Ethiopian Marxist–Leninist Revolutionary Organization

The Ethiopian Marxist–Leninist Revolutionary Organization, commonly known by its Amharic acronyms Malered or Emelared, was a communist organization in Ethiopia active from 1974 to the late 1970s.[1][2][3][4]

Formation

According to Bahru Zewde, the organization was formed through the merger of a domestic faction and an exiled splinter group of the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Party (EPRP).[5] According to Christopher Clapham, Malered could have been formed by EPRP members who wished to cooperate with the Derg military junta.[6] Andargachew Tiruneh, on the other hand, states that Malered could have emerged as an offshoot of the All-Ethiopian Socialist Movement (Meison) Youth League.[7] Fred Halliday supports the theory that Malered originated in Meison.[8]

The organization

Malered was led by Gulilat.[3] Politically, Malered was close to Meison.[7] Malered gave support to the Derg military junta, and the group was represented in the Provisional Office for Mass Organizational Affairs (POMOA).[9] Malered supported the entry of Seded (the new political organization formed by Derg militaries schooled in Marxism-Leninism) into POMOA.[10] When the National Democratic Revolutionary Programme of Ethiopia was declared in April 1976, Malered expressed its support to it and its willingness to join a common front with other groups supporting the revolution.[11] In December 1976, Malered published its own programme.[7]

In 1977, Malered took part in forming the Union of Ethiopian Marxist-Leninist Organizations together with four other groups (Meison, Seded, Echat and Waz League).[12] Malered was the smallest of these five parties.[6]

Events that led to its end

After the split between the Derg and Meison, the Derg would eventually begin crushing the smaller leftist groups like Malered.[13] Malered was eliminated from POMOA.[14] As of July 1979, there were reports that member of Malered had been arrested. At the time, Malered was the sole civilian political group still aligned with the Derg.[4]

References

  1. Milkias, Paulos. Ethiopia. Santa Barbara, Calif: ABC-CLIO, 2011. p. 429
  2. Ethiopian Opposition Political Parties and Rebel Fronts: Past and Present
  3. 1 2 Holcomb, Bonnie K., and Sisai Ibssa. The Invention of Ethiopia. Trenton, NJ: Red Sea Press, 1990. p. 373
  4. 1 2 Halliday, F., and M. Molyneux. The Ethiopian revolution. 1983. p. 131
  5. Bahru Zewde. A History of Modern Ethiopia: 1855 - 1991. Oxford: Currey [u.a.], 2002. p. 245
  6. 1 2 Clapham Christopher. Transformation and Continuity in Revolutionary Ethiopia. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1988. p. 54
  7. 1 2 3 Tiruneh, Andargachew. The Ethiopian Revolution 1974-1987 : a Transformation from an Aristocratic to a Totalitarian. Cambridge: University of Cambridge, 1995. p. 132
  8. Halliday, F., and M. Molyneux. The Ethiopian revolution. 1983. p. 129
  9. Wubneh, Mulatu, and Yohannis Abate. Ethiopia: Transition and Development in the Horn of Africa. Boulder, Colo: Westview Press, 1988. p. 57
  10. Clapham Christopher. Transformation and Continuity in Revolutionary Ethiopia. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1988. p. 67
  11. Tiruneh, Andargachew. The Ethiopian Revolution 1974-1987 : a Transformation from an Aristocratic to a Totalitarian. Cambridge: University of Cambridge, 1995. p. 178
  12. Harjinder Singh. Agricultural Problems in Ethiopia. Delhi, India: Gian Pub. House, 1987. p. 187
  13. Milkias, Paulos. Haile Selassie, Western Education, and Political Revolution in Ethiopia. Youngstown, N.Y.: Cambria Press, 2006. p. 266
  14. Lefort, René. Ethiopia, an Heretical Revolution? London: Zed, 1983. p. 253
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Wednesday, July 15, 2015. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.