On Pretoria: Questions that Matter!

By Aesop

The “TPLF’s delegation”, as the world called them, remain crickets about their Pretoria entanglements. They have yet to explain themselves on what they signed on behalf of Tigrai. Of course, Tigreans are privy to what ultimately culminated. They are left with few lose ends to tie before making their own minds. From the get go, one wonders whether Gen. Tsadkan is a TPLF member, if Tigrai has a government, whether TPLF has combatants, and if ENDF legitimate? But these “off-the-bat” questions dwarf compared to this: DOES THIS DEAL GUARANTEE TIGRAI’S SECURITY?!! In other words, DOES THIS DEAL SERVE TIGRAI’S NATIONAL INTEREST??!! Tegaru historians will write about this deal for centuries.

Now, recent experience has taught Tigreans to sniff political intrigues. Tigreans know how to tread carefully amidst insider threats, psychological warfare, betrayals, backdoor channels, blackmails, external pressure, and similar arts of “the cloak and the dagger”. The blood, sweat and tears shed for survival has taught them austerity in words and action. Tigreans are acclimated to life without friends in times of need. They even experienced the pain of watching Tigreans campaigning against them. Time will prove how these civilized yet oppressed people will emerge winners against all obstacles. Meanwhile, Tegaru will continue posing tough question only the honest can answer.

   The first set of questions goes to those whom Tigreans delegated to negotiate at their behest. 1) Why is Eritrea not mentioned in the deal? 2) Why is the Tigrean government not mentioned? 3) Why are Tigrean fighters called “TPLF’s combatants”? 4) Why is ENDF legitimized as sole defense force after the rape and murder it committed? 5) If Tigreans put down their weapon, who is going to guarantee their safety and security? 6) What will be the fate of those who raped, murdered, and lotted Tigreans? Tigreans will never give opportunists a chance to call them “spoilers”. But they will raise these legitimate questions in front of those who made this deal, perpetually. Above all, Tigreans want to know if these delegates signed a deal under honorable conditions.

The second set of questions goes to those seating across the “TPLF delegates”. 1) Why did you bomb Tigrai 24 hours after signing the deal? 2) Will you openly declare Eritrean troops must evacuate from Tigrai? 3) Will you restore the Constitutional Order which draws Tigrai’s territorial integrity? 4) Will you take responsibility for the rape, murder, and looting of Tigreans by ENDF? 5) Will you release all political prisoners, including the imprisoned Tigrean ENDF members? 6) Will you allow Tigreans to exercise their right to self-determination per the Constitutional Order you agreed to abide by? Again, Tigreans will not be so foolish to appear as “spoilers”. But they will continue raising these legitimate concerns, until they get answers.

The third set of questions goes to the international community which facilitated this process. 1) Will you take concrete measure against foreign actors fueling conflict in Tigrai, especially against Eritrea? 2) Will you take concrete measure against actors blocking unfettered humanitarian assistance? 3) Will you investigate the rape, murder, and looting that took place in Tigrai? 4) Will you take concrete measures against those who committed heinous crimes against civilians in Tigrai? 5) Will you pressure actors providing finance, weapons, and political support to actors raping, murdering, and looting Tigreans? Tigreans will continue to ask these questions till the end of time.

To conclude, Tigreans should prioritize Tigrai’s national interest above all else. Any piece of paper that falls short of preserving the safety and security of Tigreans is less worthy than the ink used to pen it. Tigrai’s interest trumps party loyalty. So far, folks sent to represent Tigrai, aka: “TPLF delegation”, remain quiet- leaving the ball in their own court. In any event, Tegaru should always promote leaders having the moral fortitude to uphold Tigrai’s national interest against external pressure. When it comes to leadership, moral courage, i.e., speaking truth to power when one must, is more valuable than tactical agility, aka., being street smart. As Meles once said: “we cannot please everyone!”