Ethiopia: Prime Minister’s “Context” statement is a unjustified defence of injustice

I don’t know who advices the Prime Minister of Ethiopia. However, eleven days after the assassination Haacaaluu Hundeessaa. It seems like the Prosperity Party and the PM is feeling the heat. That’s why he published the “Context and Updates on Current Issues in Ethiopia”. A 6 pages piece trying to address what has happen lately. That’s why the Office of the Prime Minister has dropped this online for the world.

I will digest the parts, which makes sense to me. As there unverified numbers of 5,000 people arrested lately and close to a 1,000 killed. While the official numbers are 3,500 arrested and 260 killed. Therefore, within a short window of time, there been all this happening. The state ordered arrests of opposition leaders, Oromo leadership and set fourth the Command Post in Addis Ababa and the Oromia region. While sowing mistrust to other regions and blaming outside forces.

So, now the state says this about it: “It should be clear to friends and foes alike that the current Ethiopian government led by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has a strong desire, commitment and capacity to build a democratic order based on equality and respect of fundamental rights and dignity of every citizen” (OPM, 09.07.2020).

The wording here is inspiring, but the actions made on the round isn’t what anyone desire. As I write, I read that more of the Oromo leadership get arrested. It is hard to see democratic order, when one groups leadership is political prisoners. It is redundant to speak of democracy and dignity for all citizens. When some citizens are dying in the streets and the state trying to justify it.

So, when the state continues to say this : “This action of the government, however, was not positively welcomed and utilized by everyone. Some opposition parties and political figures began to misuse it. Some others began to throw offensive slurs against members of other ethnic groups. Some others engaged in defamation and finger-pointing without reference to established facts” (OPM, 09.07.2020).

It is really striking the wording here. It shows that the Prosperity Party and the government had a line of acceptable actions by the opposition. If they didn’t follow that line, they would be out of order. It is ironic that the government pulls the ethnicity card, when the government blame the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) for everything. The state are using them and saying they are inciting all violence, if not its outside enemies doing it. Seemingly, while the government are the ones with the soldiers in the streets and police officers ruffling feathers in the Oromia region.

They continue saying this: “Following the death of Hachalu Hundesa, the government has undertaken legal measures in order to maintain peace and security in the country and to safeguard the constitutional order. One of the actions undertaken by the government was to arrest those suspected of involvement in the killing of Hachalu as well as those involved in illegally hijacking his remains and inciting violence through media. The government also arrested certain political leaders suspected of attempting to undermine the constitutional order” (OPM, 09.07.2020).

It is weird calling it constitutional order and legal means to kill civilians, arrest all opposition leaders and pin other crimes on them. This seems like a political hit-job on the ones who cannot defend themselves. The OPM have an advantage to create a narrative, which it tries to do here. Pinning the blame on the ones arrested, opening up old prisons, which was promised to close. Dungeons, which is mentioned synonymous torture like Maekelawi Prison has inmates again. So, the new constitutional order is to kill civilians protesting and burning houses in Oromia? Is that the reforms the PM stands for?

The OPM continues saying: “The government of Ethiopia is no less committed today to democracy, rule of law and respect for human rights than it was when it started a new journey of reforms two years ago” (OPM, 09.07.2020).

This is just disrespectful, this is spitting in the face of the all victims of late. All the family members of the ones who has lost their loved ones. How can you talk of respect of human rights, rule of law and democracy, when you do all this. Sparking direct violence against citizens in this manner. While justifying saying it like this.

Also saying this: “Media entities are also encouraged to continue their work in accordance with the laws of the land and the ethics required in dispensing their information sharing responsibilities to the public” (OPM, 09.07.2020).

Closing Media Houses, stopping radios from their broadcast and arresting journalists. It is clear the state doesn’t want the public to get information. Neither want the information spread. The violence is supposed to happen in darkness and be written in the manner the state wants it out. Not say anything else.

