[TLM Editorial Viewpoint]
Old habits are hard to break, as the saying goes. The current political crisis in Tigray is born out of our well-founded suspicion that the TPLF does not effectively represent the interests of Tigray. We, the Tigrayans, have been trying to discover the types of documentaries supporting evidence and rhetoric the TPLF leadership presented to the public. The little we found in our inquiry indicates that the TPLF still relies on Shaebia to stay in power, a sad saga being played repeatedly after Shaebia committed multiple atrocities against the people of Tigray in 1984-85, 1991, 1998, and 2020 until the present day.
The impending collapse of the TPLF is on the horizon due to internal power struggles rather than external ones. This may pose a significant threat to the security of the people of Tigray. Debretsion’s unpredictable actions over the past three years since the Pretoria agreement show that what he fears most is the opposition to the TPLF’s political survival and his power. Like many other dictators, Debretsion becomes irrational, violent, and brutal to stay in control and avoid accountability. He might also try to split Tigray’s political and administrative areas with backing from corrupt generals. The TPLF and its ally Shabia might have formed a coalition against Abiy if the TPLF leadership had had to accept Shabia’s political leadership and direction.
Debretsion, Fetlework, Getachew Assefa, and Alem Gebrewahid have led Tigray to ruins, and they should not remain in their leadership roles under any circumstances. Debretsion and his cliques must take this final opportunity to guarantee their survival and prevent Tigray from destruction. Given Debretsion’s poor track record in his leadership, no negotiations are feasible with Debretsion and his cliques; allowing them to remain in power or hold any public office is unthinkable. Therefore, the TPLF leadership must not be permitted to hold Tigray’s future hostage regardless of any circumstances. If the TPLF is to guarantee its survival in Tigray politics, it must relinquish power and accept an all-inclusive leadership to lead Tigray.
The people of Tigray have suffered enough at the hands of the TPLF’s repressive rule. The majority of Tigrayan people want to see Debretsion and his cliques resign gracefully or be removed from power by force. The people of Tigray and opposition parties should continue their struggle to end the TPLF’s authoritarian rule. We call upon all freedom-loving Tegaru to leverage discontent to isolate Debretsion and his cliques, who are undermining the unity of Tigray, becoming obstacles to the return of IDPs, terrorising people and committing human rights abuses.
The TPLF leadership uses the Pretoria peace agreement for its political gamble, forgetting the plight of IDPs who are suffering in makeshift tents and facing starvation and death. We urge the opposition parties and patriotic and nationalist Tigrayans to stay the course and never give in to anything for the TPLF. Never compromised with the TPLF leadership in support of the alliance (ፅንዶ) with the genocidaire Shaebia at the expense of Tigray’s peace and security. This is one of the worst betrayals ever committed by the TPLF against the people of Tigray. The TPLF leadership must be held accountable for diluting the Tigray genocide. To minimise the security threats, the people of Tigray deserve a political party that prioritises their welfare over the party’s political expedience. It is crucial for all Tigrayans to unite in the face of adversity and strive for a future free from oppression and violence.
Shaebia has had no intention or compassion or the economic capacity to help the people of Tigray throughout its history; rather, it has a firm policy to destroy Tigray by any means. Simply, Shaebia can’t be trusted to support Tigray. We all know about the Shaebia policy – killing children above the age of 8 years old and repeatedly committing genocide against the people of Tigray. This was confirmed unambiguously by President Isaias that he has no regrets for the genocide he committed in Tigray since 1984-85. This admission highlights the grave situation facing the Tigrayan people, as they endure unimaginable suffering due to the relentless atrocity crimes of Shaebia. Shaebia wants to use Tigray as a war zone in order to prevent the war with Ethiopia from being inside Eritrea. The TPLF leadership might have entered the alliance (ፅንዶ) blindly by lessening Shaebia’s atrocities. The TPLF leadership is conspiring tirelessly to undermine the peace agreement. It is imperative that we remain vigilant and united against the TPLF-Shaebia’s dangerous war manoeuvring strategy to ensure Tigray remains neutral and prevent Tigray from becoming a war zone for the warring Shaebia and the Prosperity Party.
