Siye criticizes PM Meles for stopping the last War with Shaibia early! Is he right or wrong?
Click to listen to the interview…. Interview
If you think Siiye is wrong to criticize PM Meles for stopping the war before Shaibia was completely defeated what do you have to say on Siye’s argument that Shaibia strong man Isaias Afeworki was a menace to peace as he is now thus he see no reason justifiable for the current Ethiopian government stand against Shaibia?
If you agree with Siye, do you think Ethiopians were united then, as Siye wants you to believe on how to build Democratic Ethiopia and its institutions unlike today that is? Siye said though Shaibia is menace to peace, then not now was the time to fight Shaibia head on. Now is the time, says Siye , to reconcile and have heart to heart talk among Ethiopians. Have Your say either way!
“Wufer Tebeges Kemzi Hizi”
Well, Sye’s argument is absolutely true in many ways. One thing I would like to say is that declaring war aiming at changing a sovereign government in a sovereign country is politically taboo and in breach of international Law. you can’t say, “I want to change my neighboring government!” This is real agression! If this war is going to be made, it is defenetely either to save Eritreans from Suffering under Isayas’ Rule at all Ethiopian costs (particularly Tigrean lives) or to divert internal political dinamics. And if shabia’s gone, then Ethiopia’s death will begin because we will be left in the open aire as we will have no government to save us from the enslavement by the Eritreans in our land. we have been freed so far because of the conflict. please listen to his interview with Asena.
I don’t agree on the Analysis by some brothers and sisters that meles is wrong only when it comes to eritrea. As a country of 80 million population, don’t we need even a single private TV or radio station??? After 20 years, why do we still begg?? why do we have a constitution that doesn’t limit the power of the PM?? why do we need to be a member of TPLF to get jobs??? Why do we get no light?? Is there any one who thinks there is justice in tigray??? can any one go to streats freely and make peacefull demonstrations??? Even economically, is Tigray growing??? I don’t mean that there have been no good things like expanding Universities and attracting the diaspora’s investment. But on the whole, he has made unacceptable mistakes.
Siye is absolutely right. This is the man who had paid heavily for this very reason.He served years and years of prison time partly for voicing his concern about shabia.He very well understood what shabia would mean to Ethiopians. Now, it is time for him to feel proud of the position he took that time. Personally, I do not see any reason for Ethiopia to go to war with Eritrea now. I say..NO TO WAR again and again. Sadly, we lost the chance of dismantling shabia in the early 2000. Dear PM Meles, please no war is needed now with Eritrea. Let’s do business. Meles, we already lost that chance once.So, please stick to the words you had been telling us so far and keep on building Ethiopia. Ethiopia is in a wonderful economic and social track thanks to you and to EPRDF.I do not blv that there will be a war with Eritrea. This is a propaganda.I do not know the reason though. For those of you who say Middle East, North Africa, e.t.c, I disagree. The ethiopian leaders are never afraid of such things for the simple reason that such acts do not have a public base. They are being pronounced only by some narrow nationalists, chauvinists, day light dreamers basically from one ethnic group(A M H A R A).
I respect our prime minister in many ways. But I have never accepted his policy towards Eritrea. Probably his stand on Eritrea remains one of his major sins which will, in the future, result in the political punsihment of most of us tigreans to pay the price in the future Ethiopia. In fact for a good analyst if we see the most fundamental reason that most hate mogers in the diaspora hate tigrians is because the general approach TPLF had regarding Eritreans before and after their separaation. Many of us defended Eritreans against pro-ethiopian views and stands. Whatever politically correct we may sound that has resuled in nothing positive either to Eritrea or to Ethiopia. Where is the good of Eritrean freedom we fought? Aren’t the eritreans still depndent on us. The eritrean issue is never solved throught the refrendum??? What good thing Ethiopia is getting from Eritrea? peace? Do we have peace with eritrea after refrendum? didn’t we fight one big war? is it not possible we may have war in the future? I think all this shows there is a fundamentally wrong appraoch to the question of Eritrea.
Meles’s policy is wrong and damen wrong regarding Eritrea. But this doesn’t mean he is not a good leader.
Hmmmmm…I listened to Ato Siye Abraha’s interview with VOA. I’m very disappointed by his claims that the Ethiopian government’s warning to Eritrea is misplaced and misleading to the public. He explained the reason why the government finally decided to issue a stern warning to the Sha’ebia hooligans is because of the domino effects of what is happening in Northern Africa and Middle Eastern countries. I’m very positive that he knows much more better about the government and EPRDF than the rest of us. This couldn’t be the case. The Eritrean government has been trying every available means and tricks at its disposal to harm and destabilize Ethiopia since its inception. Besides, Ato Siye claimed that during the Ethio-Eritrea border war in 2000, the advancement of the Ethiopian Defence Force beyond Dekemhare to destroy the Eritrean army for once and ever was prematurely halted by Ato Meles Zenawi’s decision. Well, I wish I had a a video record of what Ato Gebru Astrat and you told participants of a meeting at Atse Yohannes Secondary School, in which I was one of them, few days after the bombardment of Ayder Elementary school by Sha’ebia war planes. I agree with you that the No. 1 enemy of our country is poverty. However, I differ that while working hard to alleviate the economic woos of the country, the Ethiopia government needs to deal the Eritrean issue RIGHT NOW!!! For how long should the Ethiopian people pamper the Hooligans of Asmara? Is Ato Siye Abraha telling us that since a mistake was done in 2000 not to pursue the retreating army, there is no need to go after them now? Two mistakes don’t make right!!!!
