BY GIRMACHEW GASHAW
Today’s Guest Author and Accountant Workiye Demisse was born and raised in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. He attended primary and secondary school education at Menilik II and Haile Selassie I schools respectively. He had got a diploma from Harar Teachers Training Institute.
He then joined National Cash Register (NCR) Corporation based in US and served the company for years in various capacities. He left for the US through a scholarship opportunity he had got. Workiye has received BA in accounting from one of the universities there. Over the past 34 years, he was engaged in various businesses which created job opportunities for many Ethiopians.
Though he spent much of his time in business engagement, today’s guest had published a book titled: “Kefiker Bestejerba” or “Behind the Scenes of Love” from contributing some articles for Addis Zemen daily newspaper and Yezareyitu Ethiopia newspapers.
He recently published a half-philosophical touch book called “Yeaymero, Yeayen and Yejoro Mesiker” literally meaning witness of mind, eye and ears. The Ethiopia Herald spent a few hours with him to raise and discuss a range of issues. Have a nice read!
Could you tell us about what motivated you to return to your homeland after spending more than half of your age abroad?
I came here mainly following the government’s call to all citizens residing abroad. After the regime change, I and others had a great desire to return to our country. In the course of those periods, I came to visit my country only a handful of times. For more than thirty years, I had opened my own business in the US and led a moderate life.
Though you have got every good thing, there is nothing like a country of birth. As it is not your own country, you always feel stupid. As many of the people residing abroad say, my heart was attached to my country and the people. Especially as you get older, “how long am I living?” is the question you ask every day. The money and wealth you earn abroad will never be compared with what you can get at home as you share with poor people.
After much thought about this idea of returning to the country, I discussed it with my wife and she accepted the idea without any hesitation. Many of our friends are surprised by the decision, and quite a few of them were also inspired to return to their country. However, they are always regretting it as they cannot do it easily.
Of course, even though it has been two years since I came, occasionally, I still come and go, but I permanently settled here in Ethiopia. In general, being able to return to my country has given me great relief and peace.
Of course, before we came here, some people said, how can you go to a country where there is war and full of troubles? Death is inevitable neither in America nor here. Everything has happened as per the will of God. I think my decision is right. The relative peace and harmony in Ethiopia are not found in Europe and America.
Although you have spent most of your time doing various businesses, you are known for writing two books and various articles. Please briefly remember about those works.
It is true. Even though I was in various businesses for many years, I enjoy reading and writing. Since I wanted to keep up myself with the ever-growing world, I have a habit of reading books using every single opportunity. It gave me great pleasure to write what I felt, realized and deliver to the readers. Especially since it was a time when there were not as many entertainment options as there are now, so my articles on Ethiopia in the new era and today gained me great popularity.
However, I was sending my article directly to the author and General Manager of the Ethiopian Press Agency. Even the journalist who worked there did not know me physically as I do not appear in person. As a result, they presumed that many of the articles were written under the pen name of the renowned author Bealu Girma. It was only after I wrote my first novel, “Behind the Scenes of Love,” that many people came to know about my true identity. After publishing this book in America and marketing it here, I went back. The book was so popular at the time and sold out immediately. But I published very few copies and not everyone who liked it could find it.
The idea for my second book, “Eye, Ear and Mind Witness” was conceived when I was in America. This book is mainly based on human life. The content revolves around how everyone should stand independently; Especially how they should prepare themselves before entering the abyss through the leadership of others; Instead of simply accepting what is said, it is imperative to ask the why and how? There is also a philosophy and research that analyzes how the culture of reasoning should be developed.
Over the past 27 years, the TPLF administration had divided the unity of Ethiopians residing locally and abroad. Please tell us about the situation in the US and the recent “No more” campaign.
As you said, they divided the people into ethnic groups and made them fight each other. The situation was arduous, especially for the diaspora like me who believed in national unity. They made the diaspora think about its differences rather than create a coalition. It had a negative role in spoiling the image of our country.
However, the secret conspiracy to divide the people and the country is not only happening in our country, the whole world has been plagued by this divisive agenda both in the past and now. Still, many countries are victims of this problem.
Why do you think is Korea divided into two? Russia’s 15 provinces turned into small states? Why did Pakistan separate from India? If you ask me where the division in the whole world comes from, my response is the evil system of the so-called New World Government led by the West. They still try to separate Tigray from Ethiopia.
As I mentioned, this evil administration led by the Westerners is working with a plan to make the world a center of corruption and destruction by dividing countries and separating the people of one country in a way that suits them. It is known that even in the past, Westerners have been making a great conspiracy to divide us based on religion and ethnicity.
