Cheapened Talks
Besides God awful references to pop music when he writes bloated responses to international election observers, Prime Minister Meles has one other big weakness: getting outwitted every time he sits down to talk to the opposition.
The worst thing that can happen to Ato Meles is to be forced to sit down to talk intelligently, because he’s lost that war. Oh well. But the charade must go on.
So the EPRDF has been in talks with the opposition for three whole days; talks which have been brokered by the American and British ambassadors. Three whole days! Information has been tight about the nature of the talks, and I honestly find it amazing that anyone can actually talk to Ato Meles for three whole days about anything. But that’s just me.
But, BUT, the crack Weichegud research team, especially those on crack, were able to get a hold of the transcripts of the super secret talks, and boy, it’s never pretty.
First day of talks:
Meles: We are here to talk about not talking. So, welcome.
Bereket: Yes. Indeed.
US Amb: Huh?
US Amb: So did not know!
US Amb: What the hell…?
US Amb: You darn tootin’.
Berhanu: Ehem, you do realize we are in the room?
Berhanu: We are gravely concerned about the current imprisonment…
Meles: Hell-lo! We can’t have any talks yet.
US Amb: Why not?
Meles: Not enough people have yet been arrested.
US Amb: What!?
Bereket: What his excellency, our most vulnerable leader means is that…
Bereket: You are upsetting our most executed leader.
US Amb: Woah.
US Amb: Oh.
Meles: May I finish? Am I Allowed to finish? Am I allowed to talk or is this only for self appointed viceroyalits?
US Amb: Hm. Someone didn’t eat their Wheaties this morning.
Meles: I will not be ridiculed.
Bereket: Yes. He will not. Be ridiculed. He will not be. Ridiculed.
US Amb: Time out. So, why can’t there be talks, again?
Meles: Like I said, since not enough people have yet been arrested, there can’t be talks, yet.
Berhanu: Over 1800 people have been arrested and they are being held without charge. That’s against the constitution.
Bereket: So?
Meles: So?
Berhanu: You see what I’m saying. You want us to keep talking to this government?
US Amb: I’m still stuck on “not enough people have been arrested to start a talk.”
Meles: The good ambassador must be new to our culture. Explain it to him, Bere.
Bereket: Before the EPRDF starts talks, a certain number of people have to be arrested. It’s tradition. An ancient one.
Meles: Yes. Last time we had talks with the opposition, in… June… 3000-4000 people were arrested.
Bereket: So you see our dilemma.
Meles: We have not even arrested 2000 people yet.
Bereket: So there can’t be talks.
Meles: None.
US Amb: But, what kind of talks are talks held under threats?
Meles: Good ones.
Bereket: Even great ones.
US Amb: Tell me what I’m missing.
Meles: They go together.
Bereket: Like Kitfo and meeTmeeTa.
Meles: He means, like burgers and fries.
Bereket: Yes. Like burgers and fries. You cannot have one without the other.
Meles: No arrests. No talks.
US Amb: So why are we here?
Meles: The good ambassador should brush up on his history of the EPRDF… we are here to talk about not talking. I had assumed that was clear. Wasn't that clear?
US Amb: Well, how long will it take you to arrest 1000 people so we can start the talks?
Meles: It depends.
US Amb: On what?
Meles: Stuffs. Many stuffs.
Berhanu: I just can’t believe you guys are asking us to talk to this government.
US Amb: Well, how long will it take you to have 1000 of your people arrested so we can start the talks?
Berhanu: Are you shitting me?
US Amb: By the way, can you please join the parliament so we can all go home?
Beyene: What kind of parliament are we joining? We can’t bring up items on the agenda, and we can’t bring up any bill dealing with finance related issues. So, tell us? What are we going in there for? To sit and twiddle our thumbs?
Meles: Oh, and you can’t do that either. We passed new laws.
Beyene: Do what?
Meles: Sit.
US Amb: Whachootalkin’ about Meles?
Bereket: What our exhausted Prime Minister is saying is…
US Amb: Dude, exalted!
Meles: I am vexed. I am verily vexed.