I strongly, personally, request the Ethiopian government to handle the Sha’ebia’s persistent treat one and forever now without giving any excuses.
My advice to people, like Ato Siye Abraha, is to back off from their inflammatory remarks and false accusations against their former colleagues and contribute in the on-going effort both to make poverty and Sha’ebia history.
hi every one
i am not gonna tell you what Shaebia is because i believe that we all understood how Shaebia be heaves and stands for. at the time ethio- Eritrea war, i was teenager but i understood how the situation was on the both sides. on the eve of the war the Ethiopian government attempted to solve the problem peacefully by sitting around the same table. on the opposite side this was not acceptable by shaebia at all because they thought that Ethiopia was unstable and no good chemistry among the ethic group. and that was leading to conflict which is called the sunset operation. the Ethiopian defense force defeat shaebia remarkably and reached barentu. when the war stopped by prime minister, i was one of the persons got very angry and mad at meles but now when i think about the past i realized that i was totally wrong. stopping the war was an ideal decision and i wanna say well done prime minister. let me come up to the current situation between these two county recently i heard that ethiopia is to take an action against eritrea or change the regime. its upheld that shaebia is attempting to destabilize ethiopia and bombing in some part of the county. so i believe action must be taken in order to defense our selves and to make them change their policies not to terrorize Ethiopia but change of regime must be Eritrea’s agenda. i heard siye abraha interview he said that “ethiopia should not take an action against eritrea because ethiopia is not stable county at the moment” . this is very funny i dont know why we always give a wrong image to the outside world. i wanna ask you siye one thing if ethiopia is not stable at the moment do you think ethiopia was stable 10 years ago when you have had a war with eritrea? for me ethiopia is stable county than before and i dont think there will be uprising like some other north Africa countries because every one understand that ethiopia is on right track and there is a significant change.
IN MY OPENION THIS IS THE CENTER POINT IT DIVIDED THE
TIGRAI PEOPEL AND THE CURENT EPRDF LEDERS SPECIALY
THE LEDERS OF TPLF ( TPLF THE SOLE OF ALL TIGARU)
Dear Ethiopians:
Becareful what you wish for because you might get your wish! Those of you who are eching for war might have forgotten what the consequences of war are! It is very easy to start a conflict but ending it takes long and arduos years!
Some Ethiopians don’t seem to make a distinction between invading a sovereign nation and fighting to keep “one’s sovereign part” as the war in Eritrea was during the occupation. If there is no peace and stability in Eritrea, there will be no peace or stability in Ethiopia. Given the interanal frictions withing the Ethiopian state, the next conflict might have far more serious negative consequences to Ethiopia than to Eritrea!!
So, let us think about win-win scenarios for both peoples rather than panning zero-sum game manipulations! When there is peace and democracy in our region, the rest of our problems will be resolved with out any conflict.
Peace & Prosperity to our Peoples!!
Siye and his group (medrek) are trying to defend Isayas because he is the only dependable host of their armed militia. If isayas goes, then the whole story of armed rebeles will go hell with him.
WOW aiga thanks for posting the issue. and WOW Tigrean brothers. I am proud of you. Yes Siye is 1000% right.
What did we get from the last war?? and what did it cost us????
Anyways better late than never. EPLF should be removed and move to our port issues. I can understand the situtation with PM but he should give priority to Ethiopia for our fathers paid ultimate price to keep. Where did Yohannes die and how???? where did alula did to his country?? what did our fathers do to protect ethiopia and what the PM is doing is not acceptable by any standard. He can have eritrean blood which am not sure but he should decide. He should see the people he is leading. The only thing i like about Meles is his effort to bring development. His eritrean and democracy policy is a failure sorry to say that.
Impending Blunder?
“Land locking Ethiopia is good for Ethiopia” PM Meles Zenawi
“The moment Ethiopia claims Assab, it won’t survive as a country” PM Meles Zenawi
“If any country attacks Eritrea, we will defend it to the last minute” Aboy Sibhat
“Dying for Eritrea in the mountains of sahle was a noble cause” PM Meles Zenawi
The Prime minister needs to wage a war against his tortured mind set before going after Eritrea. What every Ethiopian needs to ask is: in the event Ethiopia under the current leader ship wages a war against Eritrea, what is the return for Ethiopia? Our memories are fresh with the victory that was brought by 70,000 souls and snatched by Meles Zenawi and buried it under Algiers agreement. When shabia was cornered in the box for the final kill in 2000, it is Meles Zenawi who aborted the war prematurely and saved shabia. Shabia was not less treat and evil in 2000 than now. Not drop of Ethiopian blood should be shed for the sake of Eritrea unless it guarantees Ethiopia’s national interest i.e. Ethiopia’s right to part of the Red sea to mitigate the influence of our sworn enemy Egypt, who is threatening to wage war against Ethiopia and to prevent Ethiopian vessels through suez canal. Also Eritrea needs to sign security agreement limiting its military capacity. We don’t want to prop up another Eritrea with port fee that would come again kill our children .
