History Repeats Itself!
The Case of Sidama nation (North East Africa-South Ethiopia)
By
Akako Wonshsho, From Sidamaland, May 2, 2013
Human quest for
freedom, respect for own identity to preserve and protect it from obliteration,
naturally craving for human and democratic rights and asserting its
continuances, realization of self-determination, socio–economic, socio–cultural,
political and by large progress in development advancement had been
started since time immemorial. Even
though such desire for freedom, liberty and emancipation does not exempt any segment
of societies residing in every corner/region of the world, a quest for freedom encountered in developing
countries is more pronounced, particularly in least developed ones as compared
to developed. The secret behind this is that political subjugation and economic
exploitation of the oppressors against the oppressed is significantly higher in
least developed countries. This hypothesis becomes credible when we see the
fact that the level of resistance against oppression is lower in poorest
countries.
However, we can logically
argue that it remains quite certain that as long as political oppression and
economic exploitation of oppressed and suppressed nations persists, the
resistance to get rid of the rulers will continue indefinitely. The more the
oppression, the bitter will be the struggle. This argument also flares up the
fact that ‘as the period of resistance struggle increases the irreconcilable
contradiction between the oppressed and the rulers will be more intensified’,
and at the end of last phase of the struggle the conflict between these antagonizing
groups will reach to its highest climax which marks that arduous, bitter and
vehement struggle waged by overwhelming majority of the oppressed against the
rulers will be more intensive which eventually results in overthrow or demolishment
of given despotic regimes of any country.
However, after
it is defeated, the previous ruling group will try its level play best to
weaken the new state established by oppressed nations of any country. The
despotic rulers or parties use various means of coercion to disintegrate the unity
and solidarity of the new government. The new rulers deploy all sorts of divide
and rule tactics to dissolve the establishments by giving power to their obedient,
empowering small ethnic groups, dividing the people by ethnic, geographical
area, religion, wealth and so on. Moreover, they use previous ones and create
new elite group at various levels who serve the very interest of despotic
leaders.
In most cases
the aforementioned elite groups become running dogs of rulers and serve as
instrument of subjugation and exploitation of their own people on behalf of the
rulers whose objectives remain ruling the subjects with barbaric tyranny. Such
despotic actions of the rulers and their affiliates play freedom impeding and
emancipation prolonging role on the part of the subjugated. Even if after lapse
of considerable period of struggle against the tyrants and if it eventuates
defeat /overthrow of the rulers, similar cycle of events of political
subjugation and economic exploitation of the oppressed by the oppressor will
continue until the intensification of irreconcilable contradiction between the
subdued and the ruler sharpens more than ever to become more extensive and
intensive until the ruling regime is totally ousted to replace it with the
systems that values humanity on equal basis.
The systematic
tactics and methodology of political subjugation and economic exploitation adopted
by the oppressors against the oppressed might differ from the previous
oppressors in its style when the new one assumes authority. Even though some
sorts of confusions and misconceptions arise resulted from different social
orders that are claimed to be used as various forms of exploitation
instruments; the substances of political subjugation and economic exploitation
will be the same- further indicating the relationship created between the
rulers and ruled is essentially similar to that of the former.
Such cycle of
political subjugation and economic exploitation by ruling regime is maintained until
radical and new state building and strengthening measures taken; and these events
in the course of history include (external powers interference, divide and rule
tactics being deployed, impeding roles of elites at various levels, role of hypocritical historians, lack of integrity,
unity, levels of socio –political consciousness on the part of the peoples at
alrge, unfulfilled subjective as well as objective conditions, high levels of poverty).
Quest for freedom is relatively limited as result of which levels of active
involvement against resistance is less significant, as is the case with Sidama
nation in particular and other oppressed nations, nationalities and peoples of
Ethiopia in general- under the three successive regimes including the current
one.
Radical change
bearing struggle of resistance must be launched against despotic regimes for
emancipation of the oppressed nations and break the cycles of political
subjugations and economic exploitations adopting consorted efforts involving
all stakeholders. To put it in crystal clear manner, it is becoming more and
more logical on the fact that there is an ever increasing need to wage arduous
and bitter struggle against such hideously brutal, savagely bestial, so
despotic and authoritarian regime that brutalize citizens whom it is meant to
protect- to bring about its inevitably faster downfalls.
To re-put it in
a net shell, it would be quite obvious that the need to undertake such
comprehensive and protracted struggle of resistance enhancing and
strengthening of active involvement and
alliance of all parties/organizations of oppressed nations to bring about the final
doom of this ethno-fascist regime. Doing so can be achieved through coordination,
maintaining and leading of concerted and collaborative efforts of all segments
of societies, social groups, liberation organizations/parties at large involving
the entire public to assert the accomplishment of such tasks. These tasks are
indeed considered as fulfilment of such sacred historical mission expected
from every beloved citizen and the peoples of the country at large--whose unreserved
and relentless efforts are not only
essential but also mandatory to eventually uproot and dismantle such rapacious
and tyrannical/vulgar regime on whose grave establishment and consolidation of
democratic social order in which every oppressed nation enjoys from its outcome
(equality, emancipation, unity, prosperity, integrity, solidarity, etc) as privileged
group from mutual assistance for mutual benefits of all involved in the
vehement struggle waged against such voracious and indeed barbarous regime that
of the current TPLF/EPRDF’s one.
If we work hard based
on unity of purposes, we all shall triumph!
Victory to Sidama People and others subjugated
Nations!
Akako Wonshsho,
From Sidamaland, May 2, 2013