Finfinne Times Main Page

Perceived Subordination or Genuinely Made Claim?

March 16, 2008

Instead of lamenting about the achievements of other Ethiopians and cultivating a sense of subordination because of historical events, Ethiopians with the mindset of Mathza would probably benefit themselves and their people by making efforts to produce their original ideas, cultivating the original ideas of other Ethiopians, and celebrating the achievements of all. There is no reason why Miruts Yifter should feel subordinate to the achievements of Haile Gebreselassie, and Haile Gabreselassie should feel subordinate to the achievements of Kenenisa Bekele when all of them can celebrate their individual achievements and the achievements of all. The legitimate quest for meaningful political decentralization by all groups should not lead to picking one piece of history and running with it for a perceived political utility by placing oneself in a subordinate position.

The Hypocrisy of the Call for Armed Struggle in Ethiopia at this Time

March 22, 2008.

Armed struggle has been the fashion in many corners of Africa in the past before the era of the internet. The ammunition used is mostly manufactured outside Africa, imported, and used by Africans against Africans on African soil. People raise arms because of well founded or perceived lack of justice. However, there is no more powerful struggle than the pursuit and disposition of the truth, which cultivates justice. Modern communications technology has made the pursuit and disposition of the truth very fast that the propoents of armed struggle of our times don't appear to have taken into account while echoing the old method that was clearly started before the emergence of this technology. The pursuit and disposition of the truth done by members of the Inquiry Commission of the post 2005 legislative elections violence in Ethiopia has helped pass unanimously in the U.S. House of Representatives a human rights accountability and democracy bill on Ethiopia. The current political landscape in Ethiopia appears poised to lay a more fertile ground for the strengthening of the rule of law. Documenting the crimes that have been committed and are likely to be committed in the future may be more important than the call for armed struggle so that the criminals face justice when the rule of law prevails over dictatorship in Ethiopia. In addition, another round of armed struggle in Ethiopia is likely to open the door for more crimes.

Consciousness is the Source of Empowerment

March 16, 2008

Nature has been our people's Open Laboratory for at least 100,000 years, if we are convinced that the latest DNA study that reported that humanity dispersed from a single location near Finfinne (Addis Ababa) is true. In that case, the pursuit of the hidden knowledge in Ge'ez may well lead us to discovering Afan Oromo in it. Perhaps, it may not be by coincidence that the Oromo tricolors of black, red, and white are exactly the same as the tricolors in Yemen's flag. In Jean Doresse's words, "Historians argue that the first language was Sabean. But Oromiffa, Somali and Afar languages use words whose origin is earlier than hieroglyphic Egyptian. They are the most ancient spoken languages."

From a "Piece of Cloth" to a "Sovereign People"

January 29, 2008

If Meles wished to see the expression of democracy from the inside, he must have seen it. If he wished to see the expression of democracy from the outside, he must have seen it. Perhaps, what he couldn't admit to see in the past is the bottleneck. We can only hope that the expressions of democracy from the inside and the outside have been seen in turn that what is left is its meaningful delivery in return. And that shouldn't be seen as a charity, but it is the people's right that they shouldn't be denied by anyone.

Random Walks, Faint Pointers, and the Orphans of the Rich Ethiopian Tradition

January 6, 2008

If this observation holds some grain of truth, the current discourse in the Ethiopian politics, especially in the Diaspora, may well be characterized by random walks and faint pointers among the orphans of the Ethiopian rich tradition. Red lights are flying in the faces of the random walkers, leaving lasting impressions on them. That is not a healthy business for those who want to contribute to the struggle of the people for a long time to come. As Dr. Messay has called for it, understanding the cause of the problem at a deeper level will only make finding a solution to the problem easier.

The Controversy about AFRICOM's Headquarters Location

December 30, 2007

With these two sides of the controversy, Ethiopia may not be in a comfortable position to make the decision for or against hosing AFRICOM's headquarters. The logical step may be to refer to the consensus of the African entity that is responsible for such an important matter that concerns the continent. Despite political differences, the role of the Ethiopian intellectuals could well be analyzing the long-term implications and benefits of such matters. They should not use this matter to score cheap political points against or for the current Ethiopian government or the party that is ruling it.

Acquitted at Long Last, but at What Cost?

December 11, 2007.

While lessons must be learned from such callous actions of the government, and the political episode that followed it, the question of who should be responsible for the price paid by this organization, its leaders, and all the other parties involved in the opposition to the governments ill-advised action remains unanswered.

History Judging Poor Judgments

December 2, 2007

Perhaps, the natural connection between the peoples of the two countries may have been so strong as to be broken down by all kinds of efforts to the contrary. The EEBC ended its mandate by stating its 2002 delimitation decision as "the only valid legal description of the boundary." According to Meles, the virtual demarcation is legally nonsense. As of the writing of this article, no official statement was posted at the Eritrean Ministry of Information outlet website, regarding the EEBC's final statement before its andate expired.

