A Brief Autobiography
By
Taye Nigatu
Birth and childhood dreams
I was born in what is now a part of North Wollo Administrative Unit, the former Lasta Awraja, Boogna Woreda, at a place known as Woomberko Maryam, about twenty-five kilo meters from Lalibela, sometime towards the end of the Italian invasion or soon after the enemy forces were driven out from our country.
I believe I had no health problems until I attained six or seven years of age. However, I had to face a series of health problems thereafter.
The first was development of recurring of erupting sores throughout my head. Traditional treatment did not help much. Once, my step-mother shaved my head while it was covered by the sores hoping to get rid of the sores for good. But this gave way to lasting scars on my scalp and did not stop the recurring of the sores. Gradually, the recurring of the sores died out. I do not recall the reason for the final disappearance of the sores.
The second health problem was the development of what seemed to be a rather malignant sore [locally known as “quinchir” on the right side of my nose. My father applied all sorts of herbal medicines through consultation of traditional medicine experts; but with no effective remedy. Finally, he was advised by someone to go the Tekeste Valley and hunt for a rare animal, known to be found only there. After a hard time hunting for the said animal known in Amharic, as aquista, he succeeded in securing his target. Although, I do not know the details of the manner of the treatment, I believe that it was through the application of a part of that animal, that I got a cure of the sore before my nose was destroyed or severely deformed.
As my father was a member of the defense force commanded by Ras Kassa when the Italian Fascist forces invaded Ethiopia in 1935 he fought against the invading forces until March 31, 1935, first, in the Temben front, then in various areas and lastly at Maychew where the Ethiopian forces in the presence of the Emperor fought hard, but had to withdraw due to the unchecked nerve gas spraying, heavy air attacks and bombardment.
Following the withdrawal, my father and other fighters organized a patriotic force and began to launch guerrilla attacks against the fascist forces and continued their fight until the enemy was driven out from Ethiopia in 1941.
How I Got My Present Name
During my childhood, I had several names. My father and my mother had each a name for me. My maternal grandparents also called me in different names; while my father’s father had a nick name for me. The name I am now using was given to me by my father’s mother based on an event that took place during the Italian invasion in 1935. My father had a cousin his paternal uncle’s son much older than him named Gebeyu Akele who had gone to Asmara earlier where he got military training and fighting experience having been sent to Libya to take part in the war wedged against the indigenous fighters resisting the Italian invading force. And then returned home to resume his farming life. But, as the Italians invaded Ethiopia, he joined the Ras Kassa force under Dejach Wondewossen and fought against the enemy until the battle of Maychew. After the retreat, he played an important role in training my father and as many patriotic fighters as possible, in the art of modern warfare and ardently took part in the resistance fighting against the invaders.
My grandfather took me to Lalibela for Christmas holiday and stayed there for a week during which I was able to see all the churches and interesting sites. My father did not turn up and we had to go back to Womberko.
On the way to Lalibela, I saw a young boy leading a blind boy by means of a stick, the boy in front holding one end of the stick and the blind boy the other end. I felt terribly sorry for the blind boy. Because the foot path was narrow and full of jagged stones and the blind boy could be hurt or harmed repeatedly. Back at Womberko, my grandfather was invited to attend the wedding feast of a member of the clergy and I was with him carrying his special drinking cup. At the wedding feast I noticed a well-dressed blind member of the bridegroom’s best men.
It was from returning from this wedding feast back home that I fell sick and ended up with the loss of my sight.
Loss of sight and its adverse consequences, at the age of about eleven and a half years, I lost my sight which I believe was due to Meningitis crushing my ambitious dream into nothingness. All attempts to have me cured by going to different Orthodox churches and monasteries by immersing me in holy water and applying all sorts of religious ceremonies with no effect. Besides, Shortly after I lost my sight, I had a horrifying experience. One, Sunday morning while my grandparents had gone to church and I was in the house alone, I do not remember where the rest household members were at the time; I heard the growling of our cat coming from the back door and some family members shouting from the outside and saying that the cat had caught a snake and as it entered the house, I desperately climbed one of the roof supporting wooden poles. The cat went out of the house through the front door, still growling. I stayed on the pole until I felt safe and climbed down. I sustained no harm.
Another experience which I considered to be unpleasant was my younger sister’s behavior while we were in the house alone. We were sitting by the hearth and she was trying to keep the fire burning by blowing air through a metal tube. Suddenly, she said “take this”, when I stretched my hand and touched the tip of the metal tube which was somewhat warm. No harm, whatsoever was caused to me. But the fact that she took advantage of my blindness to trick me, rendered me mad and started crying at the top of my voice .I do not remember how I quieted down. But I think I wondered how I could cope with life, in this manner for the future.
Hereafter, I caused so much trouble to my paternal grandparents and other members of the family by crying day in and day out claiming that I felt pain continuously, that they were forced to transfer me to my maternal grandparents where I stayed somewhat in a soothing state just for a couple of weeks subsequent to which I started causing trouble there also.
In the meantime, my paternal grandparents sent one of my uncles to my father to inform him of my condition. On hearing the bad news, my father decided to come and take me to Dessie to make all attempts to regain my sight.
As soon as he returned, he took me from my maternal grandparents, and after the preparation for the journey to Dessie within a couple of weeks, we embarked on the three or four days journey to Dessie. I was to travel on a mule back, while others, including my father, his youngest brother, and four first and second degree cousins of my father that had decided to go along with us as well as a young man who was entrusted to take back the mule, had to walk for two and a half or three days. I had to cling to the front part of the saddle because my feet could not reach the stirrup.
It took us more than four days to get to Weldeya because on the way, I was taken to Shal Medhanialem for holy water treatment. Unfortunately, I could not undergo the expected treatment to the end. This was because, as I was informed by someone my uncle who accompanied me into the holy water showed change of appearance and strange behavior during the first immersion. Since the holy water was located in a rather precipitous place, my father and others were afraid that if the treatment continued with my uncle there was the possibility of falling down and both of us could die.
As most of our companions were women, there was a shortage of capable man power.
After staying for a few days in Shal, we continued our journey and arrived at Weldeya on the same day towards evening. We spent the night in the house of an acquaintance of my father.
The next day, we said good-bye to the young man who was to take back the mule in the morning. On the same day, we were advised by some local elders to visit the traditional eye doctor/ayn abra in the vicinity, my father decided to take me there. So, we went to his house with the help of someone.
The “ayn Abra examined my eyes and announced that nothing seemed wrong with my eyeballs and there was nothing to be removed and as such there wasn’t anything that he could do to help me. So we left disappointed.
We stayed the rest of the day and spent the night in Weldeya. The following morning we went to the vehicle station to look for a car that would take us to Dessie. We found an old Ford car and the driver agreed to take us to our destination. So, bidding farewell to my uncle who had to return home, my father and I together with our four companions got on the car and set out on our journey. But, after starting the journey, the old car got into trouble so many times going out of the road a number of times. Fortunately, all the car drivers using the road were cooperative. No car driver left a car in trouble without providing help.
So, in this manner, at long last we reached Hayek or Loga Hayek as it was called at the time and got off there, as one of our companions had her residential house there.
Next day, instead of going to Dessie, we went to Bistima, a small town which was the main town for the Werebabo Woreda which was a part of the Ambasel Awraja. There, we were to stay at my father’s traditionally adopted mother, an elderly lady, the widow of an important government official. Bistima appeared to me completely different in many respects from Woomberko or the Woreda it was located in. I stayed there for about four months, from May to August.
