Today, there are news websites full of Debretsion Gebremichael statement from an audio recording — even without confirmation whether he’s still alive or when it was made — and I feel I have to say something.
That’s because I’ve seen even intelligent, reasonable people with good intentions and hearts sharing and retweeting this thing and passing it along, without thinking it through. And it is revolting to me that the headlines of the big media are “‘Genocidal war’ waged in Ethiopia region, says ex-leader” [BBC] and that he “vows extended resistance.” [Reuters]
Once again, despite the complexities of the situation, the TPLF is unfortunately still winning the PR war. No wonder that many Ethiopians, both at home and in the diaspora communities of Europe and North America, are disgusted.
Let’s work on the good faith assumption that the English translation offered here of Debretsion’s statement is accurate and fair. To no one’s real surprise, Kjetil Tronvoll, “an expert on the TPLF with contacts deep within the party,” [wow, that’s an interesting way to euphemize what’s he done] gave a tepid authentication.
Here’s part of the statement: “You are facing daily horrors, including starvation, the merciless killings of your children, displacement, destruction of property and possessions…” And so on.
Let’s entertain for a moment that some of these horrors, which are tragic staples of all wars, are true. There is still much about the situation all of us — and I do mean all — do not know and can’t possibly know until the conflict is well over. According to Debretsion, darkness is allegedly falling on the youth of Tigray, but he then demands, “I call upon you all to join the struggle.”
He goes on. Allegedly, “the enemies are committing unspeakable atrocities upon” the women of Tigray, but he wants them “to send your sons and daughters to join the struggle.”
Source: https://jeffpearce.medium.com/
