Sergeant Major Alemu is an instructor at Birr-Sheleko Basic Military Training camp. His workstation is far away from his home and family who were residing in Wuchale town. Last month, the telephone conversation he had been having with them was suddenly interrupted. After several failed attempts to reconnect, someone answered the cellphone. It was his brother. It turned out the phone interruptions were due to a fatal accident. His brother told him he was the only one left standing, after a TPLF artillery shell fell on their residential property, and instantly killed four members of Alemu’s family.-his wife, his mother, his eldest son, and his brother’s wife. Besides, Alemu has no idea on the whereabouts of his old father, his brother, his three-year-old daughter, and his wounded mother-in-law.
Alemu’s story represents thousands of innocent unarmed civilians in the Amhara and Afar regions whose lives have suddenly turned upside down with the well-intentioned war crimes committed by the terrorist TPLF. The deliberate failure of the international community to appropriately denounce TPLF’s well-intended targeting of civilians has encouraged the latter to act with impunity in massacring civilians from korem until kombolcha and beyond. Wherever TPLF sets its foot in, their carnage, exodus of IDPs, the summary killing of males, multiple rapes of females, looting of private and public properties, and arson. Ethiopians have now considered TPLF as a byword for destruction, killings, and all evil acts imaginable.
This week marks the first year of the start of TPLF’s dirty war. The sad thing is it took one year for UN Human Rights Commission to declare that TPLF is responsible for committing crimes against humanity against innocent civilians. From now on, no one doubts that TPLF is the force that triggered the war that is causing so much death and destruction to its own fellow citizens. It is now clear that the war is between a coalition of terrorist groups and the Ethiopian people. And that the terrorist groups, whose ultimate goal is to obliterate Ethiopia, are well networked with local and international supporters.
Miscalculating its recent temporary military gains in a few battlefronts, TPLF leaders are fooling themselves into thinking that they are on the verge of victory making their way to 4-kilo palace. A topTPLF leader in a recent interview said there was no sense in talking about negotiation as the war was to conclude with the decisive victory of TPLF. That statement proves that TPLF considers negotiation only as a plan B; or the last option when facing military setbacks and to buy time to strategize for another round of terror offensive.
The TPLF leaders are currently under the illusion that they can repeat victory over the government they achieved 30 years ago when they toppled the WPE [the Derg] regime. Back then, they had the backing of the majority of the Ethiopian people that were fed up and disappointed with the dictatorial and moronic rule of the Mengistu regime. Their lust for power has blinded them from noticing how despised they are by the people and the change in the power arrangement in the country’s politics. They did not see that it is the Ethiopian people, not only the government, they are now fighting with.No matter which city Tplf may capture, the war shall not end until it retreats, disarms, and waves the white flag.
Ethiopians are determined to pay the ultimate price and all sacrifices to ensure that TPLF could not have a future in Ethiopian politics, let alone regain control of the federal government. The systemic embezzlement of the country’s resources and the divisive policies, and the institutionalized genocidal crimes perpetrated by the TPLF regime during its 27 years stay in power is a fact out in the open for all to see. Except for the few TPLF sympathizers, who are the beneficiary of the criminal acts of the terror group, all Ethiopians are mobilized to put unreserved sacrifice and leave no stone unturned to avoid the return of TPLF back to power.
People in places under the control of TPLF are organizing themselves into resistance groups and have already made a considerable offensive by conducting several ambushes on TPLF soldiers. Even there are reports of the complete liberation of some towns from TPLF control by the patriotic resistance fighters.
Following the news of the state emergency declaration last week, Ethiopians have rekindled their commitment to defend the sovereignty and territorial integrity of their motherland. Thousands of youth from several places including Addis- Ababa have joined the Ethiopian Defense Forces. The government has taken the long-awaited decision of recalling Tens of thousands of members of the former Ethiopian Army back to duty.
Government authorities at all levels, and opposition party leaders, have begun taking the lead in the march towards the war front. They have motivated the youth to emulate their patriotic action. Ethiopians are now making one of the largest mass mobilizations to defend their country on a scale never witnessed for several decades.
That is one solid reason why TPLF will never score a victory, whatever impressive advances it made on some war fronts. Another point that guarantees inevitable victory for Ethiopian forces is the people have realized that TPLF’s ultimate intention is the aim this time around is to disintegrate Ethiopia into several powerless sovereign states. Being an anti-Ethiopian force, TPLF has got the backing of foreign powers that want to see Ethiopia removed from the map of the world.
Several members of Ethiopian forces have given an eyewitness account confirming non-Ethiopian soldiers have been fighting alongside TPLF in the war fronts against Ethiopian forces. In addition, the Ethiopian government has credible evidence confirming some staff members of foreign aid agencies who entered the country in the name of humanitarian activities are spying for TPLF and providing logistics and weaponry to the terrorist group.
The revelation of the war plots and the hidden players have galvanized Ethiopians into a united anti-TPLF stance. Ethiopians have concluded that peace is unthinkable before ensuring the demise of TPLF altogether. Now Ethiopians both home and abroad are standing in unison and committing themselves to remain focused on the war front and fight the terrorist groups with all their might.
Several Ethiopians in the Diaspora have returned home to join the decisive struggle in the war front to save the country from the gaping maw of the enemy. Resources mobilization by Ethiopians both and abroad in support of the war effort is at an impressive pace.
In a recent briefing he gave on the ongoing struggle for survival of the nation and law enforcement, the premier said: “We will defeat our enemies and Ethiopia shall prevail. To achieve that, we have to tackle several challenges. What I can say for sure, beyond any shadow of a doubt, is we will score a decisive victory.”
That is not only the conviction of the Ethiopian premier. The people also believe that Ethiopia shall win, and winning the war is the only option to ensure the survival of the nation. Even Sergeant Major Alemu, undeterred by the grief over the loss of his family, is determined to be part of the nationwide effort to neutralize the TPLF madness. “I have two kids that survived the artillery attack. I am now looking for guardians who can look after them. But no matter what, I will soon return to my duty station. Colleagues and relatives insist I stay in the camp since I have to be there for my surviving kids. But I aim to go to the war front with my trainee soldiers. I can not be a bystander watching how this war ends. It is my war. If Ethiopia is to collapse, I will collapse with her.”
BY SOLOMON WASSIHUN
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD NOVEMBER 9/2021
