Remembering our martyr Abune (Bishop) Petros

Blogger's Note: In memoriam: Abune Petros who was executed on this day (July 29th) 1936 by Fascist Italian forces.  A brief biographical sketch of the beloved Abune is reprinted here from 2005 E.C. Ethiopian Calendar with Primary Sources.

Abune Petros (1892-1936) was born near Fiche and his given name on birth was Haile Mariam. He studied with clergy to become an Orthodox Church priest, and he became a monk at the age of 24. He taught in the Fiche area, at the Debre-Menkrat monastery in Wolamo, and at the island Church of Mary in Lake Zewai. In June 1929 he was appointed Bishop of Wollo and was given the patriarchic name Abuna Petros. When the Italo-Ethiopian war began in 1935, he accompanied Emperor Haile Selassie in the northern campaign and witnessed the horrific effects of poison gas attacks on civilians. During the Fascist occupation, Petros briefly took refuge in Debre Libanos Monastry in Shoa before moving to Addis Ababa. Abune Petros through his preaching & teachings reminded Ethiopians to stand-up for their belief and conviction that God would redeem Ethiopia & her people. Italian occupation authorities looked at his preaching & teaching as incitement to resist the occupation and asked him to stop. He replied by saying: “The cry of my countrymen who died due to your poison gas and terror machinery will never allow my conscious to accept your ultimatum. How can I see my God if I give a blind eye to such a crime?”

 When the Patriots’ Resistance Movement began a nation-wide war of resistance, Petros moved to Addis Ababa. In the summer of 1936, when an attempted insurrection in the capital failed, Petros was arrested and tortured for having spoken out against the occupying army. In a hurried trial, he was convicted of treason and sentenced to death. His final words before his execution were: “May God give the people of Ethiopia the strength to resist and never bow down to the fascist army and its violence. May the Ethiopian earth never accept the invading army’s rule.” In 1946, Emperor Haile Selassie dedicated a monument in honor of Abuna Petros at the newly christened Abuna Petros Square. Here follows part of Emperor Haile Selassie's speech  during the dedicating ceremony:

Speech delivered at UNVEILING MONUMENT TO ABUNA PETROS
July, 1946
“We today commemorate the martyrdom of an Ethiopian patriot who consecrated with his blood the place on which we now stand, in defence of the principles of religion and of uncompromising resistance against the forces of aggression. The Monument which We have unveiled, distinguishes the square where the Church Leader, Abuna Petros, was shot by the Italian aggressors in July 1936. His crime was that of being an Ethiopian and leader of the Ethiopian church, a leader that shrank not from condemning before the world the immorality of the Fascist regime. His death, which had been ordered amongst the first of those sought by the Fascists, marked the importance which the aggressor attached to the destruction of the basis of Ethiopian culture and standards of conduct. It also marked the culminating point in the bitter struggle in the course of which the enemy systematically burned and destroyed churches throughout Our Empire.
The death of Abuna Petros marked a significant point in a struggle characterized by the use of pro-scribed means of warfare, such as poison gas, the burning of villages and homes, the murder of non
-combatants and the aged, and by attempting systematically to abase the moral standards and the culture of the country through terrorism, the slaughter of the educated classes and the total destruction of schools. His death likewise preceded the massacres of February 1937 and those that followed. How many victims bear witness here today with broken lives to the depths of those atrocities?
It is a sad commentary on the state of the world of that period which tolerated the brutalities and the campaigns of unspeakable atrocities in Ethiopia. We ask, had the world refused to tolerate those immoralities, if it had reacted with energy against those violations of international law, might we not have spared the countless deaths and sacrifices of the last ten years? This monument, although far from the battlefields of Europe, has, therefore, a significance that transcends the frontiers of Ethiopia and the confines of the Continent of Africa and unites the dead of Ethiopia, the Ethiopian and British heroes, with those of El Alamein, of Salerno, of Stalingrad, of Normandy, and of Okinawa. […]
We will now turn to the period of peace at which we have by the Grace of God, at last arrived. It is necessary that the Governments of the United Nations who are now working for the reconstruction of World Peace should be guided by the principles of impartiality so that they shall lay down a solid and proper foundation stone for a system of peace which shall out-live generations. If the condition of the peace is such as will satisfy the conscience and sense of justice of men, if it is assured to human kind that they shall toil and live happily under a just sys-tem in which no discrimination will be made between small and great, then the peace system that shall be laid down can leave a heritage for the coming generation which will be full of happy life and boundless prosperity. […]
All [Ethiopia] needs are institutions and schools to filter and assimilate her an-cient culture with modern culture. As you all know, before Ethiopia was invaded by the enemy, We did all that could be done to advance education in spite of all the difficulties that had to be encountered. The products of Our schools have been put to trial both in peace time as in the time of Ethiopia's calamity. At this moment let us remember all those who have been hunted and murdered by the enemy. […]
Source: Selected Speeches of His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie I 1918—1967. Addis Aba-ba: Imperial Ministry of Information, 1967.

