INTERVIEW
Samuel Alemayehu
Secretary General of the Etiopiawinet Organization
Ethiopian Review
September 1995
Background
Ato Samuel Alemayehu was born and raised in Gojjam. He attended elementary school in Dangila, Debre Markos and Yirgalem, Sidamo. After completing his secondary education at Haile Selassie Secondary School in Kotebie. He graduated from Addis Abeba University with distinction and received a BA degree in Social Science and Law.
Then he studied philosophy, politics and economics at Oxford University, England and obtained his M.A. degree. He has also been very active in extra curricular activities. He served as secretary and later as president of the University College Debating Society, secretary and president of the Oxford University African Society, as well as secretary of the Ethiopian Students Association in Great Britain.
After completing his university education, he also served as secretary general and president of the University Graduates Association (Alumni) until his detention in 1974 for one year by the Derg regime.
Ato Samuel Alemayehu worked for two years in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as acting head of the Economic and Social Department. For 12 years he served in the OAU headquarters as head of the Decolonization division and the Bureau of Sanctions Against Apartheid South Africa. After being released from detention, he worked for six years as head of an International NGO named ICC. He is currently engaged in research on the third world and teaching African History and Amharic at the International Community School of Addis Abeba. At present, he is the Secretary General of the “Etiopiawinet” Organization in Addis Abeba. Ato Samuel Alemayehu is married and is a father of five children.
Interview
Q. What are the objectives of the Etiopiawinet Organization?
A. In answering this question I think it would be useful if I first explain the reasons as to why there was a need to setup the Etiopiawinet Organization. With the overthrow of the dictatorship in May of 1991, Ethiopia seemed to embark upon a period of peace and tranquility. However, contrary to our expectations the coalition of forces, under the so-called London agreement, seized the opportunity, under the cover of democracy, to carry out a political agenda whose contents were alien to the Ethiopian people. The core of the said political agenda was the promotion of ethnic nationalism. Acceleration of ethnic nationalism, as observed from the history of Europe, would lead to the balkanization and eventual disintegration of Ethiopia. In the scheme of the TPLF/EPRDF agenda primacy is given not to safeguarding and strengthening of the Ethiopian identity or Etiopiawinet, but to ethnic or tribal identity. In other words, one identifies oneself first as a Tigre or a Somali and then as an Ethiopian. One's loyalty is to one's ethnic origin rather than to the nation. This would inevitably create a conflict of loyalties. The basis for the formation of political parties was not an ideology or a socio-economic program, but mostly ethnicity and in some instances religion. Tribal politicians gave priority not to important national issues but to parochial issues. To be able to get support or a constituency they often whip up emotions of hate against one ethnic group or another. In short, in the post-Derg transitional period national identity was largely downgraded and substituted by ethnic or tribal identity. If the TPLF/EPRDF political agenda succeeds in breaking up Ethiopia, it would not take much time to transmit this virus to the rest of Africa.
In as much as Ethiopians are determined not to allow the repetition of past misdeeds and crimes, they are equally determined not to allow the diminution and eventual demise of their identity, their national heritage and their motherland. Consequently, after a period of study and discussions, a group of concerned Ethiopians took the initiative to form the Etiopiawinet Organization which was formally launched on March 28, 1993.
Etiopiawinet is neither a political party nor a professional association. It is a civic association whose basic objectives, in brief are: the maintenance of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ethiopia and strengthening the equality and solidarity of her people; promotion of democratic governance; and dissemination of knowledge and information related to Ethiopia, her history and rich culture.
In short, Etiopiawinet is dedicated to work for the establishment of a democratic, humane, just and peaceful society within the framework of a united Ethiopia.
