"With renewed calls for protests against the Ethiopian regime both
within and outside the country gaining momentum, perhaps we are at a
tipping point. Perhaps this will be the turning of the tide"
http://www.oaklandinstitute.org/ethiopia-protests-bring-country-tipping-point
Growing Protests Bring Ethiopia to the Tipping Point
Tuesday, September 6, 2016
By:Anuradha Mittal
The past weeks have seen an escalation of ongoing protests across
Ethiopia—including widespread acts of resistance like citizens shaving
their heads in solidarity with jailed opposition leader Bekele Gerba
and stay-at-home protests that have turned bustling cities into near
ghost-towns. Despite the undeniable peacefulness of these actions,
state violence and repression has continued. Earlier this month,
Ethiopia’s Prime Minister authorized the National Defence Force to use
“its full force to bring rule of law” in the country. Internet shut
downs by the government have been used to silence critics. And, Addis
Standard reported, security forces have broken into the homes of those
who are “staying in.”
Land Grabs: Genesis of Ethiopia Protests
While much of this has gone unreported by the international press,
news of attacks against at least nine foreign-owned horticultural
companies, including those from the Netherlands, Israel, Italy, India,
and Belgium—did generate coverage. The attacks caused nearly $8
million in damages to one company alone, Esmeralda Flower Company. A
statement released by Esmeralda suggests that many businesses—both
local and internationally-owned—with ties to the Ethiopian government
are targets. This is not a surprise given take over of lands in the
name of promoting development, much against the will and consent of
the local populations, generated these protests in late 2015, which
are now manifesting themselves as a movement for democracy and
freedom.
As discussed in a previous post, the United States has been noticeably
silent with regard to recent protests. In early August, after nearly
100 protesters were gunned down by the Ethiopian security forces, the
US Embassy in Ethiopia released a paltry statement with the absurd
suggestion that protesters should engage in “constructive dialogue”
with the government. Less than two weeks later, the State Department
issued a travel advisory, but still failed to condemn government’s use
of excessive force on the protestors and its role in the political
upheaval on the ground.
The Government’s “Self-Defeating Tactics”
But then, on August 21st, US Assistant Secretary for Democracy, Human
Rights, and Labor, Tom Malinowski, released an op-ed, calling the
abuses by government officials as “self-defeating tactics.” The
strongly worded statement explains that the protests are “a
manifestation of Ethiopian citizens’ expectation of more responsive
governance and political pluralism” and that protesters are
“exercising their right under Ethiopia’s constitution to express their
views.” If that isn’t a strong enough endorsement of the protesters,
Malinowski then rips apart the myth that the protests are being
perpetuated by outside forces—a myth spread far and wide by the
Ethiopian government itself.
“When thousands of people, in dozens of locations, in multiple regions
come out on the streets to ask for a bigger say in the decisions that
affect their lives, this cannot be dismissed as the handiwork of
external enemies.”
President Barack Obama meets Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam
Desalegn during 2013 G8 Summit. Credit: Pete Souza, White House
Photographer
The Obama Administration’s Responsibility
Last week, according to the Ethiopian government, 23 inmates at the
high-security prison, Qilinto, died after a fire where anti-government
protesters and political prisoners, including Bekele Gerba, Pastor
Omot, Ethiopian Muslim leaders, and many others are being held. The
identity of the dead prisoners has not been made public, while the
fate of the political leaders remains unknown. At a grave time like
this, the importance of a statement from the US government, cannot go
understated. However, it is not enough. As the single largest country
donor to Ethiopia, the US has huge power and influence in the country.
Until recently, the Obama administration may have accepted the lack of
democracy, muzzling of media and civil society, and widespread
violations of human rights as the price to pay for ensuring stability
and strong rule in a country that has been a critical ally in a highly
unstable region. Recent developments may prove this to be a
miscalculation as growing resentment against the regime’s abuses has
ignited instability and violence in the country, with many fearing
political unrest, as seen in neighbouring South Sudan and Somalia.
To date, silent complicity of the United States has signaled that
violent repression on the part of the Ethiopian government is
permissible. Time and time again, the Oakland Institute has called the
US government out for not taking a stronger stance, asking how much
blood must be shed before the US is willing to stand up for human
rights and true development in Ethiopia.
With renewed calls for protests against the Ethiopian regime both
within and outside the country gaining momentum, perhaps we are at a
tipping point. Perhaps this will be the turning of the tide.
Anuradha Mittal is the Executive Director of the Oakland Institute.
Received on Tue Sep 06 2016 - 21:08:24 EDT