What
is the Solidarity Movement for a New Ethiopia?
October 10, 2008
What is the Solidarity
Movement for a New Ethiopia?
The Solidarity Movement for a New Ethiopia is a grass-roots,
non-political pan-Ethiopian movement whose mission is
to mobilize a viable alliance of Ethiopians, irrespective
of ethnic or regional background, religious affiliation
or political tilt, with the task of identifying and
resolving issues and conflicts through peaceful dialogue,
in order to avoid the eruption of societal chaos and
violence, so as to work together to create a social,
political and economic environment conducive to the
emergence of robust freedoms, justice and prosperity
for all Ethiopians in a united Ethiopia.
The “New Ethiopia” we envision is an
one where we put our “humanity before our ethnicity”
and where the rule of law and the supporting governmental
and societal structures are strong enough to support
and advance genuine freedom, justice, the respect for
human rights, equality, peace, prosperity and opportunity,
without bias. This is the kind of environment that will
then be conducive to unhindered political expression.
This is a movement to Revive Ethiopia because the
image of dying Ethiopia or is deteriorating badly and
can be seen everywhere:
- by the image of our dying children who are the
future of our nation
- by the image of our famines, drought and hunger
- by our constant begging for others to feed our
people
- by a constant stream of new reports regarding gross
human rights abuses
- by the suppression of the democratic and judicial
process
- by the suppression of the media
- by the lack of opportunity leading to so many of
us wanting to leave our own country for another
- by the death of hope seen in the eyes of our people
young and seniors , including our mothers, fathers,
sisters and brothers as well as our wives who are
now struggling to help the millions of those who are
dying
- by the failures of our governmental and civic institutions,
as well as us the people, to effectively address these
multi-dimensional and complex problems
All of these are signs of the deep trouble or crisis
we Ethiopians are in unless we join together as Ethiopians,
united by principles that are greater and higher than
our collective differences and divisions, knowing that
none of us is truly free until we all are free. Only
then will we find a way out of this destructive path
we are on to a more humane and healthier Ethiopia.
Problems to be Addressed
by the Solidarity Movement:
1. Food Crisis:
The Solidarity Movement is attempting to mobilize
Ethiopians to provide and access additional resources
to help starving Ethiopians in the country. This is
a primary goal right now due to the seriousness of this
crisis and because of that it takes precedence over
the dismal state of politics and other matters in the
country.
We are hearing tragic reports of the widespread hunger
across the country due to inflation, unemployment, crop
failures and the unavailability of food. The Solidarity
Movement is organizing a mass effort to help in whatever
way possible, in particular, by asking Ethiopians to
form small donation groups that would send directly
to trusted relatives or friends in the country that
would distribute the funds to the most needy.
The Solidarity Movement is also working to launch
a worldwide fundraising campaign to raise funds for
the starving and dying Ethiopians. One day will be chosen
for Ethiopians to make a concerted effort to raise these
funds throughout the world. The plan will be coming
out, but at this time what we have in mind is for communities,
churches, civic groups, political parties and even individuals
to coordinate such events in homes, community centers,
mosques, synagogues or churches. This should also be
extended to non-Ethiopians friends.
It is also a goal—not yet realized—to
exert pressure on the Ethiopian government, utilizing
key government and NGO decision makers in the international
community to add strength to our voice whenever possible,
to openly address this crisis rather than denying or
minimizing it. Additionally, it will also be important
to advocate for food assistance from outside sources
for the short-term and to mobilize the international
community to address the root causes.
2. Human Rights Crimes
The ongoing human rights crimes continue in the country,
particularly in the Ogaden region, in the Afar region,
in Benishangul-Gumuz, the Oromia region and in the Southern
Nations, and North Gonder to Gambella region more specifically
in an incident between two ethnic groups. In this latter
case, the members of a dominant ethnic group, one who
was suspected to have government support, targeted a
much smaller ethnic group, the Burji. Looks that the
big swallows the small like the fish story.
In these cases, it continues to be a high priority
for the Solidarity Movement to intervene and ease the
situation by different means like traditional counseling
through elders and moderators in both parties as well
by aware our folks not to playing the regime’s
political game.
The Solidarity Movement will continue to do the same
throughout the country by attempting to find people
on the ground in different regions and within different
groups within those regions, to report what is going
on and to intervene as resources enable us to do so.
It is also our goal to educate Ethiopians and international
human rights organizations of any gross violations,
encouraging them to take action.
