Ethiopia: The 40th TPLF despicable anniversary January 2, 2015 by Robele Ababya

TEARS OF ETHIOPIA UNDER TPLF’s TYRANNY

I am compelled to write this short piece in order to counter the pathological lies of TPLF blaming past governments – for wars, civil strife and poverty- to cover its own failures by painting a rosy picture of its reign as peaceful and democratic. As this claim by the brutal ruling regime is repeatedly aired by the Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation (EBC) with the aim of brainwashing the Ethiopian people particularly the youths, it is of paramount importance to expose the repugnant record of anti-Ethiopia activities of the TPLF in the past nearly 40 years.

The 40th Anniversary of TPLF dictatorship is a stark reminder of a cursed dark period of wars and civil strife in which hundreds of thousands of lives were lost and gruesome violations of fundamental of human rights including genocide were committed by its security forces. It is a reminder of the period in which the TPLF unleashed its hatred for Ethiopia and instigated the unsuccessful dismantling of the statute of Emperor Menilik II – the victor of the famous Battle of Adwa that became the beacon of hope for all black people in the world struggling for freedom. The beloved Emperor was crowned with the accolade of “Emmye Menilik” (Mother Menilik) by members of all ethnic groups that took part in the Battle primarily as reward for fairness in His governance of Ethiopia as well as for His ushering in Western science and technology to modernize Ethiopia. As a result of the victory in the Battle of Adwa, European powers recognized Ethiopia as an independent sovereign country. But the TPLFites are still in the shameful frame of mind of discrediting the Monarch and at the same time also popularizing their version of the Ethiopian flag with its demonic emblem, which is a provocative eye-soar to the overwhelming majority of the Ethiopian people.

War with Eritrea; invasion of Somalia; internal military attacks

The 1998-2000 war with Eritrea claimed the lives of 70 thousand Ethiopians; the war of unjustifiable aggression on Somalia caused numerous deaths and injuries of Ethiopian soldiers deliberately undisclosed by the brutal regime under the leadership of tyrant Meles Zenawi. The unwarranted invasion of Somalia in 2006 culminated in the destabilization of that country and the region in which the extremist Al Shaba linked to Al Qaeda is causing havoc as in Kenya and beyond.

Agazi forces committed crimes on humanity in the Ogaden; committed acts of genocide on the Anuak people in Gambella, the Amhara ethnic group in Arsi, and the Oromo people in various zones of Oromia.

Unfortunately, the incompetent AU miserably failed to stem the costly adventure of the TPLF’s armed forces and did nothing to publicly condemn gross violations of basic human rights committed by the TPLF/EPRDF watching the heinous crimes from its headquarters built by communist China as a free ‘gift’ to Africa.

As to Somalia, the best action that makes sense is for all parties engaged in peace keeping militarily is to withdraw their forces to their respective boundaries and let the Somalis sort out their internal political and social problems. I have been advancing this view since 2006 of the invasion of Somalia.

More on the legacy of Zenawi and his successors

The late tyrant Meles Zenawi finally died leaving behind the legacy of:- sellout of Ethiopia’s vital national interests such as active support for the separation of Eritrea; grisly heinous crimes including genocide, victims of torture, incarceration of peaceful protesters en masse; extra judiciary execution of peaceful protesters, the wailing of mothers, the agony of bereaved families, filthy jails in which hundreds of political prisoners are cruelly kept, toiling peasants in serfdom, interethnic hatred, daylight robbery of votes, pervasive corrupt practices, culture of pathological lies, demised free media, government monopoly of all pillars of democracy, blocked freedom of expression, poor educational standard, forbidden academic freedom in tertiary institutions, a land-locked country, fertile farmland ceded to the Sudan; leasing large chunks of fertile farmlands to unscrupulous foreign investors at tiny price; massive unemployment largely affecting the youth; demoralized youth addicted to psycho-thermal drugs; abject poverty; embezzlement of national treasure and diverting donor fund; stealing millions of dollars donated for victims of famine in Tigray; rampant breach of the constitution; regional instability; unprecedented number of Ethiopian migrants forced to leave their country in recent memory; et al.

Ethiopians fleeing from intolerable oppression at home to find refuge abroad have suffered and lost their lives on their journey to their intended destination. The recent one where nearly 80 Ethiopians on board of a boat lost their lives in the Red Sea coast of Yemen is a cringing example. The ruling regime did not even express sympathy to the shocking tragedy.

All in all the 40 years of TPLF’s existence is a tragedy that befell Ethiopia bringing her to the precipice of catastrophe that will require divine salvation, birth of visionary leadership, and hard work in a democratic environment in order to nullify the gruesome legacy of tyrant Zenawi.

