BY STAFF RPORTER
Our guest today is Major Abebe Yimenu, who enrolled in military training in 1969 during the invasion of eastern Ethiopia by the Somali government led by Ziad Barre to establish a greater Somalia. He attended the Holeta Genet Military School where he took an officer’s course and served his country as a coach.
He has also trained several officers at the Tolay and Hurso Training Centers. He coached the Djibouti Liberation Army and the Zimbabwe Liberation Army. He has also attended military training in the former Soviet Union. In the four years since the end of the Derg regime, the TPLF, which was then known as a separatist, fought in Wollo and Shoa in Tigray for four years. For the past seven years, he and his former colleagues have been working to restore the TPLF’s reputation and help its members. Ethiopian Press Agency has discussed with Major Abebe on the current situation in our country. Have a nice read:
The Terrorist TPLF has disbanded most of [the soldiers of derg regime], neglecting its past contributions to the country. Recently, it stabbed an army that had been guarding the people of Tigray for several years. How did this make you feel?
The former Ethiopian Defense Forces were not disbanded partially but they were completely scattered. What is wrong is that the group [TPLF] is not Ethiopian at all and does not care about Ethiopia. The TPLF has disbanded the former Ethiopian army because it is not a matter of history.
When we talk about the Ethiopian army; it means the army is composed of all the nations, well organized. It was an army trained in different countries. It was a well-prepared and patriotic Ethiopian army. It is not anti-government. It is an army that carries out that command when the government gives orders to Ethiopia. We have seen it in Somali. It is also an army that has been fighting the forces that are violating Ethiopia’s border. It also fought against the separatists. Later, however, it was re-classified as a fascist army. Fearing that Ethiopianness will flourish again, the defense was attacked because they wanted to prevent the feeling of Ethiopianness and the disintegration of Ethiopianness. We are very sad about this.
The current system is striving to establish as many Ethiopian troops as possible. Twice I came from the United States and observed the position of the army. An Ethiopian army is coming; they want that to happen. If an army with an interest in Ethiopianness comes, it will protect the country, the country will stand united and move forward. TPLF doesn’t want this because the so-called Ethiopianness needs to be eradicated. That is why this army was struck from behind.
I think it is a miracle that the government has been fighting like this for 17 years. But it was a competent army. We had educated leaders from different parts of the world, such as Belgium, France, England, the United States, Russia, and Cuba. They put all of that together and taught us a unified lesson and built a competent army. It was an army of knowledge. We were so influential that politics was defeated. The army was not defeated.
So wherever they go they will not go out. They cannot claim that they have captured Woldia or Lalibela. They are simply fighting against the people. These TPLF leaders quickly took control of Woldia. They will destroy the people, and it will be their last days.
You already know this group; many say that it came to power using various tactics, especially in the war against the former army. In this regard, how do you describe the behavior of this group?
I know the TPLF very well. We have known each other for four years; we talked literally. There is always a conspiracy. It is their nature to declare that something has happened while it did not. If they can’t win now, they will create another story.
You may have heard about what happened in Hawzen; they orchestrated the massacre of the crowd after they prepared their cameras and journalists. What is Hawzen’s biggest question? If we are called the Tigray Liberation Organization and we liberate Tigray, why do we move to another part? Why do our children die? That’s why the Hawzen people suffered from that conspiracy. You know when the conspiracy took place. They deliberately made information about a meeting earlier. The information was intentionally passed directly to the Derg government office. At this time, they announced that a major TPLF meeting would be held in Hawzen.
They prepared a fake meeting in Hawzen and let the information reach the Derg. When the information was well-received, the Derg started offensive and they started to record video. We remember the abuse of children and the loss of parents. After that, the people were embittered and joined the TPLF.
This is what they still do. When they are not always able to, they pass the war on to the people. After that, they deploy the people like an amateur to capture places. Those who are sent will go to Lalibela, then sneak up and catch Woldian, This helps them for propaganda. They tell them “We are moving forward, so help” We heard on the radio, we knew all the frauds they were committing during the war.
That was not the case at that time. They are Ethiopians. As long as you are Ethiopian, the change of government did not seem to have much effect. But since they took over the central government, their work has reached the entire Ethiopian people. Ethiopia has nothing; Even her bones are broken. Her money ran out; They transferred it on to their families and relatives. Most buildings and large corporations are owned by one party.
It is not fair to claim “Let us live alone; If we don’t exist, let the country vanish” And if they had lived in discipline, our country would have flourished; It doesn’t matter if he grew up in an equal country. But with only a certain section of the population growing up, they now live in most of the United States. They lead a luxurious life as they have opened various stores. What the Ethiopian people need to know is that in every state in the United States, they are leading luxurious life through their big real estate and gas stations, with one person buying two or three places everywhere.
On the contrary, our people are struggling to survive in the jungle and on the streets. And yet they did not leave us alone. It is through the money they have plundered from the Ethiopian people that they have been able to influence us internationally. With the money they stole from us; there is nothing that money cannot do in this world. It is also known by law; there are American lobbyists. Some lobbyists hold Congress; they hire them in dollars.
The money taken from you and your sister and your country is being paid. If they were to stand up for the truth, now is the time for all governments to help Ethiopia. But as we have seen, they are all opposing Ethiopia because they are governments that stand for money and self-interest.
