Bikila Hurissa (Ph.D.)
The Ethiopian Herald recently sat down with Bikila Hurissa (Ph.D) , with a rank of Minister, Public and International Relations Sector Head of the ruling Prosperity Party. Here is excerpt of the interview.
BY HAFTU GEBREZGABIHER & HENOK TIBEBU
What are the factors that would make the upcoming General National Elections different from the past ones, not only for Prosperity as a party but also for the whole Nation?
The sixth National General Elections is expected to mend Ethiopia’s political breakdown and take a crucial place in the Nation’s history. Though Ethiopia is an ancient state in the world, it has never succeeded in building a peaceful democratic system. It has been named as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia but in actual terms, it has never been democratic. That means there is a political breakdown, which needs to be fixed. Coup D’état, Civil war, armed struggles and displacement of citizens have long been the defining attributes of the nation’s politics. This must clearly be understood in order to heal the past wounds.
Therefore, a historic decision is made to conduct a peaceful and democratic election in May 2021. It is a critical concern from both the government and public side.
People for years and years demanded for democracy, freedom, peaceful transition of power to reign in Ethiopia. It has been a top demand of the public expressed in different occasions for years. Academicians, politicians, professionals and farmers and pastorals have also been seizing the opportunity they get to stage their concern in this regard.
The issues of building an inclusive democracy that accommodates every one of us and transferring of government power peacefully through election have been among the dire need that remained unaddressed for long period of time. Thus, the upcoming general election will be benchmark milestone and a step forward to ensure the aspiration of Ethiopians.
We all remember that these issues are at the top of the government’s agenda. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (Ph.D.) announced [about three] years ago during his inaugural speech that we deserve democracy.
Some of his points include, among others, that improving the democratic culture in Ethiopia, cleaning up the political disarray and breaking the vicious circle of conflicts in the country. There is a high need to implement these priorities as part of achieving his vision.
For the success of the vision, all Ethiopian political party members and interested groups have been invited from across the globe to take part in the upcoming general elections. There is no a single political party abroad at this time. They all are operating at home. They are all here.
The other important point is that even those who were labeled as terrorists and were sentenced to death in absentia are operating freely. What is more, several political and democratic reforms have taken place in the past two and half years. To this end, amongst the reformed institution with the view to making the general elections free, fair and democratic includes the National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE), the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission, and the Ethiopian Institution of the Ombudsman. These institutions need to be impartial and independent if the election is expected to be free and fair.
These reforms must be appreciated. Therefore, the upcoming general elections are something promising from this point of view. However, the government has also been facing various challenges in doing so.
What are the challenges and what do you think is the source of these challenges?
Understanding the political will of the government and the reforms, there are many political parties, leaders, groups and individuals who have been working to support and ensure the democratization process in the country. Many have returned home in order to contribute their roles for this reform agenda. I want to thank them on behalf of the general public. They should take the credit.
Ethiopians need to nurture plurality of ideas. For the birth of democratic system in Ethiopia, all people should exert his/her fair share. Hence, those who are working with other stakeholders and engagements to see Ethiopia in a right position in terms of ensuring democratic order, even sometimes challenging the government in case they happen to see wrong deeds, saying Ethiopia is ours, there are several parties and individuals who are playing positive role in building democratic system. It is plausible to thank such groups and individuals.
On the other hand, while the government is working to respond to the demand of the people, dealing with the centuries-old problems, it is facing challenges from individuals and groups who wish to hijack the reform process in order to achieve their own agenda, more specifically to seize public power illegally.
Secondly, there are also individuals and groups who toil to maintain the tyrannical power status quo. These groups are working to back pedal the ongoing reform in their attempt to maintain the power they already held. Their motive is to regain power at the expense of the people’s interest. Most of these elements are opportunists.
Let me forward a simple example, some of the political parties that the government invited from abroad to involve them in the ongoing reform have come up with two things in their two hands: flag on the first and firearms on the second one. They returned home for a while and go back to the bushes for armed struggle wishing to topple the government unlawfully. This is one side that I want to show you that how they went to abuse the reform process. The door was opened for all of us to table our policy options and ideas. And it is up to the electorate to buy what they consider is the best one. That is why the government wants to reform the democratic institutions. But, such groups keep abusing the reform.
As a result, they displaced people from their homesteads; committed atrocities even based on ethnic lines, obstructed the free movement of civilians, and also killed innocent people as well as restricted economic activities.
They want to draw wrong image on people’s mind that the democratic process will not be successful. After that, they were aspiring to form what they usually refer as transitional government illegally and to share power. They tried up the maximum level best in this case.
As we all know, more than 70 countries in the world have postponed their election schedules due to the corona virus outbreak and Ethiopia is one of them. However, unlike in the other countries, the opportunists wanted to use this window as well and start a campaign that there is no legitimate government after last September. This was irresponsible and unacceptable by any standards. It lays bare their greed and excessive lust for only power, they give no care to the people’s wellbeing.