The Chair That Became the Test of Integrity

October 11, 2007

Perhaps, the question should have been a political one that could have narrowed the gap between the ruling party and the alternative parties political grouping. The EPRDF could have used this opportunity to mend the political gap it has with the people by reaching out to the alternative parties. The gap between the ruling party and the people, and hence the alternative political parties grouping, is clear and loud in the presidents pledge that he wishes to bring the government and the people together. Yet every player in the event was put to the integrity test and we are not sure if any group has passed the test. We can only hope the materialization of the presidents pledge as we enter the era of his second term in office.

"Look Not Where You Fell, But Where It Was Slippery" (An Oromo Saying)

October 8, 2007

In the interest of the peace and security in the country and in the region, the best course for those government officials implicated in human rights violations in Ethiopia may be to step down from their public services, face the Ethiopian people, and accept their judgment with the grace of defeat, if they have any left. That is what public servants in democratic societies do whenever they are implicated in gross allegations. One would expect that self-respecting Ethiopian government officials would do likewise whether the truth of their deeds comes from the Ethiopian public or the U.S. Congress. Whether the U.S. Senate passes the Bill and President Bush signs it into law or not, the verdict of the U.S. Congress is compelling. The Oromo saying of looking where it was slippery instead of where one fell is befitting to the verdict coming out to the international community.

Worthy Opponents and Defeated New Friends

October 3, 2007

To his credit, the Chairman of the CUD doesnt seem to budge from his original plan. However, as the moderate group takes off from his core All Ethiopia Unity Party (AEUP), his group is bound to be facing an uphill battle that the group will most probably revise its political program especially as it relates to federalism and diversity. That venture may help the party to leave a lasting legacy in Ethiopia for its fight for the unity of the country at a critical time when it risked disintegration that would have led to an uncertain future. Otherwise, the upward battle it is going to face may well be a downward spiral in the face of numerous alternative political parties alongside with the splinter group from the CUD.

A Soft Landing Speech for Meles Zenawi?

September 15, 2007

However, the subject of Ethiopian renaissance, Kushitic renaissance to be specific, has been raised and discussed in the past. It is only fitting to see the subject finally taken up as an official Ethiopian governments perspective. Ancient Kushitic civilization was one of the oldest civilizations in the world, similar to that of the Indus Valley civilization. Today, the descendants of the Indus Valley civilization are found scattered in the Indian subcontinent, and may include the populations of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and so on. On the other hand, the descendants of Kushitic civilization are scattered across East and North Africa as the Oromo, the Amhara and to a large extent the Tigre (the Semitized Ethiopians, as Prof. Donald N. Levine calls them), the Afar, the Somali, the Sidama, the Masaai, the Tutsi, the Fulani, the Dogon, and so on.

From Land to the Tiller to Power to the People
The Ethiopian Student Movement's Unfinished Political Journey
July 1, 2007.

To mention a few, Leenco Lata, a former deputy leader of the OLF wrote a book a few years back with a title The Ethiopian State at the Crossroads. Dr. Merera Gudina, the founder of the Oromo National Congress (ONC), produced another book titled Ethiopia: Competing Ethnic Nationalisms and the Quest for Democracy. Ayele Zewge, the founder of the Oromo Movement for Federalism and Ethiopian Unity (OMFEU), wrote a book titled Gizit ina Gizot, which is in the Amharic language. Dr. Berhanu Nega, the founding member and leader of Keste-demena and the Coalition for Unity and Democracy parties wrote a book titled Ye Netsanet Goh Siqed, also in Amharic. In what appears to be a tit-for-tat response to Dr. Berhanu Nega's book, Lidetu Ayalew, the founding member and leader of the EUDP-Medhin party, wrote a book called Ye Arem Irsha, also in Amharic. Early on, Andargachew Tsigie, a current leading member of the Kinigit International Leadership (KIL), wrote a book called Netsanet Yemayawiq Netsa Awchi, which is also in Amharic. Meles Zenawi, a longtime leader of the TPLF/EPRDF and Ethiopia's leader since 1991, wrote a book titled African Economic Renaissance: Dead Ends and New Beginnings.

Leenco Lata's Political Compass Lost in the Tatters?
March 10, 2007.

Leenco starts his writings by asking "Why seek something you already have?" This question, the first line of the article, fails to tell whether Leencos writing is out of concern about Meles handling of Ethiopian politics or if it is a political advice to Meles not to bother because he has what he needs.

East Africa's Ideological and Strategic Conflicts
December 10, 2006.

Even though Ethiopia defeated Italy, a European colonial venture, foreign influence on the region continued after that. Italy continued to influence the region through its colonies of Eritrea and Italian Somaliland until it was forced to leave after the end of World War II and the independence of Somalia, respectively. On the other hand, European missionaries found their way into certain corners of Ethiopia and started to make their presence felt long before their colonial army counterparts tried to control it by force but to no avail.

News|

Politics|

Editorial|