The mistake at the roots of the CC members of TPLF
By: Gobezay Wedi-Tigray, M.A.,
April 30, 2001
As a Tigrean, it seems humiliating & discouraging to criticize the Central Committee (CC) of TPLF. However, if it could be a medicine, we have to do it.
It is a well founded fact that the Arabs have a hand in creating ELF, from where EPLF was evolved. The Arabs had a long standing interest and hatred against Ethiopia. The hatred might have precipitated long time ago, during one of the most civilized kingdom, the Axumite Kingdom of Abyssinia, where we were feared as one of the most powerful nation in the Universe. In addition to the above, Egypt and Sudan have an ultimate interest in Ethiopian resources, mainly Abbay waters. "The don’t touch" approach of Abbay waters by Egypt was/is the reason behind all of our misery, thereby, preventing Ethiopia from using its own waters. That is why, Egypt have been trying for a long time, and still is doing all it can to help anyone, interested in destabilizing Ethiopia. To do that wagging war was an ultimatum to kill any emerging economy in the country be it with Janehoy, the Derg or TPLF/EPRDF. It is not coincidental, then, to look on the map of Eritrea, whereby all the red sea coast has been covered by a stripe of land to make Ethiopia a land locked country for ever. We have to control our own waters for our own survival, and Egypt should have to pay some kind of revenue to Ethiopia for using our waters. That will be the day when we need hard-liners. However, with Meles, the deal behind doors seem to be going the other way around. The nation of more than 3000 years is left with no outlet, and Meles is determined to finish the process. What a boy.
Shaebia knew it can not handle the struggle of separation to independence, all by itself. Therefore, it has to find some one who is loyal to their cause within Ethiopia. Could that some one be Meles? Lets see what Tesfay & Kahsay have to say, who seem to have a very good information written on Ben’s web site, on April 20, 2001. Meles, who belonged to TPLF was supposed to be trained by EPLF, fled from Asmera without informing his comrades. (May I ask, where the hell he went?) He joined them after months in 1975. The leadership made major changes in 1976, whereby, Sebhat became the Chairman & Meles a deputy of the CC. They persuaded Abay Tsehaye and wrote the infamous manifesto of TPLF, supporting the independence of Eritrea. The end of story & the beginning of our problem. I have been looking for such an information for a long long time. Thank you. Don’t you think, this was the first hijack done by Meles, Sebhat & Shaebia? Here comes the pressure of EPLF on TPLF’s CC members, who adopted the Special Colonial Question (Feluey Baedawi Agezazia) and TPLF started to agitate the unheard theory of colonization to the Tigrean mass. Aregawi Berhe confessed in meetings, that the Eritrean question, which was accepted by the CC members at the beginning of their struggle was absolutely wrong. Too little, too late. That was the beginning of the end, to the root mistakes of TPLF by the CC members. It seems a rush-rush thing by TPLF CC members to adopt such a question by the pressure of Meles, Sebhat & Shaebia, very much committed to the separation of Eritrea, without weighing the consequences, either to Ethiopia or to Eritrea.
It is a well founded fact by now, Eritrea is the poor of the poorest, from all 14 provinces, except for their red sea, which could be used only-but-only by Ethiopia. By sucking the Ethiopian economy (as 1991-1998) illegally, they wanted to create the Sing-a-poor of the horn, boasting as the only self-reliant country in Africa. This is a theft, not self-reliance. But, time has caught them red-handed, by the people of Tigray in particular, saying enough is enough to the extraction of Ethiopian wealth by Shaebia, thereby, triggering the 2 year war. In the start of the war (1998), DuroE, the former Foreign Minister of Eritrea told the whole world, "consider Ethiopia shot itself on its foot by not allowing the Nakfa to be equal to Birr, and for not allowing free trade to flourish." Free trade is done with a country which offers mutual and tangible economical benefits to both countries.
