Editor’s note : Views in the article do not necessarily reflect the views of borkena.com
By Megersa Gemechu
Recently, a journalist friend of mine forwarded to me with enthusiasm and recommendation to read the article of Professor Messay Kebede titled ‘Fano a New Nationalism: A Review’. I do appreciate my friend for doing that. The ideas promoted by Professor Messay are not new and are in fact shared by other few elites as well. After reading the article, I am obliged to write my comment not necessarily targeted to only Professor Messay but also to those who promote such similar ideas that do aggravate the situation that Ethiopia is fettered with.
Under the pretext of supporting the idea of Meskerem Abera, the writer is injecting a Western type sinister conspiracy that casts the country to a no-return to peace, tranquility, stability and development. Meskerem’s political position is, indeed, admirable as proven by her selfless sacrifices she has gone through for years. But, taking the very word of Meskerem’s Amhara nationalism is a tacit weapon of inculcating the divisive tactic of the TPLF, Prosperity, OLF and other parochial political parties and individuals who are at the service of Western forces that have yearned for long and tried to dismember the country by continuing the fratricidal ethnic based civil wars raging in the country.
It is not the first time the writer of this article is bringing his argument on this issue. And, as such it is not only Professor Messay that promotes such contentious positions that gravely affect the independence, unity and sovereignty of Ethiopia. The ill-devised manifesto of the TPLF and the serving constitution have made nations, nationalities and peoples as pivotal categories of a divisive ruling machinations as a means of promoting the destabilization of the country; and paving the path for the declaration of independent states as clearly stipulated in Article 39 of the FDRE Constitution.
Truthfulness to history, facts and reality as well as the use of the right political concepts, terminologies or words are all crucial in promoting the interests and ideal objectives of the people they aspire to. In this context, it is important to scan the above mentioned article so as to clean the echoed misunderstandings or intentional narratives and to discern the truth and only the truth.
If there is as such an achievement of the TPLF it is the commencement, continuation through the Prosperity Party; and, the realization of the process of Ethiopia’s disintegration as per its political manifesto and its legal instrument of the so-called the FDRE Constitution, The cessation of Eritrea is a proof of its realization. The process has unfolded through educational curriculums and propaganda works; and, the rallying of some Ethiopian elites, inside and outside the country, to support the ill-devised concept of nations, nationalities and peoples of Ethiopia.
Since assuming power, the TPLF has had a free drive with less investment and less resistance in brainwashing children and the youth with avalanches of false narratives, ominous propaganda, unfounded history of Ethiopia and baseless tales by concocting about the existence of nations, nationalities and peoples within Ethiopia. They have succeeded in rallying some Ethiopian elites, within and outside the country, behind such preposterous TPLF’s philosophy of ethnic federalism.
I have no problem in understanding young activists like Meskerem Abera who try to promote the issue of nationalism as distinct from a nationhood and/or statehood. It would suffice to get their messages from their sincere concerns about Ethiopia’s wellness, their strong position against the atrocities, crimes, genocidal crimes, crimes against humanity and the sacrifices they pay for justice, freedom and peace. As they are extremely exposed to the distorted education and political terminologies, one could tolerate their misunderstandings in the use of the words in view of their dedication and determination to the genuine cause they uphold. What is more disturbing and frustrating is to see the proliferation of ethnic based political parties and the simmering attitudes of individual elites that stir the most archaic and backward ideology like ethnic politics of the TPLF.
The chronic pain is to hear and read from the Ethiopian elites of the old generations who had the knowledge of the Ethiopian history and reality; but had betrayed the Ethiopian people for selfish motives or otherwise. The recent article by Professor Messay tries to justify Meskerem’s article on the new Amhara nationalism as trying to portray the game changing role of Fano in promoting a renovated assertive nationalist ideology. The writer dwells briefly on sub-headings such as prioritizing Amharaness, genesis of the new Amhara nationalism, the Pan Ethiopianess and Amhara nationalism, objections to the new Amhara nationalism, in defense of Mekerem Abera, and conclusion. It is important to briefly highlight the issues raised by Professor Messay.
