When the other day the prime minister expressed his anger over the recent unrest provoked following the killing of Artist Hachalu Hundessa, it was clear that he sensed the gravity of the situation in which the country had found itself.
The preliminary finding of the security forces and the police commission was that it was meticulously planned and organized by forces that intended to use the occasion ‘to seize power using a shortcut’. The government’s assessment was more or less in the same wavelength. The police said the situation was so complex and sophisticated that it even seemed to involve forces not excluding foreign connections not necessarily friendly with Ethiopia. This was clearly stated by the federal police commissioner, the Attorney General and even the Prime Minister during his repeated statements released after the artist was sacrificed. It was conceived and planned and then executed having taken all the time, coordination and financial support on the part of those who have masterminded the plot. In short, all the indications led to the conclusion that it was professionals’ execution.
The security authorities have underlined that they are carrying out deep investigations taking all the time needed to determine who were involved in the plot and how much collaboration they had among the rank and file of government officials operating as insiders and deliberately misleading the government with their behaviour. It appeared that even the security apparatus was permeated with these forces.
There were reports that all that violence, killing and destruction was carried out ‘in front of the law enforcement forces’ who when asked why they were inert when the youth were burning down cars and tearing down buildings their prompt answer was alleged to be that ‘they were not given any direction on what to do!’ But people have continued to pose questions: Can this be presented as a justification by a law enforcement body for failing to execute their basic duty of safeguarding the peace and security of the public? Should the police wait for a specific order in order to stop an ongoing violent assault on the public and their property? Why did the security apparatus stay inert when all that violence engulfed parts of the country? Clearly the more plausible explanation is one of complicity.
People have been seriously upset by this act which they labeled as being ‘accomplices of crimes’. In fact, later on the authorities themselves have admitted that whatever has happened must have had ‘some collaboration’ on the part of some law enforcement working for the government while at the same time providing vital information to the plotters. People expressed their full support for reports of various arrests made based on such suspicion and that thorough investigations were underway.
The Prime Minister in his last session in parliament has alluded to people who are in Addis Ababa enjoying all the privileges of their status and yet instigate insurrection and unrest in the regions so that they may one day be appointed to higher offices and enjoy more privileges!
There was some relief when the Attorney General declared the other day that the killers of the artist have been apprehended. She thanked the relentless pursuit of the security personnel aided by the public. She said she still relies on the public for more precious information on who exactly could be the ‘master minds’ of the plot and who exactly provided the logistics and means of covering up and giving refuge to the criminals once they left the scene of the crime.
Some observers have said that the events of the past days are so serious that they have put in grave jeopardy the very credibility and authority of the federal government. Some emerging forces of regional governments were abusing their powers. They say this was particularly true when it came to the TPLF (Tigray Peoples Liberation Front) leadership who rely heavily on the allegiance of the people of Tigray Regional State for safe haven. Many people have expressed their concern over such attitude as it could push the country towards an unnecessary and serious constitutional crisis.
Given that most of the deposed authorities of the former EPRDF government come from that party and have now retreated to Tigray, the situation becomes more complicated in case force is taken as an option to detain certain leaders of the party suspected of crimes. People consider that the recent events in the country cannot be taken lightly. Anyone who lives not only in the country but even abroad must be brought to justice. This must be among the priorities of the government if it wants to reassure total credibility among disgruntled citizens. They say the use of force is the exclusive prerogative of any government in a sovereign land and even those which openly have waged war on Ethiopians harbouring in a foreign land must be brought to account using the various diplomatic channels and the potential intervention of any foreign government should also be meticulously investigated and averted.
The message clearly underlined by the premier last time he appeared in parliament that there is no way that the integrity of the country can be put in question and only over ‘our dead body can they disintegrate the country’ was well received by many observers who want to see more resolve on the part of the federal government over all those who are beating the drums of war against the federal authority. Clearly they are observed violating the constitution and other federal laws and continue to broadcast on their regional TV and Radio stations hateful speech and narratives that completely try to de-legitimize the government alleging that it has ‘no legal authority to rule us’. This is clearly a huge home work for the government as its credibility and authority as well as its prestige relies mainly on what tangible results its efforts can bring about.
It should shed full light on the dynamics of the events of the past weeks and identify each responsible person and body and bring to account. More than the loss of lives and the destruction of property it is stated by many that probably the most serious damage is the one that has something to do with the authority and power of the government which seems easily vulnerable and exposed to frequent attacks without its sophisticated and robust security apparatus reaching the bottom of it or tracing and averting it.
It is the assessment of many citizens and close observers that in the past we have seen the government has anticipated major crisis especially in terms of killings and creating havoc in the country and averted them. In at least three occasions in the month of June, the current government has suffered major attacks that seemed to involve multiple actors from various corners and the delay in the investigations and punishing the culprits seems to have emboldened others to try more on this path.
In the meantime the costs have been too much to pass unnoticed. While the government says that it does not use the blanket arrest and detention of so many innocent people to avert an attack, there are those who believe that letting these acts go without prompt accountability could only lead to further attacks and exposure of the public to more risks. In fact following the recent attacks in some neighborhoods, the residents themselves have been organizing parallel to the police authorities to defend their positions. They were also effective in thwarting any appetite for further attacks.
In any case, now that some of the most extremist and committed leaders of the insurrection are in custody the public demands that they be swiftly judged by the laws of the country. There cannot be any more ‘pardons or arbitrations’ after so many innocent lives have been lost due to the intemperance of these extremist leaders who openly champion hate and killings!
Many observers have been criticizing the mild attitude of the government against some extremist elements who under the guise of freedom of expression and thought have been trading hatred and insurrection against this or that ethnic identity. This must be stopped immediately. The rule of law is indispensable for any civilized society to survive. If people do not abide by the laws equally and some believe they can get away violating the law, then we cannot have a peaceful society! Where is the red line when it comes to peaceful activity? Where are the limits of propaganda or political opposition and campaign? The government has been invited to rethink its philosophy on widening the political landscape and the freedom of expression. The integrity of the country must be out of any political debate or propaganda by no matter who says it. In this respect the stance of the Prime Minister seems firm and unshakeable! And this stance has gained utmost support extensively.
The Ethiopian Herald July 19, 2020
BY FITSUM GETACHEW
