Tedla Asfaw
Bulcha Demeksa is the leader of Oromo Federal Democratic Movement (OFDM) who has been known for speaking his mind. On VOA Amharic May 6, he spoke with Surafel for which the TPLF cadre, Ermias gave a short reply and accused Ato Bulcha as a "criminal".
Bulcha said the regime in power has been known for locking up Oromos on fabricated charges of being OLF fighters to overthrow the regime and what is happening now on non-Oromo army officers and civilians, accused of terror and assassination plot is the trademark of the regime and "without independent investigation he would not accept the charges labelled by TPLF/EPRDF".
By independent commission he meant foreign organizations since there are not any functioning independent organizations of any kind in present day Ethiopia. He said, those like him who are in parliament are just listeners . "There is not free press and organizations", he said and in such situation, "we are unable to do anything for our constituencies". He said, " we cannot even visit our constituency without risking our and other lives".
The May 3, All Ethiopian Unity Party (AEUP) news release which is also posted on Aiga Website for propaganda propose,however, declared the expansion of AEUP offices throughout Ethiopia. The divide and rule of TPLF is now at full speed. All potential enemies are rooted paving the way for June 2010 election. Bulcha said also that the regime is now recruiting people throughout Ethiopia to vote for EPRDF. "Conferences and workshops are everywhere while others so called oppositions including his party are just seating and waiting for the landslide victory of TPLF/EPRDF".
Persons like Bulcha Demeksa who has been a partner with TPLF/EPRDF for many years know very well that they haven't served their constituencies except giving legitimacy for the regime. His courage as an individual for speaking the truth on TPLF's parliament and on foreign platforms,however, is commendable.
The sad thing is that party like AEUP, UDJP still believe that they will pull the kind of the Kinijit's victory of May 15, 2005 by just being nice and do organizational work to defeat TPLF. It is only one year before the so called election of 2010 and the recent arrest and the intimidation campaign is part of the TPLF election campaign as Bulcha accurately put it together recruiting millions of hostages, workers and peasants, under the cover of workshops and conferences.
The choice for Bulcha and his party is now clear. For more than a decade he tried to empower his people peacefully and that has not produced any tangible result. Now it is time to save himself before he faces similar fate like the thousands of Oroms who have been locked up for years as members of an outlawed OLF.
What Bulcha Demeksa tried for a decade is now discovered as something new by AEUP, UDJP and others believing that there is no other alternative. I wish they were right.
