Remembering the Victims of TPLF Genocide (I)

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In the following and up coming several postings I will be publishing the names of the people of Wolqait, Tegede and Tselemt who have been victimized by the brutal regime of Meles Zenawi and Co. For the past 20 some years the TPLF has been arresting, torturing and killing thousands upon thousand of innocent citizens for the main purpose of Tireanization of the Wolqait, Tegede and Tselemt lands and people. Especially, those have resisted the Tigreanization have been savagely tortured to death. In fact, TPLF would rather capture this people and torture them in an underground cave known as "06," rather than killing them immediately. Not only this but they also have worked hard to destroy the culture and identity of these people. For instance, they are forced to learn Tigrigna and all other communications are forced to be conducted in this language. These is despite that Amharic being the native language. All of these are just some of the many atrocities the TPLF has committed on the people of Wolqait, Tegede and Tselemt. Click on the following link to listen to an interview of two natives of Wolqait Tegede about the atrocities of TPLF.

1. Girazmach Woldie Yenehun (an 84 years old elder, former Left Wing Brigadier-General)
2. Kegnazimach Sisay Abera (Former Right Wing Brigadier-General) and his son
3. Mr. Woldie Yenehun (dragged by car and killed)
4. Mr. Mamo Desta (savagely beaten to death)
5. Mr. Lijalem Taye and his son Adissey
6. Mr. Alene Kindishih
7. Mr. Ayalew Semu
8. Mr. Mered G/Mikael
9. Mr. Mulu Atalay
10. Mr. Endishaw Tafere
11. Mr. Mamo Zewdie
12. Mr. Getew Tamre
13. Mr. Fetene Gebrey
14. Mr. BeIdu Wondemagegnehu
15. Mr. Asamerew Melese
16. Mr. Abebe Yirga
17. Mr. Alebel Yirga
18. Mr. Guoy Mebirahtu
19. Mr. Nega Tebeje
20. Mr. Nega Aseres
21. Mr. Hagos Gebrey
22. Mr. Nigusu Abirha
23. Mr. Abeje Kifley
24. Mr. Gifachew Dagnew
25. Mr. Malefia Guoy
26. Mr. Tesfay Hailu
27. Mr. Kinfe Kebede

May their souls rest in peace!

Sad but more to come.

The Case of Wolqait, Tegede and Tselemt (Part II)

The following is part II of the article from Dr. Daniel Kinde's book: The Five Dimensions Of The Eritrean Conflict 1941 - 2004: Decephering The Geo-Political Puzzle. Continuation of Part I. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Dr. Daniel Kinde for his outstanding scholarly contribution.

...The annexed regions produce such crops as cotton, oil seeds, pulses, sesame, corn, millet, and sorghum valued in millions of dollars, and provided employment opportunities for millions of Ethiopians. If we take Humera, for example, it contains one of the best alluvial soils in the whole of Ethiopia. In the 1960s and 1970s, Humera became the second largest cotton producing region in Ethiopia next to the Awash Valley, and banks pumped millions of dollars in loans. Semi-mechanized, some 1,000 tractors were also deployed. Agricultural production was successful that for each dollar invested, the value of increase in crop production was $5.00. The labor force also increased from 13,000 in 1964, to 300,000 in 1972. Workers came from all over Ethiopia including Gondar, Eritrea, Shoa, Gojjam, and Tigrai.

Ever since Humera, Wolqait, Tegede and Tselemt were forcefully incorporated to Tigrai, what was built over the years has been destroyed. An extensive ethnic cleansing** has also been going on. The native inhabitants have been subjected to excruciating experiences, ranging from arbitrary arrests to summary executions, and mass eviction from their ancestral lands, for the sole purpose of exploiting the resources of the region for the benefit of the supporters and hirelings of the regime, and for settling Tigrean soldiers and peasants on the land. Those who resisted have been killed in hundreds. Many have been tortured, maimed, and crippled. Others still languish in noxious and abominable caves turned into prisons. Some have gone into armed struggle. Others roam the streets of such towns as Gondar, Dessie, Bahir Dar, and Addis Ababa as beggars, and many have either became refugees oversees, or have temporarily settled down elsewhere marking their time. The language of instruction in schools have also changed from Amharic to Tigrigna. All this is being done in order to change the demographic composition of these provinces and to Tigrianize them.

