[TLM Editorial Viewpoint]
For two weeks, we watched with awe and hope as TDF carried out the most peaceful and brave civil protest. You inspired us all with your sacrifices and nobility, and we admired your unwavering democratic commitment to the rights and dignity of the Tigrayan people. We hope that every Tigrayan—men and women, young and old, Muslims, Orthodox Christians, Catholics, and people of other faiths—will live in coexistence with equality, respect, love, and peace. We share in the pride of the TDF fighters’ demands and struggles. We are confident that the TDF fighters have both the wisdom and courage to complete the democratization process, as you have already begun your remarkable journey. Today, you made us proud again and again on the world stage. Our sincere hope is that you live in peace, and glory be to each of you.
Our research tools might not be as sharp or polished as we would like, and we hope our readers consider how little time we have to write this response to the current political chaos caused by the TPLF leadership. Debretsion and Fetlework are traitors, no matter how they try to justify their illegal actions against freedom of speech and human rights by reviving the oppressive, draconian press laws from their past, used to silence journalists and free press. We must clearly state here that TLM fully supports journalists, reporters, publishers, and all individuals dedicated to pursuing “truth” through investigative reporting that benefits the people of Tigray.
We endorse freedom of speech, expression, and assembly, but not in a naive absolutist sense—instead, in terms of social good as viewed by society members, reflected in laws, social norms, and social cohesion. We acknowledge that maintaining such high standards of freedom and liberty is quite a formidable task, which is why our courts must provide their service free from coercion and political pressure by the TPLF and its warlord generals. To be clear, Tigray is currently undergoing a very strange political and economic transformation. The political change is going to happen whether the TPLF leadership likes it or not.
We might seem very blunt with our views because there are many reasons we dislike how fellow diaspora play political games. We can be light and humorous, making you all feel good about yourselves. But tomorrow, when we get up for work, we will still carry this lingering, painful question about the survival of Tigray. We wish we had been more cautious when labelling the prominent members and supporters of the TPLF, who formed a forum last week, as “TPLF known loyalists”, a phrase that diminishes their otherwise deep concern about the “politics” of Tigray. The individuals called “loyalists” are not newcomers to the political scene of dissent and controversy in Tigray. Just as all great politicians have evolved, we might say other unflattering things about them, but it is reasonable to label them as TPLF loyalists at this stage.
The lesson for our time is that we are trying to blind one eye in the hope of blinding both of our neighbors’ eyes. Even as we speak, many brave Tegaru have great hope and faith in Tigray, working to bring us all back together to fight for a united, prosperous, and resilient Tigray. We believe we are contributing to that process through our nationalism in the interest of Tigray, setting aside any other loyalty divided by Aweraja or ideology.
The TPLF leadership has wronged Tigray, and we have been hurt each other for too long. Because Ethiopia is more than just its parts, it is never entirely the same as its political or religious leaders. We should not confuse TPLF with the state of Tigray. Our dislike, or even outright contempt, for the TPLF and its sycophantic supporters should not blind us to the danger Tigray faces right now. There is always time to replace and build new leadership. However, there is not enough time to restore a nation once it is lost.
For all practical purposes, what Tigray needs now more than ever is unity, peace, security, democracy, and development. As it has been said and preached for decades, Tigray’s main enemies are political intolerance for opposing views, the monopoly of power, corruption, nepotism, backward mentality, and a lack of transparency shown repeatedly by the TPLF.
The TPLF leadership should focus on delivering real results rather than intimidating the people with fear and guns. Instead, they should serve the people of Tigray’s needs. What the TPLF leadership, warlord generals and their followers need is to undergo moral cleansing from their dreadful mistakes and lies; however, they must speak the truth and work for the good of the Tigrayan people.
The TPLF cannot sustain its political survival much longer without public support, and the growing public anger is escalating, risking an irreversible conflict and extinction. Our existence as a proud nation with a long history and culture is in jeopardy. We also urge the regional government to release all detainees, including those currently imprisoned, stop human rights abuses and killings, and promote regional reconciliation grounded in solidarity, freedom, and the well-being of our people.
The TPLF leadership believes that invalidating and nullifying the Pretoria Agreement is the first step toward protecting Tigray’s territorial integrity and ensuring its survival. We also hear the words of legal and political “experts” criticizing Ethiopia for not fully accepting the Pretoria Peace Agreement. This all results from the same corrupt TPLF leadership who spent all their efforts in a power struggle since the signing of the Pretoria Peace Agreement on November 2, 2022. It has nothing to do with justice or a fair, negotiated settlement of the peace agreement between the PP and the TPLF. In fact, it is shameful for anyone to try to force such a sneaky and completely corrupt process to cling to power without legitimate elections and proper legal support.
Last week Debretsion held a diaspora conference via Zoom, blaming Getachew Reda for his failed leadership to convince the diaspora about his vision for war using fabricated lies.
ደብረፅዮን ምስ ዳያስፖራ ዝገበሮ ዋዕላ (ኮንፈረንስ)
After Debretsion spoke, the diaspora were given time to ask questions. One person articulately condemned Debretsion for handling Tigray’s pre- and post-genocidal war as he laid down the facts that Debretsion was the source of Tigray’s problems. Another view was suggested by Ambassador Feseha Asgedom, stating that ‘We should declare that he [Abiy] has invalidated the Pretoria Agreement’ (ንውዕል ፕሪቶርያ ከምዘፍረሶ ንእውጅ).
TLM wants everyone to listen to the following videos to learn what was said during the diaspora conference.
