OPPOSITIONS’ AND SUPPORTERS’ ENDLESS SMEAR CAMPAIGNS
PART 20
By Mathza, March 22, 2010
Most of the oppositions’ leadership and their handful
supporters, particularly the minuscule vociferous Diaspora, and some individuals
obsessed with lust for power and hatred against Prime Minister Meles Zenawi have
been and are doing anything to get rid of him, the TPLF and the EPRDF. They are
intimidated and demoralized by his intelligence, capability, competence and the
respect he commands in the international community. Their hatred is limitless.
In their obsession and desperation to snatch power,
they have crossed the line of treason by compromising and endangering the
sovereignty, security, territorial integrity and national interests of Ethiopia.
The following are examples supporting this statement:
·
They condemn Ethiopia’s defense against jihadists;
·
They praise, congratulate, defend, encourage and
support—instead of denouncing—the atrocities committed by separatists and
jihadists;
·
They condemn Ethiopia’s reaction to such atrocities;
·
They collaborate and scheme with the Eritrean government which
has been and is trying hard to destabilize and disintegrate Ethiopia;
·
They belittle EPRDF's sound government policies and
strategies, which have proved successful;
·
They deny and ridicule the double-digit economic growth, a
remarkable progress and performance in socio-economic development in the last
five years; and
·
They unashamedly accuse the Prime Minister of being a stooge
of developed countries because of, among others, his success to mobilize foreign
assistance (For example: by not giving in to pressure from such countries to
allow foreign banks to operate in Ethiopia he not only shielded the development
of local banks but also saved the country from the devastating impact of the
current global financial crisis).
In short, these hate-mongers and anti-Ethiopia elements do not
care at all about Ethiopia and Ethiopians. Their only desire is to be in power
by any means—in the driver’s seat—without any concern on how that might impact
Ethiopia and its people, enie kemotku serdo aybqel.
One of their
tactics is a negative smear campaign portraying the country's image and, in
particular, it’s dedicated Prime Minister with all kinds of monstrous adjectives
and pictures. Among the methods used include politicizing everything, outrageous
allegations, lies, exaggerations, wild generalizations, spinning,
misinterpretation and spreading rumors. Practically all of the writings of
these-diehards are replete of despicable descriptions and character
assassinations, all intended purely to bring down the government. This writing
ferrets out examples of statements that do not make any sense, are illogical,
are concocted, or are not supported by facts—purely intended to misinform and
mislead readers, particularly the Diaspora silent majority. It is a modest
attempt to expose those bigots who have been hoodwinking and continue to
hoodwink the Ethiopians and the international community. (In the future, there
will be a series of matrixes like the one below, each proceeded by the current
two paragraphs).
Title/Source/Date
|
Author’s Statement |
My Comments |
|
1. The ultimate chess game: Meles and the 2010 "election", by Golto Aila,
ethiomedia.com, January 15, 2010. |
…he [Meles] instituted
differential regional development favoring Tigray region… |
The writer has based his presentation on nine allegations against Prime
Minister Meles. The first, which is the subject matter of my comments, is
titled “The Ethiopian population of Tigray”.
The allegation in the middle column is meant
to reinforce misinforming readers who have heard or read about it countless
of times. Readers may remember that Tigray was, following the fall of the
Derg regime, allotted additional funds to repair part of the infrastructures
that were destroyed during the Derg regime. This was a one-time allowance
and only during the initial phase of reconstruction. That was all. All the
allegations that every thing goes to Tigray have been proven erroneous. Many
independent individuals and institutions that visited Tigray support this
fact. If Tigray was developing at the expense of the rest of Ethiopia then
why are the Tigrayans among the poorest, if not the poorest, in Ethiopia?
Soon after the fall of the Derg,
the Tigray state established development
organizations and became the pioneer in development that was later emulated
by others. The newly formed development organizations were driven by
their conviction, vision and dedication and worked hard to implement
critical projects. They generated financial resources through donations and
grants from individuals (Tigrayans and non-Tigrayans) and various
organizations, such as the Tigray Development Association (TDA), which was
established in 1989. Furthermore, Tigrayans
living in the region also contribute unpaid manpower (currently 40 days
annually) to the development efforts. This video
http://aigaforum.com/articles/In_the_middle_of_a_Green_Revolution.htm
is a good example showing the rehabilitation
of and making productive dry and barren land in Tigray, a process that
continues unabated. These and other
activities may have given the impression that such developments were
financed through the transfer of government resources from Addis Ababa.
