Sunday, December 08, 2019

TPLF Mobilizing “Federalist Forces”, Organized Second Forum in Mekelle
Apparently convinced that Ethiopia’s ruling coalition, EPRDF, ceased to exist, TPLF seem to be crafting possible legitimacy tool to resist change in Ethiopia.It called it Federalist Forces

Debrestion Gebremichael at the “Federalist Forum” in Mekelle. Photo credit : TPLF

Borkena
December 03, 2019

Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) has organized what it called “National Forum for rescuing the constitution and multi-ethnic Federal System” in Mekelle on Tuesday, the party disclosed on its social media page.

This is the second forum to be organized in Mekelle.

Turn out to the event was not that great. TPLF chairman and acting president of the Tigray region, Debretsion Gebremichael blamed what he called “cowards who fear and despise ideas” for exerting pressure, in various ways, on those who have dissenting views not to attend the Forum in Mekelle.  “For that reason,” he continued,” a considerable number of entities found it difficult to attend the forum.”

On the other hand, he thanked those who made it to the event withstanding “pressure” from the forces he described as “cowards.”

He told participants, “… we are in a time when the constitution is being violated openly; lack of peace and the security of citizens is worsening; internal displacement and destruction of properties of citizens have become common experiences…”

A day earlier, he seized the Ethiopian Orthodox Church’s annual celebration of Tsion Mariam in the ancient town of Axum to convey a political message. In the spiritual event which attracts hundreds of thousands of pilgrims from different parts of Ethiopia, he said “Ethiopian nations; nationalities and peoples should carry out a united struggle to do away with ‘supremacy’ “

Coordinator of the second forum, Dr. Mulugeta, is quoted as saying fifty national and ethnic parties as well as over 700 “intellectuals, elders, Abba Gedas [oromo traditional leaders] and religious leaders” took part in the forum. It is expected to end on Wednesday.

In late November of this year, TPLF called party congress after the executive committee and central committee of the organization passed decision against the merger of EPRDF coalition members.

TPLF dominated the ruling coalition that is ceasing to exist, Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), for more than 27 years until it lost power in 2018 following years of persistent nationwide protest.

TPLF seems to be in the business of openly organizing “Federalist forces” as the merger of parties in the coalition, TPLF architected it on the eve of a takeover of power in Addis Ababa nearly three decades ago, became a reality leading to the formation of Prosperity Party.

Towards that effect, the organization apparently reached out to ethnic-based political organizations it was once chasing and fighting as an enemy. An unverified letter which is purportedly written to TPLF, by Ogaden National Liberation Front, seem to answer to invitation to attend “Federalist Forum” in Mekelle. In the letter, ONLF said that it is not forgetful of atrocities that TPLF committed for 27 years.

TPLF is believed to have reached out to Oromo Liberation Front (OLF), a radical ethnic Oromo organization, but the leader of the organization said this week in an interview with allegedly OLF affiliated local newspaper that it is not in good terms with TPLF.

Political pundits in Ethiopia tend to take TPLF’s cry over “violation of the constitution” as a sort of joke as they argue that TPLF, during the time it dominated government power, never respected the constitution.

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