Our material poverty has little to do with the resistance against Meles & Co.!
Bezuayehu Kegerji
November 11, 2005
Message To Our Donors
I read with caution the writings of some of the journalists who conclude their coverage by noting that, though sparked by election dispute, the current resistance reflects growing citizen frustration over abject poverty in the country.
I will dare to disagree with the conclusion if it is meant to convey a message on an abject poverty which has more to do with the deprivation of material and other means to meet basic survival needs of citizens. With regard to these aspects, the contexts we survive and experience under the ruler-ship of Meles and Co. do not lead to such exaggerated generalization. Let me count some widely recognized factors:
- Access to food for the poor - The track record of the regime shows that they have managed to mobilize more food aid than previous regimes, and have responded to the ever-growing number of food deficit citizens. Thanks to the generous international community. I know that there is an ongoing heavily donor supported food security program (PSNP) in drought prone woredas which is pumping-in 3 to 4 million dollars per month, often in cash, to rural households for a nominal participation in public works. Despite this support, the rural poor has elected the opposition during the May election, and have remained part of the current resistance.
- Access to skill training and participation in income generation for the youth - over the last few years the Meles team has embarked upon and implemented a big national program meant for skill training and employment generation for the youth. The many thousands of kiosks installed in all corners of Addis Ababa and the various urban centers nation wide, and the many thousands of youth employed as parking-fee collectors are some evidences. I don’t want to reflect on the particulars of the beneficiaries, the outputs and effects of the investment. Perhaps, youth `belonging’ to Meles might have exploited from the window. It could be either too early to judge or in-effective altogether for the context. But, what I can fairly say is that the regime has made relatively better investment and attempts to create opportunities that can reduce the unemployment and the abject material poverty of the youth in general. Nevertheless, the present youth of Ethiopia, be it those who benefited from the above mentioned Meles programs or others in higher learning institutions, are one of the major forces of the anti-Meles movement. Their participation in the movement, as we are told to believe, is not fueled by material poverty that jeopardized access to basic survival needs. The very fact that no-looting of shops or robbing of banks (as Meles falsely alleged during the June massacre) has happened during the prolonged confrontation in Markato area presents a strong support to my argumentation. I have also heard a case in Addis where the rioting youth in unison decided and set ablaze cash money which they found as they ravage through a kebele office. The resistance has little to do with material poverty and hopelessness in the youth.
- Better salary for civil servants - despite its often expressed dislike on the social position of the citizens in the civil service, the regime has revised their salary and benefits at different times. The recent one is after the May election. And, we all know that, during the period there has not been a substantial increase on the price of the basic consumption goods from agriculture. If we assess the salary increments made in some of the governmental institutions where professional expertise and skills are most underutilized, it is not difficult to see that civil servants, too, are not that deprived of the material needs to meet their basic survival needs. I know recent cases where public school teachers declined to accept offers of salary increment by the Meles team in return for their loyalty and support to the regime by stressing that the cause at hand is `beyond salary increment’. Likewise, it is an open secret that the regime has created and allowed an opportunity for some of the underutilized professional staff (for example physicians) to undertake other contractual tasks for additional incomes. Despite the global market price hikes, during the last ten months price of fuel has not changed. We recognize that Meles and Co. are highly subsidizing our transportation. But, despite the underutilized capacity, the modest salaries, promises of salary increment and privileges granted, most of the civil servants have denied Meles and Co. their votes during the May election, and are still amongst the major resisting groups.
- Improved infrastructure and basic services – the regime has implemented massive infrastructure development programs during the last one decade. Thanks to the donors. The road network has shown a marked improvement, both in its reach and quality. The observed growth in telecommunication network, access to grid power and educational facilities has not been that bad. It has also commenced a massive program for improving access to modest shelter for the urban-poor. Some poor households were provided with `keys’ of such houses, even before the May election. But, these improvements and services registered by Meles and Co. have failed to lure the citizenry from electing them. Contrary to this, even those households who were provided with `keys, of their new homes have voted for the opposition, and are still supporting the resistance.