3. Maintaining the Ethiopia Territorial
Integrity of our Borders
Article 39 of the Ethiopian Constitution that allows
a region the constitutional legitimacy to secede from
the country has been used by the current Meles regime
to advance the disintegration of Ethiopia where it was
conducive to their interests—Eritrea—and
to oppose it by military force where it was not—like
against other separatist groups. There are long-standing
and legitimate concerns expressed by these groups who
want to break away from the country because they have
lacked political voice and opportunity compared to those
in power and when they have spoken out or resisted,
they have faced persecution and repression.
If Ethiopia is to achieve a viable and lasting peace,
these issues must be acknowledged and addressed in order
to genuinely move forward towards living in harmony
with diverse and disenfranchised groups within Ethiopian
society. The TPLF government officials have even set
up an ethnically-based system of naming most regions
after the majority ethnic group of the area, something
that has contributed to increased tribalism rather than
increasing national unity, to the detriment of Ethiopian
society. Some of those most alienated and marginalized
are from our minority groups within these regions, who
are largely ignored and who receive little support in
terms of development and opportunity.
More recently, the Meles government has gone further
in violating the territorial integrity of Ethiopia by
giving away Ethiopian land at the borders of the country
—already inhabited by Ethiopian citizens—to
neighboring countries such as Sudan and Djibouti.
The New Ethiopia we envision is one that maintains
its present territory while listening and responding
to the legitimate needs of its citizens within the country.
Ethiopia cannot be a country where some groups are left
to languish without any of the benefits of modern society
while the dominant and the privileged advance without
regard to them. These people must gain a place and a
voice in a “New Ethiopia.”
4. Volatile Relations between Ethiopia
and its Neighbors Destabilize the Horn
Ethiopia could be a strong contributor to peace and
stability in the Horn of Africa; however, Ethiopia must
first be willing to resolve its internal problems before
their voice will be credible and effective. This can
only be accomplished through genuine dialogue among
all stakeholders that successfully leads to meaningful
solutions that advance good governance and negotiated
settlements between dissatisfied and disenfranchised
groups that authentically empower their political voice.
Once progress is made within Ethiopia and greater stability
is achieved, Ethiopia will be in a better position to
attempt to resolve the most volatile of those conflicts—Eritrea
and Somalia—as well as with other neighbors as
needed—all of whom will also need to deal with
their own internal issues if the people of the Horn
are going to prosper.
For the problem of Ethiopia and Eritrea, and Ethiopia
and Somalia, to be resolved a peaceful dialogue must
take place among stakeholders, including key members
of the international community, all of whom must be
genuinely seeking resolution to the chronic instability,
violence and poverty in the Horn.
Success of such peace-building dialogues could positively
enhance the economic advancement, something all of these
countries desperately need—through good relationships
and improved partnerships across borders as mutual consumers,
suppliers and transporters of each others’ goods
and services—or a failure could negatively sabotage
the collective well being of those in each of these
countries—through wasted human and economic expenditures
for security, military costs, reconstruction of destroyed
infra-structure, the lack of economic cooperation and
inter-activity. There are additional problems related
to the increase in piracy in the Red Sea, something
that has become a significant international issue.
5. Unity Building
The work of the Solidarity Movement would be to bring
diverse groups together in the Diaspora in order to
unite in one voice to put pressure on their governments,
wherever they are, so that there is support in finding
a peaceful solution to the crisis. This requires a lot
of work because it demands the mobilization of both
Ethiopians and key government policy makers in the international
community.
The Solidarity Movement must establish the groundwork
to allow for Ethiopian political groups to come together
before they are ready to mobilize these key Western
governments to support a genuine dialogue, finding a
meaningful solution. Conflict resolution and reconciliation
first within the Diaspora and eventually within the
country are also primary goals.
6. Advocacy Work with Western Donor
Government and other Key Leaders
The work of the Solidarity Movement leaders will be
to advocate in the United States, Canada, in the European
Union and elsewhere in order to raise awareness of the
key issues and to find solutions to these critical issues,
emphasizing the fact that Ethiopians deserve the same
kind of freedoms and rights that they already enjoy.
This includes working with whom ever is in the new
administration in the U.S. so that the U.S. will endorse
a foreign policy in regards to Ethiopia that will benefit
both countries, unlike the current policy that pushes
the Ethiopian public aside and instead aligns with a
dictator.
