Keep
peace to keep fast pace
Peace has been central
to the rapid pace of the economic growth registered over the last decade. In light
of this, the violence which has been erupting at few towns and administrative
districts in recent time serves no purpose other than obstructing the ongoing efforts
of transforming the nation into a middle income economy.
For a country which has
lifted itself from the abyss of extreme poverty, paying all kinds of
sacrifices, such violence is highly likely to derail the hard-won gains. It erodes
the age-old culture of respect among the diverse people and leads to loss of
life and property. In fact, the past violence in some parts of the country has
claimed the lives of citizens while posing destruction of property. If goes unchecked, if not stopped somewhere,
it would undermine the national security and will degenerate into very
unpleasant situation—may also cause a
complete U-turn of the socio-economic
development— which is against the wishes of all Ethiopians and their lovers—God
forbid that!
No doubt, the situation
can be put at least into two dimensions. Limitations in rendering quality services
to the growing demands of the public, and the large size of youth part of the
population, in one hand. And abuse of power among few individuals in the
leadership—using power to personal gains. This is just to be fair in the
analysis. However, the hands of individuals and groups who always conspire
behind the scene, and publicly as well, to see a weak and fragile Ethiopia is
beyond doubt. The youths who are driven emotional are targeted by the unscrupulous
individuals and groups to be used as an instrument of destruction.
As Prime Minister
Hailemariam Dessalegn unequivocally put it in his condolence message regarding
the mass shooting of ethnic Somalis in west Hararge last Sunday, a cloud is on
the horizon which may lead the country to instability; hence, the government
will take appropriate measures. True to his statement, appropriate and legal
measures have to be taken by the government. Indeed, the range of measures
ought to include probing into the genuine causes and the aggravating factors. And
the measure has to be adequate enough to give the problem a lasting solution. And
all who have involved in the violence, intentionally and unintentionally, should
be met with stringent measures. Hopefully, the current evaluation which
Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front is undertaking would come up
with lasting solution.
But the government is
not the sole actor in healing the wounds. The media have to play its pivotal
role in educating the youths about the value of peace, and have to urge the
youths to strongly denounce doomsayers’ illusions.
The media as well
should be clear and succinct in providing the youths with ample information as
to what the situation in Ethiopia had been before a quarter of a century, and the
remarkable changes during the last quarter of a century. Particularly, the
broadcast media have to put informed insight into the current progress of the
country as well as ways and means of sustaining the gains and working hard to
secure more achievements.
Faith fathers and
elders play no fewer roles in educating the youths and the entire faithful. In
this regard, these entities should continue preaching the value of love, unity
and prosperity. They as well need to show the youth the light of peaceful
coexistence which the people of Ethiopia exercised for centuries.
It is clear that the
people of Ethiopia have shown their unity in various times. They defended their
sovereignty from foreign aggressors. They also fought inequality and
dictatorship in unison. Likewise, the people are working harmoniously to list
their country in the ranks of middle income economies. The entire vision of the
people is to build one political and economic community. This sacred vision
should not be hampered, and any sign of hindrance which stands against this
noble vision should be in the strongest term possible for it helps to sustain
peace and accelerate the pace in pursuing the vision.