๐๐๐ค๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ค๐ by Teshome Beyene
๐ ๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ต ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐๐๐ต๐ผ๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐ ๐ถ๐ป ๐ง๐ถ๐ด๐ฟ๐ฎ๐
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Itโs now Berhane Gebregergisโs turn.
He is a long-time activist, staunch, if coarse and indecorous, defender of the system, and a patriot-combatant.
Recently, he made headlines after a controversial meeting with EPLF (PFDJ) propagandist and for boldly stating his resolve to bridge the relationship between the people of Eritrea and Tigray.
Within a week, Berhane was at the center of dramatic developments. First, reports emerged of an attempt on his life. Then, he was arrested by police for investigation. The Tigray government issued a stern warning against border transgressions and sovereignty violations while placing Berhane behind bars.
But in a bizarre twist, the Tigray Police Commission announced yesterday that Berhane was released โunder intense pressure from various quarters.โ Police openly admitted it was pressured to let him go. This frank admission is a disturbing low โ a police force declaring it was bullied into releasing a detainee.
The EPLF-affiliated โCenter for Research and Documentationโ had previously hinted that Berhaneโs detention wouldnโt last. This raises more questions about alleged collusion between certain Tigray military factions, TPLF stalwarts, with the EPLF (PFDJ).
What will General Tadesse do in the face of this blatant undermining of authority? Will he rise to the challenge, or let it slip by
This is a critical test โ of justice, rule of law, and the very essence of authority. He is expected to come up with a pronouncement of his take on this ugly development.
This is a critical test โ of justice, rule of law, and the very essence of authority. He is expected to come up with a pronouncement of his take on this ugly development.๐ ๐ค๐๐ฒ๐๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ป๐๐ฒ๐ด๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐: ๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐ง๐๐ ๐๐ผ๐ป๐ด๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ฎ๐น
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Within two days, the Federal Authority for Civil Society Organizations annulled the 12th Congress of the Tigray Development Association (TDA). The reasons? First, political party members, as representatives of their respective parties, were invited to send representatives as voting members โ a clear breach of the governing Civil Society Law. Second, the board election process was so ill-managed that it fractured the membership and jeopardized the organizationโs cohesion.
Regardless of the validity of these grounds, the Congress was undeniably flawed, causing unprecedented division within TDA. The authorityโs decision may hinge on conflict-of-interest concerns under the countryโs law, but the congress is no doubt compromised on two critical fronts:
1. Leadership Choices: Why appoint party leaders to the board when there are capable, independent members available? Would party officials โ already stretched thin by political duties โ even have the capacity to fulfill additional leadership roles effectively?
2. Conflict of Interest: How can TDA maintain its independence if its board includes those aligned with political entities? Imagine the predicament if the TPLF leadership directs the TDA to act in a way that conflicts with the organizationโs stated mission. The potential for conflicts is glaring, especially given the TPLFโs well-documented history of seeking control over all sectors, including even alumni associations.
๐๐๐๐จ ๐จ๐๐ฉ๐ช๐๐ฉ๐๐ค๐ฃ ๐ช๐ฃ๐๐๐ง๐จ๐๐ค๐ง๐๐จ ๐ ๐๐ง๐ค๐๐๐๐ง ๐๐ค๐ฃ๐๐๐ง๐ฃ: ๐๐ฟ๐ผโ๐จ ๐๐ช๐ฉ๐ช๐ง๐ ๐๐จ ๐ ๐ฉ๐ง๐ช๐ก๐ฎ ๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ฃ๐ฉ ๐๐๐ซ๐๐ก ๐จ๐ค๐๐๐๐ฉ๐ฎ๐ค๐ง๐๐๐ฃ๐๐ฏ๐๐ฉ๐๐ค๐ฃ.
๐๐๐๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐โ๐ฌ ๐๐ข๐ฌ๐ข๐ญ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ๐ก: ๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐๐ก๐๐ง๐ ๐
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This week, General Tadesse Worede met with Cabinet members of Raya, the southernmost region of Tigray, in Maichew town.
Recently Raya has been vocal in its opposition to repression and the entrenched power of the TPLF. Administrator Haftu Kiros has led the voice against political overreach, advocating for genuine self-administration.
Rayaโs resistance during the 2020/21 genocidal war was marked by extraordinary sacrifice โ thousands of lives lost defending their homeland. This legacy of resilience probably fuels its current demands for change.
The Cabinetโs demands echo those of other regions, but with a clearer, more unified stance. The call for self-administration, the return of displaced populations, protection of Tigrayโs territorial integrity, and the establishment of an inclusive government are widely shared across Tigray. However, the Cabinet also raised specific grievances:
โขApologies asked for the harassment of Getachew Reda and his ousting from power.
โขThe return of civil administration, and the ceasing of military one.
โขAn end to unwarranted interference in national institutions like TDA.
โขJustice for those who disparage Raya and Southern Tigray, potentially including figures like Haile Fisseha of Dedebit Media.
I stand with the people of Raya โ steadfast Tegaru in both spirit and action. And I commend General Tadesse for choosing Raya as the starting point of his regional tour. 