THE DISCIPLES' CREED.

The lady who informed us in a teleconference that the oral tradition of Ethiopia should be explored is quite right in her assertion.  It appears that most Ethiopians seem to prefer oral discussions more than written ones.  Hence avenues that provide oral communication such as through radios, paltalks, TV's, and panel discussion plus teleconference discussions are exceedingly essential to our effort of causing the public to understand Ethiopia 's political problems.  Thus, I provide the following so that it can be shared to all by means of oral communication as well. Please recognize that any and all of what is written below is not necessarily original to me.  What I have done is pull the ideas together and share them here.

First and foremost what we need to establish are disciples to the nonviolent movement headed by President Hailu Shawel.  We can do that only if we bring questions and discuss them until we agree on important issues.  We then need to present the "disciples creed" that has been distilled from our best responses to important and crucial questions.  Below I present some questions and offer potential answers.

PREAMBLE:

On May 8, 2005 close to 3 million Ethiopians demonstrated to show their support for Kinijit under the chairmanship of President Hailu Shawel.  On May 15, 2005 over 90 % of the 26 million electorate voted overwhelming to replace the TPLF/EPRDF dictators by the democratic Kinijit.   The TPLF dictatorship responded by banning demonstations on May 16. In October and November it killed over 190 unarmed civilians, imprisoned hundreds of thousands of Ethiopians for different periods, and the Kinijit leaders for 21 months.  Among the Kinijit leaders different individuals wished to pursue different tactics and strategies. Some of them appeared to have strategies more akin to that pursued by the TPLF, and such folks are said to be "TPLF operatives" by some. Such operatives were working to weaken the Kinijit movement by supporting other "TPLF operatives" in the Diaspora.  After the leaders were released the" TPLF operatives" among them campaigned to weaken the movement by sabotaging the role of the President of Kinijit, thereby not respecting the vote of Ethiopians. For this reason alone such operative ought not to be listened to. Yet, there are individuals who ask how come President Hailu could not have held all the leaders together, and use such vacuous arguments to place aspersions against the genuine President of Kinijit? At any rate, as of March 9, 2008 many of those operatives have organized themselves as the Unity for Justice and Democracy and Peace Party (UJDP).  Other operatives such as Ato Chamisso are allowed to have the name "Kinijitt Party" while Ato Lidetu is given the V-sign of Kinijit.  Accordingly, the TPLF has succeeded in weakening the Kinijit by puling three groups, namely the UJPD, the Chamisso and the Lidetu groups from the Kinijit.  Yet, a major part of the Kinijit operates as a genuine opposition party under the leadership of President Hailu and his international aid, Dr. Taye Woldesemayat. Indeed, it is very clear that the illegitimate TPLF government cannot allow the legitimate Kinijit party to retain its name.  Accordingly, irrespective of what the Kinijit party under President Hailu might call itself to survive under the tyrannical TPLF regime the people will legitimize it as the genuine Kinijit party that won the May 15, 2005 elections.

More than ever before, the Kinijit party under President Hailu requires strong disciples that will struggle to liberate Ethiopia from the TPLF tyranny.  The disciples must have clear answers to simple questions.

QUESTION  1. WHAT EXACTLY IS THE ENEMY OF ETHIOPIA ?
ANSWER:

INTERNATIONAL DIMENSION. Current Western imperialism under the guise of globalization has brought much havoc to Ethiopia more than even the Ottoman Empire of the 16th Century had.  It is to be recalled that in the early 16th Century Ahmed Gragn nearly decimated Christian Ethiopia. The Ottoman Empire had surrogates from Eritrea and Tigre provinces and from Hararge, as these are outlets of Ethiopia .  Current Western imperialism has supported a condition that causes Ethiopia not to have a sea outlet by supporting initially the EPLF and subsequently the TPLF.  Western imperialism supports disunity among Ethiopians so that it can easily sell it merchandize to the population, and the population can be hired to serve as soldiers for wars of imperialist interests. Western governments have identified the TPLF regime as dysfunctional government but one that can meet international obligations. (See discussion on this issue at http://aboutethiopia.com/4Ed.htm.)

  The Moslem Arab world wishes to spread Islam across Ethiopia .  Also the radical elements that hate Western influences would like to establish militant Islamic influences in the region.