Yes, Siye is right to criticize PM Meles for prematurely stopping the war with Shaebia. Any decision that Meles made in relation to Eritrea has never been right and has never been in the best interest of Ethiopia. He is totally committed for Eritrea and Eritreans. If Meles is serious about removing Isayas this time, he is doing it for Eritrea and Eritreans not for Ethiopia. Meles even had the audacity to tell this news FIRST to an Eritrean media outlet (Asena). Ethiopian media was informed later.
The best Meles could have done for Ethiopia at this time was to officially reject the Algiers Agreement that was blatantly and repeatedly violated by Eritrea. But he will NEVER do this because it will definitely hurt Eritrea.
Wufer Tebeges Kemzi Hiji, sciensawi mebrek awrdelom … ooooooooooooooooo my favourite song. thanks abe and back to my comment.
Ethiopia, The amhara rule it, but the tigreans sacrifice our lives to save it. Only TPLF and Meles did break the pattern. When? when they made ethiopia landlocked! Siye knew he made a mistake and wanted to correct things, Melese made another mistake by stopping the ethiopian army from marching to asmara.
If all ethiopians can agree, respect each other, Ethiopia is for all of us. If not, we will crush any one that comes against the nation and denies the sacrifice we made and we are making. If meles make a third mistake, he is openly against the nation!
Why are we listening this all time LOSSER any way. He was wrong then, he is wrong now! It was not Ethiopia’s objective then for regime change. We went to remove aggressor shaabia from our land. We did that very well. The lesson was learned very well by shaabia. Ethiopia at that time can not afford to go all the way to Asmera…I am not saying militarily but other issues related to the lack of international support, the Eriterian people support was also solid to Shabia unlike what we see now. So, I believe Meles did just what he needed/have to do at that time.
PM Meles in his interview to Asena radio said he is ready to demarcate the boarder according the decision of the boarder commission. The Eritreans asked for that for the last ten years and because of his refusal we had to keep antagonistic posture for so long. Now it might be too late for him to mend relations with Eritrea. It seems Isaias is looking for Ethiopia with out Meles. He has created several mercenaries from each ethnic group and he is ready to unleash his dogs on us. PM Meles why did you wait until the situation gets so bad? I believe sooner or later war between Ethiopia and Eritrea is inevitable. However given the domestic situation do you think ware now is in Ethiopia’s best interest? Do we have a valid reason to go to all offensive war on a sovereign country? This is a lost cause and I hope the people of Eritrea and Ethiopia will find a way to avert such nonsense.
I do not think Siye is a politician at all. Offcourse, he was a warrior and a hero during the struggle against fascist in Ethiopia. But, when it comes to politics, analyzing it, critically think about it, he is nothing; I mean he does not have any clue on even the basic ethnic freedom issue in Ethiopia. Imagine, he said he does not support the freedom, god given freedom, nations and nationalities in Ethiopian. Apparently, tens of thousands die for this, apparently he struggle for it for years. He is “a stone living inside a sea without getting wet”. Siye never been a politician nor an analyst and his ideas, comments, and concerns will not bee talking/discussion points for Ethiopians. I truly believe and adore his past heroism as a military man, however, I do not think Siye understands Ethiopian politics at all. I personally consider Siye’s political understanding is the same as a first or second grader current Ethiopian student political knowledge.
As to his point of “no need to fight Sharbia…”that is flat wrong. Fighting or removing Shaebia is now, not 10 years ago. I repeat, fighting or removing Shaebia now, not 10 years ago. The reasons to why now not 10 years ago but now are too many and too complex to explain in this blog and to complex to understanding by Siye’s political understanding. As I said he is too immature and too illiterate to understand politics and critical thinking. I strongly support and advocate his “military only” leadership even if we’ve to go after Shaebia.
Very well stated, Ahadu! You are absolutely right. Meles knows that Eritrea’s economic existence is tied to Ethiopia. Among others, Eritrea needs the revenue from Assab port (which should be ours!). After removing Isayas, Meles’s next step will be to start using Assab and Massawa ports and siphon Ethiopian resources for Eritrea’s development.
