Mereja Forum

[Revelations]

This was followed by the Walelegn Mekonnen manifesto. Did you know a Brit was a founding CC member of EPRP? More on that later.

[Revelations]

Everything about the Woldemariam family was contradiction. Born in Ethiopia, they had to work hard to establish themselves in Eritrea against all the odds and create support network…Woldeab’s life was extraordinary and in fact it became more extraordinary precisely because it was filled with contradiction. His father, Woldemariam, was recruited by the Italian colonial army to march into his ancestral home in Tigray, Ethiopia during the battle of Adwa. He campaigned on behalf of the pro-Ethiopia Unionists during the 1950s, while Woldeab did the opposite. Woldeab worked for the independence of Eritrea throughout his life while his siblings made their living in Ethiopia. He served his church devotedly, and it worked against him. When Woldeab took refuge in Egypt, his wife and children took refuge in Addis Ababa, Ethiiopia. Woldeab supported the EPLF while the EPLF ignored and dismissed him.
(283)

[Abe Abraham]

Ha ha !! Do you know the history of Christianity in our region ? Christianity entered Eritrea from the holy land of Sahel. There are still churches in that historical place hidden in the mountains. Even some of the people there trace their origin to Kebessa ( The Highlands ). The same applies to Gash Barka areas. There were times when the Hidarib people were Christians. Old monasteries are still there as a witness. It sounds unbelievable but it is true. The history of Eritrea is more compact than you think. What about the remnant of 4th century Church of Adulis ? Eritrea is more than lowlands and highlands.

On Tigrai-Tigrigne : There has never been a real appetite for Tigrai-Tigrigne in both Eritrea and Ethiopia. Tigrayans had the chance to join Eritrea at any moment of their choice if they had any desire to join us (article 39!).The truth is that Tigrayans always felt Ethiopian(Ethiopian of some kind just like the Oromos and others)they only made tactical relationship with us for a very short time because they perceived that our demise, at that time, will also be theirs.

Tigrai-Tigrigne is like African solidarity, Arab unity, muslim unity and Orthodox unity. It doesn't exist. Do you know how many " Habesha " and " Tewahdo " in Eritrea were killed by other " Habesha " and " Tewahdo " of Ethiopia ?

[Revelations]

In 1942, Ato Woldeab Woldemariam, an educator, journalist and a prolific writer was appointed by the British Administration to be director and editor of the Semunawi Gazetta Eritrea (Eritrean Weekly News) and he worked there until 1950.

The Eritrean Weekly News (the Semunawi Gazetta Eritra) began to feature political essays in February 1944. The first essay of this kind was written on the 14th of the same month by an anonymous writer under the title The Fate of Eritrea (ዕድልኤርትራ).

[sebdoyeley]

I forward to that!! and cheers

Ha ha !! Do you know the history of Christianity in our region ? Christianity entered Eritrea from the holy land of Sahel. There are still churches in that historical place hidden in the mountains. Even some of the people there trace their origin to Kebessa ( The Highlands ). The same applies to Gash Barka areas. There were times when the Hidarib people were Christians. Old monasteries are still there as a witness. It sounds unbelievable but it is true. The history of Eritrea is more compact than you think. What about the remnant of 4th century Church of Adulis ? Eritrea is more than lowlands and highlands.

On Tigrai-Tigrigne : There has never been a real appetite for Tigrai-Tigrigne in both Eritrea and Ethiopia. Tigrayans had the chance to join Eritrea at any moment of their choice if they had any desire to join us (article 39!).The truth is that Tigrayans always felt Ethiopian(Ethiopian of some kind just like the Oromos and others)they only made tactical relationship with us for a very short time because they perceived that our demise, at that time, will also be theirs.

Tigrai-Tigrigne is like African solidarity, Arab unity, muslim unity and Orthodox unity. It doesn't exist. Do you know how many " Habesha " and " Tewahdo " in Eritrea were killed by other " Habesha " and " Tewahdo " of Ethiopia ?