The Egyptian interest of obtaining unrestricted use of the Nile has always led modern Egyptian leaders to destabilize Ethiopia and support unpopular efforts in Ethiopia.

Unfortunately for Ethiopia gullible Tigre boys from Hamasein and Adwa who started liberation wars are currently old men who are at the helm of governments in Asmara and Addis satisfying their personal greed and not the interests of Ethiopia or of the regions they profess to support. Consequently, they have actively participated in the disunity of Ethiopia every which way.  Worse, the TPLF has invaded a Moslem nation, Somalia, and has established animosity between Ethiopia and Moslem countries across the world.  All the TPLF wanted was the money that it could gain by using the services of its companies of EFFORT as it wages war. It could care less about Ethiopian casualties or the impact of that war on Ethiopia .  It paid no heed to the possibility that the same Western powers might rise against it as they had done so to so many dictators that they initially had supported in other regions.  As a foolish servant proudly proclaims that he will be saved by the strength of his master, the TPLF has foolishly entered into a proxy war in Somalia .  Preemtion is a false right that no sensible leader can utilize to invade another country (http://aboutethiopia.com/c12-preemption-is-a-false-right.htm). The TPLF has sawn the seeds for a radical Moslem regime to take revenge against Ethiopia at an opportune time for the radicals.

NATIONAL DIMENSION.  Perhaps the worst thing that happened to Ethiopia is the EPLF party that is run by Ato Isaias Afeworki.  This individual has organized the EPLF to disassemble Ethiopia in every aspect. He helped establish the TPLF, the OLF and other ethnic-centered political parties.  He woos the TPLF to engage in wars not only against the Ethiopian people, and later the EPLF regime of Eritrea but also against Somalia .  He trains all kinds of opposition entities to oppose the TPLF or any organization that is not subordinate to him.  The EPLF does not rest until Ethiopia is destroyed completely.  Currently, the EPLF is mad at itself because it has seen how the TPLF has become so rich and none of what the TPLF pillages from Ethiopia and from foreign aid in the name of Ethiopia is shared with the EPLF.

The TPLF, which was established with the help of the EPLF and which fought a joint war to destroy the central government of Ethiopia is run by unscrupulous vagabonds who work hard to enrich themselves and their associates, and who have no respect for the interests of Ethiopia and Ethiopians.   Ever since it ascended to power its economic operations through REST and EFFORT have garnered it tremendous wealth.  Also as openly stipulated in its Revolutionary Democracy Instrument (RDI) it enters in all organizations of Ethiopia including religious organizations and makes them subservient to its dictates.  The RDI also clearly shows that the TPLF has promised never to leave power by the ballot box.  The TPLF owns all land and interprets the laws that it gave to its subjects only in ways that benefit its interests and never to provide justice to the people. 

It is remarkable that after the May 15, 2005 elections and after it noted that the opposition has gained more than a hundred seats that it acquiesced to, the TPLF had ordered its parliament to change the rules stipulating that parliamentarians cannot suggest items for discussion unless the concern is backed by more than 50 % of the parliamentarians.  Previously, the signature of only 20 parliamentarians were sufficient to cause the parliament discuss on issues of interest to the country.  Right now the rubber stamp parliament is allowed to listen to interests of the TPLF.  Then even after the Kinijit was conditioned to enter parliament the TPLF was unwilling to accept the famous Eight Points Principles, including having free media and a military that is not subjugated by one party, principles that would lead to democratic governance.

2. WHO EXACTLY ARE THE DISCIPLES TO THE ETHIOPIAN KINIJIT MOVEMENT THAT WAS SUPPORTED BY THE 3 MILLION PEACEFUL DEMONSTRATORS OF MAY 8, 2005 AT ADDIS ABABA?
ANSWER.  The demonstrations did not appear out of the blues.  They were not organize by the Kesta Damena party that was formed a few weeks before.  The demonstrations occurred by the painstaking and diligent effort of AEUP (All Ethiopian Unity party) and the guidance of President Hailu Shawel, and the effort of the EDP (Ethiopian Democratic party). The AEUP leadership wanted to form a coalition with other pan-Ethiopian groupings and parties.  While forming a coalition is not wrong, as we gather from 20/20 hind sight, the merger was certainly wrong for the leaders had different beliefs and tactics. The upshot is to comprehend that the AEUP was the backbone of the merger. 

