Little problems EPRDF need to end for good

I think it is time to be equal to the mottoes we promote "unity in diversity". We have made it right in terms of making right the bigger part of the pie or nearly the whole circle. But inside the circle, there are error dots that illustrate the failures we have not solved so far.

One such failure is deliberate imposition of languages on people living in regions other than their ethnic origin.

Ethiopian constitution essentially enshrines peoples right to govern themselves and use their own language in offices, schools and courts.

 

Yet small but significant portions of the people living in other regions have not been fully provided with this constitutional right of theirs. For example, largely Amharic speaking people in other regions are not allowed to learn their education and get official services in their own language, while the constitution allows it to be so.

As people’s rights have been practically observed in all regions for the overwhelming majority of the people, this might be taken lightly. But I see and understand it does cause grievances in the heart of the people who go through it in their day to day life. 

I see these rights being implemented in Amhara and South Peoples states. Yet the same is not happening in most of the other regions, which in my observation is growing as a source of dissatisfaction.

Besides it is a great propaganda chip for the opposition that prefers to promote EPRDF’s weaknesses than its alternative programs and policies. 

Especially when you see these things happen in regions that understand and go through the same experience in the old regimes, it is confusing to believe how they let these things to happen after having a constitution recognizing these rights in black and white. 

How do they, this soon, forget the same feelings they felt when similar things happen to them?

It is not, however, a question of seeking sympathy from others; it is a constitutional right that should be respected and observed by all regional governments despite whatsoever. 

While Amharic works for Amharic speaking Ethiopians in Washington how come it fails to serve Amharic speaking people in Ethiopia who are living in regions other than the Amhara region? 

It isn't the failure of the Federal system; it is rather the failure of regional governments to make this things work as per the constitution of the land.Of course, if they keep failing to make these rights work in their respective regions, it is up the federal government to make sure these rights are served to the people concerned.

I can understand in earlier days intervening in regional issues could be difficult to manage as emotions were high then. Now the Federal government should intervene to settle such problems though they are targeted against the minority who live in regions different from their ethnic origin as those people are in their country though not in their ethnic origin regional state. 

Another increasingly growing trend is revoking the right of people and individuals to live in any region of the country. I understand there could be challenges of many kind including environmental concerns. Whatsoever the case may be compelling citizens to leave a place in Ethiopia is not lawful by any measure. 

They may be not allowed to till a land that they hold illegally but they can't be told to leave it with any sort of ultimatum. Doing so is illegal just because they are Ethiopian citizen and have the right to live in any part of the country.

I think the Federation House, Ministry of Federal Affairs and House of peoples Representatives can do a lot to check and resolve these issues once and for all. The rest would be making follow-ups and correcting mistakes as they happen.

EPRDF has to play the leading role as it is the one that has made the bitter struggles to have got these rights enshrined by the constitution. It has also managed to make it work for the majority of the people in the country. Still there are miles to go to compete the job that has gone astoundingly well. 

It is time to end these seemingly little, but significant problems that can very much be sources of dissatisfaction as time goes on.

Small is the number of the people suffering of these failures; yet the issues are still the big ones: rights of peoples to use their language in schools, courts and offices. Ethiopia is mature enough to cross such problems.