TPLF regime beating the war drums again
By: Shabait staff
June 2, 2004

In the televised interview he gave to Ethiopian Television, the Prime Minister of the TPLF regime, Meles Zenawi, tried to present feeble pretexts about the regime’s rejection of the EEBC’s final and binding delimitation decision. This is a clear and concrete evidence of inconsistency. “The world is not bound by law and justice. When we rejected complying with the decisions of the Boundary Commission this does not mean that we rejected the decisions because they are illegal and unjust, but because if the texts of the ruling are implemented on the ground there would be a major menace that threatens the peaceful situation in the region. We cannot accept a decision that has a negative impact on our peace,” stated Meles.

This is the justification put by the head of the TPLF regime in the context of his rejection of the EEBC decision which aims at attaining peace and stability in the whole region. However, it is rather odd from a person in top position of responsibility while speaking to media watched by thousands of people to say that compliance by law and justice and the implementation of decisions made by a Commission fundamentally established for resolving differences and conflicts will be leading to disruption and the threatening of security and stability.

If there is a message to be understood from Ethiopia’s Premier’s statement is that the compliance with the letter and spirit of the Boundary Commission’s ruling contradicts his declared aggressive agenda against Eritrea and its people.

Thus, as far as Meles is concerned, there should be misrepresentation of facts and logic in order to conform to the TPLF’s odd mentality. So we can imagine the situation and interstate relations if chaos and terrorism were to reign instead of peace and justice. It will be then gambling with people’s interests and rights in living under circumstances of stability and development.

Misrepresentation of facts and delaying tactics are not a new conduct of the TPLF regime in its dealings with the Eritrean people and the international community. All its war and aggressive agenda against our people were woven around the big lie alleging that Ethiopia was ‘invaded’ by Eritrea. Then the other scenarios, ploys and deception came in succession in the words and inconsistent statements of the TPLF officials. At present this line of action reached calling for dialogue and negotiations on issues whose agendas are not defined yet. Finally their odd mentality came to saying openly that justice would threaten peace and security and will menace the interest and resources of the people of the region.

If we ask about the solutions searched for by the TPLF regime away from law and justice, we find the answer in the replies of the head of the regime when he was asked about his proposals for attaining peace and justice in the region: “There are options regarding this. The first of these is going to war. The second is sitting for dialogue and resolving the present problem. There is no third option” he stated.

In a word the head of the TPLF regime says that the Algiers Agreement and the Boundary Commission’s decisions have to be thrown into the wastebasket and thus enter into endless and futile old cycle of war, which inflicted great damage and losses. These are the options made by the TPLF regime that actually means one option, i.e. war.

It is to be recalled in this context that the TPLF regime was compelled to sign the Algiers Agreement after its failure to impose its hegemony and the frustration of its aggressive agenda against Eritrea. Not only that but the regime suffered great material and human losses as well as defeats at the hands of the valiant Eritrean Defense Force. The feeble justifications fabricated by the regime for declaring war against Eritrea can only be overcome by its compliance with the Algiers Peace Agreement. The guarantors the agreement fully know that the two parties have to comply with the stipulations of the Algiers accord.
When the Eritrean government accepted the Boundary Commission’s decisions it did so not because the ruling did justice to it or that it came in its favor, but because it regarded compliance to the rule of law as the only choice for attaining peace and justice in the region. The Eritrean government was fully aware that law will not do justice to all, but it believes that complying to the rule of law is a culture dictated by the policy of peaceful coexistence in this age. This is the culture that totally differs from the trend and general philosophy of the TPLF. At this juncture if we say that the TPLF regime is living in a state of internal contradictions with itself we will not be far from reality.

The world well remembers that when the Boundary Commission announced its final and binding decision on 13 April 2002, the TPLF regime declared that it realized and scored a great political gain. In addition, it declared beyond doubt that the EEBC had done justice to it, and that it gained not only the territories it claimed but also more. However, the same regime later declared its dissociation and rejection of the EEBC ruling in its totality. Contrary to this, the Eritrean position was expressed by President Isaias Afwerki in his message to the Eritrean and Ethiopian people, saying that it is insignificant to question what party had won more than the other, because what is important is that the issue received its final and legal conclusion, and that the outcome is in the interest of the people of both countries and that of future generations.

When the TPLF regime, through its pseudo parliament, declared war against Eritrea on 13 May 1998 under false pretext, the first statement by the Eritrean Cabinet of Ministers had called for resolving differences through peaceful and legal means. This remained to be the constant and permanent position of the Eritrean government since the start of the conflict until the present day.

Through this stance of the Eritrean people and their government were compelled to make great sacrifices and ultimately they brought the issue to its legal and political course which compelled the TPLF regime to heed to law and justice. Under such circumstances, the international community should not have double standards regarding the conflict, as this in essence is against truth and the rule of law. The international community, in contradiction to the role it should play in defending the rule of law represented in the Boundary Commission ruling, is generously providing the TPLF regime with unlimited economic and political support. This apparently looks like a call and encouragement by the world community to resort to the law of the jungle.The concerned bodies should refer to the articles and resolutions of the UN Charter and resolutions.
All the attempts of the TPLF regime to run away from the EEBC decision are temporary steps to escape from its internal crises. Whatsoever the regime tries to win others by repeating different phrases and tricks for face saving, going back to square one would only lead it to more humiliation and utter defeat.