[dehai-news] Eritrea Profile: Ethiopia: At a Decisive Stage Between Its People and the TPLF


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From: Berhane Habtemariam (Berhane.Habtemariam@gmx.de)
Date: Sun Apr 11 2010 - 16:37:06 EDT


Ethiopia: At a Decisive Stage Between Its People and the TPLF

11/04/2010

 

Part I

 

In order to understand the ever changing agendas and the dangerous attitude
of the

TPLF regime requires one to first have some idea about the

background and the founding of the Ethiopian nation.

Ethiopia's current political map came into shape in 1945, after the

victory of the Allied powers over the Axis forces and specifi cally when

the British Empire decided to cede the control of the Ogaden region to

Emperor Haileslasie of Ethiopia. But prior to the founding of the presentday

Ethiopia, there were many other indigenous rivaling entities competing

for power from regions such as Tigray, Gojjam, Shoa as well as the Mahdi

from the Sudan. However, with the advent of the Mahdi movement and

the Italian invasion, the kingdoms of Tigray and Gojjam were much

weakened. This power vacuum and the existing contention between the

French and the British to expand their colonial territories were exploited
by

the aspiring Shoan King Menelik, who forged agreements with European

powers and managed to expand his territory. This gave Ethiopia its
presentday

geographical appearance.

 

In the course of history that took place after, a history punctuated by much

strife and contention amongst the warring nobilities in Ethiopia, the Amhara

noble class came out triumphant. Hence, they formed a monarchical feudal

dynasty that put the ownership of all land and the means of production

under the tutelage of the Royal Family, the feudal lords and their vassals,

effectively enforcing a strict policy in which all the other entities and

nationalities were to become subservient to the ruling elite. However, the

creation of a modern nation-state required the complete overhauling of the

antiquated political system that based on outdated feudal notions. Hence, it

was only natural that nationalities and entities that were stepped upon for

centuries start to rise and rebel.

 

Nonetheless, the attempt to expand the Ethiopian territory by Ethiopian

emperors did not stop there. The Haileslasie regime, in order to get a sea

outlet annexed Eritrea by invalidating the prior agreement it made with the

Italian empire to unite Eritrea and Ethiopia under federation with the help

of the American Administration. The annexation of Eritrea added further

fuel to the internal instability that was already prevalent in Ethiopia. As
a

result of the outbreak that ensued, the Haileslasie regime was overthrown

through the combined tremor caused by the Eritrean revolution and uprising

of the Ethiopian masses.

 

However, the insurrection of the Ethiopian masses was not organized, and

did not bring about a leadership that was intent in establishing democratic

rule. The power vacuum left by the Haileslasie regime was fi lled by the

military junta that had a relatively better organization, the Derg.

Similarly to its predecessor, the Derg regime, on its part, not only did

it fail to ensure a progressive government, but it also made the blunder of

attempting to crush popular resistance through military might that led to

much bloodletting and chaos. Such a situation paved way for the creation

of many nationalist or popular organizations. The armed insurrection of the

Tigrayan people, hence, was created under such state-of-affairs.

Eritrean organizations and specially the Eritrean People's Liberation

Front, taking into consideration not only the open aggression the Ethiopian

regimes were infl icting upon the Eritrean people, but also the much anguish

upon their own people, were providing moral and material support to the

just struggle of the different Ethiopian movements from early stages. As

part of the cooperation, it is well documented that fi ghters belonging to
the

EPRP as well as Tigrayan opposition that were staying with the E.P.L.F. to

acquire some experience; moved back to Ethiopia to continue their struggle

when the Haileslasie regime was toppled. One of those fi ghters who were

staying with the E.P.L.F. to gain practical experience and objectives of

struggle and was sent to Tigray to continue his struggle by the EPLF was

combatant Mehari Tecle. And he initiated the armed struggle by meeting

and consulting with the members of the Tigrayns Progressive Movement

that was formed by Tigryan students and was operating in Addis Ababa.

Hence, an organization known as Tigrayan People's Liberation Front was

created in February 1975 and its core cadres were trained at the training

center of the EPLF.

 

Not so long later, due to the dispute and misunderstanding between

the Tigrayan fi ghters, the organization was split into two and the Weyane

People's Liberation Front was born. During this time there were also other

Tigrayan organizations such as EDU and Tigrayan People's Liberation

Front and Tigryan People's Liberation Front Executive Committee, etc.

However, because of the antagonism amongst the different organizations

led into physical confrontation, the Tigrayan People's Popular Front came

out triumphant thanks to the support that it got from the EPLF.

The Tigrayan people, who desired very much to break the cycles of

dominance and discrimination against them, have enabled it to come

to power by providing material support and by paying much sacrifi ce.

However, the narrow mentality and ploys of the TPLF leadership was not

only not representing the aspiration and desire of the people of Tigray,

but also the choice of the clique to pursue revenge instead of becoming

revolutionary vanguard and the racial policies it followed have lit fi re in

Ethiopia that could not be easily extinguished and is on the verge of its

demise and threatening the very existence of the country.

