LETTER WRITTER TO OUR EGYPTIAN BROTHERS Written by ABERA WENDOSEN Honorable Egyptian brothers,firstly,I would like to convey my greetings from the land of Lucy, origin of human kind, the source of Blue Nile -that you have already taken it for granted only because it renders you a comfortable of life- and the blessed country, Ethiopia. This is to address a little advice with a sense of African brotherhood that need humanly judgment but not an outlook assorted with sentiments. I am to tell you something about the Blue Nile issue which my country had no advantage for ages to gain from but recently incorporated it into its development efforts. I grew up regretting the inability of my country in exploiting this river while many died of hunger over the past decades. I am accustomed to hear local proverbs concerning the Blue Nile The son of Abbay (Nile) in a state of thirst” that was eventually growing up with me splashing regret into my mind. It is not out of blue sky emotion that I am regretful, rather it is because I do understand the problem my countrymen stretching their hands forward for beggary while Nile erodes the fertile soil lowering the productivity of their farmland and that in turn threatening the food security of the nation from time to time. No one denies the existence of a deep- rooted history the people of Ethiopia and Egypt are sharing. As the ancient Egyptians are historically known to be the architect of the magnificent pyramids that has immensely astonished the world. Ethiopian brothers have also same fame in architecture ,simply taking Aksum obelisks and Lalibelaa rock-hewn churches seems to be enough. I also like to tell you that I have learned from known writers and historians that the two countries relationship goes back to many centuries. Leaving all alone,lets take religious books,the old testament says the Ethiopian Eunuch made a first visit to Egypt. This shows long aged and deep- rooted relationship of the people of two nations. This implies that an early people of the two nations used to have a wise consensus in fairly utilizing the river for common advantage with a sense African brotherhood, which makes them pioneers of world civilization and river politics. One of the writers that can strengthen my genuine argument, in this regard, is the known Ethiopian poet laureate Tsegaye G/ Medhin. Tsgaye is a known poet intensively honoured by the Ethiopian literature society. It would be important here to mention one of his most celebrated poems which is compiled in his book titled Esat woi Abeba, “Abbay” (Nile), is taken as a masterpiece by known group of Ethiopian critics. This known writer in his deep and strong words illustrated that there was a civilized history that the Nile riparian countries specially Ethiopia,Sudan,and Egypt enjoyed that ensured all inclusive prosperity with River Nile. It is even after having repeatedly read this poem that I, myself, tried to analyze the Nile issue more than ever. Therefore,the idea of fairly sharing the Blue Nile waters among the upstream and downstream countries has remained debatable issue in recent centuries. It was fairly and wisely agreed upon the ancient people of the two nations which was a civilized approach indeed. Thus,I have totally believed and impressed with the poem of Laureate Tsegaye G/Medehen disseminating the fact lightens a glittering history. If mutual benefit and prosperity and making Nile the center of civilization was possible to our early ancestors, then what a hell of closed mindedness blur the mind of the society that is calling itself modern? Let me tell you, I was asking myself from my childhood about the generation which disgraced our country- the source of Blue Nile and the origin of human race -that was once at its peak of civilization. Why are the contemporary political authorities [of Egypt] denying the idea of common development and prosperity with upstream and downstream nations including with the lion hearted people, Ethiopians, with true love of Africanism and African brotherhood? What sin has our nation committed that makes it not to dine from the blessings that flood to wilderness and forced it only to salivate? Such and such endless questions hits my mind as of childhood. It is of course, a great disappointment to see the people of this great nation flogged with hunger while it is said to be the water tower of East Africa by the very fact that 85 per cent of the river flows from it entire territory and I think that is why it worried me much. It is with this sorrowful flashback that, I am to tell you, I had seen with my naked eyes when many of my close relatives and many other citizens suffered and died of hunger after the drought that took place in Northern part of Ethiopia about three decades ago. It is not even in small amount that I had observed the life of millions of farmers and pastorals disordered by the shortage of rain worsening from time to time since the drought of 1980s . The fact that pastorals living in specially in dessert part of Afar and Somalia states do heavily rely on rain. Consequently, they are more prone to hunger resulting from recurring natural disaster. This implies how the proverb we mentioned earlier bears deep regret to every one of us. The Blue Nile, with no controlling force, robes the fertile soil of the Ethiopian highlands to Nile tributaries. It is with this very torching conditions that this country had been forced to go with begging bowels to Westerners in view of safeguarding citizens lives from hunger even if the country is the land of human origin and civilization. What paradox can we bring than hearing heart bleeding story of an individual, a country or anybody that is hit by thirst but is synonymous with water tower of East Africa in which rivers like Blue Nile roams free along with its tributaries namely Baro [Akobo] and Tekeze [Atbara]. As to me, trying to sustain the previous share of the waters of Nile which excluded the main source is more crazy and unfair proposal provided that it has been judged by an individual with normal mindset. It also earns no moral acceptance. It is enough to be human to judge this hard fact. Therefore, with this very 21st century, where colonial west intervening treaties are almost out of the rule of the game, and modernization there is no alternative apart from utilizing cross-boarder lakes and rivers for a common advantage. This is the key to unlock such dilemmas and set mutual prosperity. Dear my Egyptian brothers, to sum up my letter, I wish you peace and prosperity among yourself and may you have democratic government! But I also wish you to have peace with neighbors including we Ethiopians on a give and take course of diplomatic gains.
Posted on: Tue, 25 Mar 2014 07:23:20 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015