BY STAFF REPORTER
Engineer Gidey Zeratsion has been involved in Ethiopian politics for more than 50 years since the student movement in the 1960s. His involvement in the Ethiopian political struggle got momentum when he became among the first founders of the Tigray Peoples Liberation Front (TPLF) in the mid-1970s. But due to his difference with the ruling circle in the then TPLF, Gidey decided to leave TPLF and was exiled abroad.
Gidey did not stop his political struggle even abroad. He continued to fight the atrocities and brutal activities of TPLF from its establishment until the terrorist group’s downfall in 2018.
In his recent interview with Ethiopian Press Agency, he has exposed the long-ingrained brutal, undemocratic and unprincipled acts of TPLF that are still its typical features. Enjoy reading!
TPLF’s attempt to return to power by force means the formation of a large force after its departure. Could you explain your position on the use of Special Forces and attacks on the Northern Command by the Central Command?
TPLF has exploited the national feeling of the people of Tigray, trained and armed militias and Special Forces to rise against the government of Ethiopia. It has repeatedly appeared in the stadium and showed his prowess in military performances. In the video, they show their strength and energy. When the Prime Minister argued “The mothers of Tigray do not want war,” they have rather supported the so-called opposition forces, and have worked in various areas to foment ethnic unrest and violence. They have worked to destabilize peace in Ethiopia by intruding in Oromia and the Amhara regions.
It was something that the TPLF showed in practice. The Ethiopian government has been accused of failing to comply with the law. When the Identity and Boundaries Commission was established, they tried to persuade the people that they would not accept even the parliament, saying that it was created to attack them. The border issue is not limited to Tigray. There have been border disputes in Ethiopia, and they have tried to provoke the people by politicizing what they can do nothing but study and find a solution.
They have conducted their election, condemning the elections in Ethiopia. They tried to persuade the people that there would be no government after the end of September that year. They have reportedly refused to accept the leader who was appointed by the Ethiopian government to lead the defence of the Northern Command. Finally, with pride and arrogance, they attacked the Northern Command on 4 November 2021. They claimed that they have captured an army with their lightning strikes; they felt that they have the necessary equipment in their hands and boasted “No one will touch us again”
After all, what will the Ethiopian government do if it does not arrest them? Leave alone an entire command, it is normal for any government to react if a single unit is hit. The Europeans had to condemn the TPLF in the first place, for their benefit. At least this is done wrong. They did not say that you should be careful not to do this. Instead, they cover up their actions and pretend that the TPLF wants genocide.
If it was a genocide, the TPLF should have been asked. There, it attacked non-Tigrayans from the lower ranks to the top. That was the question he had to ask. This is a big issue for the Ethiopian people. Beyond that, he has singled out the Amhara people in Maikadra. Those who committed the massacres entered Sudan and claimed that Amhara people massacred Tigrians. What is the purpose of such an organization that applies such kind of politics? Many people in Tigray would have been killed by its acts. But it did not happen because the Ethiopian people are morally amazing.
The other thing is TPLF believes that it must do everything by force because it cannot win politically. “It doesn’t matter if the country is in turmoil or not,” it said. The issue was to protect ourselves and our people. The TPLF is still committing acts of sabotage wherever it goes. Here is the strategy. Wolkait goes and loses his share, what he did on Mykadra has been shown. He entered Amhara and tried to dismantle it while he was being held captive. Their only goal is to stay in power by creating havoc. The action is not good for the country.
How do you describe the attempt to come to power with false information?
Yes! They are very good at this. They even play dramas on the media. As you can see, they have left no stone unturned to say that genocide took place. There is no such thing as genocide, according to the United Nations joint human rights investigation. They say that the government is using hunger as a weapon, but that is not the case. It has been hailed by donors and European countries, but it has proved to be untrue.
It had set up deception and said something that was not important. It is good to expose this to the media so that the people of the world can understand. There are many illustrations and examples. The story of the fake helicopter downing is not just about creating the world but also intended to cheat the people of Tigray. Now that the TPLF has run out of the news of victory, it has spread lies to mislead its army and people. These lies must be exposed. It has stirred up the people by telling many lies. Many sacrifices were made, it is still making sacrifices. But a house based on lies is a disaster. The truth will come out. But the TPLF does nothing but provide information. It said that the army was doing this while throwing corpses around Adet. It pretended to be raped and pretended to be someone else. Like the helicopter, it is common to spread false rumours.
