The Ethiopian War: Who Are The TPLF?
Response to: The Guardian ‘Editorial View’ on Ethiopia. 8/11/2020
Dear Guardian,
I would just like to contribute to your editorial on Ethiopia along with the rest of the western press corps, just to provide actual clarifications to such reporting, which indeed has supplied needed comments on an unfolding human tragedy of Grecian proportions. War is never good, but your well intentioned sermon overlooks some very important underlying facts, in the interest of passing journalistic balance.
Unfortunately, what your article misses is in not stating that it is the existing and sovereign government of Ethiopia that has had to take military action against a highly armed tribal and provincial group that has repeatedly dismissed its national authority, carried out repeated clandestine acts within the whole country (through its extensive — and frightful- security apparatus) and finally by overtaking the principle military arm of the Ethiopian state. A key military force which was deployed in the province of Tigray by the Ethiopian state, at its great service and ‘defence’.
Many of the service-men and women of this Northern Command having died defending the interests of the Tigray region, namely for the dubious war with its neighbour Eritrea since 1998. 80,000–100000 Ethiopian soldiers having died doing so. Most of them non-Tigrayans, in a series of uphill ‘human-wave’ offensives by the original TPLF command structure.
Furthermore, after the famous Peace Deal struck by PM Abiy, it was the TPLF that no-less refused to subsequently cede lands that were long awarded to Eritrea through international arbitration, by refusing to remove the forward elements of this Northern Command. A fact that annulled that major personal milestone for the new leader of Ethiopia… Even though he was part of the Northern Command as a junior colonel and witnessed heavy, devastating encounters, himself — and like anyone who was a involved in the front lines- lucky to be alive.
This is not to mention the deeply disturbing news that the Tigray regional security apparatus (TPLF) attacked numerous Ethiopian army personnel under the cover of night in order to remove them, prior to subverting this major national military defence installation into a permanent tribal security force last week. An act that saw at least two whole brigades subsequently defect to Eritrea as well as a number of personnel to Sudan.
This indeed being the very pretext for the actions of the Ethiopian state’s military exercise in the province of Tigray.
Moreover, the TPLF as a national regime was an extremely autocratic, dictatorial and ruthless power which held a 27 year political and economic stranglehold on the Ethiopian state. With an unrivalled degree of corruption and ethnic nepotism anywhere in the world. A mode of operation that has set extremely destructive basic precedents in the country. Where ethnic and ‘racial’ identity is a disproportionate measure for social and economic entitlement. Almost like a novel, proto-colonial model of divine right to ‘civilise and rule’ that will be hard to erase. That is while this select, actually tiny group of under 20 men from one small town in Tigray, enjoys the near total control or share of an outsize national gain or profit.
This was also, nonetheless, a party that came to critical prominence and effective local dominance, ironically, with funds supplied to them from the ‘Live Aid’ dividends… From the U.K. Outside of their repeated foundational habit of raiding regional banks. These admissions being freely and widely shared and corroborated by senior and veteran TPLF politburo members themselves.
Ultimately, instead of gracefully receding into the background of Ethiopian political life while enjoying their vast wealth and influence, behind the towering and favourable legacy of their late figurehead, who usually checked the TPLF’s most aggressive instincts, they continued to act in an extremely belligerent manner to any Ethiopian reform efforts through their ruthless and sophisticated security apparatus’ reach. A very, very big stick that they unwisely put to use.
This included carrying out assassination attempts on many Ethiopian state figures, regional officials and even civilians. That is the assessment of the Ethiopian government; but Abiy Ahmed himself, was personally, an early victim of such efforts. While the TPLF regime itself having been only recently ousted, with a stunning and uncontainable national revolt by the entire Ethiopian citizenry.
These are the underlying facts that no western press entity or NGO seems to be interested in sharing. The TPLF is nonetheless an extremely capable PR machine with well established international connections. Seasoned like nothing else, in crying wolf. It was never the victim, but is adept at hiding behind them and pushing them to the fire.
It also consistently acted as a ruthless and unchecked proto-colonial entity within Ethiopia during and after its reign. Likewise its very intricate ties with the West run very deep and the TPLF are adept at fully co-opting it…
Nonetheless, if such events happened in the U.K. how would the actual government of the United Kingdom act? Not after 2.5 years of bartering, but immediately?
The Guardian is however very correct on one point… Ethiopia ultimately is a nation where a national identity cannot be ‘forged’ by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. It has actually long existed as a nation, since ancient times, please understand this. It is also a nation that has also been in direct conflict, as a nation, with pan-European powers since the 1700s. It has a deep sense of nationhood that has served the country well for several millennia.
Ethiopian leaders are expected to lead. Without taking concrete action while nursing a highly armed and pro-active ‘junta’ in a critical province, this can not be possible. To be clear this is not to support any war efforts or any actions that lead to any loss of life. There is a real risk that the TPLF’s customarily ruthless and shortsighted actions may create lasting resentments towards the innocent peasantry of Tigray, especially many reported acts being carried out in this current confrontation, a matter that the Ethiopian state must also keenly protect against.
Penultimately, the TPLF should return all commandeered military assets and installations to the government of Ethiopia and then proceed to have constructive dialogue if they are truly suing for peace. To continue to wage a war against such a group would then not have any moral pretext. Not, however while they armed to the teeth and engaging in continuously horrific, clandestine militant endeavours.
This is a point that all responsible parties should advise. Not to whitewash and prop-up the extinguished legitimacy of a deeply corrupt, routinely immoral and cynical ‘clique’.
They have nonetheless always been treated with grace and love by all Ethiopians. Even being allowed to retire almost fully unchecked. Despite the extreme ethnic tensions they themselves have constitutionally instituted, with extremely divisive critical policies executed on overtly ethnic lines. Especially in cementing extremely unstable intra-national regional dynamics. This being with the view that only they would be able to contain or control any ensuing chaos through an outsize regional possession of wealth and arms.
No government, however, can accept or contend with a highly armed, oligarchic provincial authority that is hell bent on mutual destruction as opposed to any peaceful or somewhat aligned co-existence. One that hampers even basic state and governance activities across the country. Out of a foolhardy pettiness and dangerous sense of entitlement.
War is indeed not good, but lasting and realistic peace is a prize worth pursuing, if some stability can be created. Extremely sad as the tragic cost is, the choices for PM Abiy Ahmed of Ethiopia are brutally limited. The lights having been immediately switched off on him by the previous administration as they left office, sure that they will very shortly return in triumph. Even by popular demand and uprising that yearns for their unshakable iron grip.
Abiy on the other hand has to defend against open and flagrant attacks on any Ethiopian civilian or army installations by whoever that is. As the commander in chief. Otherwise he is a leader purely in name in Ethiopia, like all the other TPLF installed Ethiopian state figureheads.
So much was declared by the crying women members of his own fledgeling parliament last week. The cost of not taking action already past being equally intolerable to most Ethiopians.
The TPLF have made severe and grave miscalculations in their acts after they resigned from power in Ethiopia by an overwhelming national consent. A graceful and co-operative exit would have served their legacy and survival far, far, far better. They are a party that have been unable to co-exist, despite reaching the very self-same heights of Icarus, while in power for over 27 years.
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Note. All sourcing for this article are directly from former TPLF politburo members and cadres (interviews), admissions by the current TPLF spokesperson Getachew Reda; disseminated on YouTube in local Ethiopian dialects which are not shared in English. Along with disclosures in Amharic and English made by the Ethiopian government. References available for independent corroboration or correction.
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