ደ/ር ጎይቶኦም ኣረጋዊ (ዘፀኣት) ንደብረፅዮን ዝበሎ: “ሰባት ኽተፀልም፣ ሰባት ኽትፍርጅ፣ ባንዳ ክትብል፣ ከመይ ገይሩ ሓድነት ዝመፅእ? ብናትካ ዝተዋህለለ ህመቕ እዙ ህዝቢ ክፀንት፣ ክበርስ፣ሓድነቱ ክብተን፣ ዝኩሉ መከራ ክበፅሖ መንፀፍ ዘንፀፈ መን እዩ ነይሩ? ደብረፅዮን እዙ ህዝቢ ክዋረድ፣ ክበርስ ኣስተዋፅኦ ኣይገበካን ድኻ?”
ኣምባሳደር ፍስሃ ኣስገዶም: “ንውዕል ፕሪቶርያ ከምዘፍረሶ ንእውጅ::”
Those diaspora supporters of the TPLF have limited backing even among their own constituents, though enough to give them a national voice. We believe the forum understands realpolitik and is using its limited political power wisely, but it fails badly to see the consequences that invalidate the Pretoria Peace Agreement. What we need to do in the meantime is organize ourselves through political groups and various civil organisations to struggle to defend the people of Tigray to bring about democracy, freedom, liberty, justice, accountability, and good governance in Tigray.
What is needed now is a nationalist and visionary leader who can replace the TPLF leadership, thereby evicting the TPLF from power peacefully in the ballot box. For the people of Tigray, it is much easier to remove an unpopular leadership and party from office that practice authoritarian rule. All opposition parties must cooperate to facilitate the departure of Debretsion and his warlord generals.
Thank you Tigray Liberty Media (ደወል ሓርነት) the Call is to ensure spoilers are not in a position to dictate the terms of peace or exploit the process for their destructive agenda. The call is not for full scale war in Tigray.
The Gang of Four & their cronies prioritize themselves, their families & their cabal before Tigray & Tegaru. The entitled politicians believe that their needs are more important than those of the greater to.They are short sighted, unable to fathom the long term repercussions of their actions.They are myopic & insular, unable to look beyond local politics. Problem is clearly defined & On the topic of diversity, the younger generations are navigating toward a new destinations at lightning speed, and they are not looking back.
Strategic depth can embolden spoilers to use violence to achieve their goal I.e. create chaos. It weakens the position of those trying to build & maintain peace, making it harder to implement & enforce agreement.
Therefore excluding the gang of four in Tigray from the peace process, limiting the strategic depth of Top spoilers & limiting the spoilers access to resources, land & Gold mining is a must.
Lessons from Cambodia:
The Khmer Rouge rejected the peace agreement & continued to wage war. The UN strategy in Cambodia against the Khmer Rouge is an example of Departing train Strategy for peace.The peace process advanced with out the spoilers evolvement.The agreement brought an end to more the two decades of conflict, including the conflict following the overthrow of the Khmer Rough regime.
Therefore, Departing train strategy is the only approach to ensure full implementation of the Pretoria agreement against the Top spoilers against the extremist political cult in Tigray, the extremist fano & the genocidal regime of Isaias Afeworki.
The international community action as a custodian of the Pretoria agreement is crucial, to ensure its continuity & security.
Reporting both sides of an issue is a basic requirement of Journalism, but this does not mean giving both sides equal weight, regardless of the facts. The fact is Bothsidism is being used as an excuse for giving wrongdoers a public relation platform.
For example: Mr. G may say “climate change is real” & Mr. D may say “climate change is not real” would you portray them both as equally valid perspectives, Even though climate change is a measurable proven fact?
For clarity, text book definition:
* Impartiality: Decision are based on objective facts, not prejudice or personal preference
Impartiality requires Fairness, accuracy, open-mindedness & integrity
* Bothsidesism: practice that presents two opposing sides as equally valid or deserving of equal weight
* Bothsidesism create a false equivalence, giving disproportionate attention to one side despite a lack of evidence.
Common sense is not common, but using the same analogy, Eritrea is not signatory of the Pretoria agreement. Period!!!! We should not be pessimistic about peace efforts. However, Truce can not be implemented so long as the God father of the genocidal campaign, #IsayasAfeworki & his foot soldiers are at large
* The priority should be to promote enabling conditions for voluntary repatriation of IDPs & Tegaru refugees.
* In line with the Pretoria agreement & Rule 132 (IHL) : Displaced Persons & refugees have a right to voluntary return in safety to their homes or places of habitual residences.
* Therefore we all should be united for full implementation of #CoHA, Pretoria agreement.
* Expediate Return of IDPs & Refugees to neutralize the unlawful – TPLF Faction’s war agenda.
* The IDPs right to return is a foundamental human right to voluntarily return, in safety & dignity, to their homes. The choice to return must be made freely by the individuals.
Yes! the extremist political cult led by the Gang of Four turn to the dictators play book i.e.
* Distraction, the key element to control is to divert the attention by providing a constant flow of insignificant information via the paid foot soldiers -so-called activist, self appointed journalists & former Ambassadors
* Playing on emotions to obscure rational thinking & common sense; to divert attention from the paralysis of governance caused by the Military wing of the extremist political wing of the oligarchs in Tigray. We should not let the Gang of Four take over the wheel of our lives
Time is against Tigray!!
Say no to Eritreanization of Tigray
The recent TLM editorial captures a defining moment in Tigray’s struggle for justice, democracy, and accountable leadership. It boldly calls out those who continue to oppress and manipulate the people through fear and disinformation. True liberation will not come from recycled authoritarianism but from honest dialogue, unity, and the full implementation of the Pretoria Agreement. The voices for peace, reform, and good governance must rise above the noise of division. Tigray deserves leadership that serves its people—not itself.