A few months ago, while I was surfing the web on a mission of gathering information about an immigration-related topic, I suddenly stumbled upon a video about US citizenship mock interview questions. I could not help chuckling when I heard one of the weird questions: – “Have you been a terrorist?” It is a question that may sound almost stupid. Who in his sane mind would admit involving in an act of terror a US citizenship interview?
After all, which terrorist group has ever declared itself as a terrorist? Rather, all terrorist groups describe themselves as defenders of justice, peace, and champions of freedom. Some even dare extend their domain beyond the earthly world reaching up to the heavens in the afterlife. They brainwash their gullible youth followers into believing that accomplishing their terror missions would entitle them to the ‘passport’ to Heaven. Terror masterminds cook up theories and fake news, made-up history, distort the truth, and feed their poisonous narratives of hatred into the mind of their followers until their sense of humanity drained out to become mindless killing machines.
Under the guise of being defenders of their society, ideology, or religion, terrorists use terror as a means to achieve and maintain power and wealth as well as to ward off their rivals and subdue their followers into submission and loyalty to their rules and ideologies. Individuals, groups, organizations even governments may be involved in sponsoring and masterminding terrorism.
TPLF, for instance, has been a quintessential terrorist entity throughout its political life. Over half a century ago, TPLF took up arms and pronounced itself the liberator of the Tigray people. At the expense of the life of thousands of Tigraian youth, TPLF leaders won their war and basked in the glory of absolute power and fortune for almost three decades but at the end of the day, they only brought misery and destruction to the Tigray people.
In its early rebel years, while it was in the bushes, during its 27 years at the helm of government, and after its eviction from power a few years ago, TPLF throughout its existence has been actively involved in terrorist acts both singlehandedly and in collaboration with its affiliates.
The true colors of TPLF[while in power] as a ruthless police state terrorizing its own people were fully revealed after its eviction from power in 2018 with concerted popular resistance movements. Until then, TPLF was assassinating rivals, massacring communities, locking dissidents, and torturing prisoners behind the curtains, while in its state media its professes democracy, peace, freedom, and development.
The sad thing is TPLF did not draw its lesson from its predecessor, the Derg, which ruled and subjugated Ethiopians under the barrel of gun and terror for over 17 years. Under the terror campaign it named Red Terror, the Derg had massacred thousands of educated youth as well as sent tens of thousands youth into exile.
Of course, TPLF has staged well-publicized trials on the alleged perpetrators of the red terror and also built memorial museums for Red terror victims. However, the terror crimes TPLF committed in its 27 years in power far surpasses the terror made by the Derg. The documentary films released in 2018 by the state media revealed the atrocious terror crimes committed by the TPLF on its own people. The warmongering and terrorist nature of both the Derg and TPLF has led them subsequently to share the same fate—a disgraceful demise.
After it has been relegated to the Tigray region following its loss of absolute control of the federal government, TPLF has intensified its terrorist plots against its fellow citizens. With the ultimate intent of creating an opportunity to realize its desperate hope of returning to Arat Kilo, it has intensely worked to weaken the incumbent government and destabilize the country. There is compelling evidence suggesting TPLF has even allegedly communicated with such adversary states like Egypt that are enthusiastic sponsors of the continued terror plots against Ethiopia.
In its last hurrah as a political and military entity, TPLF has carved out a documented strategy to regain control of the federal government in three months period by conducting a well-coordinated military offensive, which it implemented but miserably failed. When its military offensive was foiled before it went too far by the gallant Ethiopian patriots and so its dream of the second march to Arat Kilo went up in smoke, TPLF conducted harrowing crimes against its own fellow citizens, such as the one it did in Mai-Kadra, in which hundreds of innocent civilians were hacked to death.
TPLF has been sponsoring and masterminding terrorist activities as well as providing training and logistical supports to other terrorist groups actively working in various regions. It is well-evidenced fact that militant groups involved in unrests and killings in Beshangul -Gumuz, Oromia, Amhara, Gambela, SNNPR as well as Afar regions have been receiving continuous comprehensive support from TPLF. One of such militant terrorist groups that have been reportedly working in tandem with TPLF is the militant group known as Shene.
Shene has been reported to have been responsible for the loss of several innocent lives and destruction properties over the last three years particularly in the Oromia and Amhara regions. The group which is mainly active in the Oromia region has been implicated in attempts to dismantle local government structures and directing urban hitting squads that committed broad daylight assassination of government officials and journalists. The terror group is said to be involved in abduction, torture, and destruction of public and private properties.
Government sources indicate that since last September, Shene has slain over 170 members of security forces, 18 government authorities, and scores of unarmed civilians. The militant group is also accused by the government of causing arson on 160 residential buildings, 84 government offices, and 44 vehicles. Even there are reports that Shene militants have participated alongside TPLF forces during the November attack made on the North Command of Ethiopian National Defense Forces, a watershed incident that triggered the law enforcement operation in Tigray.
The recent decision by the federal parliament to proscribe TPLF and Shane as terrorist is the right measure in the direction toward conclusively addresses the increasing frequency of terror activities in the nation. Some analysts believe that it is a measure that was long overdue. Given the heinous crimes they committed and the socio-economic disruptions that followed as result, both groups deserve the label-Terrorist. The parliament labeled these groups as their objectives and activities fit the description mentioned in the Anti-Terrorism proclamation of 2019; it is like calling a spade a spade.
The proscription of the TPLF and Shene would enable government authorities to curtail the subversive activities of sympathizers of the two groups residing overseas. In collaboration with other governments and international agencies who are firm supporters of anti-terror activities, Ethiopian authorities would be in a better position to paralyze the activities of the sympathizers operating the propaganda machine as well as organize logistical and financial support for the two groups.
In few days after the proscription of the two terror groups, authorities have already begun making moves to take legal actions against TPLF remnants residing in the United States and Europe who are actively supporting and participating in the ongoing terrorist plots being waged by TPLF supporters and its affiliates in various parts of the nation.
The designation of TPLF and Shene as terrorists would certainly force individuals, organizations as well as foreign powers that have been providing undercover support or have a working relationship with these organizations to think twice before deciding to continue their support. Or else they will pay heavy prices. Hope the Sudanese and Egyptian authorities would heed this message.
BY SOLOMON WASSIHUN
The Ethiopian Herald May 20/2021