In addition to that the group who had been in power for the last decades ruling in a condition where people were deliberately thrown into communal conflicts, killings, ethnic clashes, human rights abuses, abduction, jailing in dark rooms, torture and later thrown away from the central politics, stared to work day in, day out to come back to power using violence as short cut.
This includes serious crimes including but not limited to murder, coup attempt, assassination attempt including against the Prime Minister , killing of iconic singer, regional president and other senior politicians and related callous and cowardly acts. The country has passed through such difficulties.
As a political party, you’re going to take part in the election, and as a ruling Party, you’ve the responsibilities to make the upcoming election a milestone in the process of democratization, what’re you doing as PP in this regard?
The reform process, during the last two and half years, is being implemented with due responsibility. PP views itself as a party in Ethiopia. Thus, PP argues that more than anything, Ethiopia and its people must come first. We speak about this loud and clear in front of the public. We assume ourselves as a single party and Ethiopia must come first. Therefore, the upcoming election is governed from this perspective. Saving the country, maintaining Ethiopianism and laying a milestone to keep Ethiopia stronger for the generations to come are in our visions.
From this point of view, we have two responsibilities. First, the election is expected to reflect the interest of the people. The people must freely involve in the process and we create a bridge that the people must have smooth way for democracy.
Taking part in the election for PP is not the first priority; it is just its second responsibility. The Party has a responsibility of 110 plus million people. Healing the past political wounds is another top priority. Putting Ethiopia into advanced political system and building a better political culture and creating an enabling environment for these are in its biggest picture.
To this end, democratic institutions have been reformed in a way that can perform their activities freely and independently. In addition, the justice institutions and the security apparatus have been made convenient for the election and act freely.
On the second step, PP is a political party. It needs to devise party programs, party manifesto, invite and train members, register candidates in the electoral board and get ready to sell ideas to the people during the election. After that if the people give their green light, it will form a government. These are going as per the procedure.
According to the electoral board’s schedule, PP has been preparing itself for the election. The preparation of party programs, strategy and party manifesto has been done, trainings have been given; candidates have been chosen and registration has been taking place for both the regional and the national parliaments. We will go to the main election campaign as of 15 February 2021 as per the electoral board’s schedule. [This interview was conducted on 10 February 2021]
To what extent is PP committed to adhere to the electoral code of conduct and in ensuring free operation of other political parties and their members during the election campaign and the election process?
This point must be clear. It must begin with change of mindset. Ethiopia had undergone five elections during the last 27 years. To evaluate these elections, one might need his/her own research and evaluation mechanism. Leaving that for history to teach us about these five elections in the coming years, the ethics, election governance and the impartiality of the electoral board, election executives were undoubtedly problematic. They were not supportive to democratic system. This is based on our general evaluation of the past elections. This was the reason why the general public took to the streets and brought this change. What about now?
Now, the EPRDF regime is over. It has gone with is harmful conspiracy politics. The issue now is what the way is forward for PP. Here, PP’s interest is to put the citizen’s interest first. To this end, extensive trainings have been given till the lower echelon. The training starts from the party president to the local level support base and the general public in some of the regions. This is to mean that Ethiopia deserves free, peaceful and democratic election. The implementers are fellow party leaders, party members and supporters. The restrictive thought must be rooted out from us at the first step. This was also done in conformity with the PP’s ethical code. So, all our efforts must be supportive to the birth of democracy in Ethiopia.
It must be boldly underlined that this system was autocratic during the last 27 years. And we may face challenges from leaders who were born from this autocratic system and are reluctant to relieve themselves from its thoughts. There might be leaders that struggle to adapt themselves to the thoughts of PP. Hence, what PP has done was total shift in terms of thinking. We are the people of PP, we want to build democracy and people must be allowed to choose their leaders. People must be free. It is expected that in a very rare case some leaders in some woreda or kebelle might suffer from that old habits. Follow up and taking corrective measures is needed as well. We must not have something wrong, this is democratic process nothing else. I want to underline that Prosperity never tolerates undemocratic acts in any form at any level during and after the election.
Could you tell us the readiness of PP in terms of ensuring gender empowerment?
In the thoughts of Prosperity, be it either in demography or in their contribution by any standard women are no inferior to men. Prosperity propounds this fact to the maximum point. This is fact. But in practice, in our country you are supposed to count the presence of women after you check and finish the presence of men where ever you go. This is common when you count the business people, political leaders, academic elites and other big positions. This reality must be changed. And this will be changed only if we really take political commitment. PP has waged bitter struggle to change this reality; one measure is that 50 per cent of the candidates for the HPRs in the coming elections would be women. This is not to push women to the seats, but it is because they deserve and they are available. This is the philosophy. We have very sharp women leaders that can benefit their people. First, you raise the participation and the benefit comes following that step.
As stated above, PP has various ideas that it aspires to sell to the people. But, in addition to points you have mentioned earlier, what are the most important ideas that your party present to the people of Ethiopia.
