BY YOHANES JEMANEH
Spoiling peace and stability is the innate character of the criminal TPLF group. This rogue element cannot survive without conflict and only thrives in violence and crimes. War has been the lifeblood of the group and the only way in which the clique uses to meet its selfish and narrow interests. True to its character, the group has been beating the drums of war in the aftermath of the severe consequence of the two-year-long crisis. Albeit the government’s commitment to ensure lasting peace and rehabilitee war-affected areas, the terrorist TPLF has intensified its saber-rattling acts in defiance of peace talks. By doing so, the criminal clique has exacerbated the humanitarian crisis in Tigray. Not only this, the terrorist group also waged another war in which it is currently attacking the Amhara and Afar regions.
To hoodwink the international community, the disgruntled organization has been injecting waves of false information using paid activists and foreign collaborators. To country the misinformation campaign, Ethiopia has been briefing diplomats here and abroad to expose TPLF lies and paint the right picture of the current situation in the country.
Briefing diplomats and representatives of international organizations about current developments in Ethiopia recently, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Demeke Mekonnen recently said that the TPLF had just re-ignited conflict.
The TPLF has been violating the spirit of the humanitarian truce through hostile rhetoric, recruiting child soldiers, and engaging in public mobilization planning for yet another round of hostilities, Demeke said.
The country is also briefing the international community about military aspects of the TPLF-ignited second-round war. The Foreign Relations Department of the Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF) briefed the international military attachés in the country on the current situation in Ethiopia.
Ministry of Defense Foreign Relations and Military Cooperation Director Major General Teshome Gemechu explained to foreign military attachés in Ethiopia the extent the Ethiopian government has gone to peacefully resolve the conflict in the northern part of the country giving high value to peace.
He stated that the ENDF has been keeping the government’s peace option and defending against harassment by the terrorist group at various times. However, the TPLF terrorist group, which cannot survive without conflict has recently launched a war on five fronts in Watwat, Rama, Bisober and Zoble, as well as the Afar border. Major General Teshome said that the National Army is in a position to reliably repel and counter any attempts of destruction against Ethiopia.
For Demeke, TPLF’s latest wave of attacks on the Amhara and Afar areas, which began on August 23, is unacceptable. He said the government is committed to taking all necessary steps to prevent the criminal group from victimizing these communities once more. The Government of Ethiopia has been taking measures against the terrorist group with utmost care to avoid civilian casualties extending alerts to protect themselves and stay away from military installations, he said.
The ENDF is prepared well to punish the TPLF and ensure rule of law thereby protect the security of citizens. Thanks to the reform activities of the incumbent, Defense Minister Abreham Belay (PhD) said, the national defense force has a complete readiness to protect the nation. The country has built a defense force that has diversity, skilled human resources armed with advanced military equipment. The defense force is recognized internationally for its discipline and guardianship to the people so that it is honored as a protector of national pride and sovereignty. Therefore, the defense force is expected to achieve every mission it is entrusted given that its practical experiences and current preparations Abreham said.
Mentioning that ENDF is responsible for protecting the country’s borders and the safety of the people, Major General Teshome for his part said the ENDF has an institutional duty to protect Ethiopia’s national interest. He also called on the international community to understand Ethiopia’s reality and the price paid for peace and to stand by the side of Ethiopia.
It can be perceived as the government is trying to ensure law and order on one hand and reverberating the country’s reality to the world on the other. And this effort is paying off as many international figures and governments are supporting the government of Ethiopia for its peace effort while denouncing TPLF’s saber-rattling and crying wolf.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Ambassador Meles Alem for his part reiterated the government’s readiness to resume the AU-led peace process whenever and wherever it takes place. He asserted that despite the TPLF’s victimhood tactics, which include blaming and demonizing the government and asserting fictitious wins, the Ethiopian government will continue to uphold its constitutional obligations to safeguard the lives and livelihoods of all Ethiopians.
Therefore, it is a must for the federal government to command counter fighting in order to protect its citizens from direct and indirect consequences of the war. In addition, it should also keep open its door to peace if the criminal clique might incline for talks examining its capacity. Whatsoever, the international community must understand the fact on the ground and support the government for lasting peace and restoration.
In addition to giving briefing to the diplomatic communities based in Ethiopia, Ethiopian mission abroad have been giving interview about the current situation in the country.
Speaking to international media, Ambassador Muktar Kedir (PhD) stated that the global community has not demonstrated boldness to condemn the criminal faction’s renewed belligerence and failed to hold it accountable for breaching the humanitarian truce. “Some positive gestures, however, have been witnessed in denouncing the T-TPLF’s theft of the WFP fuel.”
Noting the patterns over the last six months clearly demonstrated the conduct of the warring parties, Ambassador Muktar highlighted that the federal government attested an extreme commitment for peace talks under the auspices of the AU. “It is not a leap service; it is a real commitment because peace is in the interest of the Ethiopian people. That is why the government is committed to peace and the peaceful resolution of this conflict.”
Also, the Ethiopian government has proven its commitment to peace and the peaceful resolution of the Tigray conflict not just by words, but by concrete confidence building measures.
Apart from releasing top T-TPLF officials from prison, declared unilateral humanitarian truce and facilitated unfettered humanitarian supply to Tigray, the government has also established a high-level peace committee led by the Deputy Prime Minister. All these measures have attested the government’s unwavering stance for resolving the dispute amicably, he elaborated.
While standing firm in defending the sovereignty and the territorial integrity of the country, in the meantime, the government opens the door for peace talks.
The Ambassador further noted that the radical element has been using a human wave military tactic and thereby causing loss of life and an immense property damage. In this regard, it is time for the international community to call a spade a spade and exert the pressure on the T-TPLF to come to a negotiation table.
“I think the AU is the pertinent relevant body that should be mandated to mediate between the government and the T-TPLF. Ethiopia strongly believes in African solutions for African problems. We need to have the confidence, and the trust in our own African institutions.”
Similarly, speaking to CNN, Ethiopian Ambassador to the U.S. Ambassador Sileshi Bekele, recently restated everyone needs to understand that the T-TPLF must stop its aggression and agree to reach ceasefire to get technicians into Tigray to repair the damaged infrastructures and restart service providers as well.
Ambassador Sileshi further reported that when the Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF) was in Tigray for about eight months before June 2021, the Ethiopian government had invested two billion USD to repair service providers in Tigray. At that time some technicians were killed by the Terrorist TPLF group in the state.
He also noted that the Ethiopian government is equally concerned for the people of Tigray as a legitimate and democratically elected government. However, he added, imagine how you could reestablish services when the areas have been occupied by the terrorist group and it is preventing the movement of civilians.
He said: “You need technicians to get into the state to repair the damaged infrastructure. So how do you protect the technicians?”
Amb. Sileshi restated that the government had declared a unilateral humanitarian truce and maintained it until the T-TPLF restarted the conflict on 24th August 2022. However, the group launched a war in five different directions and invaded areas of the Amhara and Afar states.
Fuel and other humanitarian aid were being supplied to Tigray through third parties. There were other talks on how to reestablish other services like electricity, telecommunications, and others through third parties. There was an agreement with the World Bank, as to him.
It is to be recalled that, in its briefing to the diplomatic corps residing in Addis, 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.
The Ethiopian Herald September 6/2022