In Memoriam: 120th Birthday of Emperor Haile Selassie

Blogger's Note: The following essay is by Ambassador Imru Zelleke and posted here with minor editorial changes. The opinions expressed by the guest blogger do not necessary reflect the opinions of Wemezekir's blogger/Editor. Wemezekir's Editor is not responsible for the accuracy of any of the information within this essay.

HIM Haile Sellassie I 

Emperor of Ethiopia

In memoriam

July 23, 2013

Today is the 120^th Birthday of the late Emperor Haile Sellassie I. In view of what happened in Ethiopia after the end of his reign, it is time now to remember him and recollect some of his achievements in the history of Ethiopia.

He was not a modern educated man but a man endowed with exceptional intelligence whose formation was guided by the canons and traditions  of the Ethiopian Monarchy and the Christian percepts of the Ethiopian  Coptic  Orthodox Church. He had learned French and some modern notions from Catholic Capucins Monks that gave him some modern ideas in his early age. Having visited European countries in the twenties he was exposed to many aspects of modern life and new technologies.

Governor of Harrar at the age of fourteen and subsequently Governor of Kaffa, as well as participating in Court politics, he had learned the ropes of governance in the intriguing and multifarious atmosphere of Ethiopian polity. A visionary and ambitious personality, he pursued vigorously and ruthlessly his goals to gain power. Notwithstanding these traits he was a parsimonious and disciplined leader with little interest in the mundane luxuries that power granted. An indefatigable worker completely dedicated to his role, he pursued relentlessly policies of consolidating the Empire and modernizing Ethiopia, including the  return of Eritrea to the motherland and her historical access to the sea.

To state that during  his reign Ethiopia had made a remarkable progress in many aspects of national life would be superfluous, considering that it was achieved starting from scratch, with little financial and human resources and negligible foreign assistance. Internationally Ethiopia had acquired respect and recognition for its positive role in world affairs, helping  liberation movements and African independence and playing a major role in the creation of Organization of African Unity.  At the end of his rule he handed  over power peacefully and left a country with solid foundation upon which an advanced and progressive nation could have been built. Yes, a lot of improvement and modernization could have been done in his time, but it would be asking the Emperor why he did not accomplish  matters beyond his  capabilities .  In comparison to the disastrous events that followed it is comforting to think that there are some good times to remember.

The Emperor was a human being with the defaults and good sides  that we all possess, nevertheless he was an exceptional leader that served well his country and his people. 

Imru Zelleke

Summer Reading -- Home coming

I am so excited! And it feels like home-coming after a long time. Yes, after a long time I finished reading a book cover to cover and with the same energy, I am almost half way on the second book from the three books that were brought to me recently from Hager Bet (Homeland).

The book I just finished is "KaYehut na KeSemahut' a memoir of Ras Imru Haile Selassie. I will have a say about some of its content in the coming days but what I can say in general is: what a powerful testimony from someone who grew up with Lij Tafari Mekonnen (later Emperor Haile Selassie) and who saw & participated in major political developments of Ethiopia closely throughout Haile Selassie's rise to power & his fall in the end.  The book I am starting now is Fitawrari/Bejirond Tekle Hawaryat's 'Ye-Hiwote TariK' (autobiography). I was told by a friend that it will be more fun read than the one I just finished. So far it reads like fiction. What an amazing real life story. I knew the third one Fiqru Kidane's 'Ye-Piasa Lij' will be a delightful reading.

