Over the past few years, Ethiopia has scored a number of impressive achievements in almost all areas. However, these feats were not gained simply, but rather through a number of arduous and tiring efforts that demanded a lot of energy and commitment. The country has gone through a number of tiring times and undergone testing incidents, mainly peace, security, and instability challenges perpetrated by various entities and occurring in various parts of the country, which have challenged it a lot and restricted its progress towards prosperity.
In fact, from the very beginning, the government has been calling on all parties that have different ideas and perspectives to come to the table for discussion. It has also been expressing its willingness and determination to discuss and solve problems with any entity. Going further, it has established a National Dialogue Commission. Currently, the Commission is undertaking various activities that lay the foundation for national dialogue.
Recently, while presenting the Commission’s four-month performance report to members of the House of Representatives, senior leaders, and stakeholders, Commissioner Prof. Mesfin Araya revealed key preliminary preparations and activities related to the identification of potential participants in the national dialogue held in most regions and city administrations across the country. In areas where participant identification has not yet been conducted, it will be carried out through public meetings to identify possible agenda items and potential participants.
Meanwhile, the Ethiopian Press Agency had approached some stakeholders to have their insights regarding what should be done to arrest our common problem, ways to find a peaceful solution, what is expected from every individual citizen to make the national dialogue a success and ensure lasting peace in the country.
According to the Ethiopian Evangelical Churches Union President Pastor Tsadiku Abdo, as a nation to maintain peace, it requires the active participation and commitment of every citizen, starting from family level. Especially, for the reason that the primary responsibility of the government is to ensure the peace and security of its citizens, it should be determined and act accordingly to resolve conflicts in a peaceful manner.
Likewise, any party who may say that his rights have been violated, or anyone who complains that his/her interests are not guaranteed, should be ready to listen to the opinions of others and resolve disagreements through discussion and peaceful dialogue; understanding that every contention can be addressed and arrested at the peace table.
“We have to be cautious and responsible so that our activities to ensure our interests should not put other peaceful fellow citizens in a precarious situation and cause harm to them.”
There is a rule that is called the “golden rule” in all religious teachings. That is “Don’t do anything to other people that you don’t want other people to do to you.” Respecting this rule and acting accordingly enables us to resolve all the challenges that hinder peaceful engagements.
According to Pastor Tsadiku, attempting to ensure peace through the efforts of merely some certain parties is considered as clapping with one hand. Thus, the government, political actors, religious institutions, interest groups, the people and other stakeholders are expected to do their level best and play part for peace. Mainly, religious institutions should preach peace and teach their devotees to defend peace and act accordingly. “We, religious fathers, should also be a living role model for our followers by leading lives that testifies the creeds we are teaching.”
According to the Pastor, it is important to realize that each of the activities every individual citizen is carrying out have their own contributions in terms of sustaining or disrupting peace. The efforts undertaken to bring about solutions by force if not harming the people will not yield the desired outcome.
Therefore, it is not only necessary but also mandatory to give due attention to the ideas of others, respect each other; and be committed enough to find solutions to problems through peaceful dialogue and discussion, Pastor Tsadiku advised.
The Executive Member of the Joint Council of the Ethiopian Political Parties, Mebratu Alemu (PhD), said on his part that the conflicts and instability that arise in different parts of the country are causing loss of life, destruction of property, displacement, and humanitarian crises. Such problems can only be solved when we develop the culture of tolerance and can listen to each other. To this effect, it is necessary to create inclusive discussion and consultation platforms. In this regard, political parties, civil associations, religious institutions, and the government are expected to be active participants, he said, adding that the National Dialogue Commission is currently working determinedly to stop the conflict and strengthen the social interaction between the government and the people. “Therefore, before moving on to conflicts and attempting to resolve differences through firearms, it is necessary to put on the table all the queries that we have and fight with determination to find a solution in a peaceful way,” he reiterated.
The other possible solution to ensuring lasting peace is to carry out political reform. Thus, starting with the constitution, inspecting institutions and making them part of the solution is equally important, he emphasized.
Equally important, addressing historic grudges that are witnessed across the country, providing the appropriate support to the areas affected by the conflicts, and creating a favorable platform for peaceful dialogue and discussion is fundamental.
What is more, in order to make the political system healthy, it is necessary to raise awareness among leaders of political parties, social activists, and media practitioners on ways to increase the culture of dialogue and tolerance. Peace cannot be ensured only by the desires and activities of certain parties. For this reason, starting with the government, all stakeholders are expected to discharge their responsibilities unwaveringly. He remarked that the government, political actors, interest groups, religious institutions, the people, and other stakeholders should work together to achieve lasting national peace.
BY ELIZABETH MENGISTU
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD THURSDAY 2 MAY 2024