In view of the above, celebrating the 40th TPLF anniversary at the expense of the poor Ethiopian taxpayers will be unforgivable and shameful. But the thugs in the top echelon of the brutal TPLF/EPRDF regime know no shame!!!
It is a shame to celebrate more so when political prisoners and prisoners of conscience in Ethiopia including:- Andualem Aragie, Eskinder Nega, Andargachew Tsige, Abraha Desta, Bekele Gerba, Reeyot Alemu, Haptamu Ayalew, Daniel Shibeshi, Yeshiwas Assefa, Leaders of the Ethiopian Muslims, the 9 bloggers and 3 Journalists, Temesgen Desalegn et al are languishing in filthy jails in Ethiopia. It is a shame to celebrate the anniversary when basic freedom of expression is blocked and journalism is considered a crime by the repressive regime.

The genocidal TPLF warlords are celebrating their 40th anniversary in the face of recent atrocities committed by their notorious security forces in Bahirdar and Addis Ababa where in the case of the former at least five peaceful demonstrators were killed in cold blood and several were injured; and in the latter case, top leaders and vibrant members of the Semayawi Party (Blue Party) were brutally beaten and tortured in prison.

To President Obama and Western Powers

The unconstitutional action of the regime qualifies it as dangerous predator of democracy. Countries in Africa emulating the repugnant example of the TPLF would be making a deadly mistake. President Obama as leader of the free world and leaders of Western democracies should act to stop the contagious lawlessness of the EPRDF regime controlled by the TPLF Party closely allied with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) which has ambition to increase its influence in Africa taking advantage of the strategic location of Ethiopia between the Middle East and the African continent. Besides, Addis Ababa is the seat of the African Union where the Chinese have built the controversial headquarters as a ‘free’ gift to Africa.

Seduced by the strategic location of Ethiopia, the CCTV of Communist China in its broadcast unfailingly ennobles the TPLF regime ignoring its grave shortcomings alluded to above in this piece. I am utterly disappointed!

Calling on the Amharas and Oromos to act in unison

The shameless and lawless TPLF thugs rejoice the fruit of their loot in terms of ownership of high rise buildings, fat cash stashed in foreign banks, lucrative business enterprises as they celebrate the occasion feasting on sumptuous foods and exotic drinks relaxing and dancing in their posh villas built at prime sites with stolen resources; while the hungry and angry poor curse their evictions from their humble shelters in the ghetto uncertain what the future holds for them.

Unfortunately, Amharas and Oromos, obviously in view of their majority, are numerically the main victims of the excesses of the TPLF warlords! But they have no one to blame but themselves for not uniting to expunge the TPLF warlords from their stubborn grip on power.

Boycotting the celebration

The omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent exclusive TPLF leaders at the top echelon of the party are in my view not only a danger to Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa but also pose costly security problems to the rest of the world.
Construction of high rise buildings and infrastructures of which the repressive regime boasts, do not at all constitute a defense for its flagrant violations of human rights and persistent abject poverty.

Therefore, it would be wise on the part of Western diplomats in Addis Ababa to boycott official functions hosted by the TPLF on its 40th anniversary and be on the side of the suffering Ethiopian people and make history.
In closing:-

Humanity in the 21st century is living in a chaotic world where 15% of the global population owns as much wealth as the rest of the 85% does. Both the capitalist and communist systems of production and wealth distribution have miserably failed to correct this draconian injustice. So, the advent of a new world order, accelerated by the ongoing New Cold War, is inevitable! To that end, I contend that the year 2015 will see the demise of the EPRDF for all of its heinous crimes including genocide and blocking of basic freedom of expression. I add this quotation by the renowned Philosopher and human rights activist, Cornel West:-“The capacity to produce social chaos is the last resort of desperate people.”

Ethiopians have been desperate people for the last 23 years+ and are now ready for change at last for their patience has run out. The Ethiopian people particularly the young generation are emphatically saying ENOUGH to:- the divisive policy of the ruling regime; the draconian anti-terrorism law stifling democratic development; the mismanagement of vital national resources; distortion of Ethiopian history and blaming present failures on past governments; vote rigging and stealing votes in broad daylight; puppet electoral board; endemic corruption; illegal transfer of money and stashing it in secret foreign accounts of the top thugs of the regime; killing in cold blood, arbitrary arrests, beating peaceful protesters and political leaders; tight control of all pillars of democracy; the kangaroo courts making travesty of justice.

I wish to see the merger of all progressive political parties including the Blue Party and its associates as suggested by the UDJP (Andnet), vide article in Amharic by Asrat Abraham dated 21 December 2014 and posted on Abugida website. But it would be naïve to believe that a fair and free democratic election can be held without unfettered freedom of expression.

Finally, I have the honor to declare Pope Francis and the Ethiopian Archbishop Meleketsedeke distinguished spiritual leaders of the year 2014 for their courage to speak Truth to power on burning issues regarding bad governance, rampant corruption and pervasive social injustice.