Ethiopian scholars, politicians and representatives of civil societies and women gathered in Washington, DC for a two day conference on the future of Ethiopia: transition, democracy and national unity organized by vision Ethiopia.
Representing Patriotic Ginbot 7 for Unity and Democracy, Neamin Zeleke, a member of the leadership said the TPLF Federal Democratic Republic is neither federal, nor democratic, nor republic.
He said the recent uprising by the people in the Oromia region was evidence that the Federal system by the TPLF was not designed to benefit the people. The popular uprising in different parts of Ethiopia show federalism, as designed by the TPLF, did not give rights to the people, Neamin said.
He spoke at length on the human rights abuses in Ethiopia perpetrated by the TPLF. Neamin said the minority government is not to be reformed but to be removed. He said he does not believe the tyrannical government would be removed through peaceful political struggle. Armed struggle, among other forms of struggle, is crucial to remove tyranny from Ethiopia, he stressed.
Lencho Bati, member of the executive committee, Oromo Democratic Front spoke on the need to create a national and common discourse that bring together all political organizations.
Lencho said the regime cannot call itself developmental state as a state to be called developmental should be legitimate and accepted by the poeople, which the TPLF is not. The bureaucracy is not free from political pressure and appointment of administrative positions is not based on merit but political assignment. He said Ethiopians should politically, militarily and using all available means work to remove the tyrannical regime in Ethiopia.
Prof. John Harbeson, Professor Emeritus of political science at City University of New York said Ethiopia had missed at least four opportunities to establish a democratic state: 1974 revolution, the fall of the Dergue in 1991, the constitution assembly of 1994 and the historic election of 2005. Prof. Harbeson said in all the four case, Ethiopia's opportunity to make a transition to democracy was squashed.
He also said the US, while fighting terrorism, should also help promote democracy.