[TLM Editorial viewpoint]
Thousands of Palestinians in Khan Yunis in Gaza have taken to the streets, demanding that Hamas surrender
We are too caught up in the past. For some, the past is filled with grief, fear, and anger. As Hannah Arendt observed, “Time does not run backwards.” Yet many in our community still harbour grievances and personal vendettas from fifty or more years ago. Unfortunately, removing these sentiments from their discourse leaves them with little more to say—the burden of influential individuals. Time is of the essence here: our endless disputes over what might have been do not easily translate into ‘bread and water’ for those enduring genocide. Time is slipping away, and we are losing the younger generation rapidly due to exile and war as we age. Indeed, we may be losing the opportunity to enjoy the fruits of our sacrifices or to witness them embraced by the new generation. That is unfortunate. It is time to accelerate our efforts and step off the political merry-go-round that offers the illusion of progress. Furthermore, it is also time to revive or build upon effective practices, regardless of who initiated them.
Past and present Ethiopian leaders have wielded too much influence to face public censure. The economic and political landscape has changed so drastically that the ruling party controls the government and the business sector. Our thoughts come piecemeal and disregard other viewpoints. Often, we confuse our prejudices with the hopes and fears of every Tigrayan. What percentage of Oromo, Amhara, and Tigrayan peasants care about who rules them when facing pointless wars, broken promises, entrenched disdain for public input, and the misappropriation of the nation’s wealth for personal gain? We must acknowledge that we continue to speak randomly and incoherently. Issues are addressed reactively and discarded without much consideration. This does not imply that we should reach a consensus on issues or their interpretation. However, if we aim to be heard and taken seriously, our concerns must be expressed clearly and sustainably.
To break the current deadlock, Tigray Liberty Media (TLM) proposes that our community’s primary strategy focus on identifying and consolidating our resources, uniting around a few key issues, and articulating these ideas clearly and persuasively. As someone once said, knowing your enemy and yourself leads to victory. Nevertheless, not everyone can clearly explain legal matters or subjects related to diplomacy, politics, culture, and public relations. Therefore, those with expertise in these fields must assist the nation during this uncertain time.
What works and what does not: In the past fifty years, the TPLF has transitioned from a communist party leadership to an ethnic policy. Those painful transitions are not without their rewards—if only we knew how to capitalise on them. First, however, we must admit that we have contributed to this unfortunate situation. There is no escaping this fact. Second, with “ethnic policy”, we can each be an influence for good. Third, we understand what works and does not bring about enduring change. We are familiar with violence and its manifestations; we know it breeds more violence. We understand that local votes alone will not carry the day. We recognise that ethnic misrecognition and misrepresentation diminish our collective will and aspirations; ethnic politics, whether stated or unstated, as public policy, breed resentment and misallocate scarce human and material resources.
Credit: https://x.com/afalkhatib/status/1924528669751394415?s=46&t=tUkyqQPhvthROZkj0xxtUQ, Anti-Hamas protest in Gaza: “Hamas get out, we want to live, damned are Hamas’s leaders, children have a right to live!” May 19, 2025.
Protests erupted against Hamas in Gaza. What do Palestinians think about the militant group? Thousands of Palestinians voiced their opposition to Hamas during anti-war demonstrations on April 24, 20251 and on May 19, 20252 in the Gaza Strip, marking the largest display of anger toward the militant group since its attack on Israel sparked the war. Protesters conveyed their frustration and desperation amid a new wave of conflict and displacement following Israel’s end of the ceasefire. They directed intense criticism at Hamas and others concerning their suffering. The militant group has violently suppressed sporadic protests and imprisoned, tortured, or killed those who opposed its rule. Hamas has encountered no significant internal challenge since the onset of the war and continues to control Gaza, even after losing most of its top leaders and thousands of fighters.
The Ethiopian diaspora has turned a corner. We are onto something hopeful. From typical indifference, we have transformed ourselves into active participants in the affairs of our homeland. Our engagements, hitherto, may have been sporadic, provincial, and oppositional in mode. The time has now come to organise, depersonalise, and target our pressing concerns. That could mean selecting a few options that yield maximum benefit, identifying what we do best, and conserving our energies for reflection and strategic action. In other words, we have to recognise our limitations and, under the circumstances,
We are not arguing that we should assign a select group to speak for us while the rest refrain from sharing our opinions. Instead, I am concerned that not everyone effectively represents a common cause, and our domain expertise will likely limit some of us.
We, the Tigrayans, have reached a crossroads where we must make serious decisions about our future, leadership, and relationships with one another. There is no way we can revert to the TPLF’s stifling control after having fought our way out of their oppressive rule for fifty years. In the worst-case scenario, if the TPLF regains absolute political power with only token Party Cadre representations, the very structure we condemn, we are heading toward a bitter fragmentation of Tigray.
Let us see how well they will survive in their fortress, Tembien, if we divorce TPLF and the Cadres from the rest of Tigrai by electing our leaders without intimidation. Our intense criticism of the TPLF leadership and recantation of their origin in no way is meant to dehumanise, deform, or insult our humanity. Because we have suffered for a half century due to the TPLF’s corrupt, oppressive, cliquish, and exclusive form of government, we have the right to challenge and correct the historical lies they have perpetuated against us and to thwart the manipulation they continue to use on us. Let us learn from the recent protests that have erupted against Hamas in Gaza and the demonstrations against the TPLF.
References
1 BBC news, (2025). Anti-Hamas protests on rise in Gaza as group’s iron grip slips [Online]. Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c175z14r8pro (Accessed April 25, 2025).
2 Thousands of courageous anti-Hamas Gazan protesters are screaming “Hamas get out, we want to live, damned are Hamas’s leaders, children have a right to live”! Will anyone listen? Will pro-Palestine activists, NGOs, politicians, journalists & online personalities take notice?! https://x.com/afalkhatib/status/1924528669751394415?s=46&t=tUkyqQPhvthROZkj0xxtUQ, May 19, 2025.