BY ADDISALEM MULAT
Notwithstanding the fact that the criminal enterprise has continued beating the drums of war and mystifying the international community with fictitious stories that do not reflect the existing reality on the ground, the incumbent has been many a time and oft moving heaven and earth intending to make peace happen.
Though the federal government has been going to the ends of the earth to restore peace and stability, the ragtag group has sustained getting itself involved in saber-rattling undertakings. As nothing makes the criminal enterprise happier than moving the country into uncharted waters, playing the victim card, and laying the blame on the federal government, the group every so often has been coming up with layers of conspiracies as usual to perplex the international community.
For the sake of truth the wicked deeds of the ragtag group sooner rather than later brought forth a humanitarian crisis in the northern region of the country at the earliest possible juncture. Among other things, it should not be forgotten that the belligerent group has played a part in summary killings, gang rape, ransacking, making huge infrastructure and other criminal deeds happen.
On the heels of the unwarranted pressure from the international community and the criminal acts of the low-rated international media outlets’ fabricated stories, the Terrorist TPLF group has turned the lives of noncombatants residing in the northern region of the country upside down. It is not an overstatement to say the criminal enterprise’s nefarious deeds have nosedived the nation into socioeconomic and political challenges.
In the face of the unceasing evil deeds of the criminal enterprise aimed at moving the country into uncharted territory and turning the lives of noncombatants into a living hell, the federal government has been extending an olive branch emphasizing on ensuring peace and tranquility. As sitting down at the peace talk table for the ragtag group is tantamount to a bitter pill to swallow, it has been coming up with a wide spectrum of lame reasons to distance itself from the proposed peace deal by the government.
In addition to ruling with an iron fist in pursuance of staying in power in the region, the disgruntled group has been making use of the people of Tigray as cannon fodder and human shield. Albeit the people of Tigray protest against the criminal deeds at all hours of day and night, the latter has been giving them a hard time giving the cold shoulder to the prevailing situation on the ground.
As things currently stand, the incumbent has been making every possible effort to get to the bottom of the problem in an atmosphere of calm and deescalate tension unfolding in the northern part of the country. It is noteworthy to mention the federal government managed to declare a unilateral truce and withdraw its troops from the Tigray state after undertaking the law enforcement operations with flying colors.
It is no secret that the envisioned target of the law enforcement operations was to demilitarize the criminal group, put law and order into effect, bring outlaws to justice, and do other things of a similar kind.
Disappointedly, in spite of the unflinching stance of the government for peace, the Terrorist TPLF group kicked off invading the Afar and Amhara states and incurred human and material damage. But above and beyond giving peace a chance, the incumbent released TPLF’s infamous frontrunners from prison in addition to giving the green light to unfettered access to humanitarian aid.
Following the positive moves of the government, humanitarian assistance embarked on entering the Tigray states via road and air at the earliest possible time. In consideration of the foregoing, the people of Tigray have been getting much-needed humanitarian assistance more than ever before and saving millions of lives. But as the group does not believe in sitting for peace talks and making peace happen, it has set in motion again and again perplexing the international community with imaginary stories.
In a similar vein, the group has sustained its belligerent acts against the federal government’s unreserved efforts for peace.
The Peace Committee has underscored the need to conclude a ceasefire agreement as soon as possible in order to ensure a sustained provision of humanitarian aid, facilitate the resumption of basic services, and resolve the conflict peacefully.
Meanwhile, the Peace Committee established to lead the peace talks with the Terrorist TPLF group briefed the diplomatic corps residing in Addis its progress to date, the current situation in the northern part of the country, and other related issues.
It was learnt that the Chairperson of the Committee and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Demeke Mekonnen as well as members of the Committee Justice Minister Gedion Timothewos (PhD) and Security Advisor to the Prime Minister Redwan Hussien has extensively discussed government’s commitment to resolve the conflict in northern part of the country peacefully and recent developments regarding the peace talks.
