One of the greatest hoaxes in Ethiopian history

By Wogenie Berta: November 6, 2005

In the last three days alone, between 300 and 500 are feared to have been shot dead, over a 1000 wounded, and 5000 detained. We many never know how many citizens were killed in the three-day violence unleashed by the security forces because the regime is taking many of the dead to its army barracks for secret disposition.

The Hoax

Based on credible insider reports, the brain trust of the regime has been planning a dramatic provocation of the opposition for about a month. When the regime denied opposition political parties permit for a peaceful street demonstration, it was caught by surprise by the swift call for a stay-home-strike. Outfoxed, Meles Zenawi pleaded with the diplomatic community for an unconditional negotiation with the opposition if only they would call off the strike. Of course, the opposition accepted the truce for negotiation, but in the following few days, true to Zenawi’s character, he reneged on his promise and the opposition was left holding the bag. Now, with no other alternative, the opposition called for a second stay-home-strike for November 5th. However, Zenawi, not to be outmaneuvered a second time, he didn’t want to wait for another opposition surprise. He wanted to strike first.

Two weeks ago, hundreds of EPDRF cadres held a secret meeting in Addis Ababa and they were asked to identify and list every opposition member and supporter in the city and forward detailed information to the central office. Then the planners selected riot staging areas throughout the city, the primary focus to be the densely populated Merkato. Once the opposition announced the stay-home-strike for November 5th, the regime decided to pre-empt it by staging its make-believe riot on November 1, four days in advance of the scheduled strike. This was done by sending out agent provocateurs with rocks to throw, tires to burn and cars to smash at different locations throughout the city, especially in Merkato. Then the areas were flooded with heavily armed security forces to begin shooting at pedestrians, students, storeowners, even at private homes where they indiscriminately lobbed grenades and gunshots at the innocent residents. In some places victims were dragged out and ordered to kneel down and summarily shot in front of their families. To create maximum terror and confusion, machine gunfire continued to rock the city all night in several neighborhoods. In some locations, like near the French Embassy, the regime staged an army truck presumably bombed out and burned by opposition supporters. It is unlikely the French Embassy staff were impressed by the hoax. The truth of the matter is there was no public demonstration, no rocks, tires, guns or hand grenades used or held by the opposition supporters on November 1 in Merkato or anywhere else in Addis.

Well, the regime may have temporarily fooled many people, especially the international community, that the opposition was rioting and putting up a losing fight. Actually Prime Minister Zenawi is understood to have planned to accomplish four objectives: First, to preempt and foil the pre-announced stay-at-home strike. Second, use terror as cover to round up the opposition leaders and charge them with “treason” for attempting to overthrow the so-called constitutional government. Third, to muzzle the independent media and jail journalists and civic leaders. And last but not least, to fool the international community by claiming the opposition was behind the mayhem. It seems Meles has achieved all his goals with a well-executed blow to the pro-democracy forces before they even knew what hit them. Even the naďve US State Department was sucked in by the well-orchestrated ruse that it rushed to accuse the opposition of inciting the riot.

A number of people have been comparing this latest government-sanctioned violence on peaceful citizens with the violence of the Red Terror of some 30 years ago. The only difference this time is just one: Derg officials, cadres and security forces were systematically attacked and killed in increasing numbers by the then opposition forces. In retaliation, the Derg took drastic measures to cow and punish anyone it suspected to be members or supporters of the then urban guerrilla fighters.

How can Meles Zenawi and his henchmen justify their latest wanton destruction of the dozens of innocent citizens? Not a single member of his party has been killed or even attacked. He has no reason whatsoever for such a terrorist act on an innocent and peace loving population. His tactics, cruelty and crime may perhaps be explained by his Stalinist and misguided background.

When the hated Mengistu Hailemariam fled to Zimbabwe in 1991, the people of Ethiopia breathed a sigh of relief and expected their lives would change for the better. Boy, were they wrong! Instead of liberation, they once again came under the gun of PM Zenawi who has now been clinging to power for the last 14-plus years. His reign has been marked by untold hardships – from rampant disease, famine, ethnic conflicts, population displacement, exile, war, political violence and intolerance. Maybe this time, with the determined struggle of the Ethiopian people yearning for democracy, and help by other pro-democracy forces, the day when this reign of terror and human degradation comes to an end may not be too far. But the arrogant regime is very shortsighted and its days no doubt may be numbered. A government as hated and detested by its people as this one is, including by the people of its own birthplace, cannot last too long. No government can fail completely for long and remain in power. Ethiopia will be liberated, and dictatorship will be replaced by democracy, because as the African saying goes: “Nobody can stop the rain!”