It is only an alliance!

By Wondem WoldeEmanuel
May 26, 2006

It seems we have deliberately ignored the real meaning of an ALLIANCE, its purpose and applications in the context of politics. At the risk of boring some to death, I chose to remind us all what really an ALLIANCE mean. Only then, I thought, we can see or represent the intended cooperation in its perspective.

An ALLIANCE in a struggle, as we all know, is a loose association of individuals, groups or organizations set up to accomplish a simple mission or objective. It can be, say, an operation to win a battle. None of the participants are obliged to change their dearly held principles or beliefs to accomplish such a mission.They can break such partnership soon after the fight is won or lost. An ALLIANCE is not a higher form of association such as a coalition or a united front. It does not require participants to change their present views or vistas, principles or beliefs. No one has to compromise their plans or short and long term objectives. It can be, though, the start of a long term relationship.

Taking the above into consideration, the establishment of AFD, is only an obvious cooperation to rid the country from Meles' tyranny and dictatorship. What happens in between or after , with regards to the setting up of a unified democratic government depends on future agreements between the various organizations. If such a deal, especially accepting secession of a particular ethnic group, has been striken in the formation of the Alliance without the consultation or participation of the Ethiopian people, it is wrong, null and void.If the agreement lies within the frame reference of an ALLIANCE, then we can critique that part only: support or oppose by stating our reasons.

An Alliance is relatively a tactical/temporary or short term association rather than a strategical / long term union based on lasting common principles, beliefs and interests. Coalitions, United Fronts and Mergers are better suited for examining the nature of the relationship and the principles agreed upon to form such an association for they go a long way. Only if handled properly and nurtured well by working together with mutual respect and understanding would an ALLIANCE grow into a higher relationship. So, we must tolerate and have patience to see where such a beginning is heading. We may be unnecessarily and untimely cutting short an avenue that has been opened by relentless efforts of a few that could lead to a better way of solving our destructive ethnic problems that are threatening to explode at any moment. To assume that CUD and the liberation movements will conjoin by this partnership as the knee bone is connected to the thigh bone is a wrong conclusion. It is not the beginning of someone's idiotic bridge to nowhere , either. It can be a pipe dream to be realized and lead us to establish long lasting democracy, peace and unity based on brotherhood/sisterhood, mutual respect and common interests.

Nobody is fooling no one as we know the clear stances of the Liberation Fronts. The fact to be acknowledged here is that these citizens have entered into the 'public house' where they belong to face and properly deal with reality instead of standing outside and on the side and acting foreigners to their own internal affairs. They must be welcomed and encouraged to continue to march in the right direction holding hands with their brethren. We should be careful not to present ourselves to be more Ethiopian than others. While we understand the concern of UEDF, we must exert pressure for the Front to continue to be a part of this process. BTW, I liked its nifty recommendations to the Alliance Organizers. UEDF has said nothing bad about the contents of the final resolutions agreed upon or its disagreements on any points. It should not matter who called the meeting or led the Conference. I still remember such lame excuse used by egotistic leaders to undermine the creation of COEDF. We cannot repeat the same silly mistakes again and again. The only way we can make the Alliance transparent and accountable is by participation and not by critcizing it from afar. INFACT , WE MUST DEMAND THE ALLIANCE TO BECOME AN ALL INCLUSIVE ENTITY, TO INCLUDE OUR CIVIC SOCIETIES. As the vital safety mechanisms are the Ethiopian citizens, they must also be kept abreast of major activities and executions that will affect their future intersts. THEY MUST BE MADE THE ULTIMATE DECISION MAKERS BY THE BYLAWS OF THE ALLIANCE.

Most importantly, we must remember the recent efforts of Meles Zenawi to negotiate with OLF and others to form such an alliance against CUD, UEDF and other true opposition groups. OLF and others have now chosen with whom to allign themselves. This is a new and positive development and they should be welcomed. Let them leave at their own will and nobody should be responsible for pushing them away. It is their house too. We can and must negotiate the living arrangements, the visitors they may bring to the house and the chores that we may equally share, as needed. Of course, many can give us convincing reasons why OLF and others chose or are forced to join the opposition Camp. Instead, we should give OLF credit and assume that they may have finally realized they will be the beneficiaries of the one man one vote, as numbers matter in a democracy, and therfore, testing the waters.

Finally, the below is few reasons why the AFD must be supported with guarded optimism:

• It will avoid the unnecesary antagonisms and trippings amongst organizations within the Opposition Camp. TPLF cannot use any organizations as a decoy or tool for its destruction and genocide.
• It will take away TPLF's ability to divide and rule.
• The Alliance openly and insistently must demand that TPLF must be a participant of the series of conferences that will be scheduled to resolve the problems it has created peacefully and to be a part of the recovering process too. This will encourage and motivate individuals and groups within the rank and file of TPLF to abandon Meles and join the opposition.
• It will shorten the rule of tyranny and dictatorship either way.
• Will force the International Community and its donor nations to force TPLF to come to the negotiating table and compromise or deprive it of their assistance that has become its most important life line.

There is no question that the ALLIANCE is a result of the efforts of selfless individuals and groups putting so much time and energy in approaching, meeting, and in individual and bilateral discussions or dialogues. If carefully handled and nurtured it can bear fruit. We must start ploughing the field and sowing the seeds of democracy together . No question we will rip a harvest that has never been seen or collected before. We must water and fertilize the plants and kill the weeds. We must also be sensitive to the reasonable concerns of the many that fear that we may be taken for a ride by those who play master minds behind the curtain. They have history and experience backing them up. In turn, they must be reminded that politics is an art of compromise. As other many events and occurrence pertain, it has a beginning , middle and an end where claculated risks must be taken. This alliance can not and should not been seen any differently.

Last but not least, I commend and not condemn CUD, the organization that has shown maturity beyond its age, and others who have begun the holy gathering with Liberation Fronts at the right beginning or spot, AN ALLIANCE. It is a good start in paving the way to break the impasse; the only way to mitigate the unpredictable future of the nation and the imminent dangers still looming over our heads.

Inberta!

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The writer, Wondem WoldeEmanuel, can be reached for comments at wondem19932@earthlink.net.