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 TPLFS 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
Posted inArticles|Comments Off on Code of Conduct”
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 doesnt 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 Mengistus 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 Dergues 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:
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
The government of TPLF itself, which did establish SPO, has been engaged in its own killing frenzy, mainly through its OPDOs 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 TPLFs aggression towards humanity.
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; andin 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 Shaabias 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 cant 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-juntas 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; Eliass 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 Afewerkis 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 Afewarkis tyrannical regime.
Honestly speaking, Im ashamed of reading, among others, Elias Kifles 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 Kifles and Issayas Afewerkis joint simplistic strategy is to attract attention of the Western World and especially big powers; but USA is now seriously sick and tired of Afewerkis utopia think-thank and his military junta thats 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 Afewerkis 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 Kifles 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 22nd, 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. Afewerkis 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 Afewerkis tyrannical system is in place, Eritreas problems will only increase and eventually endanger the very existence of Eritrea as nation.
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 1st week of February 2010, Afewarkis 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 Afewarkis 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 Afewarkis 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 Presidents 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 Afewarkis 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 dont run away or brew plots against Afewarkis 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? Didnt 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 22nd 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 11th 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 arent 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 Worlds 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, Im 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 its 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 Afewarkis 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!
Eritreas 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-regimes 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 Eritreas 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 Afewarkis 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 Eritreas security as Afewarkis 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: Dont 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 Eritreas militaristic stand, halt the Eritrean youth mass-exodus and help Eritrea move towards its eventual maturity.
A message toCanada’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 Afewarkis 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 22nd 2010 as we dont believe in tyranny at all.
Some of my Anglo -Saxon friends have for long suspected that the distance between an African and Satan, if any at all, is not that long at all. To begin with, it is common knowledge that Satan is black as are Africans. There are. of course, some Africans who imagine that they are not really black and belong to that category the French boldly call the “couleur sauvee” or the saved colors, that is saved by a hair’s breadth from being black (God Forbid!), Métis, light skinned, brown, what have you. In any case this African affinity with Satan has been mentioned often to explain the African’s alleged propensity to cause calamities and problems of all kinds.
The catastrophic earthquake in Haiti has been duly attributed to the devil worship of the voodoo practicing Haitians. One of the preachers of ignorance, the right wing Christian Minister Pat Robertson, has openly declared this and revealed to the uninformed that the Haitians made a pact with the Devil in order to throw away French colonial rule– Quote:“Something happened a long time ago in Haiti and people might not want to talk about it,” the televangelist said. “And they got together and swore a pact to the Devil. They said, ‘We will serve you if you’ll get us free from the French.’ True story. And so the Devil said, ‘Okay, it’s a deal.’ . . . But ever since they have been cursed by one thing after another”. By the way this is the same Robertson who signed a gold mining contract with Charles Taylor and lobbied the Bush administration in Taylor’s behalf. It is safe to say that many in the West have not forgotten that the Haitians started the very first slave revolt back in 1791 and fought to success in 1804 setting up their independent republic. How dare they! It is like Guinea’s Sekou Toure’s NO to continued French tutelage or domination, a rejection that Paris never forgot and tried to make Sekou pay for– ( not a savory individual our Sekou, but a courageous one at the time when he opted for independence). The afflicted Haitians have become the center of approbations for causing an earthquake upon themselves, for being sinners, poverty stricken and even lazy. Some expected the usual “black” violence with looting and mayhem in Port au Prince and could not explain why it did not really happen even though some TV stations were gloating over footage of two alleged thieves shot by the police and desperate people struggling to get food handouts. The CNN, true to form, came with a titled series called Saving Haiti (from what? from whom?). American Marines, who took the opportunity and came in thousands, were seen distributing food and doing camera–attracting charity work in an effort to improve their tarnished images in Iraq and Afghanistan. We give out not bombs but flour and rice—our eyes are destined to see wonders, no? The militarization of aid in Haiti will evidently have many grave consequences in the future.
It is obvious that Haitians brought the “biblical tragedy” upon themselves. They believed in the tenets of the French and American Revolutions and staged their own only to find rejected both by the then vicious colonial power, France, and the US, a slave holding country that recognized Haiti only in 1862. Actually, an angry France demanded huge reparation payment from Haiti in exchange for recognition and the chance to take part in international trade. Haiti should have done a Barbados (which became independent only in 1966 and is still a Commonwealth member), no revolt, no Revolution, accepting colonial rule with docility. Haitians have been blamed by one Washington Post columnist for bringing this man made disaster upon themselves– what “with their weak public institutions leading to the collapse of buildings” (no matter if the collapsed presidential palace was built by Marines during the US occupation from 1915 to 1934). Haitians should have long abandoned this obdurate desire of theirs to be a free nation and welcomed instead with open arms, as quite a few African countries do, the very many interventions and plots of Washington to impose its diktat over them. And why did they burn the hundreds of corpses on the streets instead of suffering the consequences such as a devastating cholera epidemic? Cruel people who, like those Africans from Kenya to South Africa, are prone to torch thieves and rapists and corpses!
