Mengistu Haile Mariam: Difference between revisions
imported>Buddyrichiedonmoochie No edit summary |
No edit summary |
||
| Line 8: | Line 8: | ||
Mengistu's father, Haile Mariam, is said to have defiantly hung Emperor Haile Selassie's portrait on the walls of his living room in the villa that the Prime Minister, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fikre_Selassie_Wogderess Fikre Selassie Wogderess], built for him in the middle class district of Asmera Menged | Mengistu's father, Haile Mariam, is said to have defiantly hung Emperor Haile Selassie's portrait on the walls of his living room in the villa that the Prime Minister, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fikre_Selassie_Wogderess Fikre Selassie Wogderess], built for him in the middle class district of Asmera Menged | ||
==Servie in the Army== | ==Servie in the Army== | ||
Mengistu followed his father and joined the army, where he attracted the attention of the Eritrean-born general, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aman_Andom Aman Andom], who raised him to the rank of sergeant and assigned him duties as an errand boy in his office. Mengistu graduated from the Holetta Military Academy, one of the two important military academies of Ethiopia. | Mengistu followed his father and joined the army, where he attracted the attention of the Eritrean-born general, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aman_Andom Aman Andom], who raised him to the rank of sergeant and assigned him duties as an errand boy in his office. Mengistu graduated from the Holetta Military Academy, one of the two important military academies of Ethiopia. General Aman then became his mentor, and when the General was assigned to the commander of the Third Division took Mengistu with him to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harar Harar], and later was assigned as Ordnance officer in the 3rd division. A few years before his departure for training to the US he was in conflict with the then 3rd Division commander Geneara Haile Baykedagn who apparently hated the sight of him. It was said the general once said to him that he would "...chew him like chewing gum and make him suffer". At the time the Ordnance group was offered military technical training support in a large scale compared to other units of the Imperial Army. Despite his hatred, the general was obliged to release him and Mengistu went for six months' training in Maryland, USA. Returning after his training, he was expected to command the Ordnance Sub-division in Harar. Mengistu, without doubt, met General Haile Baykedagn, the man who treated him badly as a prisoner among other commanders, and later murdered him with the 60 ministers and generals. | ||
Mengistu experienced racial discrimination (while studying in the United States), which led him to a later strong [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-Americanism anti-American sentiment] | Mengistu experienced racial discrimination (while studying in the United States), which led him to a later strong [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-Americanism anti-American sentiment] He equated [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racism racial discrimination] in the United States with the class discrimination in Ethiopia. When he took power, and attended the meeting of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derg Derg] members at the Fourth Division headquarters in Addis Ababa, Mengistu exclaimed with emotion: | ||
In this country, some [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aristocracy aristocratic] families automatically categorize persons with dark skin, thick lips, and kinky hair as "Barias" ([http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amharic_language Amharic] for [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slave Slave])... let it be clear to everybody that I shall soon make these ignoramuses stoop and grind corn! | In this country, some [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aristocracy aristocratic] families automatically categorize persons with dark skin, thick lips, and kinky hair as "Barias" ([http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amharic_language Amharic] for [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slave Slave])... let it be clear to everybody that I shall soon make these ignoramuses stoop and grind corn! | ||
Professor Bahru Zewde notes that Mengistu was distinguished by a "special ability to size up situations and persons". Although Bahru notes that some observers "rather charitably" equated this ability with intelligence, the professor believes this skill is more akin to "[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Know-how street smarts]": "it is rather closer to the mark to see it as inner-city smartness (or what in local parlance would be called ''aradanat'')." | Professor Bahru Zewde notes that Mengistu was distinguished by a "special ability to size up situations and persons". Although Bahru notes that some observers "rather charitably" equated this ability with intelligence, the professor believes this skill is more akin to "[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Know-how street smarts]": "it is rather closer to the mark to see it as inner-city smartness (or what in local parlance would be called ''aradanat'')." | ||
