Nobody but Ethiopians who have to live with it could distinguish and understand its true nature.

Despite the people’s continued lack of confidence in “Crippled Young Democracy” some foreign governments and individuals with vested interest in the status quo maintain their assertion that it would get better as it grows. In their trademark condescending and paternalistic attitude they keep harping on the fact that democracy is young in Ethiopia as if its deterioration wasn’t noticeable over the past fourteen years. They deliberately fail to understand that throughout the long ordeal since its birth, “Young Democracy” which the people hoped would bring equality, development and peace only delivered poverty, war, diseases, ethnic conflict and unparalleled inequality. Its handicap became an unbearable burden to the Ethiopian people. In all fairness, the people gave this crippled democracy every chance and hoped that there might be a slight
possibility of rehabilitating it from its disability. Enduring extreme poverty and underdevelopment they tolerated its antics hoping and praying that “Crippled Democracy” will one day make the effort to accept its handicap and seek the cure it needed. But their patience and effort have proven to be futile. Their tolerance came to be misinterpreted as a sign of weakness.

Fourteen years later Ethiopians gave up hope as they saw no sign of improvement in the “Crippled Young Democracy” sent to them from abroad. With unprecedented show of unity and courage they resolved to remove the teenage crippled democracy that was imposed on them and bring to this world a healthy, tolerant, positive and equitable democracy. Unfortunately, in direct scorn to their verdict at the polls, the successors of the former political obstetricians are making every attempt to redeem “Crippled Democracy” using the same underhanded tactics, which they effectively used fourteen years ago. They call for reconstructive surgery as if it were possible to restructure the deformed make up of an already bankrupt democracy paralyzed by birth defects.

They keep pampering it with gifts that help it continue with its arrogant trashing. They boost its
bruised ego by supporting its savage actions on the public. They perform plastic surgery on it rom time to time to give it a better look and fool the people as if they have no idea what genuine democracy should look like.

Whatever they do and no matter how much they intervene, “Crippled Democracy’s” foreign
supporters, haven’t been able to change or don’t want to change its deeply ingrained arrogant character. It is unfortunate that they continuously try every trick in the book to fool Ethiopians in vain and make this disastrous monster look good. But its actions keep giving away its true nature. They know very well that the severely crippled and ever more degenerating “Young Democracy” that their predecessors helped bring to Ethiopia is worse than ever. But it seems that they are determined to keep it alive at any cost to safeguard their interest.

The reason why Ethiopians want to get rid of the malformed democracy sent to them shouldn’t be so hard to understand unless one has a hidden motive. “Crippled Democracy” failed to deliver peace, harmony, prosperity and unity that the people needed. Ethiopians, in what may seem ridiculous to some hypocrites, clearly aware of past mistakes and interventions want to produce real democracy the right way. They want to conceive it freely, deliver it locally and nurture it independently. I don’t see anything wrong with that, but those who spawn crippled
democracies by the dozen all over the developing world as they see fit seem to have a different opinion. If they really have the intention for all people to live in peace and harmony, which I doubt, they should dismantle their laboratory and allow democracy to evolve freely without intervention.

Currently there is a strong push by a few local supporters and foreigners to keep the government
that is despised by a majority of the population in power. With abundant evidence to support the fact that the election was hijacked, some powerful and influential governments are advocating the idea that the opposition should be satisfied with the seats they gained and join the parliament.

They have no shame when they knowingly endorse corruption at the highest level. This clearly
shows where their priorities lie and the version of democracy that they subscribe for us is quite
different from what they want for themselves. As always, their motive is self-serving.

Do these people think that the Ethiopian people endured extreme hardship casting their vote simply to see their voices dishonored? Should Ethiopians resort to war to make their voices heard instead of being civil and disciplined? Should their collective power be underestimated because they chose the non-violent way? Did they make a mistake by taking advantage of their rights to choose the government of their liking? Why are they being pushed to accept the unacceptable? Why should they settle for less? Do they deserve any less than others? If an election were rigged would such behavior be accepted in Western democracies? Should the fact that democracy is young in Ethiopia allow it to behave in an anti-democratic way? Isn’t
democracy about fairness, equity and honesty? Can anybody see anything fair, honest and equitable in “Crippled Democracy?” What guarantees do the Ethiopian people have that the government will not continue to suppress all kinds of freedoms to maintain its power from now until the next election? Is it not clear that it is capable of tightening the noose? Hasn’t it demonstrated its totalitarian capabilities before and after the election?

The majority’s support for the opposition in the May election was a reflection of the disgust and exhaustion of the Ethiopian people with the current government. The people responded to the call for unity and real democracy. They unequivocally rejected ethnic division and dictatorship.

The opposition groups should understand that the people gave them the responsibility of safeguarding the people’s vote. They should assume this responsibility and lead with confidence as the people are behind them. They shouldn’t allow foreigners; infiltrators or traitors divert the right course set by the Ethiopian people. They should not settle for anything less other than freedom from “Crippled Democracy”.

Without question a fresh unbiased and fair election should be held if genuine democracy is to flourish in Ethiopia. Any effort to satisfy the wants of foreign nations before the needs of the Ethiopian people will only lead to another era of a far more crippled democracy which will certainly transform itself into a much more manipulative, destructive and unrelenting autocracy.

Well done. Send this remarkable work to individuals, groups, organizations or nations to let them know the true nature of the imposed criminal rulers on our beloved country. Continue with your deep and fact writing as this article is.

Email: t@tiscali.com

Exquisite!

Sereke Berhan, Thank you.

Email: nmengistu1@aol.com

City: la

As usual this is an article full of denial victory of Ethiopan peoples over the Dergue regime.

Sereke,

As usual, great work and thank you for that.

When I watch the news on TV these days, I cannot help thinking that some of the looters in New Orleans are similar to the TPLF cadres in Ethiopia. They are armed, lawless and very vicious.

The main diffrences between these two are that (1) no such a natural disaster exists in Ethiopia to be considered as a genune cause, (2) the TPLF looters are more organized, have a leader and are richer (2) the looters in New Orleans do not have control of the media to lie about what they are doing.

Think about it.

Email: wazeleke@yahoo.com

ZWA!

You seem someone who is hired to drum for a musician.

That is a masterpiece!
Thank you Sereke Berhan and keep up the good writing.

Email: Kambolojo

City: Los Angeles