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The threat of Tigrean Nationalism

Posted on , Updated on by Elias Kifle

By Kallacha Dubbi

In my previous writing entitled “TPLF and Tigrean Identity Politics” dated May 25, 2007, I expressed a view that Tigrean nationalism is overtly discriminatory, and it is therefore distinguished by negative manifestations of the Ethiopian integrative power. Instead of uniting multi-ethnic Ethiopia, the Tigrean Peoples Liberation Front (TPLF) leadership has antagonized them, and as such, it has excluded even Tigreans from mainstream Ethiopian political discourse. In this follow up, necessitated by email feedbacks I received, I intend to provide some evidence without encumbering the reader with too much detail that such data would otherwise require.

My previous argument leads to a conclusion that the negative identity formation in which a group (TPLF) defines itself and also others in terms of what it is not, according to a famous sociologist, tends to lead into a “pathological situation of internal violence.” This has occurred on a large scale in the Balkans, Sri Lanka, or the Middle East. The situation in Ethiopia is an even more fitting example with acutely rising consequences. Tigrean discrimination ignores individual merits based on the victim’s ethnic background, and this serves as a stifling factor for development, killing ideas in a poor country that requires mobilizing all its brain capacities to get rid of the ravaging poverty.

My previous view also suggests that Tigrean discrimination has paradoxically played a very important role of coalescing the discriminated people, pulling together victims who share the same abuse to a united powerhouse capable of undermining or perhaps even toppling the discriminator. Oromos, Somalis, Sidamas, and Amharas, etc. are united in wanting to dethrone the TPLF. In other words, even a negative integration, integration that is achieved for a reason of shared abuse – threats, hatred, tortures, arrests, and killings is integration of some sort. This natural coalition of the oppressed is as strong as it can effectively resist political opportunism as well as TPLF’s corruptive infiltration. There is tangible evidence, that creation of a country-wide united national opposition front to this Tigrean domination is targeted by infiltrators from the TPLF dominated regime. But the creation of a broad-based unity has its own weak points that expose it to such manipulations.

The weakest link

The Ethiopian political intolerance, exceptionally violent and intense in its makeup, is nourished by delusional tradition that borders with compulsive disorder. By and large, it assumes that every human being with opposing opinion, every political group with a dissenting view, is an enemy. This intolerance characterizes the individual activist’s manner so profoundly, that one can observe its manifestations in coffee bar debates, at community gatherings, and even at scholarly meetings. This is in major part the legacy of the Ethiopian Peoples Revolutionary Party (EPRP), the weakest link in the creation of a broad-based opposition against Tigrean domination, i.e., a hazard for political progress in the country.

In a familiarly condescending tone whose authorship must have a thing or two to do with EPRP mentality, one wrote, ‘The theory of the nation which decomposes Ethiopia by weaving the myths (emphasis mine) of Tigreanism, Eritreanism, Oromoism and so on goes counter to the core experience of the people…’

After reclaiming Eritrea and replacing the well established Ethiopian myth with his own, the author attempts to guard the mythical ‘framework’ by delivering another punch to its contents: “There can be no compromise on the Ethiopian and African framework for citizen expression and engagement.”

The author forces all the Ethiopian cultural and ethnic diversities to either become Ethiopians or Africans of his personal definition of certainly chauvinistic preeminence, or face a wrath of his verdict and imagination — no compromise, we are told in no uncertain terms.

So, vaguely articulated malice of EPRP’s ideology still permeates through the deeds and words of the now senior or middle-aged activists who commenced politics in the 70s as infantile children. Their politics never stopped growing, but it grew crook!

In the 1970s, in a bizarre combination of feudal tradition with Marxism, the EPRP offered nothing else to the Ethiopian political roundtable other than winning by killing or dying, even when in its opposition stood a well-armed national army pronouncing its sure demise.

There was no compromise then as now. Blinded by emotional ambition, traits of which are still glaring among its rank and file, the children were too young to fathom the essence of a military balance and too confused to comprehend the impact of a generation’s death.

The military junta was driven insane by their obnoxious and unflinching ambition, and as a result, the junta passed a collective death verdict on the generation.

This in part allowed the military to keep political power for one more decade, leaving behind a scar of historical magnitude.

In this sense, the EPRP and the TPLF have little to distinguish them from Khmer Rouge, except that the TPLF, also a teen army that grew to power without growing to the society, is now terrorizing Ethiopia whereas the EPRP resides in old Diaspora minds as a political paranoia. They do share concealed hate and love for each other; they can’t go against each other, they can’t go for each other either. It is sad to see that neither the politics nor the social evolution of the last thirty years offered any cure to the survivors of the lost generation of Ethiopia that continue diffusing discord throughout all the political establishments of the region.

