FEAR AND LOATHING IN ETHIOPIA

MITMITA has come across a series of reports and articles that detail a stunning new tool in the fight against injustice: Silence! Yes, it seems as though through this new weapon, international organizations believe that they have hit a most coveted trifecta! First, they can fulfill their organizational roles--be it feed the hungry, shelter the homeless , or observe trials. Second, NGOs can do this while effectively shielding dictators from public criticism and rebuke for their role in the persistence of massive human rights violations. Thirdly (and this dovetails beautifully from the last point), they are permitted by the regime, in exchange for their silence, to remain in gorgeous Ethiopia, to ostensibly continue their "do gooding."

So in what contexts are these international organizations remaining silent? There was that recent story of aid organizations refusing to speak to the press about the human rights violations in Ogaden while at the same time administering assistance to those who have suffered tremendously at the hands of the regime. Then of course there is the ongoing saga of the human rights defenders and prisoners of conscience Daniel Bekele and Netsanet Demissie whose continued incarceration and the silence of NGOs was detailed in a report by Ethiopolitics.com last week.

Ultimately the reasoning of the NGOs when confronted about their decision to remain silent is:  "at least we are able to do some good and provide some services. People wouldn't be able to get this help, if we spoke up and if we are kicked out." Some, cynics that they are, might decry these methods as akin to putting a bandaid on a gushing deep wound and patting yourself on the back for all of the great work that you are doing. 

Mitmita is not that generous. We don't think that the issue is the inability of the NGOs to understand how silence is detrimental. We believe that above the interest in doing good, above the interest in humanitarianism and human rights is an interest in self preservation. And these international organizations do have a legitimate concern when it comes to that issue. Our Prime Minister is quite fanatical about being obeyed and he certainly doesn't like it when you criticize him. Remember how he rudely told Tony Blair to shove his money some years back? Recall how he has previously kicked out aid organizations? We all know that the foreign press corps in Addis simply fawn over him, reporting with feigned (we hope) genuineness about his elections, his promise to get a handle on the skyrocketing inflation and to root out  "economic criminals." Mitmita genuinely wants to know if he will start with himself. If the press didn't comply, they risk the fate of many who have been expelled or barred. So instead of news, we get packaged stories. Instead of agitation and pressure from international organizations, we get silence with the promise that this will buy us some justice. 

What justice? And at what price?

Yet more important than the need for these individuals to remain in Ethiopia is the need for the truth. Silence brings with it a false notion of neutrality. It has never been on the side of the oppressed. Silence benefits the oppressor. It shields wrongdoing, instead of exposing it. To argue that you are in Ethiopia to provide aid, to shelter, feed, ensure that basic necessities and fundamental rights are met--yet to remain silent on the ROOT causes of these ailments is to be disingenuous to your cause, to the people that you are providing aid to and ultimately to the principle of justice. 

It is silence that fuels Darfur's continuing genocide. It is silence that allowed the massacre in Rwanda. And it is silence that is allowing the brilliant minds of Daniel and Netsanet to rot in prison in Ethiopia.  Above all, it is our collective silence that has allowed our country to burn continuously.

One of Mitmita's favorite quotes is from Dante in his discussion of the various circles of hell. He wrote in Inferno, "the hottest places in hell are reserved for those who in times of great moral crisis, maintain their neutrality." 

There is nothing that deserves the very screaming from our souls and the very agitation of our hearts than the suffering of our fellow Ethiopians. Where international organizations leave off, we must take up for ourselves.