Some of my brothers/sisters (even you – aigo forum) have been trying to compare between the level of national unity we have now and we had during the war against eritrea. In my openion, this is not the point that should be made, and neither is it Siye’s point. the point is, once we mobilized all of our forces for the war and paid many lives, shabia should have been finished in 2000. Shabin troops were not fighting back at the time when Ethiopian troops were forced to return after paing painfull sucrefices. And the war brock out not because Ethiopia wanted port or any thing else, but because of Shabia itself. Now, compare it to now: Ethiopian government initiates the War, which we Ethiopians have to pay, and then Ethiopia will be in charge of maintainin the post-Isayas governmentless eritrea. Who is going to pay all the costs of life and matterial at that time??
Another thing is that, don’t be fooled with the wrong perception that Eritrea is divided and that Isayas will have no support! that was the same mistake the eritreans did when they invaded us. this is a national issue and is not a jock! If the war breaks out, it will be like all other wars: we will have to pay heavy loses in life and matterial. even more pressing question is that what will we gain after paying heavy sucrefices and winning the war?? are we sure we will get peace?? get access to the see??? take badme back?? Are we sure we may not face a total protracted break down of order in eritrea??? What did we face in Somalia last time?? were not our defence forces forrced to pay an unexpected and protracted costs??? In any measure, initiating war at this time is an unacceptable mistake and I don’t think PM Meles doesn’t understand it. The reason lies on a totally different quarter: I guess to help eritreans save from Isayas’ brutality at all ethiopian costs, or to divert domestic political issues. or may be there is another reason we have yet to know.
GUYS, you must understood Siye.
Why is siye opposing the idea of war with eritrea?
1. He dont believe that the current leaders will make the right decisions. that means even if we loose another tens of thousands of people and remove shaebia, the leaders will make another bad decisions to the country. So there is no use.
2.He doubts if the current millitary leaders will be capable of handling the war. Ethiopians can never afford being defeated by eriteans. never. He is insisting that we should be strong inside first.
So the thing is that siye is not opposing the war with shaebia but he wants a war which will result in the interest of the ethiopia which i agree.
If meles thinks he will make the right decision this time and he is confident of his army( from top to bottom), then i will support the war am sure siye will support it too.
Those who are praying for war are those who never saw the consquences of war. I believ what we need now is peace and development. Through war we have been destroying our economy for too long. As a result of the long war both Eritreans and Tigryans have lost economically while others are developing. We don’t need ignite another sensless war.
There is only one reason why Meles is bringing up the issue now. He is totaly convinced than ever before that the Eritrean people can not and will not be able to change the regime in Asmara. Therefore Meles is more than willing to send young Ethiopians to die for the sake of Eritrea’s freedom.
Dear Aiga I am glad that you are trying to have a midea perspective
and I would like to say it is a good job and start. How ever, Please keep doing this for all your readers to having a balance information and political view. Peace for all Ethiopian and god may bless our country. Thank you!!!
I am a supporter of Meles Zenawi and his administration for many reasons.
The Eritrea issue however is THE SCAR on Meles’s and TPLF’s legacy.
TPLF boys have paid dearly in helping Eritreans gain their independence.
One is to assume Eritreans wld be grateful of the past favours and live peacefully as Ethiopia’s neighbour….well, that did not happen as Eritreas independent struggle was CONVEIVED ON DISMANTLING ETHIOPIA IN PIECES from the get go.
As we say “THERE IS NO ERITREAN PRIDE BUT HATE FOR ETHIOPIANS”.
I guess Meles and TPLF boys had assume that Shabiya would have a change of heart once independence is achieved.
They Guessed Wrong.
It is the biggest miscalculation TPLF ever did and Ethiopians will pay for this miscalculation for future to come UNLESS WE REMOVE SHABIYA!
Siye’s earlier position on shabiya was correct and genuine…however, his recent position is a reflection of his vendeta and serving the interest of the camp he is serving at the moment. Ofcourse we cant expect him to say that the PM’s recent stance is admirable…who are we kidding. Siye wants Meles to fail misarably.
It looks like Shabiya and Esayas will be a hunch back on our struggle to peace and development with the stance The GOE have at this moment.
No matter what Siye says…Shabiya has go down!
Meles and EPRDF have to stop their baby sitting attitude towards Shabiya for the sake of Eritreans and future relations…
I am quite certain we are doing the majority of Eritrean a huge favour if we neutralize and take out shabiya and Esayass.
Meles’s and EPRDF’s policy towards Shabiya have failed miserably and GOE dont have any other choice but to bring Shabiya down!
By doing so, we will accelerate our development and we can neutralize all the puppets Shabiya is using at home and abroad.
Siye is expired politician. All what he said on the interview contradicts.
On one side it is his belief that the eretrean regime is dangerous to ethiopia, on the other side he opposes when the current government plan to take majors to quite eritean intervention in ethiopian affairs.
I feel Siye is trying to protect the Eritrean regime because GUNBOT SEBAT is supported by this regime. If Esayas is ousted from power it will be the end of GUNBOT 7.
Thank you
No one would hate to see shaibia go. But EPRDF needs to make abetter argument to justify it through compelling national interest.We have learned from PM Meles himself that we can contain Shaibia and its provocations with less cost. My two thumbs up for that. Then why do we need to pay a heavy price to do the same thing while we can do it with less price?
