ADDIS ABABA – Putting the Ethiopian government on equal footing with the TPLF is so offensive, said Jim Inhofe, U.S. senator representing Oklahoma.
Speaking about Ethiopia on Senate Floor yesterday, he said: “First we need to be clear. Every one especially the Ethiopian government wants nothing more than peaceful resolutions to the conflict in Tigray. This action [the visa restriction] puts the TPLF, the terrorist organization with equal status with the Ethiopian government. That is unacceptable and wrong,” he said..
The Militia affiliated TPLF has been designated by the Ethiopian parliament as terrorist group and has attacked an Ethiopian Army stationed in Northern Ethiopia to steal weapons , as to him.
“As far as I know and the current administration of Ethiopia has come to power following the end of TPLF’s unjust administration.”
“Let me say something to be hundred percent clear that no one can misunderstood this. The humanitarian atrocities are wrong and have no place in our world: I am proud that Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has clearly stated that any atrocity committed by the government and those responsible would be held accountable,” he noted.
Talking the past history of the TPLF, Sen. Jim Inhofe said that: “The EPRDF, the former ruling party was dominated by the TPLF. When Abiy set up a new governing and focusing on governing for the whole Ethiopia, not only for politically strong regions, the TPLF was unhappy; that is the Terrorist group. They felt like they were losing their outside influence.”
“They were also unhappy with the Ethio- Eritrean peace agreement.”
They held their own parliamentary election in September during the high risk of Coronavirus pandemic instead of agreeing with other provinces and with the Prime Minister, he added.
The government rightfully responded and the terrorist group was well equipped and fighting for long period of time up to now, he indicated.
Comparing the two sides, he stated that the one is democratic elected government and the other side is reacting with violence because they are no longer in power, it is terrorist group.
He told the U.S. Senate that Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed is working on creating a unified and stable Ethiopia. “We should talk to him about how we can help him to restore peace, not swapping sanctions on his government.”
BY YESUF ENDRIS
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD MAY 28/2021