When the book came out, I knew how it was sold like a hot cake and  even on its third  or fourth reprint is still in big demand. Actually, the reason why I wanted to read this book last was because I reasoned if I start with this book, it would be hard to read books which dealt with hard and serious political matters after it. I did not want to start and stop somewhere in the middle like many books that are still sitting on my bed side for months. Since I was introduced to the Internet back in the 90s, my reading habits have changed.  It has been a while since I read a book from cover to cover.




Actually, the last book I "read" until the end is 'Cutting for Stone' by Abraham Verghese.
Even that, I started by reading one that I borrowed from the library but finished it by listening to its audio-book version while driving to and after work.  I enjoyed the audio-book experience. Since then, when some one tells me you should read this or that book, I ask or try to find out if audio-book version is available. The reason is, I am afraid I will start it but may not be able to finish it.  I was not like this before.  I was a book lover.  In the beginning as a kid growing in Ethiopia, my social life revolved around soccer and it was through soccer that I was able to make several friends. Just before joining college though, I was introduced to reading fiction books in English and in my young adult age books became the means by which I built friendships.  Some who have known me since then tell me that the mental image they have about me of those youthful days is - me carrying a book under my arms. The reason I was mostly seen with books is not because I read books fast one after another.  No, it was mainly because it took me a long time to finish reading one.  Amongst my book reader friends, I was considered a slow reader.  Taking a long time to finish a book however has always allowed me to digest every element of the story and/or to savor it.  I have a saying: Slow reading is like slow eating.  The slower you take it, the more enjoyment you will get out of it.  Now it is that enjoyment - the pleasure of savoring the stories that stays with me after I finish a book; and if I might add, which I miss the most.

Internet has spoiled me.  Getting used to information which come in pieces, now the sight of a small size book (let alone a voluminous one) gives me a sense of fatigue.  It seems, I lack the patience of going thorough pages after pages. Cyber hopping (jumping from one website to another; from one portal to another; from one news-feed on Facebook wall to another) has become my favorite pastime. But all this time, I have been missing the pleasure I used to get from reading a book entirely.  Now with these books, I am back to reading again.  This summer then will be a summer of reading.  I am glad I am getting my groove back.

Does the name matter?

Blogger's Note: The following essay is submitted by a guest blogger and posted here with minor editorial changes. The opinions expressed by the guest blogger do not necessary reflect the opinions of Wemezekir's blogger/Editor. Wemezekir's Editor is not responsible for the accuracy of any of the information within this essay.





Does the name matter?
By Mulugeta Haile 

Why was the 39 years old name OAU changed to AU? OAU has its credit in the decolonization of Africa, as well as, the sponsorship of Pan-Africanism. This historic name was changed to AU in Durban, South Africa, on July 10, 2002. But! Why? Is this just to imitate the European Community, EC, which was changed to European Union, EU, in 1993, or is there another tangible justification?  

In 1972, Dr Walter Rodney, in his famous classic, “How Europe Under developed Africa,” advised what Africa was up against: as long as Africa doesn’t have its own rule of game, it will continue to be a source of free labor, and raw materials. He reminded that African leaders have unfortunately kept forgetting the Imperialistic nature of the Berlin Club of Colonizers. To unchain the code of the Berlin and Algeciras, Spain Clubs, Emperor Haile Selassie on January 25, 1960, three years before the creation of the OAU at the All-African Peoples’ Conference (AAPC) in Tunis, said:

“We must make bold decisions for intra-Africa co-operation. We must link our roads; we must connect and associate our airlines and indeed think in terms of merging our international services.”

Thirty one years after this historic speech, OAU, following the adoption of the Lagos Plan of Action, on the 3^rd of July 1991, the Head of States singed a treaty of the African Economic Community. The intention of this treaty was to create a common market and sub-regional and regional cooperation through, more efficient and coordinated use of its resources for the common good.