Meles: The new rules forbid new MPs from sitting in parliament.
US Amb: Again, I seem to be lost.
Meles: The new MPs have to stand throughout parliamentary talks. It’s really not complicated.
US Amb: Ohh. You mean they literally can’t sit in parliament.
Meles: Did I not just say that? Literally, figuratively… they can’t sit, they can’t sit new. Beqa.
US Amb: Beqa? No beqa! Wait. This is a negotiation. Berhanu, would you mind terribly if your people stand during parliament? It’ll strengthen your calf muscles. Feel mine. Hard as a rock.
Berhanu: Do you stand all day in your job, Mr. Ambassador?
US Amb: Heck, no. That’d be crazy!
US Amb: Sounds good to me!
Meles: The new MPs cannot also twiddle their thumbs.
Bereket: Yes. In fact…
Meles: They can’t have thumbs.
US Amb: Ouch.
US Amb: Well, my government will provide clean instruments with which to saw off opposition members’ thumbs.
Meles: No artificial thumbs!
Bereket: Absolutely not! It’s un-Ethiopian.
Berhanu: I don’t think this is how the talks are supposed to proceed.
US Amb: Yeah. I’m getting the gist of things.
Berhanu: How can a government that proclaims itself a follower of democracy not allow people to demonstrate? How can you in the west ignore that travesty of…
US Amb: Instead of thumbs, maybe they can have fingers.
Berhanu: As I was saying, the foundation of democracy is to respect…
US Amb: Me, too!
Meles: We have kitfo.
Bereket: But of course.
US Amb: I’ll grab a burger later. But, yeah. I have to agree with Berhanu on this. You gotta let people demonstrate.
Bereket: Not if it means usurping the constitution.
Beyene: Aren’t you usurping the constitution by not letting people demonstrate. I mean, if you are secure in the belief that people love you, why don’t you let them demonstrate and…
Meles: Have we arrested Teddy Afro yet?
Bereket: Not yet, your highwayness.
US Amb: Your what..?
Meles: Good ambassadors! You are interrupting these talks.
Bereket: We ask you please not to interrupt.
Meles: BerE, can you add arresting Teddy Afro to your list of things to do as soon as we are done talking about not talking.
Bereket: You wish is my command to arrest.
Berhanu: On what charges is he being arrested?
Meles: On… stuffs. On usurping the constitution.
Berhanu: A pop singer.
US Amb: Uh-huh. And why are we talking about him?
Berhanu: Because this government is so petty that it has banned certains songs.
Berhanu: Yes.
Beyene:
US Amb: Yeah. Sure. So why do you want to arrest this African Teddy?
Berhanu: Oh my God.
Meles: Okay. We won’t arrest him. That’s as much concession as we can make.
Berhanu: You mean besides our calves and our thumbs?
US Amb: Which we are paying for!
Bereket: They are ingrates. They didn’t even say thank you.
US Amb: Me, too.
Meles: You see? You see what we have to deal with? First they want democracy? We said okay. Then they want votes to be counted. We said okay. Then the want the votes to be counted accurately. I mean, there is no give. Only take, take, take.
Bereket: Our executed prime minister cannot give any more.
US Amb: Seriously, how hard is it to say “exalted”?
Meles: Now they want us not to imprison anyone before we start talks. It is mind-boggling. My mind is boggled. It’s been over-boggled.
Bereket: What the prime minister is saying is that the boggling of his mind has to stop.
Meles: He knows me so well.
US Amb: Well, how long will this guy African Teddy Bear would have to be in prison?
Meles: A few day… month… years.
US Amb: That’s outrageous! You can’t imprison someone for a few years without charge!
Meles: Why not?
US Amb: It’s just not done! This is outrageous.
Meles: I disagree. But because you are guests in our country we will say… a few… week… months?
US Amb: Okay.
Meles: You see how much we give?
US Amb: You are a giver. Okay, opposition. The African Ted will only be in prison for a few months. What are you willing to give for that? (This negotiating is hard. But is it our duty.)
Meles: Your what?