- Tax and penal exemption and reduction – before and after the May election the regime has implemented a tax exemption and reduction scheme which has reduced the financial pressure on all kinds of private business operators. For example, few days before the May election, the transitional mayor of Addis Ababa exempted taxi-drivers from paying the accumulated penalty arising from traffic charges. Despite the exemption, the drivers have, at first voted for the CUDP, and furthermore, have joined the national movement for the respect of citizen votes by implementing two effective boycott strikes, including the very recent one.
We can add more examples that lend more points to the assertion that material poverty is not the prime factor fueling the current resistance or popular movement.
I would agree to the conclusion, if the indicated abject poverty is explained in terms of such macro level issues as the trampling of civil liberty, dignity of citizens, disrespect to civic and political rights of citizens, disrespect to social institutions of citizens, property rights of citizens and the likes which are enshrined in the constitution.
From this perspective, I feel, the authors of the unqualified statement that explain our current national resistance in relation to the rampant abject poverty we are in are executing their usual publicity assignment to save the tyrant, in at least two ways. First, it sends a wrong message to un-informed readers, to believe that had it not been for the abject poverty, the conduct and management of the May election alone does not warrant the level of dispute and anger observed. In other words, it compels the reader to believe that the election was conducted in acceptably free and fair manner. This is absolutely wrong. One has to read the EU Observer Mission Report, which has categorically indicated that the process has failed to meet acceptable international standards.
To my judgment, the second hidden message in the statement is designed to lure the donors. It sounds like, because of abject poverty Ethiopians are fast loosing their judgmental powers between what is good, and not, for them, and they are resorting to disputes and riots for just and unjust causes. And hence, donors have to pump in more aid resources so as to save them from sliding into a Somali kind of state. Here again, Meles and Co. are left on the side to be viewed by the international community as unlucky individuals burdened with the responsibility of civilizing the hopeless society.
As I make the final touch to this paper, I hear that Meles, despite his unacceptable actions, have already used this publicity statement to beg for more donor money. I hear that he is trying to justify the massacre he administered by referring to the many thousands of unemployed youth in Addis, who are to be his priority support targets in the years to come. And, donors are systematically asked to pump-in more resources rather than withdrawing the existing commitment. I have also seen more publicity news-clips posted by the paid agents of Meles. One of these clippings tells us that despite the disputes Ethiopia is to register 6 – 7% growth this year. And, the other one from IMF announces the macro-economic stability and other favorable conditions for the country to get new support approvals. I also read with disappointment the silly ongoing argumentation against the move of withholding or conditioning of aid to Meles on grounds of our abject poverty and survival needs. One politician in UK has even compared support withholding to an act of turning-off the tap from open thirsty mouths of Ethiopians.
I strongly say no to such unfounded and unconvincing assertions.
Rather, for us the suffering citizens, aid withholding and withdrawal at the moment, is equivalent to turning-off the tap that yield the live-bullets used by Meles to massacre our children, mothers, the youth and the helpless rural poor farmers everywhere. I recall that one of the UK support during the last few years went to building the capacity of the Ethiopian Police Force. Another area supported includes experience sharing on how to control civil society organizations from being agents of terrorist organizations. None of these investments financed by the British tax-payers have improved our security and well-being. Despite the training given and also despite the expensive anti-riot police gears provided by UK, Meles is telling you now that his forces resorted to shooting with live-ammunition to quell the unarmed but stone throwing youth!!
Hence, please be advised that it is not for our collective good that the North continues to finance Meles and Co. Withdrawal of your tax-payers money from pockets of Meles is equivalent to cutting-down the years that we have to suffer under his neo-apartheid regime. I feel that, in relative terms, material poverty and destitution are not the major factors that fuelled the South African resistance against apartheid. We are now in a similar condition: no representatives in the political governance framework; no elected local government; no independent judiciary to appeal to for arbitration and redress to violations of rights; no civil society to articulate and present our desires and aspirations; no access to information; nothing and closed. We do not need your money to rinse our throats, and to fill our stomachs while we are under these conditions. Period.
Fortunately, we have a long history that shows the lessons and menus we have to follow when confronted with similar conditions. Hey, we are back to it, and trying to reinvigorate the indigenous means of silencing those who want to colonize us. I tell you, we will succeed in toppling the tyrant, soon, even if you keep on arming him with all kinds of the latest military hard wares and advisors that you may have.
