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Ethiopia: Seye Abraha – Person of the Year 2009

December 28, 2009 at 6:30 am · Gadaa.com

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Seye Abraha – the Pacifist General

Mr. Seye Abraha, the former TPLF guerrilla leader against the Derg regime (1975-1991) and the former Minister of Defense of the Transitional Government of Ethiopia (1991-1995), was the most intriguing Ethiopian political figure of the year winding down. He spent the year brokering a political deal among eight opposition groups to outline the manifesto of the historic and groundbreaking MEDREK (the FORUM for Democratic Dialogue – FDD), the major opposition coalition highly expected to challenge the ruling party in the upcoming election in May 2010.

Mr. Abraha was the #2 figure in TPLF (the Tigrayan People’s Liberation Front) until the 2001 TPLF split immediately following the Ethio-Eritrean border war. Accused of corruption and undemocratic practices, Mr. Seye Abraha and other top TPLF officials were expelled from the organization by the Zenawi group that captured the upper-hand during the split. He was later sent to prison (together with four of his siblings) on corruption charges, but then was suddenly released from prison in 2007. Mr. Abraha refutes all charges against him and contends that they had been politically motivated – the political charges being the strategical differences between the Seye group and the Zenawi camp on the Ethio-Eritrea border war.

The De-Facto UDJ Leader
An individual member of Medrek when the year 2009 began, Mr. Abraha joined the unitarist UDJ (the Unity for Democracy and Justice) in late 2009 after UDJ had reportedly agreed to modify its political program to work for group rights as well as individual rights. Seen as the most powerful remnant of Kinijit, the coalition that mounted the strongest electoral challenge ever against the ruling party in 2005, UDJ has been the target of TPLF’s state-sponsored intimidation from the very beginning. Its leader, Ms. Birtukan Midhegsa was thrown into jail on political grounds in late 2008 to weaken the organization.

Having known Ms. Midhegsa as the judge who threw out the preposterous charges against him by the Zenawi government during the early stages of his corruption trial, Mr. Abraha has emerged as the de-facto leader of UDJ – thereby strengthening Medrek to be the voice of all Ethiopians.

“The Prison Speaks Afan Oromo”
One of the most defining moments in Mr. Seye Abraha’s career came on January 5, 2008. At a meeting in Virginia, the former Minister of Defense, who led a violent crackdown against Oromo dissents in the early 1990′s, regretfully declared to the world that prisons in Ethiopia “spoke Afan Oromo”; he added that “about 99% of the prisoners in Qaliti are Oromos.” Qaliti is the notorious high-security prison where Mr. Abraha spent some years during his politically-motivated incarceration.

In Qaliti, Mr. Abraha had witnessed the human sufferings the system inflicted on innocent civilians; he had witnessed how inhumane Oromo and other political prisoners were treated on a daily basis by the same system he helped bring to power. That and his own ordeal have changed him for the better. He is a man on a mission, but only he knows what that mission is or will be. Self-effacing by nature, Mr. Abraha is not the diplomatic type that his old medical school friend, Mr. Meles Zenawi – the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, has turned out to be. Most people often misunderstand Mr. Abraha’s no-nonsense personality for a lack of compassion. The Virginia speech had shown the more compassionate side of Mr. Abraha.

Hiding in the Shadows
Mr. Abraha is not the limelight-seeking type that his old medical school friend, Mr. Zenawi, has turned out to be. He prefers doing his job and hiding in the shadows. And, that’s what he exactly did in 1991.

Though Mr. Zenawi was the chairman of TPLF, Mr. Abraha was the military leader of TPLF. He was the one who led the most effective armed struggle against the then largest military in the sub-Saharan Africa – Mengistu Hailemariam’s Ethiopia. He created a conventional army from rag-tag TPLF rebels – his fighters “tegadalay’s” have faith on his leadership. In May 1991, when the Derg military apparatus finally crumbled, Mr. Zenawi emerged as the “face” of the armed struggle; Mr. Abraha receded into a mere ministerial position, later into a “regional state position” in the State of Tigray, then into a prison.

