13. February 2010 by Assimba.

From Yelfiwos Wondaya

The document was carefully outlined, arranged and put together by the regime. And the participants signed the document to behave, act, and comply with the rules and regulations of TPLF/EPRDF. Regrettably, though it is an unfortunate episode that caused public outrage allover, and brought shame on the signatories themselves and members and supporters associated with them. Altogether, it was nothing but a deal to enter an election, become a candidate for and run to join the parliament in Addis.  Equally, though after series of meetings behind closed-door and days and perhaps hours of deliberation, they finally
reached a consensus to accept and defend the law and order of TPLF in line with EPRDF and its satellite organizations. In defense, one would not allow such regrettable state of affairs to continue unchecked in our motherland

First, whether or not the agreement had a strange twist due to foreign intervention, what we know for sure is that the signatories signed the document to join TPLF/EPRDF.  Basically, that was one of the preconditions required by the regime and signed by the so-called oppositions.  Then, they happened to join the club, the club where the question of fairness is unknown.  Be that as it may, had it been for the interest of the general peace and stability, the deal would have been done on an equal basis, and as well the interest of the general public would have been taken into consideration. But instead it turns out that the compromise was not of the same as some wished for and would like us to believe.  After all, a compromise is an agreement in which both sides of the disputing parties agree to achieve a settlement on an equal basis.  If not, it shall not serve any purpose other than the same outmoded hegemony in Addis Ababa.  .
Besides, it is a known fact, that the regime had drawn the necessary conclusions in advance.  It convinced its opponents in a ways that it outlined its agenda and framed the issues for them and made them believe that working in partnership with the regime is conclusive to all parties, and finally managed to influence their decision and has them signed the document. Into the bargain, however, it made detailed plans ahead of time, knew its priorities and bottomlines and as well the alternatives, if in case it fails to reach an agreement. The regime also understood time constraints and knew whether or not this is the only time it will see its opponents in negotiation. The oppositions on the other hand had nothing but pens to sign a bill into law, a law that will have them in trouble one day.

So the indication is also that the signatories signed to behave and respond in such specific set of conditions as saying no more of anything confrontational and as well contrary to the sociopolitical polices of TPLF/EPRDF. In view of that, is that possible for a group of political elites whose freedom of action is restricted by a tyrant regime would have a useful exchange of ideas with its counterpart on an equal basis?  If so is compromise possible and legally binding for all parties in a situation where the regime controls the entire apparatus in the country as well?  I wonder not why one hesitates to say no for the answer.  Because, firstly, the regime already made sure that the signatories accepted the legal terms and conditions carefully included in that document.  And secondly, unlike the so-called oppositions the regime was not empty-handed rather has put such necessary preconditions as mentioned above and it also made sure that it took the total ownership of the compromise itself, and most important of all, the regime is in a position where it can put pressure on so-called oppositions to accept the offer.  And, finally the regime will use this agreement as one of the necessary defensive measures yet for any possible comeback from them (signatories) in the near future.  On the whole, the oppositions accepted the authoritative principles set forth by the regime and agreed to collaborate with its rules of the game ahead.

Next, the document incorrectly known as code of conduct is a document that formed a conceptual framework within which the patricians will behave in accordance with the norm, the statute, the expectation, the ambition, and the wish of the regime. If allowed, the participants may will have argued only over some narrow and local concerns without any regard for wider issues in Ethiopia. If that is the case in point, why bothered to call it compromise instead of calling it collaborating with an enemy known as the sworn enemy of our nation of all time.

Worst of all, fear the worst folks, because, the signatories much like that of TPLF are appearing to be too sensitive to public opinions. At the outset, they began to behave irrationally and became intolerant to any ideas coming to their way.  Then, they even attempted to prevent any public debate over the unconditional surrender terms and conditions they agreed on.  They wished to prevent bona-fide Ethiopian political organizations from commenting about the odd affair at work as well. But in vain!  One wonders why they opted to ignore the public and defend a decision that defies all logic instead.  Was that one of the preconditions brought to them to sign and act upon?

Be that as it may, no matter what the outspoken but often insensitive crusaders in several paltak rooms have to say, the compromise was dead wrong when quoted based on sensible argument rather than ideas that are influenced by emotion and whim. For cyber warriors, the sky is the limit and nothing is more important than their cult-heroes that have already achieved cult status on them. They repeat themselves over and over again, by expressing their feelings with an utmost contempt against all logics.  No need to respond to them anyhow, because more often than not they are too busy chatting, discussing the affairs of others and spreading unfounded rumors against leaders they hate to hear from and personalities that have nothing in commons with them. In that case, one wonders whether or not the document is above and beyond them to comprehend. But one thing is for sure that their rhythm of bickering continues until they will get bottle necked in May of 2010.

For the record, the election held in 2005 was over before it was even started and will happen now the same exact way as it was then in 2005. Obviously, we still see the same actors in several political groupings, striving to assume power by devious route, all of whom were and still are in the hierarchy of the same organizations,operating under the patronage of TPLF and foreign powers. And yet, TPLF is happy to continue to use them in order to marginalize patriot elements and organizations away from the center of attention and influence on the ground.