There is little doubt that most of the destructive vectors and inward fighters in all political fronts and organizations can be traced to this futile ideology in a resistive or adaptive form. Their relentless propaganda for the unity of Ethiopia, on one hand, and equally relentless objection to the unity of Oromos, Amharas, Somalis etc. when not on their own sadistic terms on the other, their objection to the very idea of the Alliance for Freedom and Democracy (AFD), is a synopsis of their fixation on winning, with extremely poor judgment of their capacity that would enable them to win. By betraying its own mission and stated goals, the EPRP is acclaimed to be the weakest link of the Ethiopian political opposition against Tigrean domination, and therefore the creation of a better tomorrow for the region.

TPLF’s Strength

Facing a disgruntled Ethiopian opposition forces is the TPLF, an organization that has an exceptional talent in further disgruntling opposition forces. The TPLF has two strong suits that link it to the Ethiopian political power and shape its capacity to destabilize the opposition. They are: a) military, and b) economy.

The military

Strictly speaking, the Ethiopian armed forces are Tigrean no less than the TPLF is Tigrean. The following list makes this argument abundantly clear.

Ministry of Defense

* Commander of Ethiopian armed forces – Melles Zenawi (Tigrean)

* Defense Minister is a non-Tigrean, but this position is constitutionally manned by a civilian, not a military person

* Chief of Staff – Samora (Mohamed) Yunis (Tigrean)

* Department of Training – Major General Taddese Wored- (Tigrean)

* Department of Logistics and Administration – Major General Gezahi Abera – (Tigrean)

* Department of Operations – Brigadier General Gebrzgiabher Mebrhatu (Tigrean)

* Department of Military Intelligence- Brigadier General Yohannes (John) Gebre Meskel – (Tigrean) …. Recently appointed as Deputy Commander of Central Command. This Department will also be commanded by head of operations Brigadier General Gebrezgiabher Mebrhatu (Tigrean).

* Commander of the Air Force – Brigadier Molla H. Mariam (Tigirean)

Under the Ministry of Defense there are 5 Ethiopian Army Commanders.

* Northern Command (HQ Mekele) – Major General Seare Mekonnen (Tigrean)

* North Western Command (HQ Baher Dar) – Brigadier General Abraham Gebre Mariam (Tigrean)

* Special Army Command (HQ Dessie-Bure Front) – Birgadier General Teklai Ashebir (Tigrean)

* South Eastern Army Command (HQ Harar) – Brigadier General Seyum Hagos (Tigrean)

* Central Army Command (HQ Shire Indasilassie) – Major General Taddese Wored (Tigirean – Agaw). Recently, Brigadier General Yohannes G. Meskel also Tigrean.

The Ministry of Defense has 28 Division Commanders.

* All but one are Tigreans

Division Commands have 106 Regiments.

* 98% of the Regiment Commanders are Tigireans

It can be safely argued therefore, that there is no Ethiopian national army but Tigrean.

b) The economy: The Ethiopian economy is controlled by two large conglomerates:

l The Endowment Fund for the Rehabilitation of Tigray (EFFORT)

l The Ethio-Saudi AI-Amudi-family – Midroc Ethiopia

Of interest to my ongoing argument is EFFORT. We will return to Midroc at another opportune time.

In 1978, the TPLF created the Relief Society of Tigray (REST), a financial umbrella organization of the TPLF which acted as an NGO despite headed by a TPLF Central Committee member. It collected donations from the international community and channeled it to the TPLF, playing a key role in the survival and ultimate victory of TPLF over the Derg.

After the rise of the TPLF to power in 1991, REST was formally registered with the governmental Relief & Rehabilitation Commission in Ethiopia as an NGO. As the TPLF’s financial backbone, it continued enjoying the state protection, and the restructured organization emerged as the richest “NGO” in the continent. In the summer of 1995, about four years after it took control of central power in Ethiopia, the TPLF established a stronger peer for REST – the Endowment Fund for the Rehabilitation of Tigray (EFFORT). Sources suggest that EFFORT started its business venture with a lofty investment volume of about 2.7 billion birr — then just under US $1 billion (currently $1 US is about 9 birr).

Through EFFORT, the TPLF has considerably diversified its economic activities and expanded its outreach even to foreign countries. The European financial maneuver of the TPLF is based in UK where family members are trained and placed in key areas of Ethiopia’s financial institutions. In some cases, they are assigned to a now growing number of internationalized affiliates co-owned or owned by EFFORT, such as the Tower Trading Company (TTC) – a London-based TPLF owned company mandated with money laundering.

New companies continue to emerge, fully or partly owned by EFFORT through an intricate system of shares and investments. By controlling key growth areas, EFFORT has become the soul of the country’s economy: agriculture (Hiwot Mechanized Agriculture), industry (Almeda Textiles Manufacturing Sc., Mesfin Industrial Engineering SC.), import-export (Guna Trading House), transport (Trans-Ethiopia SC.), insurance (Africa Insurance SC.), mining (Meskerem Investment SC.), communications (Mega-Net Corporation), banking (Wegagen Bank), just to mention some. Clearly, TPLF’s business enterprises cover numerous activities including textile, chemicals, pharmaceutical, and food industries. They also cover major service industries such as banking, insurance, transportation, printing, advertising, land developing, import/export, construction, mining, leather products, and farming.