Even the most trusted international media outlets are engaged in this work. What do you think they want?
It is difficult to say whether the plot went from here to here in the United States the existing authorities do not want their allies to be destroyed by the TPLF. The TPLF was obedient to them. Now, when it comes to disobedience, they are plotting. In Britain, this is what all Westerners, in general, are showing. Behind this is an integrated media campaign. They work with each other to prevent real information from being passed on to the public.
There are reports that the central government has gone from the centre and is attacking Tigray. However, they do not provide information on why the war broke out in Tigray. Many Western scholars and researchers are exposing this. They are asking “What does it mean to be a journalist?” Some, like the CNN New York Times, are beginning to face the question.
The New York Times reports that a baby boy with a gun was “motivated for freedom.” This is also unacceptable in journalistic ethics. Of course, now they too are in trouble. Alleging that the TPLF is close to Addis Ababa, they are deliberately pressuring their citizens to leave Addis Ababa under siege. Such a conspiracy has been proved.
They are generally trading in the name of humanity. They used to cry that relief could not enter into Tigray. They also said that cars were hijacked. Now they are not saying that the TPLF is using the cars. If 800 cars do not enter and return, who is responsible? Who is to blame for the car crash? If they had the morale, they would have entered the Afar and Tigray regions and opposed the TPLF, which is displacing the people. At the same time, there is famine in Ethiopia. No food is sent for these; this indicates that they have a moral problem. It is doubtful that they even feel humanity at all.
The TPLF is mobilizing not only young people but also children and the elderly. It is being observed on the front lines that Tigray is working to finish the young generation. How can the people of Tigray, both at home and abroad, prevent this in a coordinated manner?
Yes! so sad. The people of Tigray could not understand this at the time. They have been infiltrating Tigray with their propaganda. The people of Tigray have no chance to get any more information. But he is confident that he will be able to get information from outside and become a racist. The problem is the TPLF’s approach is racist. They have created a feeling that Tigray is a unique warrior and a people who are forcing their rights. Sometimes they say, “I’m going to form my government.” In some cases, it vows to overthrow the central government and establish a federal system. With that in mind, it could hardly separate itself from the fascists.
Those abroad are being driven emotionally. I believe they should calm down and think. Of course, it is now intoxicated by the feeling of victory and cannot notice what is happening. But when the loss comes out vividly they would start to ask what did we lose? This is a devastating journey for the people of Tigray.
It is still the path of destruction. More than what the Amhara inflicted in Tigray what the TPLF itself destroyed in Amhara is worse. This is a great loss. It would be crazy for them to choose such a place. The situation is likely to change. They are mistaken in thinking that they can overthrow other people and come to power. No one can bow down to them. We are seeing this in action. I say it is time for the people of Tigray to ask themselves. Not only am I being wronged, but I must also be aware of what I am going through. What have we done to deserve this? It must be said. Everyone has a story. He came up with his own story. They should be able to see this.
It seems to me that bad things can happen now. As long as the people are organized, they can go wherever they want. But it will not take long for the people to get organized. To this day, they are supported by the people. As time went on, the people became more organized and trained their leaders. This is what I see for the time being. Their process is now being reversed. The people of Tigray will not be disappointed by this. He says that it is in our best interests to live at peace with our neighbours.
Who will live with Eritrea, Afar and Amhara? How do you live around the enemy? Not everything can be done by force. The people of Tigray must think here. From now on, the people will have to be alert to what is happening. We are still warning before all this happens. But now the situation is different. What is the alternative? Those outside have gone so far as to say that Ethiopia is not our country. Ethiopia is our country. We must come up with a formula that we can live with. Not by force.
There is a plan to destroy the country. There are attempts to infiltrate the interior. What must be done to sustain a country? What to expect?
