Mengistu found guilty of genocide

[ButterflyBlood]

Ethiopia's Marxist ex-ruler, Mengistu Haile Mariam, has been found guilty of genocide after a 12-year trial.

The former leader was tried in his absence. He has been in exile in Zimbabwe since being ousted in 1991 and many fear he will never face justice.

In a notorious campaign - known as the Red Terror - thousands of suspected opponents were rounded up and executed and their bodies tossed on the streets.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6171429.stm

[Redstone]

1. About fucking time. Too bad they can't get to him to hang him.

Redstone

[David__77]

2. Mengistu was the best they had.

He was brutal--he was no Allende. The CIA was plotting to crush Ethiopia, and even instigated Somalia to invade. I support Eritrean independence and oppose Mengistu's Amhara chauvinism, but under his leadership Ethiopia abolished feudalism in the countryside and increased literacy many times over.

[Zorro]

3. Abolishment of feudalism happened before Mengistu

I believe that occurred once the DIRG overthrew Haile Selassie and put Teferi Bente into power. And then Mengistu whacked Bente after about 3 years in power.

He'll end up like Idi Amin and never face the justice he deserves.

[David__77]

6. Yes, in a sense.

The revolution occurred in 74, and Mengistu came forward in 77. But the "Red Terror" was about defending those gains started in the earlier period of the "dergue."

[David__77]

7. I also have qualms about trying Mengistu, and not so many imperialists.

Why not Kissenger? Or Brzezinski and Carter re: Afghanistan? The real criminals, in my opinion, are those entrenched in power. This is "victor's justice" of the worst sort.

[rinsd]

8. Genocide by marxists doesn't count in your book?

What a shocker...

:eyes:

[David__77]

10. Two points...

1. Mengistu was no Marxist. At the drop of a hat he recanted his "ideology" as soon as Soviet-allied aid started to dry up. Arguably, the EPRDF and Eritrean forces that brought him down have a more legitimate claim to real Marxism.

2. I did not say that he committed no crimes. But first I think that they are internal affair of the Ethiopian and Eritrean peoples, and second I think that the imperialist criminals should be brought to justice. And the latter is the affair of the people of the imperialist countries as well as the people of the countries oppressed by imperialism.

[rpannier]

4. It was Menghistu's policies

That lead to the accelerated desertification of Ethiopia and the massive starvation that occurred.

[alfredo]

5. I am also a supporter of the Eritrean people. Both

Ethiopia and Eritrea desperately need new honest leadership.

I lived in Asmara from 66 to 69.

[DrDan]

9. I lived in Ethiopia during the first part of his rule . .

he is a dictator of the worst kind . . . very cruel . . .

Checkpoints were through-out the city. At one near our home, a car with several passengers tried to run through it. They shot everyone. Then left the bodies in the car where it came to rest - for days - just to show their cruelty.

But Ethiopia is a beautiful country - as are the people. It is a shame they have had to endure the corrupt governments.