From: Biniam Haile \(SWE\) (eritrea.lave@comhem.se)
Date: Thu Apr 16 2009 - 16:20:13 EDT
TPLF crimes in Tigray as told by a survivor
April 16th, 2009 | Categories: Ethiopia
According to many of your request, here is the English translation of
the Tigringa/Amharic version interview of Fitawrari Gezai Reda, a
resident of Tigray region, northern Ethiopia.
Let me start my view by quoting from an article I read a few years back
from Ethiopian Register magazine, under the topic: "Understanding the
Machine of Woyanne Politics and How It Works." In that commentary, the
writer tried to show how the Ethiopian people were trying to identify
the regime of Tigray People Liberation Front (TPLF) [or commonly known
as Woyanne] and the nature of it.
The writer says, "As critics and opponents of Meles Zenawi's regime, we
often look like those fabled individuals who try to identify a large
animal blindfolded. One character touches the animal's head, another its
back, still another its legs, each one giving an account of the whole
beast by the part of the beast it has felt."
Similarly, opposition parties and groups describe the Woyanne political
creature in various limited ways. Some say TPLF rules are similar to an
Apartheid-like ethnic tyranny. Others draw parallels with a
Marxist-Leninist clique. Still others equate TPLF with a shifta
(banditry), two-faced par communist, par capitalist, political entity.
We also mark the regime as a worari (occupying) force, clever at
operating behind tribal lines, reminiscent of colonialism, yet quick to
resort to frontal assault on dissidents, citizens, and communities to
bolster its monopoly of power."
Each of these outlines of TPLF rules is right, but only partially. Each
depiction highlights a particular feature or element of the Meles
dictatorship in Ethiopia.
Indeed, as the writer above tried to show the different features of
TPLF, each one of these taken separately, or as a mere sum, the
depictions do not, however, yield an adequate picture of the gangsters
of Woyane Tigray. Even as mercenary as it is, stating Meles and his
groups as group of "Banda", still we can't describe the nature of the
political beast! The nature of the gangs should be interpreted in ways
worse than what has been said for years. Can I simply say, "These are
beasts dispatched from hell?
Many of us may not have the detail understanding and information how
Tigrian farmers and citizens were the subject of these beasts for solid
seventeen years. Because of our frustration, many of us blame the
Tigrians for harboring the beasts for seventeen years, but in reality
the Tigrian farmers and people have suffered more than all of us can
imagine.
Leaving the weakness and the failure of the flamboyant members and
sympathizers of the beasts, and leaving aside for a moment, the ugly
record of the Tigrian intellectuals and all walks of Tigrians who
defended and supported the cruel nature of TPLF leaders and their Bado
Shidushte (06) (the notorious security apparatus of TPLF) for many
years, without any doubt, the majority of the Tigrian people,
particularly "farmers," were the direct victims of TPLF savagery more
than any society in Ethiopia.
In this report you will read a very shocking history from an elderly man
from Tigray. Ato Gezai Reda was tortured and released after paying Birr
15,000 ($7,500.00), after he was captured by TPLF guerrilla fighters in
1969 EC (about 1976/1978), and recently exposed the cruelty and
injustice done to the Tigrian farmers and citizens by the so called
leaders of Woyane Tigray in his interview with Dejen radio, produced by
my friend, Hailemariam Abebe. I am working on the full translation of
the interview in Amharic, to be published in one of the national papers.
Till then, take the idea home, weigh the gruesome and utterly despicable
nature of TPLF, the mass murders and tortures it inflicted on thousands
of Tigrians. As usual, please bear with me when it comes to my
"proficiency" of the English language.
Here is the short summary of the interview:
Ato Gezai Reda is originally from Enderta (around Mekelle), but worked
and spent most of his life in Shire Awraja (Enda-Selassie). He was an
employee of the Ministry of Interior before his ordeal. Ato Gezai
expresses his thanks to Dejen radio for having him as a guest, and for
getting the opportunity to expose the crimes of TPLF to the Ethiopian
people, after keeping them with him for many years for lack of a free
forum.