==The rise of the Derg== | ==The rise of the Derg== | ||
In 1974, Emperor [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haile_Selassie Haile Selassie]'s government had lost public confidence within Ethiopia following a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Famines_in_Ethiopia famine] in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wello Wello] province, leading to the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethiopian_revolution Ethiopian revolution]. As a result, power came into the hands of a committee of low ranking officers and enlisted soldiers led by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atnafu_Abate Atnafu Abate], which came to be known as the Derg. Originally, Mengistu was one of the lesser members, officially sent to represent the Third Division because his commander, General Nega Tegnegn considered him a trouble-maker and wanted to get rid of him.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Henze-290_9-1">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mengistu_Haile_Mariam#cite_note-Henze-290-9 [9]]</sup> Between July and September 1974, Mengistu became the most influential member of the shadowy Derg, but preferred to act through more public members like his former mentor, general Aman Andom, and later [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tafari_Benti Tafari Benti].<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Keller-185_8-1">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mengistu_Haile_Mariam#cite_note-Keller-185-8 [8]]</sup> | In 1974, Emperor [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haile_Selassie Haile Selassie]'s government had lost public confidence within Ethiopia following a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Famines_in_Ethiopia famine] in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wello Wello] province, leading to the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethiopian_revolution Ethiopian revolution]. As a result, power came into the hands of a committee of low ranking officers and enlisted soldiers led by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atnafu_Abate Atnafu Abate], which came to be known as the Derg. Originally, Mengistu was one of the lesser members, officially sent to represent the Third Division because his commander, General Nega Tegnegn considered him a trouble-maker and wanted to get rid of him.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Henze-290_9-1">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mengistu_Haile_Mariam#cite_note-Henze-290-9 [9]]</sup> Between July and September 1974, Mengistu became the most influential member of the shadowy Derg, but preferred to act through more public members like his former mentor, general Aman Andom, and later [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tafari_Benti Tafari Benti].<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Keller-185_8-1">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mengistu_Haile_Mariam#cite_note-Keller-185-8 [8]]</sup> | ||
| Line 40: | Line 40: | ||
In the late 1980s, some Western critics of Mengistu, including Michael Johns of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heritage_Foundation Heritage Foundation], charged that Mengistu's economic, military and political policies, along with the Soviet Union's support for Mengistu, were key contributing factors to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1983-1985_famine_in_Ethiopia Ethiopian famine], which ultimately took over a million lives.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-21">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mengistu_Haile_Mariam#cite_note-21 [21]]</sup> Mengistu made seven visits to the Soviet Union between 1977 and 1984, as well as other visits to his political allies Cuba, Libya, South Yemen, and Mozambique. From 1983 to 1984 Mengistu served as head of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organization_of_African_Unity Organization of African Unity]. | In the late 1980s, some Western critics of Mengistu, including Michael Johns of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heritage_Foundation Heritage Foundation], charged that Mengistu's economic, military and political policies, along with the Soviet Union's support for Mengistu, were key contributing factors to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1983-1985_famine_in_Ethiopia Ethiopian famine], which ultimately took over a million lives.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-21">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mengistu_Haile_Mariam#cite_note-21 [21]]</sup> Mengistu made seven visits to the Soviet Union between 1977 and 1984, as well as other visits to his political allies Cuba, Libya, South Yemen, and Mozambique. From 1983 to 1984 Mengistu served as head of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organization_of_African_Unity Organization of African Unity]. | ||
