BY MULATU BELACHEW
“We have detained your children. Unless you order the soldiers under your command to stop firing on us, we do not hesitate to kill your children,” members of the fugitive junta threatened a captain.
However, the Captain said, “I am here to stand by the side of my country. I must defend it from any attack.”
This hero captain was martyred in the recent law enforcement operation held in Tigray state. For the sake of his family’s safety, Ministry of Defense has refrained from mentioning his name. But it will be disclosed next time.
This story is all about a war memoir narrated by a captain to members of the 20th Division of the Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF) before he passed away.
Let’s us begin from the start.
It was on 24 November 2020, in Edega Ribu, a small village commonly called a Bakery Village locally known as Dabo Bet Sefer where the 20th Division Defense Force settled. Suddenly, gunshots reverberated across the area targeting the national army. Members of the brigade mounted counter strike. The defense force heavily attacked the TPLF junta forces.
“Looking our strong counter attack, the fugitive junta sent elders to our camp in a bid to sweet talk and deceive us. Though we knew the ill-intent, we didn’t prefer to treat the elders, who proved a bit shameless, with cold shoulders. But the elders insisted us to put down our guns, and surrender to the TPLF juntas. Their plan was to seize our weapons. The elders gave me time to discuss with my comrades in arms on the issue. We discussed together and rejected their call for surrender.”
He told the elders to tell the juntas the army had decided to fight to death than give in.
When they continued firing on us. I approached civilians who were fleeing from the area following the conflict and gave my four- and 13-year-old children.
However, up on return to my camp, the Tigray Special Force captured me. They said, ‘we captured your children too. Give a command to your members to stop firing and to surrender. Unless otherwise, we will kill your children.’
It was the most terrible experience for him because he sat on the horn of a dilemma— forced to choose from his country or his children. But as he was sagacious, he asked them to give him a chance to discuss the matter with his comrades before letting them know his decision.
On the discussion, he told his colleagues that his children are under the control of the enemy but he will fight for his country. “My children could not come before my country. Hence, we can fight to the last with the junta,” he decided.
Once again, the junta sent elders to negotiate things. But the army remained iron-willed. “We chose our country not you and your distractive mission,” they firmly made their position clear.
After a week, the junta launched a second-round gunfire following the unfruitful sweet talking. Fortunately, the TPLF junta sent the children back to their father after it assured that it has got some of the weapons from the army.
But it was the junta’s ploy to stop the army from counterattacking when they saw the release of their commander’s children. The defense force continued taking strong measure and killing many of the junta’s members. But the captain’s dream of seeing his children did not come true since he has scarified his life for his country.
At the 9th day from the commencement of the conflict, the junta force controlled the ENDF’s military camp based at Edega Ribu.
By the time, a villager named Kelamo Ashane who was looking after the commander’s children was ordered to get out from the area. The junta compelled the children to see the dead body of their father. Among the children was found a 13-year-old boy, who cried when he saw his father’s corpse. One of the junta members hit the child for mourning his father’s death. This was a saddening moment to all people on the area.
“You killed his father. Must you hit him now?!” Kelamo shouted. But, in return she was also beaten.
Now the darkest day is over as the Junta was dislodged. The two children are in Mekelle city with the ENDF and Kelamo who took responsibility from the captain to adopt the children.
The 13-year-old boy identified one of his father’s killer who put off his military uniform and disguised himself as a civilian. The boy informed the security forces and got him arrested.
