Divisive Ploys by Opportunists: Watch out!!
By: Mizan Ahferom
A simple glance at the article entitled: "(Tigrayans all over the world: Watch out!" that has surfaced on the web by "Andom" would suffice to identify the author and his mission. The Tigrayans resident in Switzerland unwelcome the open opportunistic views of ‘Andom’, who happens to be one of the electorates in the community. His attempt to deplore our resolutions only exposes him further who this person is and refutes his fraudulent justifications. The messages of this inexperienced writer warrant response that only focuses on the stories, ideas and not on his individual characters.

1. "We do not have information from both sides"

As associate of the chairing committee, he should have been neutral and abided by the interests and decisions of the community, but he did not even want this meeting to be held for the lame excuse of "we do not have enough information from both sides". ‘Andom’, if you didn’t have information why did you come to the meeting? Was it just to create havoc? Unlike your case, the cadres had their stories and the participants had full information of both sides to challenge them and underline the truth. Everybody knew where the problem lies including the cadres. It is shame that; you fail to make use of the information technology available to you 24 hours a day to learn the truth. For now, we will assist you read the facts. We hope you do not need information from the ruling group, as the principle is to simply fabricate, lie and deceive which you are already trained for.

1. Decisions of Audit Commission:http://www.mcc-reporter.com/amh_Newspaper/htm/R290/Pol6.htm
2. http://www.ethiopiafirst.com/news2001/Apr/The_Sovereignty_agenda_is_not_yet_closed.html
3. http://www.ethiopiafirst.com/news2001/Apr/Letter_sent_by_Ato_Gebru_Asrat.html

2. The meeting and the resolutions

When ‘Andom’ knew the imminence of the meeting organised by the other chairperson, he secretly invited the cadres to sabotage the meeting and preach their lies. He in fact was critisized by the audience for presenting the cadres without the consent of the community as they symbolize one side of the story. ‘Andom’ had misinformed the cadres that they would have luxuriant audience who would vow them unreserved support. But little did he understand the atmosphere and bitterness of our community on his immature manipulation and he is responsible for rendering the cadres to unexpected dishonour they were not geared for.

As a law student striving to judge Ethiopians tomorrow, one would expect ‘Andom’ yell, shed tears and take the lead to defend our laws and constitutions being infringed by the very leaders who institutionalised them. But regrettably, he has bent on orchestrating and backing illegal movements to satisfy his future power desires. We heard him imitating that the killing during the Addis Ababa riots was against gangsters (Worobela) and justifying it legal.

Andom’s talks neither had manner nor substance to serve the cadres and defend his position. Amazingly, ‘Andom’ didn’t have the gut to stand by his position and he twisted 180 degrees after the cadres left the meeting disgracefully and urged the audience to discuss and condemn the illegal acts and dangerous events being exercised by the group in power that expose Tigrayan people to enemies.He suggested that this be passed as one of the resolutions, which the house did. That was the time everybody confirmed his opportunistic and wavering stand.

Unlike what ‘Andom’ claims, all participants of the meeting continued non-stop for 10 hours absorbed by the matter. As he could not sustain the ignominy he left the meeting assuring that he would fully agree to the resolutions of the majority.

These resolutions, passed unanimously, still are ours regardless of Andom’s position, as he has to be ruled by majority (albeit his fidelity to the community is eroded).

3. Racism, Awrajaism and family connection

The meeting did not mention personalities at all and had objectively discussed on attitudes, legal and constitutional issues leading to actions consequent to the crisis. To our dismay ‘Andom’ tried to label the audience as members of one family, Awraja and race. Wow! What a political analyst!!

‘Andom’ did not even differentiate racism and Awrajaism. According to him and his advisors there would be 8 races in Tigray and more than 150 in Ethiopia. ‘Andom’ better be lent a hand to distinguish the meanings, applicabilities and implications of these words.

Awrajas were geographical boundaries delineated for administrative purposes in the past and have nothing to do with the current TPLF’s split, as the 12 Guardians are not from one Awraja. Andom still finds it difficult to accept the reality and lives with his remnant memory. He needs to be informed that Tigray has been rearranged since 1991 into 4 zones with more than 35 administrative districts (Wereda), which still have nothing to do with race or blood relations.

Such inventive words prove to us that amateur ‘Andom’ and his advisors have apparently bent on to Sha-ebia’s mission and we do not have the slightest trust to any of their crocodile tears.

‘Andom’ would be fair if he could address the following doubts rationally:
• Who is connected by familial and blood relations? The people in diaspora, who have no streak than the love of their Motherland and their people? Or his commanders?
• Who has been using awrajaism and other Machiavellian methods every time to purge people emerging with differing views and political opinions? People in the diaspora, who have no desire other than to see law, order and democratic institutions enforced and respected? Or his masters, who are busy to secure their power by betraying and destroying their comrades of 26 years by such dirty & immoral means?

4. Intimidation and Blackmailing

‘Andom’ was not hesitant in his raw article to give verdicts from abroad before he graduates and assumes his promised position as a ‘lawyer’ in Ethiopia. Imagine how messy he would be if he were appointed to do so. Fortunately, lawyers in Ethiopia seem to be determined to profesionalise and ascertain the independence of the judiciary in the land irrespective of political interference and hence he would not have feasible place in reality.

‘Andom’ is recruited agent of the government to intimidate and blackmail the community as criminals and deny their rights to go back home. He repeatedly bothers members of the community by phone calls if possible to plead support if not to harass them. He should however be reminded that the community is fade up and appalled by his demeanour and better leave them alone.

Naturally and inevitably people have to be born somewhere some time and generations should perpetuate like that. No surprise, however, as such conflict-ridden instruments have repeatedly been employed by our past and present enemies like ‘Sha-ebia’ to see Tigrayans disintegrated and weakened and at a larger scale these words have been conditionally applied to other parts of our country to create ethnic hatred and destabilize Ethiopia.

Obviously there would be some like ‘Andom’ in Tigrayan communities residing in other parts of the world who are selectively enrolled for such destructive assignments.

These are old and contemptible practices to silence and zip differing attitudes but history divulge us that such undemocratic exercises would not salvage the perpetuators from facing the reality. Viciously, there is time when such evil and immoral anti-people agents are exposed and censured and our people in the diaspora have to be vigilant and shouldn’t leave such bloodsuckers unchecked.

Thanks to the painstaking experiences of our people to tackle the hurdles our country faces, the solidarity of Tigrayan community continues rock-hardened and we will further consolidate our commonality with other Ethiopian communities in diaspora to fight for the realisations of peace and democracy in the land. Tigrayan people have been one and will remain so as proud Ethiopians despite the divisive plots of our enemies.