
The Ethiopian authorities are not only cracking down on local media and media houses. As they have arrested several of local journalists for various reasons since they went to war against the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) on the 3rd November 2020. These have been arrested and detained in Addis Ababa.
There has also been jamming phone-lines, stopping the internet and cutting the electricity in the Tigray region. Now, during the day of 20th November 2020 the reports are out that DW and BBC have been warned about possible losing licenses to work in the Republic. Reuters has already lost their license and William Davidson a Crisis Group analyst lost his license and is deported today. Therefore, the authorities are picking their targets with care.
They are going after international media houses to ensure that only their vision is coming out. If the authorities and the state gets their will. Only their message and their stories are coming out. As the TPLF will only counteract with minor retorts now and then. The trouble with that is both have an agenda and they are working for their own cause. It will not be the whole story or be investigated, but instead be the favourable story of either the Prime Minister or the TPLF President. Therefore, this is no good for the outsider or the ones gleaning for the truth.
In warfare there are many stories, some things that is not suitable for office and for the kind hearted. There will be horrific crimes, acts of brutality and possible breaches of human rights. These violations will never be broadcast by the perpetrator, but by outsiders who is telling a story of what is happening. The murderer would never want to tell about his manslaughter, no he wants it to be self-defence or be acquitted.
That matters for both sides, as the reports will be one sided and jaded for their purpose. It is hard to believe the government want to take fault for bombing public institutions, infrastructure or vital installations. They would say they never did or didn’t miss a target.
So, we can be really skeptical about the news that comes out. As we all should know that both parties have motives. It is to better their cause and sound like a justified mission. They would never breach or violent human rights. Neither would they ever say that they did crimes against humanity or conducted warfare, which was violating the codes of the Geneva Convention. No, they would never say that. This is why the independent press and eyes on conflict can directly tell stories and report for the general what is happening. In a manner, which the government nor the opposition want to have out. The Prosperity Party wants one story and the TPLF wants another one. That makes sense, right?
This is why the current state of affair is worrying. As the state wants a total blackout of media. They only wants media who is eating of the plate of the government. Only tell the stories, which puts them in a positive light. Not tell the stories of the refugees or anyone else who has been an eyewitness to actions. As they are not telling the story that favours the ideals and vision of the Prime Minister. These are just stories of scorned civilians who should envision the world in the spirit as the ones who ordered this war.
That is why we should be worried. This story will never be fulfilled. Not until investigative reports are coming out. When the affidavits and witness reports are leaked from the battlefields. Not the victory lap of the National Army and their victories. No, when the general stories of what went down and how they did it. We will know what happened. Right now, it can only be speculated about what happened. Since, the state and their authorities doesn’t want the world to know.
When they are blocking it. We should worry what they do. As they have a pass to commit any sort of actions. Since no one can report it and only eyewitnesses are the ones fleeing to refugee camps in Sudan. These says some of what happened, but not the whole story. Because, no one could tape it or record it. We are only getting the stories two parties wants and that is only the gist they want to tell. Not the whole story or the whole truth. Since that truth is silenced by state itself. Peace.














