Renewed TPLF Terror War Against The Ethiopian People – OpEd

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After a fragile ceasefire lasting just five months, the TPLF (Tigray People’s Liberation Front) have once again initiated violent conflict with federal forces in Northern Ethiopia.

They started the war in November 2020, were forced to retreat just over a year later, but not content with the level of human suffering resulting from their initial barbarism, they are, it seems, determined to kill and kill again; to rape and beat their Ethiopian brethren; to once more destroy property, burn farmland, slaughter livestock, sending fear through communities, deepening the pain of a nation in their frenzied quest for power.

This latest offensive was launched on 24 August, violating the humanitarian truce agreed with the Ethiopian government, and shattering the temporary peace. A Government statement relayed that, “Ignoring all of the peace alternatives presented by the government, the terrorist group TPLF…. continued its recent provocations and launched an attack this morning at 5 am (0200 GMT)”

The TPLF used the months of peace, not to enter unto constructive dialogue with the government, to address the needs of people in Tigray impacted by the war and beg for forgiveness, but to actively re-arm and rebuild its forces. The Crisis Group relate that they have “solid evidence” of at least 10 Antonov planes making deliveries (of arms it is assumed) “to two airports in Tigray,” almost certainly from Sudan. One such aircraft, en route from Sudan and loaded with weapons, was recently shot down by the Ethiopian air force.

The government has known about these arial shipments for some time, but failed to clamp down on them. This lack of decisive action, particularly in relation to law and order issues has been a feature of the Abiy premiership, and is something that needs to change.

Whilst TPLF thugs lit the fuse of renewed conflict in Tigray’s southern border, other misguided fighters, many little more than children, raided a World Food Program (WFP) warehouse in Mekelle (capital of Tigray region). “12 full fuel tankers with 570,000 litres of fuel” were taken, and UN staff detained, reported, Stephane Dujarric, chief spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. “These fuel stocks were to be used solely for humanitarian purposes, for the distribution of food, fertilizer and other emergency relief items. This loss of fuel will impact humanitarian operations supporting communities in all of northern Ethiopia.”

Stealing from the UN to enable war is nothing new for the TPLF; From July-September 2021 the WFP state that, “445 contracted non-WFP trucks entered Tigray, but only 38 ….returned,” – 407 were stolen by the TPLF. The lack of vehicles the agency said, was “the primary impediment to ramping up the humanitarian response” within Tigray. The inability of UN agencies to deliver humanitarian aid is of no concern whatsoever to the TPLF leadership, who care not a jot for the people of Tigray, and even less for other ethnic groups throughout Ethiopia.

Alongside the declaration of a humanitarian truce, the March 24 agreement initiated by the Government, allowed for unfettered humanitarian access to Tigray, and created a platform for peace talks. But the TPLF do not want peace, have never wanted peace and have no intention of working for it. They failed to engage with the Main Peace Committee – established to “peacefully resolve the conflict in the northern part of the country”, or the National Dialogue Commission, set up by the government on 29 December 2021, to “facilitate “inclusive dialogue on national issues for the creation of national consensus and establishment of common grounds.” From the beginning of the conflict the government has repeatedly looked for a peaceful resolution, but the TPLF have erected obstacle after excuse after condition to scupper any progress; for its part the government has consistently said it will talk to TPLF representatives anytime, “without precondition, at any venue.”

This accommodating approach however is wasted on the TPLF: their aim is clear, to fracture Ethiopia, inject discord, hopefully overthrow the government (with western nations’ support) – the first government to be democratically elected by the way – and regain power. They will fail totally; they are hated and despised throughout the country (including within Tigray) and by Ethiopians and friends of Ethiopia everywhere, and with every Ethiopian that they kill, rape and abuse that hate deepens a little further.

Western support: arms and credibility

The TPLF have been a malignant force in Ethiopia for decades. They dominated the previous EPRDF government (a coalition in name only) for 27 years (1991-2018), stealing election after election. Ruling through fear, enflaming division, agitating ethnic disagreements, violently crushing human rights and committing state terrorism in various parts of Ethiopia. Throughout their time in office and since their overthrow Western powers, to the bewilderment of many, have consistently supported them. Perhaps unsurprisingly, given their addiction to regional meddling, the main sponsor of TPLF terror is the US government. Successive administrations, together with the UK, and to a lesser degree the European Union, have backed the TPLF, empowering them financially, politically, and throughout their war on the Ethiopian State, it is widely believed, militarily.

With western political support and lasting TPLF influence in Washington, London, New York and Geneva, has come media collusion. CNN, BBC, Al Jazeera, The Guardian, New York Times etc, all have been guilty of mis/dis-information; biased or just poorly researched stories ranging from outright lies to nauseating bothsidesism as with Voice of America (VOA) reporting of the recent theft of WFP fuel by TPLF fighters, witnessed by UN staff. VOA state that Tigrayan forces are condemned for “allegedly stealing” the fuel: allegedly!

The extent to which western politicians were, and given the recent attacks, appear to remain, involved in the TPLF’s terror war was revealed by a video that was leaked in November 2021. The footage shows a Zoom meeting between Berhane Gebre-Christos, referred to as “a “chief representative of the TPLF,” and top US, UK and European Union diplomats with long-standing connections to Ethiopia, including US Ambassador to Somalia Donald Yamamoto. The group reportedly celebrated the TPLF’s advance on Addis Ababa (which never actually transpired) and discussed how the TPLF could form a post-Abiy government.

