Getahun Tsegaye
Staff Reporter
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia- A coalition of four opposition parties has accused high-ranking government officials of advocating for the secession of Tigray, labeling such calls as indicative of a “systemic shift in outlook” within the administration.
In a press release today, All Ethiopian Unity Party, the Amhara Giyonawit Movement, the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Party (EPRP), and Enat Parties alleged that some top government officials are disseminating “dangerous speeches” regarding calls for Tigray’s secession.
The parties commented that a single instance of unforeseen comments from officials might be deemed a slip of the tongue. ‘However, consistent statements made by different high-level government officials over time undoubtedly reveal a systematic perspective.
Recalling what Addis Ababa Mayor Adanech Abebe said during the war with the Federal government two years ago, the parties condemned her statement regarding the TPLF and Tigray Region: “If they want to be a separate country and secede from Ethiopia, there’s a specific article in the very constitution they drafted that allows it.”
In a similar vein, the parties also condemned a recent statement by Field Marshal Jula, who reportedly said, “Secession does not require force. There is a constitutional process. Go through that.”
In their statement, these parties asserted that the “dangerous speeches,” delivered both publicly and behind closed doors, were not accidental, judging by their repetition and the high rank of the officials who uttered them. This, they claim, suggests a systemic stance. The statement further alleged that these “dangerous speeches” by high-ranking government officials are indicative of an impending war, which would be devastating given that the recent conflict claimed millions of lives.
“Differences are natural, especially when forces that once shared power under a revolutionary democratic system are now embroiled in a struggle that is burning the entire population in the fire of war. This is heartbreaking, absolutely unacceptable, and must cease immediately,” the statement read.
They further emphasized that, in the opinion of the collaborative parties, TPLF does not represent the people and region of Tigray, nor does the Prosperity Party represent Ethiopia and its people. Systems come and go, they noted.
They further alleged that some officials are exploiting the situation to disintegrate the country. They stressed that the divisive, uncorrected, and inflammatory remarks emanating from officials’ mouths, aimed at achieving this mission, must be rectified without delay.
The parties further stated that attempting to use the people of Tigray, who have endured immense suffering for the past fifty years, for any political objective is akin to rubbing salt in their wounds and must be clearly understood.
Three compelling calls to action were included in the statement’s conclusion. First, the parties called for the immediate correction of uncorrected statements made by TPLF and Federal Government officials, strongly denouncing them. Second, they called on all peace-loving people who care about Ethiopia’s future to do their part and demanded an immediate end to the war drums between the Federal Government and the TPLF. Additionally, they urged Tigrayans, who are directly affected by the conflict, to properly voice their disapproval. Finally, the parties called for an immediate halt to the widespread arrests and administrative tensions that have recently started in the Tigray region.
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What happened to the other article that was here about a meeting of intellectuals from Ethiopia and Eritrea? It is nowhere to be found on this site. I am sure there are many of us who were eagerly awaiting of how it panned out.
Just curious.
What happened to the ‘Eritreans and Ethiopians Discussion Event’? Any scoop? I hope I will not upset with my persistent question.
I tried to find out more about these four groups and the information I was able to get was very scant. They have no websites that are current at all or party programmers available for everyone to see. I used every search engine I know. They may have all these tucked in their pockets but that is worthless if they are not available for everyone to see. These are only four but it has been reported that the number of so-called opposition parties are said to be in their hundreds which rendered them to be weak and not ready for power.
My question to these 4 groups is why don’t they come into one political party? Why not? The fragmentation of the opposition is not only disappointing but it is utterly disgusting. Just look at them. They are formed along ethnic lines and some other lines they have a serious problem with to articulate. There are at least 6 groups for Tigray alone. I ran out of breath counting those who claim to be fighting for the rights of Oromos like me. I tried to see what others want, I almost fell down unconscious.
Just for the sake of argument, assume yourself to be a foreign power and want to talk to the opposition. Where do you start? It will take you months and even years to figure out who is who and what is what with the opposition.
You will get disappointed for wasting your time and walk away disgusted.
Btw, what is this ‘Amhara Giyonawit Movement’ thing? What does ‘Giyonawit’ mean? Is it an Amharic word or of a newly found ethnic group within Amhara? I would appreciate it very much if some one shed some light on this one.
Blessings!!!!