Personal opinion: SAWT, BAYTONA, and TIP

Kalayu Abrha 1-2-22

I just don't get it: Haven't we heard the same statements by SAWT, BAYTONA, and TIP several times before?

What tests logical thinking to its limits is the frequency and timing of the official statements of the “trio”. Release a statement once; you may repeat it once more if there are modifications to the previous statement. But if you release a statement once, everyone has heard it and comments for and against it as I did in more than two occasions, it would be unwise to release statement with same content again. It may look like a childish urge to have your ideas to completely fill the air at the cost of more important issues. People have heard, and maybe they thought this is ill-timed, or too selfish and myopic, or oblivious to priorities. When people brush off the statements of the trio as untimely and even as distractors to the progress of the key mission it is great wisdom for the parties to refrain from releasing the same statements again and again.

 This may send the wrong message that “the public is deaf'. What is most disturbing about the frequent release of the same statements is the timing of the release. It is stunning that they choose the time when the TDF is engaged in a win it or lose it battle and the people of Tigray are suffering from mass starvation on the ground and fire from above their heads. Who insane mind would discuss democracy, multi party system, and political space in this situation unless they have come from another planet?

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I have no intention of discouraging multi-partism in Tigray. The young people in the trio are the future leaders of Tigray. But I don't want to tolerate their misbehavior in the middle of a war of survival and talk luxury. The concern of the people of Tigray at this historical juncture is not about which party is leading them, but which one is the “deliverer who can take them across the red sea to the promised land”. Moses is not leading Israel now; but no one else could have got the Israelis to Canaan. It is ok for present day Israel to have noisy politicians who fist-fight one another in the Knesset. The worst pharaoh and Nazi days are over. In these very bad days, to which direction the “the central pole of the Meskel demera” is going to fall is not yet known, Tigray needs a one-party dictatorship not a “quadrumvirate”.

 The best contributions the three parties can do for the people of Tigray is not releasing anti-TPLF statements at the worst of times but assisting TPLF in all ways possible to win the war and restore Tigray. Doing otherwise may hurt their reputation and the hope for future elections. If election has become their only concern it is sad, but they are entitled to their own feelings as long as they don't put obstacles on the road to victory.

I am not a TPLF-guy, but I am a pragmatist. For now, I am willing to entertain the idea of what TPLF is doing now, not what TPLF did in the past. Even if the devil joins the TDF to save Tigray, I will canonize him, no more say prayers against him. This is not blasphemy; that is the only way I can express myself about the unacceptable finger pointing of the trio against TPLF.

 I find it hard to believe that the three parties have joined the anti-TPLF chorus. Accusing the TPLF for almost anything that has gone wrong has become universal in Ethiopia. A child may break his glass but tell his mother: “the junta broke my glass”. When the OLA defeats some army contingent human odds like Gizachew “the grey” would say: “It is the junta that did this”. He is either belittling the bravery of the Oromos and/or appeasing them to tactically avoid enmity with a demographic majority. You know what the enemies of Tigray want to hear from everyone, including from the people of Tigray? Cursing the TPLF! These days blaming TPLF for every evil gets you an effortless visa to the PP world.

 Sajeed of My Views on News asked SAWT, BAYTONA, and TIP a very crucial question in his video on 1/2/22. He said: “Would the three parties be willing to participate in the National dialogue if PP invites them?” Why did Sajeed say this? Because he is as puzzled as I am about why the trio released the statement at this point in time. He said: “They released the same statement two months ago”.  Sajeed’s question is understandable. This could lead anyone into unfavorable speculation on the three parties about sinister intentions. Given the participation of the three parties in the war on the side of TDF, no one expected a distracting statement of this kind from them at this critical point of the war. It is very likely that people like me will misunderstand them. The release of the repeated statement by the three parties has come at a point in time which coincided with series of press statements by Redwan Hussien. He said this regarding participation in the National dialogue: “TPLF is not the only representative of Tigray”. This says it all! Soon afterwards Abrha Desta released and next the trio released a statement about their right to participate in the dialogue which TPLF is rejected from.

 This is expectedly the denial of the fact that TPLF has got a landslide in the election. Logically, if Tigray is to be represented it is the ruling party that represents it. Is it the democratic party of the republican party that represent USA? Why should international logic stand on its head when it comes to TPLF? The three parties tried in the elections but failed. They have acknowledged TPLF's election was more or less fair. We don't have short memories when it comes to Tigray! The three parties must respect the elected party as a representative of Tigray rather than share abusive terminology with enemy against TPLF. After election, respecting TPLF is respecting the electorate. There is no way around this. Denying the elected party its legitimacy is treason, no less. Don't expect me to be merciful in the choice of my words; you have not been merciful to Tigray either. The parties are contributing ammunition to the propaganda war by PP, Amhara, and Eritrea against TPLF. I expect you to release another statement apologizing to the people of Tigray and promise never to put concrete blocks on the bridge to victory.