From: Berhane Habtemariam (Berhane.Habtemariam@gmx.de)
Date: Wed Apr 21 2010 - 15:49:00 EDT
Ethiopia: At A Decisive Stage - Between Its People And The TPLF
PART VI
. EPRDF: TPLF's Cloak OF Ethiopian Identity
21/04/2010
Note: Part I&II were posted on the 11th- Part III&IV on the
15th- and Part V on the 19th of April, 2010.
In previous articles, we had seen that the TPLF, under the 'Manifesto 68',
had initially set out with Tigrayan independence in mind. But finding little
outside support, and particularly due to the EPLF's insistence that the
Tigrayan question could only be resolved within a united Ethiopia, the
clique had been forced to develop a twin-edged and confused approach.
Despite the TPLF's claims that its objective is to 'secure the Tigryan
people's right to self-determination', it's narrow-mined separatist
intentions had continued to grow under the covers and had greatly influenced
the regime's decision making process after it gained power.
Based on this twin-edged approach, before coming to power, the TPLF had on
top of its hidden agenda outlined a crude and fake political program
regarding a united Ethiopia and established small satellite organizations
that would supposedly represent other Ethiopian ethnic groups. The TPLF then
brought together these small organizations to form its own version of a
united front and named it the EPRDF. Hence, the EPRDF was not formed as per
the initiative of the member organizations but is a cloak of disguise weaved
by the TPLF to hide its true agenda. After gaining control in Addis Ababa
through military force, the TPLF/ EPRDF established a seemingly Ethiopian
government by incorporating the afore-mentioned satellite organizations and
other opposition groups, and in 1992 drafted a constitution that suited its
narrow interests. Looking at the regime's actions directly after it gained
power, it is easy to see that they reflect the thus far hidden objectives
outlined in the 'Manifesto 68'. The following points clearly confirm the
aboven stated fact:
1. As is generally known, the new Ethiopian constitution drafted by the
EPRDF/TPLF allows different Ethiopian ethnic groups "the right to
self-determination up to secession". This Article of the constitution was
included not to provide other oppressed Ethiopian ethnic groups an
independent choice but rather to put a legal cover on the anti-Ethiopian
unity objectives of the 'Manifesto 68'. Exploiting the Ethiopian people's
wealth for as long as possible until the time came for seceding the Tigrayan
province, the TPLF, ever since coming to power, has been busy paving the way
for its ludicrous plan.
2. The TPLF/EPRDF had introduced the federal mode of administration for the
sole objective of weakening Ethiopian nationalism and encouraging
sub-national sentiments. The regime had divided Ethiopia into different
regions on the basis of ethnicity so as to break up the Ethiopian people's
unity and thereby paralyze any potential opposition.
3. In defining the borders of the various Ethiopian regions, the regime had
directly applied the expansionist objectives outlined in the 'Manifesto 68'.
Thus, the borders of Tigray region were stretched to the Alowha River to the
south, Welkait and Tselemti were included to the west, and some parts of the
Afar territories were also added. Except for occupying parts of Eritrean
land and sea, all the other necessary steps towards establishing the
Tigrayan Republic had been taken.
4. We had seen at the beginning of this article that the TPLF had from the
start set out to exploit the oppressed Tigrayan people's struggle for its
own political and economic interests. The first economic steps the regime
had taken after coming to power had been to drain Ethiopian wealth towards
Tigray province by setting up large corporations under the management of its
highest-ranking leaders under the pretext of ' oppressed groups of people
deserve preferential treatment' as is outlined in the new Ethiopian
constitution. However, none of the oppressed Tigrayan people had benefited
from this blatant exploitation of Ethiopian wealth except the TPLF leaders'
family and relations. This attests to the fact that the TPLF had used the
Tigrayan people as a tool for securing power and wealth but had no concern
whatsoever for their welfare. Hence, this faction is not Ethiopian, nor is
it Tigrayan despite originating from among them. In fact this regime is
quite a stranger to the Tigrayan people.
In the past 16 years of TPLF leadership, the Tigrayan and Ethiopian people
as a whole had seen the regime use the just cause of the Tigrayan people for
its own interests, gain power at the expense of their sacrifice and
single-mindedly pursue its own individual economic and political gains. The
regime had betrayed the Tigrayan people's cause and martyrdom and exploited
the Ethiopian people's wealth so as to build its dream Republic.
Unfortunately for the TPLF, however, the dream had remained just a dream.
Its sinister schemes to instigate division and conflict among the Ethiopian
people had backfired. Since things don't always work out as planned, the
steps the regime had taken to secure its narrow interests had served in
shortening its stay in power. This clique that created chaos in a nation
through antiquated politics is then now hovering on the brink of its final
hours. Since it had in the first place came to power by betraying a popular
cause, the regime is an orphan group that will find none to commiserate with
it after its demise. The TPLF has already fallen into the hole it dug for
itself through its sinister ways and it won't be long before it receives the
final deathblow.
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