 

Part II

 

TPLF during the Initial Stage of Armed Struggle

 

Rising from the various clashes among different political organizations

in the Tigrayan fi elds in 1975, the TPLF leadership went on for more than

a year without a clear political program or policy. However, since the

clique as a political entity had to clarify its programs and objectives, in

February 1976 the TPLF issued a ludicrous statement known as 'Manifesto

68'. Some of the nonsensical points presented in the 'manifesto' are stated

below.

 

In explaining the question 'Who is a Tigrayan?' the 1976 TPLF manifesto

had stipulated that the identity of being a Tigrayan applies to all Tigrinya

speakers, Afars, Erob as well as the Agew and Baza (the Kunama).

Although the location of the peoples just referred to is not clearly stated,

the boundaries of the 'oppressed' Tigray region as per the manifesto runs

from the Alowha River (Wello) in the south, the Mereb River to the north

and encompasses Tselemti and Welkait from the west. As to the basic

national question of the Tigrayan people, the infamous manifesto states that

'since the oppressed peoples can no longer tolerate co-existence with their

oppressors, it is neither possible nor necessary to continue this subjugated

existence. Thus, realizing that the idea of mounting a united opposition

struggle is not only impossible but impractical and unlikely as well, the

objective of our struggle is to establish an independent Tigray Republic

that is free from imperialist exploitation and oppression.'

 

After being advised by the Eritrean Liberation Forces that the 'Manifesto

68' is an unrealistic approach, the TPLF leadership withdrew it from offi
cial

stages with out delay, or to be more exact the TPLF put on hold its program

until the opportunity to take it out again presented itself. Hence, it was
no

secret that the TPLF had always remained secretly faithful to its initial

manifesto all along. Leaders of the clique had made it clear in no uncertain

terms that they don't believe in Ethiopian unity or a united struggle of

the Ethiopian peoples. The 'Manifesto 68' is adequate concrete evidence

that the TPLF had from the onset expansionist tendencies as regards the

borders of Tigray.

 

Nobody can claim that the Tigrayan people had no justifi able cause to

wage their struggle or that their question had not been right. However,

it had become clear from the beginning that the oppressed Tigrayan

people's just cause and struggle lacked a prudent leadership that could

steer it into the right direction. One only has but to take a single look at

the TPLF's vengeful and impetuous political program to understand the

afore-mentioned fact. It is crystal clear that the clique had set out to
secure

its economic monopoly by exploiting the suffering and plight of the Tigray

people and satisfy its dreams of vengeance at the expense of the lives of

young Tigrayans.

 

In short, the TPLF had from the outset intended to exploit the Tigrayan

people's passion for fi ghting to secure their rights and use it to serve
its

own factional interests. Rising from this devious and weak foundation, the

clique went on without a clear or astute political philosophy, wasting no

time in roaming from Tirana to Langley, changing principles with every

new breeze and adopting multi-faceted stances.

 

The agenda of the TPLF as well as its unrealistic objectives lacked

acceptance from all especially from the EPLF. Eventually it was forced

to replace its objective which focused on "Establishing an independent

Republic of Tigray" into "Respecting the right to self-determination of the

people of Tigray". However, even if the TPLF seemed to exercise the latter

objective in its offi cial demeanor, from within it kept its subtle agenda
of

secession. And in many different ways, this hidden agenda no matter how

much the TPLF tried to conceal was evidently noticeable. During the early

stages, it declined the recommendation forwarded from the EPLF with

regard to working together with the national and multinational Ethiopian

opposition movements, and this was a refl ection as to how much the TPLF

was intent on its own plan. In 1976, the EPLF's suggestion that the TPLF

struggle side by side with the EPRP didn't get much approval. The TPLF

gave a deaf ear to this appeal due to its covert intentions.

 

The multinational EPRP organization in parallel with the TPLF began

its armed struggle in Tigray. However, in addition to its other mistakes,

the conceited feeling of "Greater Ethiopia" which largely imbued the

ruling aristocratic classes of the Amhara was visibly present in the EPRP.

Hence, these two opposition forces were obviously not able to merge. In

order to suggest a remedy to their skewed progress, the EPLF leadership

invited a meeting to propose a means on how to settle their quarrels. It

also recommended that they plan realistic objectives and work together

towards their goal. Due to their different views, however, they failed to

accept the plea. Especially the TPLF was expecting that the EPLF would

change its stand and align with it skidding from its principled conviction.

Hence, the TPLF was not happy with the balanced and unbiased view

of the EPLF. The leadership of the TPLF which was not pleased by the

impartial statement of the EPLF opted to abandon the EPLF which had

nurtured it from the cradle.

 

Hence, the TPLF didn't take long to befriend some other parties which

it never trusted much before. This is because its stand is founded not on

principles but rather on interests!

 

 

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