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Retraction:
a Potent Sign of a crumbling House of Cards |
On August
4th, 2006, Meles Zenawi,
Ethiopia’s autocratic ruler gave the BBC an
interview in which he admitted having
ordered ‘military sweeps’ in Ogaden. In this
interview, Mr. Zenawi said that
“…the
offensive was requested by elders after they
returned to Ethiopia…”
Having realized that his so-called military
sweeps have not produced the results he
hoped for, and having been roundly crucified
for using the elders as the raison d’etre of
his failed military escapades in Ogaden,
Zenawi appears to have changed course 360
degrees again.
In a damage control campaign meant to put
the record straight again, he, Zenawi has
ordered the Tigrian mission in UK to issue a
retraction of some sorts. In a poorly
written, terse one hundred twenty one word
propaganda, the mission said
“…The Prime
Minister, in his interview, in no way said
that he was advised to use force by elders
from the Somali region…”
Ogaden Online editorial is unsure of what to
make of the contradictions flying back and
forth from the autocracy in Addis Ababa. In
the clear statement given to the BCC, Zenawi
took full responsibility that he is the one
who ordered what he termed as military
sweeps. He emphasized that he only did so
after a request from the elders. He did at
no time raise any frustrations in what the
mission termed
“…elders
inability to meet ONLF representatives
abroad…”
This terse retraction statement from the one
man Tigrey mission in UK makes no sense to
the sage minds outside the autocratic regime
in Addis Ababa. Instead of putting the
record straight, it only shows the world
community the face of a morally bankrupt
regime that will go in great length to look
for raison d’etre for an illegal war against
unarmed and defenceless civilians in Ogaden.
Having failed horribly in these military
escapades and having lost the public
relations battle both inside Ogaden and
outside, Zenawi’s regime has also lost its
direction. The terse propaganda put out by
the mission in UK is a testament to this
sense of loss of direction.
The economist magazine’s statement
“ETHIOPIA'S
prime minister, Meles Zenawi, now spends
most of his time heading off his enemies.”
also points to a man whose
hurriedly put together house of cards is
about to crumble. Statements, counter
statements, and retractions from a mission
abroad will sure not right a course lost
forever. We hope that the autocracy in Addis
Ababa led by this obstreperous liar will
also loose the country as well soon.
editorial@ogaden.com
Ogaden Online Editorial
Aug 19, 2006 |
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