BY LEULSEGED WORKU
November 3 is always remembered in Ethiopia as a day of betrayal, where several members of the National Defense Force got stabbed in the back by members of T-TPLF. The cruelness of the rebel group is not something new to Ethiopians; but the extent of group’s heartlessness was displayed when they massacred barbarically their own comrades, members of the National Defense Force.
The National Defense Force had been stationed in Tigray State for over two decades. As a protector of the people and part of Ethiopian society, members of the army had a strong attachment with the people living in the area; and even some of them have intermarried with the society. Not only that, they were also companions who were always committed to stand by the side of the people of Tigray- lent a helping hand to farmers in weeding crop fields and reaping harvests, chasing away locusts, as well as subsidizing children with school materials concurrent to the mission they were assigned.
However, T-PLF- whose mental setting is adjusted with all forms of meanness shot them in the back while they were cautiously keeping the people of Tigray from any form of threat. Two years have already elapsed since those forces were killed heinously. The day was commemorated yesterday all over the country, especially, among members of the Defense force, with the theme “We will never forget it.”
Using the day as a ground, The Ethiopian Herald had a short stay with some civilians to learn what they felt when they first heard the callous attack against the national defense force, two years ago.
Ambo Mekasa is a journalist at one of the local media. According to him, Ethiopianse have an age old culture of living in harmony. No matter what the status or what kind of profession a person engaged in, there is a culture of tolerance and respect. In this respect, those Ethiopian military forces, which were stationed in the northern part of the country, had been assimilated with the civilians. They had developed a culture of living in harmony with the society. However, the T-TPLF took such action, which has never been heard in the history of Ethiopia. “And, whenever I remember the day, I feel so pity for those military forces who were brutally massacred by their own companions.”
Eshetu Turuneh, Painter and Art Teacher, is the other person whom this journalist interviewed about his feeling when he heard the news of betrayal on the Northern Command. Ethiopian Defense Force had been stationed in the northern part to preserve the peace and stability of the nation for more than two decades.
The new government is democratically elected however, the TPLF were moving in the wrong direction to stir the peace and stability of the nation. Using all their anti-Ethiopian sentiment and secessionism, they have taken the wrong direction. They were against the democratic transition of power for that reason; TPLF and its cliques going back to their place; took the most disgracing, inhuman actions against the National Defense Force stationed in Tigray State.
“We Ethiopians have no such culture throughout our history. Ethiopians are accustomed to live in harmony not only with their friends but also with their enemies. The military force stationed in the northern was not there to hurt the people of Tigray but to protect them. However the TPLF committed such insane attack.”
“TPLF is a group made out the same mental setting that blocks all peaceful coexistence and they were always secessionist and anti-Ethiopian peace elements. The foolish measure they took against the National Defense Force is a clear manifestation of this. The Ethiopian military forces fight for the good of the people and the nation in general. It is a force composed of not a single group. It represents all nation nationalities and peoples of Ethiopia.”
According to him, Ethiopian military force is morally disciplined not only in times of peace but also in times of hard times. This was witnessed during the fall of the Derg regime; and replaced by new regime. Even if the members of the then military forces (who were retreating to the capital city) had weapons in hands, they were begging for food and clothes, he added.
In this regard, all the nefarious actions that were taken two years ago against members of the army were entirely embarrassing and inhuman. “We, Ethiopians always honor our heroes,” he remarked.
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD FRIDAY 4 NOVEMBER 2022
