Int’l community’s silence to TPLF’s belligerence questionable:PMO

BY BILAL DERSO

ADDIS ABABA- Some global powers which had been a vocal opponent of Ethiopian government’s law enforcement operation in Tigray State, are dead silent about terrorist TPLF’s overt belligerence and encroachment of Amhara and Afar states thereby putting its stance for humanity in doubt, Office of the Prime Minister said.

At a press briefing she held here yesterday, Office Press Secretary Billene Seyoum stated that the global community, in particular corporate media have been shockingly mute with regards to terrorist TPLF aggression and targeting of women in Amhara State in its attacks. Global partners also have remained silent when the faction utilizes children as combatants and employs and uses illegal substances to encourage them to war.

“The government wants to assert to the very quiet international community in this particular matter that children are not soldiers and civilians need not be utilized as human shelters for TPLF’s destructive activities.” Also, international agencies need to realize that humanitarian assistance in transit to Tigray has been blocked from reaching those in need by the group.

The Press Secretary further noted that despite TPLF’s overt acts and its open and vocal belligerence against the safety and security of the people of Ethiopia and its blatant statements to attack other states and the capital, the international community has remained unresponsive.

“This silence among the international community is something to be once again raised and questioned.”

As to her, in developments following the government’s decision to enact humanitarian ceasefire and withdrew from some of the cities, the international community’s silence was quite bold and double standards seem to be at play in muteness towards TPLF’s harassment and overt belligerence.

“Many that were echoing for the wellbeing of Tigrayans in the State are now mute when the terrorist element is blocking aid, killing Tigrayans accused of being loyal to the federal government and conscripting child soldiers as well as utilizing civilians as human shields.”

Noting the prevalence of a very loud narrative about the withdrawal of federal and Amhara Special Forces from Tigray, she said that now TPLF forces, designated as terrorist elements, are encroaching Amhara and Afar States and there is a dead silence among global players.

Billene highlighted that there are three things partners need to pay attention to: that TPLF attacked federal troops in Tigray in November 2020 and dragged the federal government into war. Secondly, the federal government enacted the humanitarian ceasefire which fugitives of justice rejected in June 2021. TPLF also escalated the conflict by invadingAmhara and Afar States and openly declared violence.

“This are critical threats against the state and people of Ethiopia and the international community is still quiet about it and the question is why? Why? Why?”

The Ethiopian Herald July 29/2021