The struggle for freedom and liberty must continue until the TPLF relinquishes power and a transitional government is formed to prepare for elections and draft a new constitution. We must reform Tigray’s political and administrative structure, i.e., the Aweraja (province) administrative system. The ethnic-based federal constitution that was put in place by Meles Zenawi must be changed, as it has not protected Tigray from genocide. The people of Tigray are demanding political change. The people of Tigray must exercise their democratic rights. The momentum for reform is rapidly building up, and it must not falter.
It is essential not to conflate Debretsion and his cliques with the people of Tigray. There are always ways to remove incompetent leadership from power and elect a capable one. We must realise that Tigray cannot easily stand against the dangers of conspiracies devised by the TPLF-Shaebia alliance. This alliance may end Tigray’s existence. Once the Tigrayan land and identity are lost, the fabric of society could be irrevocably damaged, and the scars of disintegration may take generations to heal and rebuild Tigray. It is crucial, therefore, to focus on unity and resilience, ensuring that Tigray emerges from this turmoil stronger and more cohesive than before. At this critical moment, Tegaru should not be distracted by Debretsion and his sycophantic followers utter contempt, lies and deceptions from recognising the serious dangers Tigray may face in the coming days and months.
The people of Tigray are wise and are neither fools nor political novices easily manipulated by the TPLF’s treacherous acts of betrayal, which they are attempting to exploit through fabricated crises to distract the public from the brutal repression as we have witnessed in Tembein, Hintalo, Saharti, and Adigudom. We must firmly reject the TPLF’s alliance (ፅምዶ) with the genocidaire Shaebia for another war campaign against the federal government of Ethiopia. This alliance threatens not only the stability of Tigray but also undermines the sacrifices made by the TDF who defend their people against genocide.
The war will hurt Tigray economically, socially, and politically. In recognition of this, we must work for what is crucial for the people of Tigray’s survival. Of course, Tigray has every right to defend itself from any attacks, regardless of who initiated the conflict. It is essential to distinguish between issues related to Debretsion’s leadership warmongering and Tigray’s right to self-defence. Self-defence is a fundamental principle that should be upheld, irrespective of the political dynamics at play. It is imperative that we should increase our advocacy work in unison to alleviate the plight of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), restore territorial integrity, and protect our identity and heritage amidst the ongoing turmoil and conspiracy perpetrated by the TPLF and Shaebia alliance (ፅምዶ). The people of Tigray must take the responsibility of the peace agreement negotiations from the TPLF and work with mediators and the federal government of Ethiopia to implement it for lasting peace.
Our adversaries on all sides surround Tigray. We see and hear the warmongering rhetoric of the genocidal regimes of Eritrea and Ethiopia. Their enmity is building beyond reconciliation, and they are preparing for a war of destruction. People who have endured struggles and made enormous sacrifices to oppose all monolithic ideologies, whether Marxist-Leninist or not, had to face again exclusive bondage under the failed TPLF agenda that exposed the people of Tigray to genocide. We should reject the efforts of those half-baked Tigrayan intellectuals who have lost their souls and spiritual contact with the Tigrayan people. The lack of Tigray leaders’ wisdom and political skills may drag Tigray into the war. If the Tigray leaders are wise enough, they must keep Tigray neutral between the Eritrean and Ethiopian wars as much as possible. Keeping Tigray neutral, we can gain diplomatic and political respect in the eyes of the international community.
In the meantime, we must rebuild our advocacy, diplomacy, and political acumen on the world stage. This requires appointing visionary, capable, and nationalist individuals to lead Tigray out of this heinous genocidal war by devising clear short-term and long-term strategies. We must also bring back our unity; substantial sacrifices from everyone are necessary.