BY FITSUM GETACHEW
Part Two
Continuing with our synopsis of the just ended year, following the assault on the Northern Command by the treacherous TPLF forces, it was later found out that some western countries did have a clear first hand interest in the flourishing of TPLF and there was no mystery that destabilizing the country could be a part of that strategy. Historians were then heard asserting that after all TPLF has always been a ‘puppet’ of the West as it was brought to power in 1991 with their irreplaceable assistance. These experts say it was the beginning of the huge influence the West had on Ethiopian affairs and whatever the country wanted to do was apparently under scrutiny and needed to be approved. These people argue that the current government is much less willing to be influenced as it has the mandate of the majority unlike the TPLF.
The GERD controversy
This government seems to have at least a certain acceptance and popularity and hence would not blindly subscribe to what any foreign power would impose on it. For instance, the clear partisan view in favour of Egypt they held on the GERD project is one easily identifiable controversy with the government. The GERD is a “to be or not to be” project for one hundred twenty million people. Egypt has always been contrary to its construction. Then it was openly observed that the controversial former US President Donald Trump sided clearly with Egypt. That was at least a sign of irreverence on the part of an ally with a history of more than a century of cooperation. Ethiopians immediately realized that what the TPLF tried to do with the project was just to hoodwink the Ethiopian people but was never to see the light of day. It was in fact a source of continuous income for the corrupt officials in government. This was exposed and underlined by the current government. It said the dam was to be finished and there was no compromise on the legitimate rights of Ethiopians on the usage of their natural resources! A strict schedule was fixed and the entire management was changed with new staff.
Hence fortunately, the year 2013 saw the successful 2nd filling of the GERD in spite of disparaging and threatening remarks extended against Ethiopians spearheaded by Egypt and its allies. Analysts have since asserted explaining that no one wants a strong and independent Ethiopia in East Africa and that would be against the strategic interests of the West in the long term. What is more Ethiopia had begun to enhance its relations with countries such as China and Russia as well as Turkey and India and this was seen as a drift away from the major overwhelming western influence! Of course Ethiopia wanted to use fully its sovereign rights as an independent nation and could not accept the sort of ‘protection and supervision’ the West may fancy. In a sense the year that just concluded showed clearly this dev elopement. That was why many said that TPLF was to be saved at all costs so that it could be a thorn in the flanks of Addis Ababa!
Many remarked TPLF is the ‘Trojan Horse’ of the West especially Egypt and company. TPLF’s actions showed it was never an Ethiopian organisation but a group of terrorists with the intention of plundering the resources of the country. Their dream has always been the disintegration of the entity, ‘Ethiopia’.
Atrocities not duly condemned; double standard
In the meantime, the massacre committed against innocent poor citizens perpetrated in a desperate move by the affiliates of TPLF youth association at Maikadra was not even given the attention it would have deserved. And when we later on saw so many accusations against the federal government, it was clear indication of a double standard applied! The Ethiopian parliament had already declared TPLF a terrorist organisation just as the ‘Shene’ splinter armed wing of OLF. Today, the two have openly signed an alliance in the openly declared objective of dismantling the federal government and breaking up the federation. Even such proposals were not taken seriously by so called Ethiopian partners which under normal circumstances would have at least deserved some form of distance but the West continued with the old song of “sit down and negotiate”.
The Ethiopian government made it clear that there was no chance of giving any form of ‘legitimacy’ to a group that is stained with the blood of innocent people! The entire 2013 beginning November up to now, the government and the Ethiopian people have been campaigning to annihilate TPLF’s ruthless military wing and free Ethiopians from such scourge!
It is true that for fifty years this organisation has been preaching the people of the region that they were the sole saviours of their people and that Addis Ababa was there to wipe them out of the earth! In fact however, it has always been the party of a few who later on monopolized the government and ruthlessly suffocated every form of opposition or dissent. Clearly, it has always been a fascist style party with no freedom of expression. It is sad to see that the West should blindly support such an organisation and try to even cover up its atrocities!
The reaction to the November assault
The year 2013 was also one that saw the country face not only the security situation in the north but also in other regions with the long arms of TPLF and its associates creating havoc wherever they were involved. Violence and killings were the order of the day in many areas and inter ethnic clashes were on purpose planned and incited. ‘Shene’ was the major strategic partner and of course servant of TPLF, but there were also other groups of mercenaries in TPLF’s payroll.