Lastly, the opposition could have boycotted the election as an alternative instead of submitting to the regime.  They could have been joined Ethiopians allover that are calling for the elections to be boycotted.  Instead of ignoring the call the same exact way they did in 2005, they could have been in a position to lead the boycott campaign itself by now but failed to do so. And yet signing a document that compromises the cause of their constituencies will lead them into the known future.

Well done, does it take any genius to tell the motive behind this entire unpredictable shift made by the same atypical few, controversial and prosaic individuals in several organizations?  The same old buddies of TPLF/EPRDF lurking behind all of those Loyal Oppositions must be exposed now and face the consequences including and up to expelling them away from their respective organizations and beyond.  Get rid of them and win the clarity we deserve to win the general war against enemy.  They must be told in the open and make no bones to follow them every step of the way and expose their sinister act now.  Refuse to associate yourself with those who are up to running the election in order to take up a parliament seat and join TPLF/EPRDF at the end.  And finally, it is time to join our natural alliances on an equal basis and continue our national struggle against TPLF/EPRDF in Addis and else where in the country.

In conclusion, the Political Compliance outlined by Melese of TPLF, and signed by those irresponsible political elites in Addis was nothing but to follow the instruction of TPLF’S rule of conduct and as well to behave in accordance with the law and order of TPLF/EPRDF.  After all, a compromise done by two or more different groups that are not equal in all balances and as well whose principles are diametrically opposed to each other cannot be even-handed.  In other words, there is no way for two diametrically opposing views to come to the point where their views are reconciled and put an end to their disputes once and for all.  And finally, unlike the signatories, what the people want is general uprising against the regime and finally wins justice, peace, stability and prosperity in the land of Ethiopia.

Unity is power!

Yelfiwos Wondaya

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13. February 2010 by Assimba.

By Luelseged Degu -February 2010

Communism might have yield to being past history but its cruel effect is still haunting humanity in several countries in Africa, Europe, Asia and Latin America which are still digging to lift themselves up from the mud. As part of this effort, reportedly soon after the down fall of the Dergue, the Woyanne Government established a Special Prosecutors’ Office (“SPO”) charging it to prosecute the Dergue Junta officials. The international community knows this and other similar processes as Transitional Justice.

Purpose of Transitional Justice

The International Center for Transitional Justice (ICTJ) does not consider transitional justice as a special form of justice but justice adapted to societies transforming themselves after a period of pervasive human rights abuse. In some cases, “these transformations happen suddenly; in others, they may take place over many decades.” Observers continuously attest that in Ethiopia whatever has been done under TPLF has not helped in healing the past wounds; rather, it created new wounds. The approach that emerged in the late 1980s and early 1990s, mainly in response to political changes in Latin America, Africa, Asia and Eastern Europe and to demands for justice is a far cry from achieving a real result in Ethiopia because the approach taken by the rest of the world doesn’t come close to the one which has been conducted by TPLF.

Action in line with Transitional Justice

The Office of the Special prosecutor was established on August 8, 1982 by law (Proclamation No. 22/1992) with a mandate “to establish for public knowledge and for posterity a historical record of the abuses of the Mengistu’s regime and to bring those criminally responsible for human rights violations and/or corruption to justice.”

Basically, the intention behind establishing SPO would have been commendable had it been true for its root-cause. What the international community had in mind was that this office had been established in response to Dergue’s “systematic or widespread violation of human rights” in its 17 years rule. However it seemed ambitious and broad the fact that the TPLF government became willing to accept its international legal obligations to investigate and bring to justice those involved in human rights crimes and embark on a policy choice regarding how a society can productively deal with past abuses to create a more democratic future was applauded by international human rights activists. Be this as it may, having witnessed the political limitations to do whatever it took in El Salvador, Haiti, Chile and Argentina, the international community did not hide its doubts that TPLF would be able to deliver as it had promised via Proclamation No. 22/1992.

To the disappointment of the international human right activists, the policy decision taken by TPLF left desirable and theoretically the most beneficial to the construction of a society based on the rule of law on paper. TPLF has become no different from the Dergue. It is not that the international community failed to see this ambitious nature of the decision to embark on such transitional justice had both risks and benefits, but the disappointment came from what TPLF came short in meeting the least expectations from the international human rights community, the donor community, and in the Ethiopian community, and here is why:

1. The international community expected SPO to mirror UN War Crimes Tribunal so that it would pull together the most well-respected scholars and practitioners throughout the globe/ country. Common factoring human suffering, it was ruled and believed that the task facing the SPO and the UN Tribunal had been similar in scope and complexity. In order to secure efficiency and pragmatism, the involvement of the international community was thought would be necessary for the project to function. However, TPLF did not in a way let the international community and well-seasoned Ethiopians to be part of this project. Instead, its cadres and people like Paul Henze have been contacted and involved in the process. Henze famously suggested in the aftermath of 2005 election to limit Ethiopians’ movement in their country which he enjoys pursuant to US constitution. The result? Incomplete, if not failed, result of transitional justice…
   

2. The government of TPLF itself, which did establish SPO, has been engaged in its own killing frenzy, mainly through its OPDO‘s massacring innocent citizens in Arba Gugu and Jimma. Its former ally OLF reportedly slaughtered innocent civilians including women and children in Grawa, Asebot, Assossa, and Bedno. Some say TPLF itself has been highly engaged in systematic ethnic cleansing mainly in Amhara and Oromo regions. The massacre in Ogaden, Awassa, Gambella, Addis Ababa, Somali and Amhara and Oromo regions are one of the most recent heinous crimes committed against humanity. Therefore, the government which established SPO in seeking recognition for victims of Dergue and promoting possibilities for peace, reconciliation and democracy has created its own victims all over the country, and yet it is still in the making.

