The authentic and pure form of Amhara nationalism is yet not born.But the embryo is vivid or one could say it is in its earliest stage of fermentation and it is doomed to rise with power and might.The process would be irreversible and the catalysts are helping it with out prior knowledge.
Following the killings of its top officials in Bahirdar there was a sober mood hovering in each and every soul connected with Amhara as a nation.Even those who were exclaiming Ethiopia first all their days are taking their breathe and moving 180 degrees to revisit their stand.Whether the culprits of the assassinations are Amhara themselves or the federal forces of Abiy Ahmed, it does not really matter.Remember the culture in this part of Ethiopia is that fraternity precedes anything else in such circumstances.This would cement the people and the nationalism there of. Both Abiy and his cronies refer not people of Amhara as Amhara, rather with older version of Ethiopia where people identify to the place where they belong.( Wollo, Gondar, Showa and Gojjam) However politically speaking in the present day Ethiopia where primordial identity is the key factor and the constitution and its derivatives do not recognize other manifestations of people`s identities. Hence, we see Amhara of all localities being the target of persecutions and attack. The enemy uses the # Amhara or sometimes the #Habesha to propagate false accusations both in and outside the country.The imprisonment that we are witnessing in Addis and else where is either because of being Amhara and active political opponent to the ruling party led by Oromo elites.
The prejudice ,hatred and demonization of Jews could be noted as a lesson for Amhara of today and the upcoming years. Jews are one of the few people who faced extreme form of persecution exemplified by the Holocaust in which millions were massacred using gas chamber. These people faced all forms of discrimination until it culminated in 1948 when they finally got their own state.The ongoing acts being carried out by the Oromo government of Ethiopia would help awaken more and more Amharas among others from their deep state of sleep."The aha! moment when you realize the Tigreans avoiding you in social settings, the oromo refraining to talk to you in all those EPRDF`s rule, and all those who who were abhorrent of mentioning Ethiopia by its name were all because you were Amhara."
Some people proclaim with full confidence that the "Amhara is non-existent".If so, why heavy handedness by TPLF and ODP/OLF, why worry and fear?The more you prohibit the more it will get foothold.The story of Adam and Eve in Genesis book of the Bible Illustrates it beautifully.The two couples were given commandment by God.God told them they could enjoy all the fruits of Eden but not from the tree of knowledge of good and evil.Nonetheless they ate the prohibited fruit;same holds true for Amhara nationalism. It will resonate even if cornered.
The Oromo nationalism never been galvanizing factor in Ethiopian history. It feels now is the moment to ascertain it.There was a group of young people rallying in the capital city presumably Qerros telling all other Ethiopian they love us. It is red herring at its best and may be similar to the play of Othello by Shakespeare when Othello utters his last words and takes the life of his beloved Desdemona " For I love I kill you." Having been considerably helped by the growing anti TPLF sentiment among Amhara politicians with in the coalition of the ruling party the Oromo politicians took power and start to tear apart the country like a spoiled child. The country looks waiting its final breathe.
The Amhara Democratic party`s role as the one deciding the fate of Ethiopia has dwindled and the trust among its own people is getting almost nil. Its nationalism component in the ruling party is so lethargic that it could not read the conspiracy and found it to be an easy meat hence,its pitfall. On the other hand the newly emerged party National Movement of Amhara(NAMA) one year old is taken by others as a potential threat.If we honestly assess this party ,we would easily conclude that it has typical traditional sentiment of Amhara transcending all barriers of culture, creed and social stratum. In fact some people of other ethnic groups have shown support telling indeed Amhara nationalism is the solution for Ethiopia politics which is heavily infested with identity. The assumption is that Amhara nationalism would help as check and balance of power in this lopsided politics. But these organization which is built on the core identity of Amhara loving the country, equality and truth is not yet in the ranks of true national movement. Such movement needs to have other components as well;such as propaganda machinery, conspiracy, deceit and spiteful actions. None of these elements are found in this party so far. Amhara nationalism should augment sword and pen. Name all freedom movements in history around the world:from Tamil Tigers of Sri lanka to Muslim brotherhood of Egypt ;From Hammas of Palestine to Hizbollah of Lebanon or ANC of South Africa all were not chocolate chewing endeavors.
In fact most of these movements have forced the oppressors agenda to change and there by the doomsday of their enemy. Otherwise the movement would rather be a search of truth, enlightenment and nirvana which Buddha and Christ has taught the world.
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AEMAD M.