The question is can the AEUP, or what it prefers to call itself because members from other parties now working under President Hailu, reemerge as a strong and all encompassing movement? The answer depends on whether or not there are disciples of Kinijit who understand the intricacies of the new alignment of oppositions, and who work to strengthen the opposition without necessarily attacking other opposition entities.

Notice that the emphasis on disciples is based on respecting the wishes of the 3 million Ethiopians who demonstrated in Addis on May 8, 2005, and the 26 million who voted on May 15, 2005 . That is where the notion of disciples emanates from and focuses on.  President Hailu stands tall as its leader because he worked hard to spawn it and guide it. The disciples are not imposing any esoteric shenanigans on individuals or groups in Ethiopia or in the Diaspora.  The role of the disciples is to follow the dictates of the voters of Ethiopia as related and interpreted by its unquestionable leader President Hailu Shawel.

3.  HOW CAN WE INCREASE THE NUMBER OF DISCIPLES?
ANSWER. The first order of business is to have disciples, i.e. true believers.  What are needed are individuals who with clear conscience and without any pressure believe in the value of respecting the votes of Ethiopians given on May 15, 2005, and thereby accepting President Hailu as the elected leader of the party and of the nonviolent movement. More than increasing the number of disciples, what is required is strengthening the conviction of the existent disciples. If we can get dedicated and true disciples any 12 of them can do marvels as was demonstrated by the Christian movement. From the Diaspora it is unlikely to obtain individuals who will devote 100% of their time as disciples.  Thus, unlike the Christian movement we may have to recruit more than 12 disciples.

If we do not have true disciples (believers) what is the point of increasing numbers? Merely increasing the numbers of people who will likely disagree with each other all the time takes us nowhere.  In contrast, if we have disciples, those dedicated individuals will take the movement somewhere and entrain others whom they can convince in our common journey. Thus the focus is on the conviction and depth of support of the followers rather than on the number of followers.


4. WHAT SHOULD OUR DISCUSSIONS FOCUS ON?
ANSWER. Our discussions should not focus on points offered by the TPLF and its surrogates that may be uttered to occupy our time and effort. For example should we engage in "hulegeb struggle," meaning a struggle with an armed component? Discussion on such issues by the Diaspora merely promotes the causes of the EPLF and TPLF, and their supporters.  We shall make determination on whom to follow if and when individuals in Ethiopia are engaged in struggles that are knowable to friends and foes alike.  Currently, the nonviolent movement headed by President Hailu is knowable and we are its disciples. If members of the armed forces of Ethiopia rise against the TPLF and side with the nonviolent movement headed by President Hailu we definitely will welcome that eventuality.  If other Ethiopians engage in a pan-Ethiopian armed struggle that is making a measurable dent then we may have to reassess the goings on and seek guidance from the nonviolent movement leaders of Ethiopia and how they see the armed suppression of Ethiopians by the TPLF and efforts at liberation by pan-Ethiopian armed groups, should any such exist.

5. WHAT TASKS SHOULD THE DISCIPLES PERFORM?
ANSWER.

1. They should be versed in the Disciples' Creed and implement its dictates without equivocation and preach its usefulness to all Ethiopians.
2. They should proceed with ethical code of conduct as they strive to bring justice in Ethiopia.
3. They should contribute funds and engage in fund raising efforts, and provide knowable amounts to the Kinijit movement headed by President Hailu.
4. The disciples should network among each other and across regions and continents.
5. Whereas the products of the culture of the Tigre gossa are to be respected, the disciple should engage in “Hizbawe Imbita” and should not purchase items made or transacted by REST or EFFORT or any such TPLF companies or businesses.
6. They should encourage the establishment of economies managed by Ethiopians who are not supporters of the EPLF and TPLF and should purchase the items made or transacted from such businesses.

We should at all times be hopeful that western governments can be brought back to the traditions of human liberties.  Hence we should not tire from trying to influence government agencies, congresses and administrations to help freedom loving Ethiopians extricate themselves out of the morass that the TPLF has placed the country under.


It is my belief that if we can agree on the five questions outlined above and on the answers provided, or if we can formulate other questions and answers to which we can agree the movement shall live and ultimately triumph.

HG