BY ADDISALEM MULAT
Following the release of high-profile political prisoners, there has been a change of tone from the international community. As a matter of fact, the dropping of charges against the accused individuals has set in motion opening the eyes of the people of the rest of the world regarding Ethiopia’s commitment towards ensuring lasting peace while handling a shocking defeat to the terrorist Tigray People Liberation Front (TPLF) group and its accomplices in the shortest time possible.
It is worth mentioning that TPLF designated by the House of Peoples’ Representatives as the terrorist organization was able to rock the northern part of Ethiopia. The invasions of the Amhara and Afar States by the terrorist group have been accompanied by extreme ransacking and destruction of assets. Reasoning from this fact, the terrorist group ended up creating a manmade humanitarian crisis largely disregarded by the international community.
Despite the terrorist group’s evil deeds, the international community and their servant rights groups have been giving the cold shoulder to the horrific acts. In an act of elevated pressure, the terrorist TPLF group played a part in massacring thousands of civilians and displacing millions.
Worse even, the terrorist group carried out house-to-house attacks slaughtering many identified as ethnic Amhara. Apart from slaughtering hundreds of people, the terrorist TPLF group was able to whip them with wire brushes and lancinate them with daggers, blades, and hatchets.
But the horrifying assassination of civilians in the northern part of the country by the terrorist ground drew not sufficient criticism from the international community. However, in the fullness of time, the Ethiopian National Defense Forces led by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed turned out to be victorious over the terrorist TPLF group in next to no time.
In fact, on the heels of the release of the political prisoners, the international community has been responding positively to the good deeds of the Ethiopian government. It is no hyperbole to say there has been a dramatic turn of events for the most part after the release of prisoners.
According to the press release the British Embassy in Addis Ababa sent to The Ethiopian Herald, Minister Vicky Ford announced that her country is confidently moving to support Ethiopia and strengthen bilateral ties between the two countries.
Minister Ford met Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (Ph.D.) in Addis Ababa and discussed the longstanding partnership between the U.K. and Ethiopia’s efforts are made to devise a peaceful solution to the conflict in the northern part of the country.
Minister Ford expressed that the U.K. is in support of recent prisoner release and the measurements Ethiopia has taken to launch National Dialogue to ensure sustainable peace and security.
She said as a close partner to Ethiopia, the U.K. wants to see lasting peace in Ethiopia since this allows the country to record rapid progress on development and poverty reduction thereby ending the suffering of millions of people.
“The UK’s partnership with Ethiopia has helped lift millions of people out of poverty and they will work focusing on helping build stability and prosperity for all,” she noted.
U.K.’s Minister for Africa stated that Britain is ready to provide Ethiopia with a £9.5million package of funding and £5 million for supporting drought-affected communities in southern and eastern parts of the country.
On the other hand, a political science scholar Brook Hailu (Professor) said the telephone conversation Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (Ph.D.) recently held with U.S. President Joe Biden is the gesture of improved relations between the two nations. For the first time, Prime Minister Abiy agreed to meet the U.S. outgoing Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa Ambassador Jeffrey Feltman.
Quoting PM Abiy’s remarks, Brook stressed that the current Ethiopian government is not like its predecessors by putting national interest above everything.
Brook highlighted that Ethiopia not only evaluates situations from a Western perspective but Abiy’s administration also seeks partners from all corners of the globe which is recommendable as long as it is based on mutual interest and win-win approach.
“Ethiopia is a sovereign country, a proud nation and always independent.” No country will push Ethiopia this way or that way.”
The Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF) and the support of the people, strong leadership at the top, the strong commanders and leaders, the unity of the Ethiopian people here and the Diaspora together has resulted in the success of the war. The Biden Administration has accepted defeat and that its puppets will not come to power. Western countries do not shy away. They try their strategy. If it does not work, they will come back to Ethiopia.
“As long as they do not push us around, as long as they appreciate our rights to decide on issues independently, then I think the Ethiopian government has no problems.” “Because of these two major reasons, I think the Ethiopian-American relations would improve in the coming weeks,” the academician remarked.
Be that as it may, an International Legal and Security Expert Blen Mamo told local media that national dialogue will decide our future political trajectory and the candidates should have the capacity to bring pressing issues to round table discussion.
She went on to note that the system must be inclusive, clear, and participatory and follows clear principles and process in formulating agendas. The credibility of candidate commissioners and their personal character is also something worth due consideration.
“The candidates must be the men of principles and committed for national interest, unity, and sovereignty. Furthermore, they should shun personal interests and be free from political party membership and other forms of affiliations,” she added.
The candidates should not only have the knowledge to understand the complexity of problems, but also the capacity to generate solutions. As the internal division has been exploited by foreigners, the candidates must understand the implication of this. Inclusivity is the major issue in the national dialogues and the panelists should fairly represent people from all walks of life and relevant organizations of the nation.
Sad as it may sound as if its past crimes are not enough the terrorist TPLF group launched a fresh attack on civilians in Afar states.
The terrorist TPLF has launched a fresh attack on innocent civilians in Kilbeti Resu Zone. The terrorist TPLF has encroached the state and is continuing attacks in Ab’ala and Magale woredas in Kilbeti zone of the region terrorizing civilians, according to information obtained from the Afar state government statement.
“The terrorist group, which has never been out of conspiracy, has been working day in and day out to make a profit by pitting the two peoples (The Afar and Tigrians) against each other. In its ongoing attacks, it is targeting Afar innocents and expanding its terrorist activities.”
The TPLF is firing artillery against innocent civilians in the state in retaliation for its defeat owing to counterattacks conducted by joint security forces. A number of innocent civilians have been injured due to the fresh attack the terrorist group has opened in the state, as to the statement.
TPLF had committed brutal massacres in twenty-one Woredas of four zones in Afar before it was pushed back by the national army and regional special force and militia, according to the statement.
The Afar state government called on the TPLF terrorist group to withdraw its forces immediately from the region, vowing reprisal if the criminal group defies the call. However, the junta, which has been prolonging its life through fraud and false propaganda, has infiltrated various woredas in the Afar state and is still hurting innocent people by pretending to have been attacked.
The Ethiopian Herald January 26/2022