Q. How do you carry out the objectives of Etiopiawinet?
A. To carry out the above objectives, Etiopiawinet has created a democratic forum where issues of common interest to Ethiopians are discussed and solutions considered. For example, during 1993-94 we organized a series of public gatherings. The first topic of discussion covered the theme that “Etiopiawinet—Ethiopian identity—is the basic foundation for peace and prosperity.” The second topic underlined that “The Ethiopian people are the source of legitimate authority and power.” Bitwoded Zewdie G/Hiwot, Ato Belet Gebretsadik, General Jagama Kello and Dr. Befekadu Degife led the discussions on the first topic. Dr. Beyene Petros, Ato Teshome Gebremariam and Ato Mohammed Idris with “democracy, constitution drafting and the modality of elections in Ethiopia.” Dr. Taye Woldesemayat, Dr. Yacob Hailemariam and Ato Nigatu Tesfaye led the discussions. The public gatherings attracted capacity audiences. The outcomes of those public meetings are disseminated through the mass media, especially through the free press, which is contributing immensely to the democratization process in Ethiopia.
Q. How well is Etiopiawinet known at home and abroad?
A. Etiopiawinet is well known and respected in Ethiopia. Since we concentrate our activities in Ethiopia, our work may not be as well known abroad. Nevertheless, the BBC, Radio Germany as well as the VOA have reported on our activities.
Q. How does your organization assess the present situation in the country?
A. Etiopiawinet is concerned about the present situation in Ethiopia. Developments since September 1994 indicate that basic human and democratic rights are being repeatedly violated by the transitional government (TGE). What is more disturbing is that President Meles Zenawi, in a recent press conference, declared that he would not be willing to remain in his seat of power for a minute unless he is in a position to carry out the political program of the EPRDF. The inevitable conclusion from his declaration is that as long as he occupies the seat of power, multi-party democracy has no chance in Ethiopia!
Q. There are groups who say that the present political problems facing Ethiopia cannot be saved by peaceful means. Could you comment on that?
A. Indeed there are many people in Ethiopia and abroad who hold that view. Recent high-handed actions by the TGE have in fact swelled their number. Their arguments can be summarized as follows.
1. The TGE, which had limited its terms of office in its own Charter to a maximum of 2-1/2 years, has decided to hang on to power without any legal instrument or popular consent.
2. In contravention to its political status as a transitional government, the TGE is making important political, economic and social decisions, which affect the sovereignty, territorial integrity of Ethiopia as well as the vital and long term interests of her people.
3. Although the TGE is a caretaker interim arrangement, it has surpassed the limits of its responsibility in taking high-handed and coercive measures against other political parties and professional associations which disagree with TPLF/EPRDF.
4. The TGE is exercising an increasingly tight control over the mass media and putting undue pressure on the private press, which has become an effective vehicle in the process of democratization. Private journalists continue to be subjected to arrest and imprisonment.
5. The bureaucracy, the armed forces, the intelligence and the security forces, members of the diplomatic service and civil servants are, by and large, members of the TPLF/EPRDF. Competent, qualified and experienced civil servants in government establishments are being dismissed summarily and replaced by less qualified and inexperienced people whose credentials are mainly their membership of TPLF/EPRDF.
In view of the above arguments and other new tragic developments in Ethiopia, which one finds very difficult to refute, the militant groups and individuals are convinced that the TGE is determined to prolong its hold on power by any means, including repression, intimidation and the use of military force on civilians. Some even assert that there is an unholy alliance between the EPLF and TPLF military forces in that regard. Consequently, they argue that there is no point in trying to pursue peaceful methods in solving the current political problems in Ethiopia. So long as the strong arm tactics of the TGE continue and so long as the TPLF/EPRDF fails to respect its solemn pledges, contained in its own charter, the prospect of peaceful change in Ethiopia looks dim.
Q. We come across some individuals or groups who comment about your organization as a “toothless lion.” What is your answer to this view?
A. I believe the reference to “toothless lion” is not relevant as far as our civic association is concerned. A civic association like Etiopiawinet does not base its program on military or political calculations. Its main aim is the empowerment of the Ethiopian people through the process of democratization. This modest contribution is carried out through civic education and public discussions which help the cross-fertilization of ideas. Many people fail to realize that unless and until the Ethiopian people are enlightened on the basics of democracy, the rule of law and constitutional order and stand up for those ideals, any group which takes over state power in the name of “revolution” and “democracy” will end up betraying the causes which it claimed to stand for. The Derg regime has betrayed the Ethiopian people. The TPLF/EPRDF group is following suit. Whichever group replaces the TPLF/EPRDF would, most likely, end up betraying the Ethiopian people again. Therefore, what Etiopiawinet is trying to do is to contribute towards the democratization process by helping create and strengthen a society that is fully aware of its basic rights and is committed to defining those rights.
