By Staff Reporter
November 3, 2020 (Ezega.com) -- Ethiopia’s Tigray regional president Deberetsion Gebremichael has warned “all-out war” against the federal government if Addis Ababa carries out its threat to launch attacks targeting the people of Tigray.
Briefing journalists on Monday, Debretsion accused the federal government of transforming political and economic pressures into forceful measures against the regional government.
Accordingly, he called on the people of the region to stand in unison to defend the possible attack from the federal government.
"We have finalized preparations to defend the war which is imminent. War is not an option but we would face it to defend our rights and win a political group that wants to kneel down our people,”he said
Abiy Ahmed’s led government neither disclosed its decision to fight with the Tigray region nor commented on the president’s “all-out war” warning.
Debretsion said his government is ready to resolve the political disputes and demanded the release of political prisoners and inclusive dialogue for peaceful settlement of ongoing political crisis in the country.
“Let’s avoid war and discuss. We gain nothing from war,” he added.
Some legislatures requested the House of Peoples Representatives to label the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) and Oromo Liberation front (OLF) following the latest killing in western Ethiopia.
If the House approves the MPs request, the government can use the tagging as legitimate ground to launch war against the TPLF.
Meanwhile, the Oromia Police Commission said the attack against civilians in west Wollega zone was committed by the rebel group OLF-Shene with the help of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF).
Commissioner General Ararsa Merdassa on Tuesday told journalists that 34 people were killed in the attack and 11 others also went missing. A school and 50-60 houses were burned by the rebel group.
He said those who were arrested after the attack admitted that they had been receiving TPLF-sponsored training by traveling continuously to Mekelle, capital of Tigray regional state.
The rebel group had been using Dimtsi Weyane (DW) and Oromia Media Network (OMN) to instigate attacks on civilians, which according to him is a justification for the link between the OLF-Shene and TPLF.
He said the government, in partnership with other security forces, will work to wipe out the rebel group.
To hear Debretsion Gebremichael statement in Tigrigna, please click here.
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