Readers may recall hearing and reading in the media that Mekelle was sinking
because of the resources transferred to it from the rest of Ethiopia. However, it is apparent
that the achievement are based
on the dedication of the leaders and hard work of the people to accomplish
their development objectives.
|
2.
Ethiopia - Elias Kifle Pleading to Protest against UNSC-Sanctions? By Alex
Birhanu, ethiolion.com, 02/10/10.
|
… a hired agent paid by
Afewerki and his PFDJ-military-junta to mislead Diaspora Ethiopians… … his call on East Africans
and implicitly Ethiopians alike in his Afewerki paid mouthpiece website to
go out and demonstrate against the United Nation Security Council (UNSC)
sanctions… |
The author, Alex Birhanu, calls Elias Kifle a “hired agent.” Although I have
no proof to confirm this, I can nevertheless
say with certainty that Elias is the mother of not only liars but also all
Ethiopian traitors. He is a sick man. How else can one explain his call on
Ethiopians to join Eritreans in demonstrations against the UNSC sanctions?
Is he not insulting the intelligence
of Ethiopians by asking them to defend the number one enemy of Ethiopia?
From the multitude of demonstration pictures in different
venues and countries posted on dehai.com, I could only see
about four Ethiopian flags in a sea of Eritrean flags. One cannot rule out
the possibility that there may have been one or two flags doctored and
displayed in different configurations in the crowd. There were, apparently
no Ethiopian flags in the demonstrations outside the U.S.A. The question is
who were carrying the Ethiopian flags, Ethiopians or Eritreans or both? The likelihood is the latter two. In any case, the
participation of Ethiopians must have been insignificant, probably limited
to Elias and a handful of his deranged likes, such as Neamin Zeleke. It must
have been a big disappointment to President-for-life Isaias and his blind
followers!
Elias tells Ethiopians that “Eritrea is being victimized for standing up on
the side of the oppressed people
of Ethiopia and Somalia who are being
brutalized by the West-backed genocidal regime in Ethiopia.” He, in other
words, is telling us, Ethiopians, to be thankful to Eritrea’s leadership and
in return give Eritrea a helping hand by joining the demonstrations. What a
mockery! Elias and his likes who participated in the demonstrations are
traitors. They very well know that the egomaniac
President Isaias is Ethiopia’s
arch enemy. The following are among
the crimes he committed against Ethiopia:
·
He blocked food delivery from and
passage for famine stricken Tigrayan refugees to Sudan during the civil war;
·
He expelled Ethiopians living in
Eritrea empty handed immediately after he entered Asmara;
·
He did every dirty maneuvers to exploit Ethiopians
and Ethiopian resources;
·
He denied starting and losing the so-called border
war with Ethiopia;
·
He continues to carryout out activities
against Ethiopia. His tactics include proxy wars by
organizing, training, arming and funding the so-called liberation fronts.
The fronts are a means of sabotaging the socio-economic development of;
creating chaos in; and
eventually disintegrating Ethiopia. It should be recalled that the
most recent armed Ethiopians that were apprehended were instructed, among
others, to destroy the Tekeze dam.
From the onset of independence (probably even earlier), the egomaniac President Isaias had grandiose ideas and schemes. These
included: playing the dominant role in the Horn of African countries’ leadership; making Eritrea the
Singapore of Africa; and industrializing Eritrea using Ethiopian resources
and market. In order to achieve these objectives he and his mafia
were involved in illegal foreign exchange activities, money laundering,
contraband, etc. Soon after gaining independence he contributed peacekeeping forces to the Congo, with the objective of treasure
hunting (illegally acquiring precious metals).
Does the self-reliance that many Eritreans boast about so much mean acquiring
“aid” through such means in addition to those mentioned above?
When the omniscient and omnipotent President realized his
grandiose ideas and schemes did not
work he resorted to attacking his neighbors. In the case of Ethiopia he
started the 1998-2000 war, refused mediation efforts by the international
community to stop the war yet begged the
UNSC for help to stop Ethiopia from advancing further after Ethiopia
occupied one-third of the Eritean territory.
His war mongering was not limited to his neighbors. He blamed, criticized,
accused and denigrated other countries and international organizations. When
the U.S.A. refused to have a base in Eritrea his aggressive nature
deteriorated and started to attack the latter. It
is to be recalled that his government was among the three African countries
alliance of the willing that supported the U.S.A.’s invasion of Iraq.