[Revelations]

The Liberal Progressive Party (also known as Eritrea for Eritreans Party) chaired by Ras Asberom Tessema was formed in 1947 and its leaders, among others included Sium Maacho and Woldeab Woldemariam. It called for the unity of Eritrea and Tigray or what is known as Tigray-Tigrinya, to start with. Its base centred mainly in Eastern Akelle Guzai. Ras Tessema was closely connected to the noble families of Tigray and was close to Ras Haile Sellasie Gugsa, a descendent of Emperor Yohannes, who had defected to Italy during the war with Ethiopia.

[EthioRedSea]

Woldeab and others were not stooges of The British. the Brit is just writing about Tigray and Tigrigna speakers in general. It was politically wise to form one Tigrigna speaking country or region.

[justo]

The days of Woldeab Woldemariam as an Eritrean icon are seriously numbered
He made a name for himself in the 40s, when Eritreans were not as street savvy as they are today.
There were also efforts to make a national hero out of him in the 80s, together with Tesema Asmerom, but those efforts fizzled off shortly after.
Woldeab and Tesema remain though heroes of some sort within the agazian sub-culture, and Tigrians might try to revive their memories now that they have become disenchanted with the idea of Ethiopia.

[Revelations]

Origin of Tribalisation of Ethiopian Politics: From Fascism to Fascism

(By Prof. Aleme Eshete)

From Baron Prochazka to Benito Mussolini “Legge Organica” the “Charter” for the Tribal Dismemberment of Ethiopia

PART ONE

I. Background

The Nazis of Austro Hungary had already in the 1930’s targeted Ethiopia as a threat against white supremacy, and white colonialism in Africa, in much the same way as the Bush administration talks about Iraq’s “weapons of mass destruction” and threat to “Western Civilization.” In the case of Ethiopia, the classic work on the subject, which we have repeatedly introduced to the Ethiopian public, myself and the Ethiopian patriotic Diaspora in Germany, was , of course, the book by the Austrian Nazi, Baron Roman Prochazka’s “Abyssinia the Powder Barrel” (Vienna 1935), translated in all the major Western languages (including American English, as the following text shows) before the Italian invasion in 1936. Baron Roman Prochazka was posted for two years as Austrian Consul in Addis Ababa until his expulsion in February 1934, as we say now for activities not compatible with his job of a diplomat. The Italian translation of Prochazka’s book entitled ABISSINIA PERICOLO NERO meaning “Abyssinia the Black Threat or Danger” was published in 1935, which is a year before the Fascist invasion .Starting from the first page, Prochazka alerts his white public by stating that since four years that Emperor Haile Selassie’s Ethiopia, in “close co-operation with Japan,” was engaged “on a life and death struggle with the white race, the consequences of which are incalculable. The targets are the colonial powers in Africa without exception. It is hardly possible to imagine a more unhappy situation of a white man than to have to live under the oppression of an Abyssinian grandee. The prevalence of this contemptuous invective is characteristic of the mentality and attitude of the natives who imagine themselves to be infinitely superior to the white race.”

Strikingly, the solution proposed by Prochazka is, and that is where he brings us to to the subject under discussion, is the tribalisation of Ethiopian politics for the purpose of divide and destroy. Prochazka was the first ever to have spoken of “self determination “as the most handy instrument for the dismantlement of the Ethiopian State. Here in brief are the highlights of Prochazka’s strategy:

“The numerous peoples and tribes who inhabit the territory of the Ethiopian state, and which differ in race, language, culture and religion from the ruling minority of the Abyssinians proper, would long ago have thrown off the Abyssinian yoke if they had been given the right of self-determination. Instead, they are being forcibly kept cut off from European influences and from the advantages that progressive colonization could confer upon the country. The final aim of (Abyssinian) policy of antagonism to the white race, in co-operation with Japan, is nothing less than to act as the champions of all the colored peoples of Africa… It is incumbent on the legations of the civilized nations in Abyssinia to warn their governments to take a definite stand before the Abyssinians attack and destroy western culture and civilization in its entirety. There is no such thing as a united Abyssinian people. The greater part of the non-Christian tribes in Abyssinia has no more burning desire than to be freed from the tyranny of the Amharas… If they would vote freely they would certainly prefer a European protectorate to universally hated extortionists and slave drivers. This country is cracking at all its joints and has only been kept together up to the present by methods of ruthless coercion.”With all the talk of the “right of self determination” in the 1930’s, would you say the CIA’s Ethiopia policy of the right of self-determination and nations and nationalities has not been copied word for word from the Nazi Baron Roman Prochazka, for the tribal dismemberment of Ethiopia?