US Amb: Our duty.
Bereket: Hee hee.
US Amb: What?
Meles: I guffaw at that as well.
US Amb: At what?!
Bereket: You said… doo-dee.
Meles: He said doo-dee. Hahah.
US Amb: Are you done?
Meles: Yes. But don’t say doo-dee again. I forbid it!
US Amb: What’s the next issue?
Berhanu: Well, we are very concerned about access to media. For the past five months the government has been broadcasting hate speech about the opposition without it giving us the opportunity to respond. Again, how can this government call itself democratic when it can’t even observe the very basic tenets of a democratic nation and…
US Amb: No!
Berhanu: If I may, we are not even talking about equal access. Even an hour a day…
US Amb: He’ll be jailed only for a few weeks.
Meles: Months. A few months.
US Amb: Yes. Months.
US Amb: They want access to state owned media.
Meles: That’s not going to happen.
Berhanu: Can you tell us why not?
Meles: Because giving you access to the media will…
Beyene: …usurp the constitution! We get it.
Bereket: This is the most we have agreed on. I am pleased.
Meles: I am still vexed.
Bereket: I was lying. I am vexed as well.
Berhanu: We haven’t talked about access to media.
Meles: I thought we covered that. It’s not going to happen.
US Amb: What kind of access?
Berhanu: A forum to refute what the government has been saying about us. And to counter the personal attacks.
US Amb: What kind of personal attacks?
Meles: We have not personally attacked anyone.
Berhanu: You said that we eat Ethiopian babies and drink their blood.
Meles: That’s not a personal attack.
Berhanu: What would you call it?
Meles: Upholding rule and law.
Bereket: And defending the constitution.
US Amb: Okay boys. Let’s do this… my government will provide the opposition with American babies to eat.
US Amb: Do we have a deal?
Berhanu: A deal on what?
US Amb: Access to media.
Berhanu: You providing babies and blood solves the issue of access to the media?
US Amb: Precisely. We’ll even add baby blood milkshakes.
Berhanu: This is crazy.
Meles: You see? You see? They are ingrates! How can you expect us to talk to them?
US Amb: Well, would you like the babies and their bloods?
Meles: Sure, if that means peace.
US Amb: Awwwright! Boys, I do believe we have a deal!
US Amb: Me too!
Meles: Me three!
Bereket: Me five!
US Amb: Will you be able to arrest enough opposition members by then?
Meles: We will try hard.
Bereket: Yes, we will.
US Amb: Okay, gang. Sleep tight. Don’t let the bed bugs bite.
Bereket: Phew! Yes, it’s late. I am exxxxalted!
US Amb: Hey! For the last freakin’ time….
US Amb: Okay. I’m going home. See you tomorrow.
Berhanu: Good night, Ambassador.
Meles: Tomorrow, let’s not talk about not talking.
Beyene: Umm.
Berhanu: Whatever.
US Amb: Very fruitful talks.
US Amb: So this is how you negotiate with Africans?
US Amb: Nothing at all.
posted by ET Wonqette at Thursday, October 06, 2005
13 Comments:
ohhhhhhhh, snap! no you did not go there!
if nothing else, you are damn original!
hey wonk,
were you or your spirit part of the gang shit?
woye hagere!
And when we all thought you couldn't, you outdo yourself again. What a talent! Brilliant, just brilliant.
Dear Exhausted, Exalted Wonkette,
I... BINGO! there are so many of us who have been wondering what the Americans and Brits are asking the of the opposition! BIINNGO! Never, never have I regretted my vote for George Bush more.
This is amazing satire, and you know just who to pick on.
Weche guuuuuuud. Ke yet metash????
Listen, now that I think of it, you've got to get this published in an Ethiopian paper. Try The Reporter English edition. Let's hope the story carries into the weekend.
i am boggled. my mind is over-boggled. in fact, the over-bogglary is boogled.
i need to listen to some Afro Ted to calm me and to last me through these talks.
shhoot, girl!
Please send this to all who attended the meeting. It may help them relax a bit...
collegues at the office thought I had really lost it...couldn't control my laughter!
