The last twelve years were marked with atrocities, massacres, summary executions, ethnic cleansing, genocide, brutality and indefinite imprisonment of citizens. Under TPLF/EPRDF, people were forcibly removed on the basis of ethnicity from towns, villages and districts where they were born, brought up and/or lived and worked for decades. Those who resisted the TPLF/EPRDF led ethnic cleansing were tied up and thrown into gorges either alive or dead. Families were torn apart and children separated from their mothers or fathers.

This did not satisfy Meles and his team. He wanted to attack the Ethiopian people where it hurt very much, independence and sovereignty of Ethiopia. He reduced the history of Ethiopia to one hundred years, so that his brainchild, Eritrea, can get not only independence, but also equal historical status with Ethiopia. The use of treaties signed between European colonial powers and Ethiopia as the basis of the so called “boundary demarcation” is not surprising. Meles never believed that Ethiopia existed and had an identifiable boundary before those treaties. It seems that the issue of Badme was planned a means to legalize Eritrea’s secession and systematically force the Ethiopian people to accept that the border is no longer in the Red Sea, but Badme, in the far interior of the country. Recently in an interview with IRIN Meles indicated his willingness to give away Badme.

When we were told Asmara is not Ethiopian, when we were told Assab is not Ethiopian we said - sure, if the Eritrean people think that Assab is Eritrea and not Ethiopia, that is alright. …Badme is not bigger than Asmara. Badme is not more important than Assab … It is godforsaken village. According the Boundary Commission, Badme would be 800 meters inside Eritrea. What’s 800 meters in a country as big as Ethiopia? What is 800 meters compared to what we willingly and happily gave up as Eritrea? It is nothing.

To achieve his anti-Ethiopian goals he formulated the only constitution in the world that allows the disintegration of a country. He promoted politics of hatred and disharmony among Ethiopia’s many ethnic groups who have lived for thousands of years harmoniously under a strong spirit of Ethiopianeness. To consolidate his political supremacy, he manipulated the ethnic, linguistic and cultural differences of the Ethiopian people and fanned internecine animosity.

Primarily, he manipulated the people of Tigray to embrace his ethnocentric and hateful ideology. The people of Tigray fell victim to his propaganda. Using the same strategy he tried to destroy all the unifying factors in the historical relationship of the various ethnic groups, which have played a pivotal role for the unity of Ethiopia and her fight to maintain independence and sovereignty. Every time he was in trouble, he resorted to his politics of hatred and caused bloodshed in several parts of the country for his political survival. In spite of his relentless effort to destroy the harmony and unity the various ethnic groups, the Ethiopian people have wisely managed to minimise the damage from outset. The Tigray people realised that Meles and his team never represented them, but only used the name of Tigray for his evil political mission against Ethiopia. Much of the wounds caused by Meles and his team to the inter-relationship between Ethiopian people have started healing. Now, once again the Ethiopian people have reasserted their time honoured and solid unity, bad luck to Meles! He has no where to go, but face the full force of law and justice. He can be assured that he will face JUSTICE, not injustice.

Recent formation of the United Ethiopian Democratic Forces (UEDF) has bolstered the cause of the Ethiopian people. The people are united and have a united leadership, which stands for people from people. However, the Ethiopian people and the UEDF must not be complacent. A desperate person can take a desperate measure. It is obvious that the TPLF leader Meles Zenawi and his team are like a fish taken out of a pound. However, he will not care if the river flow changed into blood, as long as he can survive by swimming in it. Meles will try to trigger chaos and civil war similar to those seen in Somalia, Lebanon and Rwanda. There are clear indicators that he will try it again. A few months ago, he stated to the parliament that “Ethiopia is facing disintegration”, as if he cares. The disintegration of Ethiopia has been his objective and intension. He made it clear in the interview with IRIN, where he stated “If the Somalis want to secede they are free to do so any time of the day. That’s the constitution of Ethiopia. If the Somali people of Ethiopia wish to do so, that’s fine with me.”

In addition to the above points, the recent events such as the denial of teachers to celebrate their international day, the banning of the EFJA, and the closure of Bahir-Dar University are further warning signs that Meles is intending to tighten his repression. If the repression fails, he will not hesitate to trigger chaos and civil war. To ensure the safe passage of the Ethiopian people through this critical juncture:

• Every political party/organization and members must be extraordinarily vigilant to ensure that Meles does not use the ethnic diversity of our people for his political survival.
• Every political party/organization must put aside ideological differences and work together to protect our people from chaos and tragedy.
• Every citizen must ensure that the damage Meles has done to the relationship of the various ethnic groups during the last 12 years does not flare-up in this important moment.
• The Ethiopian Defence Forces (Army, Airforces and Police) must protect the Ethiopian people and sovereignty of Ethiopia, not Meles and his team.
• All Ethiopians must unite against Meles and his team.