There are some revered ideologies that I believe
should be respected both by the ruling party and the opposition camp -
Ideologies that were founded by the blood of our veterans. I feel that
sometimes, he and his colleagues are breaching them. That’s why I am opposing
them, as well as I do oppose the ruling party. Not out of hatred or out of any
personal grudge - But merely out of genuine social concern.
However,
Physical attack is by any means intolerable, unbearable and unendurable. Even
if Arena officials committed a serious crime, no one has the right to attack
them physically - even the police have none! The police can only arrest them,
detain them legally. Only the law can punish them if they committed any legally
punishable crimes not individuals. Never ever!
If peaceful
opposition figures can be attacked on a broad daylight, then our 17 years
bitter struggle is totally hijacked. Our fathers, mothers, sisters, brothers,
uncles, aunts...have died for nothing! They didn't die for equality and
justice. They didn’t die to liberate Tigray and its atrociously oppressed
and manipulated people. They didn't die a heroic death; rather they died a dog's death.
If Abraha and his colleagues were really physically
attacked, I don’t consider it as an attack of three individuals. Our justice
system is severely attacked. It was a brutality against our 17 years revolution.
It was a tramp down over the graves of our heroes and heroines. It was not your
right that was aggressed; rather the right of the people of Tigray. I was
attacked! Tigray was attacked. It was a serious blow on the head of TPLF as
well.
TPLF must say sorry officially. Even if those who
attacked Arena officials are not related to TPLF by any means, the party is
still responsible for not protecting those (Arena officials). The police are
there to protect public safety. The main task of the party is to protect the wale
fare of citizens. If the rights of citizens are breached on broad day light,
the regional government isn’t doing what it is supposed to do.
What has gone wrong with TPLF? Where have the deep
rooted principles of TPLF veterans gone? Even during the struggle, attacking sundered
Dergue soldiers was forbidden, let alone peaceful opposition figures. TPLF
fighters were well known for giving the highest priority to human dignity -
Even when their very life was at risk.
Dergue soldiers were non hesitant to give in to TPLF
fighters; knowing that their life could never be endangered in the hands of
TPLF fighters. It was common for a single Dergue soldier to give in more than
three times during the struggle. That was how TPLF made devoted friends out of
sworn enemies. That was how TPLF defeated EDU, EPRP, Jebha and Dergue - All of
them one after the other. That was one of the reasons why TPLF came out a
shining victorious.
So, where have our heroes and heroines gone? Who took
their humility, their respect for all including enemies, their politeness but
strong arguments, their unshakable stand (even during war times and while battling
with their enemies) towards human dignity? Where is their selfless generosity?
Where have my fighters gone? All buried with them in the gorges, fields and
mountains of Tigray?
I missed them like anything else. I missed them so
much. I missed their calling me “Manjus” – baby, putting me on their laps while
feeding me bread and tea(their breakfast share!), calling my mom “Adey” -
mother, calling my father “Aboy” – father. They way they used to call us were different.
They smile genuinely; they struck your heart with some kind of unique
affection. I had no idea the weapon they used to carry could now be directed
towards civilians.
No! They were meant to wipe away our tears, to
heal our incurable scars, to comfort particularly the grieving Tigrayan and
Ethiopian mothers as a whole.That’s why I fume when anyone speaks ill of them.
That’s why I revered them and always miss them so much.
I missed their uncombed Afro, I missed their unshaven beard, I missed their tight shorts. All of them were true indications
of their bravery, ingenuity and genuinely selfless freedom fighter hood.
I missed the way they dress. Their “Gembale”, their “Kushuf”
– jersey. Wow! They used to look like angels my granny used to tell me about.
They have never been outlaws. They were liberators indeed. Where have they all
gone now? The attacks now I heard about, the injustices, corruption, and mal
administration now being committed are, I think, being committed against them.
Therefore, I can take the attack against Arena
officials was meant to keep TPLF in power. It is rather a war waged to overthrow
the party. In fact not only against TPLF but also against the bed rock of principles
our veterans fought for 17 years. It was a war against all of us.