Ato Gezai Reda, after briefly explaining about his life history,
directly goes to his narration. In the mid-'70s, he was a member of
"Teranafit" (a group established in shire district before it merged with
Prince Mengesha Seyoum's armed rebel group - the Ethiopian Democratic
Union - EDU). He said TERANAFIT at first had no intention of fighting
against TPLF. Teranafit was established to fight against then military
Junta in power - the "Derg." But TPLF accused members of Teranafit of
being "rivals" in recruiting the Tigrian youth. Because of this, he said
he and other Teranafit members came under the focus of TPLF hostility.
Ato Gezai Reda was captured in March 1969 (1977/78) when he and others
were traveling by bus to Axum to celebrate the religious holiday of
Hidar Tsion. TPLF fighters threw hand grenades and ambushed the bus in
the vicinity of "Af Gah-gah". Held at gunpoint, the rebels ordered three
passengers to get down, and those were: Ato Gezai, Ato Feseha, and Ato
GebreTsadik Woldu.
The three "captives" were taken to a locality called Mai Demas, where
they were thrown into a closure, and spent a bitter cold night along
with livestock.
The next day, says Ato Gezai, "we were taken to Badme. Along the way,
every village we passed by, there were many young farmers and elders who
were being rounded up by TPLF as Teranafit accomplices."
Ato Gezai and other 50 prisoners were taken to a place called Ginbot
(near Badme). Ginbot was lush green, and had several springs that
watered the site. "Upon our arrival," says Ato Gezai, "all of us were
ordered to roll over a field covered with ash which was so thick and
over a feet or two high. We did as ordered, but fell to severe coughing,
sneezing, itching. Once our introductory lesson was over, we were thrown
into a tiny cell, joining other prisoners who had lost their hairs due
to inhuman conditions. Those who were imprisoned before us were
seriously emaciated, like they have been starving for a long time. Parts
of their bodies were burned with fire, and their skins had turned
yellow. With their sunken eyes, they looked like skeletons. Their legs
were swollen, and their voices coarse."
Some of the young men whom Ato Gezai saw in that prison cell were
students from Adi-Awala, Adi Dairo in Shirre. The other victims included
individuals who suffered from "manic depression," and had already lost
their minds, understandably from the complication of constant exposure
to cruel torture and loss of hope in life.
The next morning Ato Gezai was interrogated as an accomplice of the
Teranafit rebel group which TPLF saw as a sworn enemy. On the second
day, they woke Ato Gezai up, took him out, and tied his hands behind his
back against a tree, and set a pile of firewood between his legs. He was
fixed to a tree trunk as the TPLF guys used tight ropes and wires to
wrap him by.
They started the fire between his legs, and Gezai Reda's long journey
into the world of hell controlled by TPLF starts in earnest. As a thick
smoke chokes Ato Gezai, the fire has already created blisters all over
his body. Out of desperation, he shouted "Kidus Michael! Kidus Michael."
His torturers heard what he said, and started to make fun of him. The
torturers picked up two small rocks and rubbed the stones against each
other and, mockingly, asked their victim: "Can you see your St. Michael
in these stones?"
(At this moment on the Radio, Ato Gezai is overwhelmed with emotions of
grief, and slips into silence)
He comes back on air, and continues his narration. "The fire was too
much painful," and I cried out: "The fire Is Hell!", and said, "My
brothers and sisters! I can't move left or right. I am being eaten up by
the fire. You bet Hell is better than enduring this cruelty!"
My hands were tied behind me to a tree; there is no way one can escape
from the chocking smoke and the flames of the burning wood. My body
started to swell like a balloon. My body was covered with blisters,
containing water under the swollen skin. And at one time, my skin burst
and gushed out water from my entire body. Then my torturers ordered a
break, using the military code "erefti!" (Recess/ break!).
