Mereja Forum

[Zreal]

TPLFs were trying to divide Eritrea along Ethnic lines like they divided Ethiopia.

In the mid-1980s the simmering differences culminated in a major public row. Insults were exchanged. The TPLF defined the EPLF as ‘social imperialist’; the EPLF in turn labelled the TPLF as ‘childish’. The row masked a serious theoretical difference with major political ramifications for the national question in Ethiopia. The issue was which of its peoples had the right to self-determination up to, and including, secession.

......

The TPLF said that the EPLF’s refusal to recognise the right of its own nationalities was an example of its ‘undemocratic’ nature. For this reason the TPLF regarded its relationship with the EPLF as tactical, rather than enduring, and consequently the
TPLF provided support to other Eritrean movements, such as the Democratic Marxist League of Eritrea.

According to EPLF documents, the TPLF’s flirtation with other movements came as a surprise and a disappointment. It led to a rupture in their alliance:

…the TPLF had concluded that the EPLF was not a democratic organisation and that its relationship with the EPLF was ‘tactical’. The EPLF had thought that its co-operation with the TPLF was genuine and not based on temporary tactical considerations. And so, when the TPLF’s secret stand became public the EPLF realised its naiveté and although it did not regret its past actions, decided to break its relationship with the TPLF and not enter into polemics with it.

Taken from a book written by Martin Plaut "Understanding Eritrea : inside Africa's most repressive state" pages 18 - 19

[Za-Ilmaknun]

Trust TPLF at your own peril. Let alone for Eritreans they even consider Endertans as enemies and Bandas. Unless you are from Adowa you always will be considered an outsider. That is the nature of the mafia family.

[Sadacha Macca]

Their goal was to weaken Eritreans, since they believe that perhaps they can fight the tigrinya group/kebessa, but not the entire eritrean people unite regardless of ethnicity.

[Degnet]

Their goal was to weaken Eritreans, since they believe that perhaps they can fight the tigrinya group/kebessa, but not the entire eritrean people unite regardless of ethnicity.

Aye ezom aedug eziom,don't you know that you are donkeys like Halafi mengedi and the rest,the Tigrians have nothing to do with them.There were genuine people in EPLF so also in TPLF.Ahun medre tenkuay new yenegesew,mad dogs.Unintellectual.Sadacha you are just a donkey

[Za-Ilmaknun]

I kinda wonder why the donkey is so hated in Tigrai...for them to label everybody they don't agree with as a donkey. Such a poor animal should have earned some praise for serving TPLF with loyalty in every way one can imagine.

[Hawzen]

Their goal was to weaken Eritreans, since they believe that perhaps they can fight the tigrinya group/kebessa, but not the entire eritrean people unite regardless of ethnicity.

Spot ON!!! Everything they think and do is always about their interest, completely. The twisted heart agame are very crocked people. Never trust agames Never!!!

Dedebit is always dedeb
R.I.P Abay Tigray and TPLF

[Zreal]

The following is very interesting part. By early 1985 relations between EPLF and TPLF deteriorated and reached to its peak. EPLF decided to teach the TPLF a brutal lesson. The Eritreans cut the TPLF’s supply lines to the Sudan that passed through their territory..This is where TPLF decided to Annex Amhara lands of Welkait, Humer and Telemit to have access to Outside world to Sudan after EPLF banned TPLF's movements through Eritrea to the outside world.


continued from the book written by Martin Plaut "Understanding Eritrea : inside Africa's most repressive state" pages 20 - 20

It was at this critical juncture, when relations were at their most difficult, that the movements sought to resolve the question of just where the border ran between Eritrea and Tigray.

For a long time this had appeared of little real importance since both rebel groups ranged freely across the border, as did the Ethiopian army. Very little has been heard of the negotiations that took place in late 1984, but a founder member of the TPLF, Ghidey Zeratsion, offered an insight into the negotiations. He indicates why the issue became so critical for the Eritreans:

The border issue was raised for the first time at the meeting between the TPLF and EPLF in November 1984. At this meeting, the EPLF raised the issue and wanted to demarcate the boundary based on international agreements and documents. The areas under consideration were Badme, Tsorena-Zalambessa, and Bada. The TPLF agreed that there are areas between Ethiopia and Eritrea where they are not clearly demarcated. At the same time it argued that it was not prepared for such discussion and had not made documentary studies on the issue.

