"Finfinne Times: Editorial Analysis Page"

The Powers of our Wisdom and Values

June 15, 2008.

Whatever lessons can be drawn from such reflections, Meles' political posture in criticizing from the pulpit of the so called "international conferences on Africa" organized first by China, then by India, and now by Japan is devoid of our wisdom and values. Our people not only stand against injustice, but they have also shown their determination to fight the right fight, including against colonialism. Their successes must have given us the prudence to know when and from where to criticize. For an Ethiopian Prime Minister to go to China for help and sending the criticism from a Chinese soil, to India for help and sending the criticism from an Indian soil, or going to Japan for help and sending the criticism from a Japanese soil are certainly not the wisdom and values of our society.

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.

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.

Not to Defeat the Purpose
October 6, 2007.

Therefore, while the H.R. 2003 Bill is a very useful document to address past human rights violations in Ethiopia and deter future propensities, it fails to go to the full length of its purpose by not including Eritrea's political leaders that are likely to have their hands in human rights violations in their country as well as in the region. Perhaps, this is something to consider when the Bill goes to the U.S. Senate.

Opinions that Will Make a Difference
August 14, 2007.

At the 4th International Conference on Ethiopian Development Studies, James Swan, the U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary for African Affairs, noted that U.S. Embassies and their offices in the Horn of Africa are working to demonstrate the U.S.'s respect for different faith traditions and to promote its commitment to religious tolerance. Mr. Swan also noted the Horn of Africa as "a region where Muslims and Christians coexist and intermingle, and where the cultures of ancient Ethiopia, of traditional Africa, and of the Arab-influenced coastal regions have combined in different ways to create unique national and regional identities."

What is Next for Ethiopia and the Ethiopians?
July 29, 2007.

All players may need to ask themselves philosophical questions, as did Birtukan Mideksa, the Vice President of CUD and one of those jailed, according to an interview she gave recently to German Radio's Amharic Service. The answers to such philosophical questions are to be found in the age old cultures of our society. Perhaps, we all need to open our eyes and see what we already have in our backyards. A society that is not grounded on its organic foundation may not stand strong.

The Conflict that Exposed Faulty Lines of the Media
January 16, 2007.

As a matter of fact, most peoples in that part of the world are closely related to each other than any of them is related to the Arabs or the Britons. Media reports that have failed to understand such rich history of the peoples in the region but tried to present them as historical enemies have exposed their faulty lines.

In Defense of Stability in East Africa
December 30, 2006.

After observing such theatrical political game played by the UIC, and after the TFG of Somalia with Ethiopia’s backing defeated the UIC’s quest to destabilize the region, the Arab League made an emergency meeting in Cairo to warn that the war could threaten the peace and stability of the Horn of Africa. The African Union Commission Chairman, Alpha Omar Konare, and the government of Djibouti followed suite to echo the call of the Arab League.