After this unbelievable torture of burning and roasting my body with
fire, they took me away from the fire, and untied my hands. I was lying
on the ground, from where I slipped into unconsciousness. I can't
remember how long I was in a state of shock. I only knew when they woke
me up again, and ordered me to stand, walk, and sit back to the burning
fire. I couldn't move my body! I was burned, numb, and roasted; my
throat and lungs were coarse like burned; I couldn't talk either.
Practically, my body was turned into the size of a monster; my eyes were
hanging out of their sockets. My tormentors also knew I that I couldn't
move. They looked for other means. They burned a bunch of figs, and
threw the fire onto my body.
After a few days, I woke up, and tried to make sense of where I was
(mind you I was still in severe pain and mentally devastated). But once
more, they took me out in that bad shape, when I was looking just like
an invalid. I was asked if I'd learned anything from my being tortured.
The interrogator asked me if there was something I could make as a
confession. I said: "Other than being a member of Teranafit, I have
nothing to confess; I did nothing wrong that harmed TPLF; if there is
anything, please show me any evidence of wrongdoing than torturing me
for a crime I know nothing about." I begged them to tell me if I'd done
anything wrong to them.
Ato Gezai went on to say, "The interrogator didn't whet his thirst of
cruelty, and told me, 'You still didn't learn a lesson after all that?!"
He then ordered the torturers to take me back to the torture chamber,
where I was hung upside down, and the interrogators started to beat my
bare feet with a rubber stick. My body started to burn like I caught
fire: I shivered, vomited, moaned with unbearable pain. By the way, I
still have difficulty walking, and I often feel pain in my feet."
"Those are not Tigrians, those are not Ethiopians; those are some evil
creatures from hell! They have no respect for even the old. They were
educated by us, by the Tigrian parents; they were schooled by the
farmers' and tax-payers' money, they were armed by Tigrians but turned
their back on us, and humiliated us in a way difficult to express in
words."
Dejen radio - Other victims?
Ato Gezai - There were many of them. At least eight people were being
executed every day. Every morning, many young ones from among the
prisoners would be called out by their names. The prisoners knew they
were being taken to be murdered. The young ones would cry, scream,
saying, "tell my parents and families that I am executed.goodbye Tigray!
Good bye folks!"
Mass murder was routine. I can tell you a few more agonizing stories as
to what extent TPLF's cruelty stretches. The crimes of TPLF that I saw
with my own eyes are chilling."
"There was this elder who was highly respected in Shirre Endaselassie.
His name was Gebrelibanos Mezgebo. He was a chief accountant employee of
the Ministry of Internal revenue. He and a few other respected
individuals like him were selected by the people of Shire and
surroundings to go to TPLF bases, and meet with TPLF officials over how
to peacefully resolve the war with the Derg. The idea was proposed by
the Derg officials. The Derg explained to the elders of Shirre that war
was killing the nation, and such peaceful plan was also being executed
in Eritrea. Eritrean elders were also elected by residents to go to the
mountains to meet the rebels over a possible dialogue with the Derg. The
Derg proposed they can solve their differences with EPLF-ELF for the
sake of peace to the war-torn country. Likewise, the elders from around
Shirre went to TPLF-held areas so as to meet and discuss the issue with
them.
"Mind you!" says Ato Gezai Reda ".these are respected elders, who know
nothing about politics, or who have never been members of any political
group. But since the Derg officials ordered them to do something to
resolve the conflict, they went out as peace envoys, shouldering
responsibilities both by the people and the Derg. The residents also
gladly agreed to try the strategy if that would work out for the sake of
peace. The elders met TPLF leaders, but they were unlucky: they were
thrown into prison immediately."
Dejen radio - And then?
Ato Gebrelibanos and the other elders were murdered.
Dejen radio : How come?
Ato Gezai - Well, it is a very sad and shocking scene to witness such
tragedy taking place in ones presence. One night EDU rebels came to the
vicinity with their full military might. Subsequently, TPLF "firing
squads" rushed to where we were being held. And we heard the
interrogators saying loudly, "Let us Kill them! Let us finish them!"