Furthermore, the TPLF argued that it was not in a position to sign border agreements on behalf of Ethiopia because it did not have the legitimacy to do so. And hence, the TPLF proposed to maintain the existing administrative areas as they are and prepare the necessary documents for the final demarcation after the fall of the Derg. The EPLF was convinced by the argument and both agreed to postpone the demarcation and maintain the existing administrative regions.

One may ask why the border issue was so important for EPLF while it was still trenched in the Sahel area?

The EPLF was very much constrained by its ability to get recruits for its army. It has been rounding up and forcefully recruiting people all
over Eritrea. In such a situation, border areas like Badme were safe havens for people who wanted to escape recruitment. At the same time,
there are a number of Eritreans living in these areas who were attractive for EPLF’s quest of recruits. As a result, the EPLF was intruding these
border areas and provoking a reaction from the TPLF. At one instant the two fronts were at the verge of war if the EPLF had not withdrawn.
The EPLF could not afford to open another front while it was confined in the Sahel trenches by the Derg’s army.

By early 1985 relations between the two movements had become mired in distrust. As the relationship deteriorated the TPLF began providing
assistance to Eritrean movements hostile to the EPLF.

In June 1985 the EPLF decided to teach the TPLF a brutal lesson. The Eritreans cut the TPLF’s supply lines to the Sudan that passed through their territory. This was done at the height of one of the worst famines in modern times, denying Tigrayans access to food aid at a crucial juncture. Little was said publicly about the incident at the time, but it is not hard to imagine the animosity that it generated. The TPLF responded with characteristic efficiency, mobilising 100,000 peasants to build an alternative route through to Sudan that did not go via Eritrea.[Through Annexed Amhara lands of Wolkait, Humera , Telemit ...] The cost was high: many perished in the construction.

While the EPLF leadership has been silent about these events, Tigrayans recall it with great bitterness. As one put it: ‘the EPLF behaviour was a savage act… I do not hesitate to categorise it as a “savage act”. It must be recorded in history like that!’ This anger is hardly surprising: the closure of the border caused thousands of Tigrayans to die of starvation before the alternative road could be completed.

[Degnet]

I kinda wonder why the donkey is so hated in Tigrai...for them to label everybody they don't agree with as a donkey. Such a poor animal should have earned some praise for serving TPLF with loyalty in every way one can imagine.

Why do you talk about a wrong story,we have history,we are a proud people.Except the dogs of TPLF here.Let me tell you one more time sefertegnoch nachehu 10 20 eyweldachehu meretun yatabebachehu.You can not be as proud as I am,ke tef lela behagerachehus yebekelal wei?

[Za-Ilmaknun]

I kinda wonder why the donkey is so hated in Tigrai...for them to label everybody they don't agree with as a donkey. Such a poor animal should have earned some praise for serving TPLF with loyalty in every way one can imagine.

Why do you talk about a wrong story,we have history,we are a proud people.Except the dogs of TPLF here.Let me tell you one more time sefertegnoch nachehu 10 20 eyweldachehu meretun yatabebachehu.You can not be as proud as I am,ke tef lela behagerachehus yebekelal wei?

Degnet,

According to TPLF statistics the people that you are accusing of "10 20 eyweldachehu" are growing only 1.7%. However that same statistics asserts that your people are growing more than 6%. So get your facts straight...one of you must be terribly wrong. As for teff and other crops grown in that area...you only have to ask your family where their daily bread is coming from. You don't seem to know that most of the export grains such as Soybeans and sesame are produced massively in that region including cattle that your thieve uncles have been smuggling out to enrich the Nega mafia corporation. Eski nigerugn bay atihun..