The United States Government accused the Ethiopian Government for conducting air strike on civilians in a village market in Tigray region on June 22, 2021 and calls for investigations.
“The United States is gravely concerned by reports that dozens of civilians were killed or injured during a bombing of a village market in northern Tigray on June 22. We strongly condemn this reprehensible act. There are also credible reports that security forces denied medical personnel access to the victims of this terrible attack,” said Ned Price, U.S. State Department Spokesperson.
“Denying victims urgently needed medical care is heinous and absolutely unacceptable. We urge the Ethiopian authorities to ensure full and unhindered medical access to the victims immediately. We also call for an urgent and independent investigation, as well as remedial action, to hold those responsible for this attack accountable. The United States again urges an immediate ceasefire in Tigray, unhindered humanitarian access, and protection for civilians,” the Spokesperson said.
It is recalled that the Ethiopian Government has been undertaking military attack in Tigray Region against the left overs of TPLF (Tigray Peoples Liberation Front) militia. The TPLF which has been on power in Ethiopia from 1991 to April 2018 dominating the four political parties ruling coalition – EPRDF (Ethiopian Peoples Revolutionary Democratic Front). After the coalition elected Abiy Ahmed as its leader in April 2018, TPLF refused to accept losing its political and economic dominance that lasted for close to three decades.
#Breaking Biden’s UN Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield @USAmbUN says US clear on its position in Tigray where 400k on the brink of starvation @CBSNews @CBSNewsRadio // @PamelaFalk from @UN @USUN @USUNSpox #TigrayCrisis pic.twitter.com/Q8vJKxBloo
— Pamela Falk (@PamelaFalk) June 23, 2021
As a result, the former rebel decided to go back to gorilla fighting and come back to central power in Ethiopia. To achieve their goals the hardliners of TPLF who are accused of human rights violations including the former intelligence chief and wanted army generals, who were also wanted for grand corruption, ordered the TPLF militia to attack Ethiopian army base in Tigray on November 4, 2020 and take control of the heavy armaments and advance to the capital, Addis Ababa to control central power in few weeks time.
Meanwhile to the surprise of TPLF’s former allies including the United States and many Western countries, the over 200,000 militias of TPLF, which used to be described as the heavily armed by the International Crisis Group (ICG) analysts, are forced to surrender many towns of Tigray region including the capital, Mekele, to Ethiopian army, let alone to advance to the capital.
TPLF, which came to power through arms struggle fought the Marxist Derg Regime during the Cold War with the support from the the then Soviet Union and other socialist nations, which were at odds with the United Sates led Western Imperialist forces.
During the gorilla fighting TPLF has deliberately leaked false information to its then emery – the Derg regime officials, indicating that TPLF rebels were gathered at a market place called Hawzein area. Reacting to the information, the Derg regime military officials at the time have ordered airstrike at Hawzen market place on 22 June 1988.
Then the ready to record TPLF cameramen including A Sudanese professional have captured the attack on video cameras when the civilians were dying, the village burning by the air strike. Then the TPLF used the footage with title the Hawzen massacre for its propaganda to isolate the people in Hawzen area from the Derg Regime and join the TPLF.
That scrip is reportedly written by the then British journalist Martin Plaut, who was very good friend of TPLF leader at the time Sibhat Nega and the late Prime Minister Meles Zenawi. Mr. Plaut is now leading aggressive media campaign against the Ethiopian Government in what looks a desperate attempt to rescue his old friends.
It is not yet clear if TPLF has used similar old tactic on same day June 22, 2021 to mobilize the rural people against Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Administration, which has been engaged in a law enforcement operation to liberate the people of Tigray from the terrorist organization.
The bombing of Togoga reminds me of the bombing of Mekelle by Eritrean Air Force in June 1998 after an Ethiopian attack on Asmara airport. Many civilians including children died in Mekelle. So sad to see history repeated https://t.co/j11DRmsnZh
— Martin Plaut (@martinplaut) June 24, 2021