MEDREK – Ethiopia’s “Best Hope”
In the words of Mr. Bulcha Demeksa, one of the leaders of the Oromo Federalist Congress (OFC), Medrek is Ethiopia’s “best hope.” With inputs from all stakeholders in Ethiopia, the 65-page Medrek manifesto has laid out how to build a geographically ONE Ethiopia that celebrates and embraces its diversity in more real ways than the Zenawi regime attempts to do with its fake federal arrangement.

In the weeks and months to come, the people of Ethiopia will closely watch as Mr. Seye Abraha and all other leaders of Medrek triumph to bring about a peaceful transfer of government – the first one in Ethiopia’s history. In the weeks and months to come, Mr. Seye Abraha’s proven war-time leadership will be put to the test as Ethiopia transitions into a true federal country peacefully.

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18 Comments

  1. aatitegheb said,

    December 28, 2009 @ 7:51 am

    I have my serious doubts but all Ethiopians have the right of competing for leadership. Using Ethnicism as starting point howerver can be a trick to get the Oromo support which is by and large a majority group. However, we have people like Girma Birru that are politically smart Oromos which I hope can be PM of Ethiopia.

  2. BOOREESSAA XALIILCHA said,

    December 28, 2009 @ 2:21 pm

    OF COURSE, SIYE ABRAHA UNDERWENT THE TORMENT THAT THOUSANDS OF OROMO BEING SUFFERED IN PRISONS AND STARTED SYMPATHIZING OROMO PRISONERS AFTER RELEASED THAT NO OTHER HABESHA POLITICIAN EXCEPT BIRHANU NEGA DID. I HOPE HE LEARNED FROM HIS PRISON EXPERIENCE WHAT INJUSTICE LOOK LIKE AND WORK TIRLESSLY TO BUILD GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE. IMAGINE, BIRTUKAN MIDHAKISA WHEN RELEASED FROM HER FIST PRISON SHE NEVER UTTERED A SITUATION OF OROMO, ETHNIC GROUP TO WHICH SHE BELONGED TO. IT IS OBVIOUS SHE DIDN’T WANT TO COMMENT ANYTHING ON INJUSTICE TAKEN ON OROMO PEOPLE EITHER JUST TO PLAY POLITICAL GAME OR TO APPEASE OTHER HABESHA WHO ARE BEHIND HER. THE OTHE REASON WHY BIRTUKAN CHOOSE TO SPEAK OUT OROMO’S POLITICAL PRISONERS IS SHE DIDN’T BELIEVE THAT OROMO ARE BEING SINGLED OUT AND OPPRESSED FOR MORE THAN A CENTURY. BECAUSE SHE GROWN UP SPEAKING AMHARIC AND INADVERTENTLY ADAPTED ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN, SHE WANT TO PROMOTE THE SAME CULTURE AND LANGUAGE SHE GRWN UP WITH. THE QUESTION REMAIN IF THE UDJ POLITICAL ICON (BIRTUKAN) NEVER ACKNOWLDGE OROMO’S PROBLEM IN ETHIOPIAN EMPIRE, HOW WE GONNA TRUST UDJ IS BETTER THAN EPRDF.

  3. Nahom liyu said,

    December 28, 2009 @ 3:24 pm

    Unity is always something to start with. The unity leader is the one who decides what that unity produces. I do not think wounded unity leaders like Nagaso or Seye are the best for the job. The leader must come from the new generation with international experiances. They can put Oromo people on the front row to win the public voice but if that will not lead Oromos to come to power and lead the nation that will even leads to more desastor. It is hard to take political advancement back i.e the Oromo people will never accept any ruling part apart from true Oromo nationalists peacefuly as old days-those days were gone. Now Ethiopian people must reconcile with Oromo peple to live in peace. The majority must be treated not less not more than any human in Ethiopia. Euqality is the best answer that any leader of MEDREK or any party must give to Oromo people to rest all Ethiopan questions in peace. Otherwise now the issue is boiled and stirred enough to explod. Therefore, I donot think MEDREK led by Seye or Nagaso or Marara is ready to answere the question.

