Most of the power elites everywhere today have given up on seeking genuine solutions to the problems facing the world. They are busy either defending the status quo or else trying to carve a niche for themselves in the existing order often masquerading as supporters of populist slogans. A government of all the people, by all the people, for all the people used to be a definition of democracy. The capitalist globalism of today has turned this into a distant dream.
The relative differences between major parties in western democracies have evaporated into basically the same political and economic agenda, leaving no room for serious changes within the system, apparently with role of government minimized. This contradicts the reality of a democratic social progress. All evidence points to the rising inequality and the stagnation of the lower social classes. And yet the reality of the raging class struggle even in the wealthy north European and north American societies is ignored and denied by all possible means by the power elites. Many of these power elites are directly or indirectly advancing the ideas of conflict between cultures to serve their own interests diverting attention from real issues. The number of culture wariors is growing on all sides. The point is how to undermine global solidarity among the poor of this world.
The soviet system was brought down not by the West but by its own extremely selfish bureaucrats working in closed centralized tyrannical structures with no pretensions to democratic values. That fate may await the multi national corporations of the western world and their governments, who are bent on protecting tyrannical regimes in Africa and the Middle-East under the cover of war on terror, despite their pretensions to democracy. Under these conditions, the forces of the extreme Right within western establishments and outside them are on the rise. Their aim is to come to power through parliamentary means. Hyper-nationalism is haunting Europe and north America once again. This reality does not bode well for anyone.
I am not what one would usually call a practising Muslim. I rarely go to Mosques. I hate herd mentality and rigid, mechanical rituals in all aspects of life (I had enough of it.That is probably why I am a loner most of the time) even though I accept the basic values common to all great religions. By the way, I think Carl Marx is only partially right when he described religions as opium of peoples. I have German citizenship. Living in this country for decades in peace, I see now how democratic achievements and values are eroding and how the situation is changing also for me. In recent times, I have been subjected to provocations including physical violence. Just a few weeks ago one gentle man threatened to bring a charge of terrorism against me.. We know today from history the scapegoating of Jews and other minorities especially in Europe particularly during economic and political downturns. Is history repeating itself in the Western world today?
But what is happening now is not yet history. Today the dominant media Zeitgeist favours skewed presentation of facts for obvious reasons. We must condemn all forms of terrorism. Not only the terror of groups hiding behind religious slogans but also terrorism by the states misusing international legitimacy. Both forms of terrorism are tied together except for simple minds who rarely question the official line. Basically this is a war of narrow interests having nothing to do do with peace and the welfare of the world. Nothing to do also with religions. Solidarity is a must to oppose this war worldwide. UN has lost whatever semblance of legitimacy under Banki-Moon, being the club of veto powers standing together in support of fascist regimes in extremely fragmented parts of the world such as Syria, Iraq and Ethiopia. I firmly believe in interfaith understanding and see no barriers between ideologies.
But most of humanity follows the demands of its flesh rather than its conscience. And many of the poor of this world keep dreaming to be wealthy rather than demanding a fair distribution of resources and the protection of the ecosystem. This is tragic. I think it is a structural problem. Only real knowledge and faith can address it. I think truly enlightened human beings know that there is no “us versus them” if we seriously consider global issues.. We are all in the same pot. That is why dialogue is a must instead of military muscle. But giving people precedence over tools and machines cannot be achieved without controlling corporate greed, especially the industrial complex producing armaments.
This site is devoted to the Oromo question, one of the most ignored and mistreated nations of the earth. I have intentionally refrained now for some months from posting any statement. The reason is, I do not want to speculate too much on the ongoing peaceful Oromo protest. It is not that I am afraid of making an inadvertent slip or omission. The truth is I just do not know enough what is happening on the ground at home beyond what I get from the mass media. Yet I was chilled listening to the instructions given on OMN to Oromo protesters of the mass movement against the Tigray dominated military regime in Ethiopia. The speakers urged demonstrators not to do anything or raise any demand or slogan that would violate Woyane constitution, not to throw stones and even not to dance. One speaker presented the Amhara demonstrations as a model to be followed. He told us at the same time the real reason why the Amhara demonstration succeeded in Gondar: in the previous protest the Amharas returned the Woyane fire in kind because their cadres in the EPRDF, unlike the Oromo group made up of captured Derg elements during the war in the north, had never disarmed their people in the first place, as they were treated by Tigrayans as equals for historical reasons. All this is true. But despite this information, he went on urging us to follow the Amhara model, contradicting himself. Essentially Amhara demands and Oromo demands are different. We are struggling for national liberation and to practice our right to self-determination which the Amhara are unanimously opposing in crystal clear terms. Their Ambition is to come back to power and protect their unjust empire. Mimicking Abyssinian academics, some Oromos are in a hurry to gloss over this difference.
Now on the factual ground, the Woyane is killing daily peaceful Oromo protesters even though they have been following the instructions definitely. And now what next? Here I am not interested in debunking anything, nor am I insinuating that all those Oromos who give instructions to the demonstrators to engage in pathetic passive performances are employed by international circles supporting the Ethiopian regime and bent on neutralising the Oromo struggle for freedom from the Abyssinian domination. My question is simple. What do the Oromo people want to achieve now? I assure you there is no right or wrong answer to my question. But let us be clear: we have to answer this question as sincerely as we can. We can disagree if we believe in a working democracy, not democracy under corporate tyrannical imperialist powers trying to recolonize parts of the world. No problem if we disagree as long as we are serious and genuine. The final decision will be taken by the majority of the Oromo people sooner or later. We have endless time ahead. I believe in eternity and truth. We must refuse to be rushed by anyone while getting engaged in actions, no matter how small, that promote our morale and the welfare of our people suffering under century-old Abyssinian tyranny..
The next most important and urgent question is, I think, how to build political organizations whose leaders are accountable to their members. If we emerge from the ongoing Oromo protests answering these two basic questions we are on the right track. The peaceful Oromo protests have come at the perfect time, to borrow the phrase from the Indian Fakir in the last article. Otherwise I understand we are being manipulated by the Abyssinian elites and their international allies.
Yet manipulation or no manipulation, the Ormo People have proved one thing beyond doubt: their capacity for solidarity and collective action. They have to decisively show now their capacity to evolve naturally a new political elite and a new political organizational model relatively free from regionalism, clan affiliation and religious dogma. One obvious caveat: internet and cyber heroes, including myself, need the underrated gift of humility to admit how much we do not know important dimensions of our own reality. I do not believe everything is a conspiracy. The world is more complicated than that. Still we must be vigilant. As far as coordination with the Abyssinian opposition groups is concerned, for me the bottom line is as ever not to compromise the right of the Oromo people to self-determination as some of us are cleverly doing. I will never stop to shine a light on this point as long as I live.
I will end this article by paying due homage to the Oromo Marathon runner Feyisa Lilesa who won the silver medal at the Rio Olympics. He is our hero of the hour. He has set an example of selfless commitment to the cause of our people for others to follow, raising his hands and voice from the international platform, at a critical time, to remind the entire world of our plight. God bless you dear, brave Feyisa! You have raised our hopes.