EFFORT is divided into several sectors directed by members of the TPLF Central Committee, like Abadi Zemo for industrial activities, Arkebe Oqubay Mitiku for construction and transportation, and Tewodros Hagos for mining. The individuals may be moved around, but no non-Tigrean is appointed to EFFORT. In fact, no non-TPLF Tigrean is appointed to the ranks of EFFORT. Strategic positions of the Federal government that generate large amounts of cash are also led by Tigreans of EFFORT who hold multiple offices. For example, Foreign Minister Seyoum Mesfin is chairman of Ethiopian Air Lines, chairman of the Mugher Cement Factory, chairman of the Ambo Water Factory, chairman of EFFORT, and deputy-chairman of the TPLF at the same time. The more trusted individuals are usually offered the more strategic positions.

Although EFFORT is strictly controlled by the TPLF, it is not the only entity owned or controlled by high-ranking TPLF officials or favored Tigrean citizens. For example, although EFFORT controls WEGAGEN Bank, the TPLF encouraged the creation of DEDEBIT Credit and Savings Institution, headquartered in Meqele and administered by the local government of Tigray. The bank has numerous financial links with other TPLF controlled businesses of the country. DEDEBIT, as an extension of Rural Credit Program, acquired a near total monopoly over credit to rural areas, mostly farmers. The financial monopoly over rural Ethiopia has serious political ramifications. In the early 2000s, the main source of the bank was interest from fertilizer. Farmers were identified, registered, and forced to make a down payment of 25% on the price for the amount of fertilizer. The Bank estimated the amount of fertilizer the farmer supposedly needed. A credit agreement was written with each farmer, and after six months, the bank collected the debt from the farmers with 15% interest.

Business in Tigray is completely closed to non-Tigreans, and all walks of Tigrean businesses are exclusively owned by EFFORT or the local Tigrean government. For example, the trading company GUNA has a near monopoly in sesame and incense wholesale in Tigray whereas TRANS Ethiopia carries all goods designated as relief.

The TPLF also benefits EFFORT by ordering free transfer of funds from government accounts, often under a bogus claim of services that TPLF institutions offered to the public. It allows free flow of goods in the name of EFFORT, without customs and taxes, but EFFORT is allowed to compete with for-profit businesses of the country through its tentacle bureaus. Thus, Moseb Cement factory was built with public expenditure at a cost of 1.5 billion birr, and a Textile factory in Adwa at 1.2 billion. However, the incomes from these public investments are fully controlled by the TPLF through EFFORT.

EFFORT also makes extensive use of the credit opportunities offered by the state-owned Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CBE) and other financial institutions controlled by the government. The generous provision of credits by CBE to EFFORT is clearly politically influenced and based upon directives issued by the TPLF controlled government of Ethiopia. When EFFORT defaults in the payment of loans CBE provides relieving credit, obviously upon directives from the Ethiopian government. In some cases, millions of birr loans obtained by EFFORT are unlawfully delayed or even cancelled. In a widely publicized case a few years ago, the Vice-Governor of CBE overruled an earlier decision by the credit department of CBE not to grant 40 million birr credit to SUR Construction, a subsidiary of EFFORT. There is no way escaping the conclusion that the loan was made possible by political intervention from the TPLF regime.

As an almost sole beneficiary of state contracts, EFFORT’s income continues to grow exponentially. For example, during the Ethio-Eritrean war, EFFORT became the financial wing of the war. MESFIN Engineering supplied water, fuel, and vehicles. TRANS-Ethiopia supplied trucks, and SELAM Bus was in charge of transporting militia. The income from the war propelled these companies to powerful monopolies of the country in their respective business domains.

EFFORT has now become a self-contained economic state operating on the call of the official government, formally serving the personal appetite of state officials, a phenomena witnessed nowhere in the world. Its assets are protected federally, and its under-the-table contracts are enforced by TPLF’s iron fisted militias. It has a favored access to government as well as to foreign aid contracts with profitable niches, dominating joint ventures with domestic and foreign investors. One of the strategic alliances is with Amoudi’s Midroc which supplies the TPLF with billions of birr through investments. Midroc buys natural resources of the South including gold and other precious stones from the TPLF with cash, and service contracts at these sites go back to EFFORT.

