[By Bereket Kiros, editors of Tigrai Observer]
I was very disturbed and shocked to my very core by the arrogance of the TPLF leadership. I can no longer pretend not to notice and ignore the gross injustice of the land grab policy by dubious means in Mekelle and its surroundings to continue business as usual. I am writing this with great remorse for having at any time in my past exposed such a crime of land policy that disproportionately impacts the residents of Mekelle and its surroundings.
Many farmers were uprooted, historical sights of our heritage were demolished, and land taken from farmers was given to the highest bidder and acquitted. Tegrawot considers that all the development schemes credited to the TPLF in Tigrai would have been done in a much more acceptable manner than the form of monopolistic business atmosphere created by the current corrupt leaders having their hand in every business pot. Even though the general population of Tigrai has not benefited as much as few seem to portray the condition in Tigrai, there is no question as to the fact that close political circles and businesses have become super rich, and some have even become overnight millionaires several times over.
However, all this corruption and consolidation of economic and political power in the hands of the TPLF and their extended chain structure of beneficiaries is nothing compared to the harm they have done to the cultural heritage in Enderta. To mention a few Ras Gugusa residents surrounded by oak trees and cedar that was over 150 years old to be chopped into a new hotel, Ras Weldeselasie treasure to be looted and surface in a private house in Europe, and Ras Seyoum residents.
It encourages corruption, embezzlement of public funds, and unethical practices in state administration for the following two reasons: one, it employs corruption to blemish the integrity and practice of public services, thereby eroding the contractual relations between the state and the people. and two, as an indispensable part of treason, TPLF has made corruption attractive to the bureaucracy and to all those who can send their hands into it by corrupting the civil service institutions. As a normal practice, corruption has been instrumental in sustaining the corrupt TPLF leadership’s personal interests over those of the people of Tigrai. Corruption and fraudulent administrative practices also help the TPLF recruit cadres and opportunist pseudo-intellectuals to bury its maladministration in the name of fictitious Revolutionary (Weyanaye) democracy.
Even if it is still premature to say a lot about the plans to build a 5-star hotel in the compound of Dejat Abraha Castle, we hope our political leaders reconsider such a destructive plan. It can only maintain the unity of our great nation, Tigrai, by respecting our past heritage. In light of the challenges we are facing currently, we should not make such devise plans the main priority to dismantle Tigrai heritage. Instead, continue to work in good faith for the betterment of the lives of our destitute people languishing in refugee camps. We have enough hotels to accommodate tourists for now.
The erosion of Tigrai’s cultural heritage needed further consideration in light of its destruction for urban development. The sad part of this continued drama is that all Hidmo is being destroyed for new construction in the heart of Mekelle. Eda Gabir, the only greenery area that could have been served as a park, was destroyed, and the land was given to individuals. Mekelle is the only city without a park; Dejazmach Abraha Castle could rehabilitate its natural vegetation like Seraw and create a modern park to serve for Mekelle. The cement factory, not to mention the pollution it discharges from the chimneys of the cement factory in Mesebo and not rehabilitating the land they dig for it, is a very sad saga and mind-boggling.
Today we face a choice: one that leads to further bitterness and lost futures, or the path of courage and wisdom that leads to stronger unity. This is not what we are; we are better than this. Had it been for good leadership and governance by the TPLF, we could have been a lot better and stronger. The fight would be our fight with the unshakable belief that we can make democracy work in our Tigrai. It is only when we act in unison, pool our thoughts together, and unmask the intrigues of those in power that we can triumph and save our Tigrai from a few corrupt criminals. Please let us voice our concern about saving Tigray heritage for generations to come. It is pathetic that there are not even a handful of people in the majority who have the guts and moral obligation to criticise and expose There will surely be many new challenges ahead. The same resolve is required to meet these new challenges head-on, overcome obstacles, and continue to grow and mature the political discourse. How do you respond to repression by the state (party) that will eventually trigger a wave of protest in this difficult time that we fear to avoid?
With two or more million food shortages and displacements, failing cognition for lack of food and schooling, the soaring unemployment rate being the highest in the world, the lowest personal income in the world, et cetera, Tigrai is on the brink of total human implosion and great suffering. Let us all be long-distance runners and not undermine our great future as one people by dashing off in a frenzy in what would end up being a short-lived sprint of hate and greed. When all is said and done, what truly remains is our humanity and our fragile existence.
Many Tegaru want regime change, but the necessary cultural transformation is not there, although it ought to be. Tigrai is indeed ready for regime change, but without a change in the superstructure of the political culture of revolutionary democracy. The attempt to change would be futile unless we changed individually and collectively and prepared our Tigrai for a regime change by cultivating a spirit of nationalism in Tigrawinet and putting our own house in order. Even as I write, there are very many heroic Tegaru who have tremendous hope and faith in Tigrai and are trying to get us all back together in order to fight for a united, wealthy, and powerful Tigrai. I hope I am helping in that process with my controversial ideas on the taboo subject of corruption and citizens of Tigrawi in diaspora.
The proposed change will not materialize. I provoked here for discussion, which hopefully would get acceptance by the majority of Tegaru, especially scholars, professionals, and intellectuals. I sincerely thank you for this opportunity to address fellow Tegaru in the Diaspora on matters that are very dear to all of us. I call upon genuine Tegaru to stop their loyalty to a corrupt regime and join the nation-building movement underway for the sake of our Tigrai. As Jimmy Cliff captures the sentiment and puts it to a reggae beat, “I would rather be a free man in my grave than live as a puppet or a slave.”