Immediately, they opened the door and ordered us to line up. They wanted
to carry out the execution there and then but they changed their mind,
and rushed us to a gorge covered with thick forest. However, they
delayed the execution for reasons we did not know.
"Let me take you back for a second, to the question of what happened to
Ato Gebrelibnos Mezgebos. As I said earlier, we were told EDU rebels
were encircling the area. At that moment they tried to kill all
prisoners. But later on, they decided to rush us somewhere else.
However, Ato Gebrelibanos was badly burned and tortured like myself. He
was a sad sight to the eye. He had open wounds on his back and his legs.
He was almost crippled from torture. The TPLF decided he should be put
to death. THEY FIRED THREE SHOTS INTO HIS BODY AND MURDERED HIM where he
was lying!"
"With him, there was also a very handsome young man who was their
member, a "guerilla fighter," who fell sick with severe malaria. He was
shivering with high fever, was unable to walk. He was lying under a
shade from the outside of the prison cell that housed us. He was there
just to rest and get some medication. He too was shot to death by the
firing squad in his sleep. They executed him on the spot because he was
unable to walk with the rest of us. This young fighter was from a
village called Enticho (Adwa). They pumped three shots into each of the
two victims in a cold-blooded murder.
Dejen radio - Why did they do that?
Ato Gezai - They didn't want to carry them.
Dejen radio - They shot and killed their own fighter too?
Ato Gezai - Yes, they were cold-blooded murderers who had no value for
human life. I have no idea how such youngsters came out from the womb of
Tigrians and turned into some despicable monsters!
Dejen radio - And then?
Ato Gezai - We left the two murdered gentlemen behind us as we were
rushed to a place called Maay Lam (Mereb). It was very hot, humid, and
sand. Many of the prisoners had a difficult time dragging themselves
along a very hostile terrain. Many of us never had any exercise, let
alone overcome long journeys atop our tortured bodies. We had no power
at all. Many of us had headaches, dizziness, and were thirsty and
exhausted. Those who were limping and had fallen behind, the rebels
pulled them like they were animal carcasses to be disposed of. Rebel
harassments were rampant against those who staggered on the way. Among
the weak prisoners, I remember there was a respected elder, Balambaras
Tilahun. He was from Deki Awuaala. They wanted to riddle his body with
bullets. Fortunately, when they were ready to do just that, some higher
official of the organization came to the scene, and the firing squad
asked the official if they could kill the man whom they saw as a burden.
The official asked them if his interrogation was finalized. They said
"no." He told them to first get over the investigation. The old man was
spared, and was suggested they somewhat carry him. However, they tied
him tight to a single long stick (It was supposed to be a stretcher).
They went away rocking the old man left and right his body tied/hooked
with that single stick. Finally we reached a place called "La'e-Lai
Barka (may be close to Eritrea border), and it was time to spend the
night there. On the same night, they told us there would be assignments,
and they split us in two: Group A and Group B (the reason was one of the
groups would go to the Red Cross for check-ups, while the other would
take other assignments. That was what they said). We formed long
columns, but we were worn out. Immediately everyone was asleep. But
again in the same night, they woke us up, and called the names of 25
individuals. They took them to a nearby ravine, and in an outburst of
gunfire, the 25 were murdered en masse. That day was Ethiopian Easter
holiday.
The way how the gentlemen were killed was really frightening to human
mind. They told the victims to line up like soldiers but they
machine-gunned them down all at once. The killers didn't even bother to
bury the victims. Their bodies were later found by Eritrean cattle
herders. When the cattle came closer to the sight, they began to retreat
as if they had seen predators. This alerted the herders who became
curious why their cattle were frightened, and suddenly saw the bodies of
25 Ethiopians murdered at one go. "It is really heart-wrenching to
recall such tragedies despite the passage of a long time," says Ato
Gezai.