At a policy level, the Financial Sector Steering Committee (FSSC) serves as an umbrella institute for justification of fund transfers, creating the legal framework for supporting even poorly performing EFFORT auxiliaries, or channeling funds to the Ethiopian Peoples Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) cash institutes. EPRDF is a bogus amalgam of Fronts populated with non-Tigrean renegades, created and dominated by the TPLF. FSSC defines policies and strategies for banks, appoints board of directors and executives for the banks, and routinely monitors their operations. Thus, the FSSC oversees all government banks, and has full power over their activities. Prime Minister Meles Zenawi chairs this committee. It is a public knowledge that he personally mandated EPRDF companies: Guna, Ambassael, Dinsho, and Wando to take over the sugar company when the plant was privatized. Interestingly Ato Sebhat who owns Guna, Ato Bereket who owns Ambassel, Ato Girma who owns Dinsho, and Ato Kassu who owns Wando are members of FSSC, and some of these same individuals seat on the Board of CBE that financed these companies. As a result, all privately owned enterprises competing for the privatization of the plant, Star, Abeba co. etc. were shut out of the competition.

The EFFORT companies are reported to owe billions of birr to Ethiopian banks. In fact, most of the EFFORT companies would not survive without government protection. In one case, CBE, the Construction and Business Bank, and the Ethiopian Development Bank collectively loaned 1.7 billion birr to EFFORT. According to insiders, the loan has not been paid to date. The 1.7 billion birr was distributed to Adigrat Pharmaceutical Factory, Adwa Textile Factory, Dashen Brewery, and Mesebo Cement Factory. These and other EFFORT or EPRDF affiliates including TESCO, Tikure Abay, Dansho Transport are constantly in deep financial crisis.

Although the main focus of this paper is private business ventures of the TPLF, it must be noted that Tigray, the TPLF’s home region has inequitably benefited from federal funds. For example, a recently published paper presents comparative welfare analysis of four Ethiopian regions: Oromia, Amhara, Southern States, and Tigray. A 2001/2002 data of these regions shows that 42% of children in Tigray are fully vaccinated, where as the percentage is – 10% for Oromia, 15% for Amhara, and 11% for Southern States. Population to physician ratio is 28,600 for Tigray. This jumps to 60,800 for Oromia,, 60,700 for Amhara, and 44,000 for Southern States. Secondary education enrollment for Tigray is about 25% (a six-fold increase in just a decade), but Oromia has 11.6%, Amhara 9%, and Southern States 11%. According to World Bank report “Ethiopia Public Expenditure review” the Federal government never transferred more than 6% of the country’s cash revenue to the states, which leaves more than 94% of the federal budget at the discretion of the TPLF, appropriation of which is apparent from the above numbers.

In conclusion, the TPLF has clearly violated international business rules and practices, and as a ruling political party, it not only owns large amounts of properties and engages in commercial and trading activities whereby it places competing private sectors in a hopeless situation, but it also uses this economic dominance to incarcerate, harass, dominate, and control political opposition forces to stay in power. This injustice justifies continued armed struggle of the people against the TPLF domination, and rejection of foreign expeditions to exploit natural resources of the country on behalf of the TPLF.

71 thoughts on “The threat of Tigrean Nationalism”

  3. As a part Tigrean myself, I am completely overwhelmed by the scale and depth of loot Meles Zenawi’s group has been openly engaged with since before the party came to power.

    This is no doubt a thoroughly researched article which brings out to the open in very clear detail what is already in the public domain.
    We know there are untold instances of political and economic injustices dating back to Day 1 in EPRDF’s rise to power.

  4. I do not see any difference between EPRP and TPLF. They are both a decayed eggs. Their common goal one and the same.Political power must be in their hand by any means. They are anti democracy, anti ethiopia’s unity, anti ethiopia and anti democratical system in ethiopia, and more over they are both affaird of strong ethiopiawi political party like CUDP. These two anti ethiopia’s groups have been workingtogether hand in hand for the last two and more years to destroy CUDP from earth. The only difference between these two anti ethiopia’s ppl groups is that EPRP is living in diaspora where as TPLF is living in ethiopia.most ethiopians considere that EPRP is an ambassador to TPLF in diaspora to divide other political party in diaspora. so Ethiopians must take a serioua action against the most poisnious hidden snake ehapa first and then TPLF. God bless ethiopia. amen

  6. After killing hundreds of thousands, Mengistu blamed EPRP for pushing him to the corner. It is the same reason you are giving. “The military junta was driven insane by their obnoxious and unflinching ambition, and as a result, the junta passed a collective death verdict on the generation” What a justification for killing so many people. I think this author should stop and think. At 2005 election The only crime the CUD committed was winning the election. As a result 193 Ethiopian died. Who is at fault CUD for wining the election. Please.

    Kallacha Dubbi don’t you think we need unflinching and ambitious people like the EPRP of the 70s to stand face to face against Woyane. CUD is not unflinching they make a deal with Woyane.