It is geopolitics at its most ugly and menacing; these ex-colonial/imperialist political powers have no interest in seeing Ethiopians or indeed anyone in Sub-Saharan Africa prosper and are still trying to install puppet regimes wherever possible. As long as the TPLF continue to receive support from ‘foreign powers’ the terrorists will continue to wage war on the Ethiopian people. The ‘international community’, which equates in this case primarily to the US, needs to stop feeding the dogs of war and start compelling the TPLF, a cancer within the nation and the wider region, to engage meaningfully in peace talks with the government.

Graham Peebles

Graham Peebles is an independent writer and charity worker. He set up The Create Trust in 2005 and has run education projects in India, Sri Lanka and Ethiopia where he lived for two years working with acutely disadvantaged children and conducting teacher training programmes. Website: https://grahampeebles.org/

14 thoughts on “Renewed TPLF Terror War Against The Ethiopian People – OpEd

  • September 3, 2022 at 6:27 pm
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    The only foreigner I have ever seen who fully understood the TPLF terrorist group. Much appreciated!

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  • September 4, 2022 at 1:14 am
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    Good job on your article, Renewed TPLF Terror.

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    • September 4, 2022 at 8:55 am
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      Much respect and appreciation for speaking the truth sir. Why the west, particularly the United States stood always against Ethiopia remains odd to comprehend

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  • September 4, 2022 at 1:14 am
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    Thank you so much for exposing the truth. The West’s love affair with the TPLF has always been confusing to me, knowing full well that the TPLF have no saving grace. Even more confusing to me is how unauthorized planes can land anywhere in this era of advanced aviation technology. Someone is not doing their job right in the Ethiopian government, or more likely, the TPLF got to them and bribed them.

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  • September 4, 2022 at 2:24 am
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    Thank you Mr.Peebles for the honesty and integrity you have shown in reporting on the crisis in northern Ethiopia. You relentless effort in exposing the hypocrisy and malicious intentions of the USA and EU is appreciated by Ethiopians and friends of Ethiopia.

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  • September 4, 2022 at 10:22 am
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    Mr. Peebles,
    I do not know what words should I use to appreciate the great works you have done regarding Ethiopia, the lies of the Western Countries and the actions of demoniac rebels in Tigray of Ethiopia. The Western world, especially, the U.S & EU govts are always full of hypocrisy, lies & carries out malicious policies regarding Ethiopia. Even, the Ethiopian govt led by Dr. Abiy Ahmed is a week government to defend Ethiopian territories and Ethiopians. Lawlessness, anarchism, and barbaric acts reigned in the country over the last 4 years under the full views of the PM.

    We have been already invaded by 10 Antonov planes entering Ethiopian territories from Sudan and delivering arms to TPLF. Where is the Ethiopian govt??? The Ethiopian govt is a failure and has failed Ethiopia and all Ethiopians. Ethiopians should rise up and defend their own wonderful and beautiful country from internal and foreign invaders.
    Thank you very much Peebles

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    • September 5, 2022 at 12:36 am
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      Could not agree more.

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  • September 4, 2022 at 2:07 pm
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    really amazing understanding of the reneged group #TPLF. appreciated work anyone should read to have full understanding the conspires

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  • September 6, 2022 at 1:06 am
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    Mr. Peebles,
    It sounds you’re echoing the narrative of the Abiy Ahmed gvt. I don’t think you have any idea about Tigray and the politics of the Horn of Africa. You need to understand the war was engineered by Isias Afeworki and Abiy Ahmed; the former to revenge TPLF and destroy Tigray and subsequently Ethiopia and the latter to hold onto uncontested power. Clearly the plan was/is to wipe Tigrayans from the face of the earth if they can. Hence the war is not against TPLF but against all Tigrayans, who rose up in the form of TDF and they are fighting for survival. This is the truth and all your analysis is nothing but a work of fiction. IT IS NOT ABOUT TPLF BUT THE SOUL OF TIGRAY!

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    • September 9, 2022 at 4:57 pm
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      Little knowledge is dangerous is what they say. Shifting from TPLF to hide behind TDF, redressing terrorist act does not change the fact that TPLF wants war. Read your manifesto through the end. If it is about the souls of Tigray people, are you saying the people they are killing don’t have souls in your skirmish war assessment? If it is about the people of Tigray, rising as TDF, per your brief, what you are saying is that, it is the people of Tigray that is fighting against the people of Ethiopia. Think much? Trying to defuse facts and truth has always a way of coming out, like a bad stink.

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    • September 9, 2022 at 6:21 pm
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      Hello Tamrat,

      when you criticize something please try to be logical instead of writing a usual TPLF supporter propaganda. The war is with TPLF and you know that very well. Tigrayans are TPLF’s hostage, every family has to give at least one member for TPLF to be a soldier and this by its own should tell you the behavior of the rebel group.

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  • September 7, 2022 at 12:26 am
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    You are the man of the truth Mr. Peerless! Thank you for telling the world about what Ethiopians are going through. God bless you and keep you safe.

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  • September 9, 2022 at 4:18 pm
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    Thank you for telling the truth!

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  • September 22, 2022 at 7:09 pm
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    Thanks a million Graham Peebles for exposing the terrorism inflicted on Ethiopian people by the TPLF thug rebel group. They have prevented the population in Tigray living in peace with the rest of their brothers and sisters in the rest of Ethiopia. To the north, the TPLF is enemy with Eriteria. In the South and west they had attacked the mainly Amhara population. In the east, they had attacked the mainly Afar population. However, they complain of being encircled. The cause of their encirclement is because they don’t get along with anyone. This can not continue. This TPLF must not be allowed to continue terrorising the population of Ethiopia.

    Reply

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