With Fascist occupation of Addis Ababa on May 5, 1936, and through the law of 18, 1936 independent Ethiopia had ceased to exist “the territories and people belonging to the Empire of Ethiopia have come under the full sovereignty of the kingdom of Italy.” Fascist strategy was very clearly the “smembramento” (dismemberment) of the Ethiopian nation into several walled tribal colonies each with a legal personality; in other words, with “the right of self determination” the whole was to be regrouped under one faceless name of “Africa Orientale Italiana” ( our present “Horn of Africa” ). Each “Governo” was divided into “coimmissarato”, itself divided into “Residenza” and “vcice Residenza.” Under the circumstances there was no one colony but five colonies including the Governorato of Addis Ababa which was itself considered a separate colony. “superior to the rest, and itself having its own legal personality” With Amhara (Shoa) defined as the principal enemy from where major resistance and recalcitrance was expected, each tribal government was encouraged to have its own language and script encouraging the use of Latin and Arabic, and its own religion with Islam defined as “pupil of the eye” of Fascism, as well as its own elementary educational system, at the expense of Amharic and Orthodox Christianity. “Amharic was displaced as the official language and Arabic, Galligna and Kaffigna were ordered taught in schools.” Each one of these tribal and regional colonies were largely autonomous and “autarchico” having little or nothing to do with each other, and each one empowered through its governor to directly deal with the central government in Rome (Ministry of Colonies ) over even the head of the Governorato Generale in Addis Ababa, (article 12) even political and military affairs, specially following the end of the administration of the inflated Fascist viceroy and Governor General Rudolfo Graziani (1936 -December 1937) to be replaced by Amedeo Duca d’Aosta as Governor General. That is also why several academicians of Italian colonial studies spoke of a non-unitary “federation” of tribal and regional colonies.

Is it, therefore, exaggeration to say that the CIA-Weyane have made a carbon copy from Fascist Mussolini? Do you see any difference in strategy and objective with CIA-Weyane “federation of tribal states” and the tribal dismemberment and annihilation of Ethiopia of to day.The conventional war against the Fascist invaders lost at Mai Chew, to a large part to air bombardment and the intensive use of chemical warfare to which the Ethiopian warrior was not prepared nor accustomed to. Emperor Haile Selassie gone to exile, with Fascist occupation of Addis Ababa on May 5, 1936, consecrated the occupation of Ethiopia. However, the Ethiopian people, the peasants, the ordinary men and women, did organize, elect their leaders and start the heroic guerrilla war of liberation that fully demonstrated the wealth of Ethiopia’s heritage in the business of defending her liberty all over the country. In the war of liberation the role of the Ethiopian clergy was phenomenal. The entry of Rudolfo Graziani as Governor of occupied Ethiopia in May 1936 replacing Badoglio coincides with the rise of the war of resistance and the simultaneous brutal repression by Graziani, the butcher already known as the “hyena of Libya.”

Mussolini’s “Legge Organica” or “Basic Law” or Charter and Constitution drawn for the conquered Ethiopia in June 1936 was an instrument of “divide et Impera” following Prochazka ‘s strategy of tribal dismemberment. According to Mussolini’s “Legge Organica” Ethiopia was divided into five tribal units:

1. Governo dell’Eritrea (including Tigrai)

2. Governo dell’ Amhara

3. Governo dell’ Harar

4. Governo dei Galla e Sidama

5. Governo Della Somalia (capital Moqadisho, including Italian Somaliland, the Ethiopian Ogaden, southern lowlands of Bale, Sidamo and Boran.)

To this was added the autonomous government of the Chartered city of Addis Ababa .with jurisdiction of the territories around extending to 60 kilometers.


