Boiling trouble in the Army lands Gen. Bacha Dabale in a Hospital

Boiling trouble in the Army lands General in a Hospital
EthioTribune
August 22, 2006
(FINFINNE) – Major General Bacha Dabale, Commander of EPRDF’s troops in the east, is rushed to hospital following a tense stand off with troops.Reliable sources in the Ethiopian army report that Major General Bacha Dabale was airlifted by helicopter from East to Finfinne yesterday.
Following the defection of Brigadier General Kemal Gelchu, Commander of the 18th division, one of the most decorated, along with hundreds of troops, loyal commanders of the regime have been conducting marathon meetings with the soldiers to defuse the situation and avert further defections.
Accordingly General Dabale held a serious of meetings with the troops stationed in the East, the last one in the Affar region. These meeting is said to have lasted for three consecutive days. The general repeatedly asked what the issue is with the army. This was met by total silence. Frustrated, all the general could do was to threaten anyone with expulsion if found to have had any links with the opposition, especially the Oromo Liberation Front. He thundered that “severe punishment” will be meted out. The standoff came to a halt when the General complained of illness and rushed to hospital in Finfinne/Addis Ababa. The cause of his illness or his current condition is not yet known. There have been reports of discontent in the Ethiopian army for a long time. The discontent is reportedly centered on the fact that although other nations make up the bulk of the army, the army leadership is entirely made up of Tigreans, who make up no more than 7% of the population. This sentiment has been compounded by the deteriorating relationship between the regime and the population. Having lost the support of the population, control of the security forces remains the only means with which the EPRDF retains power. Following the defection of General Kemal and reports of massive defections, EPRDF’s hold on the security forces is increasingly coming under question.
Source: www.ethiotribune.com