Ethiopian Style Transitional Justice

The successful and exemplary transitional justices in several corners of the world have been highlighted in addressing the systematic abuses by former regimes but without endangering the political transformations that were underway. However, in Ethiopia from the outset, it started with ceding the Northern Province, alienating ethnic Amharas as chauvinists and oppressors and Oromos as narrow nationalists. People from the central and southern part of Ethiopia were displaced in mass for being Amhara, and from the Northern Province for being “non-Eritrean.” The displacement is still being carried out by TPLF and pro-TPLF political parties/fronts and hailed by Media outlets like Aigaforum and Ethiopiafirst. The massive displacement was conducted during the 1998-200 Ethio-Eritrean senseless war.

Criminal Prosecutions of the Dergue (People involved in the red-terror).

Criminal prosecutions are part of the transitional justice. They are judicial investigations of those responsible for human rights violations. ICTJ states that prosecutors frequently emphasize investigations of the main perpetrators, actors “considered most responsible for massive or systematic crimes.” However, SPO prosecuted about 5119 people and out of which 3583 were convicted and sentenced to death, life in prison, and prison for a number of years. SPO admitted about 656 innocent people were languishing in prison for years, but are freed now. This admission confirms in part that the US Department of State report which noted that opposition groups alleged that some of the persons detained by the SPO were held for political reasons, an allegation that the TPLF denied, was correct.

A couple of days ago, without embracing the past injustice in its entirety and trying to stop the current injustice (for lack of mandate or other reason), SPO reportedly presented its long awaited report to the Parliament of Ethiopia; while other countries adopted many of what became the basic approaches to transitional justice, the report by the SPO was mainly focused on the criminal Prosecution of the Previous Government Officials.

1. The report did not include if there was an organ like Truth Commission which was effective in South Africa. Such a commission of inquiry could have the primary purposes of investigating and reporting on key periods of red/ white terror and other past abuses. Even though it could have been official state body that would make recommendations to remedy such abuse and to prevent its recurrence, we have not seen such commission in Ethiopia.

2. Except the Tigrai region, other regions like Ogaden (which was affected in Ethio-Somali war) have not been considered for reparations programs. In fact, the report did not mention reparations programs. As reparations are often state-sponsored initiatives that help repair the material and moral damages of past abuse, it is not clear the one TPLF applied in Tigrai will continue in Ogaden, Arba Gugu, Bedeno, Grawa, Awassa, Gambella, Assossa, Gondar, Bahir Dar, Asossa, Addis Abababa and other cities, towns and rural areas.

3. TPLF has reportedly distributed a mix of material and symbolic benefits to the victims of Dergue in Tigrai. Woyanne has also established business moguls like EFFORT for the benefit of the people of Tigrai in line with financial compensation programs of transitional justice. In his recent article, Abebe Gelaw of Addisvoice stated that the TPLF government and deserters of this group unanimously agree that EFFORT has been established for the benefit of the people of Tigrai. However, Gelaw belived that EFFORT is only benefiting the ruling ethnic-junta and not the people of Tigrai. According to him and other reports, if true, even Tigrai is yet to benefit from financial compensation of the transitional justice programs. Some people say that the only reparation which seemed other countries’ reparations was the one conducted for Eritrea which included financial compensation and official apologies. The government of the former Prime Minster Tamrat Layne officially apologized to Eritrea. Eritrea even benefited from wealth succession of the 1991-1993 ceded country, between Eritrea and the Ethiopia-proper, according to the international principles of successions of states.

4. Furthermore, Ethiopia is yet to catch up in full with gender justice, efforts to challenge impunity for sexual and gender based violence and ensure women’s equal access to redress of human rights violations and security system reform, which mainly are controlled by ethnic-Tigrians. TPLF has not yet made an effort to transform the military, police, judiciary and related state institutions from instruments of repression and corruption into instruments of public service and integrity.

5. On the other hand, TPLF has erected memorials in Bahir Dar, Meqelle, and Nazareth; even a memorial has been erected for Dessalegn, a donkey which helped to transport money robbed by TPL from Ethiopian government banks during their guerrilla years.

Conclusion

Full-fledged Transitional Justice in Ethiopia has not been entertained. Any effort without national reconciliation and participation of all stakeholders seem futile. If we are to embark on democracy, the transitional justice process has to be in our to-do list. Whatever SPO has conducted did not go far enough and even its effort has been curtailed as a result of TPLF’s aggression towards humanity.

The writer can be reached at luelman@gmail.com.

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13. February 2010 by Assimba.

