Part I
This paper presents the slightly modified version of the resolution the House of Peoples Representatives endorsed focusing on the crucial points and convincing justifications that led Tigray People Libration Front (TPLF) and Shene to be designated as terrorist organizations.
TPLF
There have been violent attacks perpetrated against civilians in various parts of the country with a view to reverting the reform following the recurrent quests all Ethiopians for rights and democracy over the last three years. Those who have orchestrated these attacks were motivated by the desire to reverse the reform measures that have been implemented over the last three years. These attacks were intended to endanger the very existence of the state by undermining public trust and confidence on the government. The attacks have been executed against innocent citizens and public infrastructure to advance the political ideology of division and in the pursuit of political goals or objectives.
All what these bodies have executed, caused to be executed and are executing are terrorist activities. Hence, it is easy to comprehend that the activities they have been carrying out hence fully comply with the explanation of terrorism under Article 3 of Proclamation No. 1176/2020 on the Prevention and Suppression of Terrorism Crimes.
The measure taken is a timely and viable decision as it is of paramount importance in holding members and supporters of these organizations accountable for their terrorist activities, designating the organizations as terrorist organizations according to the law is deemed more practical to better control and avert acts of terrorism. This is a timely means to prevent the loss of lives of innocent citizens and property damage as well as safeguard the nation from the immense danger it has been encountering.
The major aim of designating the organizations is to halt the terrorism practice among the society and to add value to the effort of law enforcing bodies geared towards preventing and controlling crimes. Here, providing any organization labeled as a terrorist with any form of support, participating as a member or leadership makes people accountable. So this step helps to ban peaceful citizens from establishing rapport and cooperate with it and reserve themselves from stretching hands in any kind of approach.
As it is possible to tip law enforcing bodies about the cooperation people do with a terrorist group, the aid they granted to it and even citing their membership to get them liable, everybody has to refrain from doing so. When an organization is labeled as a terrorist, its properties are confiscated. This helps deteriorate its financial capacity and is believed to dwindle the human capital it does have.
As far as the criteria that need to be fulfilled to designate organizations as per the Proclamation No. 1176/2020 on the Prevention and Suppression of Terrorism Crimes is concerned, the discretion to designate organizations as terrorists is given to House of Peoples Representatives. Legal procedurally, the cited group or organization can be designated as a terrorist one when Federal Attorney presents the motion to the Council of Ministers and it is supported by two-third of the members of the houses. Besides, it is possible to designate as terrorist when the idea cited at Art. 19 are met.
The first criterion to designate an organization as a terrorist is if centers a crime full of terror and runs activities along that line, the second option is when organization’s management or decision making bodies accept the terrorism or lead its implementation and the last option takes the general manifestation or the performance of organization’s employees into account.
In simple terms, if terror and futile attempts are clear manifestation of the organization or if it runs activities in a way that most of its workers have understood its mission, the body can be labeled as a terrorist. TPLF decided to remove the reformist government via establishing “Tigray Central military Command” ordered by state security bureau. This new structure was under the command of pensioned defense force senior Generals, Colonels.
The senior Military personnel prepared a draft doctrine to establish Tigray Defense Force and summited to the TPLF executive committee and the latter endorsed and get it operational. As the Military wing was keeping on preparing itself for confrontation, TPLF executive committee was evaluating and giving directions at each step providing them with a range of supports. Hand in hand with military preparation, TPLF made propaganda among the people to prepare themselves for war.
The propaganda carried by cadres was targeting at predominantly engaging them in making any citizenry residing in the state and easily understand the political scenario well aware of the mission, organized and practically move towards that end. Revealing the interest of firing which was being hidden orchestrated for the first consecutive months of 2012 E.C, TPLF waged war saying “It is time for a defense” as if they were attacked by the federal government to incite the society, they started shouting loud to get their voice heard loud of the entire inhabitants to turn out with a view to getting the government lame.
They planned to purposely attack the federal forces and release false information as if people of Tigary are attacked by the Ethiopian defense forces and persuaded the people to fight against the federal government and control power while the government get weakened. Establishing checkpoints in various places, it planned to control the movement of the defense forces and check the army members.
The expression ‘Defender’ had been a slogan of TPLF and started being briefed among the public as well as was being elaborated and presented to the Tigray people at large. Defender means using oil lamps when there is no electric power, traveling long distance on foot if there is no vehicle, sharing food if there is no meal without complaint and TPLF make the people ready for war.
Understanding that the task done solely in the state could hardly weakened the government; TPLF began to recruit teams that helped it execute destructive plans creating havoc across the nation. In Afar state, it financed and armed the Afar Revolutionary Democratic Unity Front (ARDUF) party to gain its support.
In order to create chaos in the Amhara State, it has signed agreements with various bodies. In the name of protecting Qimant people, TPLF had allocated a huge amount of finance and weapons for these people. They also made various efforts to create conflict among the Amhara, Oromoo and Afar people. It had provided armament and money for Gambella people’s Justice for Peace, Development and Democracy Party in order to stir up public chaos in Gambella state. In order to create public chaos between the people residing in Bensahngule State, it also provides armament and money for Gumuze People Democratic Movement and Benishangule People’s Freedom Movement for Peace and Democracy.
Holding discussions with the group operating in Oromia State named Shene, TPLF supported it in all aspects to execute the mission of killing people, destructing property and get citizens displaced. Together they attacked the Ethiopian Defense Force Northern base. So as to stir up chaos in the Oromia state, it provides Oromia youth with training taking them to Mekele.
Besides, the defiant TPLF held a fake and illegal to dismantle the federal government structure. TPLF declared war on the Northern Command of the ENDF through cutting electric and telephone lines on November 04, 2021. On the next day, it ordered the state media to broadcast that the northern command of the ENDF in cooperation with the state military is fighting against the federal government. TPLF caused a loss of numerous lives since it declared war against the federal government until the end of the war on November 29 2021.
The youth groups organized by the TPLF committed genocide against other ethnicities which caused numerous civilians death and injury. TPLF undertook continuous missile rockets attack into Bahirdar, Gonder and Eritrea and killed citizens and caused huge infrastructural damage. Currently, the TPLF remnants are attacking civilians being hid in different parts of the state. TPLF committed all these terrible crimes to its silly demand of controlling the federal government.
According to the FEDRE constitution article 09, it is prohibited to assume power in any manner contravenes the constitution. TPLF also breached the terrorism act proclamation No. 1176/2020 article 03. The requirements that have to be secured to label TPLF as a terrorist organization have been met. As stated earlier, TPLF took all the possible actions to seize power in force, Its actions purely indicate it was committed to kill citizens and destroy properties to attain its target and the management or decision making bodies accept the terrorism or lead its implementation.
TPLF executive and central committee decided to come into power TPLF CC’ s decision and trail to build a military institution targets controlling the federal government power. The party leaders and decision makers accepted the crime to be executed so as to quench their power thirst. TPLF’s decision to control the federal government in power, killing innocents, damaging infrastructure and commenting other crimes and terrorizing citizens show that terrorism is the real emblem of the organization
If an organization commits terrorism crimes and continues doing so, it is enshrined under Art. 18 of Proclamation No. 1176/2020 on the Prevention and Suppression of Terrorism Crimes, as the house could label is as a terrorist up on the issuance of the Federal Attorney to the House of people’s representatives. It is clearly stipulated that the federal attorney general has the authority to present a resolution to get organizations designated as terrorists.
BY STAFF REPORTER
The Ethiopian Herald May 13/2021
