H.E. Ato Haile Mariam Dessalegn
Prime Minister of Ethiopia
Prime Minister of Ethiopia
Addis Ababa
July 11, 2013
Your Excellency,
A year has almost passed since you took the helm of
government. I believe that
you are an intelligent man, because you would not have reached the position you
have now by being the contrary, in a rather challenging milieu. Therefore, I
hope that you will consider the few suggestions I make hereunder with an open
mind and genuine concern.
As you may have observed yourself the age of “ruling by the barrel
of a gun” and “manipulated” elections is
in its twilight. No matter how many guns are pointed, no matter how many are
killed, no matter how many are imprisoned and their freedom denied, people have arisen. There is a new
wind of freedom and a cry for justice that is storming around the world.
Admittedly some economic and social progress has been made during the regime
that you are leading; education, health, infrastructures, industrial and
agricultural production has increased, transportation and other sector have
been expanded thanks to an enormous amount of foreign aid and investments.
However, all this development has benefited only a small segment
of the country and the population. It has created an unacceptable disparity of
income, leaving the large majority of the population to exist below one dollar
a day. A predatory cancerous corruption permeates at all levels of public and
private life. Extensive unemployment in urban areas particularly amongst the
young, abject poverty, prostitution and mischief prevail social conduct and
behavior. Insidious religious and ethnic discords impeach peaceful existence
amongst people. Breakup of the judicial system and bad inefficient governance
reduce people to despair and deep frustration, causing a bitter resentment
against the regime. I am not talking here about statistically produced progress
and welfare, but of real life conditions that
you know very well.
Regarding foreign support and aid the US, European governments
have been the main political support of the regime for reasons they deem to be
of their national interests; with little consideration for the people of
Ethiopia, whom they consider as subject of charity deserving no better. A false
premise, if we consider the mass popular protests that are occurring in the
Middle East, Latin America, Asia and other continents. It seems also that these
benefactors have started realizing the brittleness of the policies of expediency
they have pursued so far for Ethiopia and Africa. At last changing their policies
towards genuine democracy in favor of the people, instead of corrupt
authoritarian regimes seems also to take place. The geopolitical strategic
position of Ethiopia and the potential dynamism of its ninety million people is
certainly not lost on foreign powers, who foresee eventual political changes in
the country.
Your Excellency,
When you assumed your functions as Prime Minister you stated that
it was going be a collegial governance, even tough by virtue of your position
you would still have the responsibilities that your title gives you. Observing
the many personality and function changes that have occurred since your
Premiership, I cannot but conclude that you hold a key and deciding function in
the direction of the state; anyway, history will consider you as the Prime
Minister with all its prerogatives; and also accountable for whatever develops
during your tenure. Therefore,
it is up you and your team to face realistically the imminent revolt that will
be occurring in Ethiopia. This is a matter of bringing normality and peace to
the country, but also of securing your own survival in an untenable situation.
I suggest:
a. Free all political prisoners,
journalists, activists for Human Rights and democratic rule.
b. Re-establish freedom of expression and
assembly
c. Establish a Conciliation Committee and
negotiate with all political parties for a fair and open election with full
participation in 2015 election. This will give your party two years to clean up
the mess they have created.
d. Give all members in the Diaspora the
right to Dual citizenship. The Diaspora is over three million people and
increasing in numbers. The Diaspora is a large Human and Economic resource that
cannot be ignored due its close and active ties with the community at home and
it’s political activity around the world.
e. You guarantee the Military their
statutes and privileges as long as they remain neutral from politics and are
concerned only with National Defense.
f. Declare private ownership of land to
the present tiller and compensations for displaced people for land used for development projects.
g. Revise election laws and establish an
independent Election Commission composed of personalities free of any political
membership and commitment.
There are many more reforms to be made, but the above could
be the first steps to ensure stability and a healthy environment for the future
democratic development of the country.
I am not sure that these measures will be agreeable to some of the
deeply entrenched and involved members of the present governance who must
realize that the game is up, and that sooner later they must relinquish power
peacefully or by other means. I am sure that the people of Tigray are grateful
for the benefits that the TPLF has gained for them, but are also anxious not to
lose them by confronting as enemies the
vast majority of the Ethiopian people. If you succeed to introduce such reforms
you can be sure to gain the full support of the nation and its gratitude.
Rochefoucauld a French philosopher said “to govern is to foresee”, a good
dictum to learn from
With best regards.
Imru Zelleke