Alex Birhanu - alexbirhanu@yahoo.com

Introduction:

Elias Kifle of Ethiopian review, the well known Issayas Afewerki boot-licker in Diaspora, is an impostor amidst the well known Ethiopian community in Washington DC. Usually, he pretends as a stout Ethiopian but in vain. As I heard from several other sources who know him closer, he is actually a hired agent paid by Afewerki and his PFDJ-military-junta to mislead Diaspora Ethiopians on issues pertaining to Eritrean realities and what Afewerki conkers to preside on regional matters.

A recent case in point worth noting here is his call on East Africans and implicitly Ethiopians alike in his Afewerki paid mouthpiece website to go out and demonstrate against the United Nation Security Council (UNSC) sanctions of December 23, 2009 on Eritrea. In this scribble Elias is begging Ethiopians in Diaspora to protest against UNSC-sanctions; and in support of rescuing Issayas Afewerki and his PFDJ-military junta from the embargo imposed on them. This is a clear evidence of Elias Kifle’s stubborn and continued servitude to Issayas Afewerki and his PFDJ-junta as a boot-licker; and as a reliable conduit for Shaabia’s charm offensive on the Western World. Thus far one can refer to streams of invectives scribbles that Elias kifle has been throwing at organizations that courageously expose the symbiotic relations between Afewerki and Al-Shabab.

A year ago, in January 2009, Elias Kifle had no bad feelings at all when he publicly proclaimed on his web-page tyrant Afewerki of Eritrea - as Man of the Year. This was already sheer mockery and poor style of provocation. As far the wider world knows it for fact, Issayas Afewerki can’t be recognized as a man of democracy. After all, Afewerki and his PFDJ military junta still continue to implement harsh and indiscriminate methods of control on the Eritrean urban dwellers, peasants and pastoralists alike. These militaristic controls are varied in types including random roundups and house-to-house searches purportedly targeting ‘draft evaders,’ and conscripts suspected to be away without leave. Such indiscriminate roundups are implemented all over Eritrea under the command of the five major military commanders in charge of the current military administrative operations which replaced civil administration in 2001. The objective of the PFDJ-junta’s roundups is to terrorize the entire society and prevent any form of political disobedience. A clear indication of the spread of terror is apparent from a recent policy ushered by Issayas Afewerki, which collectively targets parents or relatives of ‘absconders’. Hence, in typical authoritarian fashion, Issayas Afewerki and his military junta continue to punish parents whose children have left the country to escape from continued subjugation and abuse.

Begging Ethiopians in Diaspora to protest against UNSC-Sanctions?

Few days ago, with his usual astonishing message, what Elias Kifle wrote to rescue Issayas Afewerki and his PFDJ-junta from the UNSC-sanctions comes out of his muddles as quoted here in below:

“Eritrean communities around the world are organizing a worldwide protest demonstration calling for the annulment of the ill-advised U.N. Security Council resolution against Eritrea that was passed in December 2009. Eritrea is being victimized for standing up on the side of the oppressed people of … Somalia … When some misguided U.S. Department of State officials were unable to get a bill passed in the U.S. Senate against Eritrea; they gathered some corrupt African leaders such as Uganda’s Museveni and pushed a resolution through the U.N. Security Council. The people of … all Horn of Africa countries stand with Eritrea in opposing the resolution… Let’s stand in solidarity with our Eritrean brothers and sisters on February 22” (http://www.ethiopianreview.com/content/12458).

Let us face it; Elias’s mockery and subterfuge put aside, majority Ethiopians acknowledge Issayas Afewerki as nothing but: ‘God father of all troubles infested within East Africa’. Afewerki is known for muddling in all directions starting from Sudan in the North down to Somalia in South East; From South Sudan and Northern Uganda in Central Africa; down to Rwanda and Burundi in Southern Africa region. In fact, Afewerki is the mother of all troubles breeding terrorist actions through Shaabia and Al-Shabab gangsters. That being the reality, Elias Kifle, the amatory website editor, is not even to shy back from his continuous commitment of spreading DC-fabricated and malicious news. Nor does he try to improve himself even after residing in Washington DC for over two decades now. Elias Kifle knows well Issayas Afewerki’s contempt against international condemnation. And yet, he is mockingly charging fire on already negatively unfolding reality within and outside Eritrea as if he can fool the world equipped with fast moving IT-mechanisms. Elias Kifle, as a barren bushy haired reporter is nothing but a chicken-headed person daring to label collectively all African leaders indiscriminately as thieves. But who does he think he is? Leave alone to mange as a heavy responsibility as being tasked with national leadership, he is not even able to put his bed room where he sleeps in good order; nor does he administer his website in fairness with those who aid him around. Recently, a co-worker was strongly attacked by Elias Kifle for commenting on an article submitted for publication by an Eritrean who resents on Afewarki’s tyrannical regime.

Honestly speaking, I’m ashamed of reading, among others, Elias Kifle’s 2-scribblings: (1) Informing in January 2009 the Ethiopians in Diaspora that the Eritrean Tyrant is the person of the year (by claiming that the selection is based on the contribution Afewarki has made for the betterment of Ethiopia). (2) Asking Ethiopians and people of Eastern Africa to go out and demonstrate on February 22, 2010 against the UNSC-sanctions imposed on Afewarki and his military junta. We know for sure no one will take this sham call for serious. But for the hake of it I wanted to comment on his scribble for the record and for any future eventualities and incidences where Elias Kifle may deep his nose into stubbornly and foolishly.