You will hear from me after victory, God willing.
ETHIOMEDIA.COM - ETHIOPIA'S PREMIER NEWS AND VIEWS WEBSITE
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November 11, 2005
Message To Our Donors
I read with caution the writings of some of the journalists who conclude their coverage by noting that, though sparked by election dispute, the current resistance reflects growing citizen frustration over abject poverty in the country.
I will dare to disagree with the conclusion if it is meant to convey a message on an abject poverty which has more to do with the deprivation of material and other means to meet basic survival needs of citizens. With regard to these aspects, the contexts we survive and experience under the ruler-ship of Meles and Co. do not lead to such exaggerated generalization. Let me count some widely recognized factors:
- Access to food for the poor - The track record of the regime shows that they have managed to mobilize more food aid than previous regimes, and have responded to the ever-growing number of food deficit citizens. Thanks to the generous international community. I know that there is an ongoing heavily donor supported food security program (PSNP) in drought prone woredas which is pumping-in 3 to 4 million dollars per month, often in cash, to rural households for a nominal participation in public works. Despite this support, the rural poor has elected the opposition during the May election, and have remained part of the current resistance.
- Access to skill training and participation in income generation for the youth - over the last few years the Meles team has embarked upon and implemented a big national program meant for skill training and employment generation for the youth. The many thousands of kiosks installed in all corners of Addis Ababa and the various urban centers nation wide, and the many thousands of youth employed as parking-fee collectors are some evidences. I don’t want to reflect on the particulars of the beneficiaries, the outputs and effects of the investment. Perhaps, youth `belonging’ to Meles might have exploited from the window. It could be either too early to judge or in-effective altogether for the context. But, what I can fairly say is that the regime has made relatively better investment and attempts to create opportunities that can reduce the unemployment and the abject material poverty of the youth in general. Nevertheless, the present youth of Ethiopia, be it those who benefited from the above mentioned Meles programs or others in higher learning institutions, are one of the major forces of the anti-Meles movement. Their participation in the movement, as we are told to believe, is not fueled by material poverty that jeopardized access to basic survival needs. The very fact that no-looting of shops or robbing of banks (as Meles falsely alleged during the June massacre) has happened during the prolonged confrontation in Markato area presents a strong support to my argumentation. I have also heard a case in Addis where the rioting youth in unison decided and set ablaze cash money which they found as they ravage through a kebele office. The resistance has little to do with material poverty and hopelessness in the youth.
- Better salary for civil servants - despite its often expressed dislike on the social position of the citizens in the civil service, the regime has revised their salary and benefits at different times. The recent one is after the May election. And, we all know that, during the period there has not been a substantial increase on the price of the basic consumption goods from agriculture. If we assess the salary increments made in some of the governmental institutions where professional expertise and skills are most underutilized, it is not difficult to see that civil servants, too, are not that deprived of the material needs to meet their basic survival needs. I know recent cases where public school teachers declined to accept offers of salary increment by the Meles team in return for their loyalty and support to the regime by stressing that the cause at hand is `beyond salary increment’. Likewise, it is an open secret that the regime has created and allowed an opportunity for some of the underutilized professional staff (for example physicians) to undertake other contractual tasks for additional incomes. Despite the global market price hikes, during the last ten months price of fuel has not changed. We recognize that Meles and Co. are highly subsidizing our transportation. But, despite the underutilized capacity, the modest salaries, promises of salary increment and privileges granted, most of the civil servants have denied Meles and Co. their votes during the May election, and are still amongst the major resisting groups.
- Improved infrastructure and basic services – the regime has implemented massive infrastructure development programs during the last one decade. Thanks to the donors. The road network has shown a marked improvement, both in its reach and quality. The observed growth in telecommunication network, access to grid power and educational facilities has not been that bad. It has also commenced a massive program for improving access to modest shelter for the urban-poor. Some poor households were provided with `keys’ of such houses, even before the May election. But, these improvements and services registered by Meles and Co. have failed to lure the citizenry from electing them. Contrary to this, even those households who were provided with `keys, of their new homes have voted for the opposition, and are still supporting the resistance.