The Stanford University Forum (April 21, 2001) has concluded as such in short: Ambassador Asmerom of Eritrea was asked why Eritrea fought for 40 years, if it didn’t want to live in isolation? Why Eritrea needed economic integration with Ethiopia, not political, particularly, when Eritrea has nothing to offer as a state? In his response, he mentioned global economy is in effect, in that Ethiopia should use Assab, that Ethnic Federalism should be rejected, and Eritrea was always working for the unity of Ethiopia. What a bluff. Forget about Eritrea was/is for the unity of Ethiopia, because unity begins with your own state, Eritrea. It is up to Ethiopians, whether to discourage or encourage Ethnic Federalism, not up to Eritreans, butt out. One thing is obvious, Eritrea still is appealing to the world for the economic integration with Ethiopia. On the USA behalf, Ambassador Herman Cohen, who was invited to the forum, to the dismay of Eritreans said, there can be NO Eritrea without Ethiopia, i.e. economically. Eritrea needs Ethiopia, much more than does Ethiopia. Eritreans have asked Mr. Cohen, that Eritrea can be self-reliant, and can do business with other countries, such as Sudan and Yemen, than with Ethiopia? His answer was short and clear, " What business." It means, Eritrea has nothing. Condemnation: After all the blood was shed for our sovereignty, we neither want Assab as Eritrean port or economic relations with Eritrea. Ethiopians are asking Meles to claim Assab as Ethiopian port, not as Eritrean port. Otherwise, Meles should step aside not to represent Ethiopia.
Now, the emotional Politburo member, CC member and the former head of Tigray administrator, Ato Gebru Asrat, after a long standing mystery, has broken the silence, and spoke as it is openly: "After Shaebia made their money called Nakfa, Shaebia started to threaten Ethiopia, demanding both Nakfa and Birr to work the same in both countries. Naming people by their names (humbling himself, Mr. Gebru came short in mentioning those names), Shaebia used to say, unless these people are removed from the power, from Tigray, Shaebian dreams won't succeed. This opinion was not only of the opinion of Shaebia, it was of the opinion of other foreigners and infiltrators in our country. Now it seems they succeeded. Mr. Gebru congratulated those who worked hard on the skim." Does Ethiopians need more proof than what Mr. Gebru Asrat is saying? In fact the un-named individuals, as we were following the events were, Gebru himself, Abay Tsehaye, Aregash and Siye, who were wanted by Shaebia dead or alive. Mr. Gebru is speaking from within Ethiopia, putting the rope on his neck or the bullet on his forehead, the same as King Thewodros, the man who took the bullet to his throat, the same as King Yohannes, the man who took the sword to his neck, fighting against those who want to take the sovereignty of Ethiopia.
Little do the CC of TPLF members know that they have an infiltrator, a traitor, manipulator, divisor, who was/is a Shaebia within the CC of TPLF itself. Isayas and Meles work as CIA agents for the interest of USA, and for Eritrea. In addition, Hagos Petros (CC member), was sent with Yemane Jamica to Kenya by Meles to meet Shaebia are 100% Eritreans. There are some of the CC members who are half Eritreans and half Tigreans within the CC of the TPLF, where we judge them on what their belief is. Most CC members of TPLF are married to Eritrean women. If you think, this is just coincidence, then think again. During the Derg era, EPLF was sending beautiful women to the Cadres of the Derg in Asmara. In offering sex to the Cadres, the women open the doors to EPLF at night, while the Cadres were sleeping, thereby, the Cadres were murdered in cold blood at the spot. After that, the women collaborated with EPLF were left to the front from Asmara, not to be killed by the Derg. It is the same tactic, wake up my fellow Tigreans, CC members, you have been caught under your belts, and you have given a blind eyes to the open book facts.
The separation of Eritrea has brought the worst hereditary character of Eritreans to surface, in that they hate the name called Ethiopia. When Mr. Cohen said, they can do economical ties with Ethiopia, they jumped to say why can’t we do business with Sudan or Yemen etc. That is the kind of reaction, noticeable in any kind of discussion with Eritreans. The hatred & mistrust to Ethiopia was designed by the Arabs and Italians.
