Which Kind of Land Reform for Ethiopia: The Debate Preceding the 1975 Land Proclamation
Abstract
Sustained agricultural development depends on the proper management of the land and the people, and their relationships-i.e. the system of land tenure. The feudal system of Ethiopia was, however, believed to be a bottleneck for the utilization of the country’s agricultural potential. Then, the students and the progressive intelligentsia played the vanguard role in the political agitation for land reform for more than a decade. The imperial government was unable to meet the demands of the popular movement that ultimately brought the regime to its demise. On September 2, 1974 the Provisional Military Administrative Council (PMAC) commonly called ‘Derg’ controlled the government. Then, the issue of land reform became the subject of much discussion and controversy within the PMAC, student groups and radical intelligentsia and the public at large. The debate was conducted on two different levels, formally in the government institutions and in the official newspapers, and informally in the underground publications and in public gatherings. It took about six months of discussion and elaboration for the PMAC until its radical wing finally proclaimed the March 1975 land reform. The foregoing debate revealed the degree of polarization between the reformists and the revolutionists. The major questions in the struggle between the two poles were centered around the objective of the land reform, the issue of land ownership and of ceilings, and the method of its implementation.References
Ministry of National Defence (MOND) Archives, Administration 1713, Yä Sostägnaw Keflä Tor Amäsärarät Enna Tägadlo (Emergence and Struggle of the of the 3rd Division), 1982 E.C., 2.
MOND Archives, Operations 518B, Adhariw Yä Somalia Mängest Selakahédäben Gelts Worära Atäqalay Zägäba 1966 - 1971 E. C (A Comprehensive Report on the Flagrant Invasion of the Reactionary Somali Government 1974 -1978), 1970 E. C., 1-3, 6-11.
Ibid., 11, 14 - 16.
Ibid., 31, 38.
Ibid., 42-43.
MOND Archives, Operations 168, Bä Ertera Keflä Hagär Bä Hulätägnaw Abyotawi Särawit Yätäfätsämu Wotadärawi Enqesqaséwoch (Military Activities Carried out by the Second Revolutionary Army in Eritrea), 1979 E.C., 7-8. For other task forces see Fantahun Ayele, The Ethiopian Army: From Victory to Collapse 1977-1991(Evanston: Northwestern University Press, 2014).
MOND Archives, Administration 1713, Anbäsaw Sostägna Keflä Tor Selä Fätsämachäw Gedajochena Selä Agägnachäw Akuri Deloch Acher Riport (A Brief Report on the Engagements Carried Out and the Brilliant Victories Scored by the Lion 3rd Division), 1976 E.C., 1.
Ibid., 1-2.
Ibid., 2-3.
Ibid., pp. 5-6; MOND Archives, Administration 4635, Yä Aser Amät A Zämächa Riport (A Ten Year Operation Report), 1977 E. C., 19-21; Gebru Tareke “From Lash to Red Star: the Pitfalls Counter-Insurgency in Ethiopia, 1980-1982,†Journal of Modern African Studies, Vol. 40, No. 3, 2002, 483-485; Gännät Ayélä, Yä Létäna Colonel Mängestu H. Maryam Tezetawoch (Recollections of Lt. Col. Mängestu H. Maryam). (Addis Ababa: Mega Publishing Enterprise, 1994 E.C), 252.
MOND Archives, Administration 1223, Bä Sostägnaw Keflä Tor Yä Tänäsawen Amäts Lämämärmär Yätäquaquamä Buden Riport (Report of the Committee Formed to Investigate the Mutiny in the 3rd Division), 8/2/75 E.C., 1-4.
MOND Archives, Intelligence 295, Bä Sostägnaw Keflä Tor Selä Täfätsämäw Adma Yätädärägä Mermära (An Investigation of the Mutiny that Occurred in the 3rd Division), 12- 23/2/75 E.C., 1-8.
