I just read an artilce on the Ethiopian Reporter (ER) of June 07, 2009, where the ER quoted Prof. Gebru Tareke, saying, "Celebrating Ginbot 20 wouldn't help reconciliation", from the interview they had with the professor. And it just reminded me of many cries from senior Ethiopian citizens, asking the same questionnot, to not inflame wounds between the brotherly people of Ethiopia, just over 17 years ago, when the TPLF thugs and its sympathisers were beating their drums on Ginbot 20, humilating the Ethiopian people and the disbanded Ethiopian army.
Nobody gave an ear to that wisdom then, and the inflaming of wounds and insulting of the wider Ethiopian people continued unabetted. Hundreds of thousands of parents, who lost their children in the civil war were being forced to bow their heads in humilation, and belittled while being asked to partake in the "victory" of the few.
In fact humilating the people was not only limited to celebrating Ginbot 20, its ramifications were reflected in alieniating the wider people from the day to day running of the country, by monopolizing all critical positions in the military, civil and security institutions by peolple from Tigre Ethnic groups.
Just a few days ago, one of the founders of TPLF, Aboy Sebhat Nega, in a Radio interview with Hagerfikir in Washington, DC, said that Ginbot 20 is an everlasting festival in Ethiopia, he wants to continue humilating, not reconciling.
The humilated Ethiopian masses have now stood up and are saying enough is enough. The TPLF dictators, who always felt that they are invincible, because thier commands have always been obeyed by virtue of their bullet, and their subordinates were overwhelmed by fear, are now beginning to see the crack from within and without. Their coherence is now in tatter, and the balance of fear is shifting from the people they used to oppress, kill, maim, and jail towards their own camp. It is time within the TPLF circle, that no one trusts the other, it is time to blaming each other and, it is time to defect (if possible). In addition to TPLF's unpopularity, the military is also now defecting in masse, speeding TPLF's downfall.
Yet, I am not suggesting that there should not be reconciliation. It is long over due!! In fact, as things are going now, I don't think the TPLF will have a chance to celebrate one more Ginbot 20!! Even then, it is time to sow the seed of love and reconciliation.
But, what I am saying is that the TPLF butchers should not scape justice in the name of reconciliation. There can be no peace, democracy and development without justice.
What I am now sensing from this plea coming from the TPLF mouthpiece (Reporter) is that Meles and his colleagues are contemplating of negotiating with the opposition in exchange for amnesty. That sould never happen. Meles and Co. should be held accountable for their crime against humanity.
In the context of the foregoing explanation, I welcome the Professor's question, even though, it is not a new question and it came late. But, if it is another attempt, from an intellecual of Tigre ethnic group (I feel sad when I use this distinction), to rescue TPLF criminals from facing justice, it will no be acceptable.