As my father thought it wise to get married in order to properly look after me; he concluded marriage with a local girl. She was a very nice step mother to me. By sheer chance, a mishap took place that created ill-feeling in my father. A rather large house belonging to my father’s father- in-law caught fire and tot burned.
As my father had entrusted a number of highly valuable property items to the owner of the house, none of which was spared from the fire;my father was terribly disappointed at the outcome. He even felt that there was negligence on the part of the house owner. The only comforting situation was that no one was hurt. All inside the house at the break out of the fire escaped unhurt; including myself who was inside the house at the time together with other family members and we had to return to my father’s “adopted mother”.
Another interesting experience while staying in Bistima was the breaking out of small pox epidemic. The small pox was considered to be mild and so I was given the traditional vaccination i.e. transferring the pus from the eruption of someone that had the disease already to a tiny cutting made on my left hand arm. But, I did not catch the disease. A lot of traditional singing took place in order to appease the spirit believed to be responsible for bringing the disease.
In early September, we moved to Dessie and soon after my father took me to Dessie Hospital hoping they could help me regain my sight. But, unfortunately, the result was disappointing. There was no hope of recovering my sight.
Thereafter, I began to cause trouble to my father by simply crying day in and day out. He asked if my step mother did anything wrong to me. But I told him; on the contrary she had been doing her best to appease me. I think that some neighbors told him some wrong information. He decided to divorce her and did so. I could not do anything to make him change his mind. Anyway, I continued my trouble causing. One night, while staying in the house of a relative who was elsewhere carrying out public service, the father of the house owner was spending the night with us. During the night, I began crying and my father was so upset so much that he got up and went out of the house. The gentleman got up and followed my father. Sometime later, the man returned and scolded and asked me what I would do if my father committed suicide. I was terrified at the idea. But I said nothing.
Next morning, my father went to consult his superior in the bodyguard of the Crown Prince, not only his superior, but also a close friend of his, who had obtained information of the opening of a special school for the blind by Emperor Haile Selassie I, and advised him to take me to the Crown Prince and request him to facilitate my entrance to the special school. The next day, while my father took me for a walk on the road leading to Kombelcha, several cars came from behind us. My father took me to the side of the road as it happened it was the Crown Prince and his escort. As soon as the car of the Crown Prince was in front of us, my father bowed and saluted the Crown prince.
The Crown Prince recognizing him stopped his car and asked what my father desired him to do. In return, my father replied that he wanted his blind boy to enter the new special school. The Crown Prince disclosed that he was going to Asab and so would deal with matter on his return on Monday next.
We waited for him on the appointed day. But he did not show up. He might have changed the time for his return for security reasons. As soon as we discovered of his return, we appeared at the Merho Palace, the residence of the Crown Prince, while waiting there, my father noticed a number of the palace household members that seemed to be looking for someone. He asked them what they were looking for. They told him someone with a little blind boy. When he told them that I was the blind boy they were looking for; they were a bit confused because they did not notice any sign of blindness in me. We were immediately taken to the Crown Prince who asked my father what he wanted tobe done for him and my father replied saying that he wished his blind boy to be admitted to the new special school. The Crown Prince asked if my mother would agree to my going to the special school for the blind. My father assured him that she would agree.
The Crown Prince said that he was going to take me with him when he was to go to Addis. Until then I was to stay at the palace. I was furnished with a bedroom and was to dine with high ranking officials and guests of honor. My father responded bowing with gratitude. As an afterthought, the Crown Prince asked my father if he could stay with me in the palace and he accepted the offer gratefully with happiness.
We stayed in the palace for a little over three months and the Crown Prince announced that he was going to Asab and on his return; he would directly go to Addis Ababa. So he provided us transport money and instructed my father to take me to Addis. What is more, he gave instructions to the concerned palace officials to provide us a bedroom and to ensure that our dining program was properly discharged.
Within two days we arrived at Addis Ababa At the bus station, as that there was no taxi service we took a horse driven carriage known as “gari”, the means of transportation for the common man’s soon as we arrived at the palace of the Crown Prince. We were not allowed to get inside because the concerned palace official claimed that there was no bedroom for us. I do not remember where we spent the night. However, the next morning as we were waiting nearby the palace gate, the Crow Prince arrived and immediately asked if we had been furnished with a bedroom. As our answer was negative, he drove into the palace with a look of fierce anger after he got into one of the buildings, the gentleman who had furnished us with a bedroom in Dessie, came out and breaking the lock of one of the bedrooms and opened it. Then invited us to get in. It was furnished with a bed and the necessary facilities. Our meal program was also restored.
School Life and Horizons for new Dreams
On Feb. 18, 1953, the Crown Prince made an arrangement for an audience with the Emperor, and told my father to take me to the Imperial Palace at 4 in the afternoon. We got there in time and were allowed to present ourselves at the Emperor’s office the Emperor and the Crown Prince exchanged words. But I did not hear what they said. Finally, my father was told that I was accepted to the special school for the blind and He was told to go along with me to see the school. He bowed to the father and son with gratitude, as I learned later; we were taken by the car of Aba Hannah Jima the Father Confessor of the Emperor. When we arrived at the School, it was supper time and all the blind boys and staff members were having their meal.
New Life at the School for the Blind
The directress of the School, Mrs. Keener received me and announced to the boys that a new brother had just arrived and made me sit between two staff members, one of them, Ingda Asfaw later on went to America and became a well-known heart specialist, I believe that he is still there.
After meal, I was taken to my dormitory and given a bed with metal rods on both sides to avoid falling.
Next morning I joined grade 1 which was situate just in front of my dorm. As there was a shortage of classrooms grade 1 was located in an empty space opposite the dining hall and in front dorm number 6. I studied there for one month and the second term school exams were given after which there was a break for the Ethiopian Easter.
When the third term started, one of my classmates and I were promoted to grade 2 which was located on one side of the meeting or prayer meeting hall. At the end of the third term summer break followed. At the opening of the new academic year I was promoted to grade 3. There, besides, the grade 3 subjects I started studying Braille. With the help of friends, I managed to read Braille rather slowly. My classmates of grade 3 had been studying there for about two years. So they were quite familiar with Braille. During one of our classes our Braille teacher distributed single Braille sheets and asked one of the students to read out what was written on the Braille sheet. After reading some lines, the teacher stopped him and asked another student to continue reading from where the previous student stopped. But, the student had missed the line. Then teacher asked me to continue reading. As I was following the movement of his fingers, by sheer chance I was on the right line and I was able to read a few words. My teacher was extremely surprised and pleased. Thereafter, I received favorable treatment from him. One day, teacher Seyoum, as my Braille teacher was called, discovered that a Braille slate was damaged. Seven of the nine students in the class were punished for it. But the oldest student and I were exempted from punishment as we were not suspected of causing the damage.
At the opening of the third term after the Easter break, the same academic year, I was promoted to grade 4 with three other classmates. At the time the top grade was grade 5. So, I expected to join grade 5 the following academic year. But this did not happen. While in grade 4, as we were required to do all sorts of physical exercises, one day I sustained three green fractures on my right foot as I was engaging in longa jump exercise, I jumped prematurely believing that my teacher ordered me to jump, but said something else. I dropped just at the edge of the sawdust pit bending my left foot and sitting on it and sustaining the injury mentioned. I was hospitalized in the Bethsaida Hospital [now Yekatit 12 Hospital] for eight days. By sheer chance my hospital bed happened to be in a bedroom where a number of men working for the Crown Prince were being treated following a car accident in which they were involved and sustained injuries of varying degrees. One day, the Crown Prince and Crown Princess came to visit the injured men. The Crown Prince having recognized me, he asked what my problem was. I told him of the accident. He gave an instruction to the concerned person to provide me some of the fruits brought for the victims of the car accident. So I was given some oranges, bananas and apples.
