CAIRO: Ethiopian activists continued their online calls for change in the country, with the hope the government will ease its decades long power hold over the country and its political future. “We definitely are hopeful that this recent episode concerning Meles [Zenawi] and his health will wake up the country that we are the future of Ethiopia,” a student activist in Addis Ababa told Bikyamasr.com on Thursday morning. “This country has been led by a man who continues to oppress us all, Christians, Muslims and others, so it is time we take our own destiny in our hands,” he added, asking not to be named due to the sensitive nature of referring to Prime Minister Meles Zenawi's health. But government officials have reported that Zenawi is currently in “good condition and recuperating” after he was reportedly gravely ill and on his deathbed. Newspapers who reported the PM's health controversy were met with massive crackdowns from the government, highlighting the struggle for freedom of speech in the country. Bereket Simon, a government spokesman, speaking to BBC News, declined to give specific details about Meles' whereabouts or what he is suffering from. Bereket had earlier been quoted as saying the prime minister, 57, was on holiday. Zenawi has ruled Ethiopia for more than two decades and many activists in the country have called for his ouster in order to push the country forward. Speculation began when he missed last month's African Union summit, held in the Ethiopian capital. The youth have been the most outspoken towards change in the country. “It will definitely be interesting to see how we all react," said one student activist, who asked not to be named due to the security crackdown on those speaking about the PM's health. The activist told Bikyamasr.com that “Ethiopia will be better when we are all, Christians and Muslims work together to build a country based not on one group dominating the other, but on the idea that we can have a solid country for all Ethiopians." According to most reports, Zenawi is gravely ill, although little else is known on what exactly he is suffering from. Newspapers have been silenced for reporting on his health condition as censorship and tightening of the government's power takes form. For many, it appears to be the final wind for the PM and his government, which activists have called “ruthless." Writer Buri Waddesso argues that the continued show of force by the government means that even without Zenawi at the helm, the government is likely to persist. “The fact that the regime held together, even if haphazardly, without its leader of three decades at the helm augurs well for its continuing vitality. In the same vein, the failure of the opposition to even make a stir after the window of opportunity presented by Muslim protesters speaks volumes about its state as well as its preparation," Waddesso wrote in an article published by opride.com. “The problem is that these observations hold only in the short term. There are a number of dynamics at work to make the future less certain than the present." One of those issues that Ethiopia will have to come to terms with is the near split in demographics of Muslims and Christians. Although Christians claim a majority in the country, it is likely the two faiths are closer in numbers than official statistics show. Add in the animists in tribal areas of the country and many fear a breeding ground for sectarianism. But both Christians and Muslims tell Bikyamasr.com that Ethiopians do not want to battle over faith. A student group in Addis Ababa has repeatedly said they do not see a battle over Islam coming in the country. For them, the future of Ethiopia will be determined by how the government reacts in a post-Zenawi world, if it comes. “We, and including our Christian brothers and sisters, believe that the future of Ethiopia will not be determined by politicians who have been in power for decades, but by our voices," the student group said. “We are not afraid to take to the streets if we have to in order to be heard." And for many, despite the exodus of Zenawi from the political picture, his government is likely to remain, however tedious, and the people could be faced with a situation that demands their participation in protests in order to change the status quo. “Ethiopians are ready and we have seen from the Arab world that protests can achieve more than working within the system. It is an uncertain period that we all are watching closely," added the students. In the end, uncertainty continues to reign.
