The Establishment Of People’s Liberation Forces And The Elimination Attempts (Part II)

Among the individuals who established the “People’s Liberation Forces”, a few separated from “Qeyada Al-Ama” simply because they couldn’t secure a position in the power competition. Such individuals put all their faith on Osman Saleh Sabe to achieve their goals. After the meeting in Suduh’ela, the question arose of where the base of the new movement would be. Those who depended on Sabe went to Sahel refusing the proposal of the other groups who suggested that the movement should stay far from “Qeyada Al-Ama” in Denkalia until the movement is fully launched. This difference divided the new force and created anopportunity for Osman Saleh Sabe to control the movement.

The “People’s Liberation Forces -1- (PLF1)” that remained in Southern Denkalia was facing continuous attacks from both Ethiopia and “Qeyada Al-Ama”, which led to the change of base to the Northern Denkalia where it met with the ” People’s Liberation Forces -2- (PLF2)” . Despite the efforts to unite the two divisions, the existing religious and ethnic differences among the fighters made unity impossible and time consuming.

The primary objective was to unite the divisions in Southern Denkalia and the one in Sahel. The two units finally came together in a meeting held from 30/6 to 9/7, 1970 in a place called Embahara.  Here also resolutions similar to those of Suduh’ela were adopted. The committee elected in Suduh’ela was removed from power and another leadership. Members of the newly elected leadership were Romodan MohammedNur, Ahmed Hilal, Abubeker Mohammed Hassen, Saleh Tetew and Abubeker Mohammed Jime’e.  The absence of individuals who used to be participants of the previous leadership who were involved in creating the religious and ethnic differences made the newly elected leadership different and made the unification of two forces possible.

The Establishment Of The People’s Liberation Forces-2- (PLF 2)

The early leadership of the ELF and the leaders in the field had various ethnic and religious affiliations and to secure their position they were abandoning some sections of the society. One of the communities that were obstructed from participating on the struggle was the Tigrinya ethnic group. They were propagating against this group to create hatred and doubt among the communities. Due to their continuous campaigns to this end, many civilians from this ethnic group were killed and a number of their livestock was looted. Similar divisions were present among the fighters in the field where many fighters from the Tigrinya ethnic group were killed. As a result, many members of this ethnic group began supporting movements that worked against the ELF. During the times when “Qeyada Al-Ama” was assassinating many members of the Tigrinya ethnic group individually and in groups, terror and doubt were widespread among the fighters from this ethnic group and the prospect of separation from the movement was more appealing to the fighters from this ethnic group.

As mentioned previously “Qeyada Al-Ama” was hunting down all opposition elements. Although efforts were taken by few nationals both inside and outside the country to establish a struggle separate from “Qeyada Al-Ama”, the assassinations and terrorism carried out by “Qeyada Al-Ama” did not give them any chance. In 1970, few nationals gathered in a place called A’la  and announced their separation. They also began exposing the crimes committed by “Qeyada Al-Ama” and ploys of the Ethiopian colonialists.  Later, due to lack of human power and weapons, and continued attacks from “Qeyada Al-Ama” and the Ethiopian government they moved to the northern coast of the Red Sea. Once they heard about the establishment of the force in Denkalia, they went to Denkalia to meet this force. In 1970, the two divisions of the “People’s Liberation Forces” met in a place called Simoti, North Denkalia.