The ease with which woyane’s theatrical election was successfully staged shows, on the one hand, its determination to rule indefinitely to achieve its long term objectives, on the other hand, the implicit and explicit complicity of major world powers in the game even though they mostly regretted that the election fell short of international standards. This is playing one’s cards close to one’s chest. The Abyssinian petty-bourgeoisie know very well that they can achieve their dreams only in the context of internationally sanctioned equation. They are constantly turning right and left with the single aim of realizing the ultimate ambitions of their emperors to grab the lands of the colonized peoples of the Ethiopian empire, the lands of the Oromo, the Sidama, the Somali, the Afar nations etc. There is no ideology, no slogans, and no methods they hesitate to adopt and use to achieve their ultimate goal. Since most of these peoples appear incapable at present of overcoming their futile clannish mentalities in order to unite against Abyssinian colonialism as even the Somali case clearly shows they are being easily out maneuvered. Woyane’s secret agenda about land is no secret for those who can see. Meles Zenawi says people who do not accept the Ethiopian unity can go. He knows what he means. It is by no means an empty gesture. Most probably wayane is planning massive transfer and movement of people from the north to the south in stages first as workers on the lands it is selling now to be followed by further rapid developments that are irreversible.
It was Menelik who rounded off effectively this ambition when he declared all the conquered lands belonged to the crown to legitimize the formation and consolidation of the neftegna class of Abyssinian settlers. Haile Sellassie expanded and consolidated this system. The nationalization of the land by the DERG marked a new phase in this direction by different means and had not been altogether a genuine land distribution among the landless peasants despite the appearances. It was for the most part a maneuver for a large scale abyssinisation of the colonies through large scale resettlement programs, the Oromo land being the main target as ever. If the DERG failed to achieve its plan it was as we know for reasons beyond its control. Some elements of what we know today as the OLF did play some role as ECHAT in facilitating DERG’S program before they escaped into the countryside from its liquidation campaign and were forced to initiate armed struggle half heartedly partly in self-defense. I would be glad if honest insiders among former OLF members, especially the intellectuals , come out to tell the Oromo people at least part of this story instead of keeping silent to cover up their past. We all make mistakes. The point is to recognize, admit, and learn from them. I did work with woyane and do regret it. But I know that I have learned a lot from that experience.
Most of the so-called leftist organizations such as the MEISON, the EPRP, Waz League etc were led mainly by the children of the empire builders. Their ambition was the same. Their sudden rise and disappearance is not an accident of history. They may change their names and tactics but their existence is as strong as ever, even stronger than ever. To write about this one does not need a doctorate degree in political history. The facts are simple. The Tigray ruling elites in Ethiopia and Eritrea have taken over the agenda and they are holding us all on tenterhooks taking the entire region of the Horn of Africa hostage.
