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TPLF vs PM ABIY AHMED
TPLF betrayed its long held progressive, socialist ideology and consistently failed to be inclusive and share political and economic power with leaders of non-Tigrayan ethnic background. One reliable source reports that out of the 60 most senior military officials, 59 were Tigrayan. As the people demanded change, the national consensus has been that Dr. Abiy is the politicians to match the humongous challenges Ethiopia faces at the present time. So far so good, with one avoidable exception. Premier Abiy should realize that it is absolutely impossible to satisfy or even include everyone in the name of MEDEMER since there will always be extreme elements who will not stop hating. Nor is right for him to play God and humanizeand generously forgive Mengistu. People may pray for his soul for murdering hundreds of thousands of innocent Ethiopians for simply holding opposing view. But it is up to God to judge Mengistu in the afterlife, assuming we believe there is life after death. I have in the past shaken hands with Mengistu and covered him as broadcast journalist in the late 70s and 80s. I admired his “land to the tiller” policy and for fully implementing it. It freed millions of poor Ethiopian farmers, mostly Oromos, from slavery under greedy feudal lords. Like many professionals, I escaped Mengistu’s Stalinist Red Terror executions twice as a college student and journalist. Many of my best friends and colleagues perished in the bloody campaign and their bodies were displayed on sidewalks as deterrent to others who went underground opposing the cruelty and inhumanity of the communist state. Dr. Abiy is right that hate is wrong but standing for the truth is not hate but true love. Love of country and its people is enhanced when wrong doers and criminals and mass murderers are brought to justice in accordance with national and international laws and norms. Michael Abraha is a print and broadcast journalist who has until recently worked as Chief News Editor for the new defunct South Sudan’s Pioneer Newspaper and the Doha Center for Media Freedom. He has in the past interviews leaders like the late Fidel Castro of Cuba, Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, the late South African ANC leader Oliver Tambo and many other dignitaries, artists and writers. Back to Front Page |