The TPLF developmental state theory never much in reality

he TPLF developmental state theory never much in reality
By Habtamu Ayenew (OSLO) May 20, 2013
TPLF (Tigrayan People's Liberation Front) who afraid neoliberal idea,
because has no clue as capitalism is a mean of development, job creation,
increase competitiveness, encourage entrepreneurship they choose
development state theory for Ethiopia economic development, and use it for
their own enrichment.
Chamber Johnson, the driver of developmental state defined the idea as “a
state that focused a leadership ruthlessly committed to a national
development (and not to partial interests or its own enrichment)” (Allen &
Thomas, 2000). The extremely corrupt TPLF leadership government in
Ethiopia not only attempted to apply the theory and failed, but also from the
beginning they are agents for the collapse of Ethiopia. Shortly after they took
power through guerrilla war in 1991, before they get legitimate to represent
the will and desires of the nation they facilitates Eritrean independence
achievement (Meles letter to UN, 1991 ) and make Ethiopia Land locked.
Jeffry Sacks, an architect of the Millennium Development Goals reminded us
how land locked states in general face the worst problem in economic
development (Harrison & Huntington, 2000). This was another problem to
face Ethiopia, the country which was remained largely separated from the
world economy, and ruled by archaic monarchy and dictator Derge regime
who failed to respond adequately to the national question in Ethiopia (Allen &
Thomas, 2000). Because of failed to build institution to initiate development
in the country, peoples grass root movement and political parties activities
led to the down fall of the archaic monarchy and dictator Derg. Unlucky the
TPLF lead government EPRDF (Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic
Front) took power in 1991 and got praise as a good leader who can trust to
bring development and democracy in land locked Ethiopia through ethnic
federalism model.
After the toppling of the Derg regime and the gaining of power by the
EPRP, the new regime was viewed with mixed feeling by the donor community. While few
lamented the fail of Mengistu, there were apprehensions as to the new regime; with a
background from a dawn-out guerrilla war, which until recently had espoused an explicit
Marxist doctrine. On the other hand Meles was also perceived as belonging to a new breed of
African leader (Borchgrevink , 2008)Donor relation with corrupt TPLF largely connects Ethiopia with world
economy. For example, after the establishment of TPLF lead government in
Ethiopia World Bank approved a large emergency and reconstruction fund
(Borchgrevink, 2008). Other follows on different motivation, my host country
Norway and the other Nordic countries inspired by their welfare state “where
the goal was to improve condition for poor and resource-weak groups in their
own population” (Martinussen & Pedersen, 2005). But as I learned from the
discussion between Norwegian politician and Ethiopian diasporas on
Ethiopian development week here in Norway, donors seem to have weak to
influence the TPLF regime to achieve their motivation. The regime used the
aid money to do crime with humanity, to its own enrichment, and support
political repression (the human right watch, 2010).
An article from The Economic shows how clear TPLF use developmental stat
theory to achieve their own and loyalist enrichment. The article says to do
business in Ethiopia you should be TPLF loyalist, “about 80% of supposedly
privet business conglomerates controlled by state loyalists, the late prime
minister wife runs the main one EFFORT, which dabbles in everything from
banking and to metal, travel and cement all without public scrutiny” (The
Economist, March 2013). This was the theory propose by late prime minster
Meles for all Africa development, in his unpublished masters dissertation,
titled ‘African Development: Dead Ends and New Beginning`, and now they
want fake us to defended the theory by arrest corrupt ministers which are
not loyal to the TPLF regime in Ethiopia (Reuters, May, 201)
Our determination to fight the TPLF junta must continue by any means
available like opposition to the Development Fund’s cooperation with the
dictatorial ethnic regime in Ethiopia (The task force of Ethiopian for
democracy and human rights in Ethiopia, May 2013). We should argue and
tell donors is not simply because the obstinate character of the EPRDF
regime, but primarily because they have seen incapable of applying
consistent and coherent policies to take note on human rights, democracy ,
and rule of law first before economic development in their so called
cooperation with TPLF tyrant in Ethiopia (Borchgrevink , 2008). For Peter
Gitmark, a member of the main political opposition in Norway, human rights
come first before development process. He said that there is wrong doing in
Ethiopia since the crackdown of opposition in the aftermath of the 2005
election, he want see a tougher line from the Norwegian authorities
(Utviklingsfondet, May 2013). Not only donors, Medhane Tadesse, an
academic specializing in conflicts in the Horn of Africa who also acts as an adviser to the Ethiopian foreign ministry, admitted that, `there is a need for
political reforms both to meet the democratic aspirations of the Ethiopian
people, achieve political stability as well as the revitalize the much needed
developmental state model` (Tadesse, October 2012).
These all show TPLF developmental state theory never much in reality, they
failed to apply the theory, and instead they use it to repressed Ethiopian
people. We are in the right direction to fight the TPLF tyrant regime, we
should continue what we are doing, and then nothing stops us to free our
country from TPLF tyrant.
To reach me habtamu_a@yahoo.com