Since then gangsters of the TPLF politburo have unleashed forces of repression against opposition parties, the private media, civil societies, university and high school students and ordinary citizens in all walks of life. They have intensified their acts of repression to stifle democratic aspirations of the people with overt and covert support from western governments.

At this time of remembrance of the fallen compatriots it is perhaps heartening to recall similar events from the pages of history of other nations so as to affirm our convictions on the futility of TPLF’s repression. The aspirations of the Ethiopian people for liberty, prosperity and democratic governance are irrepressible. It may take long and many setbacks might have to be encountered before the aspirations materialise; but materialise they will. The Amritsar Massacre which happened over 80 years ago illustrates the point:

The Amritsar Massacre

On 13 April 1919 a British general ordered Indian soldiers under his command to open fire on a crowd gathered in an enclosed garden in central Amritsar to celebrate a Sikh holiday. Though there was a ban on public gathering at the time thousands who came from the countryside to attend the occasion were unaware of the ban. Hundreds of unarmed men, women and children were massacred including a six week old baby. Over a thousand people were wounded. The butcher of these civilian protesters, Major-General Reginald Dyer, then reported to his superiors how he was confronted by a revolutionary army, and how he was obliged to give a moral lesson to the Punjab, the region where the massacre took place. For his callous act his superiors commended him. At his request a martial law was also imposed over the Punjab which caused further suffering as its curfew obstructed possibilities to tend to the wounded.

In a subsequent commission of inquiry the general admitted that he could have dispersed the crowd without firing. Also he could have stopped the shooting when the crowd began to disperse. But that, he considered, would have made him look like a fool. In other words only a blood bath would do to satisfy honor and imperial duty.

Party at Sheraton, Blood in The Street * * * * On Wednesday the 8th of June, 2005, when the security forces were busy mowing down unarmed civilians upon the direct orders of Meles Zenawi, there was a family party at Sheraton Addis. Meles Zenawi and his loyal government and Addis Ababa University officials were rejoicing over the high school graduation of the prime minister’s daughter. The struggle to oust one of Africa’s most ruthless tyrants continues. Concerned citizen Addis Ababa.

However, far from producing submissive colonial subjects, the massacre, stirred deep anger and the feeling of resistance in the people of India. A movement for freedom was born in Punjab which led to the non-cooperative movement against the British. In effect the massacre became a catalyst for the Indian independence movement which eventually ended the British rule over the subcontinent, making the event the beginning of the end of her empire. In addition to losing her empire Britain was left with a sense of shame, not to mention the enduring legacy of bitterness she managed to implant in the hearts of millions of Indians.

On 8 June 2005 a murderous special force known as Agazi executed the orders of Meles Zenawi by shooting dozens of unarmed civilians in the streets of Addis Ababa. The peaceful protest may well have been manipulated to deteriorate into a disorderly mob by TPLF stooges (a common practice of the diabolically malevolent organisation) to retaliate with a preemptive carnage, a carnage intended to terrorize the nation into silence. Meles and his henchmen called the victims armed bank robbers and insurrectionists. TPLF may reward its trained assassins as heroes, but we know them to be pathetic petty criminals. Posterity will prove that those who protested against the ruling party’s ballot rigging were brave souls. They stood in defiance of a government armed to the teeth. They stood to exercise their rights even when they knew TPLF’s sham constitution will not protect them from the blood thirsty Agazi. For millions of citizens whose votes were stolen those who died and maimed in June and November, are true heroes, like the countless others victims of the regime over the last 15 years.

In keeping with the effects of the massacre in Amritsar the June and November massacres in Addis Ababa have helped to dispel any illusions that people have about the nature of the TPLF and its murderous politburo gangsters. The cowardly acts of Meles Zenawi and Co. have consolidated Ethiopians resolve to resist TPLF until a pluralist democratic system is established in our ancient land. Ethnic apartheid will go to its grave; and the heinous crimes of the TPLF gangsters will be accounted for. It is just a matter of time.