I really think the Haitians should actually be commended for their contribution to the West by giving it a chance to pose and improve its image. One can say Haiti has learnt from Ethiopia on all levels as it has now received its own “We are the World” song and has become the primary concern of celebrities. Larry King and Anderson Cooper are dwelling on it and Darfur can eat its heart out this time! The local boy Wyclef has also learnt the bitter lesson that Western NGOs brook no patience when they come with full force to occupy the terrain all for themselves. Jean Wyclef’s foundation was accused of misuse of funds, the singer driven to tears and of course brought into the fold by being invited to the Grammy awards ceremony. Haiti gave the West, especially America, the chance to strut big time as a savior force. So much so that the bizarre creature called Rush Limbaugh had to complain on Obama’s alleged affinity to his black or light skinned kin (“slackers kept up by American tax money”) and his “using the tragedy to burnish his image”. Idle NGOs (who wants to go to Eastern Congo?) were given jobs and the opportunity to gather millions of dollars to “save” Haiti. While many pundits waxed bitterly lyrical against Haitians without ever setting foot there some correspondents and reporters did make it to Haiti and report drama from there making it appear as if they were in the heart of a war zone. Haiti also gave the child traffickers great opportunity to smuggle children (or be caught doing it) thereby bringing into focus the child adoption racket that has been going on in Haiti and is taking place in Ethiopia, Cambodia, Malawi, Russia where children with living parents have been sold and bought in a thriving market. Remember Jolie and Madonna.
If Haiti’s poverty is to be exclusively blamed on the slackers who call themselves Haitians and if earthquakes come due to a pact with the devil then a number of questions rear their heads to ask for an n answer. How about the earthquakes in California in the past? What about the decades long suffering of Haiti under foreign invaders and interventionists? Who overthrew Aristide? If most of the buildings in the Haitians capital collapsed is it a bad thing or a good thing? Does it indicate that American engineers and Marines are bad architects or should we blame the Haitians in exclusivity? How come Benin, the Motherland of Voodoo, has not suffered from earthquakes yet? How come many talk of corruption after the earthquake and in connection with many NGOs? Some cynics argue that America is mobilized for Haiti to keep the Haitians in place, to stop them from trekking en masse to the USA. Preventive charity has been seen in the past and it is not sure it works but it helps keep the natives in their own hell hole as THEY would say. The tragedy has also given us uninformed souls the chance to hear sofa bound experts expound on the alleged weaknesses and peculiarities of the Haitian culture. Benefiting from a tragedy is how we can term this. Thank you again Haiti.
As Toussaint Louverture, the leader of the Haitian Revolution (whom some called the Black Napoleon) said when he was captured by the French: “In overthrowing me you have cut down in Saint Domingue only the trunk of the tree of liberty, it will spring up again from the roots, for they are many and they are deep”. Earthquake or not the tree of liberty in Haiti will still bear many branches, leaves and fruits.
My sympathies and solidarity to the people of Haiti.
For those of us who originate from rural Eritrea (pastoralist and peasant communities alike) it is utterly disappointing to observe negative or indifference reactions exhibited by Eritrean Tigrinya highlanders who fail to understand our devastating plights within rural Eritrea. On our part considering highland opposition website editors like Awate and Asmerino as the voice of the opposition groups to Afewarki and his PFDJ-ruling junta, we tried to negotiate with them in good faith, but each time they force us to a condition where hell will break loose soon. Even when we come with our olive branches in good will gesture, Awate and Asmerino repeatedly refused to publish our articles of serious concerns. With an odd mix of xenophobia, contempt and supremacy, they denied us access not to reach Eritrean opposition groups with our opinions. Generally Eritrean Tigrinya highlanders evade from linking with and creating understanding between them and us; still they continue to look at peasants and pastoralists as their 2nd class citizens whose cases they bully, shovel and shelve as secondary matters. Indeed PFDJ, Awate and Asmerino Team are nothing but two faces of the same Eritrean Tigrinya highlander supremacists coin; where the latter two provide their indirect bare-foot soldier servitude to the former. But, at the end of the day, this will not do any good for Eritrea’s future stability. So in what follows I write in plain language pointing out the reality on the ground.
Reality defied clouded by contempt:
Regardless of belligerent, bossy, denial, and headstrong empty pride manifested by Afewarki and his PFDJ-ruling junta and Eritrean highlanders who cling on to the status quo; by claiming that nothing political is happening on the ground in rural Eritrea; it was proved last month alone that our heroic pastoralist brothers and sisters had skirmishes against Afewarki’s PFDJ-junta in different fronts with full determination and vigour. To this effect, suffice to cite the following 2- major events:
On December 29, Mr. Qernelios Osman, the leader of the Democratic Movement for the liberation of Eritrean Kunama (DMLEK), told AFP that the Security Councils sanctions on Afewarki are a good opportunity for the opposition and that his forces are inside Eritrea and will hit selected targets and institutions.
On January 1st, 2010 two Eritrean rebel groups, the Red Sea Afar Democratic Organization (RSADO) and the Eritrean National Salvation Front (ENSF) conducted lightning strikes in two major PFDJ-junta reconnaissance stations by obliterating PFDJs Division-39 (at Senafe) and Division-13 (at Tserona) where heavy casualties were inflicted specifically at Agulae, Gunaguna, Meshal Akera and Kermed fronts; by killing over 50 PFDJ-soldiers, destroying 2-camps, leaving 38-injured and confiscating 11-Kalashnikovs (AK-47), 7-hand-grenades, and other infantry gears.
So the struggle is relentlessly on the move; and it will continue so until we, the group representing rural communities, strike a common deal with Eritrean Tigrinya highlanders to the points where: (a) our basic rights are kept in tact; (b) we have a say on whatever is affecting our livelihoods and lives; (c) our cultural and social ethos are left for peasants and pastoralists to determine; (d) our women are no longer snatched by Afewarki and his PFDJ-ruling junta officers to become concubines in towns against their will. And for as long as we are pushed aside, we will fight with full force causing a tsunami-like affects in Afewarkis unresolved fiefdom.
