Mekelle, Tigray January 28,2025 (Tigray Herald)
Current political organization is structured based on ideas of long worn-out elitist class structure
Written by Bereket Kiros
Some young men and women of my generation were lured first by the illusive idea of “democracy,” and still others were seduced by the promise of instantaneous wealth, and idyllic societies of Albanian, TPLF-style Marxist thoughts were swallowing and regurgitating without digesting such fantasies. In the last fifty years, we have witnessed numerous people in our Tigrai dying for imported and alien political ideals without regard to existing profound knowledge of “traditional”(Erqi Enderta) communities that have kept us as a society with all its shortcomings. The new elites of traditional communities were digging and living within wells of conformity of their constructions, which was most harmful to our people.
The so-called “educated” few Tegaru of the last fifty years stagnated within narrow wells of conformity and hardly ever allowed original thinking to seep in. This would have helped us move away from the doldrums of political ideology we are experiencing now. Even worse, we desperately tried to imitate our aristocrats and feudal class in our behavior. We never truly internalized any of the democratic principles we pontified in our own daily lives. We are hypocrites and delusional. Whether we are promoting universal suffrage or democratic centralism, it seems we have always been the center of every political structure we intended to erect for Ethiopia. We seem to have no genuine respect for our fellow Tegaru heroin/heroes who toil from sunrise to sunset, maintaining the continued existence of our nation. Even though most of us are the sons and daughters of such people, we have no respect for our checkered history.
First, let me state that none of what I have written here would have any consequence without freedom of speech, expression, and association. A free press (media) is an absolute necessity for the future of Tigrai. We need a vigorous, self-starter, and courageous free press and media. I put much of my faith in the free press and media because they will be the eyes and ears of all of Tegaru. Government-controlled press must take a backseat and allow private press and media to lead in the information, debate, and often irreverent questioning of government officials. Especially during a transition period, the role of our free press and media is of utmost importance. It is the press that is going to do most of the vigilant watching of the activities of both politicians and military commanders, thus keeping everyone straight.
The free press would also inform the public of inefficiency and corruption in our government and the armed forces. One additional fact that we need to keep in mind is that we are blessed with extreme social values that predate both Christianity and Islam. Our values are our strong sense of independence, justice, individual accountability, and fairness or equal treatment of individuals in similar circumstances. Ethiopia is a classic example of a synergy, where the whole is greater than the parts. Thus, for the sake of our present crisis, I urge people to concentrate on the ideas offered here and not on the genealogy or evolution of my political views.
I support anyone forming a political team or organization, actively presenting his or her program to the people of Tigrai, and campaigning to win leadership positions. However, I have concluded that we have too many “Chiefs” and too few “Indians” at present. Not only that, but also the fact that every single political organization is hovering to land on some political arrangement, more or less a repeat of the 1991 undemocratic transition of power from one dictatorial political group to another equally undemocratic political group, in disregard of the rights of millions of Tegaru citizens. History may repeat itself, and that is the tragedy that we may not have learned much from the events of the last consecutive years of election.
Almost every current opposition political organization is structured based on ideas of long worn-out elitist class structure with no basis or connection to the reality surrounding our citizens. Membership in those political organizations is limited to a tiny segment of urbanites (mostly small businesspeople) and professionals. Overall, they represent a fraction of the Tigrai population. As far as I can surmise, such organizations are insignificant and are not, by any stretch of the imagination, representatives of the people of Tigrai. It is sheer arrogance and narcissism for such teams to dream of acquiring state power through such sleek structures.
The best possible procedure after TPLF and associates are driven out of office is to have a short transition period of two years. No political organization will be allowed to participate in the transition government. Still, neutral and honorable Tegaru, who were not officials of the governments of TPLF, from around the country will form a transition government to prepare the country for a universal election in two years and to draft a constitution. I suggest having village elders, businessmen, schoolteachers, retired labor leaders, and retired officials from the diaspora run the transitional government. Religious leaders will contribute to the transition through spiritual guidance and prayer. The details of organizing or holding elections to form a regular government may not be easy to write about now. However, we must clearly understand the meaning of a transitional government.
The transition period is strictly a period for the normalization of the situation, the administration of the civil service, the collection of taxes, the payment of international debts, the drafting of a new constitution, and the organization of election districts. It is not a period where political organizations take over the government by forming a coalition and then fighting it out with each other to gain sole power, as was the case during the last three years. The individuals who form the transition government will not be allowed to run for any elected office or be appointed to state senior offices once the transition period is over and a new government is formed. This time, Tegaru’s men/women in arms will serve the people of Tigrai by ensuring that no sleek process will put them one more time in the hands of politicians. Over fifty years, our men/women of arms have been manipulated, abused, and used as instruments of oppression, violence, and murder of the civilian Tegaru population.
The question of what must be done right now is the most critical enquiry about the future of our country. Before we get to the point of establishing a transitional government, we must have a clear idea of how a transitional government will replace the present government. Debretsion and associates will not pack their things and leave one day. Why should they? Thus, it will happen through massive civil disobedience, where there is a complete breakdown of civil government, or the current government is pushed out of office by force. However, the types of protests and demonstrations we have had so far (simple and limited nonviolent protests and demonstrations) will not achieve any change of government.
However, suppose there is massive civil disobedience due to the unbearable brutality of TPLF leaders. In that case, the likelihood of a military takeover and the establishment of a government by some of the people who are part of the current Interim government in association with some political organizations is a real possibility. Such eventualities will be tragic setbacks for Tigrai’s unity and territorial integrity. The coming of another dictatorial government formed by recycled officials and opportunist political organizations or establishing a transitional government by political invitees alone will break our unity. Thus, I believe there is an absolute need for a functional Interim government. The Interim with TDF must be under one command. It should have one of its goals: to win the support and, ultimately, the territorial integrity of Tigrai and return our civilian citizens to their land.
The Interim government would have three distinct goals: (1) to drive out the TPLF leadership headed by Debretsion, (2) to delaminate TDF from the clutches of politicians to allow the army to defend and preserve the territorial integrity of Tigrai, and (3) to protect the individual human and political rights of every Tegaru without regard to Awraja, social status, age, language, gender, or religion. If Debretsion and Monjearino were allowed to stay in power through violence and scarce tactics, they would be a tyrant for life. No one will be spared. Soon, they will turn their gun on their members and supporters. God forbid, the same killing could happen if the residents of Mekele or Adigrat come out to protest against it. That is why we need to stand together and oppose it.
Bereket Kiros is the editor of the Ethiopian Observer. He was a team member for the advancement of Race and Social Justice at Seattle Center and worked there for 13 years as a lead, administrative assistant, and HR. He holds an MBA from the University of Phoenix and an Environmental Science degree from the University of Washington Bothell. Currently, he is the executive director of CIRCC, WAMA, and Tigrai Liberty Media (TLM) and a producer and contributor.
