Dear Girmay;
I would like to respond to the question you raised:

You asked: “Now, by writing letters, to the people of Tigray, what are they asking them to do, to divide each other between Meles and the 12 camp, and start shooting each other? Is that what they are asking them?”

First of all, we do not know that the 12 individual actually wrote the letter. I doubt very much that these people will declare that they want to follow Marxism in this day and age as the letter supposedly claims. Even BBC is reporting this slant. In fact, I am 99.99 percent sure that they will NOT advocate marxism. I have heard them answer questions here in the U.S. before. So, let us at least agree that we do not know who wrote this letter.

However, what we know is this: the 12 individuals have asked the TPLF general assembly to meet to discuss the issue of Eritrea (about what happened that led us into war and what our future Eritrean policy should be) and also to discuss the issue of Ethiopia’s failed economy and corruption.

We also know that these individuals had disagreements with Mr. Meles & Co over his decision not to get ready when there was news everywhere that Eritrea was preparing to invade Ethiopia.

These 12 individuals could have very well raised their disagreements during the war.
But, they did not!

They knew that that would be too traumatic for a country that is trying to defend itself from Eritrea’s aggression. With this understanding, they tabled their concernes and united around Meles’ leadership in defense of their country. And we all know what heroic job they did liberating Ethiopia.

And now (almost a year AFTER the conclusion of the war), they are responsibly raising their concerns and disagreements within a meeting setting so thing can be corrected. This is both honorable and responsible.

It was only after they were totally out maneuvered on technicalities and forcibly silenced from bringing their concerns to the discussion table at the committee level that they decided to take the matter up at the TPLF general assembly level. And last time I checked this is both democratic and legal.

So your question of what the 12 individuals were asking the people of Tigray to do, the answer is: They wanted ALL TPLF members to discuss the issue OPENLY in the TPLF general assembly so members can arrive at their OWN conclusions and solve the problem.

If you do not agree with a certain policy you try to get as many people to get behind your agenda to help you advocate its implementation. That is the only way democracy works and the 12 members were trying to enlist the support of as many members as possible. This is called democracy. Where does shooting each other comes into the picture? Because they have a different vision for Ethiopia and they presented it to their members, you are saying means they are asking for Tirgeans to shoot each other???

On the other hand, what the BBC reported about how the 12 members were thrown out from their elected positions by Prime Minister Meles and Co. is a flagrant violation of the constitution and is undemocratic. No one man can dismiss an elected official. Not even the general assembly, by fiat, can dismiss an elected official without holding a public impechment hearing and geting two-thirds super majority vote. The Governor of Tigray was elected by the people of Tigray. He can only be kicked out by their vote, NOT Meles’ or anyone’s actions.

Quite frankly, this action of kicking the 12 out of office is what can cause TPLF members in both camps to shoot each other. So, to avoid such disaster, the action must be quickly corrected.

Thank you