Demeke restated that the federal government has made several attempts to peacefully resolve the conflict, and undertaken various confidence building measures. For instance, he added, it has declared a unilateral humanitarian truce, lifted the state of emergency, halted the advance of its troops to Mekelle, released detainees suspected of being affiliated with the T-TPLF, and established National dialogue Commission, among others.
According to press release given to media, on top of these measures, the government is endeavoring and making a serious effort to ensure enduring peace. The Committee, in its discussion has emphasized the imperative of alleviating the suffering of citizens in the conflict affected parts of the Tigray, Afar and Amhara regional states.
The Committee has underscored that there is a need to conclude a ceasefire agreement as soon as possible. To expedite this process, it has deliberated upon and adopted a peace proposal that would lead to the conclusion of a ceasefire and lay the foundation for future political dialogue.
The Committee has decided that the proposal should be communicated to the African Union High Representative as soon as possible. Furthermore, the Committee has noted that to facilitate an expedited resumption of basic services within the enabling environment that would be created once a ceasefire is concluded, all necessary preparations are being undertaken.
According to the Committee, all effort is being exerted in collaboration with the African Union so that it would be possible to determine the venue and time for talks and to begin peace talks quickly and to conclude a ceasefire agreement shortly.
The Committee has urged the appropriate subcommittees and taken note that the federal government already instructed service providing institutions to carry out the necessary activities for the implementation of these decisions.
The Committee has commended the support that Ethiopians have shown to the peace effort and calls on the public at large to strengthen and continue this support. The Committee has also called upon the international community to stand with the African Union and play a constructive role towards the success of the peace effort.
Prime Minister Office Press Secretary, Billene Seyoum, in a press briefing said: “The Government of Ethiopia affirms it is ready at any time and at any place suggested to engage in peace talks under the auspices of the AU led process….The issue of restoration of services comes up again and again as if there is an on and off switch centrally located. This is an erroneous and dangerous view of how service that is disrupted due to conflict and related damage is administered.”
Terrorist TPLF is solely buying time for being capacitated under the name of peace talks as it has publicly refused to disarm and forwarded prerequisites that make the proposed talks to be unsuccessful, so remarked an ethnic Tigray activist.
Speaking to local media, activist Natnael Asmelash said that as he has been struggling T-TPLF and on several occasions expressed his discontents about the group for long time, he is well aware of the true nature of T-TPLF’s leaders and cadres.
“Terrorist TPLF is good for nothing and the people of Tigray have never supported T-TPLF except some opportunists sharing every benefit with the group.” Talking about the current situation in Tigray, he stated that T-TPLF has made the entire Tigray in general and Mekelle in particular living hell, and devoid of everything as well as the thugs have violated the constitution as they set up military unconstitutionally since the constitution stipulates that states only do have militia and other lower security forces.
As to him, it is not surprising that T-TPLF slaughtered northern command and innocent civilians since they killed their colleagues asleep and reached this level under the guise of negotiation. T-TPLF groups by their very nature have never believed in peace talk, peaceful way and amicable fashion. And the peace talk might be effective if they disarm and hold headmasters of severe crime accountable.
He said: “Ethiopia will be peaceful and safe when T-TPLF leaders vanish for good or become willing to disarm and comply with Ethiopian national rules and regulations.” Responding to the question revolving around the issue of Diaspora, he said the Tigray Diaspora have to think twice to give a sigh of relief for the remaining Tigray people as the lives of about 600,000 youth had been claimed.
“Now Tigray is converted into an earthly hell, a source of all evil as many are dying live, devoid of every infrastructure and other necessary things due to the multifarious problems created by themselves since they solely struggling for assuming power,” he added.
He also said that they should know that they have created all this havoc and come to the peaceful track for the wellbeing of all Ethiopians in general and that of Tigray people in particular
The Ethiopian Herald 20 August 2022