Caught in nostalgic clock-stop syndromes:
Behind the facade that Afewarki and his ruling Junta would always like to portray as equitable prosperity, Warsai-Yikealo, Asmaras beauty and cleanliness, and patriotic pride, they omit speaking about Eritreas dark side where a human tragedy of grand proportion is in the making. In fact, what had started arrogantly and erroneously since the hay days of the 1960s with the revolution as sacrifice undertaken for the sake of moulding Eritrea as a fiefdom Afewarkis tyrannical rule has reached its depths of despair where the rural population is asked to carry the brunt of the burden by continuing its sacrifice to save Afewarki and his empty supremacist arrogance. Ever since the 1960s, all that Afewarki and his ruling junta know proficiently well is nothing but forceful militaristic bravado. As a result, the rural poor are held tightly to a point where they are mercilessly exhausted by hard labour; and they are impoverished, famished, internally-displaced, and forced to go on refuge into neighbouring countries. The perverse logic of these paranoia sacrifices set no limit to Afewarkis consistent demands for human force; nor do they set borders to his interference in neighbouring countries affairs. In the name of national security and unity Afewarki and his PFDJ-ruling junta control all media, the politics, and the economy by posting tens of thousands of people to labour camps. Simply said, Afewarki barricades himself into a defensive bunker from which he surveys a world of conspiracy theories and special interests plotting against him; and clings on to his guerrilla rebel ideology and habits; which enforce his tyrannical values with its ill-conceived land expropriation, market monopolization, indefinite Sawa national service and pervert policy against external power. When all is said and done, under his grandiose mantra of self-reliance (or its media variation, bitsifrina), Afewarki and his PDFJ-ruling junta are taking the Eritrean fiefdom in a high speed down the drain. Following his venerable and long-standing banditry tradition of arrogance, blunder, denial, and pride, Afewarki is unwilling to admit the presence of public resentment against his self-reliance utopia held firmly with an odd mix of xenophobia and Eritrean highland Tigrinya supremacy.
An Autocrat without Borders:
Tyrant Afewarki, Shaabia and PFDJ-junta are nothing but arrogant paranoids determined never to admit even a single mistake they committed within the last half a century. On the contrary, they finger point and put the blame on external forces beyond Eritrea. In fact, Afewarki uses specters of security threats to justify his authoritarianism. Out of sheer Eritrean highland ghedli culture of arrogance, blunder, contempt, denial, and empty-pride Afewarki blames others everywhere else for all the problems cropping up within his fiefdom; but never on his power-mongering political machinery circle. As always, Afewarkis priorities are: buying all kinds of military gadgets; fighting left and right without borders; financiering all kinds of militant groups coming from the region; engaging his PFDJ-junta in clandestine piracy and banditry operations; setting secretive pacts and deals with regimes opposed to the Western world; and continuing with his utopia policy backed by his banditry tricks funnelling deaths and destruction. Yes, Afewarki is tirelessly experimenting with his wasteful white elephant projects within his fiefdom and camouflages his banditry acts with lame excuses usually bundled with musically orchestrated annual celebrations of martyrdom. By squeezing out the youth group from villages, he tasks them with Sawa where they ultimately become cannon fodders of his persisting military operations. Playing on Eritrean Tigrinya highlanders’ sentiments and psychic, Afewarki knows perfectly well how to get away with his age-old Eritreas sovereignty and territorial integrity mantra. It is with these tricks and traps he bargains excuses from the Eritrean Diaspora; and even milks their hard earned currency into his treasury. Whereas Issayas Afewarki presides over his subjects with unapologetic and repressive ruling mantras; whereas his top secretive and hermit like PFDJ-junta remains loyal to Afewarkis self-reliant utopia; whereas Afewarki persistently fights left and right without borders; Eritrea still undergoes through its unfinished fiefdom formation exercises.
Overall, obsessed with autocratic control of every resource within his fiefdom, Afewarki remains an iron-handed ruler, whose secrecy of self-reliance utopia is to maintain his central power by imposing a 4-pronged policy as indicated below:
Finger pointing on CIA& external forces: Afewarki has made it customary to accuse CIA and the Western world of supporting and funding Eritrean opposition groups; a ploy to siphon-off the badly needed hard currency to Shaabias standing coffers.
Land policy:Afewarki and hisruling junta have grabbed prime farmlands; by depriving peasants and pastoralists their most productive farmlands and livestock products; and relegating them into smaller and infertile plots and to ownership of fewer livestock herds.
Market policy: Afewarki has made farm and livestock products inaccessible to sellers and buyers.
National service policy: Afewarki has gutted villages across Eritrea out of their productive labour forces and conscripted these into Sawa-garrisons.
Plainly speaking, Issayas Afewarkis self-reliance policy is directed at centrally controlling over: (1) CIA and Western aggressions, (2) land, (3) market mechanisms, and (4) labour. Hence, Afewarki has mounted his wide-spread tentacles on his slave-labour (Warsai-Yikealo projects) where every morning every waking person is asking why the hell he or she has to toil and suffer so much at the mercy of Afewarki; the tyrant without borders; the master who must be obeyed by all and any means. Fixated at moulding Eritrea as a totalitarian fiefdom, Afewarki expropriates the communal resources of the rural poor.The reason is simple. If they are permitted to maintain their livelihoods as usual, then Afewarkis key task of nation crafting would be badly affected; and his pompous honour and pride would equally be ruined. So instead, the rural poor are coerced to suffer to the point of death in order to ensure Afewarkis personal pride and his fiefdom crafting project in tact. And to Afewarki, this entire episode can be curbed up by his attendance of the regular annual martyrdom memorial ceremonies for the fallen. So Afewarki continues to strike left and right without borders with his Shaabia military operations yet in preparation for more martyrdom offers; and what we are witnessing is keeping the status quo of decades of banditry exercises led by Afewarki and Shaabia both internally within Eritrea and externally in the internal affairs of neighbouring countries. Internally his dubious acts are stretching from rampant land expropriation to all kinds of monopolization; and from Sawa militarization. For a paranoid Shaabia banditry group, roaming around without borders, the only language it understands is waging war everywhere; and stretching its tentacles for a totalitarian control everywhere. For this autocratic tradition, Afewarki has three recurring themes: Firstly, Shaabia and the PFDJ-ruling junta have the appetite for extending their tentacles and tapping whatever hard currency comes into Eritrea. Secondly, they hold on to their irrational fear that empowering peasants and pastoralists will dethrone Afewarki from his tyrannical leadership role. Thirdly, amidst the periodic political and economic crisis taking place, Afewarki projects all problems as caused by CIA and external forces; and accuses them of funding Eritrean opposition groups to disturb the reconstruction of his fiefdom. Thus Afewarki never admits to gulp down his Eritrean highland Tigrinya empty pride. On the contrary, to him, it is Eritrean rural communities who have to carry the burden of their abject poverty on the one hand; and suffering quietly to defend Afewarkis arrogance that is ever widening without borders. As if the metaphor: In the country of the blind one eyed man is a king! befits Afewarkis tyrannical profile, the rural poor continue endlessly to sacrifice perverted through decades of brainwashing for ghedli to save Afewarki and his highland Tigrinya kin on power by paying final and irrevocable price with their lives.
