Desta Hailu
As
it’s known despite the fact that the ‘Derg’ was overthrown in 1991, there were
other hurdles that needed their own fight. On one side there were some
progressives that believed federalism is the only solution that’s capable of
stopping the blood-shading and chaotic Ethiopian political, economical and
social issues; on the other side there were those who inclined themselves to
two opposite extreme ideologies.
The
first issue that needed resolve was the fact that at the time there were up to
17 armed ethnic groups. As history tells us these organizations believed that
(without contemplating the realities on the ground), seceding from Ethiopia was
the only solution to the problems and vowed to fight for this cause.
The
other extreme is the one that see from an antique and obsolete vista no less
the new federal system as a threat to the country’s existence, in which in the
name of ‘unity’ tried to draw out the nation, nationalities and peoples’ demand
for equality and democratic rights with ‘we know for you’ political mantra,
which could have dragged the country into unending chaos.
At
the time, a heavy struggle had to be waged in order to solve these hurdles in a
serene manner and establish a democratic federal country. There needed to be a
struggle against anti-Ethiopian forces; fortunately the progressive forces won
that struggle. Things weren’t rosy even after this. The country again faced
very difficult tests. One of those tests and the biggest of them all was the
fight against poverty, the country’s number one enemy.
As
it can be remembered, by understanding that this mutual enemy can only be
destroyed through the collective hand of the government and the country’s
nation, nationalities and people; the government took the leading role in
taking the responsibility of inserting a winning mentality on the public over
poverty.
At
the time important questions like ‘which approach is best to fight poverty’ And
‘what are the basic key issues that can help win against this mutual enemy, had
to be asked. In order to answer these questions a constitution which will serve
as the supreme law of the land needed to be ratified.
Although
the government opened the door for everyone to be involved when the
constitution was being ratified, some of the previous regime nostalgias and
power-monger anti-peace forces did not choose to accept the opportunity.
However the transitional government (at the time) did not stop from teaching
these people that real power emanates from the people. So, it did an
edification work in educating the people that real power is vested in the hands
of Ethiopia’s nation, nationalities and peoples.
During
these times, comments like ‘the country should not have a constitution; a
country that’s built on an ethnic – based federalism cannot be successful in
any way’ were brought up. By giving the necessary and appropriate replay (to
these tests, the Ethiopian nation, nationalities and people with their own
consent and agreement ratified the FDRE constitution on November 29, 1987.
This
constitution serving as a document of their covenant has answered Ethiopian
peoples’ years of demands and questions. Since, we have seen the difficulties
putting up a federal system has faced (even if it’s roughly, now we will turn
our attention to its achievements.
After
(the ratification of the constitution), war was declared on an enemy that has
been living in the country for years; an enemy that have made its people to bow
their heads in shame - our number one enemy poverty. The whole Ethiopian people
became aware of the fact that there isn’t any enemy out there bigger than
poverty.
And
to fight and win against this enemy, our country’s people from the old to the
young, being led by our government’s successful policies and strategies, have
achieved an economic development like the lights that have never been seen
before in our history. A change of feat: from extreme poverty to a rapid and
robust development.
After
the federal system came into effect and the constitution ratified, basic
demands with regards to peace, development and democratic issues have been answered.
The constitution has guaranteed peoples’ right to self administer, to adhere to
their respective religion peacefully, to speak and write in their own language,
and to express their tradition and heritage freely. It should be noted here
that the cause of the Ethiopian peoples’ struggle that spanned generations is
to answer these demands. Despite this fact, at the time both local and
foreign-based Medias’ political ‘analyst’ claimed ‘if federalism is put to
effect in Ethiopia, its people by grouping against each other will wipe
themselves out’. They have continuously tried to propagate as if the federal
system will not benefit us.
These
detractors did this not because they are impervious to the fact that the
federal system is beneficial to our people, - but because they choose to align
and propagate with the extremist forces that are nostalgic to the previous
regimes.
Despite
the fact that these people said whatever they wanted to say, both the
government and the people being impervious to these peoples smear and
discrediting campaign, and instead choose to strengthen their unity by
understanding their diversity is their beauty and to work for mutual
development.
And
this fact has been stated by Dr. Hashim Tewfiq on his book ‘Transition to
Federalism: the Ethiopian Experience’ cited Larria Diamon’s “federalism is the
appropriate political tool to tolerate differences that arises from social
identity or to subdue conflicts that may arise from differences of social or
other identity differences”. His book also briefs that federal system plays a
huge role in growing a collective economy.
Understanding
this reality, the developmental and democratic government of our country played
a huge role in (helping) Ethiopia’s nation, nationalities and people to ratify
the constitution through their consent and agreement. The EPRDF-led popular
struggle that freed the country from the dictatorial rule of the ‘Derg’ had a
committed believe that power is only directed by the people and for the people.
And it has enabled the people to be the ultimate holder of power by enshrining
it on the constitution-the supreme law of the land.
But
some extremists say the federal system has failed- because of conflicts
occurred here and there in the past few months. However, I don’t think that
this claim is correct. Even in an advanced society and countries, let alone in
a society of ours where public consciousness is only in a ‘good’ stage,
conflict is an inevitable phenomenon. Man inevitable enters in conflict with
himself, his surroundings and with nature itself.
This
is because of the scarcity of world’s natural resources. And Ethiopia is no
exception – as the country like every other nation on earth has scarcity of
natural resources. So, conflict has been
a constant phenomenon in the past and will be so in the future. However, unlike
the past regimes, as the federal system of our country is working tirelessly on
this issue, it is changing the narrative. It has enabled the country’s nation
nationalities and people to use their natural resource appropriately and help
them share it with their brothers and sisters.
However
that might be, it’s not easy to change in few years the blurred attitude past
regimes created in the country for years; it takes a long process, time and a
change in attitude. Nevertheless, this myth-writer just out of his desire to
blacken the system has tried to tell us without any shame that it’s a ‘failed
federalism’; shrugging off this reality.
But
the federal system hasn’t failed. In fact the system by uniting the country’s
people, it has built the strongest economy in Sub-Saharan Africa where the
people benefits step-by-step. Thus, I believe the extremist’s ‘failed’ rhetoric
exists only in the workings of their mind, not in our new Ethiopia.
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