Sight loss and Dreams
Following my sight loss, when I had dreams, there was nothing unfamiliar. I could observe everything as if I were sighted; I do not remember how long this lasted. But after a certain period of time, I began questioning myself during my dreams trying to find out whether I could really see or not, instantly, things on the scene became blurred and I ended up getting awake feeling disappointed. Gradually, I accepted the reality of my blindness and dreaming changed to touching, exchange of words and applying other sensory feelings. This was the reality, probably within two years after I joined the School for the Blind during which I dreamed about incidents occurring in the School, just like a blind boy; but when my dream was about matters in my birth place, I felt as if I were sighted. Most probably it took me five years to completely confine myself within the bounds of blindness psychically. On the other hand, physically, I felt the grasp of blindness under pitch darkness with immediate effect. Sometime after I joined the School for the Blind, I contracted another eye disease because boys living in the same bedroom washed their faces in the morning by hot water poured in a common trough side by side at the same time. As a result, my eyes no longer appeared to be sighted.
When I joined the School on Feb. 18, 1953, the top grade was grade 5, nearly two years later, in 1954; the top grade was the same. I am not certain of the reasons. But one possible reason was shortage of space. As I mentioned earlier, the shortage of space was a serious problem from the outset.
Another possible reason was grade classification made at the beginning which was based on age, extent of church education, and the learning experience of four boys at the Entoto Swedish Mission School which perhaps convinced the Meriha Iwran School for the Blind authorities, in order to lay down a solid foundation, should refrain from opening a new grade every academic year. Whatever the right reason might have been, grade 6 was opened in the 1955/1956 academic year following the introduction of double deck beds and turning the part of a corridor for placing a double deck bed. This gave me the chance of being promoted from grade four to grade six. Hence, I was able to join my lifelong friend, Tiumelissan and the other top grade students totaling to seven boys.A former bedroom was assigned for it. This was possible because the introduction of the double-deck system enabled the reduction of bedrooms.
Preoccupying Engagements
In the first few years of my school days, I was preoccupied with trying to learn and know new things in all subjects in including music in which I was taught to play the piano using Braille notation. I also became a member of our school choir, when it was formed in 1955 and became a highly popular choir among Protestant churches and their members. Sometime after the formation of the choir, I was assigned to coach the tenor group. So I had something to contribute.
The radio which was also a fascinating source of information and still is to me became another attention attracting activity.
What is more, the school was furnished with Braille books including a dictionary known as the American Vest pocket Dictionary [but in Braille, it consisted of six large volumes and a medium volume 7]. Besides, there were tactile maps and a tactile globe. Although, our Ethiopian teachers [with the exception of our Braille teacher] did not have any special training to teach blind students, a few of them were quite innovative, particularly in the fields of basic sciences, geography and elementary math.
The Braille materials and assistive devices helped me to have a clear idea of the whole world and even the outer space.
Gradually, I came to realize that my joining the special school for the blind was a turning point in my life. I had to abandon my old dreams and embark on new ones. I began to dream of becoming a scientist, mathematician, explorer, inventor, etc. Obviously, my dreams were impractical, under the conditions in Ethiopia even today and in certain cases impossible. My dreams, were perhaps, based on another impractical dream, the notion of regaining my sight.
The fact that I have not been able to accept my blindness seems to have been, a serious barrier to me for so long in leading a normal life. So far as I know, no other blind person has had such a problem.
An Eventful Year
1955 was an eventful year. It was the Silver jubilee or the twenty-fifth anniversary of Emperor Haile-Selassie I coronation. In commemoration of this anniversary, various events were conducted.
An exhibition was displayed somewhere nearby the old airport where historical, cultural, fine arts and other items of significance or values were demonstrated. I had the chance of going for a few weeks for demonstrating Braille reading and writing to visitors. I was lucky enough also to visit some of the historical items such as the huge old coat which was said to belong to Ahmed Gragne.
During my demonstrating performance I encountered an interesting incident; the brother of one of my uncles wife whom I knew to be a deacon serving in one of the monolithic churches in Lalibela came to observe the different items on display and as he recognized me, saluted and introduced himself as an army lieutenant, while I expected him to have become a priest or an important church official.
Another important event was a concert held at the newly completed national theater house named after the Emperor. A well-known blind pianist from South Africa name George Mithila , a Greek by birth, was to perform a piano concert in the presence of the Emperor in the newly completed Haile-Selassie Itheater [now National Theater] house. An American gentleman bought five entrance tickets each worth $15 [Eth$37.5]0 and offered them to the School for the Blind. The tickets were allotted to five students of grade six the top grade by lots. I was one of the lucky ones. The American gentleman himself took us to the theater house and we were seated on the front line. To be frank, I did not enjoy the performance. However, I was amazed how fast he played the piano keys at times. I realized that the musician had very many admirers judging by the acclamation he received. The pianist was allowed to feel the Emperor from head to feet as he was seated on his throne.
Life in the School for the Blind
During my elementary school days the education and training process was of a comprehensive nature. In addition to the regular subjects of Amharic, English, history/social studies, geography, math, general science as well as morals; we were required:
To get training in handicraft including: basketry, crochet, knitting, rug and mat making in different forms and sizes, as well as sewing activities and wood work.
I cannot claim that I was good at both types of tasks. I could only make two sweaters, a pair of socks for myself; I also did the finishing of the trimming part of a handkerchief for myself. I do not remember what happened to my crochet work. I believe that I did a better job in rug and door mat making.
A number of my class and school mates were able to perform a commendable job in the field of handicraft activities benefiting their school mates besides themselves, particularly, in the knitting field.
We also were expected to participate in dish washing, bedroom cleaning in which our performances were evaluated and those who stood first were invited by the School Director to a tea party where participants enjoyed cookies and other sweet things. Accordingly, each group did its best to stand first by applying wax or at times, using gas to make the floor of their respective bedrooms, as smooth and shiny as possible. I can say that my group had a pleasantly memorable time in this regard.
As indicated above, I joined grade 6 in 1955, on the basis of the introduction of the double-deck system that enabled the reduction of bedrooms. But there was no more space for opening grade7 the following year. Consequently, at the end of the 1955/1956 academic year, the school administration reached a decision that instead of being promoted to grade 7, grade 6 students should be assigned to teaching practice in the lower grades for one year after which they were to be sent to different elementary schools to teach in lower grades. So, grade 6 students were assigned as assistant teachers to teach from grade 1 to 3. During the academic year of 1956/1957.This was a serious setback to my new dreams.
However, during the summer break of that academic year, at a staff meeting of the School, someone proposed that grade 6 students instead of going for teaching, should join a nearby regular school and continue their education. Following discussion, the proposition was agreed upon. Accordingly, a discussion with the Asfawossen Elementary School Director Mr. Rao an Indian national, was held following which, an agreement was reached to let the seven blind students to join grade 7 of Asfawossen School for the academic year of 1957/1958. My class mates and I were not sure if we were on equal status with the Asfawossen School Students and as such, we were uncertain as to whether we could succeed.
About a month later, the school director issued an announcement declaring that he was going to give an examination to lower, i.e. grades below i8 so that those who succeed in the examination would be promoted to the next grade. The reason given was that the lower grades were crowded while the number of students in grade 8 was very low. Accordingly, the examination was given towards the end of October or, at the beginning of November 1957. When the results came, five outof the seven blind students succeeded in passing the exam and so were promoted to grade 8. On the other hand, Out of the 65 or so, sighted grade 7 students about 26 passed and were promoted to grade 8. The outcome boosted the confidence of my fellow blind students and mine.
