What did I tell you about Woyane’s comedians?

ሞላ ተኩላ turn into ካሀዲ comedian

by Teshome Debalke

Woyane clowns’ desperation is reaching the point of no return. The recent news of ተኩላ He himself proved to be one in his own right with a rank of a General. I suspected all along when he was referred as a General, of what– I don’t know but, I didn’t expect him to turn into village comedian not worthy of his rank. It reminds me of the 5th grade comedian-Generals we heard about.
From the get go; I never thought of Woyane more than a collection of comedians with guns turn government officials, businessmen, educators, experts…

Their behavior can be summarized by ‘የሌባ ደረቅ መልሶ ልብ ያድርቅ’ ‘የቸገረው እርጉዝ ያገባል’ አባቱ ዳኛ ልጁ ቀማኛ and ‘የአይጥ ምስክር ድንቢጥ’. This is true in the kangaroo courts, in wannabe Medias, bogus businesses, freelance cadres multitasking like Ben, the mobile comedian etc.

At the highest level of comedians’ no one matched the late Melse Zenawi yet; followed by Halimariam D that replaced him. It appears – you have to pass a test to qualify. But, not all comedians are created equal. Some make you lough because they are dumb. Others do because they are witty. Enough is said about the two clowns above no need to bore you to death.

What I want to talk about is the lower end in the comedian chain and the agony they go through to undermine Patriotic-Ginbot 7. Tough there are many clowns, the two that comes in mind are the freelance ambulance chaser Beniyam Kebede and the newly discovered comedian ተኩላ Molla that abandon the struggle and went back where he started. ተኩላ Molla defection brought out the worst out of the comedians.

Don’t get me wrong. He has all the rights to leave the struggle. After all, if he didn’t believe in it anymore it is well and good. But, to defect with a speed of light as a commander of a liberation struggle and take part in Ben comedian production’s drama as lead Woyane comedian is the worst we seen a human being done yet.

Let me start with ተኩላ Molla press conference that showed the comedians true color by extension the entire Woyane’s establishment. The man is gutless cowered on the top of a dumb comedian. A real man doesn’t stoop to the level of insulting his comrades to justify prostituting like street tug. But, Woyane putting him in front of a TV sums up the level of desperation hovering over the Thugocracy, to use Prof Al’s word.

Listening to his justification to run in front TPLF’s comedian Press Club has two parts. Though, confessing how illiterate and clueless he is answers both questions, how bad Patriotic-Ginbot 7 via Shabia and how good Woyane is improving ashis reason to abandon the struggle is why he was needed to make a jackass out of himself and the whole Woyane’s establishment. Here, it worth to note the true character of a typical Woyane showing. By trashing his host and comrades the moment he find another opportunity to jump ship –leaving trail of his own comrade’s blood behind reviled a root eating cadre that graduated to eat others’ root, not to mention showing the bare legacy of TPLF-Woyane that made him who he become.

When you think about it, if anything; Molla unintentionally reviled; Woyane is root eating parasite –that graduated eating its own in front of the World. In this case; on a video drama directed and produced by none other than root- eating Binyam Kebede run Ben Media Production.

Thinking of what Molla said — slashing and burning his old Tplf comrades before and his Ethiopian comrades now like there is no tomorrow and his latest tantrums on Etv reminded me his late boss Melse Zenawi’s shifty character to qualify him in the Hall-of-Shame of history.

The bigger question puzzling Ethiopians and the world is; what is TPLF/Woyane made of then and now? No one knows, not even Woyanes likeተኩላ Molla as he jump from bed-to-bed to figure out who he is and where he belongs —talk about self-induced confusion.

There is no foundation for Woyane to exist but, a foreign fairytale drifting with the wind. That is why Woyanes are so confused; holding on to a fairytale and confusing the rest of us while they are eating our roots.

