(A SHORT STORY)
BY ALEM HAILU G/KRISTOS
It was late in the afternoon. A heavy downpour of bullets proved unrelenting. Launchers were plying the sky. A lightning -like fire plowed the sky. Those that sustained injuries from all genders and age were wailing nonstop.
Amid a heavy fighting a field telephone received a message. “Show not mercy! Shoot right on the head any retreating troop of ours …” was heard a TPLF commander harshly giving order to a group leader Teklaye at the lower rung of the command ladder and deployed at the backend of the engagement.
“What? It is about the untrained and unskilled youngsters and feeble senior citizens I am telling you about,” softly uttered Teklaye unable to believe his ears. He was referring to the child marchers TPLF grabbed by the collar to drag them to the battle field to bog down the counter offensive the government mounted to contain the terrorist group’s crazy adventures.
“Wipe them out!” The commander repeated his order with no qualms of conscience.
“What shameless and brutal commanders we have! Are they engaged in the war to save their own necks? Do they simply daydream to get back the skyscrapers they built in Addis via laundered money? Do they foolishly wish once more to lead a luxurious life personally enjoying their amassed fortune brushing others even people of Tigray from the boons? Do they want to trade again in the name of democracy and a fake federalism? Their mind is occupied with prospering at the expense of Tigrayans, perishing like flowers resisting a heavy wind. Also shedding the blood of the Amharas and Afaris living around border areas, they have tried to make us arch enemies. They are obsessed with building a wall of hatred. Provoking Eritrea they want people of Tigray to be sandwiched. They are acting like a rabid dog,” Teklay tossed and turned these things in his mind.
“We have seen to your command not leaving a blind nun in the human wave we deployed! ” with pity and anger diffused tone, Teklaye’s subordinate, Tsegu was heard replying to the commander.
“Good job!” said the commander.
Later at nightfall when the engagement subsided “I didn’t like the measure taken! But what can we do?” Tsegu displayed regret.
Tapping Tsegu’s back Teklye related to him what he earlier introspected.
“When the going gets tough our commanders along with top TPLF’s leaders retreat to Dedebit desert and caves in the bosom of ragged cliffs. Take Siyum Mesfin and Abay Tsehaye for instance. But they slay toddlers refusing to be cannon fodders. What a paradox? On the social media some of our selfish leaders post their photos with graduated students of theirs sent abroad for upscale education and luxurious life. You could take Siye Abrha and Tedros Adhanom. But they force and ,at times, sweet talk Tigrayan youths that should go to school to march to the front to end up cannon fodders,” Teklaye posed an anxiety stamped face.
“Based on facts on the ground, as the government is tightening the noose on the ever-bellicose TPLF’s neck, the leaders, gasping for air, are seeking a stalemate to reorganize, get some support from pampering countries and organizations,” Tsegu displayed a noose with his finger.
“But they are releasing contradictory statements. Tadesse Wered, from the military wing, is admitting defeat—we are retreating with our tails between our legs— but Getachew Reda, from the political wing, is still blowing his trumpet in the air—we have killed ENDF’s soldiers twice the size of Ethiopia’s population and what not. How could one party give two contradictory statements within consecutive days? Especially I want to see Getachew and his likes shot the way they shout! From the contradictory statements the officials separately give ducking their heads and afraid to look at the lens of the camera, if possible they are on their toes to leave the country to seek asylum!”
“Yes they cannot claw themselves out of the pit they found themselves in. It is just as a smokescreen for a safe escape they want to use the peace talk they had been pushing away persistently.”
“Some TPLF leaders who are abroad staging demonstration and using the social media try to wield influence on people of Tigray to keep on fighting purposeless war and lost battle. Some of the agitators were deposed for corruption and inefficiency take for instance Ambassador Fisseha Asgedom. Is it to avenge people of Tigray self-seekers are dinning into their ears the drum of war?”
“On Lamentations 4:9 ‘Those killed by the sword are better off than those who die of famine; racked with hunger, they waste away for lack of food from the field,’ says the bible. TPLF leaders stash away food aids to purchase arsenals, use it as a bait to lure pitiful subjects into war like a wasp to fire. In doing so, they force people of Tigray die of famishment. They scare away donation givers by detaining food aid delivering vehicles. They siphon fuel despot of the same to irrigate their troops ferrying vehicles. They do not feel ashamed when they scapegoat the government.”
“Then to cry foul they seek the support of connivers that like them as far as they back scratch with them! It is they themselves that demolished infrastructural facilities like telephone, electric, bank services while crawling on all fours to Dedebit forest. Now they demand the immediate resumption of the services as if that could be done overnight with a magic wand. Besides where is the guarantee they will not commit the same folly?”
“Instead of perishing aimlessly convincing a large swath of our troops why do not we yield hand to ENDF, which welcomes captives and share with them food consignments delivered to it by the rear guard support.”
“You read my mind! At first light tomorrow,” waving a white T-shirt from Afar and leading a large fleet we shall give our hands in to ENDF!”
“Agreed?”
“Sure!”
Teklaye and Tsegu were surprised when they received a warm welcome reception from ENDF. First thing they were served with fried meat, bread and bottles of water. Oxen sent to the front by the rearguard support from this side were killed. Some even washed the fractured legs of the captives. Tears trickled down the cheeks of Teklaye touched by the love accorded to them.
“TPLF leaders were threatening us that we would end up in a grave if captured by ENDF but we found the reverse is true,” Teklaye wiped his tears.
“Today it has fully transpired to me we are one cemented by blood and bone. Neither historic enemies nor hypocrites and their satellites could put us asunder! Long live mother Ethiopia,” Tsegu put his right arm up.
After taking some rest they were led to a hall to watch TV and play domino. Teklaye and Tsegu joined those watching EBC’s program.
Vexed one of the captives said “The International Human Rights Commission and the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission had jointly exposed the bellicose and sanctimonious nature of the mendacious TPLF. What is the objective of the International Human Rights Commission of Experts? Is it to do a facelift for TPLF and tarnishing the image of Ethiopia? ”
Another attendee said “From the very purpose and timing of the inception of this group one could make out that it was established to efface the grisly track record of Terrorist TPLF upon exposure by the two Human Rights Commissions.”
“Yes why should the new group cry foul at this precise moment in time when the terrorist group is dealt a blow?”
“Do not worry whosoever believes a statement made putting a terrorist group comprising a genocide perpetrator squad like Sameri, smashed lately while advancing from Sudan on western Ethiopia, on par with a government that persistently stretches out arms for a genuine peace?”
“Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed” (Genesis 9:6) said an old priest and added “Here it is important to remember fellow Tigrayans shot and killed after constructing the cave houses they built and meant for renegade Terrorist Leaders. I think I read it from the newspaper Wegahita. Their blood cries before God like Abel’s blood did.”
“I believe such unfounded study reports by dishonest groups are doing on Ethiopians more harm swapping the truth with falsehood and hoodwinking the global community!”
Following the call “Dinner is served!” all headed to the dining table exchanging such ideas.
Jubilant Teklaye and Tsegu followed suit.
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD WEDNESDAY 21 SEPTEMBER 2022
