Western donor countries are eager to donate to Ethiopia. They see the country as a beacon of stability in the Horn of Africa, partly thanks to Prime Minister Meles Zenawi. But he rules with an iron fist. Correspondent Koert Lindijer spoke to him in Addis Ababa.

 
 
Just days after our interview with Meles Zenawi, there is commotion in Ethiopia. Local media published the interview from Dutch newspapers, in particular the prime minister’s comments that he wants to resign. "I would really love to create a precedent by being the first Ethiopian leader to resign voluntarily."

 
The fact that important news reaches Ethiopia via foreign media says it all, because their own newspapers suffer under repressive media laws. Journalists live in fear and exercise self censorship.

 
Milestone
Ethiopia has been traumatised since 2005, when the country was allowed to openly debate and vote for the first time in its 3000-year history. That was a milestone for a people that has been subject to centuries of tightly controlled hierarchical rule.

 
When the votes were being counted in 2005 it looked like the opposition would win. But in fact victory went to the governing EPRDF party. Protests were hard-handedly suppressed and 200 people died in street demonstrations. Western diplomats loudly voiced their protests.

 
Police state
One year ahead of new elections the short-lived freedom has been crushed again. Draconian laws against press freedom, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and terrorism have turned Ethiopia into a police state.

 
Out of fear for eavesdroppers, opposition leader Beyene Petrus speaks out in a dark corner of the university. "Since 2005 the opposition has been criminalised," he says. "It is too dangerous for Ethiopians to protest against the new laws."

 
Prime Minister Meles Zenawi is an awkward but polite man, as are many men in Ethiopian culture. His party sticks strictly to its ideological course.

"Maybe we are more stubborn that other countries in Africa; we challenge the dogmatism of development policy in Africa."

 
Strange ideologies
In Meles' opinion, foreign paid NGOs introduce strange ideologies to the country. He says the bill actually reinforces the NGO sector.

"Foreign financing of these organisations undermines the democratic character of civilian groups. Because the funds from foreign embassies determine what happens rather than the Ethiopian people."

 
Meles is above his people. Things were different when he was a guerrilla leader. Has he become an aloof emperor?

"In Addis Ababa I do not mix with the people for  security reasons, but in rural areas farmers feel free to ask me questions."

 
Nepotism
The 54-year-old leader recognises the danger that his freedom movement could lose its original ideals and bow down to nepotism.

"Absolutely, that is why a movement has to keep reforming itself, and changing its leaders."

 
Meles, the radical resistance fighter of 20 years ago, is now being mollycoddled by Western donors. He welcomed them at first out of disdain for his predecessor, the Marxist Mengistu. The prime minister represents Africa at the G20, the meeting of rich industrial countries. He is a man with international standing.

 
The internationally respected prime minister however, is the same man who ordered troops to kill thousands of Ethiopians in Oromia in 1992, in Gambela in 2004 and the Ogaden last year.

 
Beacon of stability
Western donor countries and organisations do not give any country south of the Sahara as much money as Ethiopia. Whereas in other African countries they are quick to criticise rigid economic policies, violations of human rights and good governance, they say nothing in Ethiopia. Caught between Sudan and Somalia, Ethiopia and Meles Zenawi are a beacon of stability in the explosive Horn of Africa and an important partner in the fight against international terrorism.

 
A strange diplomatic voice comes from the Chinese ambassador Gu Xiaojie.

"Some African states are bitter, because the West tells them what to do, Western values are imposed on them. The success of the Chinese African relations is down to the lack of interference in internal matters and mutual trust and respect. It is up to the Ethiopian government how it deals with democratisation. The government has made great and remarkable progress and Meles is popular with the people."