BY FITSUM GETACHEW
The last regular session of the House of Peoples’ Representatives of the Federal Government of Ethiopia took place on July 7, 2022 on which occasion the premier was solicited to answer to certain queries members of the House presented to him. With a wide variety of issues the MPs presented on the table, the dominant one was a reference to the fresh attacks some terrorists groups inflicted on innocent and vulnerable communities in Wellega of the Oromia Regional State. But there were also questions on how the economy was doing and what responses the government had to tackle the huge pressure of price rises in the country that is threatening the livelihood of millions of lower class citizens struggling to make ends meet even under normal circumstances. Answering to the questions with his usual style of presenting examples to illustrate his points from all over the world, the premier once again tried to focus on concerns on the security situation of the country and the forces that are being recruited, trained and armed to be fielded against Ethiopian national interests.
The premier substantiated on his major worries vis-à-vis the activities of the MPs which should not sit back and limit themselves to presenting questions. He said they had a major responsibility in moving around the country and finding out exactly what is going on instead of limiting themselves to the capital city and reflecting what others have been saying unknowingly contributing to the cause of those who want to harm the country. He said it was so easy to accuse the government of shortcomings while disregarding their duties of supervising what is going on in the country particularly in their respective constituencies. He noted that the House did not have the mandate to pass judgments on the activities of the other branches of government such as the judiciary and the executive because there is the issue of boundaries of tasks and what the House should do is pass on laws that suit the advancement of the country and help it grow according to a pre-established strategy and policy as well as long term plans. He elaborated that each branch of government had its constitutional mandate insisting that all parties must carry out their duties within the range of their mandate.
The premier went on to say that the MPs must make extra efforts to understand the real situation of the country including the security complications and not be superficially convinced to condemn what they called was the incapacity of the government to protect the population of the country. Referring to the recent atrocities and terrorist acts perpetrated by OLF-Shene and others, the premier dismissed the accusations that the law enforcement bodies were not doing enough to protect innocent civilians exposed to attacks. While he began by expressing his heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and the entire nation about what has happened he however rejected the accusations that his government had failed the people in their day to day peaceful lives.
He then outlined at length the extent which terrorism presents to the entire world bringing certain comparative numbers from countries such as the US supposed to be owner of the largest law enforcement body on earth with vast and sophisticated armaments but that even it did not manage to eliminate the dangers of terrorism and its fallouts on innocent communities. He mentioned the situation in neighbouring Somalia and Nigeria where local terrorist groups have inflicted interminable damages to the societies in which they operate. He said al Shabaab for instance which is entirely composed of ethnic Somalis has been creating havoc in its own society indulging in frequent mass killings despite the presence of a multinational security force guarding the country. He talked about Boko Haram which has been carrying out various acts of terror despite a mounting presence of national law enforcement forces of Nigeria.
Similarly, thousands of victims are recorded every year in the US due to terrorist acts committed by Americans themselves and the problem is far from being resolved, he noted. Terrorism is hence not something special to Ethiopia alone and asked for need to take the necessary precaution when we talk about it. Indirectly we might be playing into the hands of terrorists he warned. To talk about them continuously would only encourage them in their destructive moves. Terrorists’ main objective is to show to the world that they are very much alive and powerful and are not being decapitated by security forces.
Ethiopia, the premier went on to say, has been engaged in an all out war against these terrorist forces no matter what their origin or colour and important results have been recorded. The recent massacre of innocent women and children in Wellega and Gambella and other localities has been orchestrated not only by Shene group but many others who try to help it financially, arm it, train it, and give it ground where it can organize itself to penetrate the borders of the country to carry out its destabilizing mission. The premier tried to show to the House members and the nation that Shene has not been acting alone. He said it is part of an international conspiracy to dismember Ethiopia and diminish its status.
These terrorists the premier said did not have the power to act alone because they would have long been eliminated. He warned there is need to make careful analysis of what exactly is going on in and around Ethiopia. The security forces are always busy trying to dismantle every network of the terrorists including in the capital where on a daily basis there are arrests made while they are about to engage in some terrorist act. Illegal arms are always seized, smugglers are arrested and many attacks have been averted thanks to the vigilance of our security forces, according to the premier. In the process, the premier noted scores of law enforcement agents sacrifice their lives and it would be unjust not to honour these people for their sacrifice.
He said security people have been waging an all out war against terrorist cells everywhere with frequent and countless sacrifices. These people die in trying to protect their compatriots and their country and accusing them of not doing enough is unfair. He said it is undeniable that there are several collaborators of the enemy whose major goal is making money by selling confidential information to terrorists. These collaborators are ready to sell their country to the best offer from abroad. Unfortunately, the premier underlined that this phenomenon has always existed in Ethiopian history even during invasion by foreign forces. Collaborators or ‘bandas’ need to be taken into serious consideration because their activities have sabotaged the efforts of security forces. These individuals could be part of the local government during day but during night they sell the plans to the terrorists. That presents a huge challenge.
Just recently the premier said five thousand members of his own party were subjected to various forms of disciplinary punishments owing to their failure in their duties. It included dismissals, demotions or even lawful persecutions in courts of law and conviction. But this has not been given due attention by those whose only worry is to superficially continue to accuse the government of inaction. Naturally, this has not been enough and more diligence and more action is expected of us to neutralize the situation he stressed. But we need to be careful before we jump into certain conclusions because we risk playing into the hands of our enemies.
He said Ethiopia does not have a hundred million security agents and in a country with about one hundred twenty million people and a vast territory it would need more security agents than actually available. It would be impossible to guard every family. This has not been possible even in the most advanced and armed countries. No wonder that Ethiopia finds itself at the cross roads of certain terrorist activities due to its geopolitical situation the premier noted. He said Ethiopia has attracted a lot of attention because of its crucial position, its historical tradition, its diplomatic clout and the glorious chapters of its history. Hence the premier said we must consider many things before we contribute to the destructive moves of these terrorists financed and deployed by enemies of Ethiopia. What we need to do is show them that we are one and united to face every threat and not give them the pleasure of divisions, accusations of one another and fall prey to their strategy of dividing us long ethnic or religious lines, a strategy that has always been practiced to dominate internal politics. But it has continuously failed to produce the intended results.
The premier underlined that the country may be subjected to various forms of pressures but it is a resilient society that goes on to dismiss all these assaults and come out victorious if all citizens of all walks of life watch out carefully from falling into the traps of terrorists and their supporters both at home and abroad. Ethiopia must come out victorious against the propaganda war it has been subjected to by its enemies and proceed with its plans unhindered by distractions
The Ethiopian Herald 10 July 2022
