Reinventing Zenawi
24 September, 2010 | By Prof. Alemayehu G. Mariam
--------------------------------------------------------------------
In 47 B.C., the Roman Emperor Julius Ceasar sent his senators
news of his military victory in a simple declaration: "Veni, Vidi,
Vici." (I came, I saw, I conquered.) "Emperor" Meles Zenawi,
Ethiopia's dictator-in-chief, would have loved to send the same
message to his "senators" in Addis Ababa following his speech at
Columbia University's World Leaders Forum (WLF) on September
22, 2010. But he will have to settle for something less: "Veni, Vidi,
Orator, Fugio!" (I came, I saw, I spoke (for 20 minutes). I got the
hell (out of Dodge) outta there!")
In less than 60 New York minutes, Meles Zenawi was outta there.
The whole kit and caboodle -- introduction, speech, Q&As,
pleasantries -- took less than an hour, according to The Spectator,
the campus online paper. No doubt, that was not the script Joe
"The Globalizer" Stiglitz and his crew at the WLF had written when
they invited Zenawi to deliver the "keynote address". Their plan was
right on Columbia's stage and showcase him as a great African
leader.
Of Mice and Men
But as the old saying goes, "the best laid plans of mice and men
often go arwy", and at the WLF, they did for Zenawi. His
appearance drew condemnation from all quarters. Two prominent
Ethiopian husband and wife journalists, Serkalem Fasil and
Eskinder Nega[1], wrote a heart-wrenching letter from Ethiopia to
plead with University President Lee Bollinger: "While we
acknowledge [Zenawi's] right to express his views, it is an affront to
his government's numerous victims of repression to grant him the
privilege to do so on the notable premises of Columbia." They
recounted their "incarceration under deplorable circumstances",
ultimate acquittal in the courts, and how Serkalem gave birth to a
"premature" baby because of her "physical and psychological
privation in one of Africa's worst prisons." They offered testimony in
their letter on the "incomprehensible vindictiveness" of Zenawi's
regime in denying them "an incubator" for their baby ordered by the
doctors.
World-renowned economist Prof. Jagdish Baghwati of Columbia
University, without mentioning Joseph Stiglitz and Jeffrey Sachs by
name, condemned "unacademic professors" and academic
"entrepreneurs" who are given "unaccountable power and funds" to
exploit the University and "advance their own agendas". He said the
unnamed "entrepreneurs" seek to "ingratiate" themselves "with
influential African leaders regardless of their democratic and human-
rights record, to get PR and 'goodies' for themselves at African
summits, at the UN where these leaders have a vote, etc."
Prof. William Easterly of New York University, a world-renowned
development economist, wrote on his blog: "I am happy to give the
opposition a platform in this blog, without necessarily endorsing any
one viewpoint, individual, or movement." He put the question to his
readers: "Should President Bollinger issue the "Ahmadinejad"
disclaimer requested by the critics?", in reference to the drubbing
Bollinger gave Ahmadinejad in 2007 in his prefatory remarks.
Prof. Ted Vestal, the well-known and respected scholar on
Ethiopia, wrote President Bollinger with an offer of advice and in
apparent response to Prof. Easterly's question: "The only way you
can redeem the damaged reputation of the World Leaders Forum is
by publicly making known the shortcomings of Prime Minister
Meles and his government in your introductory remarks--a
refutation similar to what you did in introducing President Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad of Iran in 2007."
The Washington Examiner wondered: "It's all well and good that
[Zenawi] he is an ally of the United States, but why should
Columbia honor him with a speaking engagement?"
In an editorial, The Spectator wrote: "Meles Zenawi is not a
household name, but he is a despot. His government has carried out
numerous extrajudicial killings, imprisoned political dissidents, and
brutally suppressed protests by activists at Addis Ababa
University.... The World Leaders Forum is supposed to be a
hallmark of a global university. If we are truly globally minded, we
must also be globally conscious. Students and administrators alike
should care about Ethiopia."
