Ethiopia, the TPLF, and the Roots of the 2001 Political Tremor (original) (raw)

2008, Northeast African Studies

in 1974 under the name "Mahber Gesgesti Behere Tigray," [generally known by its acronym-MAGEBT, which stands for 'Progressive Tigray Peoples' Movement'.] 1 The founders claim that even though the movement was tactically designed to be nationalistic it was, strategically, pan-Ethiopian. 2 The primary structural document the movement produced in the late 70's, however, shows it to be Tigrayan nationalist and not Ethiopian oriented in its content. It was also pro-Eritrean independence. 3 The original manifesto was drafted clearly as Tigrayan Ethnic struggle for independence not as one seeking the political liberation of Ethiopia from the dictatorship of the Derg. 4 In fact, this stand did not change until 1984. MAGEBT, as a movement was based on the Leninist principle of Democratic Centralism. Politburo and Central Committee members were elected by majority of the leadership whose legality was watched by an auditing commission. As Lenin dictated in "What is to be Done," factionalism was strictly prohibited. 5 Ideas would filter upwards but once policies were adopted, power was intended to flow only downwards. Breaking this rule was punishable by severe penalties including death. As the struggle progressed in the countryside, the name of the movement was changed to "Tegadlo Harnet Hizbi Tigray" [Tigray People's Revolutionary Movement. 6 ] Later, it was renamed "Tigray People's Liberation Front" [TPLF.] In the 1980s, the TPLF received backing almost exclusively from among the Tigrayan population of northern Ethiopia. Nevertheless, it alleged to be devoted to the structuring of one united national front standing for all classes and ethnic groups struggling against the Mengistu dictatorship. A proposal suggesting the formation of a united front grounded on a "minimum program," with the single purpose of smashing Mengistu's dictatorship was released on May 8, 1984. By this time, the TPLF had extended its reach into most of Tigray and adjacent parts of Wallo and Gojam. The guerrilla movement was very clear about the ideology it intended to implement in Tigray and Ethiopia: it was none other than the tenets of the Marxist-Leninist League of Tigray bases on the Albanian model. During the two months following the 1988 New Year, the TPLF was engaged in life and death struggle against the central government army. By 1989, the Ethiopian army had withdrawn completely from the province and the TPLF had seized the entire territory of Tigray, including major towns such as Makale, Aksum and Endaselassie. When in 1989, Mengistu Haile Mariam slaughtered more than 200 officers including the well trained and most experienced generals that Emperor Haile Selassie government carefully trained in military academies, the TPLF's moved quickly to develop a united front. In January 1989, it entered into an alliance with the Ethiopian People's Democratic Movement (EPDM), a breakaway organization of the EPRP constituted mainly * A paper presented to" the