FASCIST TRIBAL MAP OF ETHIOPIA

[Aurorae Borealis]

Justo wrote,

The days of Woldeab Woldemariam as an Eritrean icon are seriously numbered
He made a name for himself in the 40s, when Eritreans were not as street savvy as they are today.
There were also efforts to make a national hero out of him in the 80s, together with Tesema Asmerom, but those efforts fizzled off shortly after.
Woldeab and Tesema remain though heroes of some sort within the agazian sub-culture, and Tigrians might try to revive their memories now that they have become disenchanted with the idea of Ethiopia.

Wrong, the days of your heroes are numbered. You and your likes are fu-cking with the adgi's, endangering Eritrean sovereignty all over again. The Great Woldeab and Ras Tessema played with Haile Sellasies' head to separate Eritrea far from Ethiopia. Eritrea is independent at least in paper today because of the work of Ibrahm Sultan, Woldeab Woldemariam and Raesi Tessema. Fu-cking idiots, like you such as Tedla Bayru and co. fu_ck-ed up Eritrea's future as you and your likes are fu-king up along with the adgis to endanger its sovereignty all over again after all the sacrifices made by 14-25 year old's blood. Now, go and kiss Revu's behind all over again. Shyyyt head You are nothing but another S-egera in disguise. Sorry for my french .....

[justo]

Aurorae,
I told you many times before, I don't have heroes, I am an adult. I worship my parents and grandparents, but not because they are heroes but because they are my parent and grandparents. So, you can keep your heroes, as I've no need for them.

Eritrea is equidistant to everything that is not Eritrea, be it Sudan, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Somalia or Egypt. There is no Arab Eritrea, or Ethiopian Eritrea, or Abay Tigray Eritrea. It is equal distance to Haile Selassie and Mengesha Seyoum, equal distance to Mengistu Hailemariam and Meles Zenawi, and equal distance to you, Edu and Revu.

[LeeVanCliff]

GAME OVER

[Revelations]

FASCIST TRIBAL MAP OF ETHIOPIA




This FASCIST TRIBAL MAP shows:

1. Eritrea (including Tigrai)
2. Amhara



As Del Boca says, “What immediately appears evident, from an analysis of the territorial division of these governments (done with excessive haste) is the punitive concept which has inspired the legislator. The Ethiopian Empire has been dismembered, recomposed on prevalently tribal basis, and rendered unrecognizable.” The Fascist propagandist Professor Raffaele di Lauro wrote: “The choice of the capital of each tribal government and border demarcation of the five component territories have been decided following a clear political criteria , that is to say, consideration of political opportunity and verification of unfailing positive result. The legislator has made every thing possible to keep strictly to the principle uniting under one government, people of the same linguistic, and ethnic, and historical identity. And the territorial borders of the colonies are living evidences of the care and attention paid by Fascist legislators to the political situation in Ethiopia, to the disposition of the various peoples and events that have marked the history of Ethiopia in the last century. Everybody knows the centralizing propensities of the Shoan government at the expense of the peripheral peoples of Ethiopia. Shoan xenophobia in general, and Italophobia in particular is also well known.

The Fundamental Law (Legge Organica) for the organization of the colonies has dealt a severe blow to the ‘bubbone Scioano’ -Shoan tumor- by eradicating even its very name, so that there is no trace to-day of the existence of a province called Shoa, which had been the center of all anti-Italian activity under the Negus.”Compare this text with Meles Zenawi’s interview with Paul Henze soon after Meles rose to power. You will again witness a carbon copy! Regarding Shoa however, the Fascist authority will reintroduce the province as we shall soon see.

Let us now see Mussolini’s five tribal governments one by one and compare them with CIA-Weyane Fascistic apartheid and bantustanization in order to discern similarities and differences. We will see in several instances that the CIA-Weyane have carried the tribal dismemberment of Ethiopia and the crime of ethnic cleansing, massacres and mass deportation to a much higher stage than was even contemplated by Mussolini.