MOND archives, Operations 168, Bä Ertera Keflä Hagär ... 25; Administration 1713, Yä Sostägnaw Keflä Tor ..., 8-9.
Addis Zaman, Amharic Daily Newspaper, 6/13/75 E.C., 6; 19/01/76 E.C., 1; see also MOND Archives, Administration 1713, Yä Sostägnaw Keflä Tor ..., 9.
MOND Archives, Operations 168, Bä Ertera Kelä Hagär ... , 30-31.
Ibid., 31-34.
Ibid., 36-39.
MOND Archives, Administration 1713, Yä Sostägnaw Kelä Tor ..., 12-13; Operations 431, Yä Zämächa Alula Yä Wegya Te’ezaz (Operation Alula Combat Order) 15/11/79 E.C., 1-4; Yä Zämächa Näbälbal Riport (Report on Operation Flame), 3/9/79 E.C., 1-3. Yä Zämächa Mäbräq Yä Wegya Riport (Combat Report of Operation Lightning) 21/8/79 E.C., 1-3; Yä Zämächa Mänter Riport (Report on Operation Mänter), 27/12/79 E.C., 1-5.
Gebru Tareke, “From Af Abet to Shire: The Defeat and Demise of Ethiopia’s ‘Red’ Army 1988-89,†Journal of Modern African Studies, Vol. 42, No. 2, 2004, 239-281; D. Connell,. Against All Odds: A Chronicle of the Eritrean Revolution (Lawrenceville: The Red Sea Press, 1993), 228; Dawit W. Giorgis, Red Tears: War, Famine and Revolution in Ethiopia. (Lawrenceville: The Red Sea Press, 1989), 365.
MOND Archives, Administration 1713, Yä Sostägnaw Keflä Tor , 13-15.
Ibid., 15-16.
MOND Archives, Operations 418, Zämächa Mäket (Operation Defend), 14/3/82 E.C., 1-4.
The Ethiopian Herald, December 17, 1989, 6.
MOND Archives, Operations 262, Yä Särawitoch Enna Yä Koroch Yä Zämächa Riport (Operations Report of Armies and Corps), 9-15/04/82 E.C., 1.
MOND Archives, Operations 262, Yä Soasä Samentawi Yä Zämächa Riport (Weekly Operations Report of the Third Revolutionary Army (TRA)), 6-15/05/82 E.C., 1.
MOND Archives, Intelligence 022-24, Yä Soasä Wotadärawi Märäja Amätawi Riport (Annual Report of the TRA’s Military Intelligence), 1982 E.C., 53-57.
MOND Archives, Operations 262, Yä Soasä Zämächa Riport (Report of TRA’s Operations), 10- 17/07/82 E.C., 1-3; Operations 262 Bä Soasä Genbar Yätädärägä Wegya Acher Zägäba (A Brief Record of the Engagement on the TRA Front), 16-30/07/82 E.C., 1-2.
MOND Archives, Operations 418, Yä Soasä Tor Asälaläf Läwt (A Change in the Positioning of TRA’s Force), ND, 1-6.
Ibid.
Ibid., 6-7.
Ibid.
MOND Archives, Operations 262, Yä Soasä Zämächa Riport (TRA’s Operations Riport), 13- 19/09/82 E.C., 1.
Ibid., 2.
Ibid., 5.
Ibid., 2-4.
MOND Archives, Operations 493, Bä 102 gnaw Ayär Wäläd Keflä Tor Lay Yädäräsä Gudat (Damage Inflicted on the 102nd Airborne Division), 15/09/ 82 E.C., 1-6.
MOND Archives, Operations 262, Yä Soasä Zämächa Riport ..., 13-19/09/82 E.C., 4-5.
Ibid., 4-5.
Anonymous, “Zämächa Näbälbal: Kä Karra Mesheg Eskä Märagna,†(operations Flame: From Karra Mesheg to Märagna), Ethiop, Vol. 2, No., 17, 1993 E.C., 23-24.
