36th Anniversary of the Founding of the TPLF Celebrated in Washington DC

Feb 26, 2011

The 36th Anniversary of the founding of the Tigrean People's Liberation Front (TPLF) hosted by the Union of Tigreans in North America (UTNA) Washington DC chapter, was colorfully celebrated in the midst of fanfare and jubilation to-night(2/26/11) in Washington DC.

A minute of silence in memory of the fallen heroes and heroines was observed by the packed audience that converged from Washington DC, Maryland, Virginia and other surrounding environs.

Mr. Girma Birru, Special Envoy, Ambassador Extra-ordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia to the United State of America, who was the guest of honor at the celebratory occasion, recalled the arduous and trying days of the struggle waged by the TPLF to demolish the dictatorial military putsch and he characterized the TPLF as a movement that was launched by the young educated ones, but firmly maintained its democratic zeal, and correct political beliefs which latter were wholly embraced by the peasantry creating in its wake, a propitious condition for the struggle to intensify in depth, breadth and width up held by the entire Ethiopian people.

Referring to yet another distinctive feature of the straggle waged by the TPLF, the Ethiopian Special Envoy recounted that, the TPLF which was ushered in as a national movement in the Ethiopian Socio-Economic and Political milieu, did not succumb, unlike other similar movements, into an environment of narrow nationalism, chauvinist jingoism, unable to rally the people behind themselves, because of their misconstrued and erroneous political lines they wrongly pursued.

Ambassador Girma, further identified, a unique characteristic that continued to define the TPLF, has been its resort to a democratic discourse and dialogue to dislodge any crisis it encountered in the wake of trying political schism which had emerged, and at times threatened the forward march of the movement.

In relation to the current situation that is prevalent in present day Ethiopia, he referred to the Growth and Transformation Plan, which has been set in place to elevate Ethiopia and its people to a higher level of Economic Social and Political advancement by enlisting the nation in the ranks of middle income countries in the not too distance future.

In this regard he made a clarion call on the Diaspora Ethiopians to join hands and participate in the nation building process that is currently in full swing, primarily to reap appropriate and legitimate fruits from their involvement and derive psychological satisfaction by concretely supporting their kith and kin, in Ethiopia by opening up new job opportunities.

Representatives of EPRDF member and allied organizations also addressed the audience in a show of solidarity. After the cake cutting ceremony undertaken by the guest of honor and other prominent community members, a live musical extravaganza accompanied by modern and diverse cultural and traditional songs that were presented entertained the audience.