We need the PM to tell us that we have a compelling national economic and security interest to intervene. When we talk about port we will understand each other. PM Meles, define your war objectives: we pay millions of dollars which could be usedn to build some of the projects in the five years transformation plan; besides we don’t know who would be tempted to invade us through our former ports. Hence as long as the war objectives are clear, go for it. But to tell us that shaibia is trying to destablize us aint good resean.
I would like to mention 2 things,
1. obviously there were mistakes here and there. no one is absolute (Meles,Siye or any body else made mistakes). no special to Meles. It is ridiculously non sense to argue on who was right/wrong. it has ZERO value. past is past. Let’s argue about present and future, because it has value. we make better decisions.
2. i don’t support face to face war with Eritrea. I don’t want to see any bloodshed again. I believe we can overthrow the dictator in Asmara with technology and other means.
I believe Pm Meles did the right thing stopping the war. It would have been a QUAGMIRE for Ethiopia for ever. We came out at the right time, leaving shabia with its own mess.
Why would we want to care for a dead land and ungreatfull people who keep biting us how ever we forgive them or how ever we embraced them. They never liked the rest of Ethiopia but themselves with that empty pride of theirs. If they don’t want to live with us, you cannot kill or inprison 5 million people to make them live with you. If we had continued occupying eritrea, I’m sure we wouldn’t have gone in our developmental progress as we have now, but still fighting with wanna be gorella fighters. De’j'vu all over again!!
Pm Meles is a leader with vision. And he new what the conquence would have been had we continued to push with that war. Look where we are now, we have the upper hand and most of all the whole world know what isayas really is. No more hiding in the name of freedom fighter.
Barhiru, you are trying to score a chip political point against Siye by misquoting him,
He doesn’t oppose the removal of Shabia, in fact he wanted it badly, but what he is questioning is the timing, the motive and PM Meles’s credibility in regards to protecting the interest of ethiopia…trust me, most Ethiopians are more worried about what Meles would do to Ethiopia in favor of Eritrea than what the poor and desperate Shabia is doing…Mark this words, a friendly Eritrea while Meles is still around will simply mean 5 million rich Eritreans who will own 80 million slaves and a huge resourceful country next door…just the way it was going prior to 1998…..mark these words and don’t forget them…
As for what is happening to Siye is አንበሳ ሲያረጅ የዝንብ መቻወቻ የሆናል ነው….Yes, Siye was a lion and NO one can take that away from him….you can say what ever you like about him.. but deep down you know that every thing the EPRDF cadres say about the likes of Adanech and Siye is not fair… but unfortunately history is written by the victor..
Ato Siye,
Arfeh kuch bel and enjoy the ride because Ethiopia has found good drivers like EPRDF who now where they are going.
I guess the timing for waging war against Shabia and its supporters is ideal and perfect this time. It is much cheaper to rid off this evil regime now than ever. The regime is much poorer, has lost most of his friends (Egypt. Lybia etc.) and the country had been deprived of its young citizens and there is no body who can or is willing to give his life for “Hadas Eritrea”.
However, my preference is the previous EPRDF policy against Eritrea. i.e “Even if a monkey is in charge of Asmara Palace, it shouldn’t be our business”. We should not sacrifice a single life again for the betterment of Eritrea. It is up to them to do whatever it takes to gain democracy or acheve economic progress. In fact Shabia is doing us a favor, indirectly, by deflating the unfounded Eriteran (Kebessa) myth of “civility” and their being a “sophisticated” society.
I agree with Siye, even though he too was part of the same cabal that brought about Ethiopia to the current predicament. War is evil and has disastrous consequences for all. So why go to war? There are other ways of dealing with Eritrean government’s meddling in Ethiopia’s affairs, for example, by supporting Eritrean groups opposed to Issaias.
Hi all brothers and sisters of our beloved country. I pray to my Jesus not to repeat the past black madness history again.
we don’t want any tention with Eritrea again. we know one man who may be live about 20 years of his life may be disturb not our country but the horn of Africa as whole even if he was having power I think I would like to say he could finish the whole world already. a
anyway if our Government start this war again we will defeat by the following pionts at this time the rope which ready to hang onnce for ever for Isyas will loss again and will have political acceptance by the Eritrean people which already they ingnored him already.
1 if we start the war eritrean people will stand as one again to fight us. we may push them then what? are we sure we will finish this war?
the government must think about
2 we will pay our brother again
3we will colapse economicaly and politicaly
4we cann’t eliminate 5 million at all. let’s say for argument how many years will take to finish these 5 million people ? how many braves are we ready to pay again if we have plan to go to anther tention. we know the Eritrean people are week in their internal affairs but they are one to defeant their own country and they don’t afraid to die too. Why we do mess with these people instead of concentrating to our fast development
4 do u think in this 21 centure the world will look us idle if we cross the broder don’t be sill our brothers and our govermnet. we will return back again to our mess poverty
If we are not being too selfish and nonsense, there is no denying that both siye and meles have achieved alot in the struggle. So i dont see the need to compare them.
what happened, happened already. The question is what should be done now?
