
“As I write this, people in the Tigray region are enjoying the fruits of peace and tranquillity and have started to exercise their rights, such as entertaining pluralistic views regarding politics or anything else for that matter, for the first time since the change in the political dispensation two and half years ago” – Demeke Mekonnen – ‘The law enforcement operation in Tigray and the media: Lessons learnt’ (01.01.2021)
This here is the first text I take from his piece as it signals what sort of text it is. Like we are supposed to believe this. When we know the struggle of electricity, rations and even humanitarian operations in the Tigray region since the 3rd November 2020. We are supposed to forget that and believe it suddenly turned into Heaven. Well, I don’t believe that all of sudden with all the tragedies and people fleeing the region to Sudan.
He dropped today the text or article ‘The law enforcement operation in Tigray and the meida: Lessons learnt” which was published in the Ethiopian Herald. I wouldn’t expect a masterpiece, but this is a puff piece and something that makes the Prime Minister proud of the effort. This is the sort of piece that is propaganda at best. There is no other way to describe it. As he knows perfectly well what’s happening and dismisses that. As his writing his piece, which makes it sound like all ills comes from elsewhere. Not like the government and allies haven’t brought pain and suffering. No, there is no consequences to the state other than pink clouds and funky rainbows on the horizon.
We know his insincerity, when he continues to spin the lie of Mai Kadra Massacre: “Ethiopians have observed how the group gradually morphed from being the ‘friends of the oppressed’ into evil incarnate during the group’s grip on power for almost three decades. However, the unwarranted strike not only took the nation by surprise but shock it to the core given the detail of the project that mercilessly butchered the unsuspected soldiers as well as hundreds of civilian people in Mai-Kadra town” (Demeke Mekonnen – ‘The law enforcement operation in Tigray and the media: Lessons learnt’ 01.01.2021 )
Because he is using the same rhetoric of earlier of the state here. Blaming the TPLF for the Mai Kadra Massacre. While refugees and citizens fleeing massacre has said Ethiopian Army together with Amhara Paramilitary group “Fano” was the ones who did the killing that day. Therefore, when its that easy to spot two lies in a text. You wonder… what else would he lie about to whitewash the events in favour of the government? Because, yes the TPLF has done wrongs in the past and been vile in government. However, right now its his army and allies who are burning villages, looting and killing civilians as they are fighting the TPLF. We are just supposed to gloss over that fact and look into the past injustice.
To further his points he states this: “Due to the inflated self-image that it has portrayed in the minds of the international community, the group wanted to sell the message that it was not a group of thugs under a ‘wanted list’ by the government but a legitimate group that can stand on equal footing with the federal government of Ethiopia and the Eritrean government. The trick seemed to have worked for a while when the international community urged and sometimes ‘pressurized’ the Ethiopian government to sit for negotiation with the criminals” (Demeke Mekonnen – ‘The law enforcement operation in Tigray and the media: Lessons learnt’ 01.01.2021).
I agree that the TPLF have been brutal and should answer for their injustice in the past. However, they didn’t do it an vacuum and the ones now professing to be the Prosperity Party have worked with the TPLF in the previous coalition government. Therefore, there is a need of independent investigations into the plights of the past and the tyranny the TPLF did in the EPRDF with all the parties and political operatives involved. However, that is never mentioned in text like these.
It is again a blatant attempt of undermining and digging the grave of the TPLF. Without stating some other minor defaults. The “legitimate” government is on an unconstitutional sixth year ahead of the polls. So, when this Federal Government went to war or “law enforcement operation” they was illegitimate, as they haven’t followed the constitutional procedure of an election. That is why this argument is flawed and easily dismissed.
Secondly, it is hard also to see a difference between the PP and TPLF in concern of thuggery. As the state is easily ordering political arrests, detaining people without warrants and even killing them. Which has no consequences, while the Federal Government talks high and mighty of rule of law. A rule of law that is every selective and not that brazen towards the ones ordering the executions and political arrests. That can be done without any hesitation. Therefore, the man should be easy calling out others as thugs, when its mob-justice delivered from the state towards its own citizens on a large scale.
Here is a truth finally: “The success of the diplomatic efforts of Ethiopia and its genuine and friendly attitude towards its neighbours has already been manifested during the recently held IGAD’s 38th Extraordinary Assembly” (Demeke Mekonnen – ‘The law enforcement operation in Tigray and the media: Lessons learnt’ 01.01.2021).
This here was successful in the eyes of Ethiopia. Since the diplomatic efforts there ensured no actions would really be taken and the conflict could continue without any influence what so ever from the neighbours. That is the initial thing here. The Prime Minister went scotch free as his ways of words and power could stop any sort of mediation or talks. That is why he sent Sudanese PM Hamdok packing as well after a few hours in Addis Ababa. This is the just the reality of it all.
We also see how the state wants people to behave by one of the final statements like this: “You can at least tweet unceasingly on the positive things of your country. You may have to prefer group efforts to individual ones to exert maximum pressure. Remember, we are now in a different time where technology is dramatically shifting the meaning and works of diplomats” (Demeke Mekonnen – ‘The law enforcement operation in Tigray and the media: Lessons learnt’ 01.01.2021).
The man wants things to be positive and a group effort. Meaning he wants the tree planting initiatives and the positive stories amplified. As that will cover up the realities on the ground. As people are supposed to be educated on social media. That’s why he continues later with this: “ The way the media portrays the federal government’s law enforcement operation and the orchestrated heinous and inimical messages of some social media trollers is a wake-up call to our Ministry” (Demeke Mekonnen – ‘The law enforcement operation in Tigray and the media: Lessons learnt’ 01.01.2021).
The media if allowed to report and not having a blackout. Where the government fact-check itself and only allows one narrative. In a state where journalists and reporters are arrested for writing certain stories. It is not the place for telling that media portraying is wrong. Maybe, the Ministry and the PP wants more control of the narratives. As they fear the truth coming out from refugees and fleeing civilians from Tigray. Even the messages from other regions where the state and law enforcement is ending people’s lives. We are not to take that into account as well, right?
Well, this was a puff piece of the finest sort. What is worse is that the man amplifies the lies of the Prime Minister. Like we are supposed to forget these details. That says it all to a person like me. Then I quickly question all the other “facts” and cannot address it wholeheartedly. As the motives are clear. He wants to shift blame as he targets social media, media, foreigners and everyone else. Who doesn’t know the reality. The reality the state want you to believe.
Because if you believed this man. Then by now the Tigray region is the Shangri-la of Ethiopia. Which I cannot believe a single second. Peace.
