That is why I wrote; The tale of TPLF fairytale regime of Ethiopia: From ethnic liberation to Federal banditry.
Here is an expert;

“It is rather baffling TPLF’s crimes are all around us but yet barrage of books, articles and news pieces are written and bogus institutions and Medias created to make the fairytale TPLF led regime looks real and acceptable. Whether they do it because they believe TPLF is a legitimate entity or simply to take advantage of the chaos it was empowered to create to divide-exploit the people and the nation is not clear. But one thing is abundantly clear for all; Ethiopians are under occupation of a confused mercenary like ethnic regime led by TPLF. If institutions, including Medias can’t see this reality, either they are as bogus as the fairytale regime –tangled up with their own petty interest or part-and-partial of TPLF willingly conspiring to commit crimes.”

I may have to write another article in line with; the tale of Molla’s fairytale: From Tigray people liberator to Ethiopian comedian. Quite honestly; Woyanes are so predictable I am tired of being right of their next move all the time. I wish I could be wrong just once to find any reason to think otherwise.

I tell you the secret of getting it right about Woyane, from that matter any root-eating drifter. I don’t believe a person that spent most of his existence as ethnic liberator and turn around to join the peoples’ movements without change of heart of he was wrong is trust worthy. ተኩላ Asigdom proved us that characteristics beyond a reasonable doubt.

ተኩላ Molla joined Tigray people liberation Front to liberate his ‘people’ from Ethiopia and Ethiopian people’s liberation movements to liberate his ‘people’ from tplf and back where he started in a span of a dozen year. He told us; Woyane hijacked the people’s democratic struggle to return back to his root-eating Woyane that got worse by 100%. He couldn’t even figure out yet who he is or where he belongs.

The last time I checked; the same ተኩላ Molla was celebrating the attack he inflected on Woyane before he abandoned Ethiopians. I am afraid he is going to show up in Washington DC with his frequent flyer ticket to claim; he is born-again Ethiopian again and the author of a book titled “My journey of confusion: a tale of an Ethiopian mercenary that discover his Ethiopia soul through Jesus”, just like Tamerat Lyane. Where these kinds of shifty character coming from, is the million dollar question many Ethiopians including me are puzzled to find out.

That is not the only sad but yet funny thing about the drama. The news spin of ተኩላ Molla’s defection brought more comedians with it. The reception of Molla by the ambulance chaser Ben (Binyam Kebede) of EthiopiaFirst is more hilarious than the defection. But, what amused me even more was the excitement of Medias in the diaspora — filling the front page of their website with report sourced from all sources Ben of EF to spine it out of proportion.

Let me take the two veterans Medias (Ethiopia Review and EthioMedia) that are supposedly independent taking side but, constantly oppose Patriotic-G7’s association with Eritrea-Shabia.

Ethiopia Review unapologetic reporting of personal nature sourcing anything available and plus, including its own sources and spins is common and predictable.

At the meantime, EthioMedia initially ignored the only report of the defection of ESAT’s breaking news and waited until Sudan Tribune report titled ‘Ethiopian renegade general flees to Sudan’ dated September 12 came out to change only the title to “TPDM leader, soldiers fight their way out of Eritrea into Sudan”

By the time Ben of EthiopiaFirst report the news of Molla’s defection from the port of entry the defectors showed up with a video clip; hell broke loss.

EM and ER filled their websites with Bens Videos with Molla addressing the gathering of what appeared to look alike defectors from Eritrea via Sudan with their arms; as if they were carrying personal belongings. Overnight, Molla showed up on ETV in Addis Ababa conference room dressed in suit confessing his sin, more so confessing Prof Berhanu’s sin that arrived in Eritrea not long ago.

The former ‘terrorist’ that showed up with his uniform and gear was not disarmed or didn’t go to jail but, showed up on ETV dressed up to ‘kill’ while our steamed Medias sing hallelujah putting their own spin.

In a span of three days the ‘terrorist’ ተኩላ Molla crossed three countries with his rapid defection force and reappeared on the one-and-only rapid Ben-CNN media addressing Tigray People’s Democratic Movement (TPDM) combatants in Amharic language in full gear waving his fist and deployed in Addis Ababa confessing. Talk about rapid defecting force we haven’t seen since Sadam Hussein Republican army defeacted.

