Ethiopia: ‘Good Governor’ to unleash fresh crackdown
By Abebe Gelaw
Ethiopia’s beleaguered Prime Minister, Meles Zenawi, has unveiled plans to unleash a fresh crackdown on opposition parties and political dissidents whom he labelled as “anti-peace and anti-democratic elements.”

In his latest interview with Abiotawi Democracy, one of the organs of the ruling party, Meles noted that the EPRDF would implement its five-year “good governance and development” plans. Meles went on to say that the plans were readied prior to the general election.

The ruler gave a clear signal that he would take all the necessary measures against anyone “bent on destabilizing” his government. He accused opposition parties of intending to grab political power by hook or crook.

The PM warned that the opposition should gracefully accept the decisions of the Electoral Board, which is widely condemned to have served the ruling party as a vassal in the vote rigging scandal. “We believe after all this, twitching doesn’t help except bruising oneself.” He said this position was correct and hoped that other countries would lend support to it.

“If they support it, that would be good. Even if they don’t, it doesn’t change anything at all,” Ato Meles said with his usual tone of arrogance.

The king of contradictions' jumbled recipe of good governance and crackdown on dissenting voices shows his lack of political direction. While good governance requires quality democratic leadership and the full respect for human rights, Meles’ rhetoric of as a ‘good governor’ failed short of coming up with an all-inclusive system of governance.

Tony Blair’s doomed Commission for Africa, where ex-commissioner Meles played a part, had recommended that African governments should embrace democracy and good governance. To the dismay of Tony Blaire, Meles Zenawi ordered the execution of over forty civilian protesters and the mass arrests of thousands of opposition party supporters and sympathizers a few weeks prior to the Commission’s presentation of its long list of recommendations at this year’s G8 summit at Gleneagles.

Meles’ threats are expected to awaken opposition leaders further to come up with contingency plans in the wake a fresh crackdown that the regime is intending to unleash to quell the looming civil disobedience and popular protests across Ethiopia.

He indicated that his party would not make any major policy changes. “The already publicized strategy, would hinge upon Agricultural Development Led Industrialization.” But the policy has been widely criticized for being more of an empty political rhetoric than a sound policy that took into accounts Ethiopia’s underdeveloped agriculture, which is heavily dependent on erratic rainfall.

Leading international and local economists had on many occasions advised the government to diversify its policies rather that trying to over-emphasize the miracles of ADLI in the absence of mechanized farming and the heavy dependence of Ethiopian peasant farmers on food aid let alone leading industrialization. However, Meles, who is known for being as stubborn as a mule, insisted that ADLI would ensure a speedy economic development throughout Ethiopia.

“Talking is not the same as doing things effectively. If this man had listened to the good advice of experts and specialists, the country could not have registered regressions in all spheres of life,” said Girma Tesfay, a London based social policy researcher. “This man is a disaster who would continue to wreak havoc until justice catches up with him.”

Ato Meles said that the source of the current instability and anxiety in Ethiopia were vestige elements of the Derg within the opposition. He indicated that there was a need to dry up the source of the current menace.

Meles’ bland sophistry coupled with his tyrannical methods of dealing with public concerns is making him appear a brutal general of an occupying force that regards any dissenting views as enemy conspiracy. He failed to mention the consequences of the June massacre and the call for an independent inquiry into the extrajudicial killings of mostly over-enthusiast teenage protesters.

If the Prime Minister is found to be guilty of ordering the killings, he could be impeached and face trials depending on the strength and independence of the judiciary, which is led by Chairman of the Electoral Board, Chief Justice Kemal Bedri, who is accused by opposition parties of being a stooge of the ruling party.

May the good governor respect basic human rights. Sorry correct as the bad governor....

Tell Meles that no one is taking him seriously. He is a sitting duck. He can try to crackdown the opposition and he will face an international court. Remind him that the world is different today than yesterday. In pre-Iraq world White House would have come to his defense. Thell him also that he is out smarted, out voted, out manuvered and out flanked. Thell him on my behalf also that his foot solders on this forum (Yilma, thiopian, Debalkie, Gebrefenafent) are all delivered life less by a chap who calls himslef Mamo Qilo, Ankasa Dor, Sebara Kirar. This is not his season. Pleas eremind him that he has been served!

Mamo Qilo

"crackdown opposition? " yes that is right .if they bent on distablizing i dont think the government has a choice.we all shouldn't forget that the govrnment has the obligation to secure peace and stablity in this land.but i am sure things will bwe handled in accordance with the law.

Email: bdesalegnb@yahoo.com

City: addis