Name: Merdasa Lelisa
Career: Former Army
Military rank: Major General
Major General Merdesa Lelisa has been serving his country in different capacities and duties apart from participating in different internal and external battles. He is among the great generals who wrote history in golden inks.
The Ethiopian Herald had a time of togetherness with Major General Merdasa Lelisa.
The Ethiopian Herald: What inspired you to join the army?
Major General Merdasa: During the second Italian invasion, there were many heroic patriots in my village who fought against the Italian troops. That was what inspired me to become a soldier. Second, at the time, we had a high sense of patriotism. Joining the army was one of the ways to express one’s love for the country. As I love my country much, I joined the army to protect the sovereignty of my cherished country.
Herald: What was your unforgettable memory on your first duty?
Major General Merdasa: Once, on my first duty, 21 June 1963 I was sent to Qabridahar. At the time there were rebellious groups in the region. I was sent there as a commander of an army with 100 troops. Suddenly, the rebels opened fire; I got shocked and stood still. Luckily, there was a former army with me and he shouted “Sir get down quick. Get down. Then, he ordered the comrades to take positions. After a few minutes, I got calm and begin to give commandments. I accomplished my first successful mission.
Second, I was sent to Ad Adquala to fight the rebel groups. When I reached there I found the well-armed Ethiopian troops with modern weapons. But they informed me that they had never practiced with real bullets. I trained them and we went to where the rebellions were found.
When the firing begun, no longer capable to withstand our assault most of them back pedaled. Then, we chased them. Some of our troops were injured while others martyred. I got confused to know from which direction they were firing on us. In the middle of the night, I caught some of the rebellious solders while coming to spy our camp. I interrogated them from where the fire is coming. They told me from the trees.
Using the information, I gave order to my solders to fire towards the trees. We won the war and I went back to where I was.
Herald: Some are appreciating you for what you did in quelling a rebellion in Gojjam without opening fire, could you tell us about that?
Major General Merdasa: Once, I was sent to Gojjam to quaff a rebellion in the bud. The rulers of Finote Selam rioted against the government and religious in the town. Then, it became a threat to the government and I went there with more than five hundred soldiers. There I met few people and I asked them the situation. Then they told me that rulers of the village had rioted against the Derg .
I asked them to tell me the root cause of the problem. They told me that the rulers agitate the society for a riot by dinning in to public’s ear sensitive but fictitious issues. The following issues are among the major points they used to agitate the society.
First, the replacement of Haile Selassie by good for nothing people. Second, the leading party is a butcher. Third, Derg members are going to molest our wives and defile our religions and among others after I got the major issues I told my soldiers to tie a thread around their necks true to the norm of the Orthodox faithful. Then, I told them to frequent churches every Sunday morning. I was lucky and I got 9 deacons among the soldiers.
As the time was a fasting season, I command every soldier from dining on none-fasting foods. I told them to eat such types of food at night and keep the utensils out of sight. I showed residents of the locality no signs of uncouth behavior dished about us. Due to this, we got close to the people and disused well.
By looking at our condition and way of living, people in the town accepted us good people like themselves. We are religious and God fearing people. We stayed there until the day the fasting season ends. At the last, I accomplished my lofty mission without firing a single bullet.
Herald: How do you express the then Ethiopia’s troops?
Major General Merdasa: The entire army members had a deep-rooted love for their country and its flag. What we put top on our mind and heart was Ethiopia. Even we did not care to check the ethnic background of a fellow commander. All what we knew was being an Ethiopia. Some are seen saying Derg’s army which is completely wrong. Army members sacrificed their life hovering Ethiopia’s flag high for the love of it.
However, the wrong name attached with the soldiers was tarnishing their heroic deeds to the country. We had repelled many internal and external forces to protect the sovereignty of the country. Many breathed their last on various confrontation fields, many were eaten by vultures. But the politics that attached wicked name casted a shadow on our contribution instead of showering us with awards.
As a result, we were coerced to contemplate doing a private business. So, we have to regain our names and credit should be given to our heroic deeds.
Herald: What was the problem on the Karamara’s war against Somalia?
Major General Merdasa: At the time I was in Humera fighting against rebells. The commanders were killed. The one who replaced them became severely sick. So they sent me there as a commander.
The army was highly imbued with a sense of patriotism. But the problem was the internal political turmoil in the country.
The EAPA’S propagandist among the soldiers highly disturbed the soldiers by miss informing them. On the Pegumuman 5, Somalia’s force bombarded our camp. The Soldiers who were working for EPRP (Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Party) feed our soldiers miss information to advance into the enemies region. Due to this, many of my soldiers were martyred.
Early in the morning, all the soldiers evacuated the area except a commander. He advised me to leave. Together we left Jigjiga. On September 7 we got the order to attack enemies early in the morning but our soldiers did not arriving on time due to the dissension-packed internal propagandas disseminated among army members.
At the time, the military was split in two. First, the military was highly influenced by internal propagandas. Second, the order being given by the commanders couldn’t reach army members. There was a deliberate work to misinform the soldiers not to be united.
We left Karamara not by war but the higher commander gave an order to the soldiers to leave. The Somalia’s were highly militarized and trained for nine years under the then Russian Government. They were better in all. The only thing in which we had an upper hand was the air force. It was not by the quality of the jets but the intelligence of our pilots we had an upper hand.
As our radar was attacked, they started advancing because they had a support from Russia and Egypt.
Karamara was a war among four continents. Countries from Europe, South America, North America, Asia, and Africa did participate directly and indirectly in the war. Many countries from different continents participated in the war. Ethiopia embraced the socialism ideology to get support from Russia as a result Somalia shifted from Russia and joined American groups. Cuba, North Korea, Russia and East Germany and south Yemen belonged to our group. America and all NATO’s country were on the Somalia’s side. The conflict was among the two African countries Ethiopia and Somalia. That is why it is referred the four continents’ war.
Though we had problems, there was no division by ethnic groups. All what we deed was saving this country. More than sixty thousand Ethiopians were martyred for the sovereignty of mother Ethiopia on Karamara battle.
Herald: What was your agenda on your discussion with the deputy PM Demeke Mekonnen?
Major General Merdasa: We celebrated the 41th martyr days. But what we wanted is to make a national day of martyrs. It is the first of its kind next to Italian invasion. Credit should be given to the heroes.
Second, the bad name given to the soldiers should be removed. We were labeled as Derg’s soldiers. But we were Ethiopia’s soldiers not Derg’s. Though armed to the teeth, the dispersed soldiers were begging for alms by putting down the weapons testifying that they were highly disciplined. They were from the people to the people. Had they been bandits, they would not have done that! As they had arms at hand they could get whatever they want. But the military was highly disciplined; they choose asking for bread instead of killing and robbing.
The soldiers under my commandment hailed from more than 29 ethnic groups in the country. So, by what calculation could the soldiers belong to Derg? Government should remove bad name given to the heroes. We made not do our business.
So, we want to get our pride back.
The Ethiopian Herald June 23, 2019
BY AMBO MEKASA