- Tax and penal exemption and reduction – before and after the May election the regime has implemented a tax exemption and reduction scheme which has reduced the financial pressure on all kinds of private business operators. For example, few days before the May election, the transitional mayor of Addis Ababa exempted taxi-drivers from paying the accumulated penalty arising from traffic charges. Despite the exemption, the drivers have, at first voted for the CUDP, and furthermore, have joined the national movement for the respect of citizen votes by implementing two effective boycott strikes, including the very recent one. We can add more examples that lend more points to the assertion that material poverty is not the prime factor fueling the current resistance or popular movement. I would agree to the conclusion, if the indicated abject poverty is explained in terms of such macro level issues as the trampling of civil liberty, dignity of citizens, disrespect to civic and political rights of citizens, disrespect to social institutions of citizens, property rights of citizens and the likes which are enshrined in the constitution.
To my judgment, the second hidden message in the statement is designed to lure the donors. It sounds like, because of abject poverty Ethiopians are fast loosing their judgmental powers between what is good, and not, for them, and they are resorting to disputes and riots for just and unjust causes. And hence, donors have to pump in more aid resources so as to save them from sliding into a Somali kind of state. Here again, Meles and Co. are left on the side to be viewed by the international community as unlucky individuals burdened with the responsibility of civilizing the hopeless society.
As I make the final touch to this paper, I hear that Meles, despite his unacceptable actions, have already used this publicity statement to beg for more donor money. I hear that he is trying to justify the massacre he administered by referring to the many thousands of unemployed youth in Addis, who are to be his priority support targets in the years to come. And, donors are systematically asked to pump-in more resources rather than withdrawing the existing commitment. I have also seen more publicity news-clips posted by the paid agents of Meles. One of these clippings tells us that despite the disputes Ethiopia is to register 6 – 7% growth this year. And, the other one from IMF announces the macro-economic stability and other favorable conditions for the country to get new support approvals. I also read with disappointment the silly ongoing argumentation against the move of withholding or conditioning of aid to Meles on grounds of our abject poverty and survival needs. One politician in UK has even compared support withholding to an act of turning-off the tap from open thirsty mouths of Ethiopians.
I strongly say no to such unfounded and unconvincing assertions.
Rather, for us the suffering citizens, aid withholding and withdrawal at the moment, is equivalent to turning-off the tap that yield the live-bullets used by Meles to massacre our children, mothers, the youth and the helpless rural poor farmers everywhere. I recall that one of the UK support during the last few years went to building the capacity of the Ethiopian Police Force. Another area supported includes experience sharing on how to control civil society organizations from being agents of terrorist organizations. None of these investments financed by the British tax-payers have improved our security and well-being. Despite the training given and also despite the expensive anti-riot police gears provided by UK, Meles is telling you now that his forces resorted to shooting with live-ammunition to quell the unarmed but stone throwing youth!!
Hence, please be advised that it is not for our collective good that the North continues to finance Meles and Co. Withdrawal of your tax-payers money from pockets of Meles is equivalent to cutting-down the years that we have to suffer under his neo-apartheid regime. I feel that, in relative terms, material poverty and destitution are not the major factors that fuelled the South African resistance against apartheid. We are now in a similar condition: no representatives in the political governance framework; no elected local government; no independent judiciary to appeal to for arbitration and redress to violations of rights; no civil society to articulate and present our desires and aspirations; no access to information; nothing and closed. We do not need your money to rinse our throats, and to fill our stomachs while we are under these conditions. Period.
Fortunately, we have a long history that shows the lessons and menus we have to follow when confronted with similar conditions. Hey, we are back to it, and trying to reinvigorate the indigenous means of silencing those who want to colonize us. I tell you, we will succeed in toppling the tyrant, soon, even if you keep on arming him with all kinds of the latest military hard wares and advisors that you may have.
You will hear from me after victory, God willing.
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© COPYRIGHT 20001-2003 ETHIOMEDIA.COM. EMAIL: webmaster@ethiomedia.com