Equally disturbing is that, in a country where millions are still starving, the proceeds generated from the farms of the annexed areas are partly hoarded in foreign private bank accounts, and partly disbursed to finance the lavish and exorbitantly luxurious life of the ruling oligarchy, which among other things, includes the latest Land Cruiser per oligarchy member, exclusive private schools and kindergartens for their children chauffeured fighter-turned-private drivers, classy private clinics and the best referral hospital in the country catering for the medial needs for themselves, their wives, and their concubines, as well as fashionable villas of high standard with modern gadgets never seen at all anywhere in the country. Yet, it is the same "revolutionary Marxist" leaders who are doing all this, and who were swearing by dialectical materialism and Albanian socialism until a couple of years ago.

An organization which call itself the Ethiopian patriotic Front (Kefagn) is still fighting for the liberation of Humera, Wolqait, Tegede and Tselemt. This front may be either beefed up, or others may be organized. It is also possible that the people of Wollo and Gondar may carry out joint military operations against the TPLF, in order to liberate the forcefully incorporated provinces. There is no doubt that the people of the annexed provinces are determined to regain their lands as well as their local autonomy. It is most unfortunate that the innocent people of Tigrai are being blamed for the avarice and cupidity of the leadership. But if a bloody confrontation is to be averted, one hopes that the people of Tigrai do not share the insanity and psychosis of the TPLF leaders.

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**Coming soon: the names of the victims of Woyane genocide

The Case of Wolqait, Tegede and Tselemt (Part I)

The following article is taken from The Five Dimensions Of The Eritrean Conflict 1941 - 2004: Decephering The Geo-Political Puzzle by Dr. Daniel Kendie (p.117-120). I recommend my readers to find this book and read his interesting and historically factual arguments. Click here to contact and order the book from the author.

In part I of this article we will see what the author has to tell us about the historic background about the Wolqait, Tegede and Tselemt Provinces. In part II we will continue with the most current facts and happenings. Enjoy the reading!

Expansionist TPLF:

According to Alan Rake, the TPLF which is a mirror image of the EPLF, is busy building a Tigrean Empire at the expense of the neighboring provinces, imposing Meles Zenawi's will on everybody (190).

Having used the land and the people of Tigrai as geographic and human shields of Eritrea for nearly two decades, in November 1977 the TPLF leadership agreed to relinquish to the EPLF Tigrean lands, including Agela, Ahsee Bizet, Rama, Adi Arbate, Chila, Simena, Lower Adiabo, and Higher Adiabo, including Badime. Then to compensate themselves, in December 1977, the TPLF leaders forcefully and illegally anexed Humera, Wolqait, Tsegede, and Tselemt from Gonder, and Raya Azebo, Alamata, and Ofla from Wollo. Subsequently, the size of Tigrai increased from 65,000 sq. Kms. to 102,000 sq. Kms. In doing so, they were making a mockery of their own constitution, and paying the customary lip-service to the principle of self-determination which they claimed as their guiding philosophy.

For lack of time and space, if we restrict the discussion to Gonder Province alone, we should note that the annexed provinces have never been part of Tigrai. Nor do the people identify themselves with Tigrai. The popular songs that the common people of Gonder sing are about the ethos, beauty, culture, and bravery of the people of Wolqait, Tesegede and Tselemt, with whom they identify very strongly, and with whom they lived together for centuries. Indeed, when Gonder became the political and administrative center of Ethiopia (1569 - 1868), it naturally expanded, and among other regions, it brought under its administrative control arraying, Wolqait, Humera, Tegede, Tselemt, Begemidir, Chilga, Dembia, Semien, and Wogera. During the reign of Emperor Fasiledes (1632 - 1667), it was decreed that the Tekezie River serve as the boundary between Gondar and Tigray.

In view of this, what Manifested Parkyins wrote in 1856 is quite relevant. "Gondar extends from the Tekeze River to the border of Senar in the Sudan, and that the principal divisions of Tigrai consisted of Hamassien, Seraiew, Akele Guzaie, Shire, Adi Abo, Tembien, Enderta, Wojirta, and Shilawa" (191). Similarly, writing in 1868, T.C. Plowden observed that the principal sub-divisions of Tigrai consisted of Hamassien, Seraie, Akele Guzaie, Agame, Shire, Adi Abo, Tembien, Enderta, Waggirat, and Shilawa (192). No where do these authors observe that the territories that the TPLF leadership forcefully snatched from Gondar and incorporated to Tigrai have been part of that province. Indeed, as one of the noted authorities on Ethiopian studies, Christopher Clapham notes, the TPLF has claimed part of Northern Gondar, asserting entirely on ficticious grounds that for a couple of years in the early 1940s, the area was administered as part of Tigrai.

