The issue of Fano is a matter of great public interest. There are public declarations being made, public discussions taking place, and errors being committed. However, the focus should be on learning from these mistakes and advancing to a higher level, rather than on the act of discussing and debating itself.
Zemena Kasena and Eskindir Nega have made remarkable contributions to the struggle, enduring imprisonment and torture for the sake of the people and the country. They are exceptional individuals in Ethiopia.
At present, it is not feasible for both of them to co-lead Fano. There are both supporters and opponents of each for various reasons. It would be most beneficial for the country and the struggle to open the door for others. We hope that there will be individuals who can continue the work that Eskinder has initiated if he is elected tomorrow.
We acknowledge and respect their past contributions, but it is time for them to take a step back. If necessary, they can be assigned roles based on their skills and continue to serve the people. For example, Eskinder Nega can represent Fano in foreign relations and international media, while Zeme can serve as a public relations officer due to his strong communication skills.
Collective leadership within Fano would be preferable. This is my personal preference for the organization. I would like to propose some ideas to assist with this. If they are effective, the Fano leaders can utilize them, and if not, they may disregard them.
A council comprising 15 members is proposed to be established, with each area of Gondar, Shewa, Wollo, Gondar, and Amhara region (Wolega, Addis Ababa, etc) sending one leader representative and two additional representatives, totaling three representatives per area.
The leaders from the primary state will form the political bureau of the congress, consisting of five members who will be responsible for the overall functioning of the congress.
In order to streamline decision-making and promote consensus within the council leading the political struggle of Fano, a rule is suggested where decisions opposed by two out of the five political bureau members and four out of the fifteen council members will not be implemented, and unresolved issues will not lead to any decision.
The chairpersons presiding over the congress and political bureau meetings will be appointed every three months by the political bureau members, ensuring a rotation of leadership roles.
Political office bearers must be approved by the council, and individuals with influence in two different areas within the primary state can select a representative from each area to jointly elect a representative for the primary state, with a lottery system in place if no joint representative is chosen.
Apart from Shewa, Gondar, Wollo, and Gojam, other organizations and individuals, including those in Wollega and supporters of Eskinder Nega, will have three representatives, with Eskinder Nega himself being able to represent them and become a member of the political bureau.
It is emphasized that this proposal is a suggestion aimed at minimizing conflicts and ensuring smooth operations within the council, with each Fano group in the primary state designating their own representative and the primary state taking responsibility for selecting qualified individuals.
A message the Amhara struggle cannot afford to ignore.
Thank you Assaye????#AmharaFirst #FanoCourage #AmharaGenocide pic.twitter.com/z5Mm6VOEgB— JusticeIsNotFree (@Amharafirst88) July 20, 2024
GK
Dear GK and Friends:-
1. GK’s recommendations are very positive and helpful. I do not see a need for excluding those two admirable people from the leadership since each of them has distinctly different qualities which can be valuable for the current unfinished business. Zemene has been a great fighter for well over 10 years and he has the capacity for leadership, as amply illustrated in Gojjam over the last 12 months; Eskindir has also been a fighter, largely in Addis, as a party leader and journalist in Addis. Both qualities are essential for the current campaign. Hence, the crucial question is “which one can provide a leadership that can speedily enhance the achievement of the Fano goal, which is primarily one to be spearheaded out in the field. The leaders should know and decide since millions of precious lives are involved and all Ethiopia is eagerly watching them.
2. Though I have nothing to add to the Council, the Political Bureau should include all 7 leaders. In South Africa’s Mandela-led conferences, the 27 party leaders had serious trust concerns, and it was, therefore, decided to chair the conference in turn. It was not efficient, but it worked. In our case, the number of leaders is smaller so that rotating the Chairmanship every month will be appropriate since the Chairman implements the decisions of the Council and the Political Bureau. Any chair that violates the decisions of the Council and POLITICAL BUREAU SHOULD BE DISMISSED FEROM CHAIRMANSHIP promptly. A new dictator is unacceptable, and this must be in the rules governing the management of the Council and Political Bureau. Fano should avoid another Meles, or Abiy.
A short chairmanship duration is, perhaps, best since everybody will then be field-tested to prepare for the choice of a leader for the Transitional Government in subsequent years.
Still another option is to have a rotating Council Chairman but to regard all others as co-chairmen, decisions being made with a simple vote.
3. The meeting of Fano leaders was poorly chaired. The screening procedure cannot be a substitute for actual elections, as insinuated by Arbegna Meketaw and the Colonel in Wello. Screening is essential, as in the current Republican Priomary in the USA, in the election law of Ethiopia and even in Kebele elections. The screening is to separate those that are legitimate candidates from those that are not. Then election is carried on those that have been found to be legitimate. The Chairman himself did not know the difference and he also allowed participants to raise irrelevant topics. Hence, the Chair is largely responsible for the mess. Some members were also in the same boat.
There is a new report on another Diaspora website that tells about one of the commanders of the rebel groups in Shewa area who surrendered( to me who chose the path of peace). I am very happy that this leader might have brought many young fighters with him from out of the bushes. Those young people now under the spell of bigots and connivers both in Oromia and Amhara regions don’t deserve to be wandering around aimlessly in the wilderness. Just like my grandchildren and your children/grandchildren they belong to schools. I have said this umpteen times before. In this day and age there is no historical justification to the idea that democracy can be brewed with guns and sticks. Never has been and never will be. What armed struggle has produced instead is an endless list of bloodthirsty and murderous despots. If you need proof, all what you have to do is just look to your left and then look to your right.
Ittu:-
You are making a big mistake to assume that Fano is “… bigots and connivers…” wandering in the bush aimlessly. Why do they choose to live with animals when when you don’t ? Whereas it is true that gun-totting may not necessarily lead to democracy, it may also force dictators to sit down and work out rules and procedures to achieve democracy almost overnight.
My example is South Africa where Mandela came out of prison in 1990, sat down with NP and all other parties and created a democratic Federal South Africa in 1994. That was forced on Apartheid South Africa with ANC’s and other guns and a leader of the caliber of President De Clerk who fully understood why people have chosen guns to kill and destroy.
Your unusually poor judgement needs some regret, if you are honest.