A day before the speech, Columbia announced without explanation
that Zenawi will not speak at the stately domed Low Library, where
heads of states usually speak, and directed those interested to show
up at the Roone Arledge Auditorium, an all-purpose campus
facility. A few dozen students and some faculty showed up. But
President Bollinger was nowhere to be seen at the event. His
Provost, Claude Steele, showed up and promptly reminded Zenawi
that "Columbia doesn't endorse the leaders it invites to the World
Leaders Forum." Busloads of Ethiopians trekked to Columbia from
neighboring states to protest Zenawi's appearance. They were
orderly and peaceful, and expressed their opposition passionately.
Their disciplined exercise of their democratic right to protest was an
object lesson to all.
I was decidedly in the minority among Ethiopians in the Diaspora in
vigorously defending Zenawi's "right" to speak at Columbia or any
other public venue in America, much to the chagrin of those who
disapproved of his appearance. I argued: "As a university professor
and constitutional lawyer steadfastly dedicated to free speech, I
have adopted one yardstick for all issues concerning free speech,
Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: 'Everyone
has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right
includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek,
receive and impart information and ideas through any media and
regardless of frontiers.' I underscore the words 'everyone' and
'regardless of frontiers.'" I also expressed my hope that the speaking
opportunity would be a teachable moment for Zenawi: "He may
begin to appreciate the simple truth that ideas are accepted and
rejected and arguments won and lost in the cauldron of critical
analysis oxygenated by the bellows of free speech, not in prison
dungeons where journalists and dissidents are bludgeoned and left
to rot." Regardless, I respect the views of those who disagreed with
me.
Talking Big, Saying Nothing
The event was supposed to kick off a "conversation to examine
Africa's place in the world" and facilitate discussion on "the future of
African agriculture, the explosion of Asian investment on the
continent, the evolving contours of global aid to Africa, and the
impact of the financial crisis on the region." On Ethiopia, Zenawi
was expected to speak about "progresses (sic) in many areas
including in education, transportation, health and energy." But the
audience did not see an African knight in shining armor thrusting a
lance at poverty, injustice and global inequality. They saw a
sanctimonious emperor with new clothes.
Zenawi talked for a mere 20 minutes. He must have been tongue-
tied. He usually harangues his parliament for hours, often berating
and belittling the timid rubber-stampers.
As a devotee of the old "Globalizer" Stiglitz, Zenawi reminded the
audience that "the continent must keep producing and consuming
goods to keep the engines of globalization running." He explained
the "main challenge in Ethiopia is poverty. Most of you who have
heard of Ethiopia will have heard of it in terms of poverty ... It is my
hunch that overcoming poverty and ensuring full security could
contribute to the happiness of Ethiopians." But when asked what he
thought of the concept of "gross national happiness," Zenawi said he
had not really studied it. That's quite understandable for someone
who has been busy inflicting "gross unhappiness" on 80 million
Ethiopians for the past two decades. Zenawi complained that
"people have given up on Africa's contribution to the world
economy and that Africans have the chance to generate growth
themselves. The continent must continue to produce and consume
goods."
Based on The Spectator report, the speech seemed desultory and
meandering, cumulatively amounting to an implicit repudiation of the
International Monetary Fund's "structural adjustment programs"
(market oriented policies as preconditions for loans). It does not
appear that there was much discussion of globalization as
advertised, and as we have heard it preached according to the
Gospel of St. Stiglitz of Columbia (a/k/a Globalization and Its
Discontents and Making Globalization Work.)
Zenawi was asked if he was being fairly characterized as a
"dictator". He evaded the question and sought credit for removing
the junta dictatorship: "I have contributed my fair share to fighting
the systems in Ethiopia that were unmistakably oppressive". He
failed to mention that after fighting oppression, he had become the
apotheosis of oppression on the African continent today.
Zenawi tried to deflect attention from his own criminality by focusing
on the criminality of the former military junta. He said during the
"period of Red Terror [1977-78] people were killed without any
recourse to the courts. That time of criminality and oppression is
dead, is finished, and is not coming back." Not true! That criminality
never left; it is alive and well. The old criminality wore uniforms and
boots; the new criminality wears tailored suits and alligator shoes.
That's the only difference. The courts today are circuses of injustice.
Citizens get "legally" lynched, jailed and abused "with recourse to
the courts."