My people, you can blame Woyane, or its rapid defecting cadre ተኩላ Molla or its rapid deploying Ben Media Production company all you want but, not the way they operate at the speed of light.

When whole drama was spinning my head, Medias that picked up the most trusted sources to the defection further threw me out of my couch laughing on the floor with amusement.

What we should ask is; why Medias are celebrating a criminal Woyane that bleed our people wherever he goes. What makes him a hero for running from the struggle? Better yet, what difference would it makes if a Woyane run anywhere?

That is not all; when Ben is running around ‘shooting’ videos everywhere to go after Patriotic -Ginbot 7 via Shaibia, a freelance cadre by the name Genenew Asefa is back– seating in his tplf communication office typing his heart s out.

The first part is out with a title ‘THE SHRILL CRY OF THE NAYSAYERS IN THE ETHIOPIAN DIASPORA (Part I of a III part commentary).

Here is some of what he wrote from his hiding.

“In an inverted vain, however, doomsdayer opposition websites continue to post speculations of an impending doom to the ruling party in Ethiopia by dint of AG-7’s huge military build-up in Africa’s epicenter of regional destabilization, alias, Living Hail! Not exactly an unwarranted designation, considering that thousands of Eritreans flee this nightmarish land in search of respite from unremitting torment of no parallel in the living memory of the first post-partition generation of Eritrea. Whereas, groves of core functionaries of outlawed extremist entities of all strands shuttle back and forth to Asmara to update themselves in cross-border terror and indiscriminate mayhem of innocent bystanders.

But for ESAT, arguably the most hatemongering media outlet on the planet, AG-7 leaders’ stealth fret to the garrison state of Eritrea constitute a milestone in the multi-pronged ”Operation Restore Hope ” in the “land of despair” called Ethiopia. A backlog of disinformation briefs seems to have been in stored lest the Asmara-backed “Freedom Struggle-” is ridiculed by skeptics as yet another tricky ploy to milk the gullible in the Ethiopian Diaspora. To dispel any such doubt ESAT could only scramble to vouch for AG-7’s resolve and readiness to lick the “pushover army of the ramshackle EPRDF government”. The very government, mind you, that, contra ESAT, world leaders, not least president Obama, publicly hail as a bastion of regional peace and a beacon in an African age of radical change, characterized by growth and transformation”

Think about it. The man never had official job in his entire life but freelancing for Woyane wherever he is needed like Ben the ambulance chaser does. His specialty is following Ethiopians in Diaspora to defend Woyane. G7 and ESAT via Shaibia is his only assignment given to him as we are witnessing. How else can Woyane get traction but blaming Shabia?

But, more than PG7; Woyane seems to be traumatized by ESAT. Everything tried to stop ESAT failed miserably. ተኩላ Asefa like ተኩላ Molla and ተኩላ Ben are deployed to undermine the struggle by way of Shaibia.

When ተኩላ Asefa said; “ESAT, arguably the most hatemongering media outlet on the planet, AG-7 leaders’ stealth fret to the garrison state of Eritrea constitute a milestone in the multi-pronged”Operation Restore Hope ” in the “land of despair” called Ethiopia. A backlog of disinformation briefs seems to have been in stored lest the Asmara-backed “Freedom Struggle-” is ridiculed by skeptics as yet another tricky ploy to milk the gullible in the Ethiopian Diaspora”
Quite honestly, I truly understood what Woyane is all about and the true meaning of a Banda when I read this drifter’s scribble. The little ተኩላ behind the big words unfortunately is a butler of TPLF with no meaningful influence besides being a barking dog to make himself important enough for a bigger assignment, how sad.

Personally, I never knew we Ethiopians are such beautiful people with deep love for each other and country until ESAT came on the air. Here; I am reading a drifter cadre telling me from his hiding ESAT is hatemongering but, TPLF’s Etv is love mongering? I said to myself; that’s what my people meant when they say ‘የቸገረው እርጉዝ ያገባል’ or ‘የአይጥ ምስክር ድንቢጥ’

I tell you, this ተኩላ is a different breed I never encountered before. But, wait until I finish up my write up to tell you where such shifty behavior originated. I assure you; it is foreign to Ethiopians.

