July 28, 2013
by Selam Beyene, PhD
The
history of Ethiopia is replete with contradictions and paradoxes. There
are accounts galore of heroism and meekness, patriotism and treachery,
devotion and apathy, and, above all, fear of God and acts of
brutality
in that ancient country. These chronicles may help provide clues about
the root causes of the Woyane anti-Ethiopia schema and the appropriate
plan of action needed to deracinate them.
By
anti-Ethiopianism we purport the systematic and government-sanctioned
weakening of the national fabric by pitting one ethnic group against
another, as was witnessed recently in such areas as Benishangul-Gumuz
and Gura Ferda zones. Anti-Ethiopianism is the appalling government
policy of dislocating natives from their ancestral lands and
transferring national wealth to foreigners at dirt cheap prices. It is
anti-Ethiopianism to frame a constitution whose central object is to
promote the disintegration and land-lockedness of the country. Most
importantly, anti-Ethiopianism implies the deviant system of government
under which all major economic, political and military institutions are
controlled by the minority Woyane group, and through which fundamental
human rights are suppressed and the people are denied their basic rights
to participate in free and fair elections.
Confucius sagaciously
advised: “Study the past if you would define the future.” Accordingly,
when we consider the current predicaments of the country, which are
characterized by ethnocentrism, totalitarianism, corruption, nepotism
and absence of a feeling of Ethiopian patriotism amongst the rulers;
and, most importantly, when we search for a viable solution to them, we
should go no further for clues and explanations than the recent past
events, beginning with the invasion of Italy in 1935-1940.
Much
has been documented about the infamous Fascist aggression by notable
Ethiopian and Western historians, journalists and novelists, as well as
other writers who had taken active parts in the actual war. While
well-researched history books and journal articles may serve as the
ultimate sources for academic exercise, there is considerable
information that may be gleaned from anecdotal accounts narrated by
individuals based on their personal experiences. In this regard, we are
fortunate to have at our disposal now the writings of three foreigners
who had the opportunity to witness firsthand the savagery of the Fascist
aggression, the heroism of the Ethiopian fighters, and the betrayal by
local collaborators.
The three foreigners, whose paths had crossed
several times in the battles of Tembien, Maichew and other fronts, had
fought on the side of Ethiopia under the leaderships of such eminent
Ethiopians as Ras Kassa Hailu Darge, Ras Seyoum Mengesha and Ras
Mulugeta Yiggezu, the War Minister. In so doing, they were able to
record considerable historical data and to leave behind intriguing
accounts of bravery and treachery that could inform present and future
researchers seeking answers to some of the most complex questions about
present-day Ethiopia. Most importantly, they provide critical insights
into the underlying reasons for the anti-Ethiopian agenda Zenawi and his
Woyane entourage successfully exploited to catapult themselves to
power; the continued damage to the long-term viability of the country
that is caused by the misguided fiscal, economic, educational and
military policies implemented by the TPLF-led regime; and the
institutionalization of ethnic-based governance that is portentously
promoted to nurture inter-ethnic animosity among brothers and sisters
who have lived in relative harmony for many centuries.