  7. Though I appreciate your presentation. I fully dis agree with you on the facts that you have tried to show similarity where there is no similarity, I am sure you know the real facts but you are blinded by the support you have for late me be mild AFD. EPRP can not be the same with TPLF. It is a party that has sacrificed its organisation for not accepting the Eritrean question as a colonial question.It was a short cut to pwer but they are not power mongererres. Listen the current speech of Gebru Asrat. Eprp has never been narrow Vs TPLF. I hope EPRP will support and join hand in hand with AFD as far as AFD has come with a clear and non ambiguos agenda of promoting democracy in Ethiopia, dont tell me idemocracy is a long process like the TPLF. We should at least start doing things straight and clearly. We should pave the way and leave a trace to the coming generation. enough is enough, dont’t be scared by challanges, questions and suggetions rather face them and learn from your mistakes and go with the real majority, the mass. PLEASE give answer to their questions don’t run behind the bush. The worest thing you are doing you are labeling them as enemy. Why they challanged you with some facts. More over you put them in the enemy camp. All what you have accused them of in your writting is what you really are. Some facts You say you are perfect, you are real friends of Ethiopian people, they enemy, full of repeated mistkes…. But what about you, how many youths have been sacrificed on your side, where are you amidst the GIANT TPLF, how far have you mingeled with the mass how fair are you, how narrow are you….
    Double friends respond openly questions. I belive you are an educated Ethiopian who will figth restlessly for the equality of the Ethiopian people. I equally belive that EPRP has fought and will fought for the same cause at list as much as you have and will.

  8. I wish to thank you thousands of times .you are a real democrat and so a sincere analitic.The EPRP and The TPLF as you mentioned are one and the same.They are the two faces of the same coin.During the failed revolution of the 1970s ,we had seen how the EPRP and the Derg bitterly fought for the throne and obiousely ,the EPRP was defeated and many emotional and innocent young people perished due to its mischivious leadership.Who ever opposed the EPRP must perish was the Moto in those days.Had the EPRP succeded in taking the power ,the country could have been a blood bath many many times than the Derg.They never cared for the people.So violent and were the devils right hand just born to kill and die.How can you be kind and be concerned for the opression of fellow farmers and workers ,killing a close friend or some one with deverging view for a mere expression of opinions.For EPRP ,freedom of speech ,human right ,free discussions are just foreign phrases and most of the top leaders had no ears for them.They were to establish the imperial regim of the EPRP.The same thing is true with the TPLF ,they are of the same breed,born of their common father the ruthless EPLF.The TPLF is the only oganization that should be listened and Obeyed ,and those around it are simply subbordinates who live as their boses wish.My dear I wish to write more but for a comment purpose,I better make a stop here and once again you are among those concerned in the real issue of the country and I wish others to have similar insight.

  9. As usual, Ato Elias Kifle enjoys throwing parties for political baboons with special test for denigrating EPRP. However, there is no irony in who he is and what he does. I would be surprised if some one with his reputation does, in fact, dares to entertain intellectual clarity. Having said that, As the saying goes, the apple never falls far from the tree, nor does the author of the above article, from the yester days of the military junta, known to obliterate an entire generation of the intelligentsia only to give way to hate mongering boys from the Bushes of Dedebit. Despite EPRP’s persistent call for national reconciliation to redeem all current and preexisting rifts of political, ethnic, religious, class and similar social conflicts, the then functionaries of the Dergue are, to this day,
    chose to remain vindictive toward those who are victimized by them.

    Though the author has reintroduced, what is already public knowledge, the economic plunder by the top brass of TPLF, he lucks sincerer and intellectual integrity by attempting to portray the wolf and the sheep as one and the same. How could any one with the most basic political knowledge blame EPRP for not being a signatory to OLF/EPLF conspiracy to undermine the very survival of Ethiopia as a nation? Not only that, it was intended to sabotage the ongoing effort by UEDF to forge a broader alliance, not only political parties and groups, but to include civic organization and core social sectors as well.

    The author deliberately attempted to confuse the reader by demonizing both the victim and the perpetrator, in this case, EPRP amd TPLF. By providing the unsuspecting reader
    as to which ethnic group happen to dominate the TPLF criminal enterprise to get their sympathy, and then, turned around to find the weakest link being the one and only EPRP.
    how simplistic and also insulting to the readers intelligence. To borrow a phrase from a more articulate Ethiopian, you are, “elevating stupidity to a pure science.” To deconstruct and demean the history of a heroic generation for refusing to be cowed by military psychopaths and now, by criminal ethnic junkies, is nothing more than re enforcing the morally coward trend that you and your host seem to have made a career out of.

    Long live the heroic legacies of our forefathers!
    Oppose intellectual dishonest!

    End————-

  10. Under the TPLF’s brutal rule, Ethiopia has been bleeding to death. The facts speak for themselves. The facts presented in Kallacha Dubbi’s article are a true reflection of the practical experiences of the peoples of Ethiopia today. The TPLF should have been destroyed many years ago. Unfortunately the TPLF’s deeper understanding of the psyche of Ethiopians – which is shaped by the age-old adage ‘Ke-Ras Belay Nefas’ – and its development and implementation of the party’s exploitation policies around this adage allowed it to thrive thus far.