In June of 1958, all grade 8 students sat for the Ministry examination given throughout the country.
That year, all the Asfawossen School students passed the Ministry examination and it was said that Asfawossen School stood first from all the elementary schools in the country. Consequently, we were given the chance of taking an English course by an American linguist named Dr. O’Connor in the University College Speech Laboratory during the summer break. My fellow blind class mates and I participated in that course. The car driver assigned to serve the linguist was given the duty of transporting us to and back from the University to the School for the Blind.
Coincidently, Asfawossen School started a secondary school section for the new academic year, and so my blind friends and I were hopeful of joining grade 9. But the school administration refused to accept us claiming that blind students could not take geometry and algebra, although we had good results in mathematics. This was a hard blow to us.
Mrs. Tayech Beyenie, a social worker who was staff member of the Haileselassie I Foundation which oversaw the performance of the special School for the Blind, took the case on our behalf and fought hard to have them admitted. Finally taking into account the undertaking by the missionaries running the School for the blind to provide the necessary assistive devices for doing geometry and learning Braille materials for algebra, an agreement was reached to accept us. So we were admitted to the school towards the end of November after midterm exams were over. We decided not to take French because we had no learning materials in Braille and no one could help us in pursuing the study of French. In the other subjects we had no problem in following our studies. This was because the missionary girls from the school for the blind, Miss Esther Baker and Miss Alma Evie took the responsibility of assisting blind students by reading text books and other learning materials, dictating notes from exercise books borrowed from sighted class mates and copying geometry figures and diagrams into tactile figures and diagrams.
A year of exciting and rather frightening Events
At the beginning of the 1960/1961 academic year, we were promoted to grade 11. The year turned out to be a year of exciting and rather frightening events. The first of these, was the aborted coup d’état by Mengistu Neway. I was then a grade 11 student at Asfawossen School. On Dec. 14, when I got to class from the School for the Blind, my class mates coming from different directions talked about seeing military personnel guarding banks and other institutions and hearing of rumors that an attempt to overthrow the Emperor was under way and that Prince Sahile-Selassie, the youngest son of the Emperor was resisting the attempt.
As I was returning to the School for the Blind for lunch, I heard the radio from different directions broadcasting a speech by the Crown Prince. On reaching the School for the Blind, I listened to the whole speech and wondered what could be the final outcome. The day past without any noticeable disturbance and the national radio announced that security was maintained hundred percent. The journalist making the announcement was a popular journalist name Alem Mezgebe. In addition, different pronouncements were made about maintaining security, salary improvement for the military and other matters. I believe that the recorded speech by the Crown Prince was repeatedly broadcast for about fifteen hours
On Thursday, the 15th of December, I was not aware of what was going on behind the scene, but it seemed to be quiet, at least in the morning.
After lunch, sometime before class time, a group of the Imperial Bodyguard military personnel including Abebi Bikila the new Marathon Olympics champion, passed through and outside the Asfawwossen School causing outcry and fear among the lower grade children. Soon parents arrived and took their Children. At half past 2, grade 11 students entered their respective classrooms. My Section which was Grade 11[A] had a science subject. Our teacher who was an Indian started teaching in time. Then at a quarter to 3, we heard a shot and more shots followed. Gradually, the shots increased and came closer and closer. Our classroom was of wooden structure and so could be easily penetrated by bullets we began to lie down on the floor or tables. But nothing harmful happened. As the shooting decreased or lulled down our sighted class mates started slipping out one by one to their respective homes. Finally, only the four blind students and one sighted boy remained. As the blind students in the lower grades went back to the School for the Blind, no one suspected or noticed that we were missing.
At long last, as the shooting almost died out, we set out for the School of the Blind with the help of our remaining sighted class mate. On the way, now and then stray bullets passed by whizzing. Anyway, we arrived safely at about 5 in the afternoon. Since the shooting appeared to have completely died down, and our sighted friend insisted on going home, he left before long.
We had to stay at the School for the Blind for at least the next five days. On few occasions, we had even to shelter in the under-ground ware house of the School. Within seven or eight days the fighting died out and the Emperor returned home from Brazil where he was on a visit. Just in a few weeks’ time, all Asfawossen School grade 11 students were transferred to Menelik II Secondary School.
In the same academic year, earth quake tremors took place on May 28 and 29 in Addis Ababa. It was between 9 and 10 hours in the evening, my class mate and friend Tiumelissan and I were typing out our assignments given by our grade 11 English in Menelik II High School. When the quake started our tables began making noises, at first, I thought that it was Tiumelissan that caused the noise. But, immediately after, we heard what appeared to be a rushing wind blowing through the ceiling. We heard also a crow on a nearby tree crowing. Fortunately, we had almost completed our assignments and finished them soon. Then we went to our double deck bed. Next morning, at about 6 A.M. another tremor occurred. As I was on the upper bed, I felt as if the bed was moving away from the wall. But when I touched the wall, it appeared to be moving away from the bed. So I lay still. Soon it stopped. On the same day, late in the afternoon, as I was standing outside the school building, chatting with friends, the third tremor took place. I felt that the ground under my feet moving away and I was afraid to move about. But my friend who was chatting with me, jumped and got into the building, I am not sure how he managed to do so. After that, no more tremors were felt at the time.
We heard over the radio that the epicenter of the earth quake was somewhere in Afar at a place known as Serdo where a slide took place and there was loss of life, bodily injury and damage to property; as was reported.
In that same year, in August, there was some sort of rebellion by a former government official and later criminally charged and sentenced to fifteen years imprisonment but released on pardon or amnesty.
The man strongly advocated that the Crown Prince should replace the aging Emperor. So he organized a number of disgruntled former Imperial Bodyguard members and started the rebellion in August. It was said that there was shooting or fighting near the Ras Mekonen Bridge area. But, as the rebellious group was over powered, it could not go far. Casualties were reported. The ring leader and many others were arrested, charged and sentenced. The leader was executed and the others sentenced to varying lengths of imprisonment.
I got some of the information later on, after I was employed by the Ministry of Justice, from a member of the group to whom I was acquainted because his son happened to be employed by the Attorney-General’s Office to be my assistant. My assistant’s father, who once was a non-commissioned officer of the Imperial Bodyguard, suffered a grave bodily injury or disability due to serious ill-treatment inflicted during criminal investigation in an attempt to extract information about co-offenders or participants.
After the short-lived attempted coup d’état, the grade students were transferred to Minilik II Secondary School in 1961. At the end of the academic year, two of my fellow blind studentsdropped out; and so only three of us were promoted to grade 12.
The three of us owed a great deal to the two missionary girls who devoted their time and energy to our success. Without their assistance the successful completion of our studies would have been improbable.
The missionary girls’ assistance lasted until the end of grade 11. This was because The Mennonite Mission head who was the director of the School for the Blind, ordered the girls to stop their assistance to us in our grade 12 studies. The reason he gave was that the Mission was obliged to educate blind boys only up to grade 8 and what they were doing was beyond what was expected of them. So they had to stop assisting us, in compliance of the order given by their boss, most likely against their will. To make things worse, the 12 grade math teacher, Mr. Chacko, an Indian mathematician, would not recognize as his students, adamantly refusing to give oral explanation to any mathematical problem during his class. He said that he had not come to teach blind students nor did he know how they could learn math.
