Viewpoint

Meles-Bereket pathetic strategy towards Tigrians



Having lost the public debate and the vote at polling stations Meles Zenawi, Addisu and Berket have retreated in to scare mongering tactics against the people of Tigray. They claim that darkness will descend upon the people of Tigray the day they lose power. Taking this propaganda at face value some cadres have written a lot to make the people of Tigray an instrument for Meles?s cynical agenda.
The question we need to ask is why are they doing this? Is there a real threat to Tigreans or is it a cynical move to cling onto power at the expense besieging Tigreans?

FIRST, IS IT TRUE?

The truth is, EPRDF leaders, who were in power for the last 14 years are losing their seats and power. They are beaten fair and square even by peasants, who had no political experience or modern education. Those losers are bitter; that is why they have to call the army to kill kids.


The question we need to ask ourselves is, how come a coalition of political parties that constitute leaders from Ras Mengesh Seyoum, Honorary President of UEDF, to Dr. Hailu Araya, Vice President of UEDP and Argeawi Berhe founder and leader of UEDF can be part of anti-Tigrian group who are allegedly bent on killing Tigreans? Do we believe Berket?s propaganda?

How come a truly multi-ethnic organisation that challenged EPRDF from Adigrat polling station to Moyale can attack its own supports? Do we believe that too? Can?t we look at the names and calibre of candidates represented CUD and UEDF in Tigray, Amhara, Oromia, South, Afar, Benshangol etc.
http://www.electionsethiopia.org/Election%20Results.html

So why are they spreading this convoluted and irresponsible propaganda? Is it for the love of Tigreans or is it to stay on power at the expense of Tigreans.

Do we believe a coalition of forces that reflect the beauty and diversity of the Ethiopia people would single out its own members and supporters to committee interhawe?

It sad to see EPRDF sink to this level and distribute papers calling others to rise up against Tigreans to make them feel insecure so that they could rally behind failing organisation. What if some fools start believing this evil propaganda? Does it worth such evil plan to keep Berket Simon and Addisu Legess on power, who are already rejected at the polling station? This is the most shameful crime committed by Meles, Addisu and Berket against Tigreans.

There is no doubt the people of Tigray know how vicious Meles can be. And they know that Meles is desperate. Above all they also know that the Tigrean would benefit from a democratically elected civilian government.

THE DANGER AHEAD

If Meles and Berket allowed staying on power through violence and scare tactics they will be tyrant for life. No one will be spared. Soon they will turn their gun on its members and supporters. God forbid, the same killing could happen if the residences of Mekele or Adigrat come out to protest against hading of Bademe to Shabbia.

Implication of this indiscriminate killing in Addis Ababa has far reaching consequence. That is why we need to stand together to oppose it. It is a thin end of a wage. If we let them get away with it we would pay the price.
As German clergyman said during the Hitler regime: “First the Nazis went after the Communists. I did not speak out because I was not a Communist. Then they went after the Jews. I did not speak out because I wasn’t Jewish. Then they went after the trade unionists. I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist. Then they went after the Catholics. I did not speak out because I am Protestant. Then they came after me. By that time, there was no one left to speak out for me.”
Simply put, if it’s not safe to hand over our liberty to Meles and Berket thinking that we are safe.

RECORDS OF MELESE AND BEREKET ON ISSUES THAT MATTER TO TIGRAY

How come Berket and Meles, who signed away Badema and many part of Irob to Shabbia and jailed those who opposed these treacherous acts, can be considered as the guardian angels of the people of Tigray? Are we missing something?

The funny thing about this propaganda is, it is Addisu Legesse and Bereket Simon, the leaders of Amhara National Democratic Movement, who are saying the people of Tigray are in danger. It is not President of Tigray or TPLF official.

So far no self respecting Tigrian from inside or outside the country shared these doom and gloom prediction. As a matter of fact almost all prominent Tigreans and organisations have called the people of Tigrean to vote for the opposition and reject Meles. Some have gone as far as calling the army to remove Meles from power. This is because they know that Tigreans benefit from democratisation of Ethiopia.

What Berket and Meles want is unquestioning militia; a militia that would guard their gates 24hrs a day and help them to rule through violence. Simply they want terrified slaves who are ready to kill or die to keep them in power.

In the past they have used the same scare and appease tactics against Tigreans youth to realise the independence of Eritrea. We all remember a comparison of ?gold? and ?rug? between people of Tigray and the rest of Ethiopians. But when it comes to the real issue they have always sided with Shabbia to the commit treason.

OPPOSITION VERSUS EPRDF ON THE QUESTION OF BADEME


Meles and Issyas wanted Tigray to be buffer zone for independent of Eritrea. But, in a twisted way, the Shabbia invasion and indiscriminate bombardment of Tigray has broken the barrier built by Meles. Ethiopians are united once again. Not only that this tragic war has revealed who has the best interest of the people of Tigray at heart.