Snatching resources from the voiceless
Since 1993, Afewarkis first goals have been snatching the meagre farm and livestock products by force from peasants and pastoralists and ensure his survival on power. To this day, every measure taken since the advent of Afewrakis stringent market rules, criminalization of private food transactions and confiscation of peasants food surplus, increase in curtailments of movement, and killings at border crossings is explained as responding to PFDJ-juntas and Asmara urban-dwellers needs. Peasants are forced to sell their so called surplus food products and livestock herds to the junta at very low prices. Indeed PFDJ-junta is looting villagers koffos under a gun pointto feed the half-starving Sawa-garrison subjects. It is common place for Afewarkis tyrannical rule to confiscate farm products and livestock herds intended to reach urban markets; criminalizing the selling of most staple grains in markets; limiting the amount of food supply peasants could keep for their own consumption; decreasing the amount of rations provided by the PFDJ-ruling junta to consumers in Asmara; and drastically cutting the food amount it provides to the military camps and prisons. Sporadically, towns and villages are emptied of their youth groups, with hundreds of thousands seized and put into Sawa-garrisons for compulsory military service. Several labour concentration camps are proliferating everywhere. Tens of thousands of political prisoners are indoctrinated, tortured and worked-out to death. The lucky ones are fleeing in all direction to escape Afewarkis forced call-up into Sawa. But without any reference to the rural poor welfare, Afewarki propagates his age old territorial integrity, economic and political independence utopia. As if primary matters about the Afar, Kunama, Saho, Beja and Bilen communities are secondary to his rule, Afewarki prepares peasants and pastoralists for his intense, frantic, and wild totalitarian war-mongering missions. And where areas are prioritized, he does so according to their worth to his political survival. When it comes to food rationing, his priority groups are: PFDJ-junta, Sawa-garrisons, and Asmara city dwellers. These 3 groups are at the top of his list because Afewarki knows well he cant antagonize these three groups for the following obvious reasons. (1) PFDJ members are firmly embedded within Afewarkis ruling junta framework. (2) Although too dangerously armed for his safety, Sawa-garrisons are vital for Afewarkis power defence. (3) Since dwellers within Asmara are closely watched by global surveillance Afewarkis easy way out is to resort to rural peasants and pastoralists who are the silent majority carrying the brunt of burdens in Eritrea. But, from pastoralist and peasant perspectives, we consider Tyrant Afewarki, Shaabia and his PFDJ-ruling junta as a 3-tyered totalitarian, militaristic and banditry machinery breeding and imposing the inconceivable utopia on our rural communities. And for this, the Afar, Kunama, Saho, Beja and Bilen are paying dearly with their lives in sacrifice for Afewarkis autocracy without borders; and for his quest to cling on power and maintain his self-aggrandizement.
Silently toiling rural poor
Tampering with Afewarks Eritrean highland Tigrinya led pet projects is considered as stepping on his toes. On the reverse, the silent majority of the rural poor must quietly accept the norms set for them by tyrant Afewarki, who must be obeyed at all costs. Hence, the PFDJ-ruling junta continues to milk human and natural resources without the consent of the rural majority; and forcibly takes away these resources to urban centres. In a strange reversal of priorities, instead of asking himself what Afewarki can do to his ill-conceived fiefdom, he continues to ask the troubled silent majority of peasants and pastoralists what they can do for him to preserve his fiefdom at his own hour of burning needs. Thus the rural poor continue to pay the price for Afewarkis endless blunder and empty pride by their sacrifice. In turn, Afewarki, who loves watching the annually held dance of admiration for the fallen martyrs, continues to engage in his customary troubles that know no borders. After all, for Afewarki and his PFDJ-ruling junta, what matters is not resolving the crisis faced by the rural poor inside Eritrea; but how he and his henchmen preside on power and continue creating a series of havoc without borders at the cost of the rural poor sacrificing itself in the name of ironic martyrdom. Indeed, in his quest for power, Afewarki imposes the urban dwellers consumption needs on the rural poor by directly: (1) Deploying each conceivable means and measures to ensure his authoritarian power intact. Thus far, he has imposed a food market control system on the rural poor as regular suppliers. (2) Accepting Afewarkis self-reliance policy and entertain it by acclaiming him as: Our heroic leader who must be obeyed by any and all means.
