Once in a while I check my postal mail dropping at the Arat Kilo Branch. Rarely, I get letters as email has taken over the snail mail.
But last week I got a letter from an old campus friend, a Rwandan refugee who sought asylum here in Ethiopia and returned back following the normalcy in Rwanda. It was a happy surprise. I tore the envelope fast and began reading the letter.
Dear Alex
How are you doing?
A longtime has passed since we exchanged letters last. Despite the flowing of too much water under the bridge sweat and hospital Ethiopia is still fresh in my memory, for I scour the internet and read about the country which was home away from home for me.
As tranquil Ethiopia was a high heaven to refugees, the happy days I spent there remains indelibly printed on my memory. I do not want any harm to befall on Ethiopia, exemplary to colored and marginalized people in many ways than one. It suffices to see why asylum seekers, be they Muslim or Christians, set their eyes on Ethiopia for solace.
Is there a corner of a world where mosques are found feet away from churches except in Ethiopia? Do you remember once you took me to the neighboring Anwar Mosque and Raguel Church to showcase Ethiopians’ Chemistry? Do you remember telling me how Muslims and Christians together resisted Derge’s action to remove the arc from Raguel church? I was stunned by the clicking of the faithful of the two religions.
I did also witness the presence of over 80 ethnic groups in Ethiopia that exhibit peaceful coexistence. I did meet many researchers in the Library of Ethiopian Studies at Sidist Kilo Campus of AAU. Many of them were expressing appreciation to what the harmonious life Ethiopians were portraying their diversity notwithstanding.
It saddens me to hear ethnic conflicts have been rocking Ethiopia for the past three years now. Universities used to be petty Ethiopians. How come they turned boxing rings of narrow nationalism? What is happening? I recall peaceful coexistence was characterizing the country. I wonder from where the evil wind of tribal conflict came? Was it not standing together Ethiopians from all Ethnic groups’ foiled colonial aggression? So why should you backpedal from this laudatory sentiment?
On the other hand, I appreciate what Ethiopia is doing to generate hydropower. While I was heading to Entoto to administer the greenery I used to overlook Addis. What a panoramic view my eyes beheld! There I used to see emaciated mothers carrying backbreaking loads of firewood. I remember I couldn’t help wondering how come Ethiopia, the water tower of Africa, languished under shortage of Electricity to turn the lives of citizens around.
I hope your Flagship hydropower project on Blue Nile GERD will solve your shortfall—poverty. Also it will set an example to Africa, which must aspire for self-growth defying arm twisting by charlatans and their satellite organizations.
May God keep on blessing Ethiopia, a land marked for religiosity and civilization!
I am sure after the second filling of GERD and the 6th national election the dust will settle.
Do keep in touch dear friend. Write to me your e-mail and phone number.
By the way how is Helen the beautiful Librarian? Of course almost all Ethiopian women are beautiful.
***
One Saturday morning getting up early in the morning I was heading to Arat Kilo Science Faculty from my home around the national palace.
Elementary and high school students, public servants were swarming the streets. With some of them often I crossed paths with I was on bowing terms. I used the place where I met regulars to tell whether my being late or not. If I met early birds I felt comfort. Otherwise, I had to add pace to reach in time and seek front chairs of lecture rooms. When I reached at the traffic light that abuts the Parliament surprisingly I met Amile, my Rwanda friend who hails from the Tutsi race. Following the genocide in Rwanda getting an asylum in Ethiopia he was studying Biology at AAU.
On many occasions he related to friends and I about the genocide in Rwanda.
“When a Hutu gets a Tutsi he puts his two fingers into the nose of the Tutsi. If it allows entrance he will either hack him with a machete or throw him into a river saying “Go go to Ethiopia inhabited by your likes!”
He was pursuing courses at ease as he easily mixed himself with fellow Ethiopian students. We used to take him out for a cup of coffee and delicacies. On the eve of holidays we dropped at Bars for quick ones. We also, turn by turn, invited him home on holidays.
“It is mouth-watering” he waved his hand whenever he was treated Doro Wot Ethiopian Chicken soup made of red pepper. That day I was surprised when I saw him coming from the direction where night clubs abound. He was drowsy. It was evident he took the night out dancing and boozing there.
“How are you Amile?”
“I am doing good!”
“Did you spend the night out alone?”
“Yes I spent the night going from one bar to another. Wow I enjoyed myself.”
“Come on Amile what if thugs intercept you?”
“Ha Ha is there a thug in hospital Ethiopia,” he smiled.
“Do you mean it?” I smiled too.
“Yes. If you browbeat a thug here in Ethiopia, he backpedals!”
“Maybe you are right. Most people are God-fearing but you have to be careful!”
Whenever I recall the remark I reflect where the good old days have gone? Ethiopia was marked tourists-and-investors high heaven. A TV journalist when I interviewed a Canadian cyclist who toured Ethiopia during those days he assured me the same thing expressing compliant about alm seekers.
I’m afraid that tranquility is being fast eroded by internal and external enemies.
***
Going out the postal office and heading to a nearby Bar I wrote the following letter before I sent it.
Dear Amile
I was stunned when I got your letter after a long break.
Nice to hear from you.
Yes you are right. The seed of hatred that the TPLF-led government sowed in Ethiopia so as to exercise divide and rule and prolong its stay in power has put down shallow roots in the minds of some individuals, especially among youngsters. Reshaping the latter’s mind is exigent.
Also opportunist politicians’ aim at optimizing benefits fueling the fire of ethnic-based and religion-charged conflicts.
Moreover, hypocrites whose dreams are siphoning the wealth of weak nations are seen coercing aspiring countries like Ethiopia become poorer and poorer. That is why they are subtly fanning such conflicts, which result in bloodsheds and genocide. Here, it suffices to see the genocide in Rwanda, your country. May God help so called great nations regain their mental health!
In unheard of move hypocrites try to breathe life in to the world-ever criminal party (TPLF) that doesn’t bat an eye to massacre the innocent and leech on the country keeping the interest of hypocrites and trampling on that of own nation.
About GERD, revolted by the double-standard westerners, IMF, and WB were showing to create barricades to deny Ethiopia its right to acquire financial muscles to bring forth fate-shaping development projects, Ethiopians are carrying out tasks by themselves.
To your surprise, all cross-section of society from shoeshine boys to billionaires are injecting finance in to GERD. The actualization of the dam which once more signals a message of independence to Neocolonialists and mongers of colonial legacy conjures up in the minds of freedom and peace lovers the resounding war-victory of Adwa. Poor nations could loosen the aid strings of hypocrites and do development by themselves.
Seeing Ethiopia emerging robust in East Africa before their eyes jealous historic enemies are crying foul. Those powerful nations that use the latter as a bargaining chip to solve their problems in the middle east are high fiving them .According to the troublesome two, Ethiopia could remain thirsty, hungry and a backwater of development as long as their national interests are maintained. This doesn’t work in the 21th century. A win-win approach prevails.
It is well-known that hydropower dam doesn’t create significant harm on lower riparian countries. So sharing the river in a fair manner is a must. Luckily the whole world has come to understand that.
Ethiopia is a sovereign and independent country as ever before that doesn’t buckle under external pressure be it sanction or intimidation.
Take care good friend.
About Helen I saw her at Trinity Church on Good Friday. I think she was with her daughter.
BY ALEM HAILU
The Ethiopian Herald May 25/2021
