An Open Letter on His 126th Birthday
Getnet Alebel
About a week ago, I posted an apology letter to Your Majesty on Facebook to gauge the feelings and reflections of my generation—those of the 1960s and 70s—who played a role in the protests against you and your government. The results were significant in many ways.
While our intentions were to bring about progress and justice, the movement we sparked was eventually hijacked by the military junta, which escalated the situation and advanced its own agenda—demanding salary increases, among other things. As a result, the “Military Regime” seized power and carried out brutal purges, executing government officials and imprisoning many people, including members of the royal family, without due process. Over a million people—including students and civilians of all ages—were slaughtered.
Your Majesty,
During your reign, Ethiopia had a population of approximately 35 million people. The nation was protected by a well-trained professional military force of over 48,000 soldiers. The Army, Air Force, Navy, paratroopers, and over 150,000 national reserves were all prepared to defend the country against external threats.
The well-trained police force effectively maintained peace and order. Justice, democracy, and equality were upheld. Citizens enjoyed freedom and the protection of law enforcement. People could move and work freely across the 14 provinces without restriction, language discrimination, or barriers.
Under your leadership—particularly in the 28 years following the expulsion of the Italian occupation—Ethiopia witnessed growth in many sectors. We benefited from advancements in education across all 14 provinces and their districts, as well as in healthcare, employment, and road construction connecting the entire nation. Electricity (through dam construction), transportation by air, sea, and land, and infrastructure development in various sectors all progressed under your vision.
Your Majesty,
You were a minister of education throughout your life. You brought students from across the country—from all ethnic backgrounds, from the countryside and city streets—and placed us in boarding schools to receive an education.
Your passion for education was demonstrated through countless selfless gestures. One remarkable example is your donation of your private property, inherited from your parents, formerly known as Genet Leul Palace, to the nation. You renamed it Haile Selassie I University, which the later regime changed to Addis Ababa University.
Following the defeat of the military government in 1991 by the joint forces of the TPLF (EPRDF) and EPLF, Eritrea became independent. The TPLF took control of Ethiopia and established an ethnic-based federalism. Freedom of speech, writing, and protest was restricted. Gross human rights violations occurred. Citizens were imprisoned without justice, and atrocities—some of the worst in the world—were committed. All of this happened in the absence of democracy, equality, and justice. The TPLF-led government ruled the country for over 22 years.
Now, Ethiopia has transitioned from TPLF rule to the Prosperity Party over the past six years. However, the government faces serious resistance and instability due to ethnic nationalist movements. War broke out in Tigray and has now spread to the Amhara and Oromia regions.
In hindsight, while we fought for change, we now recognize the stability, dignity, and vision your leadership offered.
Your Majesty,
It is with deep humility and sincere regret that we reflect on the unintended consequences of our actions. Just as Jesus Christ, the Son of God, pleaded with His Father to forgive those who crucified Him, we now appeal to Your Majesty for forgiveness.
Your grace, forgiveness, spirituality, and strength are not only vital to us as individuals but are also essential to the healing and unity of our nation.
Thank you.
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Editor’s Note : Views in the article do not necessarily reflect the views of borkena.com
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Thank you Sir your true testimony touched to the bottom of our hearts. It’s a pity that such brutality happened to our nation. Your writing is wonderful but not enough to apologize our Emperor Haileselassie the first; because after Him, we see Ethiopia is broken and unable to stand up as you mentioned.
Anyway, thank you Sir.
C’mon, man. Stop being silly, stop this necromancy!
‘Linear thinking’ (logic) challenged by ‘quantum thinking’…
Though the writer is not addressing the late Emperor per se (though there is no barrier in the ‘Singularity’), but those who knew the Emperor or lived in his time, and share the sentiment.
Here & there, only exist in ‘logic’, not in ‘space time’ or worse in the ‘No-thing’ ness, beyond ‘matter’, that which we are.
Be well
Wow, I did not expect you are this smart. Thank you for differentiating between linear and quantum thinking.