By: Habte H.
When Rule of Law Becomes a Myth
In any society, the very foundation of governance and coexistence is rooted in the belief that beneath God, there is the rule of law. It is this belief that gives citizens the confidence to live, work, and raise families within the boundaries of a country. We accept that governments hold the responsibility and power to uphold justice – not selectively, not at their convenience, but consistently and impartially.
Sadly, Ethiopia today stands as a grim example of what happens when that foundational belief is shattered. One of the most painful illustrations of this breakdown is found in the lived experience of Olympic athlete and national icon, Gelete Burka. Her recent interview – raw, tearful, and dignified – lays bare the collapse of legal protection in the face of political and institutional rot.
Gelete Burka: A Heroine in Tears
Gelete is not just an athlete. She is a heroine. Her voice echoes not only her personal grief, but the pain of thousands of ordinary Ethiopians who now live in a country where courts no longer protect the innocent, and where judges no longer deliver justice, but rather act as enforcers of power. In her account, Gelete reveals how her lifetime and hardly made wealth was wrongly given away, denied due process, and treated in ways that defy both legal and human decency.
Her appearance on Seifu on EBS, a nationally popular talk show, was a turning point. Viewers saw her not as an elite athlete, but as a sister broken by injustice. Her tears streamed down live television – unfiltered, unprovoked, and unshakable. In that moment, she embodied the very anguish that millions of Ethiopians feel but cannot express. Her dignity and composure, even in pain, spoke volumes.
Let me be clear: I do not wish to delve into the minute details of her court case. Nor do I need to. What is evident is this – if justice had any meaning left in Ethiopia, Gelete’s story would never have unfolded as it did. The judges who made those decisions may feel protected today, but accountability has a long memory. One day, whether in courtrooms here or in history’s unforgiving pages, they will have to face the consequences of their choices.
A Nation on Trial
There are moments in a nation’s life when individual suffering becomes symbolic of a collective truth. Gelete’s suffering is such a moment. It reflects a broader legal death in Ethiopia – a state where the law has become either weaponized or irrelevant. And it compels us to ask: if this can happen to a public figure of her stature, what then becomes of the voiceless poor in rural areas? What about the countless detainees languishing in prisons without charges, without trials, without hope?
Still, Gelete’s courage should not be ignored. In a time when fear has silenced many, she spoke. In a culture where tears are often hidden, she wept openly for justice. That alone is heroic. Her story must not be treated as just another viral moment; it must be a call to action. We must amplify her voice, demand answers, and encourage more voices to come forward.
If there is still, by any miracle, a place for rule of law in Ethiopia – let it be seen now. Let the facts be exposed. Let justice, not intimidation or delay, guide the response. And if the legal system refuses to correct itself, then history, conscience, and the people must serve as its jury.
To Gelete Burka: you are not alone.!!! Your pain is not in vain. Your fight for truth echoes louder than any courtroom gavel.
Let it echo until justice lives again in Ethiopia.
Editor’s Note : Views in the article do not necessarily reflect the views of borkena.com
__
Subscribe : https://borkena.com/subscribe-borkena/
Join our Telegram Channel : t.me/borkena
Like borkena on Facebook
Add your business to Ethiopian Business Listing / Ethiopian Business Directory Business Listing Toronto
Join the conversation. Follow us on X (Formerly Twitter) @zborkena to get the latest Ethiopian News updates regularly. Subscribe to YouTube channel To share information or for submission, send e-mail to info@borkena.com