TPLF-loyalists should understand that selective justice is injustice. You can empathise with civilians in Tigray, mass-raped and massacred and also highlight crimes committed by the TPLF, who ruled #Ethiopia for nearly three decades but now designated as a terrorist group. 1/
TPLF and other rebels fought a bloody war to bring down the Derg Regime. Led by Meles, they had 27-long-years to create strong institutions - that would have protected citizens and themselves.
Instead, Meles and his accomplices run Ethiopia and the Horn like a mafia state. 2/
Immediately, they started targeting community leaders; politicians, intellectuals, elders and anyone who questioned their rule. They hanged, slaughtered and executed people in front of their families. Often, they would display the victims’ bodies at centre towns. 3/
TPLF's objective was to create fear in people's minds and to subjugate whole communities - rule by fear.
I witnessed such events in Qabridahar, Jigjiga, Harar, Diredawa. I’ve also heard similar stories were common elsewhere in the country. 4/
Later, the TPLF turned on comrades - those who fought alongside during the struggle - going to war against #Eritrea and invading #Somalia. Meles also convinced the west & the AU that Eritrea was a rogue state; punishing a whole nation - ordinary Eritreans suffered as a result. 5/
In #Somalia, nicknamed as the butcher of Mogadishu, Gen Gabre and his TPLF soldiers killed tens of thousand of civilians. Just Google Gabre + Somalia. His forces regularly bombed civilian areas and used white phosphorous. I remember the murder of 400+ Somalis in a single day. 6/
The TPLF made sure that even those who fled their brutality weren't safe. Their operatives started kidnapping people from neighbouring countries like Djibouti, Kenya, Somalia and there are few cases in Yemen. They terrorised, hunted, imprisoned and executed. 7/
On the night the Ethiopian troops captured the Tigray capital Mekelle, I was in Addis Ababa and checking reactions on social media, people were posting pictures of them celebrating. Places like Afar, Amhara, Oromia, Somali Region, Nairobi, Dadaab, Djibouti, Europe & America... 8/
Finally, the TPLF-loyalists or remnants must accept the reality - the TPLF is DEAD. They may fight in the mountains but they are not going to rule Ethiopia ever again. The people of Tigray, Ethiopia and in the Horn suffered terribly under the TPLF. 9/
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#Ethiopia: America and European countries are threatening sanctions against the Ethiopian Govt over human rights violations.
We know atrocities are taking place in Tigray such as rape and massacres - I have met the victims of the conflict and reported from the area. 1/
But the same western nations gave financial, military & moral support to Meles Zenawi, who led a murderous regime for 20+ years; committing crimes against Ethiopians & others including #Somalis.
What's the western nations' motives?
What did Meles do that Abiy isn't doing? 2/
Meles Zenawi did this: 'Amnesty International on Tuesday accused Ethiopian troops in Somalia of killing civilians and committing atrocities, including slitting people's throats, gouging out eyes and gang-raping women.' nytimes.com/2008/05/06/wor…
This man (photo) is Zakariye, ex-Head of Al-Shabaab Intelligence. He orchestrated many attacks including the Westgate Mall in Nairobi. Now, he works for the Somali Govt & is protected by his cousin @M_Farmaajo. I understand he regularly travels to Nairobi & often visits Westgate.
Few months after the Westgate attack I travelled to Somalia to report from inside Al-Shabaab training camp where the militants were training hundreds of fighters.
Zakariye was praised for 'succeeding the Westgate project'.
I wonder what Westgate victims would think that the man who masterminded such an attack visits the same Shopping Mall to socialise and I am told that he enjoys having a sugared Cappuccino.