Wars are nasty businesses that destroy not only what man has constructed but even the Creator’s works! Precious and sacred lives are lost. In many cases, wars would be avoided if it were not for few individuals who are intoxicated of self-righteousness or self-glory etc. Most wars in history show us the kind of leaders those who were involved in the conflicts have. In ancient times, wars were considered as almost normal and something that should not be avoided. Rather, there is a sort of ‘romantic’ view of wars because they are perceived as gauging the standard of heroism, patriotism or bravery of a certain group or people.
Wars are waged or provoked also because of economic reasons. There are those who thrive because of wars and definitely the colossal arms industry which amounts to hundreds of billions of dollars would not flourish if all wars were avoided. These people do not care if people die in millions. They cynically argue there will always be more births than those who perish in conflicts. These brokers of wars count on the erupting of wars as often as possible so that their existence is guaranteed. For them it is a profession. How many deaths and how much destruction is not their concern. They note there are others who will take care of those.
That is why wars are not simple to avert or stop, and make peace readily prevail. Political leaders, politicians in general, leaders of armed forces, generals etc. also try to instigate wars if they believe they can earn something from it, such as power, riches, glory and prestige besides land of course. Or if they believe they have to take revenge over those they consider enemies.
There is always a lot of talk about why we should preserve peace and there is even the saying now repeatedly quoted: if you want peace, be prepared for war’. What does that mean? It means quite glaringly that we must arm ourselves to the teeth, recruit as many soldiers as possible. We need to open training camps and institutions that serve the armed forces. The so-called war industry is probably the biggest industry in the world. The more armed a country is the more frightening and influential it tends to be.
Today what we see is the predominance of a few countries with extremely strong armed forces and highly sophisticated weapons that can even exterminate the entire world! We should not forget that there are probably more than ten countries in the world which have nuclear weapons! This may look horrific but we must also feel a bit relieved to find out that there are various means of avoiding such confrontations with various mechanisms of communications and discussions. But the ‘small’ regional wars with conventional weapons do not seem to constitute a concern to many of these countries. In fact, after the end of World War II there have not been major wars that have threatened millions.
Some say poor countries indulge in wars ‘pushed’ by powers that have some stake in the outcome of the wars. For instance in wars between oil-rich countries, there is a huge stake for the advanced economies because they would be called for reconstruction projects. The sale of arms is also lucrative as these countries can afford any expense.
This is of course the cynical mentality of capitalists. They chase profits at any cost. Wars or the threats of wars are always the best means to achieve their egocentric goals. But where wars do not seem convenient, these powers use other apparently peaceful methods to attack and defeat certain countries by using subtle diplomatic and economic pressure.
Be that at it may, what we in Ethiopia need now is not to continue to talk about wars, but begin to leak our wounds. We are in front of the daunting task of not only repairing and reconstructing of what has been completely devastated, but more significantly, we need to heal the psychological and physical wounds of our people. Wars leave behind not only physical devastation but also psychological trauma! Conflicts affect not only those directly involved in them but also those who witnessed from a distance even through digital communication.
The extent of damage to our people is probably unfathomable also because it was not expected. No one would have expected that such a disgraceful and demeaning act would have been carried out by fellow compatriots! TPLF leaders must be a totally different breed than other Ethiopians or even human beings. There are no words to describe what they did to the Amhara and Afar peoples during the period they occupied the areas!
Killing of what one considers ‘enemy’ may be understood, but killing of innocent animals such as cattle and camels etc is incomprehensible and one wanders how can one reconcile with people of such mentality!?
We like it or not the people of Tigray are natural neighbours of the Amhara and the Afar. Their destiny is interconnected. The narratives of ‘parties’ such as TPLF cannot destroy the age old bonds between these people. The leaders of TPLF present themselves as redeemers of the Tigrayans with their false and invented narratives prepared for political goals. It is clear that there has never been an entire population of a certain place completely identified with one party. What is true is the political strategy they have developed across the years. They dominated the politics of this people using false propaganda and ruthless measures against those who opposed them. Can this work in the twenty first century when people cannot be muzzled by force or made to accept a government that they have not chosen?
TPLF has been narrating the same old stories for almost fifty years. People of the region have not known any other version. The entire picture was depicted by a few individuals who across the years have completely monopolized power dismissing every alternative. No political party has been allowed to operate in Tigray. TPLF dominated Ethiopian politics and we have seen that little has been done to benefit the large masses of the people while a few families became billionaires with extensive property even outside Ethiopia!
Now that during the past few months TPLF has tried to re-impose its rule over Ethiopia and failed, the people of Tigray must come to their senses, completely abandon the narratives of TPLF, dismiss its empty rhetoric and make it pay for its excesses, its involvement in a hopeless war against its neighbours. There is now evidence that the entire process of the preparation for war and waging it was stimulated by enemies of Ethiopia. The ‘disintegration’ of the country was in their plan! The hands of these enemies of Ethiopia have emerged clearly. They want us to be beggars of wheat and medicine etc. An independent and strong country is not palatable to them. But that is what the new reformist government has been accused of by enemies. The establishment of a strong democratic federal government that does not allow for more power than it deserves is not needed by these forces. Eliminating corruption and protecting human rights is also not tolerated.
Once the guns are silenced and life resumes as before, there will be lots of things to do to rebuild the bridges that have been broken by the terrorist TPLF. The attempt to destroy every source of livelihood carried out against the people of Amhara and Afar shall not succeed because these people will be even more motivated and resilient to rise up again in dignity after the total extermination of the doctrine of TPLF. They will realize that the people of Tigray cannot possibly be identified with a corrupt and failed party that is fascist in nature and hence completely against the interests of the people.
If they observe carefully the history of this party and those who led it, they will find out that it was all prepared to reduce the people of Tigray and then Ethiopia to levels of servitude to a few families. The track record of the creation and emergence to prominence of this party shows well that it has always been anti-people and self centered with the whims and caprices of a few authoritarian individuals.
The people of Tigray will now have to ask what has happened and why? They should now begin to think of living their regular lives along with their neighbours and relatives and not be made to believe that they are enemies of this people or that people. It is clear that there is no reason why the people of Tigray should consider themselves enemies of this or that people because it is only the narrative of TPLF to invent enemies so that people always feel unsafe and seek the protection of the party!
TPLF is now destined to be crushed by its own supporters once they understand the real story, the full truth. The people of Tigray will come to their senses and begin to use their mind without the continuous propaganda and narratives of TPLF officials blinding them. There is no reason whatsoever that the people of Amhara or Afar or any other nationality being sworn enemies of the Tigray people. Those who have read enough history will realize that once the people of France considered the people of England or Germany as their arch enemies and there have been wars and hostilities among these peoples. But it was only a matter of time before these people were actually again very close friends and are now operating under a unique economic and political system that serves them all equally, and helps them face other adversities in the world.
Leaders provoke wars for some reason, but wars also end because there is no war that can be extended for eternity. And there is no enmity or rivalry between states for eternity. At a certain point, the motives change, circumstances change and the reality changes. New factors determine new alliances and new friendships. Neighbouring peoples cannot continue to engage in uninterrupted wars while they are destined to live together because they have been created one adjacent to the other.
They like it or not, the way things have been created or made forces them to accommodate each other in to a system that allows for both to live in peace and thrive.
Ethiopians of every ethnic origin must learn to live together in peace dismissing the selfish and unscrupulous politicians who always try to fish in troubled water, and above all foreign enemies who fancy building castles on the ashes of other countries. We must not allow that to happen because we deserve better and we know better.
BY FITSUM GETACHEW
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD TUESDAY 30 DECEMBER 2021
