Defending Sidama’s National Interest: - Challenges and Opportunities

By Kukkissa, Sidama Reporter from Sidama Capital Hawassa, 

December 26, 2013

I. The theme. 

I start my brief discussion by asking the Sidama readers what does national consciousness mean to you individually and how can the Sidama as a nation be an effective catalyst of the change that is dearly needed? What are the challenges? Does the Sidama nation feel comfortable with the Status-Quo, if not why? Cognizant of the fact that the Sidama nation in particular the subjugated nations and nationalities in general are under dire humanitarian conditions, these questions remain indisputably critical. 

The other area I’m going to discuss is what opportunities are available to the Sidama nation that are hardly exploited? Why the Sidama nation often becomes the victim of repeated deceits and manipulations of the incumbent regime as was the case during all its predecessors? Why the Sidama nation is treated differently within current Ethiopian political arrangement? 

Ultimately, do we really understand the right of the Sidama nation is blatantly denied by the incumbent regime for the past 22 years in addition to others injustice the Sidama nation shares with others nations and nationalities of the country? If we do, what is the ways forward? 

The final aim of this piece of work is initiating further discussions among the wider Sidamas, the Sidama youth, intelligentsia involving Sidama Diaspora to increase the consciousness of the wider society whose eyes aren’t enough opened to look at as tragic situation unfolds in Sidamaland; whose ears aren’t attentively listening to the ongoing outcries of the society in pursuit of justice, democracy, freedom and liberty in their own land in particular, in others subjugated regions at large.

I would also like to initiate further debate on how to learn the direction of peaceful struggle for Sidama nation, by the Sidamas individually and in collaboration with others subjugated nations and nationalities of the Ethiopian (Abyssinian) Empire State. I will also show that the Sidama nation actually can undoubtedly break the backbone of oppressive regime if the nation is able to unlock its potential on understanding its rights and obligations on demanding own rights, not begging. 

II. National Consciousness as a Precursor to Nationalism & Unity.

For nationalism to be explained, there need to be fundamental pre-requisites. They include boundaries which keeps given nation together in any geographical area, common language with which the community communicate, cultural unity that uniquely characterises any nation and moral contract that subconsciously unites the whole segments of societies wherever they might be and finally socio-economic circumstances benefiting concerned members of communities- although this can apply to entire different nations and nationalities sharing the same boundaries of given country. In some cases however, boundaries become irrelevant. 

For instance, whether one Jewish person with his/her family lives in Africa, Asia, Australia, Canada, U.S.A or Europe, his/her unity with her/his root remain as strong as those who are in Israel. A Jewish man and women born and bred and live in India goes to serve his/her national services in Israel for given period of time and returns back to India after he/she has completed his/her services. Eventually, such groups of people remain as reservists and standby for calls at any time of his/her life (age permitting) if they were needed by their country. Their national consciousness isn’t determined by their boundaries as they remain committed to their root and defending their people, national interest and boundary. 

This, a very precise example advises us how the 7,908.000 (2012) populated Israel defends its interests and national integrity based on principle that is cemented on common values they inherited from their ancestors and their unwavering determination to adhere to it with whatever the cost. Distances never diminish their nationalism and national identity. 

From this example we can draw conclusion on the fact that national consciousness emanates from a shared value, aspiration, determination for defending these values, pride on own identity, national self-consciousness and planning to preserve it for generations by devising strategy on how to defend it from external influences depending on the dynamism of the society. Do we all Sidamas, young and old feel that we are nationalist in any way? Is our principle on defending Sidama’s national interest is compatible with above assertions? 

III. Challenges 

3. 1. Lack of Understanding

‘My son seek knowledge and Wisdom as this remains the pillar of your life throughout’, my late father advices me. He says if you are short of food today, you can buy or can produce one tomorrow; but if you are short of knowledge and wisdom on how to do this, your life becomes incomplete, he says. He was correct, may his soul rest in peace. Knowledge is power! Knowledge is resources. As they currently call it ‘information is power’. Knowledge comes from the right information. The current global civilised norm states that a well-informed, therefore, critical society is stronger as a society, productive and efficient as a nation, knowledgeable on how to live responsibly reasonable life and ultimately has got know how on how to build futurity for the society at large. These all can be only possible if there is a freedom of expression and the rule of law is practicable. 