However, the government's military position gradually weakened. First came the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Afabet Battle of Afabet] in March 1989, which was a humiliating defeat at the hands of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eritrean_People%27s_Liberation_Front Eritrean People's Liberation Front], with 15,000 casualties and the loss of a great deal of equipment. This was followed up less than a year later by another crushing defeat at Shire, with over 20,000 men either killed or captured and the loss of even more equipment. Then on 16 May, while Mengistu had left for a four-day state visit to East Germany, senior military officials attempted a coup and the Minister of Defense, Haile Giyorgis Habte Mariam was killed; Mengistu returned within 24 hours and nine generals, including the air force commander and the army Chief of Staff, died as the coup was crushed. | However, the government's military position gradually weakened. First came the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Afabet Battle of Afabet] in March 1989, which was a humiliating defeat at the hands of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eritrean_People%27s_Liberation_Front Eritrean People's Liberation Front], with 15,000 casualties and the loss of a great deal of equipment. This was followed up less than a year later by another crushing defeat at Shire, with over 20,000 men either killed or captured and the loss of even more equipment. Then on 16 May, while Mengistu had left for a four-day state visit to East Germany, senior military officials attempted a coup and the Minister of Defense, Haile Giyorgis Habte Mariam was killed; Mengistu returned within 24 hours and nine generals, including the air force commander and the army Chief of Staff, died as the coup was crushed. | ||
===Asylum in Zimbabwe=== | ===Asylum in Zimbabwe=== | ||
In May 1991, the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethiopian_People%27s_Revolutionary_Democratic_Front Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front] (EPRDF) forces advanced on [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Addis_Ababa Addis Ababa] from all sides, and Mengistu fled the country with 50 family and Derg members. He was granted asylum in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zimbabwe Zimbabwe] as an official guest of Zimbabwean President [[Robert Mugabe]]. Mengistu left behind almost the entire membership of the original Derg and the WPE leadership, precluding their escape; in fact, one officer was caught twice while trying to escape from Addis Ababa. Almost all were promptly arrested and put on trial upon the assumption of power by the EPRDF. Mengistu has claimed that the takeover of his country resulted from the policies of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikhail_Gorbachev Mikhail Gorbachev], who in his view allowed the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the termination of its aid to Ethiopia. | In May 1991, the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethiopian_People%27s_Revolutionary_Democratic_Front Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front] (EPRDF) forces advanced on [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Addis_Ababa Addis Ababa] from all sides, and Mengistu fled the country with 50 family and Derg members. He was granted asylum in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zimbabwe Zimbabwe] as an official guest of Zimbabwean President [[Robert Mugabe]]. Mengistu left behind almost the entire membership of the original Derg and the WPE leadership, precluding their escape; in fact, one officer was caught twice while trying to escape from Addis Ababa. Almost all were promptly arrested and put on trial upon the assumption of power by the EPRDF. Mengistu has claimed that the takeover of his country resulted from the policies of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikhail_Gorbachev Mikhail Gorbachev], who in his view allowed the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the termination of its aid to Ethiopia. | ||
An assassination attempt against Mengistu occurred on 4 November 1995, while he was out walking with his wife, Wubanchi Bishaw, near his home in the Gunhill suburb of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harare Harare]. While Mengistu was unharmed, his alleged attacker, Solomon Haile Ghebre Michael, an Eritrean, was shot and arrested by Mengistu's bodyguards. | An assassination attempt against Mengistu occurred on 4 November 1995, while he was out walking with his wife, Wubanchi Bishaw, near his home in the Gunhill suburb of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harare Harare]. While Mengistu was unharmed, his alleged attacker, Solomon Haile Ghebre Michael, an Eritrean, was shot and arrested by Mengistu's bodyguards. He was later tried for this assassination attempt, pleading not guilty in a Zimbabwean court on 8 July 1996. The Eritrean Ambassador to South Africa, Tsegaye Tesfa Tsion, flew to Harare to attend the trial. The attacker was sentenced to ten years in prison, while his accomplice Abraham Goletom Joseph, who had been arrested in a police raid, was sentenced to five years. They said that they had been tortured under Mengistu, and on appeal their sentences were reduced to two years each due to "mitigatory circumstances". The Ethiopian ambassador to Zimbabwe, Fantahun Haile Michael, said his government was not involved in the assassination attempt, and that he heard about the incident from the media. | ||