Since grade 12 students were expected to take the Ethiopian School Leaving Certificate exams, the problems facing us appeared to be insurmountable. At the time we were taking all the subjects that were taught, except French. But it was possible to drop any subjects at the beginning of the third term except the three compulsory ones, Amharic, English and math, provided that the minimum number of subjects, six at the time, was satisfied. Accordingly, we dropped Pure Physics, Pure Chemistry Mathematics B, consisting of mostly geometry, trigonometry and few algebra questions, General Science and geography. We decided to concentrate on English, English Literature, history, biology Amharic and mathematics A. If anyone of us failed in one subject, he could not join the University College of Addis Ababa.
On the first day of ESLCE exam sometime in the first week of June 1962, we were surprised to get theexam questions in Braille. We were also expected to give our answers in Braille. As we were used to giving answers by means of typing on the ordinary type writer, we were not sure whether we could manage using theBraille writers properly.
After the exams were over, our answers were dispatched to the UK to be translated into print. This took time. Sighted students got their results at the end of July or the beginning of August. As the number of students sitting for the ESLCE was considered low, students who results believed to be on the border line, were given additional examination and those who succeeded got the chance of joining the University College which became Haile-Selassie I University in the same year. Our results came at long last on October 17 1962, by this time the other successful students were in their third week of doing their studies in the College. Fortunately, the three of us did pass and were admitted to the University College. Two of us joined the Arts Faculty while the other joined the Education Faculty.
University Life and Related Developments
As mentioned above, my two blind friends and I joined the University College of Addis Ababa in October of 1962 At the time, the University dorms were closed since the beginning of the of the sameacademic year on the ground that the students who had supported the attempted coup by Brig. General Menghistu Neway of 1960, openly showed disrespect to the Emperor in his presence at the University day program through their poetic presentations and speeches.
Therefore, the Emperor believing that if the students were to stay in the campus could cause political disturbance and unrest gave instruction for the closure of the dormitories and to provide each student Eth. $50.00 for their subsistence.
Blind students and a few students with certain disabilities were allowed to stay in the dorms in the first year, four students, three blind students and another with foot or leg disability shared one room, while another blind student and someone leg or foot problem shared another room. But in the second and third year, each blind student had his own single bedroom.
Learning Facilities for Blind Students
In the University, there were neither text or reference Braille books; nor any assistive devices at first. Hence, blind students were at a loss as to how to carry on our studies. Fortunately, the former Assistant Director of Menelik II Secondary School by the name of Mr. Hudson had joined the University as English teacher in the Faculty of Education. As he was a member of the Rotary Club, through his facilitation, the Club invited us to a lunch during which it provided each of us with a tape recorder. This was a morale boosting gesture to us. We had to use the tape recorders sparingly because they needed a set of six batteries and we had no enough money to buy as many as we needed. They could operate by means of electricity. But it was handier and easier to use them with batteries.
For the second year, the University assigned an old British lady who seemed to have had useful experience in working with blind students. She had Braille know-how and so she put into Braille passages we needed. Besides, through communicating with embassies and private foreign nationals, she arranged for voluntary readers. Her contribution in this regard was quite beneficial. Moreover, she provided each of us with a white cane brought from England.
On the other hand, from the third year onwards, the Law School assigned interested sighted class mates to assist us as readers for which the School paid them a fixed sum on hourly basis. In addition, the University provided us with a Dictaphone which we used to put important items into Braille.
In the course of time, we started to borrow Braille books, for reference purpose, from the Royal Institute for the Blind [RNIB] of Great Britain. We were also able to borrow some old Braille books from our National Library, which it obtained from the U.S. I think from the Congress Braille Library. T
He books were of some importance for reference purpose in certain instances and for pass time reading.
Student Movements of Dissension
In 1962, during our first year In the Haile-Selassie I University, at the conclusion of our first semester; many students raised objections against the newly introduced marking system, i.e. giving results in the letter format of A, B, C’s etc. Prior to that, marks were given simply calculated out of hundred and expressed in numerical figures.
There was a lot of discussion and wrangling. But I am not sure how it was solved. Anyway, it somehow died out.
In 1963/64, there was another disturbance among the students. This time, it was caused by an article issued in News and Views, a news bulletin run by the student’s body. It was an article written by a Nigerian scholarship student and allowed to be issued by the Deputy-Editor, a student from Uganda. I do not remember the contents; but it was critical of conditions or matters in Ethiopia. Ethiopian students found the article to be demonstrative of the ingratitude and unreasonableness on the part of the foreign scholarship students from the rest of Africa. Once again, I am not sure how it was settled. My feeling is that the author of the article and the Deputy-Editor had to submit a written apology. But I am not sure of that.
Choosing a Subject for a Profession
While I was in the Arts Faculty, I wanted to take up a subject which was somehow related to science and so I decided to study psychology; but, I found out that psychology was not given as a major subject. It was given only as a minor subject and that was in the faculty of Education.
Consequently, I decided to join the Law School which was located in the Sidist Kilo Campus, merely because I felt there was a better chance for getting employment.
So, I submitted my application as soon as I completed second year.
As the Law School accepted me, I had to move to Sidist Kilo Campus in 1957 and join the dormitory known as the International House because it was the residence of scholarship students from other African countries or territories occupied by colonial powers. Scholarship opportunities were granted by the Haile Selassie I University as a good will gesture towards the oppressed peoples of Africa.
My admission to the Law School cost me some price. At the time, Students admitted to the Haile-Selassie I University, after completing second year, those who scored the highest average cumulative results from each department were entitled to get what was known as The N.O. Littman scholarship award, Eth$150 per month for an academic year of ten months amounting to Eth$1,500.00 and running to the completion of their respective studies.
As I had scored the highest average cumulative results in the English Department, I was supposed to win the award. When the Arts Faculty, English Department discovered that I was entering the Law School it decided to give the Scholarship award to my close friend and blind class mate, with the second highest average cumulative results, the scholarship award. I did not care much; because of my close relationship with the winner. So, I did nothing. However my other close blind friend and class mate who had won the award himself before he was admitted to the Law School, took the matter to the University body dealing with scholarship affairs; but with no effect.
On the other hand, the Law School, perhaps, being aware of the situation, assigned me to carry out research assignments on certain legal issues for the summer breaks of 1966 and 1967. I was paid Eth$300.00 per month; for a total of six months.
In the meantime, the University decided to return all students required to reside outside the campuses and occupy the empty dormitories. But, this time they were required to pay rent of 15 Ethiopian Dollars.
When the University was opened for the 1962/63 academic year, Ras Hotel through a contractual arrangement had agreed to serve students with three meals a day and did so for a month. Food service was given at the dining facilities of the University. Each student had to pay $Ethiopian 30.00 for meal service. But, the students were dissatisfied with the service, both quality and quantity wise. Hence, the student’s body or association applied to the University Administration and requested to be allowed to use all of the facilities including staff so that the student Body would manage the purchasing and procurement of all necessary food ingredients or inputs.
The University graciously granted the permission requested for and all the workers who had been idle returned to work.
30.00And food service got highly improved and students were satisfied with the outcome.
During Christmas and Easter Holidays and the end of the academic year, special feasts were prepared. Drinks, such as beer, whiskey, Saba and Newest Taj as well as soft drinks were served abundantly.
This continued for about six years until the end of 1968 following which, the stipend of $Eth.50.00 was terminated. Students were given dorm service freely and the food service taken over by the University.