Elias Kifle’s and Issayas Afewerki’s joint simplistic strategy is to attract attention of the Western World and especially big powers; but USA is now seriously sick and tired of Afewerki’s utopia think-thank and his military junta that’s sponsoring not only terrorists within Eritrea, but also supporting those Al-Qaeda linked organisations like Al-Shabab within the region. In fact Elias Kifle and Afewerki work in clandestine hand and gloves by supporting terrorist groups like ONLF in Ogaden, OLF and other splinter groups within the region. Now when Issayas Afewerki sensed that he may be ousted off his throne in Asmara he started to beg Diaspora people of the region through Elias Kifle for his rescue; asking them actually to kneel down and beg for his mercy from the world community. Elias Kifle must realize by now that the snakes pit in Asmara is finally being targeted at for its demise; and stop aiding Issayas Afewerki’s tyrannical regime and other terrorist organizations in the region. Or else he too should face the heavy costs for committing treason not only against Ethiopia, but also against the USA, where he lives in comfort and scribbles his diatribes the way he sees it fit for his Shaabia, ONLF, OLF and Al-Shabab consumers.

Why Elias Kifle so adores Shaabia tugs like the ONLF, OLF and Al-Shabab is for simple hidden benefits at the cost of mocking on Ethiopia and Ethiopian national affairs. Thus, all Elias does in his tabloid website – “Ethiopian Review” is nothing but broadcast insults, slanders, blackmails and homemade tantrums. Elias Kifle’s primary intention of dwelling on such travesties actually reflects his malicious past, which many Ethiopians in Diaspora have now clearly understood and ignored from visiting his website.

Concluding Remarks:

That the UNSC imposed sanctions on Eritrea means that Afewerki and company are now globally recognized as running a pariah fiefdom. This is proven by the simple fact that UNSC veto- empowered nations like: USA, Russia, China, France, and the UK consider Eritrea not as a stable or a normal nation, but as a fiefdom led by an autocrat whose days are being counted. The lawless nature of Afewerki and his PFDJ-military junta have finally trapped them directly in world arena; live alone Africa.

On February 22^nd, it is clear that part of the elite group (Eritrean highlanders in most cases) may finally be coming out of their comfort zones in support of their tyrant kin Afewerki and his PFDJ-junta half-heartedly. But it is already too late now even if they protest against the already implemented UNSC-sanctions. All the circumstances around the embargo are tightening by the day. Afewerki’s arrogant smile, the bank accounts that draw hard currency from Diaspora, the Kalashnikov supply will all eventually dry out. So my clear message for supporters of arrogant Afewerki is: Embrace democracy and fair play; get rid of Afewerki and his unimplemented draft constitution; call upon all ethnic groups within Eritrea as stakeholders to sit around a discussion table and come up with a new workable constitution that reflects the people, the cultures, ethos, and the land. Decentralize Eritrean government where Dankaliaya is run by an Afar local government; Kunama land run by a kunama local regime, and so on; and the same goes to Saho, Seraie, Akaleguzay, Hamasen and other communities within Eritrea. Then and only then can we talk of a representative federal Eritrean government concerned for all.

At the end of the day, Issayas Afewerki and his PFDJ-junta, when left as cornered as they are currently by the world community, they will eventually resort to compliance with all the UNSC- sanctions, dropping all the empty bravados and boastings aside. And for all I know, Elias Kifle will, when cornered, consistent with his hitherto behaviour may shamefacedly disappear from the scene, with all his empty bravados and boastings amounting to nothing. Finally, for as long as the current repressive and undemocratic Afewerki’s tyrannical system is in place, Eritrea’s problems will only increase and eventually endanger the very existence of Eritrea as nation.

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13. February 2010 by Assimba.

Abdullah A. Ado – Email: abdullahadoa@gmail.com

Background:

On December 23, 2009, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) imposed arms embargo on tyrant Afewarki and his military junta for illegally supplying arms to Al-Shabab group, who are battling the internationally recognized transitional government of Somalia. In his usual finger pointing at others, Afewarki repeatedly kept on downplaying the sanctions as meaningless and even refuted as futile and as a CIA-conspiracy until last week.

Suddenly, nearly a month later, in the 1^st week of February 2010, Afewarki’s calls for help from his Eritrean highland Tigrinya supporters in Diaspora emerged after an AU-summit voiced its unanimous support to the December 23, 2009 UNSC-imposed sanctions. The AU-summit further condemned Afewarki and his PFDJ-junta for their continuous unfolding of destabilizing roles in the East African region; and for persisting with destabilizing regional peace and security. Particularly, the AU-summit pointed out Afewarki’s continued provision of arms to Al Shabab group in Somalia; including weapons of all types and sizes, ammunition, money and other military equipment. Having based its final condemnation on the appeals made to the summit by Djibouti and Somalia governments the AU-Summit indicated that, despite the imposed sanctions, Afewarki still continues to send insurgents via Djibouti and Kismayu; and urged the international community to further establish stronger networking for enforcing the UNSC-sanctions including those of the travel ban and an asset freeze to Eritrean military and Afewarki’s officials; and block defiant Afewarki and his PFDJ-junta from their sinister destabilizing efforts.