Ibid.
MOND Archives, Operations 262, Yä Soasä Zämächa Riport ..., 13-19/09/82 E.C., 5-6.
Anonymous, “Zämächa Näbälbal ..., 23-24.
MOND Archives, Intelligence 022-24, Yä Soasä Wotadärawi ... , 70.
Tsägga Mogäs, “Kä Woldya Eskä Midda: Kä Mängaga Yätäfäläqäqäw Yä Särawitu Del,†(From Woldya to Midda: the Victory Snatched from the Jaws of the Army), Tobya, Vol. 3, No., 7, 1987 E. C., 32.
MOND Archives, Administration 2521, Zämächa Näbälbal 02 (Operation Flame II), 1982 E.C., 1-3.
Ibid., 4-5.
Ibid., 4-6.
MOND Archives, Intelligence 022-24, Yä Soasä Wotadärawi ..., 71 - 75.
Anonymous, “Zämächa Näbälbal ..., pp. 24-25; MOND Archives, Operations 262, Yä Soasä Zämächa Riport (TRA’s Operations Report), 4-5/10/82 E.C., 3-4.
Ibid.
Ibid. ; Intelligence 022-24, 71-72.
MOND Archives, Operations 513-514, Major General Kenfä Gäbrél Denqu to Operations Main Department, 05/12/82 E.C.
Ibid.
Dawit, 109.
MOND Archives, Operations 532, Tämäsgän Chala to 3rd Division Commander, 08/09/83 E.C.
Bahru Zewde, A History of Modern Ethiopia 1855-1991, 2nd ed. (Oxford: James Currey, 2001), 267- 268.
Ministry of National Defence (MOND) Archives, Administration 1223, Bä Sostägnaw Keflä Tor Yä Tänäsawen Amäts Lämämärmär Yätäquaquamä Buden Report (Report of the Committee Formed to Investigate the Mutiny in the 3 rd Division), 8/2/75 E.C.
MOND Archives, Administration 1713, Anbäsaw Sostägna Keflä Tor Selä Fätsämachäw Gedajochena Selä Agägnachäw Akuri Deloch Acher Riport (A Brief Report on the Engagements Carried Out and the Brilliant Victories Scored by the Lion 3 rd Division), 1976 E.C.
MOND Archives, Administration 1713, Yä Sostägnaw Keflä Tor Amäsärarät Enna Tägadlo (Emergence and Struggle of the of the 3 rd Division), 1982 E.C.
MOND Archives, Administration 2521, Zämächa Näbälbal 02 (Operation Flame II), 1982 E.C.
MOND Archives, Administration 4635, Yä Aser Amät A Zämächa Report (A Ten Year Operation Report), 1977 E. C.
MOND Archives, Intelligence 022-24, Yä Soasä Wotadärawi Märäja Amätawi Riport (Annual Report of the TRA’s Military Intelligence), 1982 E.C.
MOND Archives, Intelligence 295, Bä Sostägnaw Keflä Tor Selä Täfätsämäw Adma Yätädärägä Mermära (An Investigation of the Mutiny that Occurred in the 3 rd Division), 12-23/2/75 E.C.
MOND Archives, Operations 168, Bä Ertera Keflä Hagär Bä Hulätägnaw Abyotawi Särawit Yätäfätsämu Wotadärawi Enqesqaséwoch (Military Activities Carried out by the Second Revolutionary Army in Eritrea), 1979 E.C.
MOND Archives, Operations 262 Bä Soasä Genbar Yätädärägä Wegya Acher Zägäba (A Brief Record of the Engagement on the TRA Front), 16-30/07/82 E.C.
MOND Archives, Operations 262, Yä Särawitoch Enna Yä Koroch Yä Zämächa Riport (Operations Report of Armies and Corps), 9-15/04/82 E.C.
MOND Archives, Operations 262, Yä Soasä Samentawi Yä Zämächa Report (Weekly Operations Report of the Third Revolutionary Army (TRA)), 6-15/05/82 E.C.