Some people might say, there is no enough proof to incriminate Meles. But now, we got the first hand proof from no one, but the only one, the 26 years old fighter, who was the administrator of Tigray, the Politburo and CC member, and the one who wanted to cry during the Shaebian bombardment of Mekelle. If there is any one who wants more proof than that could be the one who is going to wait until the country is in a disaster, or any one who is blinded by the facts because he/she have somebody in power. No matter what power they have now, they all will go, one by one at any time they object Shaebia.
Yes, we Ethiopians at this moment have the biggest problem that ever Ethiopia had. On one hand, we have Shaebia as a government in Eritrea, well controlled by foreigners, such as USA, England, Italy, and the Arabs. On the other hand, we have the manipulator and traitor Meles, who is more Shaebia than Isayas. Our biggest problem is not Isayas or foreigners, but the Melesanians. When I say Melesanians, it means those who believe in TPLF's principles and they believe Meles couldn’t do something like this, for the time being, thus unknowingly were skimped and manipulated by Meles. The others are just Aderbayoch, who are going to be exposed with no time. These all are, what Ethiopia is against, at this particular time. No one has won against Ethiopia through war, but during peace, they kill us a slow death.
Meles is the protector and advocator of Eritrea, at the highest supreme being on power. He was not worried about Eritrea's separation. He was not worried about Eritrea's black market. He is not worried about Assab or the out-let of Ethiopia to the sea. He is not worried about territorial dispute with Eritrea. He was/is not worried about our people in Eritrea. Meles is not worried about any loss on Ethiopian side, PERIOD.
Eritrea wanted free trade with Ethiopia, without having no resources to offer to Ethiopia. When Ethiopia refused to comply, the Eritreans began war. Bottom line of the war. If the estimation is true, about 100,000 soldiers were dead, during the Ethio-Eritrean war. The war was concluded with Ethiopian Sovereignty intact and in Eritrean humiliation and shame around the world; or is it. This is fresh blood spilled at the hands of Meles. The Martyrs did not shed their blood to be in square one, where we were, just before the war.
The worst yet to be known, the fame of shame, the man who is at the highest of power, at the highest of military, at the highest of TPLF/EPRDF, at the highest of Politburo, at the highest of the CC of TPLF is a traitor, who betrayed TPLF as an organization, and Ethiopia as a country, was all along with us - Ethiopians. The man is Meles. Shame on all CC members of TPLF, of the past and the present, who didn't see and talk about it for 26 years. They still are making mistakes as we speak by being on the side of Meles, while the country is in a time-bomb. Now, the very people who defended our country’s sovereignty - Ethiopia, who said NO to the exploitation of our resources, our economy, are on the defensive, trying to figure out what hit them, and Meles as usual as a hit man, as manipulative, as tricky, as conniving, as traitor as he is - he is on the offensive, painting the dissidents with all sorts of story. I could have said here, good for him (Inquan), but I couldn't. I can see the GRAVE DANGER to our country - Ethiopia.
The plea to Meles and coherent to reinstate the dissident group to their positions, came from all sorts of Tigrean organizations, such as, UTNA (Union of Tigreans in North America) and Tigrean communities in Washington DC, British Coloumbia, Denver, Texas, Minnesota, Australia, Atlanta, members of Tigray net, etc. So far, it has fallen on deaf ear. Meles is laughing at us - Tigreans, because our concern is not his concern. However, Ethiopians have been warned by Tigreans, BEWARE of the hungry BEAR, he is a messenger killer. For the second time in our history, we are under dictatorship, even at that, we are at the hands of foreigner, Eritrean & Shaebian, dictatorship, under PM Meles. Although, the destruction and looting of public and private property is totally not commendable, let me give my condolences and my grave sorrow to the families of those 41 students who died in the riots and more than 400 injured by the military. The military was ordered directly by PM Meles, to shoot to kill. The military should have been well prepared for the worst, to protect themselves and the public from such a riot, by using tear gases and as such. BUT, THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR SHOOTING & KILLING TO TEACH THEM A LESSON. The shooting of our people is going to continue at any cost for no avail. The Ethiopian people in general, the CC members in particular, should ask PM Meles to resign immediately. Shameful, but it was and is the mistake of the CC members. With sadness and sorrow, divided we fall.
[Opinions in this article are solely that of the writer.]