BY LAKACHEW ATINAFU
As we turn the page of history and social dynamism of enormous communities of the world, uplifting and inflating ego could lead humanity nowhere. Truth and reconciliation are the cardinals of human live that nations have to adopt in the imperfect temporary world.
Indeed, number is very great to inflate ego and bind together assembles of arrogant and gangs of bureaucrats for their personal gain. As the primary duties of the sward is to maintain law and order, the federal government of Ethiopia launched law enforcement mission following treasonous attack on the country’s north command force.
Meanwhile, the country began to travel uphill journeys to fix nation’s wellbeing and to put the clock back to peaceful coexistence and mysterious magnetisms. The ill wind that has traced its current from the north most continued to be contagious interconnecting and fragmenting the very existence of Ethiopians traveled distant even under precarious situations.
The Federal government of Ethiopia has been striving to settle disputes with no bloodshed and tried every domestic and international ways of thwarting hostility and ending vengeance. However, the other pole managed to accuse and blame everything to its contending groups no matter such self defense mechanisms seem natural. Nature would not harm to defend one’s own ego but the naked truth shows that the people of the amassed Tigrayans are on the nose dive situation.
The administration of Abiy, Prime Minister of the Federal Government of Ethiopia, on one hand, says that it has done its best to rescue Tigrayans and avert the possible nationwide risk however the sound from the other side could not back the governments’ statement and there are still situations remain in limbo.
As the concurrent delegates from the European Union have made state visit to the war thorn Tigray and showed a stance which never be altered and followed the philosophy of twisting hands of the mighty Ethiopia and steering the Horn as they want. What is the paradox beneath? What is the very suspicious of the EU and the international community exasperated fear of the integration of the Horn instead they are determined to back.
It fills someone in suspicious and might force to look other options to withstand threatens in similar conspiracy and plots. Here, it is important to exemplify and explicate government efforts in settling disputes for the wellbeing of the whole Ethiopia. This includes being forgetfulness for grave crimes to be watered with truth and reconciliation.
Inter-Religious Council of Ethiopia has called on the U.S. to play constructive role for peace and development in the Horn of Africa and the entire continent at large. The Council’s America Branch Office sent a letter to U.S. Department of State and several international media call for fair and balanced perspective on the current situation in Ethiopia.
Council asked the U.S. government and the international community at large to understand the fact on the ground in Ethiopia, explaining that the nation has been going through ups and downs over the past few years due to various inconveniences. The letter explains the backdrops of the current circumstances in Ethiopia from perspectives of the political climate of the country over the last 30 years.
The Terrorist TPLF is responsible for the hostile situation in Ethiopia, the letter indicates, adding that the renegade group attacked the national army, innocent civilians and left millions displaced. TPLF committed atrocities against innocent civilians including women, children and elders in neighboring regions of Afar and Amhara, and is using child soldiers in its treasonous war against the nation.
Human rights abuses, embezzlement and corruption were characteristics of the TPLF-led government of Ethiopia during the past there decades, the letter stated. Saying that millions have been displaced and are in need of urgent humanitarian need, the council called on the U.S., partner countries, international organizations and the global community at large to supper Ethiopia in addressing the situation.
In response to the humanitarian truce announced by the Ethiopian Federal Government in the conflict-affected Tigray region which Tigrayan authorities have said they will respect if sufficient aid reaches Tigray within a reasonable timeframe, Sarah Jackson, Amnesty International’s Deputy Director for East Africa, the Horn and the Great Lakes region said: “The humanitarian truce is a positive step for millions of people trapped in the conflict in Tigray region, where meager humanitarian aid supplies have left people starving – with insufficient food, water and other essentials.
“Amnesty International urges all actors in the conflict to seize this opportunity to avoid worsening the humanitarian catastrophe that is unfolding in Tigray. Children and women are dangerously malnourished, and media reports suggest many are already dying of starvation.
“All parties to the conflict must immediately allow humanitarian aid workers uninterrupted access to all conflict-affected areas of northern Ethiopia, including Afar and Amhara regions. This includes opening the flow of aid through the Afar-Tigray land route, which has been closed following the renewed fighting in the border area, and resumption of critical services such as banking, power, and mobile and internet communication.”
