The Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) has downplayed the recent strongly-worded statement issued by the Tigray People Revolutionary Liberation Front (TPLF), one of its member parties, in relation to the ongoing efforts to create a unified party structure; the statement by TPLF violates the discipline and the working procedures of the front, the council lamented.
The statement released by the EPRDF Council on Friday October 18, 2019 revealed that the issue of creating a unified single party has been on the discussion table since the 5th congress of the party, held back in 2004; however, during the 11th congress of the party which was held in Hawassa last year, the front decided to take concrete steps in the form of conducting proper research into the matter, which in turn will facilitate the realization of creating unified single party based on the findings.
Though this is the reality on the ground, TPLF as an organization and some leaders of the party issued different statements regarding the process, the statement asserted.These statement and claims are faulty for two reasons the statement claimed. Accordingly, “In the absence of clear consensus over the agenda and where the stand of all parties is not yet expressed, issuing a statement about the agenda violates the working procedure and discipline of the party therefore it should be corrected,” the Council demanded.
Secondly, party procedure aside, the Council argued, TPLF’s statement has also made some erroneous assertion regarding the whole party unification process. In this regard, the statement said, “TPLF has repetitively stated that the process of creating a unified single party would result in creating a unitary form of government; however this argument about the creation of a unified party, which apparently was advocated for by TPLF previously, resulting into the dismantle of the federal form of government doesn’t hold no water,” the statement affirms.
Another problem of TPLFs statement according the statement is portraying the agenda of creating a unified single party as if it haphazardly occurred with the introduction of new leadership in the front. Nevertheless, the statement downplayed such claims and stated that “The only thing that is new is the leadership of the Front and it has nothing to do with the agenda at hand. Therefore, the statement is not acceptable at any rate,” the statement concludes.
It is to be remembered thatthe Central Committee of Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) – which was conducting its regular meeting forthe past seven consecutive days at the capital of the regional state Mekele – stated that rushed moves to dissolve EPRDF and create a single unified party poses a serious danger to the nation.
Following the meeting’s conclusion on Tuesday, the party issued a lengthy statement assessing the overall political and development activities of the country in the past year and a half.However, one thing that stands out from the statement and being a subject to discussions and heated debates among Ethiopians, was the stand of TPLF over the ongoing activity to create a single unified party.
TPLF argued that the problems in the country are going from bad to worse;“Problems are piling-up without receiving the proper attention and solutions.According to the statement, one of the reasons for this intricate difficulties and challenges is the hasty movement to create a unified party.
The party stated that the issues of create a unified party has been a point of discussion for EPRDF and its members for years; and through time the parties has agreed to take into consideration what the criteria and preconditionsneed to be meet to do so.“One is the need for a study that will assess how to proceed with the matter, “The party said on its statement. However, italso stated that in principle, TPLF doesnot haveany differencewith the other parties over this matter.
Even though TPLF accepts the matter at least in principle, its recent statement downplayed the ongoing activity to establish a single unified party by siting that there is no unity of command and trust between and among sister parties of the Front.
Therefore,the statement revealed that TPLF will not be part of this activity. “In the absence of a unified vision, practice,strategy and ideology,it is very difficult for a certain political group to survive let alone be unified,” the statement reads.
Moreover, the party boldly stated, “Before the rushed movement to establish a unified single party, we have to first identify if there is a vision or practice that could possibly be unified.” The party further stated adding, “In the absence of identifying the causes that poses danger to the existence of the nation, it is impossible to think about creating a single unified party.”
“A party that is aspiring to be unified,while carryinga divided vision and practice, would result in the disintegration of the party and the nation itself,” the party affirmed.
Reflecting on what the party has done during the last year. “The campaign to subdue the people of Tigray and TPLF from different directions was a challenging one,” it said adding, “Yet; the party has managed to overcome it with a “humble” and concerted effort. However, what lies ahead, could even be more challenging and has called upon the people of Tigray to step up the struggle.”