Now history repeats itself. The odd man does not understand there are limits
to what he can do. The world community spoiled him by not taking action to
curb his limitless ambitions and actions. He is now begging Nigeria to free
him from the quagmire he put himself in. He has short memory; Nigeria is
among the African countries that almost unanimously requested the UNSC to
impose the sanctions. Based on this reality, how dare Elias
Kifle lie “The people of Ethiopia and all Horn of Africa
countries stand with Eritrea in opposing the resolution…”?
|
3.
Strategic plan for a transition period – Obang Metho,
ethiopianreview.com, February 17th, 2010.
|
…It is crucial that
Tigreans and TPLF supporters support a non-ethnic system that does not give
everything to one group on the basis of ethnicity. If you compare the
development, business opportunity, educational system, medical and health
services, agricultural resources and other opportunities available in the
Tigre region and compare it to others, you will see it far exceeds other
regions. Please see this link for more
information. …We know Meles has set you
[Tigrayans] up for this [one- ethnic-group domination] to ensure your
isolation… |
What the first statement in the middle column in effect says is that
everything goes to Tigray, a wild allegation that has become the mantra of
chauvinists. This time we are hearing it from an individual who cannot
obviously fit in the chauvinist group. His apparent conclusion is
that Tigrayans support the TPLF because they get
everything.
He claims that development and opportunities for development in all social
and economic sectrors in Tigray “far exceeds other regions.” To support his
wild allegation he refers the readers to this link. There
is, however, nothing in the link that compares the development in Tigray
with any other regional state. Such being the case, how did he arrive at
“far exceeds other regions”? On the contrary, the link reveals that “43 per
cent of Mekelle residents are below the absolute poverty line.” Obviously,
those outside Mekelle where opportunities are more limited are worse off.
Then, how can he, in all honesty, assert that everything is given to one
group, meaning Tigrayans?
The factors in item 1 above and nothing else explain
whatever successes have, so far, been achieved in Tigray. The TPLF prudently
and efficiently invested in priority areas with whatever resources were
available. (TDA, as is well known, served as a model for other
similar sister organizations.) The people, including those in the Diaspora,
made financial, time and labor contributions. The observations made by other
Ethiopians from all over Ethiopia, including model farmers, that
participated in the 35th anniversary of the TPLF and witnessed
the hard working Tigrayans at work confirmed what other unbiased Ethiopians
have been saying. The fact that Tigray has been a model in many areas of
development, thanks to its leadership, is another truth that makes non-sense
of the writer’s allegation.
In a threatening tone he tells Tigryans to join other Ethiopians. This they
should do now “rather than waiting for a time of national crisis.” I leave
this to the readers to make their own conclusions as to what he means by
this.
|
4. 35 years of the TPLF and 34
years of Meles
|
…the central committees of
the TPLF and MLLT… passed a decision to retain 95% of the aid. The
leadership is guilty of mass murder by withholding life-saving donations
from the starving millions.
|
The writers could be one of the following: 1.Tigrayans, 2.Eritreans and 3.
Imposters.
As their names are typical Tigrigna speaker names they can be Tigrayans or
Tigrinyas. The latter has been adopted to be equivalent to the former in
Eritrea. It is one of the many myths the Eritrean leadership created during
the civil and post war. Another is the racially motivated ‘we are
unique’—meaning better than others in practically everything—with all its
Hitleric implications. The myths were intended to completely
deny any link with Ethiopia and inculcate superiority complex on Eritreans.
Unfortunately, they seem to have succeeded in convincing most of the elite
Eritreans.
From the content of the writing, I would
discount the first. This would leave us with the second and third. Both are
possibilities. As most of us know, Eritreans have been and are still using
the media (including pall talk forums, blogs, twitter and face book),
demonstrations and meetings posing as Ethiopians to advance President
Isaias’s political agenda of disintegrating Ethiopia in order to exploit its
resources and market and advance Eritrea’s other interests. In view
of this it is quite likely that the writers are Eritreans, the second
category. The third category, imposters, includes anti-Ethiopian Ethiopians
who purposely selected the typical Tigrigna-speaking names to deceive the
readers. In other words, one cannot rule out the possibility of the third
category being the authors of the write-up.