II. Fascist Governo of Eritrea (1936-41)

Being the “primo genito” and being the most trusted region, the Governor of Eritrea was probably the most important Fascist personage in the colony, more important even than the viceroy in Addis Ababa as we will have occasions to see. He was called “Gran Governatore”. Tigrai was governed as part of Eritrea. Although nominally under the Governor of Amhara, Shoa, as we shall see, was under the Gran Governatore of Eritrea. The “Governo” of Eritrea was divided into the following “Commissariati” until July 1939: . There was no independent “Governo” of Tigrai. Tigrai was broken up into several “commissariati” of Eritrea, namely Western Tigrai, Agame, Enderta , and Tembien:

1. Hamasien (Asmara) with Residenza in Asmara;

2. Serae (Addi Ugri) with Residenza at Addi Ugri, and Vice-residenza at Addi Quala

3. Akle Guzai (Addi Qaieh) with Residenza at Addi Qaieh and Vice-Residenza at Arafali and Deqe Mehari

4. Eastern Lowland (Massawa) with Residenza at Massawa , and Vice-Residenza at Ghinda

5. Western Lowland (Agordat) with Residenza at Agordat , Barentu and Tessenei, and Vice-Residenza at Om Hagere

6.. Western Tigrai (Adowa) with the Residence of Adowa , Residence of Axum, Residence of Ende Sellassie, Ad Daro , Enticcio,

7. Adigrat (Agame) with Residenza at Adigrat, Hausien, Azbi, and Vice-Residenza at Agula and Au

8. Mekele (Enderta) with Residenza at Mekele,

9. Tembien (Abbi Addi) with Residenza at Abbi Addi, Samre, and Abergalle

10. Dancalia (Assab) with Residenza at Assab

Adding up the parts we will find out that the borders of Tigrai annexed to Eritrea upon Italian occupation of Ethiopia in 1936 were the traditional historical borders of Tigrai as we have known them to the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th, – the Tekezie-Tsellari-Ashenghe border, not CIA-Weyane’s enlarged, redoubled Tigrai, with the annexation of Gondarine and Wollo territories. Although not indicated in the list, as a chapter of the objective of tribal dismemberment, Raya and Azebo as well as Yedju (called “Galla”) were removed from Wollo in Governo Amhara and added to the Governo of Eritrea as a separate Residence south of Enderta (Tigrai) with its seat at Alamata close to Qobbo. Cerulli explained the reason:

“Given the special character of this Residence it was from the very beginning declared “Autonomous” and depends directly on the Governo of Eritrea. Among its dependencies are found two vice-residences, one at Corbetta ) as the capital of Azebo Galla and the other at the river Ala Weha, extreme southern border of of the new Eritrea.. This vast and extremely rich territory is divided into 14 districts under native chiefs selected by Major De Sarno for their fidelity to Fascist Italy.

“These Galla have always been persecuted by the Shoan Amhara dominators and by whom they were harassed taking their land as a land of razzia for pillaging. And hence their inextinguishable hate towards the Amhara. The Amhara clergy also engaged in violent and extensive works of proselytism among the Galla originally all Muslims.

“These facts were well known by our Commando Superior (Supreme Command), as were also well known the proud warrior virtues of these people. And Major De Sarno was charged with the responsibility to attract to his base, train, arm, and lead huge masses of Raya and Azebo to attack the Ethiopian army on the left and right as well as from behind. This was the case in December 1035 and January 1936when out troops were engaged at Ende Yesus. Major de Sarno accomplished his mission wonderfully and the Galla were of precious help specially after Amba Aradam when the retreating Ras Mulugueta (Ethiopia’s Minister of Defense) was attacked by the Galla and broke up hopelessly. The Ras himself was killed by the Galla at the Agumberta Pass. The Galla also impeded the orderly retreat of the Negus (Haile Selassie) towards Dessie during and after the battle of Maichew, destroying whatever remained of his army.

“Naturally the Galla conscious of the value of their contribution, and proud for having given hundreds dead for the Fascist cause, consider themselves our allies, very different from other peoples brought under our order. From the beginning they were promised that Fascist Italy will liberate them once and for all from Amhara domination . the Galla still constitute a formidable reserve for the complete submission of Wejirat and Lasta. Last autumn when Dejach Wend Wessen Kassa (brother of Abera Kassa) threatened to march against Qobbo we only had to send a mass of Galla militia against him, to stop him forever trying again. For this service the Galla were paid a lot of money as a prize by H.E Pirzio Biroli (Governor of Amhara). No other territory of Ethiopia is quite, safe and loyal as is this region because of the service the Galla are rendering to Fascist Italy and they are proud to depend directly on the Gran Governatore who to them represents the Italian Government.”