So only Afewarki, who presides over a fiefdom without borders; and only he who acts without any legal or moral limits, continues to conduct such ill-conceived rules unto his own rural folk; by drying up all the farm-food and livestock products in villages and towns. This Afewarki plan is clear: if most of the farm and livestock supplies pass through PFDJ-ruling Juntas own apparatus (such as diquan riti, the coupon/ration-system, the military, cash for work, Highdef-owned companies, etc), then, in the process of redistributing food and livestock rations to urban consumers Afewarki makes sure that these commodities are to serve his political survival; and gives directives as to whom to reward and whom to punish; and who to selectively let survive as consumers and who to hold on to servitude position to produce regular supplies to urban dwellers and to his subjects at Sawa-garrisons.
Fate of ghedli and fiefdom forming
For decades now, pastoralists and rural peasants remain brainwashed by force to internalize Afewarkis complicated sacrifice propaganda ploy. Plainly speaking, the rural poor are silently suffering while the Highdefites of highland origin both at home and in Diaspora are cheering autocrat Afewarki simply to save his pride as a kin; and to help his self reliance mantra. Some Diaspora highlanders in the opposition camp have even started especially preaching about peaceful opposition to the tyrant by disjointedly mumbling some mysterious ways of bringing change within Eritrea. But let them face the truth. At the end of the day, Afewarkis ghedli and fiefdom crafting dreams and rural peoples sacrifice paid to this dearly project in the name of martyrdom is degenerating into a personal identity crisis. The salvage cry where Afewarki-Shaabia and the PFDJ-ruling junta jointly claim as having so much stakes invested on Eritrean protracted fiefdom formation fight thus far. And to them, to let this project go loose can become a mortal threat on their individual identity and on the idea they have nursed and nurtured for so many decades so long. So they seem to have come to a decision to do anything and everything; even if it costs huge sacrifices of lives from the population inside Eritrea. In particular, the Eritrean Tigrinya highlanders unanswered love affair with ghedli; and their likely scenario to rescue Afewarki-Shaabia and the PFDJ-ruling junta without harm simply forces them to stick to their nostalgic past. But this nostalgia is nothing short of killing peasants and pastoralists for the benefit of highlanders; and to keep Eritrean fiefdom formation process alive.
Concluding remarks
Sensitive issues dealing with ghedli and Eritrean nation forming are deterring most Diaspora Eritrean Tigrinya highlanders from taking meaningful steps towards any equivocal merger with those of us advocating for peasants and pastoralists; and from forcefully fighting against Afewarki-Shaabia and his PFDJ-ruling junta. In spite of their hostility towards Afewarkis tyrannical rule, most Eritrean highlanders still continue to fail predicting the consequences of Afewarkis actions against Eritrean peasants and pastoralists. Amidst Afewarkis nation crafting exercise, what highlanders forget is that, if the gaps between Eritrean Tigrinya highlanders on the one side and peasants and pastoralists on the other widen, then we will all be losing everything we have at hand. And starting everything from the scratch would mean going through new scenarios whose results cannot be predicted of hand. So everything that is worth salvaging from hereon must focus on finishing off Afewarkis tyrannical rule; by any and all means necessary. Otherwise, it can become too late for highlanders who are caught-up in reclaiming the legacy of ghedli and focusing on finishing-up the nation crafting exercise; while we the organized peasant and pastoralist groups resort to pulling the rug under their feet for keeping us as their 2nd class citizens. Let them be reminded the fact that all initial movements in Eritrea started in lowland areas and with our good will. For these efforts, our peasant and pastoral population should have benefited from the 1993 change but in vain. So in the face of all the prime problems pointed above, let them know that we are settled on fighting against those who snatched our rights for self-determination.
To begin with let me get to the nitty-gritty and thank EMDG and EPDP Board members and those individuals who genuinely requested me to make correction on a name I mentioned in my earlier article by goofing-up EMDG for EPDP. Indeed I have exchanged contacts on this matter both with EMDG and EPDP Board members. By mistake I did point out EMDG as the outcome of the merger. Really, the correct information is that a merger had taken place among 3-Eritrean Tigrinya highlander opposition groups (i.e., the Eritrean Peoples Movement; the Eritrean Democratic Party; and the Eritrean Peoples Party) as per their joint political resolution communicated on December 31, 2009. So their merger is thus known as the Eritrean Peoples Democratic Party (EPDP). With this, I resort to the essence of this article.
Charles Swindoll wrote in his known book: “Growing Strong in the Seasons of Life” stating that: Courage is not limited to the battlefield or bravely catching a thief in your house. The real tests of courage are…the inner tests, like remaining faithful when nobody’s looking; like enduring pain when the room is empty; like standing alone when you’re misunderstood; like fighting for what is right even when you know you are going to lose.
Likewise, I wrote this article with the hope that the explanations provided herein below will eventually sink well into our Eritrean highland Tigrinya stakeholders minds who are stepping on our toes must clean-up their hitherto existing attitudes and positions pertaining to Eritreas future. Regardless of name-callings and foul language poured at me from several Eritrean Tigrinya individuals who in most cases bubble with angry words like boiling water on high temperature; and with high flying supremacist and defensive attitudes, I still maintain my stand and insist on sharing my views with the wider reader community till the truth sinks and makes difference in terms of bringing the downtrodden pastoral communities perspectives in Eritrea to the fore. To this effect, if my article sounds provocative and confrontational, indeed, so it is. In Afewarkis Eritrea the saying: One man eats, another says grace! holds evident. Our ancestors land has been taken away by Afewarki and his PFDJ-ruling Junta; and in reality we have no land in our own possession; except for use right mainly controlled by Afewarkis watchmen. My belief in this is that one day, if and when concerned readers search and research for the absolute truth, they will definitively land upon and recognize the reasons why our pastoralist communities final decisions remain consistent and undeniable. From the outset, Eritrean highlanders need to change their attitudes towards marginalized societies within Eritrea instantly. Instead of trying to maintain the status-quo held-up by Afewarki and his PFDJ-ruling Junta who always pretentiously tell us and the rest of the wider world that Eritrea is an entity designed for commonly sharing its endowments and resources by all its citizens alike, highlanders need to relinquish such cover-ups and denial opinions for the better. In fact, the following Chinese Proverb sums-up the reality we face on the ground in todays Eritrea specifically: He who rides a tiger is afraid to dismount. Undeniably, highlanders seem afraid of us lowlanders and dont want to dismount from their power throne carried on our shoulders thus far.
