By ADDIS MOGES
The signed peace agreement has been entertaining the inevitable challenges in its implementation. Different rejections have observed following the peace agreement on Permanent Cessation of Hostilities and war which was signed by the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and Tigray peoples Liberation Front (TPLF) on November 2, 2022 in South Africa, Pretoria.
As a sequel of that agreement topmost military leaders of Tigray General Tadesse Worede and Field Marshal Berhanu Julla have also signed on ways of implementing the agreements signed previously on Kenya, Nairobi.
However, some of the articles in the agreement gets no acceptance by the elites, political parties, and diaspora of Tigray for various reasons. They believe that there must be a complete withdrawal of the Eritrean army and the Amhara militia from Tigray.
At the point in time, the Eritrean Defense Force has not only controlled a large area in Tigray but also deploying additional army to Western Tigray. It was recalled that the Eritrean army along with other allies was invited by the federal government to lend a hand in the fight against the people of Tigray, a region in the country with nearly seven million people. The federal government along with its accomplices have been exerted all their capacity to end the war with victory but eventually they found it impossible as Tigray Defense Force (TDF) was emanated from the people aiming to prevent the genocide waged against Tigray. The point is TPLF got votes of the people and formed a regional government that was serving until the allied forces controlled the Mekelle. Then, decided to continue their gruella fighting having mobilize the people. It was due this process that TDF was born, grew up and matured and wiped the invading forces out of Tigray.
According to some political analysts, the war has claimed the lives of nearly one million people and the destruction of all properties available in the region. was either plundered or destroyed. Millions of people were displaced and subjected to sufferings. The Eritrea government was/is the most active participant in the two years’ war and economic blockage.
Now that, the signed peace accord incorporated a binding article stating foreign countries to withdraw from Tigray immediately.
In fact, this is pivotal for the implementation of the signed agreement. This is what the Tigrayans protest against even after the good news for peace. The signed peace pact counted ten days so far. But the Eritrean Army and the Amhara militia are still in Tigray. They have occupied Adwa, Shire, Humara, Wolkite, Alamata, Korem and other cities. Despite the peace agreement to ensure security to the people of Tigray, Eritrea has been abominating, abusing and murdering Tigrayans having refused to withdraw from Tigray. Resources indicated that additional Eritrean army is deploying to Tigray after the accord was signed.
The state in Eritrea is one of the major obstacles in the implementation of the signed peace deal. Unless the Ethiopian government is in a position compel the Eritrean army to move out of Tigray, how can we expect Tigrayans support the peace agreement. How could we develop confidence to talk about the disarmament of TDF. It is really illogical. The firs and most important action that the federal government must accomplish is compelling the Eritrean army to leave Tigray as soon as possible. If the federal government fails to do this obviously the signed peace pact will be obstructed.
The people of Tigray have experienced the sufferings, abominations and murders by those allied forces. In the first place, the want to see the back of the Eritrean army who have committed most of the crimes in the region. In the second place, they need time so that they can develop confidence even on the Ethiopian army. It is obvious that there are no Tigrayans in the Ethiopian Defense Forces. If Tigray is to be considered as part of Ethiopia Tigrayan soldiers who were either in Tigray or behind the bars in different parts of Ethiopia must regain their former place in the Ethiopian army. Unless this has become a reality the protest against the disarmament of TDF seems quite logical and right.
All Tigrayans have confidence on TDF for their security. They believe that TDF belongs to the people not to TPLF and of course that is the reality on the ground.
However, neither the mediators nor the negotiators comprehend the very interest of the people of Tigray and the nature of the TDF. Everyone everywhere must know that no one can be in a position to decide on the future status of TDF. But the people of Tigray both at home and abroad along with all political parties in Tigray.
That is why TPLF officials coerced to declared the reality on the ground. The announcement sounds right that TPLF has no combatants and amendment is necessary to the disputing phrase.
Expressing on certain Articles of the signed peace pact doesn’t mean rejecting the entire peace agreement. Most Tigrayans accept the peace deal. They also believe that the problems could only be solved via peaceful negotiations. The decision makers on whether Tigray is to resume being one of the regions in Ethiopia are the entire people of Tigray that this can be accomplished through referendum.