The TPLF, as the executors of the Western agenda, tried to disperse the people fighting and creating ethnic differences. The reason why most American organizations tried to divide the people under the pretext of aid is to divide Ethiopia. They also tried to detach Tigray from Ethiopia. The Westerners created a divisive policy with the help of the TPLF.
Still, the evil agenda that has been planted in people’s minds for years is being imposed more and more today. People of both ethnicities are married together and lived together in peace and love. However, now we are fighting each other in a way we have never seen before, and we have become the laughingstock and plaything of the West. Reducing the population of a country is a big thing for this organization.
As it is known, the TPLF has been following the evil policy of the West since its inception and has been able to control Ethiopia and live as they wish. Now that the evil intentions of the West and the TPLF have become clear, there would be no hole that they will not touch to destroy us.
Thus, we must be aware of this evil agenda and wake up. We must strengthen our unity and friendship. We Ethiopians are the people of the world who are envied and have a wonderful history. Neither the westerners nor other enemies will succeed. It is only a matter of time before we will return to our previous unity. After all, when the country is stable, we are bound to return to the situation we were in. I have full faith that a situation will arise where we can forget all the bad memories and make our country better by coming up with new hope.
How do you see the pressure that the United Nations is currently putting on Ethiopia?
I mentioned some of the points earlier. UN and some western countries are enablers of TPLF. In my opinion, it is naïve to expect good things from these organizations. On the other hand, I do not think that they lack awareness of the conspiracies and destruction that the terrorist group is doing here. They know it. They committed a crime against the Defense Forces.
The enablers of TPLF know that the group was brutally killing and torturing innocent people as they vividly saw everything via satellite. However, enablers of TPLF want a disintegrated Ethiopia. On one hand, TPLF expressed its readiness for negotiation but on the other hand, they are the ones who accept weapons.
How do you see the government’s endeavor and people’s collaboration to protect the country’s sovereignty?
In my opinion, this work is mainly the responsibility of the government. Protecting the sovereignty of the country is the government’s mandate as it is the only body entrusted by the people to do so. I say that attention should be paid to the issue of independence and giving appropriate reaction to those who intervene in domestic affairs. In this regard, the government should clarify the current situation to the people and coordinate the society to stand by its side for the success of its foreign policy.
Once again, the government should listen to the heartbeat of the people instead of deciding everything based on the wishes of the politicians. As it has been said, the US and other western countries are currently putting pressure on Ethiopia, as they did during the Derg regime. It is because of the Westerner’s influence, President Mengistu Haile Mariam, was suddenly separated from his beloved country. I do not believe that they will stop interfering in our country as long as there is no suitable administration for them. Because they don’t care how many people die until they achieve what they want in this country.
What I want to mention again and again is that as long as the Ethiopian people
continue to strengthen their unity, no matter how much influence the Americans or other Westerners try to create, they will not be able to defeat or disperse us. As I said before, as Ethiopia is a land of promise, god will give us justice.
The government is also expediting efforts to make the country self-reliant and fend of foreign pressure. How do you think should these efforts be further handled?
By the way, this is to be expected. They have influenced us in the past as well. They will still pressure us to bow to them. No matter how strong the influence of the West is, we must resist and defend the sovereignty of our country. The Ethiopian government should never surrender. I believe that it should stand firm in its position and protect the sovereignty of the country.
We should also realize that the pressure is temporary and we should not retreat from our position in fear of them. In this regard, I understand that the position being promoted by our Prime Minister is correct and reflects the undaunted nature of Ethiopians. They tried to persuade him in different ways; he however refused and woke up earlier. Therefore, I would like to thank him for his actions and decisions.
In what way should the diaspora play its role in developing the country?
Forgive me; I think it is naive to expect too much from the diaspora as residing abroad does not mean having a better income. Even in the country where I lived, few of the diaspora made more than their daily wages. Some are in serious trouble. Even now, the diaspora is supporting the country because it cannot just watch its people suffering, not because it has that much wealth.
Therefore, for me, instead of waiting for the diaspora to come and develop the country, I believe that better change will come if the people here strengthen its unity. In particular, I say that the government should shoulder the biggest responsibility to revive the economy that has been devastated by war for more than two years.
For this reason, I believe that it is necessary to support the people and customize a system that will allow them to become entrepreneurs. More than anyone else, we should support the farmers to ensure our food security. As it has been repeatedly said, since the majority of the population is dependent on agriculture, it means a lot to support this section of society and make it independent.
I would like to thank you for your time.
It’s my pleasure.
The Ethiopian Herald November 5/2022