The allegation that 95% of the $100 million aid for the 1984-1985 famine was
used to purchase weapons cannot be true. How can one buy that practically
the whole aid was diverted when the Derg was using hunger as a weapon? How
can one buy that 5% of the aid saved the lives of hundreds of thousands
famine stricken people? How can one buy that the TPLF starved its people on
whom it depended so much? How is it that none of the NGOs discovered even
one sand bag? Anyhow, as the saying goes the devil
is in the detail. No detail or clear evidence is provided about the type of
weapons, where purchased from, etc. (For further details please refer to
Haile’s article in Aiga Forum of 3/8/10 “Lyunetachew Mnu Lay New?”). It
should be noted here that Ato Siye Abraha and Waizero Aregash Adane, both
former EPLF fighter officials, now in the opposition camp, denied the
allegation.
Christian Aid refutes BBC’s
dishonest report
http://www.waltainfo.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=20056&Itemid=52
vehemently condemns BBC’s Martin Plaut’s report. Christian Aid claims that it had
monitored step by step from purchase to delivery
to distribution of all food they provided. Oxfam, UNICEF, the Red Cross and
Save the Children all confirm that they also did the same thing. Max Peberdy, a
worker with Christian Aid, declared: “We routinely monitored the
trucks shipping aid across the border. The claim made by Araya is frankly
absurd. I was personally present at dozens of grain purchases and never once
saw any sand in any grain bags.” Penny Jenden, director of Band Aid at the
time, backs up this statement. During his travel in the war area in
1990 Peberdy saw “some fighters with AK-47 automatic rifles,
certainly, but also many with older rifles, farmers' shotguns, or without
firearms at all” confirming there were no new military hardwares. Sir Bob Geldof and other
individuals support the statements of the NGO’s. Geldof
insisted that “There were not many deaths in Tigray because they
were getting help – and massive amounts of it.” Nicholas
Winer’s, the former director of Oxfam in Sudan and Ethiopia, statement
reinforces the above assertions: “The process [distribution
of grain] did work. The flood of refugees into the border camps slowed to a
trickle, and health levels improved in Tigray. That's what people gave Sir
Bob their money for and, by and large, it did what was expected of it.”
The Scots musician Midge Ure who
helped raise funds for the cause questioned the secret behind the 5% that
got through to feed such a huge number
of people. In his article (a must read)
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/03/17/2847864.htm?site=news,
Mark Colvin,
an eyewitness film maker who traveled deep in the war area in 1990, reveals
facts discrediting Plaut’s report and the two former TPLF members. He, for
example, did not see “brand-new military hardware”, and asserted “…the great
majority of aid sent to Tigray at that period was not sent as money, but
directly - as bags of grain or flour.” The latest report
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1259061/Sorry-Bob-Geldof-Band-Aid-millions-DID-pay-guns.html?ITO=1490#ixzz0idczMGfD
on the alleged misuse of Band Aid fund is that by Zoe Brennan. He introduces
John James who was Band Aid Field Director in Ethiopia from 1985-91 to
support that aid money was used to purchase military hardware. But nowhere
does James categorically assert that donor's money (up to 20 per cent) went
to fund the rebels. All his statements are speculations: “…he traveled in
convoys he suspected were transporting arms… It is probable that some money
was diverted to buy arms.” On the contrary, he believes “a just
use was made of the money.” How is it then that his testimony is presented
to confirm the allegation? From the above testimonies
it is clear that the people were fed and their health taken care of and
their
lives saved. What matters is, thanks to donors, that
a catastrophic situation— starvation/famine and death—was averted. Under the
circumstances, as long as the mission was accomplished, what is wrong
with using part of the money, if used at all, to remove the Derg regime that
was creating havoc all over the country, including mass murders and
committing gross human rights violations. It is apparent
that Plaut’s one-year research, it seems, purposely excluded the NGOs as
source of information. So who is lying, these NGOs, Bob Geldof and others or
the two former TPLF members or Plaut himself? Now, what is the motive behind Plaut’s report on something
that he purported happened a quarter of a century ago? Based on his previous negative write-ups on Ethiopia, one wonders why
he came out with this one now on the eve of the Ethiopian elections. One possible assumption is that he has an axe to grind in support of the Ethiopian oppositions and/or foreign
elements who do not wish well for Ethiopia. Or is it to get even with the
current government for what we do not know happened?
Despite EPLF’s blockage of the route to Sudan that the TPLF badly needed for
delivering food aid and transporting the drought and war victims to Sudan,
the TPLF managed to save the people of Tigray from decimation. It should be
noted here that the Derg regime was purposely starving Tigrayans during that time.
