By: Teferi Mekonnen
These days it becomes clear that the West is out to get us and undermine our freedom and sovereignty. The US government (Biden’s administration) has repeatedly shown us the scornful attitude it has towards Ethiopia. We learn this, when it is advancing the agenda of the group designated as terrorist, by the House of People’s Representatives, Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), though the US very well knows that TPLF opted to thwart the unilateral humanitarian ceasefire taken by the Ethiopian government.
Biden’s administration in particular has left no stone unturned to reinstate the terrorist group to power. We, the people, stood unflinchingly against this treacherous move of the West to keep intact our national integrity. Hence, Ethiopia will continue to be a beacon of freedom for our beloved continent – Africa.
In his latest message Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said: “We have shown our high regard and respect for the people of Tigray and the international community by declaring a unilateral humanitarian ceasefire with a view of deescalating the conflict so that farmers in Tigray could get breathing space that would allow them to catch-up with the rainy season and calmly work in their fields. We declared the unilateral ceasefire hoping that our absence in Tigrai would deny our malignant detractors the chance to play a blame game and ensure an unimpeded distribution of humanitarian aid.”
“Though we were not oblivion of the fact that our initiative for peace would cost us a price, we have however made the decision to deescalate the conflict so that Tigray people would get respite for introspection and go back to work in the field undisturbed.
“Sadly, the TPLF declined our call for peace and continue to beat the drum of war since its very nature would not allow it to spare a single peaceful day without sniffing gunpowder. Hence, it continues sending drug induced armed men to the war front. This makes things difficult for our defense force to engage with the rebel group. Our defense force chose to uphold its moral and professional duties at cost of the safety and lives of its soldiers. Our gallant defense force opted to protect civilians and save the lives of innocent children used by TPLF as human shield,” he added.
“But those feeble-minded war-mongers failed to appreciate the price we paid for the sake of our people in Tigray; and our effort to deescalate the conflict finally turns out to be a futile venture. The terrorist group has once again clearly demonstrated itself to be an unrelenting enemy of our country that poses existential treat. Thus, we decided to coordinate the effort of our people to definitely reverse the eminent danger it posed to the territorial integrity of the country,” he concluded.
All these expression of good gesture from the federal government remain futile following the terrorist TPLF incursion in to Amhara and Afar regions.
So far Ethiopian government tried to facilitate the humanitarian aid while defending and coordinating the attack being launched against it by internal enemy and external enablers.
When fugitive terrorist TPLF so called leadership was in its hid-out in the groove of Tigray Mountains, they were lamenting that the Tigrai people is on the verge of hunger and calling for an urgent humanitarian intervention. However, after the government has announced a unilateral humanitarian cease-fire, it has completely dropped the humanitarian issues and continues beating the drum of war.
In fact, we have seen the true nature of the TPLF clique at Mai-Kadra and it will remain to be a permanent witness to what TPLF is. Now, in all its senses and tenses, the TPLF is a terrorist group and the Ethiopian House of People’s Representatives made the right decision in designating the group as “terrorist.”
Sadly, the US administration is incessantly pushing the Ethiopian government to settle down its difference with the group terrorizing the Ethiopian people on a round table discussion.
This is a tactical move by the US to give the TPLF a facelift and a photo opportunity. This is an unforgettable political sacrilege that was meant to undermine the sovereignty of Ethiopia. Truly, that is a spit in the face of justice.
All these have proven that the West, in particular the US, is in total confusion and hypocrisy. I think they are also suffering from the “poverty of philosophy.” Sure, the west is sweltering in the deepest philosophical crisis and to evict itself from this inferno, it really needs to have a philosopher with organic knowledge.
I know the west will be dejected when I mention the name Karl Marx. It is apprehensive of Karl Marx. For all I know, the name “Marx” will surely throw them into hysteria for their slogan is “better dead than red.”
Nonetheless, intelligent scholars in the west will admit the ugliest fact that Karl Marx is the best pathologist of the evils of imperialism that is gnawing the west to death.
I think the west is being engulfed by an alarming decadence that requires an intervention of a group of “social pathologist” that have Marx’s stature. This moral and professional decadence of the west is clearly transpired by the western media’s report of the war in Tigray.
Just recently, the New York Times run a story with a photo of child soldiers who are deployed by the Junta as cannon fodder. The New York Times has compliment: “highly motivated young recruits.”
Well, the NYT has failed to remember its moral and legal responsibilities when it come up with such a story that go against the provision of the UN Convention of the Right of the child.
The convention was adopted on November 20, 1989, when the world leaders decide to provide special care and protection to youngsters who are under 18. The convention aims to protect children from cruelty, sexual offences, neglect or exploitation and assure them of some education.
The picture that the NYT has flagged on its page is in fact an evidence of a flagrant contravention to the UN convention to which the US is party to. The US government contributed to the drafting the convention and adopted by General Assembly on November 20, 1989 and came in to effect on 2 September 1990.
However, the NYT has eulogized children soldiers trespassing the provisions the same convention. Condoning the act of recruiting children to war is an open violation of child rights and a heinous crime.
As many reports, including the NYT, have proved; the terrorist TPLF has recruited innocent children between the age of 12 and 15. These innocent children who are expected to attend full time education and be protected from any decisions that would hamper their harmonious development are being used as cannon fodder.
Human beings are morally and legally bounded to protect these innocent children who really need our care, love, kindness. Hence, NYT is expected to take every measure that would protect them from all forms of physical or mental violence, injury or abuse.
Therefore, I will say, “I accuse the West, I accuse the U.S. and I accuse the NYT” after the fashion of the renowned French author Ėmile Zola. Where is Ėmile Zola when we really need him? This is time to reread his famous J’Accuse…!