Quite frankly, I don’t understand why Woyanes are freaking out. They were repeatedly told to surrender in peace. Now, they are crying when the war started. What is puzzling is why would someone provoke a war and cry endlessly for help?

Now, when I read the drifter ተኩላ Assefa claim –the world leaders, including Obama approval of Woyane; that explain why they don’t get it. What’s that got to do with Ethiopians?

Let’s be honest my people; Woyanes are in deep coma to listen to Ethiopians –the game is over. The delaying tactic –clipping videos and using big words isn’t going to help from surrendering power for democratic rule.

May be; if Woyane’s foreign masters said it in the language they understand they would be obedient to do the right thing.

But, if you ask me, the worst Ethiopian is one that believes; foreign approval is a badge of honor to wear. That explains what Woyane is all about.

The TPLF/EPRDF’s Political Journey and Current Challenges

Many Ethiopians welcomed the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) when it ousted the military junta led by Mengistu Hailemariam and assumed power in 1991 hoping that the new regime would bring democracy, rule of law and more importantly much needed peace that was evidently not present during much of the Derg era. The military dictatorship run a country that was ruined by civil war resulting in a weak economy and a fragile state in which people where fed up with the ongoing war with separatist movements of the Eritrean People’s Liberation Front (EPLF) and the Tigrayan People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) in the northern part of the country while tens of thousands of Ethiopians were massacred in major cities all over the country when the Derg unleashed a reign of terror against the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Party(EPRP) members calling it “Red Terror”.

Young Ethiopians from all walks of life were forced to join the military to fight in the never ending bitter war with secessionists in the north. The nation was in desperate need for peace and stability above all else after seventeen years of iron rule characterized by war and terror. The EPRP, the major opposition to the Derg at the time, was weakened by the regime’s ruthless actions and infighting leaving the rebels the only organized and armed alternative Ethiopians have to overthrow the Mengistu regime. Consequently, the TPLF and EPLF enjoyed massive support from the people as well as western aid as they struggled to advance and control the country. The two rebel groups that started as guerrilla movements seventeen and thirty years ago respectively, emerged as the victors eventually and the EPLF took over Eritrea while the TPLF controlled the rest of the country. In 1993, Eritrea was separated from Ethiopia and became an independent state under the EPLF led by Isaias Afewerki.

The TPLF had to find a way that appeals to the vast majority of Ethiopians besides its Tigrayan origin, which accounts for only six percent of the total population. Therefore, in 1989 a coalition consisting of the TPLF and the Ethiopian People’s Democratic Movement (EPDM) – that later was forced by the TPLF to change its name to Amhara National Democratic Movement (ANDM) was formed under the name the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF). Although EPDM was founded by former EPRP members that came from various ethnics groups in the country, it was not in harmony with the identity politics the TPLF was so adamant about thus it was forced to become an ethnic party claiming to represent the Amhara. As the coalition forces advanced towards Addis Ababa, one other ethnic based political party was created namely the Oromo Peoples’ Democratic Organization (OPDO), which consisted of captured Derg officers, just before the rebels controlled the nation’s capital. Finally, the Southern Ethiopian People’s Democratic Movement (SEPDM) was incorporated into the coalition after the EPRDF controlled Addis Ababa. These are puppet organizations that have no meaningful power and are used by the TPLF to run the country in the direction it desires as well as a deception tactic to convey the message that each ethnicity in the country is administered by representatives that belong to that specific ethnic group and that each political organization in the EPRDF has an equal status in the governance of the country. This, of course, is far away from the reality on the ground as the TPLF has an absolute control over all government and even some non-government institutions in the country including the army, security apparatus, police, court system, election board and even religious institutions in order to extend its rule.

The first few years under the new regime led a considerable number of Ethiopians to believe a positive change is taking place in their country although some well informed people were skeptical if not utterly opposed the front because its views and understanding of the Ethiopian state, that was anti-Ethiopian in nature, were propagated in its radio programs during the struggle against the Derg. Nonetheless, the EPRDF took some radical steps to change how the country was governed. For instance, it declared free market economy, allowed a relatively free press and introduced a new constitution that gave the people the power to elect its chosen leaders in a national election that will be held every five years.