Eritreas Highlanders Contra Lowlanders:
At the cost of being labelled by few Eritrean highlanders as an inflexible person, let me reiterate and assert the subsequent realities on the ground just for the sake of clarity. I read through EPDPs recent political resolutions where, in general terms, universal declarations on presenting evidence before the Eritrean public concerning missing human and legal rights issues are noticeably mentioned; and reasons are spelled out why EPDP stands opposed to Afewarki and his PFDJ-ruling junta. Other than that, no where have the EPDP political declaration document mentions characteristically about conditions and challenges faced by the marginalized pastoralist societies within Eritrea proper. Overall, looked at from lowland, pastoralist, Muslim communities perspectives, the subsequent 3-key points are unconditionally critical to the future of Eritrea:
First of all, the Eritrean highland Tigrinya Christian and the lowland Pastoralist Muslim splits have not yet clearly been thought-out giving ways and means for Eritrea to grow and mature as a qualified nation state. Essentially, the democratic means to unify the Eritrean highland Tigrinya Christians and the lowland Pastoralist Muslims still linger quite out-of-the-way. Indeed, Eritrean highlanders and lowlanders have much less mutual interests that tie each community as a unified federation to match each others values and move together to a point of nation reinforcement. If at all there are a couple of things that we share in common within Eritrea, these are nothing but the debacles and troubles pouring on both highlanders and lowlanders by Afewarki and his PFDJ-ruling junta; and these specifically when it comes to: (a) drafting our young boys and girls into Sawa military garrisons; and (b) paying forcibly our cash at hand to PFDJ-ruling juntas tax collectors. Amidst this, the vast majority of Eritrean highlanders still continue to display plain defensive characters alien to our marginalized pastoralist groups within Eritrea proper. Based confidently on their chauvinistic stand point, highlanders try every means available to them to twist our arms and persuade us by hook or crook to go their way without making any sensible concessions. They are intolerant for any bragging about coming their way from our side concerning about our felt needs and livelihoods. Rather, highlanders want us to firmly abide by their extremely acute motto of the day that goes: Hade-Widib, Hade-Hizbi, Hade-Libi! By so saying, Eritrean highlanders refuse to understand our fate as marginalized pastoralist-population. By all accounts and by any means, they want us to admit the existence of Eritrea as a state; and fear for any hurdle that may put the making of Eritrea at risk. But, both at the leadership and at the community levels, the reality is different than what they imagine. The gaps distinctly splitting the Eritrean highland Christian neighbors and the lowland Muslim population remain evident and widespread. In our pastoralists view, Eritrean Tigrinya highlanders, who are alien to the lowlander cultural and socio-political norms and ethos, must understand the naked reality that there is nothing clutching us collectively with them; and holding us in bondage as a unique body within Eritrea as such. So our serious advice to Eritrean highlanders is simple and straight forward: Don’t count your chickens before they hatch. Dont count on us pastoralists before the bridge you try to mend for sustained relationships with us are clearly spelled-out and reinforced on mutual terms.
Secondly, a reminder to Eritrean highlanders is: Don’t put all your eggs in one basket; and stop demanding to stand for:Hade-Widib, Hade-Hizbi, Hade-Libi! After all, how can you claim a solidified mind and heart in a diversified entity? How closely are you highlanders actually tied in affinity with us the lowlanders? How close do we know each other to share Eritrea as one roof with you? These are deeply engrained questions begging for proper responses. At the end of the day, Afewarkis craftsmanship towards solidifying Eritrea as a sustained state has not yet materialized as initially intended. Nor does it have substantial basis for Eritreas future. Indeed, except for those from Rashaida origin, there is hardly any group within Eritrea that can fulfill the state / fatherland / definition. In this case, and other ground touching and deeply rooted lineage quarries, I suggest, any one interested to delve into this matter and read: ZANTA ERITRA by Fit. Michael Hasama (a Mansa’e himself) composed in Tigrinya. By examining this matter deeper from linguistic and socio-cultural affinity points of view, one concludes that Eritrean Tigrinya highlanders descend from eight sub-groups with their roots deep inside Ethiopia; but with no common point of departure into Eritrea. Only the Tigre speaking group holds strong affinity to all other Eritrean Tigrinya highlanders and their extensions inside Ethiopia. Other than that: (a) The Hamassein and Akele Guzai highlanders are of the Meroni decent whose ancestor Meroni was said to have moved down to Hamassein tracts from Dembya in Begemidr, located in Gondar inside Ethiopia. (b) The Mine-Fre highlanders are also of the Begemidr, Gondar origin inside Ethiopia but could not trace their original forefathers distinctly. Indeed, Mine-Fre, which means: Let God Fulfill was coined as they seem not knowing who their Gondari ancestor by name was. (c) The Seraye highlanders are of Adkeme-Melega origin claiming to have moved into Eritrea from Lasta and Gojjam tracts deep inside Ethiopia. (d) The Asmee / Deki-Ishmaelo of Arbaete Asmara and the DekiShihai of LegoChewa (touching upon the Hamassein and Seraye highland tracts) are of the Asawerta descents. (e) The Anganaa Christians around Dekemhare are of the Hazo-origin that trace their roots inside Tigray; just like other Tigrinya highlanders who tress their decent deep into Adwa, Tembien, Shire Enda Sellasie and Kilte Awlallo. (f) The Ankala Afar Christians around Tserona are of Afar origin. Therefore, the Eritrean Tigrinya highlanders simply disqualify from the Biher / Nationality / definition. The Tewke and Terke Bilen trace their decent from the Meroni (Tewke), and Adkeme Melega (Terke). In fact, It is time to pay the piper. It is time for highlanders to face the consequences of the unchecked actions done thus far.