Q. What is your opinion on the process of drafting the new constitution?
A. A constitution which is qualified as democratic presupposes that at least the majority of Ethiopian citizens take part in its drafting through their freely chosen representatives. The procedures carried out by the TGE are contrary to the above democratic modality. The members who prepared the initial draft were largely hand picked by the TGE. The few organizations, such as Moa Anbessa and Ethiopian National Unity Party, which had shown keen interest, pulled out when they realized that there was undue influence by the TGE. Once the initial draft constitution was finalized by the TGE assembly, the “national election board,” appointed by the TGE went ahead to have “representatives” elected for approving the finalized constitution. None of the numerous political parties which hold views different from that of the TPLF/EPRDF took part in the “election.” The prospect of the constitution being shaped by the TPLF/EPRDF leadership cannot survive the test of time. Similarly, any election which is not free, fair and democratic would suffer the same fate.
Q. Today, there is thought to be a general tendency in our country to praise the ex-president Mengistu Hailemariam. Why do you think this is?
A. I don't think that any level-headed person can praise a regime and its leaders for the brutality and repression that they carried out for seventeen years against the people of Ethiopia. Obviously there are contrasts between the positions of the Derg regime and the TPLF/EPRDF regime on important national issues. First and foremost, while the Derg regime stood for the territorial integrity of Ethiopia, the TPLF/EPRDF regime openly supported the secession of Eritrea from Ethiopia. Secondly, while the Derg regime worked for building a strong Ethiopia militarily, economically and politically within the framework of a centrally directed administrative system, the TPLF/EPRDF regime dismantled the armed forces and replaced it with its woyane combatants. The centrally planned economy and the centrally directed political setup of the Derg was replaced by a nominally free economic system, which has turned out to be subject to the ideological whims of the ruling group and the intermittent pressures of foreign economic and political interests. The centrally directed political set up of the Derg regime has been replaced by the reorganization of regions (kilil) on the basis of language and ethnicity. Lastly, the Derg regime respected the history and the national heritage of Ethiopia while the TPLF/EPRDF regime denigrates the history of Ethiopia and belittles national symbols such as the tricolor national flag. All these added up together have led people to appreciate the stand of the Derg regime on crucial national issues in contrast to the stand of the TPLF/EPRDF regime.
Q. Would you please enumerate the problems your organization encountered from the government?
A. In December 1992 we were prevented by the authorities from holding our constitutive conference in the assembly hall of the faculty of Business and Economics at Addis Abeba University. We had fulfilled all the required bureaucratic formalities for holding the conference. After three months of wrangling with the concerned authorities, we were able to hold the conference on March 28, 1993. Since then we have had numerous meetings and conferences. The other problem we faced was that, like all other organizations in Ethiopia, either political, professional or civic associations, we have not been able to have access to the mass media, which are being used exclusively by the ruling TPLF/EPRDF. We are registered as a civic association and we operate on the basis of laws pertaining to such associations.
Q. How far has the new generation of Ethiopians been involved in the activities of the Etiopiawinet Organization?
A. Membership of our organization is open to all Ethiopians, irrespective of age, gender, ethnicity, religion, and political persuasion. Etiopiawinet strongly believes that the future of the young generation and the future of Ethiopia are inextricably tied together. The Ethiopia of the future is what the new generation of Ethiopians are able to make of it. This depends on the strength of their identity as Ethiopians, their knowledge and appreciation of the glorious history of their motherland, and their firm commitment to ensure the survival of Ethiopia within her historical boundaries.
Nearly 72% of the total population of Ethiopia is under 30 years of age. Consequently, there is a great need to pay more attention to the new generation. Since Etiopiawinet is committed to educate, enlighten and sensitize the younger generation, it has drawn up a series of meetings and discussion forums related to the new generation.
_____________________________
Prepared by ER correspondent in Addis Abeba.