Thus, the name OAU is no hindrance to reach the aspired goal of what AU is trying to achieve now. In other words, what AU has aimed to do has been already envisioned by OAU. For example, independent specialized agencies, working under the umbrella of the OAU were:

• Pan-African Telecommunications Union (PATU)
• Pan-African Postal Union (PAPU)
• Pan-African News Agency (PANA)
• Union of African National Television and Radio Organizations (URTNA)
• Union of African Railways (UAR)
• Pan-African Highway   (PAH)
• Organization of African Trade Union Unity (OATUU)
• Supreme Council for Sports in Africa
• African Civil Aviation Commission

One can’t help but ask what it is OAU can not, what AU can do? What was the burning issue or emergency for the changing of the historic name of the OAU?

In Shakespeare’s play of Romeo and Juliet, Juliet argues the names of things do not matter, only what things “are”, and said, “A rose by any other name smells just as sweet”. OAU by any other name sounds just as the Unity of Africa as already envisioned Pan Africanism.

In spite of emulating the European Union, EU, the main justification for the creation of the AU is simply an ambition to appear as the new “Founding Fathers”, who needed their legacy to emerge as the innovative leaders of Africa. For years these leaders had lagged behind the charismatic leaders of the OAU’s Founding Fathers. Even Thabo Mbeki, considered as the architect of the AU, who suffered under the shadow of the great Nelson Mandela needed also a legacy.    

If we examine the incident that occurred during the creation of the AU in Durban, South Africa, we see that there is no unity of purpose. Colonel Muammar Gaddafi who thinks of himself as a Super Founding Father tried to outshine the others and takes the driver seat created a great confusion in the assembly. The summit was not recorded in history as significant as the OAU’s first summit. It was radically different and ended up with great misunderstanding and division among the leaders. Specially, the tension created between South Africa’s and Libya’s security forces exasperated the situation to a combat zone.

The Johannesburg newspaper, The Star, and the Nairobi’s, The East African Standard, both had written in details. The Star quoted one of the South Africa’s police officer, who said, “There was almost a war here. There were about 40 of us against almost 400 of the Libya security forces. We were totally outnumbered and outgunned, and nobody would back us.” The East African Standard on its part said, “African leaders who indulged maverick Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi at summit took risks with the Continent’s ambitious recovery plans.”

As strange as it was, the first AU summit had almost came to fall apart in the third day of the summit.

Last month, AU jubilantly celebrated its predecessor the OAU’s 50^th anniversary, golden Jubilee. On the occasion, speakers tried to pinpoint the contribution of some of the Founding Fathers such as Kwame Nkrumah, Gamal Abdel Nasser, Jumo Kenyatta etc, however, the speakers hardly mentioned Emperor HaileSelassie, who was the mid wife of the OAU.

Strangely enough, the former President of Zambia, Kenneth Kaunda, one of the living Founding Fathers of the OAU, who spoke on the occasion, had never mentioned the Emperor’s name. However, it is a fact that the Emperor had abolished the three competing blocks: The Casablanca Powers, The Monrovia States, and The Brazzaville Group, that hindered the Unity of Africa. The Los Angels Times described a scenario “In the foot steps of King Solomon, Haile Seassie united Africa.”

In Ethiopia, Pan Africanism is loosely defined and often used to minimize the legacy of the Emperor and to pay tribute to Kwame Nkrumah. The big statue of Nkrumah in AU is a direct result of that notion. In fact, the modern Pan Africanism has evolved out of the Emperor’s legacy. After all, He is a global statesman, the Lion of Judah, who doesn’t need any other “isms” to stand tall, but destined to live up to His title.

Pan-Africanism is conceived out of the role of Ethiopia in the Bible (positively mentioned 42 times), and nurtured in the 1896 Victory of Adwa and in the 1930 coronation of Emperor HaileSelassie, which was the fulfillment of the prophecy of Marcus Garvey. The 1936-41 struggle and victory over Fascist Italy, in which the Emperor was the Field Marshall, further glorified Pan-Africanism. More so, the 1963 establishment of the OAU has forwarded it until this generation.  

Dr Desta Meghoo, who has presented an Art exhibition on this occasion at OAU/AU, is quoted to have said that it is impossible to present a Pan African Art exhibition with out mentioning Emperor Haile Selassie’s contributions, in opposition to a directive given to her to tone- down the Emperor’s legacy.