For the first time, Zenawi explained the methodology he used to
calculate his 99.6 election victory in May 2010. (I had mistakenly
believed it was a magic formula. Mea culpa!) It is actually a
mathematical system hereafter to be known as the "Zenawian
Theorem." He said he was able to win 99.6 percent of all seats in
parliament by winning just a little over 50 percent of the vote for
each seat. Thus, applying the "Zenawian equation": 50 percent plus
0.1 equals 99.6 percent. Apparently, he uses the same theorem to
derive economic growth rates of 10.1, 11.9 and 14.9 percent for
Ethiopia.
Zenawi was reassuring about his future plans: "In case you are
wondering whether I will remain in power until kingdom come, I can
assure you that this will be my last term in power." Really? He has
been saying that for the past five years straight. Anyway, for the
past twenty years "Emperor" Zenawi has been sitting on the throne
in his "kingdom" exercising his royal prerogative over his wretched
subjects. Could he be envisioning his "kingdom" ("Reich") lasting for
a thousand years?
Asked about alleged crimes against humanity committed by his
government, he responded, "I can understand how people have had
an inadequate chance to consider the facts." He failed to suggest
where they may be able to find the facts. Might we suggest the
2010 human reports on Ethiopia issued by Human Rights Watch,
Amnesty International, Committee to Protect Journalists and the U.
S. State Department?
Zenawi said he welcomes engagement and is glad to see students
caring enough to learn about Ethiopia. He says that Ethiopia is
making progress and invited everyone to come see for themselves.
He did not say if he will cover the cost of their flights there.
Rather Disappointed
It was rather disappointing. In general, it does not appear that
Zenawi was genuinely looking for an intellectual outlet for his ideas
or a forum to respond to his critics. He was there to save face given
the intense controversy surrounding his appearance. I was hoping to
see Zenawi engaging those Columbia eggheads on issues of human
rights and development and democratic theory and practice. He
could have taught those armchair pundits and airhead academics a
thing or two about the "end of poverty", "globalization and its
discontents", the decay and imminent collapse of liberal democracy,
the irrelevance of human rights and the vices of democracy and
virtues of dictatorship. He could have also taken on his critics and
disproven the things they have said and written about him. He could
have made the opportunity a teachable moment for us all. But he
missed the opportunity.
On the other hand, I believe Stiglitz has ill-served his academic
community. He advertised that Zenawi would be delivering the
"keynote address" to launch a "conversation" on "globalization and
its impact on Africa." Obviously, a 20-minute speech makes a
travesty of such an important subject. Surely, Stiglitz as an
academic "entrepreneur" is familiar with the concept of "truth in
advertising". In the future, he would be well-advised to apply that
principle in the academic marketplace, and avoid intentionally
misleading his community by deceptive advertising of his intellectual
"product" lines.
It is said that there are some people who never miss an opportunity
to miss an opportunity. It seems Zenawi is one of them. He had the
World Leaders Forum to engage and spar with the best and the
brightest America has to offer. He let the opportunity slip. The only
thing left for him to do now is send an urgent message back to his
doodling "senators" in Addis Ababa: "Veni! Vidi! Orator, Fugio!"
RELEASE BIRTUKAN MIDEKSSA AND ALL
POLITICAL PRISONERS IN ETHIOPIA.
. Courtesy
24 September, 2010 | By Prof. Alemayehu G. Mariam
--------------------------------------------------------------------
In 47 B.C., the Roman Emperor Julius Ceasar sent his senators
news of his military victory in a simple declaration: "Veni, Vidi,
Vici." (I came, I saw, I conquered.) "Emperor" Meles Zenawi,
Ethiopia's dictator-in-chief, would have loved to send the same
message to his "senators" in Addis Ababa following his speech at
Columbia University's World Leaders Forum (WLF) on September
22, 2010. But he will have to settle for something less: "Veni, Vidi,
Orator, Fugio!" (I came, I saw, I spoke (for 20 minutes). I got the
hell (out of Dodge) outta there!")
In less than 60 New York minutes, Meles Zenawi was outta there.