EPRDF/Meles has the responsibility to clean the Eritrean mess they have created. The PM has to abandon his ever defensive stand on the issue. As far as the comming war wont sort out issues related to our access to red sea, it has no benefit if it is not to prolong their stay in power which will be doubtful in itself.
Aite Siye contradict himslef as usual. As for VOA ( Voice Of Audlteration) will always try their best to work against Ethiopia.
Aite Siye was a part of an organization, wich asked the Trigrian people to sacrifies so much in the struggle against their opressors then he sided with the enemy told us Ethiopia is not a”keretit of bihers)what ever that means. He also told us Ethiopian prisons ” speaks Oromigna “, to creat animostiy between two opressed people, mind you these were people who he imprisoned when he was a defense minster.
Now he is telling us that, we should continue to ignore Issias to hold hostage, terrorize 80 million people. This is an irresponsible and corrupt point of view, wich is expected
Imagine, just imagine, there is no Isayas in Eritrea. The Somali problem would be solved in a few months. The rebel movements in Ethiopia would be finished off in a few months.The Ethio-Eritrean problem would be solved in a matter of weeks. There won’t be one “mentaly compromised” leader holding hostage to the whole of East Africa at gun-point. Just Imagine.
As to Ato Siye, questioning Meles’ order to stop the war at that time, won’t make a difference now. How far inside Eritrea would you have wanted to go Mr. Siye? as far as Asmara? did you want to invade the whole of Eritrea? There was no point in continueing the war after achieving what you set out for.At least, not from a political stand point.The United Nations would have been breathing hard at your neck. Don’t forget, that time Isayas was a darling of the west too. Unlike you Ayte Siye, Ayte Meles was looking at the trouble Ethiopia was going to be in, if he lets the Ethiopian army march into Asmara.
Ayte Siye talks about the protests in North Africa. Does he know that the youth in North Africa are protesting at how much corrupt politicans, like himself, are destroying their countries? After all, wasn’t he convicted of coruption?
ato Seye
Recocking history has less cost.Miscalcuculation about the future is disaster .this is more evidnce in military than in any other feild. This means seye could give any opnion on the past events. It costs us nothing. But his comments on current developements ,has for sure a great cost, in all terms. In otherwords the issue of national securityshould have equally worried ato seye , like all ethiopians. Political diveregnce is ahealthy thing.But if it goes as far as damaging national security, it became ugly. There is a saying;dont break the thermometer to measure the temeprature.This means to be in the opostion has also some limits.Our histroy is also rich in this regard. Seye himself was looking for former Derg Generals to fight the Invastion of teh ISAIS. it is an natural for a man who claims to have served in the military to make misjudgemenet.
As he tends to beleive as a self accomplished person, he couldnot lend ear for others ; but it will worthy enough to remind him that war with out economic support is self defeating. This was what happned in the last offensive. second the last offensive was in the eye of most eritreans a threat to their independence . today Eritreans are revolting. The regime is a common enemy . Eritrea is changed into fortress of disgruntled eleements in the horn of Africa. This is not the interest of Eritreans. So in histroy your argemenet was a miscalculation. The method was wrong . And to argue against the would be action is to stand against national consensus on national security . refere to the history of the war of Adwa,1896to correct your steps
Dear Aiga readers it’s time to learn from our past mistaken. How ever, the pm Meles or Mr. Siye should come to the same circl or table to design the intrest and to protect feature of the nation. I can see how the Ethiopia politics and Politician driving every body. Also, it’s is a better idea to give a for giveness and forget because we always declare war between our self. This is the country issue and crisis not a personal. Our nation is has and face an economy and security problem, we are located at a very inconvenience and dangerous spot. More over, we have to understand and deal with the current sercamstance and geographical situations. We all should step forwards with a posetive dreams to solve the criss. Thank you!!
Reckoning history has less cost.Miscalculation about the future is disaster .this is more evident in military than in any other field. This means seye could give any opinion on the past events. It costs us nothing. But his comments on current developments ,has for sure a great cost, in all terms. In otherwords the issue of national security should have equally worried ato seye , like all Ethiopians. Political divergence is a healthy thing.But if it goes as far as damaging national security, it became ugly. There is a saying;dont break the thermometer to measure the temepreture.This means to be in the opposition has also some limits.Our histroy is also rich in this regard. Seye himself was looking for former Derg Generals to fight the Invasion of ISAIS. it is un natural for a man who claims to have served in the military to make mis judgment.
but it is also natural for seye to miscalculate
Dear Aiga Admin.: don’t even bring this agenda to discussion. Protecting Mellese with this issue is almost impossible. As a Tigryan, chiarman of TPLF/EPRDF and Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Mellese will be remembered his policy in Eritrea as the weakest part of his leadership. Surprisingly, he seem to continue the same policy till the end; the policy that doesn’t put Ethiopia’s interest first. Believe me, the majority of Tigryans (including myself) do not agree with Mellese’s policy on Eritrea. Mellese was shamefully exposed during the Ethio-Eritrea war. I don’t think, this can be repaired by any political game. No way. By the way, the Tigryans in particular and the Ethiopians in general do not need Seye or any other opposition to tell them about this. There are ample evidences to prove Mellese’s policy on Eritrea including his missguided policy during the war.
