After EPRDF lost election in May 15, 2005, it violently disrupted the peaceful transition of Ethiopia from despotic to democratic country. Since then, thousands of innocent citizens, renowned political leaders and human right defenders, independent journalists and students have been killed, suffered in prison and torture.

Uncountable numbers of innocent citizens are dislocated from where they have been living for generation and became fugitives in their own country and refugee elsewhere with little hope of returning to their home. This is the result of complete lack of political will of the incumbent EPRDF government to accept the people’s decision, abide by the results of the election and its strong desire to stay in power.

The election process and the May 15, 2005 election sparked the light of hope, the desire for peace and much eagerly awaited economic development for all Ethiopians. Unprecedented number of Ethiopians caste their ballot hoping that they would put government of their choice to power and in anticipation that they would eradicate conflict, starvation and poverty from Ethiopia. Kinijit and other opposition parties did run successful election campaigns.

Through Kinijit and other opposition parties, citizens witnessed that Ethiopia still has vibrant sons and daughters who are capable of and willing to address the issues of eradicating poverty, starvation, and have concrete plans to resolve the potential for further ethnic conflict. Ethiopians realized that the reason for endless poverty and starvation is not only because of environmental calamities, but also from incompetent and egregious leadership the country had for long time.

The election results once and for all unequivocally stated that the people of Ethiopia reject the balkanization of the country along ethnic lines, the government instigated ethnic conflicts in the country, the governments mismanagement of scarce resources of the country, the abject poverty cycle the country is in, the abuse of human rights, and the political instability of the country. Unfortunately, in days after election, a new kind of totalitarian rule ensnared Ethiopia.

Rather than conceding to the winner, EPRDF violently rebuffed the choice the Ethiopian people made in the historic May 15, 2005 election. The opportunity for progress and economic development Ethiopians wished for long changed course from hope to gloomy desolation. In rage and revenge, EPRDF incarcerated the leadership of Kinijit with trumped up charges of treason and genocide and intensified intimidating and harassing citizens.

The hope for peaceful transition of Ethiopia towards democratic governance was foiled. Nevertheless, Ethiopians resoundingly denied legitimacy for his government. By denying legitimacy to EPRDF, they ascertained people’s consent to government should come only from ballot box not out of the barrel of the gun. The illegal incarceration of the leadership and political activists by EPRDF, neither broke the integrity and high spirit of the leadership nor has it been able to silence the people.

As Ms Birtukan Mideksa; Vice Chair of Kinijit, voiced in her high-spirited letter from Kaliti prison “Our incarceration hasn't liquidated the spirit of freedom. Instead, it degrades those who are fighting against it into something hateful and undignified. Toughened by the crack down on dissent and other forms of oppression, other democrats, genuinely committed to the cause of liberty and equality are emerging.” Ethiopia is trapped in webs of complicated problems and is on the verge of great danger. As stated by many political analysts, Kinijit victory is a product of many sensible and innovative decisions made by far sighted leaders.

The solution to the problems of Ethiopia requires a concerted effort and unwavering decisions. It is time for all oppositions and civil right activists to join hands more than ever before, to intensify the peaceful struggle to create a peaceful and free democratic Ethiopia for all citizens. The only way that the opposition can fight back the well organized and financed efforts of the EPRDF is by galvanizing a united effort to meet them head-on in a democratic front in the political arena. At a time, when all Ethiopians have fought for and won is in danger of vanishing forever, there is no choice, except to stand in united platform and fight back in unison.

This is not the time to ask which side or political party one is affiliated with, rather is a time to ask how do we save Ethiopia? Neither Kinijit nor other opposition groups can succeed when they are divided and weaken themselves into several less effective groups. Opposition forces have to realize that the division of the opposition is handing the victory for their adversary, EPRDF. Let us face the fact that the predicament that the opposition parties are in is pure and simple, self-inflicted! Therefore, Kinijit in Diaspora, not only has to eliminate its own division, but also has to go several steps further and embrace other opposition groups and forge unity for a common goal of saving Ethiopia.

Victory is precious and can be earned only by hard work and effective strategy. To achieve victory, we need to design imaginative strategies of actions in collaboration with other opposition groups. Without proper and well-thought plan of action, our struggle will not prevail. We have clear and legitimate immediate goals. The incumbent government has to unconditionally release all political prisoners and resolve political problems with negotiation with all concerned Ethiopians.

The Ethiopian Diaspora together with domestic groups in Ethiopia must pressure the government than ever before to come to the negotiation table. To increase the pressure on the government, it requires planning a series of events that can mobilize diverse people from all over the country, and to formulate realistic adaptable tactics for the people to defend themselves against the government’s brutal actions. The potential role Diaspora can play in helping this movement is immense. Regrettably, so far, the contribution from Diaspora was minuscule and even this miniscule contribution has encountered various setbacks.

The adversary, EPRDF is a mischievous party and it’s power can never be underestimated. It capitalizes at every circumstance of our weakness and reinforces itself by our failure to unite and further divided us to various ineffective fragmented groups. All evidences indicate that our own mistake of division has exposed us for malicious attack by the EPRDF resulting in uncoordinated non-effective resistance with danger of loosing active participation of the general public. The Ethiopian Diaspora wants very much a untied not a divided opposition.

Kinijit wishes for all oppositions to continue embracing the non-violent struggle started during the election. Non-violent struggle may be gradual, un-dramatic, and mostly be carried out by individuals whose names will never make the news headlines or be associated with any organization. Hence, its victory is a product of collective action of all citizens, not a heroic action of single group.

Above all, the results from non-violent struggles are long lasting; it is a definitive means of installing and preserving democracy. Kinijit and other oppositions groups should continue to mobilize Ethiopians to restore peace and democracy. They need to expand the non-violent movement and deepen activities on the ground designed to achieve greater human rights protection, equal rights for all and stop, decrease or eliminate the level of government violence against citizens in Ethiopia.

The totalitarian government of EPRDF has miserably failed to create a democratic Ethiopia, where all citizens enjoy equal rights and where the rule of law is well established and respected. The government failed to realize that accepting the people’s will and political negotiations are the foundation of modern societies. This misguided decision is undermining peace and stability in Ethiopia. So far, the government of EPRDF has been unwilling to respect the voice of the people and to respect the rule of law, so much, that the people, the opposition parties and civic organizations have no choice but to fight back with a united well coordinated effort. The solution to Ethiopia’s problem depends on the will of the people of Ethiopia to fight against tyranny.

The will of Ethiopians cannot be earned by fragmented groups and by a leadership that is in disarray. The Diaspora needs to change this time and again, self destructive behavior, and set the course for a united front of all opposition groups with the aim of achieving realistic and tangible short and long term goals. Our unity and concerted actions will provide us the public trust and help us strengthen our fight against tyranny. We have no doubt that this seemingly extinguished flame of the struggle in Ethiopia will be re-ignited by the citizens themselves as the deplorable economic conditions and political repression continue unabated.