The writers seem to use Plaut’s report to cover up the heinous action taken
by the EPLF against the people of Tigray. As the Amharic saying goes “man
yimskir yenebere…” the vehement denial of aid NGOs who provided, delivered and monitored the distribution
completely discredited and shuttered the lies originating from the two
former disgruntled elements of TPLF. (http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/11428).
|
|
5.
From Greensboro, North Carolina to Addis Ababa Ethiopia By Yilma
Bekele, ethiomedia.com, February 19, 2010. |
The college students of Greensboro, North Carolina…were refusing to accept the doctrine of ‘separate but equal’ garbage peddled by the white majority…Segregation was real but ‘equal’ it was not. The Bantustans of South Africa and the Kilils of present-day Ethiopia are modeled on this bankrupt and insane doctrine. … Oppression is not unique
to us [Ethiopians]. Treated like a second-class citizen in your own land has
happened to others too… |
Is the writer serious to compare conditions in Ethiopia with those in
Greensboro and Apartheid South Africa? Which Ethiopians are treated as
second-class citizens? None. When he wrote his article,
the nostalgic writer must have been in a trance dreaming of the old days.
After sleeping for 20 years like Rip Van Winkle he woke up to find that every Ethiopian has become
first-class citizen. The few chauvinists like him who used to consider
themselves first-class citizens are in shock and denial. They are confused.
They find it difficult to swallow the bitter pill that Ethiopia has become a
country of classless citizens.
|
6.
Eritreans and Ethiopians working for peace in the Horn of Africa, By
Amanuel Biedemariam, ethiopianreview.com, February 20th, 2010.
|
There is a consensus the
minority mercenary regime of Meles Zenawi is the only hurdle to peace in the
region…It is not hyperbole to state Meles Zenawi is the most dangerous
leader the Horn of Africa has ever-seen… …the UNjust Sanction
measure imposed on Eritrea is a blessing in disguise because it gave the
friends of Eritrea to say this is a good place to start a lasting
relationship, friendship and working relationship. By marching with
Eritreans they want to set a precedent for generations, to show them ways in
which they can cooperate… hunger in 2010". |
The writer is an Eritrean, and apparently an ardent supporter of President
Isaias. His objective was to convince Ethiopians to join in the February 22
demonstration against the United Nations sanction on
the Eritrean leadership.
He demonizes Prime Minister Meles. He says nothing about his egomaniac President Isaias. This implies
the former is the devil and the latter the angel. What a travesty! He, of
course, keeps quiet as to who brought all the trouble in the Horn of Africa
and continues to do so. Was it not his mad dog President who started fighting with
all of Eritrea’s neighbors, including Yemen across the sea? Eritrean leaders
and elites will continue to claim Ethiopia started and Eritrea won the
1998-2000 war when the whole world knows the reverse is the truth. They
never admit nor correct their mistakes.
They go on and on saying and doing the same things. And it gets worse by the
day. The latest Al Jazeera
http://nazret.com/blog/index.php?title=eritrea__afwerki_in_conversation_w&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1
showed the true colour
of the president. It was the mother of all of his
many interviews. His usual boring and ridiculous answers to questions posed
by the interviewer were either flat denials or calling the contents of the
questions lies. Examples: anybody can leave this country any time; the
defection of the Eritrean football team in Kenya is news to me; the whole
world is behind Eritrea; and we are number one on
this continent. The Eritreans who are seeking support from Ethiopians
should be ashamed to have such a liar and irresponsible leader,
president-for-life, and of their own audacity to insult the intelligence of
Ethiopians. From some pictures of the demonstrations it seems that they had
the support of some anti-Ethiopia Ethiopians, particularly members and
supporters of the so-called-liberation fronts who would obviously be obliged
to do so.
The sad thing for President Isaias, on the morrow of the
futile demonstrations, is that the European Union Council
adopted a decision to implement UNSC’s travel restrictions, freezing assets and arms embargo on Eritrea.
Switzerland had already done it earlier. The U.S.A. and Australia did the same.
The former, in addition, expressed its disapproval of the demonstrations by
issuing warning to its citizens—which include Eritrean-Americans—to avoid
“anti-UN sanction demonstrations against the United States.” About the same
time, the UK followed by Canada decided to impose a
ban on Al Shabaab. There is the likelihood that the demonstrations will
politically adversely impact Eritreans in their respective adopted
countries. They could, however, be a blessing in disguise for the majority
of Eritrean Diaspora who have been forced to contribute to endless fund
raising activities in addition to the 2% tax on their incomes. As for President
Isaias he finds himself in a most awkward predicament.