The TPLF/EPRDF organized a transitional government while it controlled all government institutions already revealing that the transitional government is just a formality to gain international support until it solidifies its grip on power. Political oppositions, concerned individuals and groups, intellectuals and religious leaders did not have a say in the process. It was all a well orchestrated drama. The ruling party claimed to have won two consecutive national elections that were held after the transitional government period was over in 1995 and 2000 respectively. Ordinary Ethiopians were not interested in politics as much therefore the regime was able stay in power without any serious threat of public anger over rigged elections.

Then, the historic 2005 national election came. The ruling party underestimated the opposition and opened up the political space in a way that has never been attempted before. It allowed live televised debates, political opponents were relatively free to organize themselves and communicate their objectives to the public, journalists and bloggers were able to express their views without fear. All these contributed in increasing the political awareness of ordinary Ethiopians especially the youth. The major opposition at the time was the Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD) or Kinijit as it is popularly known in Amharic. Its leaders were highly educated, experienced and above all patriotic individuals who were able to win the hearts and minds of millions of Ethiopians. They clearly out-smarted their opponents at the televised debates using their in-depth knowledge and articulation on key issues such as national security, democracy, economic development, foreign policy, urban and rural development and so on. Ethiopians believed that the right leaders the country has been waiting for years have finally arrived. This was evident when millions of Kinjit supporters gathered at Meskel Square in support of the party just before Election Day. As a result, Kinijit convincingly and decisively won the 2005 national election in a landslide.

However, as expected, the ruling ethnic junta was not willing to accept the will of the Ethiopian people and step down. Instead, it rigged the election and declared itself as the victor using state-owned media. This in turn angered millions of Kinjit supporters and forced them to go out on the streets all over the country and protest the result. Meles Zenawi, ordered the army to use live ammunition over the protesters and over two hundred peaceful demonstrators were killed by security forces. This has been confirmed by a committee that was organized by the late PM himself to carry out an investigation over the use of excessive force by security forces during the public demonstration. Tens of thousands of Kinjit supporters were hunted down and jailed in which inhumane treatment and torture awaited them. The regime also rounded up all of the top leadership of Kinijit to kill the momentum for change. The hope of peaceful transition of power and instituting democracy was dashed and instead fear, terror and uncertainty reigned in the country. Even though Kinijit was not able to achieve its final objective which was to take over power and democratize the country in time, it was successful in showing the international community the brutal nature of the TPLF/EPRDF and revealing that there is no democracy in the country but only what political scientists call pseudo-democracy in which the ruling party calls itself democratic without allowing any meaningful opposition activity and free and fair election.

The next two general elections held in 2010 and 2015 were just a formality mainly to sustain western diplomatic and financial support. The ruling party won 99.6% in the former and it went on to improve its result to a 100% in the latter one. The idea of a 100% election victory was so absurd that even Susan Rice, US National Security Advisor to Obama, burst out laughing at a press conference when a journalist asked her if the president thinks it was a democratic election. Since the 2005 general election, the ruling party has intensified its repression over political parties especially on those that advocate Ethiopian nationalism, journalists, bloggers and practically anyone considered to be a threat to its power. The dictatorial regime introduced Ethiopia’s Anti-Terrorism Proclamation in August 2009 that is used as a tool to silence any political dissent against the ruling party in the name of fighting terrorism. A number of rights groups have condemned this law saying that it is utilized to stifle opposition voice including journalists, bloggers and activists instead of its stated purpose. The Unity for Democracy and Justice Party (UDJ) and the All Ethiopian Unity Party (AEUP) were both dismantled by the Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE), which is another institution to attack opposition parties, in January 2015 saying that the leadership of both parties was illegal. However, it is clear that these parties were dismantled because they were advocating Ethiopian nationalism which the TPLF/EPRDF is determined to eliminate from its inception, actively engaging the public, well organized with strong and effective leadership and had massive support from Ethiopians which painted a target at their back eventually leading to their demise.