When it comes to defending Tigray from Shabbia invasion, Berket and Melese were nowhere to be counted. It is the poor Ethiopians who marched to Bademe to give more 70,000 lives and defend Tigray from indiscriminate bombardment and invasion. Even those former Army officers who were humiliated in the hands of EPRDF/Shabbia did not hesitate to go and give their lives.

Unfortunately a victory achieved through sacrifice of 70,000 people has been passed to Shabbia through Algiers agreement. That is why we need to stop and ask how come Berket and Melese can claim to be defendant of Tigrian?

IF MELES STAYS

If Melse stays in power Bademe and Irob will become History. EPLF will crawl back in Addis to provide protection to Meles and Berket. They will control the power once again to unleash their revenge.

If Melese and Bereket cling on to power through deception the Hague ruling will be implemented with consequence of displacing hundred thousands of residence of Irob and Bademe. The army that Meles is commanding to kill civilians will be dismantled to open the gate for Shabbia influence.
God forbid, if the residence of Irob or Badme refuse to move or try to protest, the same army will be sent to put bullets through their heads.

We all know dictators have no friends. What has been done in Addis Ababa on June 8 would be repeated somewhere again.

That is why May election is monumental in Ethiopian history. It was a referendum on the Algiers agreement and democracy in Ethiopia and we have to fight for it.

BADEME AND THE OPPOSITION

Contrary to Meles?s betrayal at the Hauge Court, EDP (now CUD) collected more than 140,000 petitions against Algiers agreement to hand it to the UN. This is done to show the world that Meles does not represent the people in Ethiopia.

Once again it is the opposition who shot down Meles?s five points plan to hand over Bademe to Shabbia.

It is also to be remembered that EDP has tried to break TPLF iron grip in Tigray by calling the first opposition meeting in Mekele This meeting has shown to the whole country that the wishes and aspiration of the Tigrians is not different from the rest of the country. EDP (CUD) as a party did not only break the barrier but also dismantled the prejudice created through misinformation.

It is regrettable the opposition did not succeed breaking a Stalinist system of Meles in Tigray on this election but it comforting to know that many brave Tigreans have risked everything by representing CUD and UEDF. The seed is already there and it needs watering to make it a success in coming local election in 6 months time.

Melese and Bereket are attacking these parties because they are threat to their grip of Tigray. They know that it is a question of time before their Stalinist system is dismantled in Tigray.

CUD and UEDF: ARE THEY TRULLY MULTI-ETHNIC?

A truly multi-ethnic organisation like CUD that swept EPRDF from north to South cannot be anti-this or that group. The people from all ethnic groups have come in unison to support CUD and UEDF because it reflected Ethiopia?s beauty and diversity. One needs to see the names of CUD/UEDF candidate who stood against EPRDF from Adigrat to Moyale. That what makes the scare tactics of Bereket and Addisu so pathetic.

YOUTH: EPRDF’S FAILED SOCIAL EXPERIMENT

The problem with EPRDF leaders is they are many years behind the Ethiopian people.
Those students who are shot and killed on June 6-8 were babies when EPRDF took power. They were thought and raised under EPRDF?s ethnic educational policy. They know nothing about the Emperor or the Durge. But they know what EPRDF is? They rejected it for what it!

Those kids who started school 14 years ago are now 2nd year university students. It is those kids who are rejecting and rebelling against OPDO, TPLF and ANDM etc.

That is why I say the time for Meles and Berket rule is over.

EPRDF: THE ONLY PATH TO RECOVERY

EPRDF leaders do not listen but that doesn?t stop me from sharing my mind. EPRDF as opposition party has a chance to contribute a lot for democratisation of Ethiopia. To achieve that it need to take the following measures.

1. Stop the killing and intimidation. Durge survived in totally different time and history. It survived when Ethiopian intellectuals and society were at each other throats. Now it is a different era. Any killing will increase the resolve of the people to rise up together and cause unprecedented damage. So stop the killing, stop the intimidation to join the public to become part of Ethiopian history. Instead try to take the credit by respecting people vote and creating a necessary environment for peaceful transition of power. Anything else is a disaster for EPRDF.

2. Stop treating people like morons. Respect the people. Stop spreading rumours and papers. People instinctively know who is behind it.

3. Declare the Algiers Agreement to be null and void before it is too late. It doesn?t matter where the Oromia Adminstation seats, but Irob is a different matter. Of course, it won?t happen because we all know where the loyalty of Meles and Berket loyalty lies. Is it with Eritrea or Tigray?

4. Leave Tigray alone. The people deserve better. Tigray should not be a militia recruiting ground for Meles and Berket. We all remember what Meles said when Tigrans were deported from Asmera.

5. Above all accept the votes of millions of Ethiopians. The people have spoken.

Then together we can open a new chapter in Ethiopia. Any attempt to divide and rule through scare is bound to fail.


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