The whole kit and caboodle -- introduction, speech, Q&As,
pleasantries -- took less than an hour, according to The Spectator,
the campus online paper. No doubt, that was not the script Joe
"The Globalizer" Stiglitz and his crew at the WLF had written when
they invited Zenawi to deliver the "keynote address". Their plan was
- to give Zenawi a forum to
clean up his image on the
heels of a 99.6 election
victory in May 2010, and
deflect attention from the
impending condemnatory
report of the European
Union Election Monitoring
Team due any day now.
Simply stated, the affair
right on Columbia's stage and showcase him as a great African
leader.
Of Mice and Men
But as the old saying goes, "the best laid plans of mice and men
often go arwy", and at the WLF, they did for Zenawi. His
appearance drew condemnation from all quarters. Two prominent
Ethiopian husband and wife journalists, Serkalem Fasil and
Eskinder Nega[1], wrote a heart-wrenching letter from Ethiopia to
plead with University President Lee Bollinger: "While we
acknowledge [Zenawi's] right to express his views, it is an affront to
his government's numerous victims of repression to grant him the
privilege to do so on the notable premises of Columbia." They
recounted their "incarceration under deplorable circumstances",
ultimate acquittal in the courts, and how Serkalem gave birth to a
"premature" baby because of her "physical and psychological
privation in one of Africa's worst prisons." They offered testimony in
their letter on the "incomprehensible vindictiveness" of Zenawi's
regime in denying them "an incubator" for their baby ordered by the
doctors.
World-renowned economist Prof. Jagdish Baghwati of Columbia
University, without mentioning Joseph Stiglitz and Jeffrey Sachs by
name, condemned "unacademic professors" and academic
"entrepreneurs" who are given "unaccountable power and funds" to
exploit the University and "advance their own agendas". He said the
unnamed "entrepreneurs" seek to "ingratiate" themselves "with
influential African leaders regardless of their democratic and human-
rights record, to get PR and 'goodies' for themselves at African
summits, at the UN where these leaders have a vote, etc."
Prof. William Easterly of New York University, a world-renowned
development economist, wrote on his blog: "I am happy to give the
opposition a platform in this blog, without necessarily endorsing any
one viewpoint, individual, or movement." He put the question to his
readers: "Should President Bollinger issue the "Ahmadinejad"
disclaimer requested by the critics?", in reference to the drubbing
Bollinger gave Ahmadinejad in 2007 in his prefatory remarks.
Prof. Ted Vestal, the well-known and respected scholar on
Ethiopia, wrote President Bollinger with an offer of advice and in
apparent response to Prof. Easterly's question: "The only way you
can redeem the damaged reputation of the World Leaders Forum is
by publicly making known the shortcomings of Prime Minister
Meles and his government in your introductory remarks--a
refutation similar to what you did in introducing President Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad of Iran in 2007."
The Washington Examiner wondered: "It's all well and good that
[Zenawi] he is an ally of the United States, but why should
Columbia honor him with a speaking engagement?"
In an editorial, The Spectator wrote: "Meles Zenawi is not a
household name, but he is a despot. His government has carried out
numerous extrajudicial killings, imprisoned political dissidents, and
brutally suppressed protests by activists at Addis Ababa
University.... The World Leaders Forum is supposed to be a
hallmark of a global university. If we are truly globally minded, we
must also be globally conscious. Students and administrators alike
should care about Ethiopia."
A day before the speech, Columbia announced without explanation
that Zenawi will not speak at the stately domed Low Library, where
heads of states usually speak, and directed those interested to show
up at the Roone Arledge Auditorium, an all-purpose campus
facility. A few dozen students and some faculty showed up. But
President Bollinger was nowhere to be seen at the event. His
Provost, Claude Steele, showed up and promptly reminded Zenawi
that "Columbia doesn't endorse the leaders it invites to the World
Leaders Forum." Busloads of Ethiopians trekked to Columbia from
neighboring states to protest Zenawi's appearance. They were
orderly and peaceful, and expressed their opposition passionately.
Their disciplined exercise of their democratic right to protest was an
object lesson to all.
