TPLF’s Documentary: Repeating the Tale of “Good Morning and I am Sowing a Linseed”.

Rally in Mekelle in support of Ethio-Eritrea peace agreement, July 2018. 

TPLF’s Documentary: Repeating the Tale of “Good Morning and I am Sowing a Linseed”.

By Abel Kebedom

Recently, I watched a three-part documentary by Tigray TV that narrates the historical relationship between the people of Tigray and Eritrea. I would say it was TPLF’s usual theatrical act. In fact, the documentary raises more major questions than answers.

First, does TPLF remember the historical relationship between the people of Eritrea and Tigray only when it is in trouble? After cursing and vilifying EPLF for years, TPLF asked EPLF to work together when EPLF miraculously destroyed the biggest and strongest part of the Ethiopian army, Nadew command, on March 17, 1988. Is history repeating itself?

Second, why was the same TPLF clique, currently hiding in Mekelle, failed to remember the historical relationship between the people of Eritrea and Tigray in 1998? Why was it eager not only to confiscate their hard-earned properties but also harm Eritrean innocent kids and children in Ethiopia? Was the 1998 border war between Eritrean civilians and Tigrayan civilians? Does that act reflect the behavior of a clique that understands the historical relationship between the people of Eritrea and Ethiopia? We are talking about Eritrean civilians that supported TPLF wholeheartedly and served in every kebele in Addis Ababa as key TPLF administrative backbone. Did you know that Eritreans in Ethiopia were registered as Tigrayan and voted for TPLF during the 1995 election?

Third, if TPLF believed Tigrayans and Eritreans had a special cultural relationship, why did during the 1998 border war it brought the Amhara’s, Oromos and other Ethiopian nationalities to destroy Eritrea and dig the burial grounds of Eritrean freedom fighters that it claimed to have fought side by side with them in Eritrea and Ethiopia? My overall understanding is if there is anyone who needs a lesson on the historical relationship between the people of Eritrea and Tigray it should be only TPLF.

Fourth, do we currently need a documentary that reminds the people of Eritrea and Tigray about their historical relationship or an action that helps the two people to heal their wounds that was inflicted by TPLF’s grandiose miscalculation and resume their historical relationship on a solid ground? The documentary should have addressed the latter issue. That is why the documentary reminded me the Tale of “Good morning and I am sowing a Linseed”.

Fifth, is it relevant to talk now about how the 1998 border war started? The war ended 20 years ago with the signing of the Alger’s Agreement between Ethiopia and Eritrea on December 12, 2000 and then closed for good when the EEBC issued its final and binding border ruling in 2003. It has been because of TPLF’s refusal to implement the EEBC border ruling, the two people’s relationship was placed in a standstill for a close to 20 years. Therefore the documentary should have narrated the way forward.

Sixth, how was the TPLF that now pretends to understand the historical relationship between Eritrea and Tigray very well decided not to accept the border ruling and worked hard to kneel Eritrea down to the point of destroying the unity of its people through intensive propaganda, crushing its economy through sanctions and putting a maximum pressure through consecutive unwarranted aggressions?

Seventh, after signing a peace deal in 2000 and a verdict of the EEBC in 2003, what was the purpose of the intensive propaganda, sanction and the constant military aggressions? It is hard to imagine if the current TPLF that is preaching for peace and trying to remind us about the historical relationship between the two people would have done it if it had not been pushed out from the Menelik palace and cordoned off in Mekelle. What was the hidden agenda? As a result, the TV documentary simply bolsters my feeling that TPLF remembers the cultural relationship between Eritrea and Tigray only when it is in trouble.

Eighth, where is the Alger’s agreement and EEBC verdict in the documentary? In my introduction I raised the tale of “Good morning and I am sowing a Linseed” because that is what TPLF is trying to do with the documentary. Although it is key to the resumption of the historical relationship between the people of Tigray and Eritrea, and in a bigger picture between the people of Eritrea and Ethiopia, in the documentary I have not watched or heard anything that narrates about the Alger’s Agreement and the EEBC verdict. It is a wrong and very dangerous miscalculation.

Ninth, what do Eritreans expect from TPLF now? Regardless of their political differences with their government, when it comes to the Alger’s Agreement and The EEBC decision, Eritreans stand firm together. Therefore, TPLF should stop repeating the “Good morning and I am sowing a Linseed” tale and directly address the EEBC decision because that is what is hindering the two people from resuming their historical relationship. Above all the Ethiopian federal government has already accepted it without preconditions.

Conclusion

It is time for TPLF to face the bitter truth and start talking to the Tigrayans in Badme and other parts of the border, according to the binding international arbitration that both countries signed, the land belongs to Eritrea. That is what Eritreans, regardless of their political orientation, expect from TPLF. No more no less.

Awet Nehafash,
Eternal Glory to Our Martyrs.

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