On the Amharas’ opposition to identify themselves as Amharas: In his sub-topic of the genesis of the new Amhara Nationalism, Professor Messay underlined that most Amharas opposed as they were to ethnic politicization because of the divisiveness and threat to the oneness of the country, naturally adhered to their previous stand of being primarily Ethiopians during their opposition to the TPLF-led ethnic federalism. This statement has two main weaknesses. One, it is not only the most Amharas, though it is not clear how the professor arrived to the ‘most’, that opposed the ethnic politicization. Others, like minded and true Ethiopians, have opposed the TPLF–led ethnic federalism. It is important to see the composition of opposition parties that are organized on non-ethnic basis that have earnestly aired their opposition to the ethnic federalism. Secondly, the reason for the opposition of ethnic federalism is not only on the ground of the divisiveness and threat of the oneness of the country. It is also because of the fact that the ethnic federalism is based on false history and farce tales anchored by backward fascist and apartheid characters.
It is vague and disturbing to pose the Amharas solely as opposed to the ethnic federalism while the majority of the people of all segments, for certain, are against the ethnic federal system. The popular voice in the 2005 (1997E.C) election that was crushed by the outrageous acts of the TPLF; and, the Oromia and Amhara youth movement in the 2010 that brought to an end the TPLF power were clear manifestations of the stand of the Ethiopian people against ethnic federalism.
It is of utmost importance to differentiate between activists of different ethnic groups and the people of Ethiopia at large. As said the EPLF, TPLF and OLF as political groupings had left no stones unturned to tarnish the image of the Amharas, and the divisive tactics of disintegrating Ethiopia of which the article is a case in point.
On the Change of AAPO to AEUP: He supported Meskerem’s statement that Professor Assrat had made a mistake by dropping AAPO and designating AEUP, which he claimed it lost touch with reality and became unable to insert itself into the political struggle. To him it was an abandonment of the Amharas’ ethnic base and the denial of the original purpose to fight for the Amhara people. Could this be a’ lack of knowledge’ or ignorance about the AAPO’s formation? It would be unfair to belittle Professor Messay that he did not know the rationale behind the naming of AAPO. It is clearly expressed in the preamble of the statute of the organization that the AAPO was established to be the voice of the voiceless in view of the legal restriction to be organized on ethnic basis. When the time matures, it was changed to AEPU to be firm on the right direction of political organization to save Ethiopia in defiance of the ethnic based party requirement of the defunct regime. It would be absurd to assume a political party organized on non-ethnic basis, like the AEUP, could fight for the legitimate rights of all ethnic groups, including the Amharas, and the people at large. Professor Messay as a professor in philosophy- a thorough subject of human development and human thinking- should have desisted an ethnic based political organization
On the Debate on the Existence and Non-Existence of Amharas: The surprising statement commences under the sub-title of prioritizing Amharaness that there was a debate over the existence or nonexistence of a delineated ethnic group known as the Amhara. One can hardly find any historical proof or evidence for the said erroneous statement. There has never been a denial nor a debate by any about the existence of the Amhara tribe. If debates were made among few circles of elites, such debates do not represent the Amharas in particular and the Ethiopian people in general and can never serve as a historical reference by any standards. The writer underlined that the debate was fueled by the fact that “for a long time, the Amharas have identified as Ethiopians.” The Amharas’ identification of themselves as Ethiopians cannot by any means negate the existence of the Amhara ethnic group that has shared proud history with the other Ethiopian societies of different, but mixed and intertwined, languages and cultures.
The statement is the distortion of the debates made between elites of those who promote Ethiopia’s unity and those who stood for Ethiopia’s disintegration on the basis of denial of Ethiopian history and reality. In such debates, the commonly distortion made against Professor Mesfin Woldemariam who strongly argued that the Amharas who expressed themselves in their respective localities as Degegna, Gojjame, Shewe, Begemdere, Woloye was not to completely obliterate the identification of their Amharness. To imagine the non-existence of Amhara while using Amharic language and Amharic scripts and to ascribe such argument to Professor Mesfin was, and is, unfair. His focus of debate was dismissing the TPLF’s fabricated notions of the so-called Amhara chauvinism and the existence of nations, nationalities and peoples of Ethiopia. No single record can be found when and where a Gojjame, Gondere, Shewe and Woloye denied his/her Amhara identity.
The quotation of David Levine cannot serve as a good justification. This is not exceptional to the Amharas. All others would prefer to identify themselves by the locality they were born as Tigre, Harare, Dire, Wolegie, Bale, Jimme and so forth. An Amhara or any other language speaking individual who was born and grew in Harar or Dire would say he/she was a Harare or Dire. This is not a denial to being an Amhara, another ethnicity or an Ethiopian. All in all, the Amhara calling himself/herself by his/her locality is neither a denial to Amharaness nor to Ethiopianhood.