I was decidedly in the minority among Ethiopians in the Diaspora in
vigorously defending Zenawi's "right" to speak at Columbia or any
other public venue in America, much to the chagrin of those who
disapproved of his appearance. I argued: "As a university professor
and constitutional lawyer steadfastly dedicated to free speech, I
have adopted one yardstick for all issues concerning free speech,
Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: 'Everyone
has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right
includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek,
receive and impart information and ideas through any media and
regardless of frontiers.' I underscore the words 'everyone' and
'regardless of frontiers.'" I also expressed my hope that the speaking
opportunity would be a teachable moment for Zenawi: "He may
begin to appreciate the simple truth that ideas are accepted and
rejected and arguments won and lost in the cauldron of critical
analysis oxygenated by the bellows of free speech, not in prison
dungeons where journalists and dissidents are bludgeoned and left
to rot." Regardless, I respect the views of those who disagreed with
me.
Talking Big, Saying Nothing
The event was supposed to kick off a "conversation to examine
Africa's place in the world" and facilitate discussion on "the future of
African agriculture, the explosion of Asian investment on the
continent, the evolving contours of global aid to Africa, and the
impact of the financial crisis on the region." On Ethiopia, Zenawi
was expected to speak about "progresses (sic) in many areas
including in education, transportation, health and energy." But the
audience did not see an African knight in shining armor thrusting a
lance at poverty, injustice and global inequality. They saw a
sanctimonious emperor with new clothes.
Zenawi talked for a mere 20 minutes. He must have been tongue-
tied. He usually harangues his parliament for hours, often berating
and belittling the timid rubber-stampers.
As a devotee of the old "Globalizer" Stiglitz, Zenawi reminded the
audience that "the continent must keep producing and consuming
goods to keep the engines of globalization running." He explained
the "main challenge in Ethiopia is poverty. Most of you who have
heard of Ethiopia will have heard of it in terms of poverty ... It is my
hunch that overcoming poverty and ensuring full security could
contribute to the happiness of Ethiopians." But when asked what he
thought of the concept of "gross national happiness," Zenawi said he
had not really studied it. That's quite understandable for someone
who has been busy inflicting "gross unhappiness" on 80 million
Ethiopians for the past two decades. Zenawi complained that
"people have given up on Africa's contribution to the world
economy and that Africans have the chance to generate growth
themselves. The continent must continue to produce and consume
goods."
Based on The Spectator report, the speech seemed desultory and
meandering, cumulatively amounting to an implicit repudiation of the
International Monetary Fund's "structural adjustment programs"
(market oriented policies as preconditions for loans). It does not
appear that there was much discussion of globalization as
advertised, and as we have heard it preached according to the
Gospel of St. Stiglitz of Columbia (a/k/a Globalization and Its
Discontents and Making Globalization Work.)
Zenawi was asked if he was being fairly characterized as a
"dictator". He evaded the question and sought credit for removing
the junta dictatorship: "I have contributed my fair share to fighting
the systems in Ethiopia that were unmistakably oppressive". He
failed to mention that after fighting oppression, he had become the
apotheosis of oppression on the African continent today.
Zenawi tried to deflect attention from his own criminality by focusing
on the criminality of the former military junta. He said during the
"period of Red Terror [1977-78] people were killed without any
recourse to the courts. That time of criminality and oppression is
dead, is finished, and is not coming back." Not true! That criminality
never left; it is alive and well. The old criminality wore uniforms and
boots; the new criminality wears tailored suits and alligator shoes.
That's the only difference. The courts today are circuses of injustice.
Citizens get "legally" lynched, jailed and abused "with recourse to
the courts."
For the first time, Zenawi explained the methodology he used to
calculate his 99.6 election victory in May 2010. (I had mistakenly
believed it was a magic formula. Mea culpa!) It is actually a
mathematical system hereafter to be known as the "Zenawian
Theorem." He said he was able to win 99.6 percent of all seats in
parliament by winning just a little over 50 percent of the vote for
each seat. Thus, applying the "Zenawian equation": 50 percent plus
0.1 equals 99.6 percent. Apparently, he uses the same theorem to
derive economic growth rates of 10.1, 11.9 and 14.9 percent for
Ethiopia.