There are tendencies of using the media for diplomatic purposes. For instance in the past few days the Ethiopian government via its media announced that aid is flowing to Tigray without any impediments to Tigray and the people have become beneficiary. However, the people know the fact. If there is aid in Tigray the people will witness and if there is no aid they can witness.
But according to residents in some areas of Tigray occupied by the federal government witnesses who preferred to remain anonymous said that the media continued its lies that there is no aid so far.
They argued that had the government been committed enough, it could have supported government employees who haven’t got salaries for the past solid year in its firs stride but nothing is on the ground. If there is nothing at the grassroots, how could the people believe the practicability of the peace accord.
The reason why the people of Tigray accept the other Articles in the signed peace pact is the fact that if the two parts agrees on the reapplying of the constitution as a principal document, they get the opportunity to decide peacefully either to resume with Ethiopia or riven. They can peacefully use Articles 39 of the constitution in deciding on their future fate.
Besides, if the constitution is to serve as a principal document the Eritrean army an invader that violates Ethiopian sovereignty not only Tigray region. In other words, all Ethiopians should stand against this conqueror no matter who invited them.
However, the paradox is the federal government wants to disarm TDF with the shortest possible time but doesn’t want or unable to force the withdrawal of the Eritrean army from Tigray. Unless they leave Tigray, the people will be subjected insecurity that why what Tigrayans are arguing sounds rights.
The mediators and negotiators should comprehend the very questions of the people of Tigray and must act accordingly. They want all invading armies to quit their land, displaced people return to their villages, get unhindered humanitarian aids, get access to their own money locked in banks, get basic communication accesses.
The people of Tigray either at home or abroad could support the signed peace deal if things mentioned above are fulfilled. And if they believe on it, Tigrayans are loyal to their words that they will cooperate for the implementations.
Therefore, it is mandatory for the mediators and the federal government to first work on the withdrawal of the Eritrean army by any means. Besides, they must show their commitments by ensuring what the people of Tigray have been denied of their rights so that they can develop confidence on what is going on and cooperate for the implementation of the signed peace agreement. If this is not the case, no matter who ever signs on the peace agreement, it is the people who eventually decide.
Please don’t make an already bad situation more difficult for the people of tigray. Call it what ever you want TDF,TTF,TPLF etc must disarm and disband. You have tried this all your life and it failed miserably so what good is having an army if that army cant provide any security for the people so the responsibility of security is the for the federal government. On the matter of welkayet, raya etc these places does not belong to tigray region but any Ethiopian can come and leave so no exception for the people of tigray. So get used to that it never been part of tigray it will never be now. The argument that on the new federal map shows as part of tigray it does not make it right or legal we all know how it happened. If someone steal something and cover it with a good rap it does not make it legal it still is a stolen material and thief has to be brought to justice.
Gojam: First, you must stop being a traitor which you inherited from your godfather, Menelik II. You are also one of these unitary, expansionist, chauvinist Amhara who can’t stop grabbing fertile lands, steal history and artifacts. You must top acting like you are the only care taker of the former state of Ethiopia.
You need to read your history about Wolkait, Raya, etc.
Now it is former Ethiopia as there is no so-called Ethiopian sovereignty because Abiy has sold the former Ethiopia to Arabs (Muslim countries). The Amara chauvinists and expansionists call the former Ethiopia as the island of Christianity in Africa. Yet, they call Arab countries to destroy Tigray the African quintessential.
You should have been grateful that Tigray shared its reach history, Axum Civilization, Alphabets, Calendar, resourcefulness, tolerance to other religion and thoughts, and so forth. However, sharing was not enough for Ethiopia, Ethiopia decided with the help of its criminal cohorts to obliterate Tegaru from the face of the Earth, divide Tigray land, and owner of Tigray’s reach history.
Amhara/Ethiopia entered to Tigray because the mercenary Eritrean army gave you a piggyback ride. Tigray has never been part of Ethiopia and it will never be part of Ethiopia. One Tigray region withstood Ethiopia, Amhara, Fano, Eritrea, Somali (FARMAJO), military advisors and drones from Iran, Turkey, UAE, China and Rusia.
ከጦቢያ የሚቀረን በህይወት እያለን በእሳት ተቃጥለን መሞት፣ድንቁና፣ውሸት፣ድህነት፣የመሬታችን ወረራ፣የታሪካችንና የቅርሳችን ዝርፊያ፣ስድብና ቡጢ ነው። ሐገረ ትግራይ።