CUD is Spirit, So is OLF !!!
When I first heard the phrase 'Kinijit is spirit', I was not impressed at all. I took it to be a strategic catch phrase to remain in peoples' heart, if not self promotion. It took me months to realize Kinijit is indeed spirit. For different people, this spirit means different things. Without being very judgmental or controversial, let me try characterize this spirit.
The Kinjit spirit has won the hearts of millions of Ethiopians in build up for Election May 2005. It was a symbol of democracy, accountability, prosperity, victory, unity .... Above all it symbolized hope and renaissance for many, after years of disappointment. In a very short period of time, it achieved what can only be described as a 'political miracle'. It has inspired and moved even those who equated 'politics with electricity'. How much of the votes really went to Kinijit being a separate issue, the number seats in the regional and national parliaments attributed to Kinijit by the election commission could only be taken as an astounding victory.
What made Kinijit so successful would lead us to endless debates. Here are some of the points for me, in decreasing order of significance
1 - The attitude of many towards ethnic politics
2 - The failings of EPRDF (both real and perceived)
3 - The eloquence of some of its leaders (specifically Dr. Birahanu Nega and Lidetu Ayalew)
4 - The short time span between the establishment of Kinijit and the election date (I saw this only in hindsight)
I have consciously avoided the idea of this spirit representing or being supported by all Ethiopians. The election results clearly show that the support came from regions where people tend to support 'homogeneous Ethiopia' as opposed to regions where people would rather enjoy their own autonomous rule or even secede. That would roughly amount to half of the population. Kinjit was a 'spirit' for these people, rather than a political entity. Whoever carries this Kinijit torch would surely have a big negotiating power; that is exactly what is going to keep the 'kinijit spirit' alive for a long time to come. Any individual / group would be fool to disassociate themselves from this 'high valued political brand'.
Let's take the two biggest regions of Ethiopia - Amhara and Oromia. While Kinijit 'won' the election in the former, EPRDF 'won' in the latter. Many in the Kinijit camp conveniently avoid to explain why this came about. Do people in Amhara region have more resentment towards EPRDF - I hardly think so. The actual reason behind is simply the conditions in Oromia did not allow a viable opposition to form or to operate in the region. This is by no means belittling the works of ONC and OFDM; I actually appreciate and respect the people behind these organizations very much. Beside the conditions not allowing them to be as successful, they were and and will continue to be shadows of the equivalent of the 'kinijit spirit' in Oromia. This spirit is called OLF. The 'OLF spirit' represents all the good values the Kinijit spirit represents; though for its followers - in my humble opinion - the big majority of Oromos.
As much as the Kinijit spirit is not one and the same as CUD, the OLF spirit is also not necessarily the political party (liberation front) OLF. I could say the same thing about the 'somali spirit' in Ogaden or other regions in the country. As size always matters, the Kinijit and OLF spirits would always continue to be at the fore front of political discussions in our Ethiopia. It is in fact a pity that the OLF spirit does not enjoy as much coverage as it deserves. That can also be seen as a strategic failure of its leaders.
I see the basis for the formation of democratic and stable Ethiopian only when all all stakeholders representing different people (and ideologies) sit together and start talking about what is best for the people they claim to represent. The population dynamics dictates that these two spirits are the ones to contend with. Efforts like AFD and commendable only in the sense that people with such contrasting agendas sat together. Otherwise, the principle upon which they are formed (the enemy of my enemy is my friend), does not take anyone anywhere.
As an Ethiopian caring for his / her country, I would not like these two big spirits fall on to the wrong hands. While it is difficult to define what 'wrong' is, I pray that the leadership struggle in these movements produce reasonable leaders who are at least willing to acknowledge the overwhelming existence of the other. To be fair, this is more of a problem in the Kinijit spirit.
As the Kinijit spirit is the one in a bigger trouble right now, I would try to post a few more words about its leadership crisis soon. Whenever I think of the historic responsibility the leaders of this movement carry, I wonder how they manage to be willing to carry so much burden. I could not formulate it in better words than what Dr. Birhanu said about him being taken to jail.
Though they may have not realized it at that time, the CUD leaders were indeed right to say that 'Kinijit is spirit'. Well I say, so is OLF !
