Rene Lafort states

“Hard liners” still feel that 17 years of bloody and exhausting armed struggle against the Mengistu regime gives them an undisputed right to govern, and that this legitimacy is irrevocable, because it is more deserving than any that could be claimed by an alternative force emerging through the ballot box.

This sense of legitimacy should be restricted to TPLF for the following reason. Were TPLF to fight for 17 years against a non-Ethiopian entity, then they should have a true claim to legitimacy. However, TPLF fought against another Ethiopian force, but both TPLF and the Derg are equally detested by Ethiopians. There is little to no sense of gratituty from the other Ethiopians. Infact the other Ethiopians must feel resentment. The soldiers that died in the battlefields were Oromo Amhara Sidama and Gurage.


I consider the source of TPLF's legitimacy to power is the fear it instilled into the population, INCLUDING DIASPORA POLITICIANS, that if it loses power the country will go up in ethnic flame. The same way Dergu's legitimacy was based on its self-appointment to the protection of the territorial integrity of the country. It is all an illusion.

TPLF legitimacy is based on beggin skills.

They sent master beggar Meles around the world and he came back with $4 billion/year of white folks' loose change.

My genius friend let me share you President Nixon’s wise saying: People react to fear, not love --they don't teach that in Sunday school, but it's true.
Of course, weyane is ruling Ethiopia by spreading fear and inflicting distrust among citizens. However, unfortunately, it seems that we are not ready to outwit this tribal gang; instead we are still struggling to unleash ourselves from their tribal trap.
Moreover, the tribal gang has been entertaining the strong support of the slave masters, and of course that boosts its confidence and eliminates any uncertainty.
The saddest part is that we do not have courageous as well as realistic leaders who can minimize the illusion and eliminate the fear we have experienced.
We need a lion as a leader not a sheep.

I enjoy the pronoun "we" when you use it. It has a very comedic effect. As to your point that the fear that exists (and IS VERY REAL) is not being tackled by the opposition, they themselves are paralyzed by it. However, the death of Meles Chenawi has abundantly demonstrated to the ordinary Ethiopian what the opposition could not have done with years of propaganda. As a result even the diaspora politicians are now over it. I mention as an example, Abebe Gellaw who clearly does not even entertain it. This is A BREAK THROUGH.

My genius friend let me share you President Nixon’s wise saying: People react to fear, not love --they don't teach that in Sunday school, but it's true.
Of course, weyane is ruling Ethiopia by spreading fear and inflicting distrust among citizens. However, unfortunately, it seems that we are not ready to outwit this tribal gang; instead we are still struggling to unleash ourselves from their tribal trap.
Moreover, the tribal gang has been entertaining the strong support of the slave masters, and of course that boosts its confidence and eliminates any uncertainty.
The saddest part is that we do not have courageous as well as realistic leaders who can minimize the illusion and eliminate the fear we have experienced.
We need a lion as a leader not a sheep.

I see a mature discussion in this forum. Job well done. Go for it.

However, the death of Meles Chenawi has abundantly demonstrated to the ordinary Ethiopian what the opposition could not have done with years of propaganda. As a result even the diaspora politicians are now over it. I mention as an example, Abebe Gellaw who clearly does not even entertain it. This is A BREAK THROUGH.

Over it seems a wishful thinking, but despite your claim the citizens as well as the political leaders have not conquered the fear inflicted by the tribal gangsters. The 2005 trauma would not surmount or cured by simple loud noise against the ruthless tyrant; but it needs action, as they say “action speaks louder than voice.
Here, I am not trying to belittle the job done by opposition groups; however, they need to cross the line and transfer themselves into action rather than staying on the same place for the last 20 years and make loud noise.
I don’t know how you reached to the conclusion that the death of Melese would have some impact on the ordinary citizens, but I strongly doubt this assertion, because TPLF is a tribal organization and despite losing its strong leader there is a possibility to continue its tribal rule without any commotion. Unless, the opposition comes together and able to put strong punch on it, the tribal gangster would not hesitate to continue it tribally twisted dogma.
Indeed, the weakness as well as lack of coordination of the opposition seem heightening the confidence of the tribal junta and help them to do whatever they want to do without being frighten.
Anyhow, when I use “we” in my writing it is to show that I am an Ethiopian.