Mengistu still resides in Zimbabwe, despite the Ethiopian government's desire that he be extradited. He is said to live in luxurious circumstances, and it is claimed that he advises Mugabe on security matters; according to one report, he proposed the idea of clearing slums, which was implemented as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Murambatsvina Operation Murambatsvina] in 2005, and chaired meetings at which the operation was planned. State Security Minister [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Didymus_Mutasa Didymus Mutasa] strongly denied that Mengistu was involved in Operation Murambatsvina in any way, saying that Mengistu "does not interfere at all with the affairs of our country. We also do not allow him to interfere with his country from Zimbabwe." | Mengistu still resides in Zimbabwe, despite the Ethiopian government's desire that he be extradited. He is said to live in luxurious circumstances, and it is claimed that he advises Mugabe on security matters; according to one report, he proposed the idea of clearing slums, which was implemented as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Murambatsvina Operation Murambatsvina] in 2005, and chaired meetings at which the operation was planned. State Security Minister [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Didymus_Mutasa Didymus Mutasa] strongly denied that Mengistu was involved in Operation Murambatsvina in any way, saying that Mengistu "does not interfere at all with the affairs of our country. We also do not allow him to interfere with his country from Zimbabwe." | ||
==Claims of genocide in Ethiopia== | ==Claims of genocide in Ethiopia== | ||
Mengistu was charged by the current Ethiopian government led by Meles Zenawi, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_absentia in absentia], for the killing of nearly 2,000 people. Mengistu's charge sheet and evidence list was 8,000 pages long. The evidence against him included signed execution orders, videos of torture sessions and personal testimonies | Mengistu was charged by the current Ethiopian government led by Meles Zenawi, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_absentia in absentia], for the killing of nearly 2,000 people. Mengistu's charge sheet and evidence list was 8,000 pages long. The evidence against him included signed execution orders, videos of torture sessions and personal testimonies | ||
The trial began in 1994 and ended in 2006. The court said Mengistu was guilty as charged on 12 December 2006, and imposed a life sentence on Mengistu in January 2007. | The trial began in 1994 and ended in 2006. The court said Mengistu was guilty as charged on 12 December 2006, and imposed a life sentence on Mengistu in January 2007. In addition to the genocide conviction, the court claimed that he was guilty of imprisonment, illegal homicide and illegal confiscation of property. | ||
Michael Clough, a US attorney and longtime observer of Ethiopia said in a statement that | Michael Clough, a US attorney and longtime observer of Ethiopia said in a statement that | ||
“The biggest problem with prosecuting Mengistu for genocide is that his actions did not necessarily target a particular group. They were directed against anybody who was opposing his government, and they were generally much more political than based on any ethnic targeting. In contrast, the irony is the [current] Ethiopian government itself has been accused of genocide based on atrocities committed in Gambella. I’m not sure that they qualify as genocide either. But in Gambella, the incidents, which were well documented in a human rights report of about 2 years ago, were clearly directed at a particular group, the tribal group, the Anuak.” | “The biggest problem with prosecuting Mengistu for genocide is that his actions did not necessarily target a particular group. They were directed against anybody who was opposing his government, and they were generally much more political than based on any ethnic targeting. In contrast, the irony is the [current] Ethiopian government itself has been accused of genocide based on atrocities committed in Gambella. I’m not sure that they qualify as genocide either. But in Gambella, the incidents, which were well documented in a human rights report of about 2 years ago, were clearly directed at a particular group, the tribal group, the Anuak.” | ||
