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7 thoughts on “Andargachew Tsige revisits peaceful struggle in Ethiopia”

  1. Thanks Elias, last time Berhanu Nega posed several questions on how the DIRECTION of struggle should be agains the fascist Weyane, in the future.
    Now, Andargachew Tsigie seems to give answers to the questions.

  2. Great guys! Thank you. we need such kinds of practical analysis on the real problem. We can’t turn blind eyes on the facts on the ground and chant “peaceful struggle”. Unless we make such critical analysis of the facts on the ground, we can’t move an inch on the current meaningless “peaceful struggle”. So, I also advise Birtukan and Dr. Yacobe also stop and see the realities on the ground more crticially. Unless and otherwise, we end up exposing innocent Ethiopians to the woyane criminal gangs. So, those Ethiopian professionals step in and give your analysis. Your country needs you now more than ever befor.

  3. The overall analysis is excellent indeed.The language is flowery. It is suspensful and captivating.I, for one have learned new Amharic words and phrases. I thank the a
    uthers of this valuable document.
    Let me add the following however;(A)the shift of world power to Asia is a mere dream at least for the coming half century.The West will continue to dominate merely because of its science and techonological advancement.The current economic recession in the USA is transient.
    US policy over Ethiopia specilly in 2005-2007 was repugnant.It was based on frustration in the face of the grusome reality against the fight on terrorism.Meles Zenawi has a well organized military forcce if not popular support.How about The CUDP, the main opposition party? It had and still has a wide popular support but not the military.It was mainly because of lack of support from the militrry that the CUDP could not bring change. The military on its part is highly regimented.Meles has his own men as commanding officers at the apex of the structure.That is the problem.It behoves therefore that the analysis made by the two gentlemen, tested freedom fighters,is quite sober and could serve as a guiding light if coached in the light of military analysis.
    Would it be a joke,I dont want want to make a joke on the struggle of my compatriots,If I say Andargachew Tsege and co Go ask Issaias Afeworki, the best Political and military stragist in the Horn of Africa? I don’t know your position but for me the time has arrived that we should unite our struggle with Eritrea and if possible with The Sudan
    For me Ghandi’s style of peaceful struggle doesn’t work in Ethiopia.It is old and morever too pacifist.The inviornment is also too different.The colonial rulers, the Britishers, were not cruel like the merciless tribal regime of Meles regime.The trial judges of Ghandi were not cadre judges the tribal regime.The condition in the prision unit Of Ghandi was not like ice cells of the evil regime. Andargachew knows more than any body the beating and the brutality of the regime and yet preaches peaceful struggle?

  4. Dear Editor,

    Please help me!

    I’m so sad that I’m unable to read the 23-page article in Amharic language by Emnetu Zeleke and Andargachew Tsige. The more I struggle hard to get a sense out of it, the more I get frustrated; I wish it were written in English so that I could benefit from it.

    What makes me more frustrated is that the Amharic language I have known for many years has been chanoged to a new language with its new vocabulary, construction of sentences, and idioms. The article has some strange words such as “ahadawe, hoonetochim, ahazoch, thinfegnoch, ailoal,” and so on. The article is poorly written as far as writing in Amharic is concerned, mixed up with English, Geez, and Tigirnga languages, and perhaps with some other languages which I do not know at this time. I hope you will pass my frustration to the writers of this long article so that they could translate it into English, or into pure Amharic, or Geez, or Tigrigna language.

    Sincerely,

    Assta B. Gettu

  5. What a great article has been put together by Ato Endargachew. It is a must read article or documet should be very helpful for any concerned Ethiopians strugle against this particular devil given dictator. Most of all to better understand what the election 2005 strugle for freedom and democracy accomplished and what our opposition organizations set backs. Also how the stragle should shape up. The writter is well observed the entire event from the begining to now. Well done a great assesment and eductational pc of document. Thank you my fellow Ethiopian!

  6. “I think some people may have reached to the conclusion that Andargahcew is heading to armed struggle, because he did not give an answer to the “HOW” question. “If no answer was given does it mean the answer is the obvious ? ” Some may question.I think all in all, it is a good article. I look forward to hear from him or anyone one else the answer to the main question. “HOW ? ”

    The above was my conclusion of an e-mail I wrote on the last Article of Ato Andargachew Tsige. I think in his latest new article posted on various websites Ato Andargachew seems to have given us an explicit answer.
    Before I proceed further I would like to express my admiration to Ato Andargachew for this excellent work. I think Ethiopia needs people like him who deliberate on issues and took time to write and share their ideas. Many of our intellectuals preferred to be silent and stay in their closets. Even if they may have some ideas they are not actively engaged in Ethiopia’s affairs. They prefer to be unknown, hide behind the curtain and criticize behind the scene. With so many academicians, we should have seen more constructive ideas and intellectual discussions. There are even some so called PH.D holders who are even engaged in medieval inductive politics. So in this context, I for one have admiration for people like Andargachew, Ephraim Madebo, Dr Mesay Kebebe, Dr Meriayma, Dr Alemayehu, Ato Fekade, Dr Kiros, Dr Getachew Haile , Hama Tuma …for writing and being involved. This does not mean I necessarily agree with what they are writing ….But at least they are doing something. THEY ARE NOT SILENT.