Thirdly, as we (Afar, Kunama, Saho, etc.) pastoralists need to: Give the devil his due the side road forward for us deprived of our privileges, and legal rights; especially the right to vote on matters affecting our future is to lay down our own road map before we jump into any kind of unity resolution with highlanders. After all, what is the rationale for us to join hands with you and jump on your political bandwagon? Is it because it is fashionable to topple Afewarki and his PFDJ-ruling junta only for you to take over power and maintain the status quo? How sure are we pastoralists that you highlanders will show any different attitudes from that of Afewarkis? Why should we pastoralists go for unification where we remain 2nd class citizens? What stops us from acquiring our freedom to decide on matters that affect our livelihoods? What hinders us from practicing our traditional cultural and religious polity and human values freely? These are serious issues that highlanders must be rationally ready to respond to before they implicitly generalize the existing highland-lowland splits as non-existent.
Conclusive Remarks:
As freedom is free and an inalienable gratis right given to any human being at birth, we pastoralists too are readily determined to regain our birth rights. Indeed, as Eritrea is still a nation in the making, the Eritrean highlanders need to come to stipulations with us pastoralists either to make it; or to push us aside in contempt and force us to break it. To this end, there are 3-senarios open for Eritrean Tigrinya highlanders to consider: (a) done better now belated than never, you need to give away your inherent motto: Hade-Widib, Hade-Hizbi, Hade-Libi! and opt for emancipation that may bring you closer to us and become partners in the Eritrean nation making exercise. (b) If this scenario is practically out of question, then you are better off and select side either to link up with your Christian neighbors to whom you are deeply caffeinated by origin and linked by language, culture and religion, within the Tigray and Amharic regions of Ethiopia. (c) If you still find both (a) and (b) scenarios out of touch and taste, then you can still consider continuing to remain detached and left alone till you come to your senses and figure out your own legitimate solutions.
On our part, we are unwavering to join hands with our brethren on the other side of our affinities; and continue to enrich our livelihoods freely and fraternally as we deem them suitable for our communities; just in the same manner as we have been carrying out since time and generations immemorial.
An Olive Branch to now muscular Tigrigna highlanders:
Two Important Births that happened in our midst as Afar People (The Afar Midwifery)
Eritrea (Assab, Dankaliya, Nov 15, 1869)
EPLF (Sidica Ella, Dankaliya, early, 1970)
An Afar account of birth of Eritrea (by Yassin Mohammed Yassin)
Birth of Eritrea:
From the renowned Kingdom of Adal established in Rahayeta, the kingdoms of Dankali and Ankala, the Sultanate of Bidu and other major clan chieftains and sheikdoms successively dominated the traditional administration on the Red Sea coasts, in the interiors and on the islands as well. Since the 16th century, the Ottoman Turks had controlled the Red Sea Afar coastal areas
with a minimal influence over the territories. The Ottoman rule transferred its nominal authority over the coasts and islands of the Red Sea to the Egyptian Khedive in 1866 but didn’t last long. It was after only three years, on 15 November 1869, that the Ankala Afar chiefs, Sultan Ibrahim Ahmed and Sultan Hassan Ahmed signed an agreement with Giuseppe Sapetto, representative
of Societa Rubattino Company on the Nasser Majid ship, in which the future Colonia Eritrea was first conceived as the piece of land in Assab possessed by the Italian company. Soon afterwards, on 10 March 1882, the Rubattino company transferred all its landholdings to the Italian government and later, on 5th June 1882, the Italian King Umberto declared the land the Colonia di Assab which later grew up to Colonia Eritrea after Italian colonists had entered Asmara in 1889 without any notable opposition.
Birth of EPLF (PFDJ):
Soon after the fallout between Afar fighters and ELF in 1967, new movement called the Peoples Liberation Front (PLF) that later, in the early 1970s became the EPLF. The infant EPLF, mainly dominated by the Christian highlander Tigreans, took advantage of the dispute among the Afar
and ELF forces in order to freely mobilize its forces in the Afarland of Eritrea
(Dankalia), of course with Afar consent
Sidica Ella in the Dankalia desert is the birthplace of the EPLF. The embryonic and weak
EPLF forces were initially camped at Sidiha Ela from where their military power built-up.
As we (Afar and others) have witnessed these unfortunate births, we call it unfortunate not because there was a new birth but what these babies have become; the grievance, the blood shade, tears behind bars, starvation and the exodus, who knew it? Who in the right mind is proud of this? The Highland Tigrigna and other supports of PFDJ would seriously think this is the way to bring up a child? If so then we dont ever want to be in this household of injustice and second class citizenship inside or out as opposition.
Amanuel Hidrat In his last article (Nature Abhors Vacuum: Understanding Nature of Competing Values Part-III) in Awate, stated after coming across my article in Aiga, he urged to foster cross-cultural success in modern Eritrea, both political and civic organizational institutions must promote empathy and understanding.
To those of us and many other who share our arguments as lowlands and disenfranchised, that our grievance is worthwhile to listen to, should map our ways forward in a house that is Just, peaceful and equal representation for all, like any civilized 21st century democracy should function, then we would be foolish not graciously accept the olive branch to be involved in an a nation building, National unity, Hade-Widib, Hade-Hizbi, Hade-Libi or Transitional government.
TPLFs chaotic style versus EPRPs party substance
On the eve of the departure of the Monarch, Emperor Haile Selasie, everybody and everyone was excited for a big change of leadership including the King of Kings, himself.