The truth is, since patriotic resistance to the Italians was gaining momentum in Gondar, thanks to the leadership of such celebrated guerilla fighters as Amoraw Woubneh (the eagle) and Adane Mekonnen, by a temporary decree of March 1938 and February 1939, Wolqait and Tsegede were temporarily transfered to Eritrean administration. This was done, in the Italian view, in order to crush the Ethiopian resistance. Tigrai too was amalgamated with Eritrea. However, the temporary two years arrangement made by the Italians, could not make these provinces part of today's Eritrea, and still less of Tigrai, even if in the unlikely event that the TPLF leaders profess that Tigrai has become the successor state to mussolini's Italy. But their crimes do not stop here. Among other things, they even dismantled a generator which used to supply the city of Gondar with electricity and installed it in Mekele. Such pettiness in leadership is unheard of. Ethiopia deserves something better.

The late Dagnew Wolde Selassie, great grandson of Ras Woube Haile Mariam (1800 - 1866), former Ambassador to Yemen, and later Governor of Gondar Province, and a lawyer named Fetaye Assegu, among others, had written to Meles Zenawi hoping to reason with him so that sanity could prevail, but in vain.
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Part II coming soon.

The Duality of TPLF (One but Two, Two but One)!

At a glance the above title might give you the impression that my topic would be about cloning or something of that sort. You have guessed quite close except that the new form of cloning that we are witnessing today has taken a new shape by the dictatorial regime of TPLF.

Let me start by quoting Sudan Tribune's January 31, 2006 article.

"The Gedarif delegation led by Abdellrahman a- Khedir visited Mekele after taking part in the trade and investment forum held recently in Humera (part of Wolqait that was illegally annexed by TPLF)."

As far as my mini-tiny political understanding and how relations between two sovereign countries is conducted, the federal government has the authority to conduct bilateral agreements, negotiations that are of interest and concern of the whole nation.

In fact here are some examples how the TPLF manufactured constitution draws the "powers and functions of the States (and the Federal Government):

Article 51
1. It shall protect and defend the Constitution (up to and including murdering innocent citizens and those who oppose the almighty dictator).
2. It shall formulate and implement the country'’s policies, strategies and plans in respect of overall economic (indulging the country into aid dependent economy), social (while millions are getting infected with HIV/AIDS, millions have died with no sign of relief) and development matters (what can I say...down the hill every single day).
4. It shall formulate and execute the country'’s financial, monetary and foreign investment policies and strategies. (Do you see where I am heading?...hold on your breath here comes more...).
8. It shall formulate and implement foreign policy; it shall negotiate and ratify international agreements.
12. It shall regulate inter-State and foreign commerce.

Wheeeeeew...I will leave the rest of the reading for you. Article 52 by itselflf has 21 sub-articles. Now let's make a U-turn (it is not legal in my state, hopefully it is legal in yours...but who cares...) and see what the same constitution has to say about the "powers and functions of the states"

Article 52
1. All powers not given expressly to the Federal Government alone, or concurrently to the Federal Government and the States are reserved to the States.
2. Consistent with sub-Article 1 of this Article, States shall have the following powers and functions:

1. To establish a State administration that best advances self-government, a democratic order based on the rule of law; to protect and defend the Federal Constitution;
2. To enact and execute the state constitution and other laws;
3. To formulate and execute economic, social and development policies, strategies and plans of the State;
4. To administer land and other natural resources in accordance with Federal laws;
5. To levy and collect taxes and duties on revenue sources reserved to the States and to draw up and administer the State budget;
6. To enact and enforce laws on the State civil service and their condition of work; in the implementation of this responsibility it shall ensure that educational; training and experience requirements for any job, title or position approximate national standards;
7. To establish and administer a state police force, and to maintain public order and peace within the State;

Just looking at the above "powers and functions of states," I don't see any law that declares states to have the right to establish cross border or international relationship.

I wonder if this dictatorial regime is still under confusion as it was 30 years ago or if they are addicted to living in contradiction.

There are some rumors circulating saying that the TPLF is ready to declare Tigray's independce anytime now if situations in Addis Ababa and the whole country in general do not cool down as they wish. Thus, this recent love affair with the Sudan could be the first step in the process of their wishful dream of dismantling Ethiopia.

As I have said it in my previous posts, the people of Wolqait Tegede can not and will not be used to fulfill the failing evil intentions dictatorial regime and we would stand firm with the rest of our Ethiopian brothers and sisters for a united and democratic Ethiopia.

The TPLF is acting as two governments by cloning itself into one that operates through the front door and the other through the back door in order to implement its hidden agenda. As my country men Ethiopians beautifully said it "hulet eGir alegn tebilo : hulet zaf ayiwotam." It is not new for TPLF to blindly engage itself into a failure. It won't be long before their evil doings flush them through the drain once and for good (I can wait to see this happening to them).