Sometime in 1963, the University issued a regulation obliging each University student to go for national service lasting for an academic year, following completion of third year in most cases, or in certain cases, after completing studies, but before graduation. The regulation came into force as of the 1964/1965 academic year. A few Law School students of the firstbatch objectedthe issuance of the regulations and challenged the University in the High Court; but did not succeed to stop the enforcement of the regulation. Most students were assigned as teachers in the different high schools throughout the country. However students engaged in studying professions requiring five years, such as the Law School, were allowed to give their service in their respective fields of study.
At the beginning of the enforcement of the national service regulation, the Ministry of Education refused to accept blind students declaring that any student who could not write on a blackboard would not acceptable as a teacher. So two blind students were exempted or disqualified from national service. Consequently, they completed their studies and graduated.
The year of 1968, was the year during which my friend Tuimelissan, who had shifted to the Law School from the Education Faculty because of the refusal of the Ministry of Education to accept blind students as teachers, and I were supposed to go for national service. Some friends advised us to ask for exemption as the other blind students were exempted. But we did not ask for exemption; becausewe thought that if we were accepted for service, we could get employment by demonstrating our capacity. Since the Minister of Justice at the time announced that he would accept all Law School students in any department of their choice, I chose the Attorney-General’s Office and my friend chose the Inspection Department.The Attorney-Generalwho was also ready to receive any Law School student to his Office accepted me.I was given a small office room next to the Attorney-General’s Office and the Law School assigned me an assistant. Accordingly, I began my national service on July 10 1968 as professional students were not required to follow the academic year.
The Inspection Department failed to provide Tiumelissan and another Law School student who was sighted, an office room and did not give them any assignment for about three weeks. So theytook the matter to the concerned Vice-Minister, who after consulting the Department head and the Attorney-General, transferred them to the Attorney-General’s Office. Hence, Tiumelissan joined me and a larger office room was assigned to us. Our first main task was examining Police Investigation Files submitted to the Office from different Public Prosecution Departments and Police offices or stations and present our legal opinions as to whether criminal proceedings should be instituted, or require further investigations or dismiss for lack of sufficient evidence or any other legal ground; then present our opinions to the Vice Attorney-General, or in certain cases to the Attorney-General.
In mid-September of 1969, as my assistant whowas a grade 12 student had to return to school was leaving, the Law School had to look for another assistant; but The Attorney-General on becoming aware of this, notified the Law School that he was going to assign the necessary assistant and did so immediately.
I completed my service on May 8; 1968and got employed by the same Office on May 9, 1968, about 7 weeks before graduation.
During my graduation ceremony which was held on July 2 1968 in which Emperor Haile-Selassie awarded degrees, a couple of new events took place:
•The Haile-Selassie I University, besides graduating its regular students, awarded two honorary doctoral degrees; I think it was in law, the first to the then Crown Prince Merid Azmach Asfawossen Haile-Selassie, the second to Aleka Ayele Alemu, and a famous Orthodox Church scholar from Gondar.
• The University, for the first time graduated six medical doctors who had carried out a portion of their studies in the American University in Beirut, Lebanon.
A high ranking official in the palace of the Crown Prince that had noticed me at the graduation ceremony, found me sometime later, while I was attending, probably, a public gathering with my father; advised me to present myself at the palace of the Crown Prince and show my gratitude for the contribution made by the Crown Prince in facilitating my education to become a lawyerandaddedthat his highness would grant me a plot of urban land at a suitable location. I think I said okay at the time; but never showed up at the palace of the Crown Prince. I believe that I became reluctant being influenced by the emerging revolutionary mood at the time from going to the Crown Prince. Although, I never joined or supported the revolutionary movement, it had some influence on me.
My Idea about Ethiopia and my notion of nationhood during my childhood and after words
Before I came to the School for the Blind, I had a very vague idea about Ethiopia and the notion of nationhood. During my childhood, to me “country meant” the Parish where I was born or lived. AS time went on, I began to gather information about more areas. First, I came to know about Lasta and Wag Awraja administrative Units, Beghemidir and Simien Teklay Gizat as well as Gojiam Teklay Guizat Administrative Units and Tigray Teklay Guizat. After entering school, when I thought back, I could remember that a number of relatives migrated to Shoa, Sidamo and Hararguie of whom most of them returned home; but the others never returned. However, this did not give me a clear picture about our country as a whole.
Soon after joining the School for the Blind, I began to realize of the true picture of our country. This was because my school mates, teachers and most staffmembers came from the fourteen Teklay Guizat Administrative regions. For instance, my first dorm mates came from Eritrea, Tigray, Shao, Sidamo and Gojiam. The boy from Sidamo, without any order or instruction from anyone, took the responsibility, first of making my bed, then, of helping me make my bed by myself. He also assisted me to find my way to the wash room and other rooms or places, both inside and outside the school building. As we were grade 1 class mates, he shared play things he was given earlier. So, we became extremely close friends and continued to be unwavering life time friend. Sadly, he passed away unexpectedly a few years ago.
Two of my dorm mates who were from Eritrea and had their beds next to mine, also helped me in acquainting myself with the surroundings. Our relationship which began in this way, turned out to be a life- long close friendship. One of them still has his domicile in Addis Ababa. But sadly, the other died several years ago while residing in the Netherlands.
Similarly, although with slight and negligible variations, my relationship with all my other school mates during my stay of nine years in the Special School for the Blind, totaling to about eighty, was of lasting friendship. In fact, the School for the Blind was to me a replica or miniature of Ethiopia. This was also true in the Haile- I University. Students behave as fellow Ethiopians and treated each other as citizens of the same country. Although, there was some political movement in opposition against the imperial government in support of the aborted coup d’état Mengistu Neway as well as in support of the miserable farming communities. No ethnic divisions were reflected until I left the University. AS a result, I very often think of that time with nostalgic reminiscence.
Once, I was invited by the leaders of Region 3, later changed to the Amhara National Region. Staff members of the Central Attorney-General’s Office originating from that Region were expected to provide legal service and to contribute to the development of the Region.
During the meeting, one of my colleagues, raised his hand and asked what he should do because his mother was from Wollo and his father from Tigray. The answer he got from the high-ranking official presiding the meeting, was that he had to choose either his mother’s or his father’s Region. Hence, if someone’s ascendants were from several differing regions or ethnic back grounds, he was forced to choose a single region. As I was terribly opposed to the idea, I declined to give my Address and phone number. When I was asked the reason, I said I could be retiring soon.
Ignorance and Misjudgment
AS I mentioned before, I joined the School for the Blind, on Feb. 18, 1953, during the important fasting period of the Ethiopian Lent season and I entered school after fasting about eleven days, on the next day, which was Thursday meat “wot” was served for supper. I was puzzled and astonished as to why meat “wot” was served during such an important fasting period. I was seated at one end of the dining Hall bench and I was not was with boy next to me I did not dare ask him. So, I meditated for a few moments and finally concluded that it must be the Emperor who had order to this effect. Hence, I ate what was served to me and continued to do so until the end of the fasting season. On the eve of the resurrection day, our head cook who had his bed in the same dorm as mine, announced that he had to rise very early to serve food for the fasting boys, to my astonishment and resentment. On enquiry, I discovered that at the beginning of lent, those that chose to fast were separated and given a separate table. When I entered the School, no one bothered to let me know of the separation, because they thought that I was a small boy and would not be fasting. I thought at the time, that I would join the fasting group the following year. But by the time the next lent season arrived everybody had abandoned fasting and joined the non-fasting group. I remember once when the head of Haile-Selassie I, a highly important official and businessman, visited the School during the lent season at supper time and finding out that we were not fasting, reprimanded us for failing to fast saying that any Ethiopian Christian was obliged to fast. Otherwise, he should not claim to be an Ethiopian. We knew that he was a member of the Catholic Church. To our shame, we did not pay attention to his reprimand or criticism. The gentleman was appointed to a more important position and the head of the Haile-Selassie I Foundation who took his place and was said to be close to the Emperor; but to us turned out to be a harsh figure. According to our conclusion, he colluded with the head of the Mennonite Mission running the School for the Blind in deciding to send us away to our parents or relatives, for the summer break of 1961 to which we had objection. As the Emperor came to visit the School before we were dispersed, one of the students submitted an oral petition to the Emperor showing our worries and the hardships we could face. The Emperor gave an order to let us stay at our school.
