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