MOND Archives, Operations 262, Yä Soasä Zämächa Riport (Report of TRA’s Operations), 10 17/07/82 E.C.
MOND Archives, Operations 262, Yä Soasä Zämächa Report (TRA’s Operations Riport), 13-19/09/82 E.C.
MOND Archives, Operations 262, Yä Soasä Zämächa Report (TRA’s Operations Report), 4-5/10/82 E.C.
MOND Archives, Operations 418, Yä Soasä Tor Asälaläf Läwt (A Change in the Positioning of TRA’s Force), ND.
MOND Archives, Operations 418, Zämächa Mäket (Operation Defend), 14/3/82 E.C.
MOND Archives, Operations 431, Yä Zämächa Alula Yä Wegya Te’ezaz (Operation Alula Combat Order) 15/11/79 E.C.
MOND Archives, Operations 431,Yä Zämächa Näbälbal Report (Report on Operation Flame), 3/9/79 E.C.
MOND Archives, Operations 431, Yä Zämächa Mäbräq Yä Wegya Report (Combat Report of Operation Lightning) 21/8/79 E.C.
MOND Archives, Operations 431, Yä Zämächa Mänter Report (Report on Operation Mänter), 27/12/79 E.C
MOND Archives, Operations 493, Bä 102 gnaw Ayär Wäläd Keflä Tor Lay Yädäräsä Gudat (Damage Inflicted on the 102 nd Airborne Division), 15/09/ 82 E.C.
MOND Archives, Operations 513-514, Major General Kenfä Gäbrél Denqu to Operations Main Department, 05/12/82 E.C.
Archives, Operations 518B, Adhariw Yä Somalia Mängest Selakahédäben Gelts Worära Atäqalay Zägäba 1966 – 1971 E. C (A Comprehensive Report on the Flagrant Invasion of the Reactionary Somali Government 1974 -1978), 1970 E. C.
MOND Archives, Operations 532, Tämäsgän Chala to 3 rd Division Commander, 08/09/83 E.C.
Addis Zaman, Amharic Daily Newspaper, 6/13/75 E.C.
Anonymous, “Zämächa Näbälbal: Kä Karra Mesheg Eskä Märagna,†(operations Flame: From Karra Mesheg to Märagna), Ethiop, Vol. 2, No., 17, 1993 E.C.
Bahru Zewde. A History of Modern Ethiopia 1855-1991, 2 nd ed. Oxford: James Currey, 2001.
Connell, D. Against All Odds: A Chronicle of the Eritrean Revolution. Lawrenceville: The Red Sea Press, 1993.
Dawit W. Giorgis. Red Tears: War, Famine and Revolution in Ethiopia. Lawrenceville: The Red Sea Press, 1989.
The Ethiopian Herald, December 17, 1989.
Fantahun Ayele. The Ethiopian Army: From Victory to Collapse 1977-1991. Evanston: Northwestern University Press, 2014.
Gännät Ayélä. Yä Létäna Colonel Mängestu H. Maryam Tezetawoch (Recollections of Lt. Col. Mängestu H. Maryam). Addis Ababa: Mega Publishing Enterprise, 1994 E.C.
Gebru Tareke. “From Lash to Red Star: the Pitfalls Counter-Insurgency in Ethiopia, 1980-1982,†Journal of Modern African Studies, Vol. 40, No. 3, 2002.
___________ . “From Af Abet to Shire: The Defeat and Demise of Ethiopia’s ‘Red’ Army 1988-89,†Journal of Modern African Studies, Vol. 42, No. 2, 2004.
Tsägga Mogäs, “Kä Woldya Eskä Midda: Kä Mängaga Yätäfäläqäqäw Yä Särawitu Del,†(From Woldya to Midda: the Victory Snatched from the Jaws of the Army), Tobya, Vol. 3, No., 7, 1987 E. C.
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