Prof. G. Mariam:

Are you talking about the “Federal Anti-Ethics and Art-of-Corruption Commission”?

If there is a real, independent FEAC, then, it would have long brought those wives and cronies of our big bosses who scrambled and sold thousands of sq. yard of land in the newly developed area of Addis Ababa past Summit Bottling Factory and close to the new condominium buildings.

The naive “Teguaz – Neqash” journalist from Rado Fanna was silenced and his program on land grabbing was terminated some three years ago by the very high-positioned corrupt people who were indeed swimming in land corruption.

This is right there under the nose of our true Federal Anti-Ethics and Art-of-Corruption Commission (FAEAoCC).

~

You have hit the nail in the head; well done!

But, let me assure you, Sir, this is still only tip of the ice berg. Corruption is so widespread that we started to get confused as what is right or wrong. It is like standing inches away from a wall and you can’t see the limit. Corruption through students transfer from regional universities to Addis Ababa (where deans and departmental chairpersons ask for their “service” as high as Birr 40,000.=), staffing the university with those who are not technically eligible for such posts (hiring graduate assistants from among those who finished in extension classes while those from the regular programs are kicked away citing lack of budget), altering grades through instructions from “above”, and many more.

Nevertheless, you should, as always, be praised for your material.
~

lululemon pants

This Regime is made up of mainly-Tigrian gangsters and their accomplices and no one expects anything less than massive corruption from them.

We have been living under the tyranny and corruption in the midst of a country that boasts to have an Ethics & Anti-Corruption Commission where the reality, indeed, is that it is “”Non-ethics” and Art-of-Corruption Commission” that is formed to attack potential opposition elements.

By : Sista
When I open the video, of the above title, frankly I did not know what to make of it. Men and women wearing historical warriors clothing with all the paraphernalia ( Tor and Gasha) being led by a male and female who were holding the Ethiopian flag and fully clothed in military outfit. The female complete with the accessories of sunglasses- She can easily be mistaken for a Congolese militia who is associated with all sorts of underworld as oppose to an Ethiopian fighter!
Nationalist song for a hero and some wedding song, It appeared Tamagne the hero or the groom not the artist turn activist that is courting this grand entrance. What is all these about?
Why do we so readily idolise individuals, who hardly have done anything other than rant about what they believe in. What is it that this person have done other than collecting money god knows for what – that got him such platform and adulation?

When his supporters read this, I know they would automatically assume I am a member or supporter of EPRDF. Such is the only way we perceive everything-As black or white. Well, I am neither- Just a citizen of Ethiopia observing both government and those against it. So I rather place myself in the colour grey. I am not here to be the mouth piece of EPDRF; it can speak for itself but comparing to most of the ruling parties in Africa. We have a country that is growing reasonably 5% not what EPRDF claim 12% – still good progress. It is reasonably safe and secure and has an overall stability. This is not to say all is good. It is not. There are issues of political repression and attack on media workers and high cost of living and lack of development in certain regions and groups. So, I have no problem with anyone raising these issues in a constructive manner.

However, there is a disturbing trend in the Diaspora that almost any charismatic character can be a political figure that would bring miracle. No they can’t! One may argue yes such figures can play a pivotal role and may quote for me Regan, Schwarzenegger and so on. May be. The danger in our case is, the likes of Tamagne have little knowledge and understanding of politics and its structure hence his ill-conceived idea of “fundraising”. Quite, what is this fund being raised for? To build schools, hospitals, roads, pick up street kids? Nop, it’s to wage war on the sitting government.
Now, we can list lots of wrong doings of the sitting government but sitting in America and Europe and war-mongering is not going to achieve anything nor it is a smart move. It makes me laugh those who talks a lot about democracy seem to choose the least democratic path to bring change! War, No – thank you. WE don’t want war. War kills, war devastates society, war kills the economy, and war changes the fabric of society. We have been there. We don’t need to go back there.
Secondly and most importantly, anyone who believes those preaching democracy and change will deliver it; are at best naïve at worst ignorant of what politics really is. In other words, no one, I mean no one can produce a miracle that eradicates poverty, corruption, high unemployment and political repression in a country like Ethiopia with all its ethnic, strategic, economic and social issues; At least for the foreseeable future.

So this is as good as it gets. If and when any party (there is no viable one at the moment) or group, manages to take over power hopefully through the ballot box, I would say they would do the same thing what they accuse of the current regime doing. Elimination of those who oppose them, they will begin propping up their own supporters, nepotism and corruption and securitization of the state will continue. They may even do worse than what we currently have.

This is Africa and African politics is “politics of the belly” so the kind of change we all aspire for will take a considerable time and effort but it is achievable. I am sorry to be so pessimistic but I am talking of reality. Look around you. Eritreans fought with the entire god given energy and money and ideas that was out there. They all had one vision an independent Eritrea. They got that, but the horror that followed and continues to befall them under their iron-feast leader is not what anyone of them contemplated

What matters in any system is that there are enough resources to go around. Those resources are not only natural resources but Human Development. To have a country that has a healthy, well educated work force is the greatest asset. Economic development is paramount too. As we work on these issues, I believe it is a natural phenomenon that positive change would follow but to focus just on the administration is a tacit desire for power as oppose to positive change.
This is why I find Tamagne and Co. just hot air with no substance. They have nothing to offer other than playing with people’s emotion through nationalism. Instead, how I wish such groups turn their energy into positive action. Instead of setting up fruitless political parties, there are so many things we could do in the Diaspora for the development of our country and Ethiopians in general.

Such as creating strong community with lots of businesses, educate our youth not only about their homeland culture but that of the host country, so that they get a fair chance in life. Support women and young girls to get education and enable them to compete in the job market and make them productive and one that can stand on their own. Organise scholarships and charities to those back home, assist new comers to settle and encourage them to do well and many more things can be done.

Use our churches and mosques for the purpose of worship of course but also as port of call for those in need. (Social Service for the community). I don’t know what goes on in mosques but the state of our churches is exactly the reflection of our society. Patriarchical, male dominated, top down management and the mass is a prisoner of spiritual and cultural psychology. These are the sort of changes we should seek and treat as a priority. As the saying goes Gulicha biliwaetu wot ayatafitim. Just demanding change without these things in place is a futile exercise.

I am sure, a lot o people will disagree with me and that is fine but I want those people to ask themselves what has been the history of Diaspora activity? Has it been productive or destructive? Is Nostalgia really the way forward or do we have to accept the really on the ground and work around what we have? I believe the latter will at least allow us to produce a nation that is knowledgeable, smart, can think for him/herself and developed instead of idolising non heroes just because these are the people who happen to put themselves upfront as the rest of us are passive recipient of what-ever ridiculous claim they are coming out with. I leave each reader to answer for themselves