Ethiopia: Cover-ups and strategies to fuel tensions

I was surprised to read on Anyuak Media in the recent days that TPLF is forcing the indigenous people to sign a document that covers up its genocide against innocent civilians in the Gambella region, one of the remotest parts of the country. The surrounding evidences in the process of the cover up attempts, including allegations against its former ally, the Gambella peoples Liberation Movement puzzled me as well as many individuals who are aware of the political processes in the country. In facts, in my own understanding, the TPLF does not provide enough information to the Ethiopian public as well as the international community as to the political processes that have been taking place since it took power in 1991 in the region. A brief account of the relationship between the GPLM and the TPLF since the overthrow of the military junta in the country would shade light to the build up of political discontent in post military junta.

The late Agwa Alemo, GPLM leader

As many indigenous people and other Ethiopian people are aware, the political relationship between the two political parties was dominated by respect for one another and building sound democratic institutions and stability among various ethnic groups in the country. The GPLM played a vital role in the process by participating at the important countrywide transitional government in early 1991. The late Agwa Alemo who led the GPLM since he escaped from the military junta prison in 1980s had interest to maintain the good relationship dated back to the pre-transitional government by promoting democratic governance and building up shattered economic institutions in the region. He further made various efforts to maintain stability and security by forging strong ally with the TPLF to eliminate mistrusts and unnecessary conflicts within the region.  

However, the relationship has seen various forms of obstacles including avoidable conflicts at Abol military camp and other areas of the region in early 1990s. This was the beginning of the mistrust and erosion of political autonomy of the region in my view. One of the incidences that led to the death of the GPLM leader, Agwa Alemo is in facts attributed to the strategic attempt of the TPLF leaders to withhold essential military logistics and food supplies from the GPLM military forces. It was one of its strategies of divide and rule policy that had left the region underdeveloped and suffering from various forms of conflicts until today.  

The attempts of the TPLF to undermine the democratic aspirations of the indigenous peoples are numerous to enlist. The first election in the region, which was won by the GPLM, could not go as per the expectations of indigenous people. Due to the interference of the TPLF in the political processes, a candidate favoured by the majority elected members of the GPLM was denied political victory to govern the region. As a result, the division between the same political party members in the region intensified without control leading to power vacuum in the region up to today.

As I mentioned earlier, the GPLM leader, late Agwa Alemo made enormous efforts to maintain peace and stability in the region. However, the circumstances leading to his death have remained unclear. In the recent days as a result of government land grabbing policy in the region, the TPLF seems to do away with the historic importance of the involvement of late Agwa Alemo in the political process in the region. They want to give away his burial site to land grabbers in the name of investment. This trend seems to worry me as well as many others in the region. The TPLF should understand and appreciate the important role that late Agwa Alemo and many other GPLM leaders have made in maintaining peace and stability in the region.

In facts, with this development in mind, the relatives of late Agwa Alemo are seeking a genuine solutions, including relocating his burial site to his home village. If that will satisfy the authorities both in the region and in Addis Ababa, I would suggest to make a necessary arrangements with the relatives of late Agwa Alemo to relocate his burial site with the consent of the relatives rather than taking steps which will fuel tension in the region. I wish to add that something must be clear to the TPLF members and their agents; the need to understand the historic importance of burial sites of GPLM heroes and the political implications this may generate if there is a simple focus on one side of development aspects.

One would ask a valid question as to who is behind the political instability and insecurity in the region since the regime assumes power. As evidences indicate, the TPLF have a very limited interest and effort to maintain peace in the region. Instead, there are enormous attempts to fuel tensions including the unwarranted allegations of the involvement of the GPLM forces in the killings of settlers at Okuna village in early 1990s.

I therefore would like to suggest that the TPLF looks at its policies and strategies it has been implementing in the region and how it had these policies improved security situations or contributed to tensions in the region in the interest of peace and stability.