They want to make people hate them. But the people of Tigray must get out of here. The people of Tigray do not live in Tigray alone. They live in every part of Ethiopia. There are at least half a million people in Addis Ababa alone. They say Amhara is our enemy. However, there are more than 100,000 Tigrayans in the Amhara region. You cannot live without one another. We must get out of this madness.
All they do is fight people. The people of Amhara or the central people of Tigray did not enter to destroy the people. If they want to destroy Tigray, he can start with the residents of Addis Ababa or the Tigray region. The Ethiopian people will not allow him to do the same. But they want him. This is what makes the people hate them. Wherever they went, they harmed Amhara residents in Dessie and Kombolcha. They infiltrated the public and turned them into a serial killer.
They cast doubt on the people. This is difficult to reverse. They want this to happen. Now, if possible, the solution would be to end it peacefully. The TPLF must find a way to peace. The TPLF must withdraw from the Amhara region and the Afar region and return safely to Tigray. They must stop firing and show that he is ready for negotiations. The Ethiopian government, for its part, must open the door to peace. Some signs are still appearing. It’s good to start with.
If not here’s a new product just for you! There is a clue as to where he is going. It seems to me that the TPLF is now advancing and finding it difficult to come out. After this, the people of Tigray, both big and small, who are involved in the war, will be killed. At the government level, there are good signs. The people must move on. There is no other option.
I would also like to say that the Tigrayan elders in each area should come up with a way to reconcile with the people. The gap in society is huge. To close this gap, it is necessary to create a way for the elders of Tigray to come together and reconcile with the elders. There is a lot of scepticism in Tigray right now. There are rumours that the Tigrayans have been arrested. The TPLF is using this for politics. But the fact remains that there is a reason. It is not something that we can avoid.
There has been a widespread betrayal of power by many. This is not a secret. When a regiment disappears, it is known how many Tigrayans there were from the bottom up. Being able to use this secret to harm others is important in itself. Ignoring their responsibilities, we have seen many drivers go to Djibouti and surrender and hand over cars to Djibouti. We have seen that the people assigned to the United Nations remain there. Some say that Ethiopia is not my country. There is no denying that such a thing is happening. After all, you do not have to worry about me. This should be set correctly.
I’m not saying don’t check. It must be legal when checked. Care must be taken not to harm a civilian. It must be done legally by the government. Some may misuse this. Some make it a way to take bribes. Half of it will be resentful. He must take into account the circumstances of his release. The TPLF itself may point out those who oppose it. So, to get rid of all this, I would like to remind the people to consider this and not to make things worse.
What would you like to say to the international community, the United States and the United Kingdom?
If they did it unknowingly, they should know. But most of all, these governments know. They have an embassy: They have more information than we do. They are doing it on purpose. If so, you’re not going anywhere. I would say that you have nothing to do but make the Ethiopian people stronger and stand against you.
If there is something they say we have not seen, they can see their embassies. What bothered me the most was that I was inspired to write why they did not ask for embassies, saying that it was genocide. In general, if they know, they should withdraw their hand from Ethiopia.
“I don’t think the outside world knows it,” he said. It hurts Ethiopians. But if East Africa is in turmoil, how do you get the results you want? Wouldn’t they be harmed by persecution and their peace and security? How could they not understand this?
Sometimes we think they know a lot. But sometimes they do not know. It has been observed in many places that the work they do is detrimental to their interests. They entered Iraq, Afghanistan, and Libya, but to no avail. Their knowledge is still limited. It is a mistake to think that the TPLF is doing something wrong. Because the TPLF is an organization that claims to support the country. If this area is in turmoil, the United States will not be able to capture it. You have seen it. They know the extent of the conflict in Somalia. They can’t even control Somalia. If this happens in East Africa, you will not be able to control it. They should have seen this. This is not to be expected.
Ethiopia is a country that has a great role to play in bringing lasting peace. As long as they remain peaceful, their interests can be protected. But they could not see it. Nothing can be done about it. You are discussing this. Some are asking this question. But it is important to note that those in positions of political power are likely to hear this question. But the request is correct. It is well known how much Somali people have suffered.
Thank you very much for your time
You are most welcome
The Ethiopian Herald November 27/2021