Consequently, out of sheer panic, Afewarki came out from his hermit cocoon with the following appeal to the Eritrean Diaspora and even sent along a sample letter of petition to be signed and submitted to various agencies:

“Dear fellow Eritreans & Friends, Add your voice to the February 22, 2010 March in Geneva (Switzerland), San Francisco & Washington, DC (USA) as well as Melbourne (Australia). Tell members of the UN Security Council, the U.S. Government and the International Community you want an immediate annulment and Repeal of the Unjust, reckless and baseless sanctions imposed on Eritrea on December 23, 2009! If you want your name to be added to the list of supporters please fill the form attached below.

Dear Ambassador Rice:

My name is _______ from _____________. I am calling/writing/faxing to denounce the unjust sanctions resolution you pushed through the U.N. Security Council against Eritrea. At the same time I am also writing to urge you to reverse this unjust measure against the Eritrean people based on fabricated information. I am in support of the President’s policy of constructive engagement, reconciliation, and partnership with the rest of the world. Sadly, your UN team has orchestrated these sanctions on charges you know well to be groundless. Why did you push for sanctions instead of engagement? Why threats instead of reconciliation and why punishments instead of partnerships? Your team should work to help the President implement his clearly stated foreign policy program. Please try to exercise fairness and carefully evaluate all the facts and evidence to find a lasting peace in the Horn of Africa and you should avoid falling into the trap of those who pretend to wish well for Somalia but instead are trying to destroy it. They are trying to kill two birds with one stone, to destroy both Eritrea and Somalia. Act wisely; the lives of innocent people are at stake. You and I know that this will not bring peace to the war ravaged Horn of Africa; in fact this is a reckless act designed to reignite existing simmering conflicts and to create new ones. Thank you … Sincerely …” (Source: http://dehai.org/images/UN-letter)

Tyrant Afewarki’s recent panic and his previous weeks’ bluffing reactions in defiance to repeated requests by the international communities are all astonishing. Looking this episode from a closer context, let us resort to serious discussions. Throughout January 2010, immediately after the sanction became known world wide, Afewarki, his PFDJ-junta and Eritrean highlander sympathizers alike were boasting of their contempt; claiming that the UNSC-embargo has no impact on Eritrea and they care less about it. They even were belittling the Western democracy as hypocritical and an unacceptable theme. These same people along with tyrant Afewarki have suddenly turned 180-degrees around and are pretentiously acting in the Western mode of democratic conferring as if to say they accept the Western style of democracy; and even dare to hold world-wide demonstration show-offs demanding to withdraw the UNSC-sanctions. Cynical enough, at this very time, Afewarki is keeping the salient and silent Eritrean rural majority population busy fortifying his play grounds for war by shoving themselves deep inside bankers and trenches for thousands of miles. The poor rural population are also closely watched by the Gestapo like PFDJ-spies so that they don’t run away or brew plots against Afewarki’s junta. So the silent majority are prisoners kept isolated from urban areas and from exchanging and expressing political views.

Although, Afewarki & his PFDJ-junta are doing everything possible to extend their stay in power by misleading the Eritrean public; at least it is good to see them ultimately forced to bow down and admit for once to the power of the silent and salient rural majority; and begging for Diaspora help to be rescued from the serious UNSC-sanctions. But let me ask the following to those Eritrean Tigrinya highlanders who blindly sympathize with Afewarki & his PFDJ-junta while living in a free and fair world in Diaspora. Why are you willing to give a blank-check approving whatever Afewarki & his PFDJ-junta would like to do against the silent majority of the Eritrean population? Had Afewarki & PFDJ-junta asked the internally imprisoned salient and silent Eritrean majority whenever Afewarki jump-starts his provocative terrorist wars left and right with our neighbors thus far? Has the rural poor in Eritrea in general and those of us living at the border and coastal areas within Eritrea been given any occasion to have a say on what affects our daily lives in terms of crafting policy reform or poverty reduction mechanisms? Have Afewarki and PFDJ-junta ever thought of involving the salient and silent Eritrean majority in discussions on burning community issues like why the whole Eritrean population is exhausted of tyranny and on continuous exodus in all directions and to all corners of the world? Have Afewarki & his PFDJ-junta ever contemplated to allow the silent majority to express their views by writing petition or by conducting pubic demonstration within Eritrea at all? Didn’t Afewarki & PFDJ-junta claim themselves as an ideological group opposed to Western style of democracy? So how come all of a sudden they want now to adopt Western democratic cultures in them and ask Diaspora supporters to quickly organize demonstrations and even write petitions in preparation for the February 22^nd 2010 demonstration? And yet, why do Afewarki & his PFDJ-junta continue with their defiance by generating one terrorist incidence after the other within the region?

