Another year, another pledge, this time the ruling regime and the consolidated party of the Prosperity Party released a Press Release yesterday from Executive Committee. This is in a way of showing progress and means to an end. We have seen what the Prosperity Party is willing to do and how it’s ushering in violence across the Republic. The PP cannot shield itself from criticism or questions about its actions. When it has waged war and caused conflict in several of regions of the Republic.
The PP Executive Committee starts with this:
“Ethiopia is on a bridge where our country is crossing to a great chapter. Some are struggling to bring it back from the bridge. Others are trying to break the bridge and throw it down a cliff. And her fighter children are struggling to make her walk on the bridge without much time. Prosperity has chosen the third. A bridge will not be as strong as the past road. But it is necessary to cross the cliff. Staying on the bridge for a long time is dangerous. It is important to cross quickly and reach the stable ground. This is what the transition period we are in tells us. The goal of the transition is not to stay there but to transition to a prosperous Ethiopia” (Prosperity Party, 18.03.2023).
This is a way of the party in power to play the game of buying time – calling their reign a transition and enable to them to “give way” so they will resolve the issues later. They are at the same time blaming others and claiming they are the ones that has understood how they need to cross the bridge. Not like the other ones, the ones taking the dangerous bridge or throwing it off a cliff. No, the PP party can lead this transition to a “prosperous” nation.
Alas, that’s where the fault line begins, because we have seen what they have been up for the last few years. It doesn’t help with a metaphor, when they are the ones making it either dangerous to cross or they are the ones destroying the bridges. They can act a fool, but we have seen what the PP party has been up to…
It is really rich that the PP says this:
“The executive committee has assessed that the problem of administering freedom that is seen in the area of administrations, media, religious institutions, political parties and activists should be addressed immediately. Free governance means respecting the law, without hurting others, destroying the country and causing conflict, and being able to use your rights. Destroying the law, violating the rights of others, provoking conflict and hatred. But it can’t be freedom. And crime must be held accountable by the law. Therefore, there are signs that administering freedom in our country is becoming a challenge. We are losing the freedom that we got because of the crime committed in the name of freedom. The executive committee calls on government institutions, political parties, media, justice institutions, religious institutions, scholars and elders to do what is required of you” (Prosperity Party, 18.03.2023).
The PP have fore-longed the issue of freedom or liberty. It has taken the same old EPRDF orders and elevated it. That’s why parties cannot assemble, parties cannot be on the ballot or even the party itself interferes in the religious sphere. The PP party takes everything and involves itself where-ever it can. There is nothing it cannot touch or have a say in. They are limiting the space and only allowing the anointed ones of the government to speak. The rest has to move in silence or be oppressed. So, when the state speaks of being accountable. The state is using a fierce hand and the law as a tool to silence its critics. That is obvious and been so in all the years of the PP. The PP amped everything up from the EPRDF. It just re-issued and re-used the techniques, to take leaders, activists, journalists and whoever who stood in its way. Just so they could reign supreme and have no initial naysayers in public.
The PP Party continues:
“The Prosperity Executive Committee has assessed that our country is at a critical stage. We are getting rid of the two years of war. The work we have done to control the illegal armed forces in the area is bearing fruit. We are getting better results in agricultural products. Activities started with job creation are getting results. The challenges we had in diplomacy are getting better. Aid and loans are increasing. Ethiopian economy is one of Africa’s three major economies in sub-Sahara. The projects we started in Gebeta are being completed. We have to overcome the challenges that are thrown from all directions to stop these hopeful beginnings. For this, it is important to strengthen our national unity like steel. We have to make sure that our actions and speech will lead the oppressed people to prosperity. Let’s focus on development, peace and security. It is a must to administer our freedom responsibly. They will make the cost of living and accelerate our development. Taking constructive measures is our homework that can’t be done for tomorrow. Expanding and consolidating our diplomacy is our key action. Making the plan and situation happen at the intended time is to make Ethiopia succeed” (Prosperity Party, 18.03.2023).
The PP party is acting like the conflict of the North is over. PP is saying the war is over. The “Operation Law Enforcement” is now “game over”. Nevertheless, the blockade, the lack of service and no real change on the ground. The Tigray region is far from safe, sound or in any good hands. The troubles of the war is still prevalent and the famine isn’t over either. The possibility of starvation, death and a humanitarian crisis is still on. It isn’t averted and the border regions of Amhara and Afar is already badly hit by the conflict. These are only endangered and lacking the resource to be rebuilt. This is all the play the PP government to consolidate power and gain total control of Mekelle. The price is the thousands of dead civilians, starving people and lack of basic necessities. In combination of a national blockade and military enterprising with fellow allies. Allies who are still in the region and has never left it either. So, the Eritrean armies are still in the Tigray and they haven’t been called “home” either. Just showing how the Addis Ababa – Asmara axis is toying around with Mekelle in 2023.
The ones believing the words of the PP in 2023 is naive. They are at a crossroad. The PP is still challenged in Oromia. It has enemies in the Ogaden and Issa Somali militia in Ogaden/Afar regions. There are plenty of enemies who will haunt the ones in office. The rulers of Ethiopia aren’t in a moment of peace and neither have they done anything fruitful to ensure it either. Only create headlines and praying to the Gods that United States of America opens up trade through AGOA again. Because, the Addis Ababa elite needs the currency and the trade to save themselves in a deficit created by steady conflict. War is expensive and the prestige of doing so has cost the Prime Minister even more. His a warlord and an ally of another one in Eritrea. These two have a pact and it’s obvious that Tigray are the ones that get to suffer the consequence of that.
Nothing in this Press Release from the ruling regime was any good. Just mere boosting the ego of the Prime Minister and trying to sound resourceful. While we know the gist of the ones in-charge. Abiy and his closest allies will not cause or be able to handle peace. They only know how to wage war and conflict. Certainly, they will only accept defeat of their enemies and ensure their demise. That all they are up too and the years they have been in the office proves this. Peace.
MinBane 