He brought this upon himself (“Alarf yalech tat…”). Finally he made it. He reached the dead end!
President Isaias received credentials of 15 new ambassadors a couple of days
before the much-publicized demonstrations took place. He had the temerity to
admonish some of them with respect to the roles their countries played in
imposing the sanctions.
|
7.
Ethiopia - Debate exposes deepening distrust of
ruling party,
By Genet Mersha, nazret.com,
02/25/10.
|
“In the
executive branch of the government… [line ministries], women constitute
13%...” In the Cabinet,
at the top of the echelon, there was only one woman heading a line ministry
[Education]”, which he [author Alemayehu Fentaw] sees as retreat by the
regime from its own target. |
The first statement is a direct quotation from author Alemayehu Fentaw’s “Towards
Inclusive Security in Ethiopia” sponsored by Oslo-based think tank
(aigaforum.com). The writer seems to attribute the second to the same author
as well. Who the author is immaterial. What matters is the last part of the
statement, which is contradictory. How come going from one-woman minister to
more that one (13% of the ministerial posts), be considered retreat from the
government’s target?
|
8.Feb.
22 rally further solidifies Ethiopia-Eritrea solidarity, By Elias Kifle, ethiopianreview.com, February
28th, 2010.
|
The real reason behind
Woyanne’s campaign to have the U.N. impose sanction against Eritrea is that
the Eritrean government has been providing moral
and political support to Ethiopian freedom fighters
such as Ethiopian People’s Patriotic Front (EPPF) and other. |
Any reader who has been following news, reports, reviews, etc. on Ethiopia
and Eritrea cannot help but notice there is some thing missing in the
statement in the middle column. That something is military support, the most
important. It includes training, provision of weapons and finance as well as
micro planning and logistics related to devastating activities within
Ethiopia. Misinforming readers through omission of facts is one of the
tactics of Elias Kifle. In any case, we have been hearing President Isaias
himself accusing the US government, not Ethiopia, on imposing the sanction.
|
9. Ginbot 7 Dimts Radio, 02/23/10.
|
Be’ateqaly be Ertram hone
be’akababiw lalew huneta be’andegna beqendegna derejanet teteyaqi mehon
yemigebaw lalew chigir lalew qrane lalew ftcha ye Weyane zeregna
ambagenenawi agezaz new. |
The statement in the middle column is a quotation from a Ginbot 7 Dimts
Radio interview with Neamin Zeleke following the Washington demonstration
against the UNSC sanction on the Eritrean leadership, on February 22, 2010.
As I have already dealt with this in item 6 above I do not need to bore the
readers.
|
10.
Tekeze River flooded,
ethiopianreview.com, March 9th, 2010.
|
Eyewitnesses reported to
Ethiopian Review yesterday that Tekeze River in northern
Ethiopia has flooded, raising suspicion that the…dam
may have sustained damage. Some speculate that the Woyanne regime flooded
the river to restrict movement in the area, which has seen intensified
movements by Ethiopian resistance groups who are fighting against the brutal
regime. |
What does the pathological liar Elias Kifle mean by “flooded”? He gives the
impression of a river crossing a flat area spreading out of its natural path
and covering the area nearby. This is unlikely considering the topography of
the Tekeze basin. As is normal with new dams, the level of water is let to
rise to accumulate enough water to run the turbines. Was this what his
eyewitnesses reported? Besides, the water level may have increased faster
compared to the last drought years. It has been reported that the Meher this
year has been blessed with rain. Is Elias twisting this blessing to suit his
habitual misinformation?
Sorry to disappoint Elias, it is very rare that a dam can be damaged with
increased flow of the river, especially at this stage when the water level
has not reached its working maximum level. First, it is designed to stand
pressure from the buildup of the water level. Secondly, excess water can be
drained easily when and if needed.
The allegation that attributes the so-called-flooding to the Ethiopian
government to deter the movement of resistance groups is ridiculous. How
does one flood a river? If Elias means raising the level of the water, the
only way to do this is to increase the flow of water. Elias is, in other
words, telling us that the “Woyanne regime” is capable of controlling the
climate! As for the resistance groups, there are no such groups in the area,
never heard of them. What evidence does he have of their existence let alone
of their fighting?
|