Some experts believe hundreds of thousands of university students, intellectuals and politicians (including Emperor Haile Selassie) were killed during Mengistu's rule. | Some experts believe hundreds of thousands of university students, intellectuals and politicians (including Emperor Haile Selassie) were killed during Mengistu's rule. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amnesty_International Amnesty International] estimates that a total of half a million people were killed during the Red Terror of 1977 and 1978<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-books.google.com_17-1">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mengistu_Haile_Mariam#cite_note-books.google.com-17 [17]]</sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-US_admits_helping_Mengistu_escape_18-1">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mengistu_Haile_Mariam#cite_note-US_admits_helping_Mengistu_escape-18 [18]]</sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Devil_pg_151_19-1">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mengistu_Haile_Mariam#cite_note-Devil_pg_151-19 [19]]</sup> [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_Rights_Watch Human Rights Watch] describes the Red Terror as "one of the most systematic uses of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mass_murder#Mass_murder_by_a_state mass murder by a state] ever witnessed in Africa." During his reign it was not uncommon to see students, suspected government critics or rebel sympathisers hanging from lampposts each morning. Mengistu himself is alleged to have murdered opponents by garroting or shooting them, saying that he was leading by example. | ||
106 Derg officials were accused of genocide during the trials, but only 36 of them were present in the court. Several former members of the Derg have been sentenced to death. | 106 Derg officials were accused of genocide during the trials, but only 36 of them were present in the court. Several former members of the Derg have been sentenced to death. | ||
After Mengistu's conviction in December 2006, the Zimbabwean government said that he still enjoyed asylum and would not be extradited. A Zimbabwean government spokesman explained this by saying that "Mengistu and his government played a key and commendable role during our struggle for independence". According to the spokesman, Mengistu assisted his guerrilla fighters during the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhodesian_Bush_War Rhodesian Bush War] by providing training and arms, and after the war he had provided training for Zimbabwean air force pilots; the spokesman said that "not many countries have shown such commitment to us". | After Mengistu's conviction in December 2006, the Zimbabwean government said that he still enjoyed asylum and would not be extradited. A Zimbabwean government spokesman explained this by saying that "Mengistu and his government played a key and commendable role during our struggle for independence". According to the spokesman, Mengistu assisted his guerrilla fighters during the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhodesian_Bush_War Rhodesian Bush War] by providing training and arms, and after the war he had provided training for Zimbabwean air force pilots; the spokesman said that "not many countries have shown such commitment to us". | ||
Following an appeal on 26 May 2008, Mengistu was sentenced to death ''in absentia'' by Ethiopia's High Court, overturning his previous sentence of life imprisonment. Twenty-three of his most senior aides also received death sentences that were commuted on 1 June 2011. On October 4, 2011, 16 of former Mengistu officials have been released from prison in parole, due to their old age and good behavior, while they were incarcerated. However, Mengistu's sentence remains unchanged. It is not clear if a change in government in Zimbabwe will result in his extradition. | Following an appeal on 26 May 2008, Mengistu was sentenced to death ''in absentia'' by Ethiopia's High Court, overturning his previous sentence of life imprisonment. Twenty-three of his most senior aides also received death sentences that were commuted on 1 June 2011. On October 4, 2011, 16 of former Mengistu officials have been released from prison in parole, due to their old age and good behavior, while they were incarcerated. However, Mengistu's sentence remains unchanged. It is not clear if a change in government in Zimbabwe will result in his extradition. | ||
[[Category:List]] | |||
[[Category:Absolute Evil]] | |||
[[Category:Leader]] | [[Category:Leader]] | ||
[[Category:War Criminal]] | [[Category:War Criminal]] | ||
[[Category:Hatemongers]] | [[Category:Hatemongers]] | ||
| Line 73: | Line 74: | ||
[[Category:Corrupt Officials]] | [[Category:Corrupt Officials]] | ||
[[Category:Supremacists]] | [[Category:Supremacists]] | ||
[[Category:Evil Ruler]] | [[Category:Evil Ruler]] | ||
[[Category:Social Darwinist]] | [[Category:Social Darwinist]] | ||
[[Category:Brainwasher]] | [[Category:Brainwasher]] | ||
[[Category:Imprisoned Villains]] | |||