    Every year that comes and goes implants the TPLF deeper and deeper upon Ethiopia. Everyday I ask myself how in the world the Ethiopian nation allowed the TPLF to rule over Ethiopia until now. It is a devastating shame. As a nation, Ethiopia has failed colossally. It has failed its ancestors who fought for Ethiopia’s sovereign integrity.

    Armed struggle against the TPLF has always been compelling. This is more so now than ever. The age-old adage ‘Ke-Ras Belay Nefas’ correctly characterises the nature of Ethiopians. Let us change this adage to ‘Ke-Hager Belay Nefas’. Let us pick up our game. Let us start feeling pain for our country and its nation. Let us be flag-bearers for Ethiopia’s independence. Let’s stand up to the TPLF. CUD does NOT offer a better alternative, however, as. Amharas have never been good at nation-building. On this and others, when an opportunity becomes available to me.

    Regards,

    Gedi

  12. Dear Gedion,you cannot complain as a whole the craft of Amhara at building of a good nation was negative.
    My reason why you cannot is appeared here below.
    After all, there wasnot a governments of Amhara tribe in the history of ethiopian governance.
    Let me start my argument from the era of Aste Minilik.as all of as know ,the cabine and the war geneneral of Atse Minilik was most of them from Oremo.few were from Gurage and Amhara or from Shoa.for instance,Ras gobena,Habte Abamela,Balcha Abanebso.
    During the era of Atse Minilik,all A mhara except Shoa was excluded from high post.Gonder was under Aste Tewdros whih was the rivalry force of Minilik,Gojam also was rivalry force to Minilik as recalled the war between Aste Teklegiorgis and Atse Minilik.Wollo ws the battle field of Minilik and Atse yohanes.
    Based on thes historical occurance Minilik was not a governer whose inistituation constructed from top to bottom by A mhara.as I mentiond the minister and general of Minilik was oremo.
    The same is true in the era of Atse Haileslassei.Atse haileslassei was not biologically Amhara. his mother and fathers are from oremo.and his cabine members largly was constructed from Wollega and Eritrea.Gojam,Gonder and Wollo was the enemy of ATSE Haileslassei.
    Even Shoa was the most neglected part interms of infra development and infrastracture facility comparing with Jima and Harer .
    Derg was the worst enemy of Amhara.most of the victime of tredterror was from Amharatribe.
    Dear Gedion,I would have forwarded more elaborating facts toward this topic if the porpose of the commenting dialog box were in such mood.
    Please lets be responsible when we forward our comment.

  13. If some one is in an ocean of hatared and agony it is so easy to relate and colorify every thing and of course the wise guys fellow what they see.And that is the economic boom. I don’t need to chase the ill ones rather I share the proverb” while the dog barks the camel walks” period. We don’t have time for u guys.
    God bless Ethiopia. We are still alive and growing and we will for a sure because we are in the right track.

  14. After eighteen years I went to Ethiopia deep to the countryside where I born and grow up. The situation there is absolutely heart breaking the law and order has been broken down looting, robbing is every where. when I was living there their cattle were staying in the field and their cattle’s west the means of fertile their land abundantly and successfully very effective natural method to make the soil very rich in it’s fertility .

    Now let alone to use to fertile their soil every farmer keeps his cattle at home and guard over night turn by turn the head of the family the wife and their children sleep turn by turn and guard by turn in the house the whole night the reason the armed thieves and organized gangs in group come and try to open the house if they couldn’t they start to dig deep through the wall if the guard found slept when enter in to the house and wake up after they in the family has to do two things either they loose their life or loose their property and cattle stay quiet as if they didn’t hear any thing.

    I have been told the authorities in the communities, in towns and cities have encouraged this type of disorder to be increased the reason it becomes the life blood to collect large sums of money from the victims and victimizers. What ever the victimizers have been caught red handed in robbing ,looting even murdering and hand over to the authorities they become excite because this is the source of fatten their capital and the murders release in seven days.

    The farmer wouldn’t allow to have any type of weapon to protect themselves but organized gangs have every type of weapon the authorities don’t say any thing to them, I been told with their bitter feeling about the government.

    The farmers say we were hating derg because our sons taken to the war all the time but now we did I understand it was to protect us if we had known, this type of crimes were pointed towards us, the old ,young men and women would have fought but it is too late now we did not know at time, they said with full of sadness ,bitterness expression weak and helpless farmers.

    The fertilizer case also another misery for farmers and means of robbing large sums of capital from poor farmers. The consequence the farmers couldn’t pay the bill all properties they have taken by the government the farmers have left their families without any coin to towns ,cities and have become beggar on the street. The land has become absolutely dry in fertile destroyed by fertilizer you can not turn to back forever to its fertility. The part of the land which was infertile before no fertilizer has been used now match better than the one which was fertile and destroyed by fertilizer its fertility. By training I done agriculture and also I grow up with my farmer family in community I have very good knowledge about the soil I know how fertilizer can destroy the fertility of the soil by using chemicals against the soil without extensive research, destroying deliberately the fertility of the soil which 95% of the population depends on is the biggest crime of all what woyane have done.

