Right after the federal government announced a unilateral humanitarian ceasefire and withdrew its troops from the Tigray state, the TPLF terrorist group has moved out of Tigray and waged war against neighboring states of Amhara and Afar to destabilize the whole nation.
The terrorist group is engaged in a killing spree by inciting pockets of conflicts here and there. So far, the group has claimed the lives of hundreds of innocent civilians. It also displaced hundreds of thousands people and destroyed civilian infrastructures and historical sites. The horrific Galicoma massacre is the latest atrocity to mention.
Against the terrorist group’s atrocities, millions of Ethiopians are expressing their readiness to support the Ethiopian National Defense Forces and repel the threats posed by the group.
In this regard, the Office of the Prime Minister on Tuesday has issued a statement calling for a mass mobilization to deter and annihilate the TPLF terrorist group and ensure the existence of the country.
The statement indicated that Ethiopia has maintained its independence and sovereignty by overcoming the challenges of the past and all the forces of evil that stood against her path. “Our heroic mothers and fathers have brought both foreign invaders and treasonous locals to their knees and left us today’s Ethiopia by gambling away their lives,” the statement added.
In a coincidence of history, even today, traitors that bit the hands that fed them and turned their backs on the Ethiopia that breastfed them, are conspiring with those near and far to weaken and dismantle the country, the statement stressed indicating that at this crucial period in time when our country has embarked on discarding the tattered shawls of poverty and instead is heading towards our inevitable path of prosperity, our historical enemies are feverishly organizing to deter us from our path, according to the statement.
The TPLF terrorist enterprise that has been piping a tune of “If don’t rule Ethiopia, then let it be destroyed” has become a willing accomplice for our enemies and drumming destruction and instability. It is well known that the Ethiopian people, well aware of the problems within the TPLF terrorist group, have given it many opportunities and twenty-seven years to self-reform. However, the terrorist group, that was conceived in conspiracy and nurtured in destruction, became ever more damaging rather than prone to self-correct, recalled the statement.
The government made all efforts humanly possible to ensure that the people of Tigray are not put to harm as a result of the vicious nature of this group. Undaunted by insults and mockery, the government has until the last minute implemented all means of peace and reconciliation. On the contrary, the atrocities committed by this destructive force did not end there. The November 4, 2020, unprecedented attack of the Northern Command of the National Defense Forces pushed everything out of control.
The terrorist TPLF forces have made it their full-time job to sabotage rebuilding efforts by disrupting the distribution of humanitarian assistance and the resumption of infrastructure repairs, destroying health and education facilities, brutally killing members of the interim administration, and disrupting agricultural activities.
The killings and looting of communities in neighboring Amhara and Afar regions by the criminal group continued. The international community has turned a deaf ear, influenced instead by forces that seek to aggravate the problem, the statement added indicating that it has refused to recognize the complex nature of the process and the destructive nature of the terrorist group, abandoning truth and echoing the voices of the perpetrators.
“The battle is not with Tigray, but with the terrorist forces that have found hiding in Tigray. Hence, we are battling to liberate the people of Tigray, who are being used as an instrument by TPLF, and the whole of Ethiopia from the terrorist group; to maintain the peace and unity of our country,” the statement added.
Reacting to the call of the Office of the Prime Minister, Assistant professor of Department of Political Science and International Studies at Bahir Dar University Yayew Genet told The Ethiopian Herald that the unilateral ceasefire declared by the federal government is a big chance for the people of Tigray and also for the terrorist group. However, the latter is not making use of the opportunity.
The federal government did many things for the sake of peace. In contrary, what the TPLF did was launching a fresh attack on the neighboring state, killing innocent civilians, looting property and blocking humanitarian corridors, Yayew said adding that TPLF’s recent violent acts have forced the government to revise its decision as the sovereignty of the nation is put in danger by the group, he added.
“Being furious about TPLF’s horrific killings and attacks, the youths are highly motivated than the previous time to join the military and support the ongoing operation.”
What makes the current operation different from the previous one is that the current operation is inclusive and all capable people will take part in the operation to ensure national existence. Everyone needs to heed to the Prime Minister’s call, said Yayew.
“Strengthening the security apparatus starting from the top to bottom level is very essential to ensure the group is neutralized.”
Previously, the TPLF group hijacked the people of Tigray. It alienated the people from the political landscape of the nation at all. After the terrorist group’s defeat and withdrawal of ENDF force from Tigary, TPLF has started attacking civilians across the neighboring states and blocking humanitarian corridors, exacerbating the humanitarian situation in Tigray state.
As the statement stated the operation is not with Tigray, but with the terrorist forces that have found hiding in Tigray. And, the mission is to liberate the people of Tigray, who are being used as an instrument by TPLF, and Ethiopia.
Wollo University, School of Law lecturer, Dejen Yimanie for his part said that the ceasefire would allow farmers to do their activities at this critical time but the criminal group keeps disrupting their activities even if the federal government declared a ceasefire to allow farming during the main planting season.
The issue worried the government and the government suspends ceasefire aiming to destroy the criminal group. The statement from the office of the Prime Minster set direction to take military action against the remnant group is timely and proper actions. Since the federal government has the mandate of protecting the sovereignty of the nation and also maintaining peace and stability the direction set by the office is proper in preventing extra damage of property and save lives as well.
The government gives many chances and they are able to use and rather they keep attacking the neighboring nation and the current operation is matter of surviving nations from extra damage. The first thing which needs to be done is clearing the forces from the neighboring regions. On the other hand, the government needs to take lessons from the first law enforcement operation.
BY HAILE DEMEKE
The Ethiopian Herald 12 August 2021
