“There may be times when we are powerless to prevent injustice, but there must never be a time when we fail to protest.”
[By Desta Hailu]
For individuals unfamiliar with TPLF leaders, it may be perplexing to understand why the ‘leaders’ of a political organization that has maintained power for four decades persist in behaving recklessly towards their own populace. Some might assume that these leaders, having amassed wealth much of which was earned on the backs of impoverished peasants would be humble, while the people they govern remain in shelters with handout safety net food aid that lacks adequate nutrition. Instead of feeling pride in addressing these needs, Debretsion and his generals chose to spread fear and panic among the population through aggressive, repulsive tactics like illegal gold mining, land grabbing, and using diaspora funds to fuel their greed.
The cost of silence or hesitation has been high, and I challenge every Tigrayan who claims to truly love to turn their words into tangible actions. We must stay true to ourselves; justice is what the Tigrayan people demand. It is time to clearly reject corruption and poor governance. This requires honest acknowledgement because no strong structure is ever built on a weak foundation. We must summon the courage to face the truths about our people’s future and strive to uphold our highest ideals, thereby honoring the martyrs and restoring our noble optimism. As Abraham Lincoln said, a house divided against itself cannot stand.
The corrupt rent-seeking officials show no regret or remorse for embezzling funds from the TDA-NA bank account, transferring 2 million USD via wire transfer to a Swiss bank on December 7, 2021. We should not dismiss genuine concerns and comments. Instead, it is wiser and more beneficial for everyone to expose the TDA-NA board members’ and TPLF’s corruption and greed. Although accepting the truth can be difficult, learning from our mistakes will benefit us all.
TDA’s economic initiatives, characterized by a series of actions, seem to lack a clear and coherent program for Tigray. As a result, this has become one of the most divisive and harmful processes in recent history. It appears to have triggered the dismantling of our nation, fuelled by widespread corruption involving TDA-NA.
Our society tends to emphasize and respect the actions of elected officials when addressing critical issues, relying on their experience and careful judgement. While these expectations seem reasonable at first, recent events, such as the TDA-NA fiscal misconduct challenge, have called that assumption into question. The TPLF leadership repeatedly promised reforms but failed to deliver. The diaspora’s response to the genocide in Tigray, which successfully raised millions of dollars, should have been a source of pride. However, those responsible for managing the funds undermined these efforts. Before continuing, I want to clarify my stance: “Should TDA-NA be held to stricter standards or reported to the IRS?”
Certain members of the TDA-NA Board have failed their responsibility and have exploited their authority for personal benefit, thereby undermining the efforts of diligent communities and activists. Appreciation is extended to the sincere board members who have stepped forward to reveal this misconduct and who adhere to a moral and ethical code that elevates their standards of conduct. The diaspora contributes resources to the community; however, the extent to which these resources improve social well-being among our Tigrirayan communities abroad remains unresolved.
Based on the previous year’s commitment to report on the allocation of funds, there has been no substantial evidence indicating that these funds were utilized as intended. There is a significant likelihood that meaningful progress will not be achieved unless proactive measures are taken to instigate change. The TDA Board members are arguably guilty of public fraud and unethical conduct that have tarnished the TDA’s reputation as an institution.
Currently, the TDA-NA board members are corrupt, and their lack of independence diminishes their credibility in the public’s eyes. The pertinent question is how these board members were selected to serve on TDA-NA’s board. The integrity of the TDA-NA has been compromised by corruption and misuse of funds. It is advisable to implement stricter bylaws and standards to safeguard TDA-NA assets and eliminate conflicts of interest regarding individual board members.
It’s unfortunate that some TDA-NA board members now have significant control over fund distribution with little oversight. When trusted responsibilities conflict with personal or political interests and loyalty, a conflict of interest can occur. Their recent debate has raised a moral dilemma, and unfortunately, they haven’t quite managed to serve the public and the TDA’s goals as well as they could. The ongoing discussions about TDA-NA show that meaningful change takes dedicated, ongoing effort. As time goes on, it’s really important that we strengthen our unity and work together to advocate economic justice for our struggling and impoverished people. Achieving justice is more crucial than ever, especially given the suffering caused by genocide, which has imposed a heavy burden.
In other words, to minimize conditions that would cause reasonable persons to believe that personal greed has been improperly influenced, whether it has. The recent scandals all involved conflicts of interest and self-dealing; these issues need to be put front and center to serve the public interest. Our affairs are tied to the very existence of our community; a fair judgement will save us from self-distraction.
Source፡Tigray Development Association North America Financial Statements
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