BY GETACHEW AYENEW
Face-to face talks between the Ethiopian Government and the Tigray Peoples Liberation Front have begun in South Africa. The talks are being led by former Nigerian leader Olusegun Obasanjo, now the African Union’s Horn of Africa Envoy, along with South Africa’s former deputy President, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, and Kenya’s former President, Uhuru Kenyata.
Representatives of the United States, the United Nations and IGAD (Intergovernmental Authority on Development) are participating as observers. Many believe that the role of the United States is more than a mere observer.
In a statement Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said, “The United States is fully and actively engaged in diplomatic efforts at the highest levels of our government to support the African Union.” From this we understand that America is at the wheel. The major actor of the peace talks is the United States of America. The US is living no stone unturned if possible to bring the T-TPLF back to power if not to save it from total collapse.
At the moment, the Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDFs) is making significant gains on the battlefield. Media reports say that major towns and airports are now under the control of the ENDFs. This seems to have caused frustration and nervousness among the western countries, their propaganda machines and T-TPLF lobbyists. U.S. and EU officials such as Senator Bob Menendez, Samantha Power, Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, and Joseph Borrell are all, in tandem, urging for immediate ceasefire.
When they think that T-TPLF is on the offensive, they remain quite, and none of them talks about cessation of hostilities. But when the T-TPLF is about to collapse the country will be inundated with vociferous calls for ceasefire and expressions of ‘deep concern for the well-being of civilians.’ It is now widely understood that the concerns expressed by the West is not so much for the people but to save T-TPLF from total demise. Of course, the concerns of the western countries arises not so much out of love for the people of Tigray, but to ensure its hegemony in the Horn of Africa and particularly the Red Sea by bringing to power a puppet government like T-TPLF.
No other country or institution can be more concerned about the people of Tigray other than the Ethiopian Government and the Ethiopians. The Ethiopian People including the people of Tigray have suffered immensely in the hands of the T-TPLF because of its erroneous policies and ideologies and its war mongering attitude. T-TPLF is an authoritarian, corrupt and a belligerent organization. It doesn’t have the culture of solving problems through discussion and dialogue.
The USA and its western allies know very well that the T-TPLF is the perpetrator of all the crises that we see today. On 4 November 2020, the T-TPLF attacked the Northern Command based in Mekelle, Adigrat, Dansha, Soro and other places in Tigray Region. Members of the ENDF were disarmed, treated inhumanly, killed and beaten mercilessly. Many of them were maimed, hacked and stoned to death. At that time military officers said that TPLF identified and separated hundreds of unarmed Ethiopian soldiers, tied their hands and feet together, massacred them in cold blood, and left their bodies lying in open air.
With conceit and pride, a T-TPLF spokesperson described the action as “a preemptive strike”. The truth is it was a miscalculation on the part of the T-TPLF. It thought that if it managed to incapacitate the Northern Command, which comprised 80% of the ENDF, it could easily topple the Government of Dr. Abiy. This unprovoked action has triggered the Tigray war.
Unfortunately the western countries have failed to unequivocally blame the T-TPLF for being the main cause of all the problems that we see today. When the Ethiopian Government launched an offensive against the rebellious TPLF forces, the western countries and their propaganda machines came up with fabricated news of human rights violations.
In 30 June 2021, the Ethiopian Government announced the withdrawal of the National Army from Tigray and declared a unilateral ceasefire which was immediately rejected by the T-TPLF. In disregard of the Government’s intention to give peace a chance and provide the farmers an opportunity to make use of the rainy season, the T-TPLF unleashed a major offensive occupying many parts of Amhara and Afar Regional states. It destroyed schools, universities, hospitals, health centers, and other infrastructures. Women were indiscriminately raped and property looted. Sadly these massive acts of murder, gang-rape and destruction of resources were not mentions in the fictitious report of the International Commission of Human Rights Council on Ethiopia (ICHREE).
To give peace a chance, the Ethiopian Government decided not to enter Mekelle. After five months of lull, in August 2022 T-TPLF launched a massive offensive in different parts of the country and occupied Kobo of Amhara Regional State. Later, the Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa Mr. Mike Hammer publicly said he was told by the T-TPLF leaders that they have finalized preparations to launch a war. It is anybody’s guess whether Mr. Hammer tried to convince them not unleash their forces and not to start another destructive war.
In all instances the instigator of all the destructive wars was the T-TPLF. Regrettably, the United States and the European Union have failed to squarely put the blame on T-TPLF for its war mongering stances. They all say the resumption of the war, the start of the war without mentioning the real beginner of all the unprovoked and senseless wars. This is a clear testimony to the fact that the west is highly biased in favor of T-TPLF.
The United States and its allies are exerting maximum pressure on Ethiopia to declare ceasefire. The USA has gone to the extent of saying it will take punitive measures if Ethiopia doesn’t comply with its demands. In a statement, Ambassador Linda Thomas- Greenfield said, “the United States remains prepared to take appropriate measures against those who obstruct the resolution of this conflict, and we are determined to have those who commit human rights abuses held to account.” What is the meaning of this? She is saying either you do what we tell you to do or be prepared to face the consequences. What can the punitive measures be? Probably, economic sanction or accusing Ethiopia of genocide and human rights violation!
U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D.N. J.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said, “In the absence of a ceasefire, I plan to pursue Senate passage of my Ethiopia Peace and Democracy Promotion Act of 2021, which would impose punitive measures on those undermining efforts to end hostilities….”
Now the choice lies with Ethiopia whether to succumb to the plethora of threats or take a bold decision to see to it that the unity and territorial integrity of the country is respected. Ethiopia is committed to solving problems peacefully and through dialogue. In this regard, honest and sincere support of any friendly country is happily accepted. However, interference in its internal affairs is not accepted. Like any country in the world, Ethiopia wants to have one national army. Thus, first and foremost, Ethiopia wants to ensure a complete disarmament of the T-TPLF forces. At this time ceasefire means giving T-TPLF forces a chance to regroup, acquire ammunition from their sympathizers and supporters in order to launch a fourth round of offensive. If T-TPLF is really committed to peaceful resolution of the conflict, it must agree to lay down its arms. In this connection the support of all peace loving countries is vital.
The problem would have long been resolved if it were not for the intervention of other countries. T-TPLF supporters and activists must now accept the reality; they need to come to terms with reality. T-TPLF is not going to rule Ethiopia ever again. The people of Tigray along with their Ethiopian brothers have suffered terribly under the TPLF. Ethiopia should not be expected to allow interventions in the name of democracy and humanitarian concerns.
Editor’s Note: The views entertained in this article do not necessarily reflect the stance of The Ethiopian Herald
The Ethiopian Herald October 29/2022