In resent chronology and course of the peace talking, the incumbent under overwhelming domestic and global challenges agreed to lasting embargo for betterment of the victims of the dispute and yearn to put card on the table no matter the action is needed for weird reaction aroused from stubbornity.
News before the outbreak of the war recalled that, there had been successive efforts to convince the TPLF leaders not to inter such bravado ventures to reach nowhere. Most of all the team picked from public figures leaders from the clergy and prominent elders were sent back to boxes with their optimistic initiatives.
Rebels in the Ethiopian region of Tigray have pretended to seat for peace setting up a team of negotiators to discuss peace, a spokesman for the rebels frequently announced they are down to peace. No matter the reveal group seem to conquer time and continue to bewilder the state setting precondition aroused from greedy stance backed by some elements enjoying poking nose over internal affairs of nations and secure their benefits.
The week showcased the rebel group is unable to refrain from its deep rooted stance concerning peace talks and restoration of the former statues qua, Why leaving the judgment for history, here it might be of a great importance to quote statements of authorities from both sides.
On July 14, the day after the first meeting of its own negotiating committee, the Ethiopian federal government accused the rebels of taking no “steps towards peace”. So far, no date, place, or frameworks have been set for the upcoming negotiations. The talks were first mentioned in June by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.
Currently, the representative of the EU and the US envoy took part to negotiate the rebels and the federal government; however the aim seemed to be to escalate tension in the region and undermining the execution capacity of the AU.
The joint statement by the oversea partners neither dignifies nor signifies Africa and strategic partnership. It is the new version of the colonial legacy and the new exploitation strategy. It is important to have a look at the joint statement thoroughly which is mentioned as it is below.
The respective European Union (EU) and U.S. Special Envoys for the Horn of Africa, H.E. Annette Weber and H.E. Mike Hammer traveled on their first joint mission to Mekelle, Tigray, to encourage the launch of talks between the Federal Government of Ethiopia (FGoE) and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) under the African Union’s auspices.
Political dialogue is necessary to resolve the conflict in northern Ethiopia and achieve a durable peace. The Envoys welcomed the public commitment by both parties to engage in talks and expressed their readiness to support African-led mediation.
The Envoys agree that a swift restoration of electricity, telecom, banking, and other basic services in Tigray is essential for the people of Tigray, as recognized in earlier discussions with the Ethiopian Government. Tigray Regional President Debretsion provided the international community a letter to be passed to the Government of Ethiopia providing security guarantees for those who need to work to restore services. With this security assurance, there should be no obstacle for the restoration of services to begin.
Equally, unfettered humanitarian access to Tigray and the Afar and Amhara neighboring regions affected by the conflict is imperative, accompanied by the lifting of restrictions on cash, fuel, and fertilizers. Improved civilian-military coordination will help ensure effective and transparent aid distribution. Furthermore, the EU and U.S. are committed to providing assistance to all communities in need in Ethiopia, including those affected by drought and food insecurity.
Accountability is a key foundation for reconciliation. In this vein, the Envoys urged cooperation with, and access to the conflict areas for the International Commission of Human Rights Experts on Ethiopia (ICHREE) to enable them to conduct a credible investigation.
The Envoys furthermore appealed to all sides of the conflict to refrain from hate speech and provocative rhetoric. Ambassador Redwan Hussein in tweeter Debriefed with IC expressing gov’t dismay at course chosen by team of envoys and Ambs in handling the matter when in Mekelle. They failed to press for unequivocal commitment for peace talks, rather indulging in appeasement and fulfilling preconditions placed by the other party.
Regarding restoration of services, the will of the government has been reaffirmed and preludes for that have been reiterated: i.e. creating enabling conditions and semblance of peace by beginning the talks.
“Their joint statement rehashed the saga of ‘unfettered humanitarian access’ which has already been long addressed. No limit on the number of flights; none either on the number of trucks carrying aid. The issue of fuel has also been addressed and hailed by all.” The bottom line? The AU is the only channel and has been reiterated in no uncertain terms once again.
Editor’s Note: The views entertained in this article do not necessarily reflect the stance of The Ethiopian Herald
The Ethiopian Herald August 9/2022