What do you think society should do to prevent the group from being influenced by the propaganda that is currently being used to terrorize society and gain psychological supremacy?
This problem is not unique to Ethiopia. Ethiopians abroad are divided. This is where the media and journalists need to fight. They must always work hard to bring out the truth so that society does not hear false news. The media and newspapers must work hard to bring the truth to the attention of the public and the outside world. The false news divided the people. There is a weakness on the part of the government because it has to work on the media. The fact that he is diligent should make the people aware. No sleep is required.
Ethiopian media must work day and night to bring out the truth. There are foreign media outlets. The junta is distributing all the looted assets to lobbyists and false media outlets. This is where the country needs to be rebuilt. It is ridiculous to say that our country will survive, especially if this war does not end soon. There is no question that our country will disintegrate. The country is not going to fall apart. This war must end with the immediate victory of Ethiopia. The terrorist group must be eliminated.
What is expected of the community for this?
The only option we have now is the same. Either our country will be destroyed or we must die for the survival of our country. There is nothing to be expected. If I wear a ranger now, I’ll go; I do not want a salary; I do not want a title: I don’t want anything. Give me a uniform and I’ll go. If every nation does not do this, it will not find Ethiopia tomorrow. He will not have the land of his children and grandchildren tomorrow. This is not tomorrow; it must be urgent. If we lose to the terrorist after now, and they make it to the centre of the country again, we will not have a country again.
What action should be taken to ensure that refugees in war zones are not harmed?
Refugees in war zones need protection. The Red Line should have been drawn when the army was ordered to leave Tigray. We do not go out every day. For example, Mekelle, Quiha and some areas should have been vacated and you should have been told to rest. There should have been a red line. Refugees should be protected if possible; that may not be comfortable. Probably a factor as to why they’re doing so poorly. Some information may have been leaked, but those refugees had to leave early.
Instead of accepting the individual ceasefire taken by the federal government following the onset of the agricultural season, Junta is using it to spread to different areas, where did this come from?
There is a well-known adage “one foot on the ground” Retreat is a strategy; there is no question. When under the influence of gunfire, an army retreats; but to some extent, it is protecting itself. It must be able to get out of the situation, defending itself. The ceasefire was taken separately; But as I told you before, the red line had to be drawn. You must not move outside this range; only in this region: He should have allowed the shooting to take place at any time.
But they use that as a pretext to win so that they can negotiate. They are attacking the Amhara and Afar areas. They are arranging for another negotiation. Because if we take these areas, we will find a way out; they think we will find a way out either in Sudan or in Afar. As you know, they were struck by Afar; it is an impossible direction in Humera. So they are sandwiched. They need a door for a weapon or other support; they are trying to find that door. So they are looking for something to negotiate because the doors are closed.
What is the origin of the involvement of children in war through the junta?
The Origin is Fascism. For instance, someone would never tell his/her children to go die before he/she goes first. Fighting helpless children is a war crime. In this way the government did well; He gathered captive children and showed them to the nations.
They are, in fact, terrorists; this is the work of a terrorist. Because this is one of the characteristics of a terrorist. Fight with children, the elderly and the monks armed; you’re done, Forcible or expensive fighting is a serious war crime. The question “Who will be responsible and how?” will be seen in the future. Now we are seeing children who can’t carry weapons. They are being sent to the front without any training. This is an injustice on earth and in heaven.
The Junta closes alternative routes for humanitarian aid and demolishes bridges; In what sense does it mean that the border with Sudan should be opened for aid?
It’s all a joke. Surprisingly, some governments accept this joke. The TPLF is said to be a terrorist because of this. By damaging bridges; it is known for blocking roads and doing unethical work. Do you remember how it went to the airport in Axum? Elsewhere, it destroyed bridges. That is why they are called terrorists. These people are still doing this. They are still carrying out terrorism. If help is worthwhile, what more is needed? They are looking for access to infiltrate weapons.
This is nothing to hide. We can connect with the neighbouring country and go in freely; They want to feed our missing tanks, armoured vehicles and cannons with more ammunition; The question is no different. If you receive help, you will be able to close these access options so that you do not miss out. The government cannot do that; What the government can do is search. It is also permitted by international law; It also has the right to inspect and import any vehicles that enter it.
Therefore it says, ‘I will test you, but it will not break.’ They are doing this to say that the government has done it and that we have been given a way out and that we should put in our weapons. The question is, not help.
Let me give you a chance if you have something you want to add
Our country is in a dire situation. The situation in the north is particularly disturbing. It is time to lose a country or to live forever with only two options? Either these people disappear or we and the country disappear. It is not the people of Tigray who are about to perish; The members of the terrorist group should be eliminated or our country should be destroyed. I don’t think anyone ever wants a country; By no means do we want our country to be like this. So there is no alternative but to side with the government; We don’t even see left or right. It is the responsibility of our people to help the government succeed.
Everyone should be able to work together professionally; There should be no setbacks. I am happy for my country if I fight in my uniform because I was told they are not needed for the time being. I am a US citizen because I was forced to flee because of the TPLF, But I will never forget my homeland. Now is the time. I am ready at any time, This is not just my opinion, it is all my friends there. We are ready to die for our country. One does not know what happens after death, But we don’t want to see our country harassed.
Thank you very much!
You are welcome
The Ethiopian Herald September 28/2021
