Baseless Rumor Spewed by Anti-Ethiopian Forces

                                                                                                                                            Taye Kebede

Few extremists, fundamental neo-liberals and some foreign forces who never wishes to see our country developed, have tried their hardest to present incorrect information to the international community- although their effort was to no avail once the truth was know. I think that it’s possible to expose their bogus accusation through presenting tangible evidences.

Out of the baseless rumor spewed by these forces on various times, the campaign aimed at making it appear as if human and democratic rights are being violated in Ethiopia, is one - citing local ‘puppets’ as their corroborator. I think it’s important to raise the question ‘Are the realities on the ground as what they make it out to be’. The answer to this will expose the talks of the anti-Ethiopian forces, which are propagating as if there is a flood of bad things happening to the people, without knowing our country’s realities.

There can’t be anyone who knows about us more than us; as anyone can’t blabber on something he knows nothing about of course I understand that any neoliberal extremist institutions does not have the right to meddle in our country’s internal affair.

First let us see the fundamentalist neo-liberal extremist force and their local ‘Pooches” repeated story of “The manifestation of the human and democratic rights violation in Ethiopia are freedoms of speech and expression, and political rights”. They say that freedom of expression is in danger in Ethiopia, and that they are very much worried about it. This got be a joke; them being worried about us. But, is the situation really as it what they make it out to be? – Let us see…

As its known, human rights are natural rights that are bestowed up on humans for being created as humans. These rights are not rights that the Ethiopian government can either give or take as its wishes, like what the ideology extremists are suggesting.

This is because the reason for the long civil war that ravaged the country was the issue of human and democratic rights being respected; and this question has now been answered. So, I think it would be better if the extremists know that this answer (to the question of human and democratic rights) is clearly stated in the constitution, and is now being executed.

When we see the so-called violated rights. As far as I know, there is no person jailed for writing or expressing his views. Those who are put under arrest are those who crossed the law under the guise of journalism or suspected individuals. And a criminal in any country whether he’s a journalist, or a politician, a priest or a soldier, will be put to face the law.

Of course it would have been better had these ideology demagogues came here and saw that there are many medias that operate and expresses their views freely by respecting the country’s media provision and other (similar) laws, instead of blabbering through hearsay. Had they done this, they’ would have the opportunity to see everyone expressing their views through medias at any given time and place.

If these extremist forces keep on insisting that people are imprisoned for expressing their views, it would have been better if they had done it with evidence. However, as there are no people who are arrested for expressing their views freely, they can’t possibly corroborate their story with evidence.

I think this is the reason why they wanted to call up on anti-Ethiopian forces to corroborate their story; saying that, I also happen to think that the neo-liberal extremist forces wishes and objectives are plainly obvious for everyone to see.

Nevertheless, widening the scope of their lies these forces also claimed that the activities of political parties are being hampered. However, they should know that today there are many opposition parties operating exercising their right to organize, which is bestowed upon them by the constitution. There are no governmental organs that interfere or hinder the activities of these opposition parties.

The parties give statements and reflect their position on national issues. The call on demonstration anytime they want. It’s common to see them widening their accessibility to the public by using government media and private press. It can be safely said that there are no jailed person or closed down parties for expressing their views.

The Ethiopian government has shown its commitment to bring peace, which plays a major role in the democracy building process, not only in Ethiopia but in neighboring countries as well. As its known, democratic order cannot be build in a situation where there is no peace and development.

In another side, even though our country’s government main job is to guarantee the country’s peace and security, since it understands the implications our neighbors not having peace has on our country’s democracy building process, its operating on this issue with due consideration and commitment.

And this act of the government denotes its democratic attitude and outlook, as its not a mark of undemocratic behavior; as what terrorists and local extremist oppositions along with their masters (extremist neo-liberal forces) are spewing.

But as anybody with fair judgment knows, the rapid and sustainable growth and long lasting peace we are seeing in our country, along with the success of the democratic order building process, is an indication of the success of the political process.

This is because it’s impossible to think about development and democracy in a situation they claim the country is in. So, I don’t know how our people; who are the owners of the development that’s attested by the world, and who are able to record an economic growth that’s taken as a benchmark, can do all this while their human and democratic rights are being violated. Only the anti-Ethiopian forces and their hidden ‘objective’ know. I believe reaching to a conclusion by basing on a testament given sitting from afar, while being engulfed with hatred, is not only wrong, but it should be corrected.

Of course, it is very difficult to understand or to paint the accurate image about Ethiopia, while they are sitting in America. All in all, it should be understood that the Ethiopian government is not respecting and upholding its citizen’s human and democratic right to appease or fulfill the foreign forces wishes.

In addition to this, it should also be known that there can’ be no human and democratic rights that are driven by outside forces. These rights are respected firstly, they are the result of the bitter struggle waged by the nation, nationalities and people of Ethiopia and secondly, the government strictly believes that it’s an existential issue for the country. So it should be known that Ethiopia is a democracy beginner country where human and democratic rights are taking root as much as possible. And the people are exercising their rights with in this environment. Therefore, I think this baseless rumor must be corrected by these anti-Ethiopian forces.