This in a nutshell was the political landscape of Ethiopia since the ruling ethnic junta took over the country from the military dictatorship in 1991. It seems that the peaceful struggle at home has reached a dead end with several members of various opposition parties that follow a non violent form of struggle joining armed groups. The root cause of all the problems in Ethiopia is the TPLF/EPRDF’s complete inability to allow any meaningful democratic change in the country and this emanates from the ruling party’s politics of ethnic identity that views any opposition directed at the regime as enemy. The ethnic division in the country purposely instigated by the ruling ethnic junta for the past twenty fours has seriously threatened the unity and territorial integrity of the country. Rising cost of living that is going from bad to worse every year is making the lives of ordinary Ethiopians harder by the day. The rampant corruption is destroying the country causing an unimaginable difference in wealth between the rich and the poor. All these are factors that can lead to a public uprising leading to unintended consequences.

The key to avert imminent danger in the country is still in the hands of the ruling party. All what is needed is a genuine will to organize a national reconciliation process that includes all stakeholders to find a common ground and arrange to hold a free and fair election. This is the ideal alternative to solve the extremely complicated problem our country is facing. However, if the regime decides to keep the status quo, there will be, without a doubt, a third revolution in our country’s history. Therefore, the question that will shape Ethiopia’s political future is that will the TPLF/EPRDF choose fire or water? This will be answered in the actions of the ruling party in the near future.

Exposed: Forced evictions in Ethiopia – what the UK government tried to cover up

September 3, 2015

The UK government has tried to suppress evidence of gross human rights violations in Ethiopia’s Lower Omo Valley, such as the forced resettlement of the Bodi and other tribes.
© Nicola Bailey/ Survival, 2015

(Survival) The U.K. government tried to suppress evidence of gross human rights abuses in Ethiopia to appease the government there, a new investigation by Survival International, the global movement for tribal peoples’ rights, has revealed.

The key aid donors to Ethiopia, including the U.K.’s DFID, USAID and the European Union, sent two missions to the Lower Omo Valley in the south of the country in August 2014, to investigate whether tribes there were being forced off their land to make way for commercial plantations.

The U.K. authorities refused to release the missions’ reports under the Freedom of Information Act, saying their disclosure would significantly prejudice international relations. But Survival then appealed to the European Commission, which has released them.

The reports reveal:

– That the Ethiopian government has not obtained the consent of tribes of the Lower Omo to their resettlement;

– It has pressured and threatened them into leaving their lands – in some cases in fear for their lives;

– One tribal group told the donors, “before you come back next year, the government will come to kill and finish us”;

The reports of two donors missions to the Lower Omo Valley reveal that land grabs deny the tribes access to the river banks they need for cultivation.
© Survival

– That land grabs associated with large scale plantations deny the tribes access to ancestral grazing and farming lands on which they depend for survival, and to the river banks they need for cultivation;

– On the conditions in one resettlement site the report states, “Their situation during our visit was deplorable; the absence of sanitation means the villagers are suffering from diseases such as bloody diarrhoea, malaria and unspecified headaches … Despite the dire circumstances in [name redacted], residents say the Government does not allow this impoverished and vulnerable group to move
out”;

– Donor guidelines designed to ensure that resettlement complies with international law have been routinely ignored.

Survival International has been urging the international donors to freeze further aid to the Lower Omo Valley until the human rights abuses are stopped, but virtually no action has been taken. The U.K.’s 2014-15 aid budget to Ethiopia exceeds £360 million.

Survival’s Africa campaigner Elizabeth Hunter said today, “It took DFIDalmost two years to investigate allegations of serious human rights violations in the Lower Omo. The reports it desperately tried to prevent the British public from reading show just how far it will go to cover up gross human rights abuses carried out by a regime which receives hundreds of millions of pounds of UK taxpayers’ money. While entire tribes are subjected to violence, the destruction of their homes and livelihoods, and the theft of their land on a staggering scale, the UK government turns a blind eye in the name of political and economic expediency.”