It has been long since the salient and silent Eritrean majority of the Afar, Beja, Bilen, Kunama, Saho, and other peasants and pastoralist groups within Eritrea have been frustrated, sad and sour on tyrant Afewarki and his PFDJ-junta; and his blind Eritrean Tigrinya highland supporters who continue sending hard currency for his terrorist actions. Thanks to the UNSC-powerful embargo exerted on Afewarki and his tyrannical junta and thanks for the reinforced decisions by the AU and USA, the Afar, Beja, Bilen, Kunama, Saho, and other peasants and pastoralist groups within Eritrea are actually delighted and warm-heartedly in support of this international sanction that will bring Tyrant Afewarki and his PFDJ-junta to its demise. Likewise we are glad to observe Afewarki and his PFDJ-junta knocking doors at this 11^th our of their doom begging for help and crying out loud to get rid of the UNSC-sanctions; the same sanctions Afewarki was bluffing a month ago as toothless and ineffective let alone to threaten his “strong” Eritrean regime.

But let Afewarki and his PFDJ-junta know the necked fact that diplomacy is not a smear campaign. Diplomacy is not something that a tyrant appoints his representatives from among his own kin and closer connections through nepotism. On the contrary, career diplomacy needs networking with global nations and effectively achieves the necessary diplomatic efforts. In the case of Eritrea what we witness with Afewarki is his nepotistic style of hand-picking Eritrean highland Tigrinya kin and appointing the same members of a given family as ambassadors around the globe. Suffices to mention two highlander kin names here: Ambassador Tesfamicheal Gerahtu (of UK, London) and Ambassador Tesfalem Gerahtu (of Kampala, Uganda).

At the cost of becoming a laughing stock, Afewarki, his PFDJ-junta and his blind Eritrean highland Tigrinya supporters in Diaspora were all bluffing until recently, as if they aren’t scared by the U.S. policy against Eritrea; and even dared to teach Democracy 101 to the Western world especially to the State Department of the USA. But this time, there is no way of deceiving the Eritrean people. Why do Afewarki & his PFDJ-junta oppose the Western world so vehemently in most of your Medias and websites; and yet beg Diaspora sympathisers to go out for public demonstrations and beg for Western World’s support to reveres the UNSC-resolution on Eritrea? One cannot have the cake and eat it too. Likewise, Afewarki and his PFDJ-junta cannot roar and roam around within rural Eritrea like a lion; and suddenly act like a sad loyal dog to the outer world (coiling its tails between its two rear legs) when they knew the UNSC-sanctions are here for serious business.

Needless to say, those who do not respect the rights, origin, belief and culture of others, will never genuinely defend theirs. That being the case, I’m not sure if the hitherto upheld denial and fabricated nationalism that persists in the highland Eritrean mentality will ever hold water and remain sustainable as the signs of splinter movements including RSADO are now underway among non-Tigrinya speaking communities of Eritrea. Indeed, after 30-years of armed struggle and 20-years of de facto Eritrean independence, Tigrinya highlanders are caught-up in a state of denial and in a myth of fiefdom forming that never has been; and that will not materialize. And the whole Shaabia liberation struggle and experiences gained there of point to Afewarki and Shaabia who brew disillusion from the very start of the liberation struggle: (a) Both the urban and the Diaspora highlanders still are caught up with deep denial and utter confusion of what they see and hear.

Particularly, the much boasted talk about victory are nothing but echoing quite unreasonable victory dances and dropping crocodile tears for killings and for causing material losses through banditry skirmishes carried out left and right thus far. These protracted fights have, in fact, depleted the Eritrean rural population growth rate in particular and it’s economic progress by significant percentage and hampered the lowland society from potential recovery and progress. The main reasons being the militaristic operations and banditry life styles that were on the ground since the early 1960s; and still the periodical skirmishes are immensely causing huge human, logistic, economic, and environmental losses. Indeed, to this very day, the war tension and abrupt events causing the usual interruptions from normalizing livelihoods are still on the move firmly armed and alert for any likely ignition of further skirmishes without borders. As such, Tyrant Afewarki’s and his military junta are known for their immense brutality and Mafia-like handling of civil affairs. Without any ado, Afewarki and PFDJ-junta are pulling Eritrea down the drain while day dreaming and living in fantasies of their own making; and prefer to remain at standby where projection of “colonial legacy” has given them the excuse to impose a totalitarian political pathway that leads solely to their terrorist Sawa military garrisons; to which the salient and silent majority of the Eritrean poor are saying: Enough is enough!

Eritrea’s Survival at Cross-Road:

Critical questions that come to mind include the following: (1) Can Eritrea survive as a nation amidst its speedy move towards its total stagnation? (2) How can Afewarki or his substitute regime stop the ongoing PFDJ-regime’s endless forced labor, which has driven and continues to drive thousands of Eritrean youth out of the country? [*See Gaim Kibreab, Forced Labor in Eritrea, Journal of Modern African Studies, 47, 1(2009)]. (3) How can Afewarki or his substitute reform Eritrea’s deeply troubled economy in shambles and on the verge of collapse? There is no shame in siding with the truth. But those who have been burned by Issayas Afewarki and his PFDJ-junta, and yet identify with Afewarki’s tyrannical policy are always in a dilemma, not knowing the way out of the trouble. But the naked question facing Eritrean peoples of all walks of life is: For how surely can the PFDJ sustain Eritrea solely depending on Sawa training camp and its companion project, the so called Warsai-Yikaalo Campaign, and consider them as the sole guarantors of Eritrea’s security as Afewarki’s fiefdom? I have my serious doubts as things are on shaky grounds and soon falling apart haphazardly. 