The current Ethiopian TPLF’s government has got a constitution that is praised by its Western allies and supporters and regarded as relevant, highly inclusive and progressive. The aforementioned precise constitution unconditionally guarantees nations and nationalities of Ethiopian Empire State the right to freely and unconditionally exercise their rights to the extent of cessation, let alone becoming regionally self-administrative; the quest the Sidama nation remained demanding for the past 22 years. The Sidama civilians paid ultimate sacrifices of precious life when the security forces slaughtered 100s of civilians demanding these rights on May 24, 2002. 

The constitution also unequivocally asserts that these rights are also irreplaceable with anything else as they become complete only when they are constitutionally and legally implemented. There isn’t and can’t be ‘if’ or ‘but’ in the constitution. They are crystal clear, therefore, none of the others replacements can do the job. 

The incumbent regime also doesn’t have whatsoever rights to advocate otherwise as doing so undermines the ethos and principles of the constitution about which the regime prides itself at the global scale. Therefore, having such unshakable knowledge on this critical matter will be crucial for the Sidama nation to succeed in asserting its rights as will be the case with others subjugated nations and nationalities. These rights alone aren’t an answer for Sidama’s quest for freedom and justice; there will be several miles to walk to achieve the ultimate demands of the Sidama nation. However, as these are granted to others but denied to Sidama nation, therefore they remain burning demands in addition to others issues. There isn’t and never be replacement to this as long as the constitution is valid and in operation. 

If there was the rule of law in the Empire State, the regime calls it democratic, the regime will be sued for its failure to respond to Sidama nation’s quest and for the time elapsed without addressing these matters, it would have also obliged to pay compensation to systematic underdevelopment induced in Sidamaland. For those who can’t articulate what I’m discussing and for those who prefer obliviousness, this sounds utopian; however, it is a prevailing fact which the Sidama nation must know by opening their eyes to see properly and their ears to listen to the reality their nation is driven to live under. Having such deeper understanding that there isn’t and never be substitute to constitutional rights other than its implementation, is a key in increasing the level of its success. 

3.2. Deep Rooted erroneous Beliefs created by Successive Political Establishment.

The Sidama people as others subjugated nations and nationalities of the country are driven into believing distorted politics on the fact that the south is the symbol of Ethiopian unity; the slogan that spans back to the beginning of the conquest. All the subjugated nations and nationalities were lectured by the successive northern rulers, that there is no culture other than Ethiopian culture, there isn’t any languages other than Ethiopian language, there isn’t any music other than Ethiopian music (yet all of these belong to Amhara and to some extent to Tigre). 

Majority peoples of the subjugated nations and nationalities erroneously assert that the above is acceptable. An over century old dictated story becomes reality if people can’t see with their critical eyes and aren’t able to confidently question and challenge the status-quo. The TPLF regime did this since 1991. Although it theoretically broke these taboos, what it’s doing to Sidama nation in particular to others subjugated nation in general contradicts with its theory; therefore, its rhetoric remains fallacy. The colonial subjects are also obliged to accept that they are there always to be ruled eternally. Another deep rooted notion on that ‘God appoints officials, therefore people don’t have anything to say or to do with them’ has got debilitating impact on defending own fundamental rights, as this remains common notion challenging far-sighted nationalists aspiring good for all. 

According to Bible/Quran/Waqaa/Magano, God the creator vehemently hates injustice, unfairness and persecution. His prophets officially denounced injustice of all kinds and shapes. Jesus Christ himself rejected injustice and crucified for his rejection by the authorities. Therefore, there isn’t any evidence stating that God had forbade people from seeking their rightful rights in a peaceful and non-violent manner. Thus, sitting at home and waiting for God to provide is, utter ‘foolishness’ if not selfishness. 

Renowned, Dr Martin Luther King Jr, was a blessed Christian who vehemently rejected injustices, segregation, subjugation and colour coded racism. Eventually, he was assassinated by white supremacists for his beliefs. The founder of Islam, Prophet Mohammed also strongly opposed to injustices for the belief he was also persecuted by then authorities. Mahatma Gandhi was also another example of devoted religious (Buddhist) who unwaveringly fought injustice and ultimately defeated it. Therefore, this needn’t to be a misleading and wrongful understating on the fact that such belief are logical and religious. 

