In a recent short video shared on social media platforms, (Facebook and Tik tok) I watched Tigrayan mothers while praying for peace, the safety of their families and their country.
Having had it up to here with the pain they linger on each day over the past several months, they cried bitterly to the Almighty to be merciful to them, wind up the hard times they are in; and to let peaceful time to come, save them and their families out of these tiring times.
True, since the past one year, due to the conflict incited by the terrorist TPLF group which is engrossed in hatred, and working untiringly to disintegrate the country, Ethiopians suffered a lot. Especially, those peoples residing in Amhara and Afar State have gone through number of multitudinous distressing and painful incidents.
Ironically and expressly, the people of Tigray have been compelled to sail through rough seas for months due to the incomparable abusive and repressive acts of the terrorist enterprise, other than the consequences of the conflict.
Because of this cancerous group which verbally saying “it is fighting for the people of Tigray”, but sacrificing children of poor Tigrayans to regain power, the people have passed through a lot of difficulties.
Other than this, with the intention of prolonging its time, it attempted to tear the “social fabric” of the people and stigmatize the people from the rest through disseminating false rhetoric and sowing seeds of hatred that pits one group against another, especially between the peoples of Amhara and Tigray.
In turn, even though it is could not fully succeed in its ill purposes, it did seize some political gains and served its interest. Following its false rhetoric, scores of Tigrayan youths including underage children ended up serving as cannon fodder; sent to fight in warfronts.
However, since recent time, sick and tired of the daily realities, maltreatments, abuses, oppression and atrocities that the terrorist faction is exercising on them, many Tigrayans are opposing the terrorists.
Above all realizing that Amharas are not enemies of Tigrayans thousands of Tigrayans (youth, women and children) are fleeing to the neighboring Amhara State, specifically to Kobo Town. Rebutting the misleading propaganda the terrorist faction has been disseminating targeting to create animosity between the peoples of the states, Tigrayans are flooding to Amhara State seeking a safe haven.
Approached by the visiting Ethiopian Press Agency’s (EPA) reporter, the youths of Tigray who came into Amhara State looking for a place of security said that they have been immensely suffered by TPLF’s ruthless oppression since the withdrawal of the Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF) from Tigray last June. Leaders of the outlawed faction forced parents to send their children to the battlefield and compel youths to join its war efforts and the society to provide food to the combatants.
Nasir Mohammed, resident of Mekelle, is among the youths who fled to Kobo Town of the Amhara State. As he indicated, the people of Tigray have been forced to live a deplorable life due to TPLF’s warmongering character. The radical element robbed sons and daughters of the people of Tigray and their property in a purposeless war.
Kahsay Gebre-Egziabher (renamed) is the other resident of Mekelle. He said that he went to Kobo by rejecting TPLF’s plot to destabilize Ethiopia. A significant number of youths from Axum, Adigrat, Adwa, Shire, Enticho, and other parts of Tigray state are also fleeing to Amhara State.
District’s Police Office Head Deputy Commander Nega Dinberu said that thousands of ethnic-Tigrayans, particularly the young people have been flocking to the Amhara State rejecting the plot of the radical element to destabilize Ethiopia.
The ex-TPLF fighter, who surrendered to the ENDF expressed regret to join the terrorist group engaged in the invasion of the Amhara State with limited, inadequate military training.
A 14-year-old Salh Kebede is one of TPLF forces who surrendered to ENDF. He recalled that he was recruited by his brother, a member of the Tigray Special Forces to the faction’s short-sighted and destructive agenda.
“TPLF fighters, including my elder brother, convinced me as we will inherit a building in Amhara State, earn a lot of money, and honor my mother and father,” he added.
BY STAFF REPORTER
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD FRIDAY 18 MARCH 2022