He mentioned some of the executed individuals by name. Among them:
Ato Tewolde Gebresilassie (a town council official from Endaselassie -
Shire)
Ato Abebe Gebre-Mariam (an old man from Adi Beiray, Deki-Awala)
Wodi Goshim, a 16-year-old from Endaselassie.
Mohammed, a 12-year-old boy from Adua who came to the Selekleka to visit
his aunt. In prison, the boy always cried, saying he wanted to go to his
mother and his Aunt and would often ask them "what am I doing here? I
want to go to mom". Altogether with the kid, 25 people were slaughtered.
By the way, after the herders discovered the mass murder, they
immediately notified ELF fighters. The ELF men were shocked, and held an
official meeting, and expressed their disappointments by the gruesome
murders TPLF committed. ELF told TPLF to move out of their territory.
TPLF fighters who were guarding us shared the secret with us. Some of
the fighters were very close to us and sympathized with our condition.
It was their closeness and sympathy that helped us to get the
information that TPLF had differences with ELF with that incident.
Unfortunately, many of the prisoners were murdered, (even after the ELF
ordered TPLF, move out itself and its prisoners from their area). Those
murdered, were murdered in the same fashion: "summary execution!"
After they relocated us, there were killings as well. There were
prisoners like Haleka Tilahun (Adi Hagerai?) , Yigzaw Hailu (I think if
I am not mistaken he was the son of Kegnazmach or Dejach Hailu Aduwa).
Yigzaw was unique than the rest. He was a strong man. He killed one of
the executioners, and stabbed another with the executioner's own knife,
and fled on foot. They pursued him with a barrage of machinegun fire.
They shot him, but could not find him, dead or alive. After a week,
however, his death was confirmed when vultures were spotted, and they
were scavenging on the corpse.
Dejen radio - What happened to you finally?
Ato Gezai - I was told I could bail myself out by paying them Birr
15,000 (then the equivalent of $7,500 U.S. dollars). They ordered me to
write a letter to my wife to make the payment. I pleaded for lesser
settlement. They told me "TPLF is not a market place for bargaining."
Finally, I wrote a letter to my wife and they took the letter to her,
and she sold our hotel (the only source of income we had to support my
children and my wife at that time while I was under TPLF custody). My
wife had no other choice, and she sold our property, met one of the
agents, and paid him 15,000 Birr. I was released but there was a string
to it: If I talked about TPLF brutality, I would be hunted down. No
mercy. And they had these so-called fedayeen, (disguised TPLF snipers
who infiltrate towns either to kidnap victims, or else, murder them.)
Dejen radio - We have heard many people lost their finger-nails, and
fingers and limps were being pulled off the bodies of victims during
torture. And we heard TPLF was forcing its victims to dig their own
graves before they were shot dead. It that true?
Ato Gezai - Many despicable things have befallen too many innocent
people. One day, they decided to kill me. My hands were tied, and I was
watching when they were digging my grave. They dug it themselves because
I was too weak to do anything. I was tied very tight, and asked them:
"My hands are tied and it is hurting me badly. Can you please loosen the
rope?" One of my guards got upset and said: "This is your grave; in our
law, you were supposed to dig your own grave. But because you have no
muscle to do that, we are doing you a favor. Therefore, you better shut
up and get ready to enter your warm grave!"
I was put down in the grave. Then, the firing squad gathered and started
to lower down their heads to the ground with their formal whispers
(prayers par communist zealots), called "zikri sema'atat" (in memory of
our martyrs). When they prayed their version, I was also praying loudly:
"ABUNE ZEBESEMAYAT. (Oh, our Heavenly Father.) at that moment, one of
them by the name "Mesele" asked me, "what are you chanting for?"