I don’t feel the need to address more. The Prime Minister wants to peddle another story to make him look good. Use the tactic of rule of law and constitutional order over the heads of the public. Also, use it at as a shield to defend the arrests, destruction and silencing of the dissidents. That is very clear.

Enough nonsense. Peace.

Ethiopia: The Government of Regional National State of Tigrai – Press Release (07.09.2020)

Cameroon: Interim Government of Ambazonia Statement on Ongoing Consultations with Stakeholders and Feedback (08.07.2020)

 

Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB): Verification and Equating of academic papers for aspirants of the 2020/2021 elections (09.07.2020)

Mityana District Local Government: District Chairperson Joseph Luzige – Press Statement (08.07.2020)

Uganda: Ministry of Health – Results of COVID-19 Tests Done on 08th July 2020 (09.07.2020)

RDC: Mouvement Politico-Militaire – Nduma Defense of Congo Renove Haut Commendment du Mouvement – Communique No. 001 (08.07.2020)

Malaysia: Minister of Foreign Affairs – Response to the Announcement by the United States Immigaration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) regarding the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) – (09.07.2020)

RDC: Communique du Front Commun pour le Congo (FCC) – (07.07.2020)

Opinion: Emyooga is renaming the same-old government scheme…

I got pennies for my thoughts, now I’m rich”50 Cent on ‘Patiently Waiting’ (2003)

This Get Rich or Die Tryin’ fix of the government isn’t working. They have not learned the skill from the G-Unit front-man 50 Cent nor anyone else. This is just following a boring pattern. That the government launches a new Presidential Initiative before the campaign season is also predictable.

The National Resistance Movement (NRM) has so many schemes going on. They have used so many different types ways to get people out of poverty. You need a separate dictionary to remember them all. It is a own lingo for government officials and the likes.

The Savings and Credit Cooperative Societies (SACCOs) was launched in 1992 in the Republic. The second started with Entandikwa in 1995. When that ended in 2002, they launched National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS). In 2004 they launched Rural Micro Finance Project. In the meantime there been launches of Micro Finances schemes for the public from donors and NGOs. In 2013 there was two new schemes, it was the Youth Livelihood Programme and Operation Wealth Creation (OWC).

So, in June 2019 the President finally promised the magic bullet to end poverty. Now in July 2020 the Presidential Initiative Emyooga, which is a mix of OWC and Job Creation. They are now launching it and doing so ahead of elections. Seemingly, the Office of President through its Residential District Commanders (RDCs), the Office of the Minister of State in charge Microfinance and the Microfinance Support Centre Ltd (MSC). Therefore, we know the Presidents involvement in it. Since they are using these means like OWC. We just know Gen. Salim Selah is part of this too. It wouldn’t be in this Republic if he wasn’t involved in it.

It is kind of rich that in 2020 they are relaunching the OWC in a suit calling it Emyooga. They are dropping billions of shillings on, as it was fitted into the Monetary Policy Papers for the National Budget of 2020/21.

We know this is a campaign thing. To booster a failing a project of the state. The OWC have already struggled. There been reports of failures with the OWC. The same with service delivery of SACCOs, NAADs and too.

The Emyooga will follow the same procedure as the other ones. A big show for the launch. Promise of funds, eradicate poverty and the nation to a middle income country. However, the lie is that these schemes makes the middle-men rich. A way to eat of the state and not users. The ones getting the tenders, the ones skimming the funds. It always goes that way. Also, makes for good publicity. Even if there is little to no proven results.

That is why, I’m skeptical today. Seen this before, heard the narratives before. This is just buying time. Not building things that are sustainable. A short term money infused into an area. Before leaving to the next. Without any consideration of the windfall, of the moment it runs out or what to do after the short-term spending.

That is why, so many of these schemes haven’t worked. There been no long-term plan and if they had. There was no real implementation or will to do so. Because, if they did, it would have costed and would have possibly delivered more. However, that wasn’t in the interest of the state nor its stakeholders. Since they need new schemes and new methods to get a kick-back or a pay-off for their duties. Peace.