    On the other hand the farmers struggles to survive to get little food for day and from that they want to sell where they can get good price but the government forces them to hand to him in cheap price they have been told the only they can sell other places when government demand satisfied.

    In general I can say Ethiopian farmers live in the nightmare and living hell without given any attention from inside and outside world because the majority of educated elites only have tie with cities where the rich people live.

  15. Selam Ato Kallacha Dubbe,

    Blessed are those who are carrying the cause of freedom, democracy and social justice for all. Blessed are those who are carrying out a plan of action in an effort to bring about some dramatic change to their beloved nation in the best interest of all citizens regardless. Blessed are those who are foremost in a movement we are part of as opposed to those of us who are lingering behind the crusade and making the slanderous comment ever against the soldiers in crusades. Blessed are those who have a good thoughts, good deeds, good intentions and clear visions for their nation’s future as opposed to those who are wicked citizens whose interpretation of good thoughts, good deeds, good intentions and good duties for the country is faulty and flawed.

    Indeed, for the fact EPRP and affiliates are dying for a cause we all are for, a cause that shall never die on us, they will be adored and treasured both by the history and the generation yet to come. For the fact they are sacrificing their precious lives for unity, democracy and freedom, they will be remembered as our national martyrs of all time. In fact, being sacrificial lamb and tending to continue to die for the cause that will never die shall continue to remind us of their sacred causes. For the fact that EPRP is dying for freedom, democracy and national unity it deserves our respect and high opinion than those who are attempting to compromise the cause and the principle of our martyrs today. Anyhow, what was the root cause of the entire reaction and who is the right party for the TPLF to negotiate with in exchange for the cause they died for is the question you all owe us to answer

    Keep on regurgitating one gossip after another against EPRP, but EPRP continues to carry out its historic mission to achive its goals against all odds.

    The struggle continues!

    Gudu Kassa

  17. Ato Kallach Dubbi, you are naked! You decided to take off your cloth in a broad daylight without fearing truth, yes TRUTH. When you talk about weak link why don’t you tell us about kinijit’s unconditional acceptance of woyanne electoral board, its acceptance of woyanne’s constitution, its leaders walk of from hibret simply because they were not elected as chairman positions, the list goes on and on. Ops I forgot to mention calling off of the national strike following election. You simply contradicted yourself. Get checked up for delusional disorder get treated for it.

  19. 1. Yohannes Olorro says -…. If we describe one as Tigre, Agew. then by default we are at the same time describing our selves as Amharas, Gurages etc. . However, replacing army high commanders is not that simple to do it in a decade or two. . In other words I am of the view that while maintaining them as battle leaders we need ten fold of them to recruit to the high military positions Ethiopia should have.

    Dear Yohannes Olorro: This was an attempt to show that TPLF’s discriminatory policy favors Tigray and Tigreans. One could replace Tigray and Tigreans with any label of your choice if you truly believe that it makes the debate less ethnically inflammatory. How else can one prove a point, that TPLF unlawfully favors Tigreans. Your second point implies the following: –

    Sixteen years after TPLF took power, Ethiopia cannot produce war capable Generals other than untrained TPLF guerillas turned army commanders, and that the recent battle fought was fought and won thanks only to Tigrean Generals. So Ethiopia must accept TPLF’s sole leadership for its own good and safety. Companies like Mesfin Engineering (per Champ’s comment) cannot find educated non-Tigreans to serve on their staff. And then, we shouldn’t challenge such injustice by calling Tigreans even if it applies because we will be “gosegna” if we do. Please consider the fact that the Ethiopian politics, army, and economy are dominated by the TPLF. This is not fair, it must be corrected immediately. Accepting this truth is good for the country and good for the soul.

    2. Alex says – Why didn’t you mention that there are more Oromos and Amhara in the Parliament than Tigreans? Dear Alex, The EPRDF is the majority party in the Parliament too. EPRDF is one party controlled by TPLF. EPRDF members hold all government positions.

    3. Gato says – Why mention EPRP? Why distract your readers with something that no one is interested in except the very same people you would like to expose? TPLF and EPRP. Sorry Gato, – I agree, I was meaning to show the opposition’s weakest link before explaining TPLF’s strength.

    4. Dinku also says – You cannot change history by demonizing EPRP for the scarifies it paid for the welfare of Ethiopians and integration of the country. Again, I see nothing positive that EPRP did for the country since its inception. Killing still comes easy even to their pens. Look at few comments their supporters wrote above.

    5. Ewnetun tenageru says – AFD will never amount to anything unless all member organizations commit to a united Ethiopia. No sane Ethiopian of any ethnic group can rightly ally themselves with those who are preparing to eliminate their alliance members as soon as AFD wins victory. Therefore, if Kallacha wants to speak as an Ethiopian nationalist he would have vehemently oppose AFD as it is now constituted.