When he was asking me this very question, another messenger called
Alemseged came running and screaming so loud towards us. They said, "who
is that guy?" He screamed so loud from a distance, and told them, "wait,
wait! Don't do anything! Don't kill him!" Alemseged told them higher
officials were saying that the prisoner had more interrogations and
should be spared of the execution. The amazing thing was a member of the
firing squad was my neighbor's son by the name "Nuguse Lilai". This
young man was a promising soccer player in Shire Enda-Selassie, back in
the good old days. At that time, I used to encourage him and his friends
to pursue their sports. Occasionally, I used to support them
financially. I also used to take their pictures, extending some form of
fatherly help. He was the first one who jumped into the grave, and
pulled me out, by cutting the rope that had tied my hands. I saw him and
his friends beaming with joy in the presence of the executioners who
were suddenly ordered to delay my death.
However, I felt like they were playing with me like a toy. I begged them
to finish me off. I asked them why they were playing with my soul, and
asked them to fire a single shot, and get over with me, instead of
taking me back and forth to the same hellish life. They replied, "We
have orders that you have more interrogations." So to answer your
question, "Yes, they used to make us dig our graves before they killed
us. Indeed, they were evil, anti-Tigray, anti humanity, anti their own
family, anti Ethiopia, generally they were demons from devil knows
where."
Dejen radio - Ato Gezai, you have seen and witnessed all these
nightmares, and the unbelievable evilness of TPLF. I think to my
understanding hearing this shocking story, do you think you considered
them as Tigrians? This is barbaric. Their action is even worse than
Fascist Mussolini's atrocities. How were you judging them at that time?
Ato Gezai - Oh! We took them as the disciples of Satan. Given their lack
of humanity, I could only say I was saved by the power of God! They were
cruel. They fed us very salty food so that we would feel thirsty, and
they would punish us by denying us water. They added gasoline to the
injera and soup so that we would suffer with hunger. It is hard to
explain their cruelty. They kept prisoners in dungeons; there were
dungeons in Kalema (Jihanem) near Gondar, another one in one of the
Tekeze River hills, and another in Tembien. Those underground prisons
were dug beneath the hills. I heard it was very hard for strangers to
tell if there were underground prison chambers or not.
Dejen radio - Have you had children at the time? Did they ever know
where you were?
Ato Gezai - I had young children, all of them under seven. They didn't
know where I was till my release.
Dejen radio - After your wife sold the hotel and paid TPLF the money
they had asked, how did you end up going back to EDU? What forced you to
leave town?
Ato Gezai - Let me tell you, whether I like it or not, they could have
taken the money anyway.
Dejen radio - How is that?
Ato Gezai - What they did to many innocent families, they could have
done to my wife too. There are more and more sad stories. For instance,
they execute their victim. By the way, they cover the heads of their
victims with some sort of garment. Then they execute them. After that,
the TPLF prepares a letter as if it were written and signed by the
victim. TPLF would write as though the victim was alive, and was a
dedicated fighter. In the letter, they would write as if their victim
would tell his family that he would never abandon TPLF, and for his
cause, he was dedicating the family property to his organization - TPLF.
So when the family gets the letter, given the reign of TPLF terror in
the area, would be forced to hand over the property. Don't forget TPLF
has already killed the individual. Many families were robbed of their
children and property by such sordid TPLF crimes. They never cared that
their victimized family had kids, and would perish to hunger.
Let me tell you about the fate of one promising businessman in Adi
Hagerai, Adiabo. His name was GebreTsadik Tsige, the son of Haneta
Tsige. They were of Eritrean origin that lived as good Ethiopians. The
young businessman had heavy-duty trucks and over a thousand heads of
cattle. They killed him. On top of that, they ordered his wife to pay
Birr 12,000. She said she had 6,000 Birr to pay right away, and not the
entire sum of money. She asked them to give her more time. They demanded
she had better paid the full amount right away. When she could not find
the money, they took the trucks, 500 heads of cattle from the family
ranch.
Now, let me go back to your question and answer what happened to me
after I was released. I gave my hand to Colonel Kale-Kristos Abai, then
regional governor of Tigrai province.
I visited the colonel's office, where I was interviewed by the governor
himself and other attending senior officials. Upon hearing my harrowing
stories of tortures and mass killings, they were heart-broken, shocked
and truly disoriented. On my part, I begged them to keep the stories to
themselves. "If the stories leaked and reached TPLF," I told them, "they
will kill me. No doubt about that." But the officials were overwhelmed
with the gruesome murders TPLF was carrying out against innocent people.