Egzer yiyilish:)
Dear Wonquette -
I really did laugh outloud! Your "script" like text would make a great comedy/satire stage play. I loved it. You certainly provide the kind of tension diffuser that many of us need especially during this time...
I think everyone, myself for starters is asking whether the highly exhausted, sorry, I meant the highly exalted Emperor Meles is wearing any clothes or not. If you recall this children's story all the high ranking court officals and other palace sychophants had nothing but praise for the naked Emperor. The only person that dared to reveal the secret was a little girl who shouted "look, the Emperor isn't wearing any clothes!"
I wonder what it's going to take for someone to call out this whole situation for what it really is. I think it is starting to happen. All of this despite the threats, indirect and direct intimidation that many people are experiencing. Plus the fear of possible reprisal and retailation by government agents and thus the need to conceal names and identities is very indicative of this.
However, I think Ethiopians abroad and within Ethiopia itself are saying "enough is enough" and we need to call a "spade a spade." The power sharing and road to democracy problem isn't simply going to dissappear into thin air or be resolved by belitting the opposition and ultimately the voice of the Ethiopian people. His exhausted, "exalted highwayness" and his "afenegus" needs to understand that he can't have his cake, I mean kifto! and eat it too. Or maybe he can and he will. I don't know, but I am concerned never the less.
i hated... HATED laughing at this. So, this is how you negotiate with Africans? painful.
Lady W:
We have seen enough of your insightful satire on the brutal ruling clique. For a change, it would be interesting to see your views about the differences of opinion within the opposition, particularly the hysterical diaspora that looks things only in blacj and white.
Bereket briefs Meles (from the crack-team)
Meles: So, how did it go?
Bereket: It was rough, man! The American kept asking where the big kahuna was. When I asked him what that was, he said “the big cheese!”
Meles: Well, did you ask him what “the big cheese” was?
Bereket: Sure did, he said, “the enchilada grande!”
Meles: Hmm! What else happened?
Bereket: Well, Birhanu wanted to have an informal talk. He said he didn’t think much of rigid parliamentary procedures.
Meles: And, how did you respond to that?
Bereket: I told him since he didn’t think much of our Parliament and its Procedures we had nothing to talk about.
Meles: So what was the deal-breaker?
Bereket: They wanted to introduce an agenda item about an independent investigation into the muder of them hooligans. I couldn’t let them do that to you.
Meles: So, how did you manage to block it?
Bereket: I blocked it on procedural grounds. You’d have been proud of me, Meles. I told them they couldn’t bring up an item for discussion since they didn’t have 51% of the vote.
Meles: Good move! What else did you say to them?
Bereket: Well, I told them that it wasn’t fair to investigate YOU for killing a measly 42 when Mengistu was never investigated for killing by the thousands!
Meles: I know you didn’t say that, Bereket!
Bereket: Sure did! I ain’t no fair-weather friend. I’m with you all the way!
Meles: You know what your problem is, Bereket? You talk too much! I see why you ran in Lallibela!
Bereket: I take umbrage at your insult, Meles. I’m not a Lallibela!
Meles: That’s so true! If you were a true Lallibelan, you’d have won.
Bereket: But I did win the second time around, didn’t I?
Meles: Sorry, you’re right! You ran against a nobody in the first election and lost, but you sure made a huge come-back when you ran against nobody the second time around and won!
Bereket: Come to think of it, the only difference between you and me was that you were smart enough to run against nobody the first time around.
Meles: You’re out-of-line with that remark, and if you don’t take it back, you know what I’ll do to your losing ass, don’t you?
Bereket: Whachugonna do? Hold a re-re-election in Bugna?
Meles: Yep!
Bereket: If you do that, I’ll vote to hold re-elections in all of the 299 contested constituencies!
Meles: Ya, but if you do that we’re all outta here!
Bereket: Ya, but I might get to go home! Will YOU?
LOL Not Anon!!!! the sem inna werq of your posts kill me!
so this is where all the medrek refugees are hidin' at! temesgen amlakay.
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