BY STAFF REPORTER
Professor Beyene Petros is a veteran politician well known for his involvement in peaceful political struggle. He always eyes on election as a means of winning power. He has participated in the elections carried out in the past two decades and joined parliament twice. After losing his third term of election, he continued as a university professor as well as boosting the activities of his political party.
Now he is working as Deputy Director of Research and Study Institution. Ethiopian Press Agency had a brief stay with the Professor regarding the recognition he obtained for his peaceful struggle, current political issues of the country and his party’s plan to participate in the upcoming national general election. Excerpts:
Your party has officially broken away from [political umbrella organization] Medrek. What is the reason for the separation?
Either the assembly or leadership of Medrek has not fired our party, Ethiopian Social Democratic Party (ESDP). We left because we failed to get along. While in Medrek we had devised a medium-term national agenda that focuses on the current political affairs of the nation. But after the reform, the Oromo Federalist Congress (OFC) started to change its course. For two years we did our best to correct this. We told them that we work to bring about peace in this country and that our way of struggle should be peaceful. But they refused. We encountered misunderstandings.
One of the areas we could not agree on was an election. When the National Electoral Board of Ethiopia said it cannot conduct an election due to the outbreak of COVID-19, it was a must to postpone it. It was impossible to leave the country without a government by claiming that the tenure of the government and the parliament has expired. Since a government can be formed through the election, it was a must to postpone it.
ESDP had accepted the decision to see the issue through constitutional interpretation. The other two parties in Medrek had also accepted it. We attended the meeting that passed this decision not representing Medrek but our respective parties. These parties also agreed on the decision to refer the election case to the constitutional inquiry to prevent a political vacuum.
During the meeting chaired by the Prime Minister, we expressed our agreement for constitutional interpretation. Sidama Liberation Movement (SLM) and Arena also agreed. But the representative of OFC, Professor Merera Gudina asked for additional time claiming that the congress cannot make a hasty decision.
Later Medrek held a meeting without inviting our party, ESDP. They declared that Medrek has passed a decision for the establishment of a national unity government. This forced us to declare that we do not share this stance. This widened the rift between us.
What are the preparatory activities you are making to participate in the upcoming national general election? Do you believe that you will secure parliamentary seats?
We are not new to winning parliament seats. I have ever joined the parliament twice. The people know us. They are also giving us recognition and awards. But we cannot say that Ethiopia’s politics has become fully stabilized. Many issues remain to be addressed. Some proclamations have been issued with our participation. Yet there are some loopholes. Our biggest fear is that many of our candidates are civil servants. I am also a civil servant. It is difficult for civil servants to take leave without pay to run as a candidate. The election rally needs at least three months. We have fear especially for our strong candidates to leave their jobs.
It is well known that civil servants live under economic challenges. In other countries, parties subsidize the candidates. But here we are depleting what we already have. As a result, we are facing problems in nominating candidates. It needs readiness. Anyway, we do not intend to run for the 54 seats. We will do our best to nominate as many candidates as we can.
What would you like to say about the security problems in some parts of the country like Metekel? Do you think it will hamper the upcoming election?
I do not believe that the security problems would hamper the election. I do not also think that the security threat is unprecedented in Ethiopia. Previous elections were not also held without security challenges. Whenever an election comes, parties other than EPRDF feel like war is declared on them. Cadres used to hustle us. They abolished rule of law, ignored justice, dispersed our conferences by taking side with others and used to arrest our members who set out for meetings.
At present, if the security issue is beyond the governments’ capacity, [the election] would be postponed. Just as Tigray is skipped the same decision would made for other regions too. If peaceful operation becomes difficult in East Wollega and Benishangul-Gumuz, it would be skipped. When a favourable time comes, a by-election would be conducted. This is the usual procedure. An election is a representation. The Electoral Board has disclosed that more than 50 million voters would cast votes. In a modern representation, the party that assumes power does not necessarily get a 100 percent vote. So, the one who secures 51 percent of the vote would come to power. So, omitting those in the places with security problems is not that a problem.
There are some allegations of security problem in the country mentioning some forces that intend to create chaos in the country. As to you, who are the ones that are interested to create chaos in the country?
Those intending to create turmoil in the country have a big goal. For instance, when you look at the behavior of TPLF it aspires to destabilize the country as it is enraged by the formation of the Prosperity Party. It aspires to reclaim power and rule the country.