They immediately called for public meeting with the residents of the
town. They began to tell the people the crimes being committed by TPLF.
At that moment, they wanted an eye-witness, and called my name to
testify. I heard them calling my name, but I kept quiet. I did not want
to risk my life for I knew TPLF would murder me. In the first place, I
didn't want to disclose TPLF crimes to the Derg. But the Derg was also
another problem, and I had no choice but to tell them what I went
through. Immediately on the third day, TPLF sent me a "death warrant."
They sent one old man relative of my family. The letter told me to get
prepared for my death any time. I prepared myself in a few days, kissed
my kids and my wife good-bye, and after a long trek through the jungle,
I joined EDU combatants.
Dejen radio - Dear Ato Gezai: You have seen TPLF in detail. TPLF is anti
Tigray, anti Ethiopian culture. They changed everything, even the names
of villages and hamlets. They devalued the honor of our mothers, they
chopped away our territories, and ports preserved by our forefathers.
Would you share your views with us on these points?
"TPLF is insane; they are evil, anti Christian, anti religion and anti
our culture. They went against Tigrian culture. They desecrated
churches. They smoked cigarettes inside churches. They turned churches
into dancing halls. They tore down holy church garments and used them as
sacks for stolen goodies. They used Medhani-Alem churches in Sheraro as
their dancing floor for their "artistic troupe." They forced elderly
priests to lead their dances. They forced priests to throw their
crosses, and made them carry guns and forced them to shoot. This was the
most disturbing time in the history of our country. After having been an
EDU combatant, I was forced into the world of exile, and I will never be
able to visit my country until I make sure TPLF is removed and gone
forever."
NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR:
Who is Ato Gebrelibanos Mezgebo? I am his son in law. Ato Gebrelibnos
Mezgebo is from Yeha, near Adwa. His wife, Woizero Yeshi, is from Adwa,
Yeha. Woizero Yeshi, an elderly mother is still alive with her 7
children and many grand children. Justice will reveal, murderers who
killed elders and young children as old as 12 years would one day face
the wrath of justice.
The cold-blooded murderers can fool the fools pretending like they are
peaceful individuals and peaceful leaders. Regardless of their
camouflage, their blood-soaked life would one day end up in front of the
court of justice. I thank Ato Gezai Reda from my heart, and Dejen radio
in behalf of the family. The family may not question TPLF currently for
fear of persecution. We the family are many and we are everywhere to
challenge the thugs and murderers. Justice will prevail! There will no
more be a mystery. The curtain that had covered the criminal and
murderous nature of TPLF is uncovered for all to see, and for all to add
their voices they had up to day kept for themselves for fear of being
added to the long list of the thousands of men and women TPLF firing
squads murdered in the quiet fields of northern Ethiopia. In Recent
interview, Fitawrari Gezaie Reda exposed his torturers and prison chiefs
who sent many young kids and elders to their death chamber as Abebe
Teklehaymanot (filed name Usman) he was the ETPLF/EPRDF Air force chief.
Awalom Weldu (real name Tiku Weldu- the brother of Abay Weldu currently
Abay Weldu is TPLF's CC) - he was the first TPLF/EPRDF Ethiopian
Ambassador to Eritrea. (Currently, Ass/chair and CC of Gebru Asrat's
"Arena" party). Mesele was also the x-Derg Lieutenant Officer, who later
fled to TPLF and became one of the executioners. The story will be
published in book version for history to document it. Any one who is
interested or have any question to contact Fitawrary or about our family
already executed in the field by TPLF while in his asleep (or about
other TPLF victims),- contact me on the following address.
By Getachew Reda
http://www.ethiopianreview.com/content/2009/04/tplf-crimes-in-tigray-as-
told-by-a-survivor/
----[This List to be used for Eritrea Related News Only]----