Monday,
February 4, 2013
By Abebe
Gellaw
In his book
“Death Threats and Violence: New Research and Clinical Perspectives” (2008),
violence expert Dr. Stephen J. Morewitz tries to unravel the relationships
between death threats, violence and the extremists who employ violence to
terrorize others. According to Morewitz, “There are many definitions of
terrorism, but they all pretty much agree that it is a political tactic that
involves the use of threats of violence, such as death threats or actual
violence, often against civilians, to frighten members of the public or target
group into accepting certain political demands.”
There is
only one reason why we find the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) in the
annals of the Global Terrorism Database (GTD), which is a project of the U.S.
Homeland Security housed at the University of Maryland. It is only because TPLF
is a violent terrorist organization, much like Ku Klux Klan (KKK), that became the
core of the government misruling Ethiopia since 1991.
While most
of the terrorist activities of the TPLF listed in the database include the
pre-1991 phase of TPLF’s terrorism, TPLF’s crimes and terrorism after it has
taken over power are the staple of the Ethiopian media and the daily concerns
of ordinary citizens that are constantly subjected to killings, torture,
physical and psychological abuse, beatings, death threats, as well as forced
disappearance and exile.
Since May
18, 2012, a day I openly and defiantly condemned Meles Zenawi and shouted out
the muffled cries of Ethiopians for freedom, I have received hundreds of death
threats from TPLF agents and operatives. Some have even exploited the power of
Facebook and Twitter to call for my head on a platter. “Kill him wherever you
find him,” says one Facebook poster bearing my picture under cross hairs. It
has been liked and tagged by hundreds of fanatic TPLF supporters making such a
criminal incitement go around the world with impunity. Over 55 have endorsed
the Facebook poster making a similar call and comment. The most disturbing part
of this episode is that many of those who are plotting, conniving and calling
for my death or violate my civil rights live in the United States and Europe
under different guises.
Mulugeta
Kahsay has lived in London, United Kingdom, for many years. A well-known TPLF
operative in South London, Mulugeta appears to be so committed to the cause of
the TPLF that he repeatedly vowed to kill me, my family and burn down my
properties in Ethiopia, though I do not own any. Using anonymity as a cover, he
left five voice messages for me between September 11, 2012 and January 11,
2012. The first one condemned me for exercising my First Amendment rights when
I protested against the late dictator Meles Zenawi at the G8 food security
gathering in Washington DC last May.
While all
the messages came from cell phone (+44 7956567005), the last two death threats
he made on January 11, 2013 are the most disturbing and chilling because they
also target my family and loved ones that have nothing to do with my political
views, activism or journalism. A thorough investigation and forensic analysis
conducted to establish the caller led conclusively to none other than Mulugeta
Kahsay, who drives cab part-time and spends most of his time in the service of
the TPLF.
“This
message is for Gellaw Abebe or Abebe Gellaw. This is just to let you know that
we’re gonna suck your mother fucker blood. Again we have found out that you
have a house in Addis. We’re gonna burn it down and we’re gonna kill you ; your
family and yourself. We make sure that we finish you for what you did. You
deserve dead (sic) penalty. So we’re not letting you go, (inaudible) believe
me. Regardless how long it’s gonna take. You, your family, people that know
you. We’re gonna to track them down one by one and we gonna to put their blood
on the ground. We just find out that you got a couple of houses in Addis. They
will be burnt soon,” the threatening message said.
Another
message from Mulugeta Kahsay has a similar tone and again targets my family.
“This message is for Abebe Gellaw. Abebe Gellaw this is the beginning. It’s not
gonna be the end. We are following every step you do [do]. You and your family;
we are going to crack you down. We are going to finish you one day. Regardless
how long it’s gonna take to see your blood on the road. You or either your
family, one of you has to go regardless how long it gonna take,” the threat
says.
In a
separate message left for me via ESAT radio listeners’ voicemail, Mulugeta
repeats his outrage over my protest against the late tyrant. He used a racist
expletive (donkey) frequently used by the TPLF to insult non-TPLF Ethiopians.
Under
English law, like most jurisdictions, making death threats is a serious criminal
offense. Let alone adults with their own families, a 10-year old boy captured
headlines last year for being arrested for making death threats. The law is
harsh against those who intend to cause fear and terror against innocent
civilians. My wife and six year old boy hold British citizenship. Any threats
against them also concern the British judicial system as citizens that are
protected by law.
Terrorists
terrorize others to impose their will and imagined power upon others,
especially those who are openly hostile or opposed to the ideologies and
activities of their groups. Terrorism takes different forms but it is main
objective is making people feel vulnerable, insecure, terrified and terrorized.
The impact of terrorists attacks, whatever their forms, cause physical and
psychological harm.
Mulugeta has
deliberately tried to cause fear and terror against me and my family that have
no connection whatsoever with my journalism and activism. But Mulugeta and
others who are wasting their time making similar plot and death threats must
know that nothing will deter or distract me from struggling for the freedom of
the people of Ethiopia. I am not against anyone, but against tyranny and
injustice. Ethiopia will be free from criminal tyrants in power that have
imposed Apartheid on the people of Ethiopia. Fighting for freedom is my
calling. Nothing will stop me and Ethiopians from reclaiming our God-given
liberties.
(For details
about Mulugeta Kahsay’s terrorist ploy, please see the video released with this
piece.)
No comments:
Post a Comment