  4. Hubataa said,

    December 28, 2009 @ 8:09 pm

    First of all, I would like to know who elected the previos Crime defense Minister, Siye Abraha, as a person of 2009. If it is Gadaa.com, I am really sorry for you guys. The good thing is that he is a person of the Year for the Ethiopians, luckly not for Oromos or oromians. Whatever tactics and strategies you come up with, there is no way that we oromos, accept anything less than the true freedom or independence which I personally doubt that it can be acheived by forming a coalition/unity with Habeshas. If anyone has not understood by now, from the past and current situation, I recommend you to revisit you thought and analysis. Theoritically, it seems possible but the reality is that Habeshas never accept a true democracy. They just want to keep the Empire as it is although they put some fake programs on their manifesto. Siye is just working for the Abyssinians as he did in the past. He is running here and there either to dismantle or spy the current “organization”, or just to be in the media and mainly as a part of a ” revenge ” against the current TPLF leaders. Unless we are dreaming there is no way that, the TPLF/EPRDF, will leave the Palace without force. It is crystal clear that the have already won the upcoming “election”. They TPLF has been ready for this election since 2005. Different maneuvers have been in place since then.

    As to Negasso Gidada, he has been like a “prostitute” for the past 19 years. He has never been liked by his own people. He just want to fill his belly. Simply he is Abbaa garaa or Hodam. A person without objective. DO NOT expect any change from others, let us bring change by ourselves. Continue with the struggle until you destiny.

  5. Aradaw said,

    December 28, 2009 @ 10:43 pm

    Absolute bull***. Who the heck named him the person of the year? or is that also what the rest of Ethiopians say? He is not better than Meles Zenawi and his regime. Please Put him back in the jail because he is fighting now to get even with Meles Zenawi, not to bring democracy in Ethiopia. Woyane! Who ever voted for him to be the person of the year is no better than this b***d!

    *** = Edited for Civility.

  6. Sirnessa said,

    December 29, 2009 @ 1:51 am

    Hubataa, a man of the stone age!

    let us live today’s world and try to build a better tomorrow.

  7. Jajjabee said,

    December 29, 2009 @ 4:15 am

    Saba Oromoo eenyuu bakka bu’uu hin danda’u Oromoo irraa kan hafe. Dhiiga lilmoodhaan waraannatee an Oromoo dha yoo jedhe nutti haa himu akaakayyuusaaa abbaa irraa dhalate.Kan kanarraa hafe Afaan Oromoo dubbachuun Oromoo nama hin taasisu.

  8. Jajjabee said,

    December 29, 2009 @ 4:33 am

    Dr Nagaasoon yommuu ani “BARCUMA jaraa dhiitee bahe sabni Oromoo ati jagna nan jedhan” jedhee dubbate.Har’a hoo jagnummaan isaa sun eessa jalaa dhaqe.Ejjennoosaa duraa jijjiiruun saba Oromoo bakka bu’uuf wixxafata beekaa fakkaatee.Osoo beekaan Oromoo isa malee hin jiru ta’ee kun of tuulummaansaa biyya nama hin dhaabu.Kan nama dhibu “lubbuun ilmaan Oromoo baay’eetu gaaga’ameera.”Kana booda dhaabbachuu qaba jedhees dubbateera.Beekaa fayyaan kun silaa namni ammasaa beeku hin jiru ta’ee ani hin beeku karaa nagaa qabsoofnee mirga keenya kabachiifanna jechuu barbaada.Warri bosonatti rakkataa jiran, du’aa jiran,biyyaa keessaafi biyya alaatti, akkasumas mana hidhaa keessati kan dararamaa jiran akkasaa kana yaaduu hin wallaalle.Ijjennoo isaanii taanaan malee.

