Ethiopia has had infinite difficult and challenging days in its long history. It had to undergo various invasions, attacks and attempts to colonize it but it has always foiled all those attacks successfully. History tells us the secret of Ethiopian survival in freedom and dignity is the readiness and commitment of its patriots to pay every sacrifice necessary. They have always buried their internal disagreements or disputes to face the enemy with one strong and united spirit. Furthermore, Ethiopians have always rallied behind their leaders when such national emergencies arise. Ethiopians have the strong tradition of coming together whenever they feel threatened by some alien forces. And that is what we are now experiencing in every part of the country.
Today Ethiopia is undergoing one of those fateful days which have come to threaten its survival as one, independent and sovereign state. What is tragic is however that this predicament is materializing when the country was trying to adopt a new development and democratic trajectory that would lead it to be among the fast developing countries in the world! After deposing a regime that did little to advance the nation during the past three decades, Ethiopia has been adopting new ways of doing things for the last four years having overcome the repressive TPLF machinery.
Moreover, seeing that challenging days are threatening its very existence as a sovereign and united country, Ethiopian nationals are now once more urged to stand together to avert such danger and protect the country from falling apart as the enemy would wish.
The situation becomes even more tragic when we know that the threat comes or is provoked by internal enemies or Ethiopian nationals who have their own issues with the central government. This is sad because it has led to a ‘fratricidal war’ that could have been very easily avoided if we had adopted the peaceful manner of settling differences. Many observers believe that TPLF which has declared war against its own compatriots has been encouraged if not supported in many ways by foreign elements, enemies of Ethiopia.
To begin with, the enemies of Ethiopia have always supported anybody or faction that has opposes the government or has the intention of deposing the central government and forming one that is obedient to serve their own vested interests and claims.
We all know how important the geopolitical location of our country and the importance of controlling the sources of the Nile can be. That is also why there is a sort of unity of purpose between our enemies and these treacherous forces of the TPLF leadership have forced the people of Tigray into a fratricidal conflict advancing an invented and poisonous narrative!
The fact that Ethiopia is now aiming to be a real force in the Horn of Africa and then in the African continent as well does not go with the interests of those countries who want to control Ethiopia, and Africa as a whole.
The position of Ethiopia is now clear. It does not want to bow to any foreign force and its main agenda is to develop its resources fully so that its more than one hundred ten million people defeat poverty, once and for all. To do that it realizes that it needs to mobilize all its resources and not only its human resources, but also its natural and geological resources, including waters such as the Blue Nile on which it is constructing a mega hydropower generating dam and precious minerals and oil.
This means that it has decided to come out of darkness and its people can enjoy all the power necessary to nurture their mushrooming industries. This could be unpalatable to its rivals and enemies, but Ethiopia does not have alternatives but to take care of the interests of its people, first and foremost. .
For too many years, Ethiopians have been deprived of basic human rights due to abject poverty; and the only way to come out of that trap is to first and foremost build a democratic government that is elected by the people.
What previous governments used to do was monopolize power in the hands of a few families and direct all the resources of the nation towards their personal and private coffers, not only at home but also abroad.
The injustices and inequalities imposed on Ethiopians have reached such levels that there was no alternative but to revolt and do away with the system. Today, those who are battling the democratically elected government are those who were deposed by the popular revolt following years of bitter struggle with huge sacrifices, huge losses, and huge destructions.
Those who used to work with the deposed TPLF government for years are now trying to save them so that they can regain positions of influence and prominence. But Ethiopians are now well aware of these plots and they are resisting with all their means. There is now a clear consciousness and awareness about who the real friends of Ethiopia are, and who instead their arch enemies are.
TPLF clearly cannot survive months without the support of international bodies and the allies it has gathered during its reign on power. Today we have come to observe that practically every mainstream international western media has rallied behind TPLF reporting biased and invented stories against the interests of Ethiopians. They have been echoing the propaganda of the TPLF and undermining the security and sovereignty of Ethiopians. That was why there were widespread protests with rallies denouncing these plots. Ethiopians have expressed their anger against these media giants and warned them of their recklessness.
Experts have warned that the consequences of such persistent lies being broadcast across the world would result in disasters for not only Ethiopia but also all the people in east Africa and they need to refrain from such irresponsible acts. What is even more alarming is that even neutral bodies such as the UN have not been spared from such propaganda.
In recent days the reporting of these media outlets such as CNN and BBC or Reuters has been even more dangerous and destabilizing by stating that ‘the TPLF has already won their war with Ethiopia and is already in Addis’ while the people are also receiving them in triumph. Such reporting has been consistent with their interests and has shown little regard for the basic principles of neutral and ethical journalism. They have degraded journalism!
Their very nationals have debunked their reporting disclosing that whatever these media were engaged in was pure propaganda that has the intention of advancing the cause of the terrorist TPLF and its allies in crime such as Shene.
Ethiopians in every corner of the world and friends of Ethiopia have been engaged in totally discrediting such reporting not based on facts. Foreign journalists who are currently in Ethiopia are demonstrating to the world that the situation is completely the contrary to what these reports referred to, and have debunked their claims. Fabricated news needs to only be thrown in trashcans, they noted.
These sources continue to disseminate fake video clips prepared by the TPLF junta to suit their narrative and this has greatly tarnished the image of the country and the government of Abiy Ahmed. They do know the reality but they do not want to accept it. Ethiopians, they forget, will never bow nor kneel down to such imperialistic attitude and whatever propaganda they disseminate the reality on the ground is quite the opposite.
Ethiopians have all rallied behind the government and they will not only foil the attacks of TPLF and its allies, but also soon bury them all in their utter defeat and humiliation. History tells us emphatically that no force in the world could overcome Ethiopians when they are united and act as one nation, one force.
Those who have opted to side with the terrorist TPLF have exposed their true nature and their true intentions on Ethiopians and Africans in general. It is high time that others as well take note that such imperialistic or neo-colonial tendencies will not stop on Ethiopia but has its eyes on practically every other African nation. Western powers who support TPLF have exposed their true policies towards poor nations such as Ethiopia whom they would like to eternally remain poor and be their handout recipients.
Ethiopians will not accept such policies to be imposed on them because they consider themselves free people thanks also to the various sacrifices that their forefathers paid to fight and win. Such spirit, such mentality and resolve is still very much alive. Ethiopians never accommodate any foreign dominion. Ethiopians are never willing to be colonized by any force whatsoever! Ethiopians say no to neo imperialism of any form, no to all forms of neo-colonialism. They have always preferred death to indignity and this tradition will not change today.
BY FITSUM GETACHEW
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD NOVEMBEBER 16/2021