The following year we were again require to evacuate the School and go to our parents or relatives. The head of the Haile-Selassie I Foundation insisted that the boys should go to their parents or relatives and share the bed bug bites, the infestation of lice and fleas that are causing misery to their parents and relatives. And even if they go to the wrong place by mistake, he said that it would be an adventure. The Emperor did not visit the School this time. So we had no alternative. Consequently, each of us calculated his own travel costs and submitted to the School Administration. As our birth places or the addresses we came from were recorded in the School Register, there was no question that could be raised about such issue. Hence, the School was obliged to pay out the travel costs submitted.
Mode of travelling could be by plane, by bus and other vehicles as well as on mule back in certain cases. In my case, my journey involved travel by bus and a smaller vehicle up to Weldeya, then two and a half days bon mule back. With the help of one of my class mate’s father who knew my birth place and testified in my favor I was able to secure Eth. $65. I went to Dessie where my father lived and asked him to take me to my birth place. But following inquiring about the road situation after Weldeya, he told me that as the rainy season had been heavy, it was not possible to cross the torrential rivers and streams. So I had to stay in Dessie.
It seemed that most of the boys did not go to their places of birth. They passed the summer break in towns nearby and even in Addis Ababa.
As the budget for each boy was said to be Eth. $15 per month. The sending away of the boys turned out to be highly costly for the School.
Occupational career full of ups and downs with challenges
As pointed out earlier, when I began my national service, the Law School employed an assistant who had just completed grade 11 and was expecting to join grade 12 in September of the new academic year. The Law School was looking for another assistant; but, the Attorney-General on hearing of the idea, announced that he was assigning an assistant for me. And he did so; changing the assistant when he felt that a given assistant was not competent enough. From about the end of September to May, three assistants were successively assigned to work with me. Then a young man who had completed grade 10 was employed to be my assistant. Incidentally, all the previous assistants assigned by the Attorney-General, did not complete even grade 8. So, this one was an improvement.
He worked with me for four years. The he sat for an examination given to candidates to become Awraja public prosecutors. He was an intelligent and sharp minded fellow. He sat for the exam; merely from what he grasped from what he read and wrote while working with me. After passing the exam, he worked with me for eight more months and then he was assigned as an Awraja public prosecutor outside of Addis Ababa. He continued to work as a public prosecutor in different positions until he was retired and thereafter, practiced as a criminal law lawyer
There had been others that worked with me and ended up becoming Public Prosecutors and attaining up to Provincial chief public prosecutors, and after retirement joining the criminal law practicing lawyers’ community.
During my occupational career, one of my pressing problems was the issue of transportation affair because of the need of an escort for commuting to and back from my work. As I indicated earlier, family members played an essential role in this regard. But this was not always possible. Fortunately, I had a close friend whose name was Wondimu Kassahun that lived nearby and had a folk’s wagon. As we were members of a religious association we had formed with other friends in 1978, he offered to give transport service to me as well as my friend and colleague, Tiumelissan to our office and back home free of charge as his work place was close by. However, my friend and I, taking into account of the ever increasing fuel price, we felt that it was just and fair to contribute for the fuel price and increase our contribution in line with the rise of the price. Thus, we began contributing 65 Birr for each of us and continued to do so until November 1993 in which my friend was retired for some unknown reason. By then, our respective contribution had reached Birr 130. Hereafter, Ato Wondimu continued to give me service under the same arrangement until his old car went out of action in Mid-January of 1997. After this I had to request for the cooperation of my superiors and obtained a short-lived solution which I will explain later.
Public Service Given in Different Positions and under Differing Governments
During my public service, I remained at the head Office of the Attorney-General or Ministry of justice, as might have been necessary; serving in different positions, at first steadily rising in hierarchical status starting as senior Public prosecutor, next, as Vice [Deputy] Assistant Attorney-General, then as Assistant Attorney-General followed by Legal Expert with the rank of Vice Attorney-General within the Attorney-General’s Office.
Following the formation of the EPDR government in 1987 and the establishment of the Procurator-General’s Office [Attorney-general’s Office] accountable to the State Counsel of the national State and the President of the Republic with wide ranging legal and administrative powers and duties, recruitment of experts was needed. Besides, a spacious and suitable building had to be found. Accordingly, the newly built Import\Export building was chosen for the Office of the Attorney-General.
The new Attorney-General who had never been a member of the prosecution office, did not have enough information of all the staff who had been assigned to work there. Most of them camefrom the Attorney General’s Office that was under the Ministry of Justice. Others were from the Special Criminal Prosecution Department established to serve in the Special Court System organized to handle cases brought against the Derg and its top officials as well as corrupt practices.
The head of the Special Prosecution became Deputy Attorney-General. So upon his recommendation most of the high ranking Special Prosecution Department prosecutors were appointed as assistant Attorney-Generals of the Ethiopian People’s Democratic Republic declared on Sept. 12 1987. Most of the sighted assistant attorney-generals during the Military Regime were also appointed as assistant attorney-generals of the Republic. But, my friend Tiumelissan and I were assigned as senior public prosecutors and remained in this position for about nine months.
In the meantime, probably the Attorney-General who knew us earlier as he was our immediate junior in Asfawossen School and the Law School did some research or study concerning our working experience. He appointed each of us as assistant general of the Republic in June of 1987. What is more, taking into account our long terms of service raised our salary to a higher amount than that of those who were appointed before us. In addition, my friend was assigned to serve as adviser to the Attorney-General and head of the petition hearing Department; while I was assigned to work with the first Vice Attorney-General and as head of the Control or Supervisory Department within his Office. Besides, the Attorney-General referred to me certain cases, either to present my legal opinions to him, or to take the necessary measures inorder to bring the cases to a just and fair conclusion; then submit my report on each case.
As one of the assistant Attorney-generals under the First vice Attorney-General and head of the control Department; I was expected to oversee how legal and administrative matters were managed in the different departments under the other Vice-Attorney-Generals’ Offices based on petitions or instructions from the First Vice Attorney-General or the Attorney-General. In most cases, there were administrative appeals against Decisions by the Vice-Attorney-Generals’ Offices, which were five of them. Accordingly, I was involved in reviewing such cases and then, either confirming the decisions already given or giving instructions for further investigations and reconsidering the cases based on the investigation results. Under certain circumstances, decisions could be reversed or amended. In such cases, where decisions under consideration given by Vice –Attorney-Generals of the different offices, any amendment or rejection of a decision had to be signed by the first Vice Attorney-General. Further appeals were possible to the Attorney-General’s Office.
Several public prosecutors were assigned under my department to study cases and present their opinions to me. A police officer was also placed under me to conduct criminal investigation where necessary and to correspond with police departments as may be needed.
Another equally important function of the Attorney-General’s Office was involving in cassation cases, in which I had a role to play, either by presenting legal opinions and arguments to the Supreme Court Division dealing with cassation cases in support of petitions submitted to it by private applicants or parties involved in the lower courts; or submitting legal opinions or counter arguments where it is ordered by the Division dealing with cassation cases brought to by individual petitioners or parties. Such cases could concern criminal, civil or administrative matters.