  9. ESUMO said,

    December 29, 2009 @ 5:02 am

    BOTH THE SAME DOG FOR US OROMO WE HAVE 2 WICK UP DO LEST 2 GO FIGHT FOR OUR RIGHT

  10. Abdi said,

    December 29, 2009 @ 8:00 am

    very good choice.
    an oromo website choosing tigrean politician is very progressive and revolutionary. congrats to gadaa.com for your courage. siye sure did great job this year to unite all opposition against fascist dictator zenawi

  11. shanqo said,

    December 29, 2009 @ 6:22 pm

    Borrressa, I agree with your first reason about Birtukan’s intention not to speak about the suffering of Oromos. She is appeasing the larger habesha group. But I don’t think because she is an Orthodox Christian and didn’t speak Afan Oromo. I have similar back ground as her but never shares her way of thinking about Oromo. She is just as terrible as Nagaso Gidada who is protestant and mother tongue Afan Oromo. This people feel large when habesha’s tell them that they are “open minded”, “intelligent… etc”

  12. Duressa said,

    December 30, 2009 @ 5:42 am

    Personally, I think this is an insult to the Oromo nation. Either the folks at gadaa.com do not know the full extent of the crime committed by this person on Oromos when he was in power or they do not stand for Oromo interests. How dare,and how soon, do they forget the bloods of their kins that was shaded while they were forcibly encamped? Shame on you gadaa.com.

  13. BOOREESSAA XALIILCHA said,

    December 30, 2009 @ 11:20 am

    Dear Shanqo,
    I would like to appreciate sincerly for correcting my the staments. I should have put my opinion in other way instead of relating Birtukan’s political view toward Oromo with her religion. Of course, there are many oromo who are orthodox Christian and speak Amaharic, but they are strong ‘saboontoota’ being involved even in Oromo’s freedom struggle one way or another. It is not my intention to offend my fellow orhodox christian Oromo in my comment and I want to apologize
    Thanks,

  14. Shabliy said,

    December 30, 2009 @ 1:34 pm

    Mr. Seye Abreha is yet to be brought to justice for embezzlement, corruption and murder. I don’t understand why Gadaa would put this person up in such category. Gadda.com, what we need is moral consistency and this seems to be what you lack here completely. No matter the politics, standing by the truth and for the truth is the only way to succeed and build credibility.
    Mr. Seye is a criminal whose enterprise run from the time he became a guerrilla to when he became unelected government official.

    When you put up Seye Abreha as person of the year, you destroy your own image.

  15. Shabliy said,

    December 30, 2009 @ 1:40 pm

    The title says “Ethiopia: Seye Abraha – Person of the Year 2009″
    What is this to say? There isn’t a single person in Ethiopia that considers this person anything but a criminal. This of course excludes Woyanes and their supporters. The pain and suffering this person has brought on populations has him fit for capital punishment. Gadaa.com, what is the point of posting this article?

  16. tulle ganddaa said,

    January 3, 2010 @ 6:56 pm

    i am very sorry for your deception .probably he is the person of the year for habashaas for trying to maintain and uplift the continuation of rotten opressive system against ormos and others in ethiopia. .donot forget that he was forfront leader who fought againt oromo freedom fighters with modern weapons in collabratin with shaabiyaa .he was the main actor in dismantling freedom fighters of all kinds in the empire.to me his fate will be the same as meles in near future.all they go down together..

  17. Gadaa .N said,

    January 6, 2010 @ 10:14 pm

    Gadaa Mooataa
    Dhiiroo seenaa darbe irraa wanti barannuu jiraachuu qaba. Martuu diina mooachuuf jecha Oromotti rarra
    kanaaf maali siiyyeen bara 1991 waan oromoo irratti hojjate duubatti deebiee obboleessa isaa Dr Nagaasoo
    wajjiin ilaalee otuu dubbatee .boru Malasis aangoo yoo barbaade kanuma dubbata.ilmaan oromoo dubbii alanchaa ilaalaa.

  18. Gadaa .N said,

    January 6, 2010 @ 10:32 pm

    YAA ILMAAN OROMOO WAAN KANAAN DURA SOBAMTE HIN IRRAAFFATIN.KEESSATTUU NAMAA NU LOOLUU QOFA MITII LOLAS UUMUU DANDEENNA JEDHEE ILMAAN OROMOO IRRATTI BARA 1992 DHADATEE SIYYEE NI DAGATTAA.KA WAAN KEESA DARBE IRRA HIN BARANNE KA NAMA GUDDA JENNEE YEROO DARGAGGUMAA ISAA ABDANNE AKKA GAALAA OF DUUBA FINCAAEES MEE SIRRITTI HUBADHAA.AJAAIBAA MITII MARTUU MAQAA KEENNATTI RARRAA.