Thank you,
Teklay
One thing I like about seye is that he is up front and he never tried to hide his hate of Eritreans…
Now the question about the recent threat from ethiopian PM of “whooping eritrea”, I have this Tigirgna proverb-zegebre Nediu-neyneger!
with all due respect to all my fellow Tigrayns, the reason why meles hasn’t attacked shabia so far not for lack of intent but capacity.
Let the chips fall where ever they may! however, it is hypocratical of meles to support multitude of Eritrean opposition groups including Islamic groups like Eritrean islamic salvation which is supported by Saudi fanatics …so why not accept Eritrea’s support of Ethiopian opposition groups like Tigrayan Democratic movement, ONLF and so on…
I think time has reached that either regimes got to go…but the people will live neighbors..for ever…God bless Tigrawot both sides of Mereb!
90 % OF you who made comments are wrong.We the tigray people should never never spill one drop of blood for eritreans.We want EPLF be destroyed by the blood,sweat,tears of the eritreans opposition and the eritreans them selves.
Who can forget the 10 thousands of tigreans who died in sahel,nakifa,afabet,mistwa,barka and many places of eritrea to free these ungreateful anti tigray anti ethiopia eritreans.
Who can forget the thousands of selfless tplf fighters that was domoblized with out any proper education,training and sent back to tigray ,while eplf solidiers were paid in billions by the meles government.
Who can forget the billions dollars loan that was given to eritreans while the selfless ,beautiful tigray people were made to be beggers in the street of addis ababa,gonder,gojam and else where in ethiopia.
The poverty in tigray is no where seen in the world ,after all the sacrficed they made to overthrowe the derg regime for better economic power,democracy,culture,language and self empowernment.
The top leadership in eprdf is doing everything to hamper deveolopment in tigray so,that tigray will not be strong and over pass eritrea in terms of economic and self reliant.
Most of the top leadership of eprdf wants to appease the anti tigray enemies as to be seen fair and balance.
Another word most of the eprdf leaders and commanders are pro eritrea.And they will do anything to use the brave tigray people to advance the betternment of eritrea.
Meles,seye,current and former tplf/eprdf leaders have a lot to answer for thier wrong doing of tigray people after the defeat of the evil derg.
Prior to derg defeat what ever they did to crush derg in eritrea,ethiopia and else where was a very very noble thing to do and non of us should question that.
Again we must learn from the past not re-live it and we all should work hard to help our beautiful but,neglected tigray.With out tigray there is no ETHIOPIA….
DOWN WITH EPLF!
DOWN WITH ANTI TIGRAY’S!
LONG LIVE THE SELFLESS TIGRAY PEOPLE!
Siye/he, by himself was leading the war? How soon do we forget this? What a shame!! Blame it on the Prime Minister only…?? How about himself?
How about his comments towards the Ethiopians who were deported from Eritrea during the early 90′s?
By the way, have we noticed Siye did not put forward any solution about the current behaviour of Shabia, during the Voa interview. His argument is dominated by imotionally apealing statements than scientific explanation on how PM Meles current diplomatic and political signal to Shabia could have limitations. Infact, every time Mr. Siye, shifted positions of agruments. Before, he was infavour of ‘action’ against the regime in Eritrea, now he is against any articulation or action against the ruling clique of Eritrea ( atleast he impled, it this time). What he is practically saying is, I am always right!!!
I think he should be humble egnough to admit he could be wrong, specially this time!! The EPRDF Government is daynamic government that renews itself and its strategies with principle-driven approaches, no wind of distruction could visit it. It was not possible in 2005, it is for sure impossible this time. Ethiopians have now started to raise their heads up, while they walk in the streets of the world, for being from one of the most stable country in Africa. I think, the evidence of Siye himself making whatever statement he likes, on VOA, and walking freely in Ethiopia is testemonial to the level of democracy in Ethiopia. The Ethiopian public knows the practical benifit of peace and stability. No one will be tricked by empty-barrel beating from outside. So, the so called ‘ shift of attention’ discourse is dead wrong. The attention of the Ethiopian people is how to educate thier children or how to be benificiary from economic growth that the country is registering. Why would the PM or EPRDF shifts attention of the people from focusing on development? I think that is wishflul thinking.