Zenawi was reassuring about his future plans: "In case you are
wondering whether I will remain in power until kingdom come, I can
assure you that this will be my last term in power." Really? He has
been saying that for the past five years straight. Anyway, for the
past twenty years "Emperor" Zenawi has been sitting on the throne
in his "kingdom" exercising his royal prerogative over his wretched
subjects. Could he be envisioning his "kingdom" ("Reich") lasting for
a thousand years?
Asked about alleged crimes against humanity committed by his
government, he responded, "I can understand how people have had
an inadequate chance to consider the facts." He failed to suggest
where they may be able to find the facts. Might we suggest the
2010 human reports on Ethiopia issued by Human Rights Watch,
Amnesty International, Committee to Protect Journalists and the U.
S. State Department?
Zenawi said he welcomes engagement and is glad to see students
caring enough to learn about Ethiopia. He says that Ethiopia is
making progress and invited everyone to come see for themselves.
He did not say if he will cover the cost of their flights there.
Rather Disappointed
It was rather disappointing. In general, it does not appear that
Zenawi was genuinely looking for an intellectual outlet for his ideas
or a forum to respond to his critics. He was there to save face given
the intense controversy surrounding his appearance. I was hoping to
see Zenawi engaging those Columbia eggheads on issues of human
rights and development and democratic theory and practice. He
could have taught those armchair pundits and airhead academics a
thing or two about the "end of poverty", "globalization and its
discontents", the decay and imminent collapse of liberal democracy,
the irrelevance of human rights and the vices of democracy and
virtues of dictatorship. He could have also taken on his critics and
disproven the things they have said and written about him. He could
have made the opportunity a teachable moment for us all. But he
missed the opportunity.
On the other hand, I believe Stiglitz has ill-served his academic
community. He advertised that Zenawi would be delivering the
"keynote address" to launch a "conversation" on "globalization and
its impact on Africa." Obviously, a 20-minute speech makes a
travesty of such an important subject. Surely, Stiglitz as an
academic "entrepreneur" is familiar with the concept of "truth in
advertising". In the future, he would be well-advised to apply that
principle in the academic marketplace, and avoid intentionally
misleading his community by deceptive advertising of his intellectual
"product" lines.
It is said that there are some people who never miss an opportunity
to miss an opportunity. It seems Zenawi is one of them. He had the
World Leaders Forum to engage and spar with the best and the
brightest America has to offer. He let the opportunity slip. The only
thing left for him to do now is send an urgent message back to his
doodling "senators" in Addis Ababa: "Veni! Vidi! Orator, Fugio!"
RELEASE BIRTUKAN MIDEKSSA AND ALL
POLITICAL PRISONERS IN ETHIOPIA.
. Courtesy
| World Leaders site raises eyebrows By Alix Pianin Ethiopians led a sea of peaceful protesters at the G20 summit in Toronto 26 June, 2010 (Ethio Quest News) - "A very courageous and enthusiastic Ethiopians were at a forefront of the biggest peaceful protest....More |
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| Ethio Quest News Together We Can Make It! |
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| Ethio Quest News: For latest Ethiopian News, views, Reviews and More |
| Related Stories As Zenawi speaks, editors are grilled in Ethiopia By Mohamed Keita (CPJ Africa Advocacy Coordinator) Zenawi speaks at Leaders Forum By Ylena Zamora-Vargas, Finn Vigeland, Daphne Chen, and Amber Tunnell Zenawi speech moved to Low By Amber Tunnell Why we must engage on our Forum By Tim Lam, Sara Jacobs, Samuel Roth, Mishaal Khan, Iman Nanji, Emily Tamkin, Chris Chan, Alisa Lu, and Alex Frouman Letter from Ethiopia to Columbia University By Serkalem Fasil and Eskinder Nega Columbia's invitation to Zenawi sparks outrage By Amber Tunnell Being a real world leader CU Columbia Spectator An Open Letter to Columbia University Students and Faculty Obang Metho Open Letter to President Lee C. Bollinger, Columbia University Prof. Alemayehu G.Mariam Cry the Beloved Country: Ethiopians Criticize Columbia for Hosting Meles By William Easterly |