    Dear ewnetun tenageru, I was disappointed sensing that you are less than trusting. Trust is the first victim of a war torn society. And political trust has not been common in Ethiopia for generations. Collective counseling of a grand level is needed to regain such trust. You want everyone to commit to unity of Ethiopia, and that is to be appreciated.

    However, you mistrust anyone who approaches you trusting you. And yet anyone who approaches you could have more reasons to be at least as mistrusting as you. The other side is also wary of what you may be cooking in the name of unity. Ethiopia was a “united” country at least for a century, and that united country did not suit many if its peoples. It still doesn’t. So, they want to rephrase the meaning of this unity based on true equality and freedom for all its peoples. You ask the other side to be an Ethiopian at all costs, enslaved, battered, tattered, he must love mother Ethiopia. But people who lost freedom, future, and still sees no hope under this unity are as suspicious as you are imposing your unconditional unity.

    Give a reason to the Ogadeni Somali, to the Gambella minorities, etc. who are hiding from Ethiopia’s wrath now to love Ethiopia as you do. Tell them you share their pain; tell them the death of their family member hurts you too. They are mourning, ell them you are sorry before you insist that they accept the unity of Ethiopia. Understand how deeply Ethiopia has become synonymous to death and destruction in many corners of Ethiopia’s own territories. One can legitimately suspect that anyone who so religiously guards the fence before he cares about the people inside the fence has to have a hidden agenda. So, promise justice and equality before you show your emphatic love of borders – the man before the geography. Then we may have less perforated boundaries with more people wanting to run out than in.

    This love of the geography you have can then be shared by all. Only emotions can defeat this logic. I can have my lines of suspicions about Kinijit or AFD, but I am willing to give them a chance so that we can put an end to a century old miseries. Remember, one can always, I mean always have reasons to suspect anybody, and the war induced mistrust and history of massacres and robberies favors such suspicions in Ethiopia. I am afraid this suspicion would be responsible for continued hell in Ethiopia. The 30 years war, suspicion, labels such as shifta, etc., war machines and superior army did not keep Eritrea, a small province, from separating. These self-imposed remote guards of Ethiopia’s territorial integrity shared the responsibility for its disintegration then and could be again. One is no more a citizen than the other; feeling a superior citizen inherently has a personal selfish and destructive missive, whether concealed under love for a country or not – a country whose majority of citizens paradoxically have found un-loveable. AFD may or may not succeed, but the only other way of making peace in Ethiopia (other than bridging differences and talking to each other) is making war. In my opinion, too large percentage of the oppressed people put equality and freedom ahead of territorial integrity. Of course millions of the exiled serve as evidence, that a border or love for a border cannot suppress the quest for freedom. This said, the success of Somali’s, Oromos, Sidamas, etc. to achieve self determination depends on the will and resolve of the people, not on that of AFD. Freedom and respect are the best venues to peace or unity.

    You also wrote “I have many family members who are Oromos close to OLF and they are waiting for a chance for payback time against Amharas more than any body else.” Such unverifiable and irresponsible text can be thrown by anyone. An Oromo can also write like you did: “I have many family members who are Amharas close to Kinijit and they are waiting for a chance to go back to the old feudal system and jump on the back of Oromos again more than any body else”. I doubt if there is your Oromo family member who has the view you expressed, but let us assume there is. Then, it is more peace-productive to talk to him/her in person, calmly, take as much time as you need to convince. This requires courage no less than the courage you generated to expose him/her on Internet. Making your family business an Internet matter and using it to score a point against the OLF is not going to help your family, less the Ethiopia you claim to love and protect.

    ==
    Chachi and Melkam – you are astute observers Champ, thank you for the additional info.

    OTHERS: Jalata, 60 year old person, Hopeand, baheilum, Sam, Zagol
    although I don’t subscribe to your teret), Feyissa Erppa, Biruk, YD, Kebena, zeil, grum, Melkamu, ashenaphy, Anonymous, Tedla Asfaw, Shumet Menywab, yikerbelen. WEY ZEMEN, Andinet – – Thank you.
    KD

  21. Dear Sir,

    Firstly very good research and you provide as with a very good analysis, however, it lacks judgments.

    Correct me if I’m wrong, but not so long a go, this names you mention are the one who fought nearly half of their life in a military zone, not to mention the conduct, the comportment and experience they bring to the Ethiopian defense, after all this people may have a political influence but the chain of command comes from the prime minister, even those lets say they all gone, but still the fact of the matter the decision will come straight from the top…..

    Please let’s talk unity instead of non-sense arguments, Ethiopia doesn’t need military personals, instead a mind, knowledge and determination from all part, to serve and provide the poor people of Ethiopia with basic needs.

    Thank you

    [email protected]

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