Why is this unnecessary argument that Nkrumah is more Pan Africanist than the Emperor pumped into the air, and why Pan-Africanism has been wrongly interpreted in Ethiopia? The answer goes to the nature of the Ethiopian politics that has shot out from the school of thought of Communism, which is against the Monarchy, a symbol of unconquered Ethiopia, which received Christianity during the Apostles’ epoch and offered sanctuary to the Prophet Mohammed’s direct family. Unlike other monarchies, it is a liberal which has allowed common people to rise up to the Nation’s top position. More so to its great achievements it has led Slaves into freedom and has defeated European Colonialism twice not only on the battle field, but in the field of Diplomacy as well. It can be called the Pan African Monarchy. In the eyes of the Ethiopian Communists, it may be, a reactionary, but in mind of the Pan-Africanist, Garveyist, Afro-centrist, and oppressed people, is a symbol of pride and hope.

In such a grand occasion of the 50^th anniversary, the Emperor and his government officers should have been applauded for seeding Pan-Africanism into the OAU. Specially, His young dynamic Minster of Foreign affairs, Ketema Yeferu, the Shuttle Diplomat, deserves to have a street named after him preferably as the main road that leads to AU. (The road from Mexico square to AU)  

Of all the good speeches delivered during the OAU’s 50^th anniversary, it was the Prime Minster of Ethiopia and the Chairman of AU, Haile Mariam Desalegn that is worthy of special mention. He concluded his closing speech of the 50^th anniversary with an outstanding quotation from the Emperor speech.

This is a radical deviation from the trend of contemplation of his predecessors who always tried to foul the Emperor’s good name and contributions.

It was a refreshing at last; the new generation can hold the Prime Minster Haile Mariam’s quotation as evidence that the paradigm of the anti Haile Sellasie’s politics has shifted at a snail's pace. It seems Ethiopia is finally stretching out her hands unto its history.

Prime Minster Haile Mariam is from the new generation, he was a nine years old when the Emperor was dethroned. Regarding the shift of politics, it is interesting to see the young generation of Ethiopian in Diaspora has lifted up the Emperor’s legacy. A young man named Nebyat Aklelu, born and brought up and educated in the US, is now collecting petitions on selassiestandup@gmail.com requesting support for the erection of the Emperor’s statue in the AU. Already thousands of people including His Excellence President of Ethiopia, Grima W/Giorgis have singed.

The positive side of the AU since its creation is the decision that was made in 2003 to recognize the African Diaspora as the sixth region of the AU. Without doubt, the talents and material resources in the Diaspora would boost African’s growth, development and empowerment. The African in Diaspora can play a big role in promoting Pan-Aficanism and African Renaissance.

Already a positive contribution is achieved at this summit as expressed in the speeches of the delegates of the Diaspora by dynamic speakers: Miss Portia Simpson (Fikerte Mariam), the Prime Minter of Jamaica, and PJ Paterson, the former Prime Minster of Jamaica. They re-energized the African leaders and audience with fresh thoughts.

Although, Africa is on the fast lane of growth; it is not with out its intertwine problems. Unless, Africa implements Pan-Africanism in its true perspective, and allowing its people to travel freely from the North to the South and from the East to the West, the problems which swell up day by day will put Africa in a very vulnerable position.

The envision of Pan-Africanism, fifty years ago was mainly to protect Africa from its external enemies, but now it will help to save it from internal enemies as well, such as: tribalism, radical Islamism, ethnic conflict. It also challenges leaders to think out side their tribal and religion boxes. Alternatively, it prevents bright academics from migrate to Europe and North America to serve as second class Intellectuals, as the same time it will help to bring back those who are serving in Diaspora.

As it has been said that Europe was created by History, the US by Philosophy, and we must say Africa will be recreated by Pan Africanism.

In conclusion, the name changing of the OAU is nothing but a rewriting of the OAU’s amendment of the Lagos treaty. No matter what name has been given to it, the substance of the OAU will always resonate in the AU.

During the creation of the OAU, in May 1963, in Addis Ababa, Emperor HaileSelassie’s remark is a trial of Africa: 

“A century hence, when future generations study the pages of history, seeking to follow and fathom the growth and development of the African continent, what will they find of this Conference?”