ETHIOPIA/FILE: Ethiopians mark the twenty-year anniversary of the removal of former Marxist ruler Mengistu Haile Mariam

Record ID: 762521

  • Title: ETHIOPIA/FILE: Ethiopians mark the twenty-year anniversary of the removal of former Marxist ruler Mengistu Haile Mariam
  • Date: 30th May 2011
  • Summary: ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA (MAY 28, 2011) (REUTERS) HELICOPTER FLYING OVERHEAD DROPPING PAMPHLETS WITH A STRING OF FLAGS PEOPLE AT RALLY AT MESKEL SQUARE PEOPLE WAVING POSTERS WITH PICTURES OF ETHIOPIAN PRIME MINISTER MELES ZENAWI MELES WAVING SOLDIERS CONTROLLING CROWDS (SOUNDBITE) (Amharic) ETHIOPIAN PRIME MINISTER, MELES ZENAWI SAYING: "The Great Renaissance Dam is a
  • Embargoed: 14th June 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Ethiopia
  • Country: Ethiopia
  • Topics: History,Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA9NBVLJDG9CDK16N36HUOZ6FGX
  • Story Text: Tens of thousands of Ethiopians marked the 20 year anniversary of the removal of former Marxist ruler Mengistu Haile Mariam on Saturday (May 28).
    The day was also in celebration of 56-year-old Meles Zenawi, Ethiopia's Prime Minister who came to power in 1991 after his rebel Tigrayan People's Liberation Front joined other groups and toppled Mengistu's brutal regime, ending a 17-year guerrilla war.
    Supporters of the ruling party, The Ethiopian People's Democratic Party -- EPRDF, filled Meskel Square, the capital's main square. Meles' supporters waved posters carrying his picture and reading "We are proud of you!".
    In his speech, Meles focused on his party's efforts to improve the economy rather than on the day itself.
    The Horn of Africa Nation is building a 4.7 billion dollar project along its Nile waters to try and become a leading power exporter in Africa. Ethiopia has ignored concerns in Egypt over Nile water usage and is due to complete the first stages of construction in two years.
    "The Great Renaissance Dam is a dam that broke the power of poverty, powerlessness and the perception of many that says Ethiopians cannot build any dam on the Nile river basin without foreign aid and a loan," he said.
    "The Renaissance Dam is a milestone for our successful efforts and determination that we are no longer bystanders but owners and beneficiaries of our own natural resource," he said.
    For many at the celebrations, remembering the end of Mengistu's regime was the main focus of the day.
    In the early 70's Mengistu Haile Mariam rose to power on the back of a revolution that toppled emperor Haile Selassie.
    Although Mengistu didn't lead the revolution, he rose up through the party's ranks by eliminating his rivals.
    He championed Marxist policies that made him popular with the socialist bloc during the cold war, but life under Mengistu was difficult for many in Ethiopia - he tolerated no opposition.
    A dramatic speech in Addis Ababa in 1977 was seen by many as the start of what later became known as the Red Terror: mass-executions by the Derg, as Mengistu's military officials were known, with the bodies of the dead dumped on the streets.
    "Freedom is the main thing for a human being. It is on this day which I got freedom and equality. May 28 has enabled me to work at any time I want and live any where I like," said Mengistu Gebremedhin, a resident of Addis Ababa.
    "Life was different during the Derg regime. Now we can march to any rally in freedom," said Guennet Kebede another Ethiopian.
    The Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Party, then a guerilla movement toppled Mengistu with it's leader Meles Zenawi, who then became Prime Minister and Mengistu fled to Zimbabwe.
    Meles has received international praise for guiding the country to double-digit economic growth in the past six years, but is criticised for cracking down on dissent and weakening opposition parties.
    Some blame state policies for the rising cost of living and had called for an Arab-style "day of rage" for Saturday during the celebrations.
    "Much of the promises made when the EPRDF came to power in 1991 miserably failed. Especially their most important promises such as democratization of state in the society, improvement of the Ethiopian economy... some of these things have failed," said Merere Gudina, a university professor in Addis Ababa who is also Chairman of Forum for Democratic Dialogue in Ethiopia, a coalition of opposition parties.
    Government detractors say some elements of past dictatorial regimes are still present today and many Ethiopians live in fear of questioning the country's leadership.
    Street protests erupted in Ethiopia after Meles' disputed 2005 election win and more than 200 people were killed in clashes between protesters and police.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register