When I first heard the phrase 'Kinijit is spirit', I was not impressed at all. I took it to be a strategic catch phrase to remain in peoples' heart, if not self promotion. It took me months to realize Kinijit is indeed spirit. For different people, this spirit means different things. Without being very judgmental or controversial, let me try characterize this spirit.
The Kinjit spirit has won the hearts of millions of Ethiopians in build up for Election May 2005. It was a symbol of democracy, accountability, prosperity, victory, unity .... Above all it symbolized hope and renaissance for many, after years of disappointment. In a very short period of time, it achieved what can only be described as a 'political miracle'. It has inspired and moved even those who equated 'politics with electricity'. How much of the votes really went to Kinijit being a separate issue, the number seats in the regional and national parliaments attributed to Kinijit by the election commission could only be taken as an astounding victory.
What made Kinijit so successful would lead us to endless debates. Here are some of the points for me, in decreasing order of significance
1 - The attitude of many towards ethnic politics
2 - The failings of EPRDF (both real and perceived)
3 - The eloquence of some of its leaders (specifically Dr. Birahanu Nega and Lidetu Ayalew)
4 - The short time span between the establishment of Kinijit and the election date (I saw this only in hindsight)
I have consciously avoided the idea of this spirit representing or being supported by all Ethiopians. The election results clearly show that the support came from regions where people tend to support 'homogeneous Ethiopia' as opposed to regions where people would rather enjoy their own autonomous rule or even secede. That would roughly amount to half of the population. Kinjit was a 'spirit' for these people, rather than a political entity. Whoever carries this Kinijit torch would surely have a big negotiating power; that is exactly what is going to keep the 'kinijit spirit' alive for a long time to come. Any individual / group would be fool to disassociate themselves from this 'high valued political brand'.
Let's take the two biggest regions of Ethiopia - Amhara and Oromia. While Kinijit 'won' the election in the former, EPRDF 'won' in the latter. Many in the Kinijit camp conveniently avoid to explain why this came about. Do people in Amhara region have more resentment towards EPRDF - I hardly think so. The actual reason behind is simply the conditions in Oromia did not allow a viable opposition to form or to operate in the region. This is by no means belittling the works of ONC and OFDM; I actually appreciate and respect the people behind these organizations very much. Beside the conditions not allowing them to be as successful, they were and and will continue to be shadows of the equivalent of the 'kinijit spirit' in Oromia. This spirit is called OLF. The 'OLF spirit' represents all the good values the Kinijit spirit represents; though for its followers - in my humble opinion - the big majority of Oromos.
As much as the Kinijit spirit is not one and the same as CUD, the OLF spirit is also not necessarily the political party (liberation front) OLF. I could say the same thing about the 'somali spirit' in Ogaden or other regions in the country. As size always matters, the Kinijit and OLF spirits would always continue to be at the fore front of political discussions in our Ethiopia. It is in fact a pity that the OLF spirit does not enjoy as much coverage as it deserves. That can also be seen as a strategic failure of its leaders.
I see the basis for the formation of democratic and stable Ethiopian only when all all stakeholders representing different people (and ideologies) sit together and start talking about what is best for the people they claim to represent. The population dynamics dictates that these two spirits are the ones to contend with. Efforts like AFD and commendable only in the sense that people with such contrasting agendas sat together. Otherwise, the principle upon which they are formed (the enemy of my enemy is my friend), does not take anyone anywhere.
As an Ethiopian caring for his / her country, I would not like these two big spirits fall on to the wrong hands. While it is difficult to define what 'wrong' is, I pray that the leadership struggle in these movements produce reasonable leaders who are at least willing to acknowledge the overwhelming existence of the other. To be fair, this is more of a problem in the Kinijit spirit.
As the Kinijit spirit is the one in a bigger trouble right now, I would try to post a few more words about its leadership crisis soon. Whenever I think of the historic responsibility the leaders of this movement carry, I wonder how they manage to be willing to carry so much burden. I could not formulate it in better words than what Dr. Birhanu said about him being taken to jail.
Though they may have not realized it at that time, the CUD leaders were indeed right to say that 'Kinijit is spirit'. Well I say, so is OLF !
posted by Addis Ethiopia at
10:55 AM
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