    Saying this, I would like note one very important item. This article of Ato Andargachew is HIS own article. It has nothing to do with KINIJIT/ANDENET party. In fact per the interview Dr Yacob Hailemariam and Ato Sileshie Tena had last Saturday, KINIJIT/ANDENET is an organization that stands ONLY FOR A PEACEFUL STRUGGLE. In fact the armed or violent struggle is highly discouraged. The Kinijit Executives stressed that anyone who believes in violence and armed struggle is free to take any position but CANNOT AND WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED as member of KINIJIT/ANDENET. I think this must be clearly and unequivocally understood.

    Now back to Andargachew’s many pages article. As is clearly indicated, Ato Andaragchew now endorses violence against the “weyanes”. He has concluded that change in Ethiopia cannot come without confronting the TPLF with the barrel of the gun. It is to remember that one of the leaders of the OLF, Dr Beyan also stated that the peaceful struggle is an illusion.

    From this we will conclude one thing. Ato Andargachew the former member of the KIL leader, someone who has been addressing many international media on behalf on Kinijit, has basically left the train of Kinijit. I have no problem with that. I respect his right. However, one thing must be clear Ato Andargachew does not reflect anymore the views of KINIJIT/ANDENET. It is as if he has joined another organization.

    I believe in a peaceful struggle. I believe any solution that comes by killing another Ethiopian is not a solution. Ato Andargachew , when he concluded that the weyanes will not release power by peaceful struggle, he has failed to tell us that the weyanes has not released power also by armed struggle. Armed groups (OLF, EPRP, ONLF …) mall have been battling the regime for decades. What have they brought other than destruction and pain on our people ?

    When he characterized the peaceful struggle, I think he has missed some basic and fundamental points. Peaceful struggle in Ethiopia is not done effectively as we know it. When he was a KIL member we were not involved in the meaningful peaceful struggle in the Diaspora. We were involved in the internal fighting within Kinijit. When Tegbar League were at least trying to do something, the Diaspora Kinijit leaders and the UEDF leaders refused to give that group airtime on Finot Radio and Tensae Radio. No-organized civil disobedience campaign and struggles were held when leaders when in Kaliti.

    After their release the fiasco created by Ato Hailu Shawel, basically frozen the struggle. People, instead of talking on how to pressure the regime , they were talking about how to deal with Ato Hailu Shawel. When KINIJIT executives have successfully organized and reasserted themselves again and ready to mobilize the people in a peaceful and non-violent struggle, what we are seeing is Ato Andargahcew and Dr Berhanu questioning the peaceful struggle.

    This is where the problem is. How come one concludes something as not working when it was not tried very well ?????? The peaceful struggle requires strong leadership and effective organization. It is not a cake-walk. The Peaceful struggle did not have leaders. The Peaceful struggle was not organized. OF COURSE IT WOULD NOT BRING RESULTS AS WE WANTED. However, with good leaders and good organization (be it open or clandestine), we can empower the public and effectively force changes within Ethiopia.

    So for Ato Andargahcew to say that peaceful struggle will not bring change without even trying one, is a mistake. I think it is reaching to the wrong conclusion from no-where. The same with Dr Berhanu, when he puts a question mark on the peaceful struggle. Why put a question on something that was not properly tried?

    I believe many may be emotionally gratified when they read Ato Andaragchew’s high rhetoric against the Weyanes. Since the weyanes are hated very much, of course the words of Ato Andargachew are like music to our people. However, in Ethiopia we do not need music; what we need is real medicine. Our people must understand that the fate of its destiny lies on his/her own hand. One should not expect armed groups to come and rescue him from bondage. I think the “attacks” on peaceful struggle will do no good other than giving false hope for our people.

    The other issue I would like to stress is, is about the success of peaceful struggle. Even if it was not organized, Ethiopians peacefully resisted dictatorship. Because of this, leaders were released from prison. (Had it been organized we could scored more and brought democracy in Ethiopia)The fact person like Dr Berhanu is out from jail is because of the peaceful struggle. Last year, our goal was to secure the release of prisoners. After 2 years, we got success. Now it has been only 6 month since they are released. It has been one day since they got a new name. So we still need to have more time and energy.

    Though I respect the right of people, I BELIEVE IT IS UNFORTUNATE TO SEE AN ARTICLE LIKE THIS, AT THIS TIME AND FROM SOMEONE WHO WAS THE FACE OF KINIJIT.

    More to come to specifically discuss the article itself.
    Regards,

  7. Muziky68,

    Nice analysis. Thanks for that. I too have strong reservations about the message of this article. I completely agree with your points made regarding the fact that the peaceful struggle is not sufficiently utilized.

    On one point, I have to disagree with you. And that is when you draw an unfortunate parallel between Dr Birhanu’s article and this article. In my opinion the two articles are completely different in that Dr Birhanu’s does not question the necessity of peaceful struggle.

    As far as I could understand Dr Birhanu posed those questions for a different purpose than to discredit the peaceful struggle. He might give the answers by himself one day but here is why i think he raised thoe 22 questions:

    1. To start a heated public debate on the pros and cons of peaceful struggle
    2. To shake off those who do not really believe in peaceful struggle but are “supporters” or “members” of the peaceful struggle.

    I think he successfully accomplished the first goal as there was a reasonably heated debate right after the article was made public. Regarding the 2nd goal, we are seeing the results already as this very article is a witness.

    Long live the Peaceful Struggle!!!

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