BY ADDISALEM MULAT
Despite the fact that the government of Ethiopia engaged itself in law enforcement operations to pull the fighting capacity of the criminal group to pieces and enforce the rule of law and order on the heels of the criminal enterprise’s attack on the Northern Command of the Ethiopian National Defense Force, the international community has been putting unwarranted pressure on Ethiopia. The group managed to cause unimaginable human suffering and life-threatening barbarism by demonstrating unprecedented treachery.
It goes without saying the treachery attack on the Northern Command of the National Defense Force was designed to meet the needs of reducing to nothing the competence of the army to maintain the autonomy and integrity of the nation and come back to power. Earlier than getting itself involved in attacking the Northern Command, the terrorist TPLF group was pulling out all the stops to dismantle the nation by conscripting, bankrolling, equipping, subsidizing, and implementing crimes of violence against noncombatants residing in every nook and cranny of the country.
In a similar manner, the ragtag group was sparing no effort to make the country anarchic by fomenting clashes along ethnic and religious lines. Even worse, the criminal enterprise was persistently playing a part in nefarious deeds that would move the country to uncharted waters and put the lives of the general public in danger. Apart from acting in an unashamed impingement on the constitution of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, the group demanded to have established its voting law, electoral commission, and things of that nature.
No matter what the terrorist TPLF group has been doing, the federal government time and again going the extra mile in furtherance of extending an olive branch and getting to the bottom of the problem in an atmosphere of calm. However, when the terrorist TPLF group attacked the Northern Command of the Ethiopian National Defense Forces, the government kicked off undertaking the law enforcement operation.
Notwithstanding the fact that the international community knows the unvarnished truth unfolding across the country, the inappropriately named media outlets have been taking sides with the criminal enterprise and mystifying the international community. Instead of accepting the truth and bringing into the light the international community with the existing reality on the ground, the United States of America and its allies have been putting unwarranted pressure on Ethiopia.
Dejectedly devoid of taking the whole lot surfacing in the northern part of the country into account, the U.S. ended up removing Ethiopia from the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). Shortly afterward, Ethiopians residing at home and abroad embarked on condemning the U.S. stance toward Ethiopia for showing positive bias towards the criminal group.
As if its previous mistake was not enough, the U.S. has been leaving no stone unturned to bring into force H.R.6600 and S3199 draft bills that would make worse Ethiopia’s current reality. Many have been cataloging the draft bills as an ineffective measure that put cold water on the commitment and determination of the incumbent to ensure peace and stability.
As putting sanctions on the country will impede the encouraging developments that would smooth the progress of peace and security, the U.S. should revise its decision at the earliest possible time.
In the aftermath of the low-rated international media outlets’ cooked-up stories that have been working hand-in-glove with paid activists, internal and external actors, and right groups, the U.S. foreign policy towards Ethiopia has been getting off track and missing the intended target.
In the present circumstances, ranging from withdrawing from the Tigray state and declaring a unilateral ceasefire to getting itself ready for peace talks, the government has been moving heaven and earth to get to the bottom of the delinquent in an atmosphere of calm. Other than that the federal government has been making every effort to ensure peace and tranquility on a national scale despite the terrorist group has been bracing for another round of war and prolonging the conflict.
Taking the positive move unfolding left, right and center of the country, the U.S. should cancel the draft bills.
Once Senior Researcher at the African Studies Centre and Professor of Politics and Governance in Africa at Leiden University Jon Abbink (PhD) said that, since the terrorist TPLF group initiated an unprovoked attack on the federal army, the U.S. has not played an enlightening role in the conflict, as it has primarily blamed the federal government for the violence.
The bill suggests that security assistance to the government of Ethiopia should be suspended and the U.S. must oppose loans or other financial assistance from international agencies such as the WB and IMF to the government of Ethiopia.
After rejecting the government’s ceasefire offer, the TPLF’s violence was expanded to Amhara and Afar states in a spirit of revenge and destruction.
He indicated that the H.R.6600 bill would add extra damage to the situation, after the already absurd delisting of Ethiopia from the AGOA, which is only hurting ordinary workers. “It will not be productive; only more socio-economic hardship and misery will follow.”
If the U.S. Congress wants to see stabilization, peace, and democracy efforts in Ethiopia, it should put into effect a more balanced approach based on an analysis of what in fact happened. It is time for the U.S. to put heavy pressure on the TPLF and call them to abandon armed insurgency and be accountable for all sorts of crimes, he opined.
In times gone by speaking to local media, EACC Chairperson Deacon Yosef Teferi said the H.R. 6600 is an extremely dangerous move that the Ethiopian government needs to be determined to react by convincing the U.S. lawmakers to block it.
Yosef further noted that, the proposed resolution is a complete sanction that would hurt Ethiopia as a whole and worsen the humanitarian condition in the war-affected Amhara, Afar, and Tigray states. From the humanitarian perspective, the new bill is very devastative.
Ethiopian Diasporas have sent fact sheets that inform the devastating impact of the H.R.6600 to members of the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate and have made consolidated attempts to convince the U.S. lawmakers not to pass the ill-intended bill.
“We Ethiopians, particularly in the Diaspora, need to unite as we have done in the past.”
It is not just World Bank and IMF, the bill subscribes to 12 of the largest financial institutions to become on the same page and blocking funds for Ethiopia and even prohibits private companies from investing in the country and hampers technology transfer.
By the same token, not long ago by Ethiopian American Civic Council (EACC) asked all members of the U.S. Congress not to support H.R.6600.
EACC has protested against the fundamental premise of H.R.6600 stating, “Gross violations of internationally recognized human rights, war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide, and other atrocities in Ethiopia”
EACC stated that the resolution side steps key issues in evaluating the current crisis, and will fail short to bring about stability, peace, and Democracy in Ethiopia:
Resolution ignores TPLF’s initial attack on Ethiopian Defense Forces which launched the current crisis and its invasion of Amhara and Afar states.
According to EACC, the resolution also omits the TPLF large-scale Human Right Violation in Mai-Kadra, Amhara, and Afar states and the widespread destruction of schools and health centers in the two states.
The Council also indicated that the resolution ignores the fact that TPLF is using child soldiers, and undermines Ethiopia’s genuine efforts to comply with the International Human Right recommendations.
EACC stated that it has rejected HR6600, an untimely House Resolution which it describes as a failed document to address the root cause of the conflict and contribute tangible mechanism to bring the conflict to an amicable end.
It is to be recalled that speaking to local media, a well-acclaimed political science scholar Prof. Brook Hailu stated that the bill overlooked the positive steps the Ethiopian government has taken to protect human rights.
The academician further noted that the bill has been prepared for further sanctions, to conduct further human right based investigations, and to cut investment and economic relations with Ethiopia. H.R.6600 does not recognize positive measures carried out by the Ethiopia government including the joint investigation of OHCHR and the Ethiopian Human Right commission on the alleged human rights violations in the country.
“The bill has totally rejected all measures taken by the government of Ethiopia including the release of TPLF officials. The atrocities in Amhara and Afar states by TPLF terrorists have also been shunned. So, the bill is seemingly prepared against Ethiopia.”
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD TUESDAY 26 JULY 2022