On the End of the Debate on the Amhara Identity: The professor further went on to say that Fano has brought an end to the debate and fights for the survival and interests of the Amhara people. This is a sham denial to the history of Fano. Fanao, according to the professor, had heralded the existence of Amhara. This is sheer nonsense with due respect. Fano is the son and product of Amhara. Amhara brought the existence of Fano and not the vice versa. On the other hand, Fano, has existed for centuries. Amharas had organized themselves as Fanos in defense of their independence and unity against the external aggressors for centuries. It had fought against the odds of local and central governments at various times in the interest of the people living in the areas regardless of ethnicity differences. Fanos in all the Amhara provinces had immense roles in the fight against the Italian invading forces in 1896 in Adowa and against fascism in the 1930’s. The Gojjam peasants’ rebellion in the 1960s against the land tenure measures of the Haile Selassie I regime is also a case in point. Thus, Fano is not a recent phenomenon. It has existed for years in defense of Ethiopia and its local interests.
Today’s Fano is not only for the Amhara people. It struggles against the criminal regime that aimed at annihilating the Amharas and destabilizing the country. The leaders of Fano have reiterated their political stance by stating that their departure is ‘Amhara and their destination is Ethiopia’. The Fano’s struggle is, therefore, to save not only the Amharas but the whole Ethiopia in solidarity and unity of the struggling people of Ethiopia.
The loose attachment to Amharness and a strong commitment to Ethiopianness the professor indicated is an illusionary statement. There had never been loose attachment to Amharaness. Amharness and Ethiopianness have always been inseparably and intimately linked together without any sort of looseness and special attachment. Ethiopianess as a conglomerate of all citizens signaled nothing but the shared nation of the various societies. The focus on the Amhareness is to find a deliberate justification for the continuation of the anti-Ethiopian nationalist sentiment of other ethnic groups as Oromia, Tigray, Somalia, Afar and others
It is a fairy tale to state that the Amharas had claimed to be first and for most Ethiopians. It is just like the characterization of some Oromo activists who claim that Ethiopianism is the predominant form of Amhara nationalism of Ethiopia. Such distortions are meant to fan divisiveness and enmity among the ethnic groups. It is frustrating and disturbing to see elites clamoring for ethnic nationalism rather than a state nationalism.
As a point of conclusion, let me reflect on my personal bewilderment as to why some elites dwell in a futile exercise of unprofessional venture of using their sharp pens for their country’s disintegration which the external and internal enemies are eager to happen. What is wrong with our elites that do not want to take lessons from their own amassed theoretical and practical knowledge and from the global trends they see in front of their eyes?
The aspect of nationalism that is promoted by the Ethiopian government as grounded in its constitution leads to disintegration, to small entities to serve the avaricious interests of the few power mongers. Small countries are always weak and vulnerable to all forms of oppression, suppression and subjugation. Why do we not learn from large states like the US, Russia, and China? They are large nations with large ethnic groups and are advantaged resource wise, natural and human. They do not exercise archaic and childish political puzzles like nations, nationalities and peoples as Ethiopia does. Individually, they are immune from the nations, nationalities and peoples bizarre. They individually stand as one nation and one people with numerous ethnic groups.
Why not we learn from the European Union that brought together small nations as one economic and political entity with the conviction that they are better off being united than remaining separate? EU is well aware that as small states they will be disadvantaged economically, politically and socially.
The African Union is aiming and dreaming at creating the United States of Africa which was envisaged by Kwame Nkrumah and other gallant sons and daughters of Africa. Africa will continue to be the darkest continent as some portrayed it some years back unless it is economically, politically and socially a united continent in the future. The world is in a paradigm shift of creating a new international order of common trade laws, cooperation and integration.
In light of the above, we must be ashamed of promoting a backward and archaic political system under the disguise of nationalism for the sole purpose of satisfying the avaricious greedy politicians who trade in the name of nationalism. Let us come back into our good senses and make Ethiopia Great Again! Let us argue, debate hotly to the normal limits but all the debates shall lead us to Ethiopia’s peace, unity, independence, freedom and equality. Let us avoid unnecessary bizarre of criticisms that are not accompanied with some inputs for improvement. Let us be practical in helping those who are sacrificing their lives. Let us say ‘adieus’ to ethnic federalism, to the notion of nations, nationalities and peoples of one country. Let us be true to ourselves and fight for a democracy of one nation and one people of Ethiopia. Let us cast away the age-long sugar coated poison, once and for all, in the interest of the Ethiopian people.
Editor’s note : Views in the article do not necessarily reflect the views of borkena.com
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Please continue writing as you have clear ideas that can educate many of us.