Well, the first point that makes us the best party is that it starts from understanding Ethiopia. Ethiopia is a diverse country. This undeniable diversity includes diversity of language, religion, identity, culture and many more. Our party wants to create accommodative system to these diverse interests. Inclusive political system that reconciles the diverse interests in the country though honoring individuals’ rights and interests at the same time makes us better competent.
In Ethiopia, there are over 80 different languages. The Party’s thought is thus to entertain both this over 80 differences and individuals rights to choose. By doing this, PP breaks the perception of “my race”. PP has broken the politics that is solely based on ethnic politics. Such kind of identity politics has cost us a lot during the last 27 years. And PP understands that the majority of Ethiopians never negotiate on the unity of their country and while their ethnic background is respected at the same time.
The political philosophy during the stated years was revolutionary democracy. We have been chanting at a vacuum for years ruled by neither revolutionary nor democratic system. To correct this ideology, PP came up with an inclusive center ground political ideology. That is pragmatic political thought that includes both diversity and citizen’s rights.
From economic point of view, PP will implement home grown economic model in order to transform the economic structure of the country and change the life of the society. In this way, we are going to build progressive capitalist economic system, pro-poor approach but also benefit the society in all economic status. The dichotomy of developmental capitalist and or rent seeking will no more be used in dealing the private sector. No more developmental scholar or parasitic camp. PP follows an all-inclusive participatory approach.
Let me give one comparison, during the EPRDF era, there were only four parties (TPLF, ANDM, SEPDM and OPDO) that decide on the affairs of the entire Ethiopians. The rest had supportive roles. It was centrist approach. This was totally improved in a way that people must decide on their matters. Accommodative, inclusive that does not accept extreme poles and aspires to build a moderate and pragmatic political philosophy.
What are you doing to depict the right image of Ethiopia to the international community? Do you have any mechanism to enable the diaspora directly access the political developments in the country? How are you dealing with the two issues?
The diaspora is believed to have very clear understanding about the reform programs underway in the country during the last two and half years. However, it is also believed that there are forces that are polarizing the diaspora community in terms of background and ethnic identity. This is undeniable. PP has been working to inform Ethiopians in the diaspora about the changes in their home country. But, we boldly confess that large number of the diaspora community has not yet understood the thoughts of PP. And by its nature, center-moderated thinking takes time to flourish in the minds of people.
Both leftists and rightists can be mobilized easily by emotions. On the other hand, centrist approach is about behavioral change. It takes time and rationality view. It is balanced. The developments in Ethiopia during the last year since the establishment of PP are promising. We are working hard to achieve this balanced perception.
As a ruling party that works to undertake elections, tell us about your readiness to work with the international observers, human rights organizations to make the election transparent and free? What activities have you done so far?
Let me reflect on the thoughts of PP, at the first step let us open the environment for all. Openness along all the pre-election, during election and post-election process and let the participatory parties and other organization come to equal chances. This process will be open for any international observer.
How much strong you are to show all process to the international media and international organizations about the realities in the ground? How do you press for a balanced coverage?
Look at the law enforcement measures, the international coverage was not on the reform process and positive changes that has been taking place. This is sometimes due to the nature of some international media that only focus on crisis reporting. Similarly, we focus on prevention, management of crisis and post crisis management in order to minimize risks after conflicts erupted. They don’t want to promote these actions.
Generally, the international media is by its nature, as we know positive sides always have high costs and it cannot be visible in a short span of time, therefore it might not be area of focus for them, but in general we want to make clear to everybody that the focus was much given to sensational issues. Hence, our works have not been promoted to the level they should be. For the future, we are giving training to our media people on how to balance reporting. They will keep working through documentary, programs and international forums in order to show the global community the reality about our country. On these issues, we do not believe we are working to the desired extent.
What is the stance of PP towards the GERD? How do you work to realize the completion of its construction?
As a party its (PP’s) stance towards the GERD is similar to that of the Ethiopian government’s. It has been making clear that the stance of the Ethiopian government to the international community. The position of Ethiopia is clear. It is based on win-win approach and mutual benefits with the riparian countries.
The owners of the Nile water have the right to utilize their resources. This is fundamental. In doing so, the countries which have conflict of interest in the utilization of the Nile resources must come to the table of negotiation to solve their differences.
Secondly, Ethiopia never accepts those who want to meddle in these negotiations directly or indirectly.
Thirdly, the government believes that the construction process of the GERD will never stop even for a second and it goes as per the projects’ schedule. The negotiation and the construction process will go simultaneously in order to complete the project as per the schedule so as to contribute to the economic and socio-development endeavor.
It is expected to solve multifaceted problems. And above all, the project is a symbol of freedom and sovereignty and a project that shows a “can-do” mindset. We urge all Ethiopians to maintain their support to the project.
Photo Gebabo Gebre
The Ethiopian Herald February 20/2021
