Open Letter to: General Megebey Haile, Head of the TDF Military Western Tigray Frontier
Unveiling the Truth Behind General Megebey Haile’s Alleged Role in Illegal Gold Mining and Human Rights Violations
Over the years, accusations have mounted against you and the TDF military Western Tigray Frontier under your leadership. These allegations paint a damning picture of illegal gold mining exploitation, systemic harassment, and human rights abuses in Northwest and Central Tigray zones. It is imperative to confront these serious accusations and demand accountability.
Critical Questions and Challenges About Illegal Gold Mining Exploitation Under Your Command
You have denied any knowledge of and involvement in the illegal gold mining exploitation in the area that is under your command, where you are in charge of security. You have shown your utter contempt and sheer ignorance of the people’s security, exposing the local population to everlasting harm to their lives.
However, substantial evidence from Tigray Media Watch Digital Intelligence Monitoring Group—gathered over the past 18 months—contradicts your denials.
The facts on the ground indicate that this criminal activity is taking place in areas under your military command division’s control. If you are innocent, why have you not acted decisively to halt these operations and bring the perpetrators to justice?
It is not necessary to catch you digging gold with your own hands. As the head of the TDF military in the region of North-West, your duty is to protect, prevent the local people and punish criminal activities, not to facilitate them.
Protection and Escorting of Gold Mining Criminals
Numerous reports highlight your division’s active role in protecting and escorting gold mining criminals, enabling illegal exploitation of Tigray’s natural resources. If you are innocent, why haven’t you stopped these operations?
Why are the members of your division accused of providing security for illegal gold mining operators instead of safeguarding the land and its people?
Suppression of Local Resistance
In areas such as Zana District and Tembein, your division stands accused of beating, harassing, and terrorising innocent civilians, particularly the youth, who are bravely resisting the illegal exploitation of their land.
- If you are truly innocent, why have these heinous acts occurred under your leadership?
- Why are civilians who defend their rights being punished while criminals are protected by you military command division?
Accountability for Harassment and Displacement
Internal Displaced Persons (IDPs) who returned to North-West Tigray, especially in Tselemti District, face persistent harassment and displacement by Amhara militias. Unlike your counterpart General Yohannes (John Medide) in Southern Tigray, who has maintained a peaceful and secure environment for IDPs, your leadership has failed miserably to provide the same protection.
Why has your leadership fallen short in safeguarding the IDPs’ vulnerable returnee populations to Tselemti? Is this failure a reflection of neglect or complicity?
Credibility and Integrity Under Scrutiny
The Public surveys and investigative reports have significantly shown your criminal activities and human rights abuses, diminishing your credibility and integrity. Your name is now synonymous with complicity in illegal gold mining exploitation crimes. How do you respond to these perceptions, and what steps will you take to restore your integrity and trust in your leadership?
Demands for Immediate Action to:
- cease all forms of protection and support for illegal gold mining criminals.
- halt the harassment, imprisonment, and terrorisation of civilians, particularly the youth.
Accountability and Transparency
Publicly address these allegations with evidence to prove your innocence. The burden of proof lies with you, as the presumption of innocence does not erase overwhelming evidence of complicity.
We have documented evidence about you and your accomplices involved including their names and roles in illegal gold mining exploitation activities. You and those responsible will face justice.
Our message is clear: you will be accountable for displacing people from their land and contaminating the environment and water supplies and endangering the local people’s health with internationally banned chemicals.
- “Leadership is measured not by words but by actions. If you are innocent, act like it. If you are guilty, justice will find you.”
- “The soil of Tigray is soaked with the tears of its people—not from its blessings of gold, but from the betrayal of its guardians.”
- “Your uniform represents protection, not oppression. Stop being an instrument of backward TPLF political ideologies.”
Therefore, General Megebe Haile, the people of Tigray demand answers. The least you can do is take responsibility and address the grievances of those you have displaced and violated their human rights under your jurisdiction of command in North-West and Central Tigray.
If you cannot protect the people, stop your criminal activities and human rights abuses against the local people for raising concerns. Your silence and inaction are as incriminating as the crimes you are accused of enabling.
The time for accountability is now. The people of Tigray are watching, and history will remember you as a criminal, not as freedom fighter.
Undercover Investigation Team
Tigray Media Watch Digital Intelligence Monitoring Group
Mekelle, Tigray
January 12, 2025