3.3. Its Sons and Daughters supporting the current Regime

The main problem to Sidama nations’ failure to achieve its legitimate rights to regional self-administration is the presence of irresponsible and reckless Sidama cadres those who aren’t accountable to Sidama nation, but to the rulers. With all they can the cadres continuously blocked the Sidama nation from asserting these rights. If the level of Sidama nation’s consciousness increases however, these cadres become pointless simply because the Sidama nation can ignore them and continue with their peaceful quests until it’s been responded constitutionally. 

3. 4. Confusion with identity 

Misunderstanding the nobility of own culture due to systematic subjugation and fallacious mantra of the rulers that dictates Ethiopian-ness at the expense of the inferiority of others nations also plays key role in allowing the persistent of injustice. The erroneous belief that the current injustices imposed by the TPLF led regime is equal to all peoples while the northern rulers tacitly consider the ruling of others eternally is their God-given rights is inherently and fundamental wrong and misleading. These coupled with the lack of international exposer and lack of free media, for numerous subjugated Ethiopian nations and nationalities, the long dictated propaganda and fallacy becomes a reality of life. Such erroneous assertions of self-image (identity) further distorts the whole concept of defending own collective rights as inferiority complex and identity crisis becomes part & parcel of life. 

Lack of deeper understanding of own culture, therefore, giving it less consideration due to a number of reasons including the fact that the Sidama cultural practices were regarded as equivalent to worshiping devil has got negative effect on issues related with Sidama identity as is the case with others subjects. Relegating own language by prioritising the languages of settlers or hardly bothering for own cultural significances when other priorities such as imported religious practices dominating the lives of majority will be also another negative addition. 

The Sidama cultural practice as others Kushites, however is one of the most egalitarian monotheistic belief, not a religion, yet the whole concept is believing in God the creator, almighty and omnipotent without religious practices but cultural. Nothing else. Therefore, the Sidama nation’s belief is based on the principles of equality, dignity, justices, fairness and liberty for all; more importantly respecting and defending nature and natural order. 

The previous deep rooted erroneous assertions of Orthodox religion followers with the intent of denigrating Sidama culture has directly contributed to some degree of identity confusion and lack of direction among the Sidama as is the case under Europe’s African colonies. Such over a century old misguided propaganda once again can influence those whose level of international awareness is limited. Both, the orthodox followers and Ethiopian Empire state have propagated this time and again whilst imposing their culture and religion on Sidama nation; telling them that theirs is irrelevant and inferior.

These all could be caused due to lack of international exposure and free Medias where varying ideas and in-depth analysis can take place. These coupled with all others have negatively impacted on the furtherance of Sidama nation’s nationalism and national consciousness. 

IV. Opportunities

There are ample opportunities for the Sidama nation. The first and foremost is the validity of constitution. It’s a legal document that must be adhered to. Therefore it is our weakness which is hindering us from achieving it. The Sidama as well as others democracy cherishing institutions and individuals must support the Sidama cause. The other opportunity is that the Sidama has got historically strong and indefatigable unity when it comes to defending its national interests. Theses strengths coupled with the new generations’ unshakable approach to asserting these rights will help the Sidama nation to succeed in short period of time. 

Another opportunity is that the Sidama has got dedicated groups of internationally exposed intellectuals who can provide the nation with strategic direction for peaceful and non-violent resistances-potentially capable of shaking the foundations of oppressors once and for all. 

The other opportunity is that the Sidama cadres are living in Sidama region and implementing the federal regimes polices of subjugation, deprivation and flagrant violations of human rights of the Sidama nation. These groups of Sidama cadres could be wholly rejected and fully ostracised if once Sidama has got enough knowledge, determination and united courage. Finally, the Sidama can potentially garner ample supports from others Ethiopian nations and nationalities whose rights are grossly violated in one way or another, thus establishing alliances with likeminded ones is another biggest opportunity awaiting to be grasped. 

V. Conclusion

Defending own right isn’t begging authorities to give it to you; it’s all about understanding and unconditionally demanding it!! Just unite and demand your rights! Nothing else! Don’t fear anybody in this planet, but God the creator! Unite and Demand your rights and ostracise all traitor cadres who are good for nothing. Forge genuine unity with Oromo brothers and sisters, Ogaden Somali brothers and sisters, Gambela, Benshagul. Gecdeo brothers and sisters……… and others subjugated nations to dismantle the foundations of successive repressive regimes involving the current brutal one!

Source: https://www.facebook.com/groups/289317227830513/permalink/538157446279822/