The Plight of Millions of Our Starving Citizens
This is a country where a sizable percentage of the population (around 25%) is facing agonizing death through starvation arising not out of the failure of rains (as the PM and Co. are trying hard to put forward), but of reasons directly attributable to the failure of government policy. There is no escaping this fact, notwithstanding the PM's glib pronouncements to the contrary. What single concrete measure has the government taken to address this glaring issue that, mind you, didn't suddenly fall from the sky or anything? Half-hearted attempts at best to dam small streams and create small reservoirs? An “extension” program that rendered poor farmers even more poorer through unbearable burdens of fertilizer related debt? Tellingly, a government known for “governing” through engaging people in numerous endless (and meaningless) “meetings” hasn't tried to stage a single “meeting” to try and supposedly address the issue. On the other hand, this is a government which finds nothing wrong in spending millions to import bullet-proof automobiles and to bolster internal security. This is a political “party” that finds the time and thinks nothing of wasting considerable scarce national resources to pursue ridiculous personal infighting issues on a national/government level.

The Issue of National Interest
Many writers have pointed out the incomprehensible reality that the EPRDF/TPLF government has the dubious distinction of being the first government in the history of nations to actively work against the interests of the nation it represents. In so doing, this government is planting seeds for a spiral of violence and unimaginable hardship for the people of the nation as well as the region in general. How can one understand a “leader” who flagrantly defined as “victory” the greatest humiliation that befell our nation and thus gave new meaning to the phrase 'lie through one's teeth'. What can be more treacherously damning than presenting “evidence” that supports your enemy's claims? What can be more stupid than trying to hood-wink a whole nation? What can be more heart-breaking than to think of a mother whose son died liberating a “useless” piece of land, a “village” of a “few score” people? How can one contemptibly wave aside the pain of the Irob people? The pain of the Afar people? Indeed, in view of the lack of answers that explain the actions of the EPRDF/TPLF government to the contrary, statements that Ethiopia has fallen victim to a classic 'Trojan Horse' ruse seem to be credible.

Emasculation of the Justice System
This is one of the most heinous and most damaging crimes perpetrated by the EPRDF/TPLF. As a recent editorial in the Reporter newspaper observed by drawing parallels with Orwell's 'Animal Farm', the little minds of the government are constantly engaging in blatant activities to “trim” the country's laws to “dovetail” to the whims and wishes of the people in power. Sadly if not surprisingly, opportunistic “judges” are going along with said wishes and helping drive the last nails in the coffin of justice. The damage done just through this misdeed of undermining the basis of people's trust in a nation is incalculable.

Crimes Against Individuals
Contrary to the self-serving preaching of Ato Meles and his communist ilk, it is the individual and not the collective that initiates change and thus drives the development of a nation. History is full of examples of enterprising individuals who managed to change the course of history, often to the benefit of their respective nations. This fact has been recognized by governments all over who thus strive to create an environment conducive and supportive to individual efforts and go to great lengths to protect individual rights. Characteristically, the EPRDF/TPLF government's practice to date has been to exploit individuals for its own narrow benefits and throw them aside like they were dirt when it believed their usefulness was over. In fact, people in Ethiopia openly state that 'the EPRDF/TPLF is like the person who sucks the juice out of a piece of sugar cane and spits the remains' (literal translation). In one of the many similarities with the policies of the Dergue (reflecting how little/uneducated minds try to desperately cling to power), the EPRDF/TPLF leadership mostly directed its attacks against the individuals it believed most threatening, i.e., the country's educated people. Not surprisingly, many of the people recently incarcerated on apparently trumped-up charges of corruption fall into this category. These include former government officials, professionals who used to work at various levels of service, enterprising individuals who created businesses that supported many citizens, etc. Clear as it may be to many as to why these people have been targeted, it is amazing to see that Meles and Co. think they can fool people through elaborate (if transparent) schemes such as the “Anti-corruption Campaign”.
What makes this doubly sad is that the real culprits, not only remain at large, but continue to bleed the country unabated. Local papers are full of stories that carefully allude to the identity of these people but a broad illustration would be the internal security apparatus whose operatives at all levels, who not only have limitless expense accounts that they are not required to account for, but also engage in various widely known rackets that generate funds for the whole system (blackmailing businessmen, for instance). It follows that no enterprising individual would want to involve, indeed dare to involve in any venture in the country. Obviously, the damage is immeasurable. No country, let alone a poor country such as ours, can afford to alienate and do without its cream individuals.

Attacks on Ethnic Harmony
Perhaps the greatest crime of the EPRDF/TPLF is its attack on the very fabric of our nationhood--the wedge it has been able to drive between hitherto harmonious relationship of all the people of Ethiopia. While it is true that Ethiopia was not or has never been a paradise of ethnic harmony, we have never had in our history an ethnic enclave or group attack another just based on ethnicity alone (à la Rwanda and Burundi). It can be said that the Dergue did its considerable share in increasing the ethnic divergence but the major responsibility in creating and propagating this potentially apocalyptic situation lies at the door of the ungodly demagogues of the EPRDF/TPLF. One can't even begin to imagine the destructive consequences of this misguided policy.