Tigrayans all over the World: Watch out!!
By: Andom
We Tigrayans as one part of the Ethiopian society are very much concerned about the current crisis within the Ethiopian leadership. Our concern is not because members of the CC of the TPLF are imprisoned or dismissed from the leadership. Our concern is as to whether laws are violated and the ongoing process is going to undermine or promote the already begun democratization process and the peaceful co-existence of the different peoples of Ethiopia.
We would like to make it very clear from the out set that we are against any form of illegal acts whatsoever. But the problem is that we are at this time unable to know both sides of stories. We can only urge those concerned to give every one the chance to air their opinions.
As it is crystal clear to all Tigrayans that, during the time when the very existence of Tigray and Tigrayan identity was put into question, there were few our brother Tigrayans who were knowingly or unknowingly against the popular struggle of the people of Tigray and therefore instrument of the Dergue regime. Most of such persons are in diasporra. They have always had a goal. If they are not or can not (for some of them are alleged criminals) live in Ethiopia peacefully, no body should have that right. They seem to have decided not to go back home for fear of imprisonment for the possible crimes they have committed on the innocent people of Tigray. Whatever good or bad the current leadership does, they have to oppose it. From the day one of the leadership of the current government, they opposed every step with out exception.
Now it is a good opportunity to such people. Every body can imagine what kind of stand they might have.
All over the world we now see that, thanks to the internet, few individuals are telling the world baseless information. The updated strategy is passing resolutions in the name of the community where such individuals live. Some concerned Tigrayans residing in Switzerland were surprised to learn that a resolution is passed in our names concerning the current crisis. It is true that we had a meeting on June 24, 2001. But during this meeting shamefully very few individuals have come organized on family and Awraja levels. They decided to disrupt the meeting by any means. No other opinion was allowed to be heard.
Every body was confused. Because most of these individuals are not members of the organization that had called the meeting and they were all from one family and Awraja. What happened at this meeting is that the invited guests arrived and took their places. These organized few individuals started shouting at the top of their voice to any body who does not agree with their stand. They told the invited guests that they (the few individuals that are not members and never appeared to such a meeting before) would elect persons who chair the meeting. They and they alone were both the electorate and the candidates. These are our "democrats" struggling for democracy in Ethiopia. These individuals are politically the most despised ones among the community.
The people gathered at the meeting decided, even if they were only listeners, to listen to what these individuals had to say. But finally it was so non-sense that people got bored and every body left the hall. Only these organized few individuals remained at the meeting hall. They were both the speakers and the listeners.
Now we learn that they passed the so-called resolution. That is ok. Every body has a right to pass his own resolution. But the question is these narrow-minded and racist individuals organized on Awraja level and speaking for their immediate families from the dissident groups, not even talking a word about our country, should not pretend to represent the whole community residing in Switzerland.
What we are saying now is that we Tigrayans in Switzerland first and foremost condemn these individuals who were organized in family and Awradja level. Secondly, the so-called resolution is not our resolution. Three individuals alone have decided to do what they have done. If that is how the so-called resolutions are passed in other parts of the world, it is shame.
We would like therefore to inform our society that Tigrayans in Switzerland have not yet passed a resolution on the current crisis. We will meet in a very short time and discuss issues freely and in civilized manner. Then and only then will we pass a resolution. We never rash to be first not in passing biased and one-sided resolutions, but in passing genuine and reasonable resolutions.
We will meet and tell our society the result of our meeting very soon.
We believe that making a reasonable judgement needs to have a good knowledge of both sides of the story. Making hasty decisions on the crisis makes more problems than contributing to the solutions. We all know that we do not have enough information on the current crisis. Those passing their judgement rashly seem to need no further proof than the dismissal of their immediate families. Their concern is not the society. They do not like to know the reality.
We urge those concerned not to use the mass to their own personal interests. And we say to the Tigrayans and other Ethiopian communities watch out!
Long live united strong Ethiopia!
[Opinions in this article are solely that of the writer.]