Current American policy in Ethiopia has been seen as
inhibiting the emergence of a genuine democratic process—essentially
denying them their rights—and, as a result, it
has created a rift in the relationship. It is a goal
to create an environment where there is a win-win solution
for both the U.S. and other pro-freedom countries, not
only with Ethiopia, but also in the Horn of Africa.
The Horn of Africa is a highly strategic area in the
world and Ethiopians want a just, free society where
the rule of law is upheld and where free-market enterprises
can flourish under protective regulations. Ethiopians
do not want their country to be the breeding ground
for terrorists and in order to not be, Ethiopians must
break the cycle of oppression and violence that has
dominated its society for so many years.
The goal of the Solidarity Movement is to bring diverse
groups together first in Ethiopia, but eventually, between
other nations in the Horn, in order to work together
to live in harmony, enhancing the prospects for prosperity
and opportunity for all.
7. Voice of Ethiopia Radio
The Meles regime has created a hostile media environment
in Ethiopia, making it difficult for Ethiopian citizens
to have access to unfiltered information. The media
is carefully controlled with many Internet sites blocked
and journalists, editors, newscasters and even musicians
having to face certain intimidation and reprisals for
any “anti-government” positions. For instance,
during political election struggle in Kenya, most Ethiopians
had no access to the news about what was happening there.
The lack of free access to information is handicapping
the struggle for freedom as well as preventing Ethiopians
from keeping abreast with current events in the world,
except through the lens of the government. Because of
that, the provision of uncensored information is crucial
in communicating to the people what is going on, not
only in the Diaspora, but within their own country and
region.
The goal of that station would be to serve, to instruct
and to inform the Ethiopian people through radio broadcasting,
offering non-biased programming that maintains the highest
of journalistic standards, covering diverse issues in
a manner that encourages respect, cooperation, interaction,
communication and understanding within and between communities
of Ethiopia and the international community.
Do Not be a Bystander:
Will you fight for Freedom and Justice?
Remember, the purpose of the Solidarity Movement is
to work for the suffering and oppressed people of Ethiopia
and for the future of our country guided by these basic
principles:
Humanity before Ethnicity and
No One is Free Until We All are Free
During the Holocaust, six million people were killed
by a small number of people while the majority of people
stood by doing nothing.
Most of these people who “stood by” opposed
the evil regime of the Nazis. Most who “stood
by” were good people and good citizens. Many were
religious. Yet, they became bystanders and by their
inaction, they made it possible for this minority to
commit terrible crimes against others.
Why did only a few help to rescue the lives of their
neighbors, friends and fellow citizens? How many lives
would have been saved if more had helped? Why did so
many think that “someone else” should do
it? What if everybody said this?
Our situation is similar and different. We know many
of our people are being killed, imprisoned, tortured,
raped and displaced. We know that millions Ethiopians
are starving and their government is denying it. On
the other hand, we in the Diaspora have little to risk
by helping in this struggle. We are not in danger. We
should ask ourselves this question.
How many more lives will ultimately be saved if I step
forward to help?
This is our opportunity to stop evil from being committed.
If good people do not stand up, a minority of perpetrators
will inflict pain and suffering on millions of people.
To not stand against it is to tolerate it and allow
it to flourish.
There are different ways to oppose what is going on,
by actively doing something or by supporting those doing
so; but what if so few are willing to sacrifice, even
a small amount, that it makes it impossible for those
who are ready and willing to do the work, to actually
do so?
A few committed people cannot carry the whole load
of the work and of financing the entire work. You may
think your small contribution will not make a difference,
but small efforts by many people add up to large and
powerful collective movements. This is what we are talking
about.
Ask yourself, “How will I feel when I have to
tell my children and grandchildren that I just “stood
by” during one of the worst crises of the Ethiopian
people and did nothing while countless numbers of Ethiopians
died?”
Do we want to tell our children that we were bystanders,
not helping for good to prevail or helping to stop the
forces of evil or do we want to be able to say that
we were among those who brought freedom and justice
to Ethiopia! If you cannot do the work yourself, you
can still help make the work possible through your committed
support, keeping in mind that nothing can be accomplished
without funding.
If you are ready to speak out against injustice, irrespective
of all differences or if you are ready to wipe the tears
from the faces of the dying Ethiopian, the homeless
and the suffering, this movement is yours.
May you see this as an opportunity to “break
the chains of suffering” by supporting this movement
in whatever way you can. ..
____________________________________________________________
For more information please contact
Solidarity Committee by E-mail: ethiopiansmarchforfreedom@yahoo.ca
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