Mereja.Forum

[eden]

HGDEF’s goal is to keep Tigray within Ethiopia. That’s a given. I think HGDEF rulers see a threat that an independent Tigray, with its high percentage of ethnic and religious hom’ogeneity, is detrimental to Eritrea that’s relatively heterogeneous on both accounts. To clarify, HGDEF thought process is that Tigray ethno nationalism will destroy Eritrea nationalism from within due to a good chunk of Eritrea mirroring Tigray, meaning, being Tigray ethnicity and orthodox Christian.


The question becomes ...

If the goal is to keep Tigray within Ethiopia, shouldn’t the policy of HGDEF then be to encourage Ethiopia leaders to work with Tigray leaders? That way, Tigray is not becoming hotbed for separation movements - leading, in effect, to independent Tigray neighboring Eritrea, the perceived threat HGDEF works so hard to avert.

Where am I going wrong?

[YAY]

Dear Eden: I doubt if you know PFDJ's/HGDeF's policies regarding Tigraiy

PFDJ acknowledges Tigraiy as part of Etiyopiya, Tigraiyans as Etiyopiyans, and their organizations as Etiyopiyan. EPLF/PFDJ recognized the people of Tigraiy's right of self-determination, but (since many of the nationalities' activists recognized themselves as oppressed Etiyopiyans) recommended that it would be the best alternative for all if the people of Tigraiy aim towards forming the "democratic union" of Etiyopiyan nationalities based on equality. EPLF/PFDJ did/does not reject any ethnic group's right to autonomy/independence, and took cessation as the right of last resort. Therefore, keeping Tigraiy within Etiyopiya is not a given as you stated.

We do not see independent Tigraiy under TPLF as a threat to Eritrea much worse than were the Etiyopiyan Empire's. Both claimed territories (part of or the whole of Eritrea). The TPLF desired for Etiyopiyan/Tigraiyan--Eritrean borders be demarcated before 1991, and the EPLF understood that desire as TPLF's desire of territorial expansionism. As Richard Reid.(2011). Frontiers of Violence in North East Africa... p.204, explains:

In the mid-1980s, the EPLF issued a statement:
In the period between 1979 and 1983, at different times the TPLF had caused
many serious problems and tensions on the question of boundaries. The EPLF
stated then that it was not the right time to raise such questions and that the
colonial boundary was clear. However, the TPLF [continued to raise] the
boundary issue by claiming the territory of the district of Badme, in the cen-
tre Tsorona, and in the south Bada, while the TPLF inhibited the EPLF’s
movement in and administration of those areas. Moreover, the TPLF [claimed
that] Tigray had an outlet to the outside world through Dankalia. 84

The TPLF felt that clarification and demarcation was indeed needed, not
least as they felt that Tigrayan territory had been eroded during the reigns
of both Menelik and Haile Selassie. The Eritreans were dismissive: ‘Eritrea’s
legal boundary’, they declared, ‘is its colonial boundary’, and there could be
no talk of ‘any other fabricated boundary’. 85

Frustrated, the TPLF shelved the issue, and indicated that ‘such problems
can be solved in the spirit of negotiation’, but warned that

[t]his does not mean that there is no need for negotiation concerning the
Eritrean–Ethiopian boundary . . . The TPLF’s viewpoint is that Eritrea as a
nation was created during Italian colonial rule. Therefore, by official agree-
ment between the Ethiopian king Menelik II and the Italian government, the
boundary between Eritrea and Ethiopia was clearly demarcated . . . However,
we cannot say that there will be no problems in implementing this Agreement
between Menelik II and the Italian government, because (1) for instance,
some places are clearly demarcated on the map but not clearly demarcated on
the ground, and (2) moreover, in the agreement . . . some places are recognized
as belonging to either Eritrea or Ethiopia, but again the area may not be
found in the respective country as it is stated in the agreement. 86

The rest of the claims and demands of some Tigraiyans seem to be expounded and propagated in recent years. Eritrean ethnic groups, by voting for Eritrean national independence/sovereignty, have already determined to be Eritrean. TPLF, as a dominant power in the Government of Etiyopiya did everything in its power to change the Etiyo-Eritrean border, and that issue is legally concluded. So, TPLF-led "independent" Tigraiy cannot do much more than that. Tigraiy, without TPLF in leadership, in my opinion, would remain Etiyopiyan, and the case of the border is legally settled between them (the two countries, and what remains is marking the border on the ground).

HGDEF’s goal is to keep Tigray within Ethiopia. That’s a given. I think HGDEF rulers see a threat that an independent Tigray, with its high percentage of ethnic and religious hom’ogeneity, is detrimental to Eritrea that’s relatively heterogeneous on both accounts. To clarify, HGDEF thought process is that Tigray ethno nationalism will destroy Eritrea nationalism from within due to a good chunk of Eritrea mirroring Tigray, meaning, being Tigray ethnicity and orthodox Christian.


The question becomes ...

If the goal is to keep Tigray within Ethiopia, shouldn’t the policy of HGDEF then be to encourage Ethiopia leaders to work with Tigray leaders? That way, Tigray is not becoming hotbed for separation movements - leading, in effect, to independent Tigray neighboring Eritrea, the perceived threat HGDEF works so hard to avert.

Where am I going wrong?

[Axumezana]

HEGDEF is good for nothing, it has destroyed Eritirea while TPLF has built a strong and dynamic Tigray. HEGDEF to get the lesson from TPLF and has to mind it's own business! Tigray doesn't need any support or interference to decide it's destiny as it has political, technological, military and economic capability to chart it's own path!

[Deqi-Arawit]

HEGDEF is good for nothing, it has destroyed Eritirea while TPLF has built a strong and dynamic Tigray. HEGDEF to get the lesson from TPLF and has to mind it's own business! Tigray doesn't need any support or interference to decide it's destiny as it has political, technological, military and economic capability to chart it's own path!

Why are strong and dynamic tigrians heading to Yemen and Saudi Arabia.. Tigray is dependent on the federal government for its survival. Dr abiye is still using gloves and hampering you but the minute he gets tough and stripe all federal assistance to tigray. You will be life less