This is also what the CIA-Weyane have forged once again, transforming what has been the southern border of Fascist Eritrrea to become the southern border of present day Tigrai!

III. Fascist Governo of Amhara (1936-41)

The Fascist government of “Amhara” (capital Gondar) bordered on the government of Eritrea in the north and northeast, along a line which follows the rivers Setit-Tekezie and that of river Tsellari. From there the borderline continues to south of Ashenghe near Korem up to the border of Aussa. Thus Amhara included among others the province of Gondar north and south of Anghereb up to the Setit-Tekezie border of Eritrea in the north and the Tekezie-Tsellari-Ashenghe border of Tigrai in the east and south as well as the whole of pre-1991 Wollo.

The Fascist “governorato of Amhara” was divided into the following commissariats, residences and sub-residences:

1. Fascist Commissariats of southern Gondar and Gojam:

Gondar, with Residenza at Gondar and Vice Residenza at Sengi;

Metemma with V.R at Gadabiet ,Matabia,Celga; Ambachiara with V.R at Adiscia;

Tana with seat at Gorgora, and V.R at Ifag and Dagossa;

Dongur with V.R at Alefa and Gubba;

Begemidre (Debra Tabor) with Residenza at Debra Tabor and V.R at Istie,Semada, Melma, Mechetoa,

Eastern Tana at Uolala;

Gaint with seat at Arbi Ghebia, V.R at Segala , Sodie, and Mugguia);

Western Gojam (Danghila) with Residenza at Agaw Midre (seat at Danghila)and V.R at Ingiabara and Ghimbiabiet;

Southern Tana with seat at Bahr Dar and V.R at Acefer, Zeghie, Meccia, Ilmana Densa;

Shanqilla (Nilo-Saharans) with seat in Wembera and V.R at kikag (?) and Bilinghi;

Eastern Gojam (Debre Markos) with Residenza at Debre Markos, and V.R at Mata, Baso;

Damot with seat at Burie and V.R at Dembecha, Farabiet;



2. Commissariats of Gondar North of Anghereb Semien (New Debarek with Residence at Debarek and V.R at Dabat, Amba Ghiroghis, Haggiret, Waldebba Tsegedie;

Upper Semien with seat at Deresghe and V.R at Beieda and Sahalla;

Tselemt with seat at Addi Arcai and V.R at Dima, Ataba and Addi Weseni)

Beyond Setit with seat at Adi Remoz, and V.R at Birkutan, Cafta, Abdelrafi



3.Commissariats of Wollo-Lasta

Lasta-Wag with Residenza at Wag (Socota).

Wadla & Delanta (seat at Guana) with V.R at Dawnt,Mechiet and Delanta;

Lasta (seat at Lalibela) with V.R at Muggia;

Wollo-Yejou (Dessie) with Residenza at Dessie, and V.R. at Lake Haiq, Albuko, Werra Qallu, Ambassel, Werra Babo, Wadla Wedih;

Bati with V.R at Werra Ailu, Werra Bichu, Rikhie ; Werra Ilou with V.R at Jamma ;

Amara Saint with V.R at Borna, Wadla Weldìya;

Legaida with V.R at Derra, Legambo and Legagora;

Fascist Italian Incorporation Inside Eritrea of Gondar Territory North of Anghereb , 1936

[Wedi]

Revelations , great info

That book is very interesting and i got it online.

Thank you for the info

[Abe Abraham]

[Fiyameta]

Eritrean patriot Woldeab Woldemariam translated the article into Tigrinya and Arabic languages to warn Eritreans of the British administration's plot. He did his Eritrean compatriots a great service by enabling us to see the looming danger ahead and take necessary precautions to prevent it. Although we managed to foil the British plot of partitioning Eritrea, we were least prepared for what the US administration did in 1952, which ended up being a disaster for both Eritrea and the colony called Ethiopia.