Background:

Around 200,000 tribal people live in the Lower Omo. Many have suffered from brutal repression, forced relocation, and prejudice from a government that views them as “backward” and in need of “modernization.” One expert has warned that the loss of their land and resources will lead to a “humanitarian catastrophe,” and one of the mission reports warns that the influx of more than 500,000 workers into the area is “likely to significantly increase the risk of conflict.”

Survival has received reports that the Kwegu are starving following the construction of the Gibe III dam.
© Survival International, 2012

The central findings of the donor missions were covered up in a letter to the Ethiopian government, published in February 2015. The letter sanitised the reports’ conclusions to the extent that the Ethiopian press was able to claim that the donor missions had “found no evidence of people being forced to move for either resettlement for agricultural development projects in the areas they visited,” and that it “found none of the problems claimed by Survival International or Human Rights Watch and others …”

In March 2015, Survival received disturbing reports that many of the small Kwegu tribe are starving as a result of the destruction of their forest and the death of their river following the construction of the Gibe III dam and associated irrigation schemes.

The Standoff in Afar Region and the Arbiter from Mekele

PRESS RELEASE | Afar Revolutionary Democratic Unity Front (ARDUF)

Over the past one quarter century of its rule the TPLF mafia group has created a number of puppet organizations to represent various national groups in Ethiopia particularly in the so called backward regions of Somali, Ben Shangul, Gambela and Afar. But none is loyal to its masters in Mekele than the Afar regional leaders in Samara, as the regional capital is now known, none is glued as an appendix to TPLF than APDPA or ADE as it is known locally.

This particular relation between TPLF and ADE has its own reasons. Some are historical others are due to the fact that the Afar region occupies in long range strategy of the TPLF. This “QADE” mafia gang originally was part of TPLF itself. They brought them or assigned them into the power by TPLF to make the Afar politically unpredictable, economically weak and infrastructurally underdeveloped, and to impose Tigray ethnic hegemonic control forcibly over the Afar people. The three regional leaders who came with TPLF are Ismail Ali Sirro, Awal Seyoum and Mohamed Anbatta are still in power in the Afar region. One as President, one as Security Official and the third as speaker of the regional Parliament. The longest serving region leader Ismail Ali Sirro is already elected to the National House of Representatives. So by definition he is not liable any more to be President of the Afar region.

The current Executive Committee of the ruling Party (ADNP) has disgracefully failed to elect a new President for the region due to the deep political division and corruption caused by the outgoing puppet President Ismail Ali Sirro who claims that the Afar will be at each other’s throat if he quits. The fact is that the rampant corruption, bad governance, maladministration, discrimination and tribalism policies planted by TPLF in the puppet officials of the Afar region is going to put the Afar region into violent chaos and anarchy, but not because Ismail Ali Sirro is replaced. The Executive Committee left for Mekele as they do every time, they are not able to settle their differences. Every Afar official in Samara has his own lord in Mekele with whom he shares the money he pockets from his corrupt practices. The three puppets are afraid not to be accountable for their crimes, but one day they will have to face the reality. They want to make sure that their cronies are placed in their places. Recently, over a hundred innocent people are arbitrarily and unlawfully arrested in the Afar region because they protested against those practices.

Constitutionally, all federal regional states are equally accountable to the Federal Constitution, while the Afar Regional State is accountable to the Tigrai Regional State and it ruled from Mekele directly. Afar people have no say in deciding their own destiny. It is a fact that, corruption, famine, insecurity and instability which are currently facing the Afar is directly linked to the climate of unethical, unskilled and inexperienced leadership inability of the so called Afar Democratic National Party (ADNP). While the whole Ethiopia and probably the world is worried about the hunger and starvation which killing both the livestock and human beings in the Afar region, the regional officials are in standoff as they were not able to elect the Executive Committee.

They are waiting an arbiter from Mekele to arrive. The Afar were denied their fundamental right to vote for and elect their representatives and leaders. They are no exception in today’s Ethiopia. That is they have to fight together with the rest of the Ethiopians to dismantle this apartheid regime that has denied them their basic civil and democratic rights.