Conclusive Remarks:

In summing up let me still ask the following: Is “independence” worth all the sacrifices that the Eritrean rural poor have been dearly paying in limbs and lives thus far? Is “independence” as an all-consuming-50-year-long odyssey and as the only bloody path thus far worth enduring? I can only suggest three fear-factors as likely scenarios. Firs of all, the rural Eritrean population has been living and continues to live behind trenches all along the non-demarcated long-border-lines; this being the case; it is still too early for the rural poor to claim having benefited from Eritrean “independence”. Secondly, since Eritrea has unequivocal state of collective serfdom; a fiefdom where military garrisons and guerrilla warfare camps dominate the rural scene; and where the nearly 4-million rural Eritrean peoples are held incarcerated in military garrisons. That means Eritrean populations are no where near to fully claim that they are free people in the true sense of the word! The burning heat of oppression from Afewarki and his PFDJ junta circle is felt everywhere. Failure to resolve the Eritrean rural populations’ discontent and disputes could exacerbate governance, health, and humanitarian problems further. Yearning for lasting solution remains in the distant future. After all, the Eritrean revolution was waged haphazardly, by folks with divergent aspirations and banditry culture in mind. And I may not be astonished if some of the pastoralist and peasant communities renounce their citizenship in silence.

Tyrant Afewarki and his PFDJ-junta are commonly fighting for what they cynically term as “territorial integrity” within Eritrea proper; while at the same time preaching self-determination up to secession of nationalities elsewhere within the neighboring nations. But let Afewarki and his PFDJ junta know the fact that: ‘a person living in a house made of glass does not throw stones on others’ glass windows’. Hence it is justifiable that the UNSC-sanction enforce to stop Afewarki from his proxy-war tactics. Ultimately, Diaspora Eritrean youth must know the following: ‘Don’t look where you fall, but where you slipped’. Dwindle the empty pride; face the naked reality; break out differences; and build bridges with the rural masses. These are the likely alternatives that can reduce Eritrea’s militaristic stand, halt the Eritrean youth mass-exodus and help Eritrea move towards its eventual maturity.

A message to Canada’s Nevsun Resources Ltd other investors

Afewarki knows well that he and his junta cannot survive without the resources from Afar, Beja, Bilen, Kunama, Saho, and other peasants and pastoralist groups within Eritrea Indeed it is geologically a known fact that key mineral deposits are located along the coastal areas of the Red Sea and in Kunama land areas in Western Eritrea. Among these spots recently mine projects are in exploration within Bisha located in Kunama land areas in Western Eritrea run by Canada’s Nevsun Resources Ltd, mainly with strategic focus put on gold production. If all goes silently well, the company expects to start gold production by the end of 2010 or by the beginning of next year. Similarly at Zara, a gold project is being run by Australia’s Chalice Gold Mines who are expecting to start producing gold by the end of 2011. Similar projects in search of vast oil and other mineral deposits have been lined up all along the Red Sea coral and coastal areas where rich mineral deposits including Quartz, feldspars, rock fragments, mica, heavy minerals, clay minerals, sulfide minerals, aragonite, Mg-calcite, proto-dolomite, dolomite, quartz, and chalcedony are known to be available. To this effect, tyrant Afewarki is already promising investors claiming he will relax his commercial and business laws. We say to the these companies and to others aspiring to join the exploration mission to withdraw their actions instantly in support of the UNSC-sanctions and in order to help the Afar, Beja, Bilen, Kunama, Saho, and other peasants and pastoralist groups within Eritrea to free themselves from Afewarki’s tyrannical rule.

A message to Tyrant Afewarki and PFDJ-supporters:

If Diaspora supporters continue to act against internationally decided and well-deserved UNSC and AU consensus, and go out to rally on February 22, 2010 as instructed by the tyrant, then you are in fact demonstrating guilty of treason for opting to rescue tyrant Afewarki (a known terrorist at home and exporter of terrorism to Al-Shabab as identified by the UNSC and AU thus far). Likewise, you are in agreement with tyrant Afewarki and his accomplices for keeping the silent and salient rural poor in Eritrea under his terrorist subjugation. By proxy, it means, you too are guilty by association for aiding him and his PFDJ-junta to remain in power and continue their subjugation without borders. As a result, you too must be charged for collaborating with tyrant Afewarki and his PFDJ-junta who give deaf ear to international condemnations and continue with their crime actions indefinitely. We are definitely sure, most Diaspora demonstrators, if at all there will be any, are no other than our Eritrean Tigrinya highlanders, who want to assure their supremacy on power, as ever before, regardless of observable and accounted injustices by the international community thus far. Let the global public know, we, who side with the oppressed silent majority of the Afar, Beja, Bilen, Kunama, Saho, and other peasant and pastoralist groups within Eritrea, strongly support the UNSC-sanctions against tyrant Afewarki and his PFDJ-junta. Consequently, let Eritrean highland Tigrinya remnants in Diaspora know, our absence from the demonstration show-case on February 22^nd 2010 as we don’t believe in tyranny at all.

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