In the campaign in the north, as months continued to pile up, the security situation continued to deteriorate with the support and encouragement of some Western interest groups and TPLF affiliates. The digital war was overwhelming. Social media were awash with false narratives, created and doctored videos, etc helping to influence the mainstream international media. Pressure mounted on the federal defense forces to stop hostilities with sanctions of various sorts announced.
This infuriated the Ethiopian people but all the same the government made a calculated move in late June by announcing “unilateral cessation of hostilities.” The ceasefire was however considered as a capitulation and the remnants of TPLF forces reorganized themselves to mount a revenge attack. The objective was not a mystery because they openly declared ‘a war of revenge’ against Amhara and Afar. Their plan to march down to Addis and take up power again only showed how “delusional’ they could be!
Faithful to its tradition of using the population as hostage, TPLF again used poor youths and even the elderly as cannon fodder to advance its objectives. This showed once again how divorced these people are from the reality of the world and remained glued to their fifty year old failed ideology!
Since the unilateral cessation of hostilities, the terrorist TPLF forces took full advantage to grab some rural localities. They used huge firepower and waves of population including the elderly to show to the world that it was in fact ‘a popular revolt’ and not of one group of people.
Comprehensive defensive strategy
After a few weeks of uncontrolled attacks against positions in Amhara and Afar regions the federal government had no choice but to foil the attacks by reorganizing all the forces it could manage, including the federal defense forces. And in late June an all out defensive counter attack was declared by the government.
Every Ethiopian was then asked to take part in the effort to protect the integrity and unity of the nation and that the threat was more dangerous that actually suspected. Hence, a full fledged effort was carried out for months now to try and halt the advances of the TPLF terrorist forces.
Today as the year concludes the balance of power in the areas where there was fierce battle is being restored in favour of the regional forces under attack and the government has vowed to eradicate all the remnants of the greedy renegades of TPLF.
Again what Ethiopians hear of the media of the West and some of the allies of TPLF are not palatable to them. Negotiating with a body that has vowed to eliminate you from the face of earth and has accordingly taken certain atrocious measures could not be even imagined! They had destroyed every form of infrastructure and even attacked innocent civilians just because they are not of the same ethnic origin as the TPLFites were or because they suspected them of siding with the federal forces. And yet there were all those communities that lived intermingling with these peoples and only in their imagination could there be a region that could be inhabited by only a certain people!
The plans of the terrorist TPLF were clearly out of reality and only a group that is still stuck in the ideology of fifty years ago could hope that one day they could form their own sovereign land doing away with the rest of the population.
The kind of destruction that this terrorist group inflicted on the regional state in particular and the areas where they penetrated in Amhara and Afar has been so extensive and shameful that even old churches were not spared. And when they were driven of certain localities the damages they incurred were clearly seen as just wanton destruction reminiscent of ISIS forces we have seen some time ago in the Middle East!
2013 has shown us unprecedented violence and destruction deliberately carried out by the terrorist TPLF! This has been a constant of the year and it is tragic that a developing country such as Ethiopia had to undergo similar ravages. But now that the stakes have become high every sacrifice is being paid to bury down these renegade TPLF forces.
The federal government has vowed that whatever the sacrifices the counter attack could stop only after full restoration of the regional state is achieved and the terrorist TPLF is once and for all wiped from the earth!
Many experts estimate that the resistance of TPLF could not last that much especially if the people of the regional state decide to detach themselves from such body. Ethiopians hope that the people of Tigray Regional state divorce from the baseless propaganda the group continues to disseminate via social media preventing them from opening their eyes and detaching themselves from the leadership of the terrorist group.
The Ethiopian government still has a huge responsibility to guarantee the safety and security of its citizens wherever they may be stationed and with the new year dawning, there are lots of plans to be executed to bring back the country to the right track.
The health challenges of Covid 19 are still huge, the inflationary cycle that the people suffer from also because the TPLF affiliates continue to sabotage the economy with all the forces they have, the security situation that is still hazardous in multiple areas is also another challenge. But Ethiopians have showed great resilience in coping with this predicament. In fact, the premier in his message of happy new year recommended wisdom, patience and commitment to overcome the current challenges. He was heard stating ‘we have passed even harsher predicaments and we will triumph this time as well.’
With all these challenges, the government has managed to continue with its day to day business, such as carrying out a successful general election, covering the country with billions of tree seedlings and pursuing the battle in the diplomatic front pertaining the GERD project. Despite the setbacks Ethiopians are hopeful to see a new government sworn in October and do away with TPLF once and for all! As long as the people are united behind their leaders, there is no doubt the future could be rosy.
The Ethiopian Herald September 16/2021
