BY BACHA ZEWDIE
An air force member says he has sustained trauma from the cruel assault of the junta’s fighters who coerced him to launch rockets, a request he rejected. The air force staff member says trying to live up to his promise to die for the safety of the nation, he refused to obey the juntas’ orders to launch rockets, in reaction to which he endured barbaric assault and even death threat.
For more than 17 years Major Zelalem Bizuneh, Air Defense Planning and Training Team leader with North Air Force’s has been discharging his main duty to prevent enemy’s air strikes and aerial defense coverage for the ground forces.
But since the new administration headed by Dr. Abiy Ahmed came to power in 2018, some individuals who are disgruntled by the reform had started to show strange behavior, says Major Zelalem.
There were also instances of disregard for instructions from the federal government and division of the army. They also label any Air Force staffers who do not agree with them as a supporter of the Prosperity Party (PP).
In the midst of this, an unexpected shooting took place at the North Air Division residence in Mekelle on December 3, 2020 at 11:00 pm, according to Major Zelalem. “When we asked what was happening, members of the air force who were part of the conspiracy tried to cheat us saying the shooting was only an exercise”
As we stayed awake all the night, we observed Tigray Special Forces entering the compound at around 6:00 am. They evicted members of the defense forces from Amhara and Oromo ethnic groups and assaulted them severely. They took them to a concentration camp and divided them into ethnic groups.
They concentrated Amhara and Oromo in one and the South alone. “Realizing that I had the experience and knowledge to launching a rocket, they took me alone and asked me to stand by them and shoot,” Major Zelalem said.
“I stubbornly told them that my promise, most of all, is to protect the sovereignty of the country and people, and there is no prestige more than serving the nation.”
Firmly resisting their repeated abuses and harassment, he showed that that he preferred to die than obey their request.
“A person known as Col. Belay told me that if I was willing and shot the rocket, he would let me get treatment. But I told him to kill me rather if he wanted to,” the Major added.
He said that he was relieved as the Defense Forces took control of the city. He stayed for long without any treatment. Major Zelalem says he still suffers from the trauma he sustained from the heinous acts of the juntas special forces.
They humiliated the army, which had supported the surrounding people in harvesting crops, expelling locusts, preventing COVID-19 , and various social problems.
The Defense Force, he said, has made a promise to the country. It is entrusted with the responsibility of the people and the government. They are about to die when engaged into the struggle; to melt like a candle and shine light on others. They are committed to their promise.
The Ethiopian Herald December 9/2020