Peterson
this opinion if mis or un guided missile.ethiopia, I could say,with full confidence has an able leadership in Melesse. YOu may disagree with hime ,including on Eritrea. But his quality leadership is with out comparison . He is an african leader. I am eqully hearted by the separation of Eritrean brothers. loosing brothers deminishes us all ,including Eritreans. But dictator Isaias doesnot give us all the chance to find our way in the future,
I dont beleive our leaders are perfect. you cannot be perfect , what ever your intellignce could be . But Melesse is a genious one could find in a century. at best he a leader found after a century, Melese has by now somewhat healed the wound createdduring the last wars. now think of further solidarity with the people of ERITREA: iN THIS REGrd seye is in the dustpin of history, he is as istory, bu nothing for tommorrow. by the way no one could be a hero two times at different angles of history, to chnage is normal , but to rengade is self suicide
Why are we still talking about war? TPLF and EPLF both are gangs who do not care about their people. Siye is one of them. Meles didn’t stop the Ethiopian army from destroying EPLF, our Eritrean heros did. Both countries were loosers. Both leaders were winners. That’s why they both are still clinching on their power. Let’s grow up together, if not a fight between two brotherly people will not have an end. We all have the same blood and that is not to give up.
In the year 1998,Eritrea invaded northern parts of Ethiopia and from these parts Tigrai is became victim from west to the east corner being the boarder to Eritrea and the Region was badly damaged suffered and lost many human life, institution, infrastructures and properties which are governmental and non governmental.
Because of these problems many people and domestic animals lost their life including numberless institutions and private houses. Even two an orthodox and one catholic priests with all other abducted faithful we do not know why and where they have been taken and whether alive or killed. Only from our religious administering zone of the Diocese of Adigrat we lost 95 innocent farmers, we do not know where they have been taken for over 5 years now. UN and Our Governments interested only in Geographical demarcation and should be interested in innocent “Human Life”.
The Eritrea aggression started on May, 12, 1998 with the destruction of Schools, health stations and different public infrastructures including many civilian lives like Terrorists. Fore example, Eider school, which is found in the centre of the town Makale, and bombed by air craft during the class initiating time in 1998 and all the students were in the school and they were under age children those lost and wounded their life. In the second air attack of the school 51 children died and 136 wounded from those under age children bombed by air crafts of Eritrea government and most of them were lost their life. In all these areas many young people died and some became disabled and handicapped being this war target.
The Lost human life and materials with infrastructures are uncountable and some of them are as fallows:- Generally in the Region 79 elementary schools and 3 secondary schools became out of use, looted, damaged and burned out. 44 churches of the catholic and an orthodox, all looted, destroyed and damaged. All they needed construction, restoration and Maintenance all over 1000kms boarder villages from Badime, zallambesa, Irob to Burie. Even all the Catholic Churches needs re-construction and basic maintenance. Most of the abducted innocent civilians are also from this Parish and many children remain without Parents, who can take care of them and our request is based on this problem. we must learn from the past and should not ignore Ethiopia, Declaring war aiming at changing a sovereign government in a sovereign country is politically taboo and in breach of international Law. you can’t say, “I want to change my neighboring government!” This is real agression! If this war is going to be made, it is defenetely either to save Eritreans from Suffering under Isayas’ Rule at all Ethiopian costs or to divert internal political dinamics. And if shabia’s gone, then Ethiopia’s death will begin because we will be left in the open aire as we will have no government to save us from the enslavement by the Eritreans in our land. we have been freed so far because of the conflict.
On this issue definitely I agree with Ato Siye with great analyses and relevant evidences on the issues Ethiopia, Ato Meles and Shaibia. Thanks to Ato Siye and Aigaforum too.
Few blames meles blindly and with out a proper know how of the very history of ethio-erritrean relation. Erritrea and Ethiopia were two separate states in many ways even before the downfall of DERG and what Meles has brought is stopping the bloodshed. But what i take threat for Ethiopia today is, we are facing not only dominant party system but also dominant person system. Am proud of meles, EPRDF and few fellows for their dedication to the good of broad base (arso ader) in this county
I have never read such a well balanced and mature dialogue in Ethiopian web sites…
No doubt Meles made a huge blunder during the final leg of the war and the Algers treaty added insult to injury.
Meles has matured ever since as a leader but his legacy would always be tinted.
I think Siye is going to talk against Meles no matter what for his political advantage. Let’s forget what Siye is saying.
If EPRDF started the war, they should use very, very cost effective in terms of human life and resources. We can not afford another war this time. But, I am for eliminating Isayas; at the same time we have to convince the Eritreans for doing this and have them be prepared.
I think Meles knows what is talking about; he is not just waging a war. He is just planning for a long term incase Isayas is getting worse from what is doing. Melese is telling the world that he was very patient, but not this time. He is telling Isayas that he will kick his ass out if he continues what he is doing. He wanted to scare him so that he will change his policy.
If Meles wages war, he may use very sophisticated and with a very limited man power to kick Isayas out. I believe Meles may have been planning for this kind attack for a long time. This may be very different than before war. He may have been waiting for the right time. May be this is the right time to do it before he leaves his post after 4-5 years.
Remember most of the time EPRDF finds enough information before they say any thing; and they came out winners.
Just guessing