On the other hand, other external forces have a belief that they would benefit from the disintegration of the country. All countries surrounding Ethiopia, except Eritrea, obtain water from Ethiopia which is considered as the water tower of East Africa. Especially some Arab states attempt to transgress Ethiopia’s rights as they fear that Ethiopia would affect their water share. Some of them also want to use water alone forever. So, these forces do not want the country to be strong enough so that they can sway it as they wish. It is
undeniable that the outcome of all these is destabilizing the country.
Others argue that the main problem of the country is ethnic politics. Do you also believe that ethnic politics is a threat to Ethiopia?
No one has chosen an ethnicity upon birth. No one has also chosen where to be born. No individual or group has chosen a race. Woyane [TPLF] alone did not install the thought. It was there even before. But the problem in our country was forming an administration that can lead the people through mutual respect and tolerance. The cause of the rift here and there is that each administration that takes power focuses on embezzling, belittling others and aggrandizing oneself. If we look at the majority of the problems up to the lower level, they revolve around the land. There is an uproar that accuses others of grabbing land. Human beings naturally do not remain in the lands of their forefathers forever. They move from place to place in search of opportunities. They even travel abroad, let alone at home. This is common everywhere. It is not appropriate to view relocating to other places as a unique phenomenon in our country. It was not possible to rectify our politics. The government was not enthroned with the will of the people too. After TPLF took power, it created the government of Cadres. These cadres know only about political gains. It is their business to oppress those who resist their thoughts.
But no one has inculcated racism in us. Everyone owns the ability of thinking. If someone gives off his son or daughter for marriage today and tries to kill another person the next day, the problem is lack of rule of law and good governance. I believe that there is nobody who holds the cadres accountable.
What would you like to say about the Special Forces operating in every region?
Oh! This is a big problem. It is also a source of threat to the country. It is behind the problem where a regional force attacked the National Defense Forces, which is an unprecedented scenario in the world. The source of all these is the Special Force. We have witnessed the Abdi Illey’s case in Somali State. There is also a special force in South Ethiopia.
The issue of Special Forces, as to me, is crazy. I have spoken about it earlier that they should be disbanded. Police are necessary. But it is necessary to think twice about the unconstitutionally established Special Forces. I think the problem that prevailed between Somali and Afar is the same. When I raised the question first, the Ministry of Peace said, it is under scrutiny and will be solved. While it is good the government is concerned about it, the problem needs a quick solution.
In addition to the Special Forces, banks are established along ethnic lines. Do you have any reflection on this?
There is no need to mention them specifically. Some regions are also forming bank in their name. It is those who claim to have been educated who do this. Some of them profile the ethnicity of shareholders when they establish bank and insurance. This is not hearsay. The business of a business is making a profit. One of my friends is a board member of one of the ethnically affiliated banks. When I asked him that his bank requests the ethnic identity of those who want to buy a share, he said no. This is the work of those who are beset by evil thinking of dividing the people. Amazingly they do this acting like an educated person. They want to profit by clinging to the ethnic line.
You are also establishing Hossana Bank, right?
Hossana is not an ethnically affiliated bank. It is an Ethiopian bank. We took the name from the bible. It has no connection with the town. We have also reached an agreement in Amhara, Tigray and other regions to sale our share.
How important is the election by now? What is your say on the preparation of the government, electoral board and parties?
A hundred-percent complete preparation cannot be found anywhere. The main thing is the availability of the ground to participate in the election as much as possible. There is no alternative for a peaceful struggle other than the election. Democracy means establishing a government through peaceful struggle. The basis for this is an election. It is impossible to trespass people’s vote. The election is a must. We were shocked by COVID-19. There was fear at that moment. Now it has become an order of the day. So, the government should settle all issues related to the election. If a popularly elected government comes to power, its value is more than anything. We have to proceed to the election despite our rifts. On our side, we do not want to push against each other. What we want is to compete in a modern manner. We had paid life to compete in an election and join parliament. We do not want to see that now. We do not go where we pay such sacrifice.
Do you expect a government that comes to power through popular vote, would solve burning issues of the country like border, constitution and others?
We have no other choice. A constitution is amended when the parliament is reestablished. The incumbent cannot do this. No other choice. It is not good to correct error by error. Rather a parliament with better popular consent should amend the constitution.
What would you like to say about Ethiopia after TPLF?
There could be ups and downs. But Ethiopia will prevail. I have no fear of Ethiopia. Some may pass, but Ethiopia will prevail. Ethiopia is not manifested by the ups and downs. The bigger Ethiopia will last. There are many issues to take a lesson from and to create mutual trust. There would be problems in the future, too. But the government to be elected should have public trust.
Thank you very much Professor!
You are welcome!
The Ethiopian Herald 20 March 2021