At least, two workshops were organized a year during which reports concerning achievements made and problems faced were presented.
To give an idea of the administrative powers and obligations of the Attorney-General’s Office: Someone could apply claiming that due to misinterpretation of P.47 /1975, [the legislation nationalizing urban land and extra houses] a house or part of a house that did not satisfy the criteria was brought under the possession of the government. After examination of such a case and conducting additional research, decide either in favor or rejecting the complaint.
There was an incident that took place, between 1988 and 1990. The Prime Minister’s Office wrote a letter to our Office demanding that we had to evacuate Government houses located in the Lagar Train Station. Accordingly, I wrote an order to the local police requiring them to take out the unlawful occupants, from the Government house mentioning their names. I do not remember the exact day, it could be the next or the third day, and a police officer brought the unlawful occupants to my office and asked me what he could do with them. I told him that I had given an order and I could not reverse it myself and I suggested to him to take the matter to my superior. I thought that he did so. But I did not try to find out what happened. Sometime later, one day my assistant, in order to deal with some urgent matter took leave of me, earlier than usual, and left. Soon after that, one of the unlawful occupants came to my office, opened the door and addressing me by my father’s or second name, came towards my table. I was sitting on my chair placing my hands on the table in front of me. She touched my hands with what I thought to be money notes. I immediately stood up and withdrew my hands and threatened to call the office boy unless she left at once. Fortunately, she moved out. As my room was covered with carpet I did not hear any footsteps or clamping of shoes. But as she went out I heard her talking in whisper to someone. So, I realized that there had come another person intended to testify against me.
I did not want to call the office boy, because I was very much aware of the problem of the shortage of residential houses and perhaps she did not know that I acted under government order.
Besides our regular work, legal professionals at the head Office had to take part in teaching law to candidates designated to become Awraja court judges or public prosecutors for a period of six months and graduating with a diploma. Those of us that took part in the teaching program were accorded each, with a certificate of appreciation.
Earlier, during the Provisional Military Government, my life time friend and longtime colleague, Tiumelissan and I had our own law teaching program during lunch break in which we taught court clerks, public prosecution offices’ support staff and other members of government offices. He taught the substantive portion of the penal law and I taught the procedural part starting from 1978 up to the establishment of the EPDR Government. In recognition of our contribution, the Permanent Secretary or Vice-Minister of the Ministry of justice wrote a letter of appreciation to each of us.
What is more, during the EPDR Government, I was assigned in handling disciplinary cases involving public prosecutors, first, as vice-chairman of the disciplinary Committee, then as its chairman and acted in this capacity until the takeover of power by the EPRDF Regime.
Following the assumption of power by EPRDF forces on May 28, 1991, a special conference was held starting from July 1 during which the Transitional Charter was approved and put into practice.Accordingly a series of proclamations were proclaimed including Proc. 7\1992 pursuant to which Ethiopia was structured into 14 Regions.
The legal staff in the former Attorney-General’s Office were required to organize a Central Attorney-General’s Office and prepare a proclamation setting out its administrative structure and laying down its powers, duties and all relevant elements in which I played a role.
Among the existing officials of the Attorney-General’s Office, a new Attorney-General and a Vice Attorney-General were appointed by the Transitional EPRDF government.
I was appointed as Assistant Attorney-General in the Vice Attorney-General’s Office. More or less, my duties were the same; of course with certain limitations on account of the regional structure.
Furthermore, I was assigned to preside over the disciplinary committee handling disciplinary offenses involving the administrative personnel of the Central Attorney-General’s Office. Such a heavy responsibility was likely to create an unfavorable working relation with fellow workers.
A special workshop was organized. At the opening ceremony in which an important EPRDF official was the guest of honor, The Central Attorney-General’s Office was able to explain its powers, responsibilities and duties at all levels. The explanation was given by the newly appointed officials in their respective fields.
The new officials selected their assistants and representatives both at the Central and Regional levels.Besides, Administrative personnel of the Central Attorney-General’s Office were established by the new government.
Following the takeover of power by EPRDF, public offices and courts came to a standstill. This was because the national police forces at all level were disbanded. The same was true for courts. At first, only Peace and Stabilizing Committees were established throughout Addis Ababa, and perhaps throughout the country.
It was only after the enactment of a series of proclamations and in particular, the introduction of Proc. No. 7/1991 establishing 14 Regional States and a central one in accordance to which both central and regional public offices began to appear. Organizing a functioning court system was not easy. It took quite a long time to put in place such a system.
There was a time during which people said that it was better to be sued or accused rather than to start a civil suit or to lodge criminal accusation. This was because a person civilly sued or criminally accused could remain undisturbed as there were no courts and related institutions to bother him.
It was after, more or less, both regional and central courts as well as related institutions were organized that things returned to a relatively normal state. At first there was much confusion concerning civil and criminal jurisdiction, particularly on the regional level. Individuals involved in both civil and criminal proceedings wanted to bring the cases to the central state courts and administrative offices as they used to do before the coming of the radical change.
Following the establishment of courts and the Central Attorney-General’s Office as well as the regional courts and Attorney offices, both civil and criminal cases flooded all institutions in the country.
I was mainly concerned with criminal cases brought against officials of the previous Regime involving investigation files consisting of thousands of pages. What is more, following the breakdown of the coalition between EPRDF and OLF and the subsequent fighting, hundreds of criminal investigation files were brought to the Central Attorney-General’s Office. This inflated the amount of work to a great extent. Furthermore, oppositions against the new regime during which war broke out in different parts of the country; Criminal proceedings were brought against captured rebels. This increased the volume of work load for the Central Attorney-General’s Office public prosecutors including myself.For instance, two hundred eighty criminal investigation files were assigned to me for examining and submitting decisions or legal opinions.
In the meantime, it seemed that the Vice-Attorney-General colluded with the head of the Ministry of Justice to abolish the Central Attorney-General’s Office and transfer its powers, duties and responsibilities to the Ministry of justice. The idea appeared to have been approved by the top EPRDF officials, because the necessary proclamations were enacted, within a short period of time effecting the abolition of the Central Attorney-General’s Office and transferring all of its powers and duties to the Ministry of Justice. The Central Attorney-General was dismissed. But, the Vice-Attorney-General was appointed as Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice.
The newly appointed Minister of Justice was given wide-ranging powers by the new proclamation including dismissing or demoting existing public prosecutors at all level or demoting them or transferring them from their existing work places. He was also authorized to recruit new public prosecutors and other staff as he thought proper.
On the other hand, an official letter was issued from the Office of the Prime Minister at the time declaring that 22 senior public prosecutors were either dismissed or where their period of service was 20 years or above and their age not less than 45years were to be retired.
I was not one of the 22. The Minister of Justice demoted me from Assistant Attorney-General to Division head. However, my salary was the same as before. Although, I found it hard to swallow, I did nothing as I had no alternative. My immediate boss became a young blind lawyer, much junior than me, but a close friend of mine. Sometime after the Central Attorney-General’s Office was incorporated with the Ministry of Justice, my immediate boss, obtained the opportunity of joining the Hull University in England, to study for his master’s degree and left quite soon. Before his departure, he delegated me to act on his during his absence, in addition to my own duties. Moreover, besides cases assigned to me by the Department head, I handle cases referred to me by the Vice-Minister as well as legal opinions, views and recommendations for decisions submitted by junior public prosecutors. Hence, beginning from 1995, AA