“The Tigray State officials are accountable for constitutional human rights violations, massive corruption, wide wealth disparity and breakdown of federalist hierarchical and structural framework.”
So, remarked the leader of Tigray Democratic Coalition Party, Dr. Aregawi Berhe approached by The Ethiopian Herald related to the statement the TPLF recently made opposing the creation of a unified party.
He said that the Tigray state assumed and projected itself as a centralized state under the smokescreen of patron of federalism and a federalist scheme. It was using federalism for window dressing purpose, while practically it was practicing a central command system covertly and overtly.
As a matter of fact, after the reform, the central command system is no longer functional even in Tigray state due to the fact that the former leaders of the EPRDF who entrenched themselves on the upper echelon of the federal system, are virtually hand-cuffed not only at federal level but also in Tigray state.
Adding he noted that of course, some of them, after being dislodged from their seats of central government in Addis for their misdeeds, unwilling to invocate, they left without handing over their offices and leadership responsibilities to the federal government.
But, the former TPLF-driven EPRDF ring leaders now barefacedly say that the federal system is being eroded by the Abiy Ahmed’s leadership, tapped on the back by the global community. In reality, this saying is totally untrue.
As to him, such EPRDF’s members should be held accountable for the human rights violations. These committee members did not show pity while perpetrating human right violations on segment group of journalists, competitive political party leaders and any citizen that voices a complaint.
In diametric contrast to its sullied image, TPLF should not claim as a guardian of the constitution. A lot of human violations had been taking place before the reform. Our members are being harassed, tortured every day. Not only assembling and meeting are banned in Tigray towns and villages but also our members are subject to attacks and harassments. One member was attacked in Shere town lately. Currently, the human right violations have reached at their crescendo.
According to him, due to rampant TPLF-sponsored and business –related corruption at high scale and within a family-circle, he noted that the conglomerate of companies which is called endowment fund has managed to emerge the dominant institution or business firm in the state and the country. Family-based businesses are thriving in the Tigray state.
The benefits of these companies were accruing to for finger-counted family members instead of being channeled towards curbing the challenges of citizens. While millions were struggling to ensure subsistence so as to engage in daily development tasks, morally petrified, the aforementioned sanctimonious leaders were turning blind eye.
As such the majorsegment of people of the state are living under poverty line and becoming beggars. Right now, the situation is very alarming as it seems to spiral out of control unless checked in a good time. Most companies are being handled by a handful of people. There is imbalance of poor and rich demographic figures. There is a huge gap in Gini- coefficient between poor and rich people.
He remarked that, currently, below poverty line, the Tigray people are living in harsh conditions. They are also living in difficult conditions. The cost of living is skyrocketing there. Covering costs for a daily meal is becoming unthinkable. There is no employment opportunity. People are fleeing the state to the extent of daring harsh routes to go abroad. So, the current scenario there proves revolting in the state.
He reflected that downplaying the EPRDF’s sister member parties’ call for collation, the central committee of TPLF has announced that the committee is far from willing to embrace the idealistic framework of EPRDF’s sister members unification.
In other words, the committee is less willing to proceed ahead showing chemistry. As far as TPLF is concerned there is no room to unit as one. TPLF has opted to take the wrong track of isolation from the federal government. Guess what the consequence might be.
In fact, some former leaders are going to subsidies the Tigrian people only through neglecting other states of the country, which fought for the solidarity of Ethiopia.
Regarding the referendum of the Sidama zone, he mentioned that it is up to the resolution the Sidama people reach on. Therefore, we will see what is happening when the time comes.
“The people of Tigray are under a very repressive situation. They do not have a right to express their outlooks and choices. They do not have rights to choose and elect other contesting parties. That is why members of the contesting parties are seen being harassed. TPLF had been in power close to 30 years. As a manifestation of their power–mongering wish they are unwilling to let go the reign of power despite the misery of the people. The concerted push of the media is called for to bring to the limelight the public’s demand,” he highlighted.
The Tigray Communications Affairs Bureau’s page on social media warned that TPLF’s central committee believes that existing political crisis could exacerbate and lead to disintegration of Ethiopia if the ruling coalition is transformed into a united party. TPLF officially opposed the move to transform the ruling coalition, which constitutes three ethnic-based and one multiethnic party, into a single united party.
But, the ruling party said that it has conducted a thorough research about it and the result suggests that unity within the ruling coalition could actually lead to national solidarity.
Moreover, the statement stated that the campaign to control the people of Tigray and TPLF from a various means was a challenging one”, adding it noted that but the party will circumvent hurdles it faced with a sagacious and integrative effort.
In an effort to balance the news story, The Ethiopian Herald did it best via telephone and e-mail to persistently get some of the state officials and experts in vain.
The Ethiopian Herald October 20/2019
BY STAFF REPORTER