The educated class of Mhuran and the Tsinhate Mhuran collided head on ideological as well as on the political agendas for Ethiopia. But for the average man or woman, there was no difference between the two concepts of ideology & politics. Instead of battling on the concepts for change, both sides of MEISON and EPRP mainly fought over the question of legitimacy for political power and over the merits and demerits of Military rule.
MEISON (All-Ethiopia Socialist Movement), EPRP (Ethiopian Peoples Revolutionary Party) were the two contenders to teach and disseminate the power of ideology and politics to Eathiopians. On that account both have succeeded to a certain degree.
Notwithstanding their accomplishment, today both organizations have failed to rescue their leadership. I am referring to the leadership defined by Abera Yemaneab of MEISON who has been kept in EPRDFs prison indefinitely and DEBTERAWs hostage drama kept incommunicado in Woyanes base camp.
As a movement, MEISON is finished. It has no mass base as the educated class, the class that was associated as an instrument for the DERGs inhumanity, headed it.
And the DERG is finished on its own merit. Technically both MEISON and the DERG were counter-revolutionaries disguised in revolution.
The Nationalists of TPLF and EPLF were not revolutionaries either. Every single action associated either with the TPLF or EPLF has grown more unpopular over the years.
When we look back since the TPLFs coming to power, the Ethiopians, initially the Eritreans, then most of the ethnic societies were motivated by TPLFs campaign for electoral politics. There was no substance but style.
All along, EPRP was informing and acting against the chaotic role of relationship and governance of the TPLF. Nevertheless, its enthusiasts adopted TPLFs methodology of fabrication and maneuvering.
In contrast, opposition parties, many of them as fractious and outspoken have become interested in substantive political issues. They decry the dangers of selling/leasing lands, about Article 39, arresting opponents and censoring/shutting mass media.
Their concerns are valid. These are public issues of fundamental importance.
The Unfinished Revolution
EPRP stands for the entire Eathiopian population for the peasants as well as for the urban dwellers. It does this by promoting peace and harmony among peoples and nations through the process of democratization.
The Eathiopians have turned decisively against the class of Mhur Akal and against all its theoretical/ideological works. At the same time, the Eathiopian public has moved against Melles and the Issais regimes that began their popularity soared but now sunk to low level of approval.
Both Melles and Issais epitomizes as products purchased by consumers and has come to regret it and that the consumer want their money back.
In a sense, both leaders have never been more than their education although for some people was more than enough. Both leaders have neither experience nor accomplishments for their positions they are in.
Their accomplishments should be reexamined against their stand on global trade, global culture, global climate or religion.
On domestic issue, for Eritreans, there is no room for fake elections, no free market and no free lunch.
Our Mhur Akal is educated beyond its intelligence. Their resolution, moral clarity and an ability to understand and to connect with great many people are unknown. Only the Tsinhate Mhur Akal has not been fooled itself for which their country and its people will not forget.
TPLF and EPLF have misjudged the times and the country of Eathiopia. Thanks for the seeds of Assimba; the long struggle of DEBTERAW and the spirit of Wallelign live on.
The Eway Ethiopian Revolution
The Eway Revolution is a search engine and it is the path that DEBTERAW and his Revolutionary Party followed. The base is Assimba mountain, it is being negotiated by DEBTERAWs life and death situations and finally reaching the goal of Wallelign to become one strong, stable, democratic and open society in the name of Eathiopia.
DEBTERAW is more than an individual person. He is the missing link in the Eway Ethiopian Revolution a revolution that has changed Ethiopia forever and for better.
EMDG-Launches Its Campaign to Mobilize the Eritrean People to d
Thursday, 07 January 2010 21:28
Eritreans for Democratic Governance (EDG), now the Eritrean Movement for Democratic Governance (EMDG) takes this opportunity to salute the decision of the United Nations Security Council for imposing long overdue sanctions against the government of Eritrea. This totalitarian, illegitimate, government has imposed sanctions upon its own impoverished people for the past 18 years by severely limiting Eritrean citizens employment, movement, and trade activities.
It is gratifying that an inclusive international organization has finally begun addressing the need to curb its destabilization of regional governments and its increasing threats to world peace. As for the Eritrean people, the power to remove this autocratic regime lies is in their own hands. Given the dire conditions within Eritrea, it is time for her people to coordinate efforts to defend their very existence as people and nation.
The 53-member African Union deserves credit for its historic decision to raise awareness of the conditions within Eritrea in the United Nations Security Council and to insist upon the imposition of sanctions against the PFDJ ruling junta, siding firmly with the victimized people of Eritrea. Renowned human rights champion and Nobel Peace Prize winner Reverend Desmond Tutu once said that freedom is free. The logic that operating a nation under a lawful system of government that allows freedom for its people costs less in both financial and human terms than does a system designed to control and oppress citizens using police and armed security apparatus is sound. Spending a disproportionate percentage of national wealth on repression contributes nothing towards the growth and development of its people. Its time for all African leaders to assure that they themselves are not a primary cause of instability inside of their nations. Hanging on to power indefinitely, at the justification of being under passive attack by a shadowy array of useable external forces, cannot go unchallenged forever. History teaches us that, with or without the moral support of the international community, there is always an end to state sponsored oppression.
Eritreans in the Diaspora will play an important role by utilizing the sanctions as a peaceful tool in the struggle to identify and expose PFDJ tax collectors. These individuals prey upon Diaspora communities worldwide, conducting illegal multimillion dollar collection of monies destined to support nefarious activities. The international community and nations hosting Eritrean refugees must also pay special attention to the Young PFDJ movement organized by party members. Through the political education and training they receive at the SAWA military summer camps in Eritrea, the youth movement poses a serious security threat to countries hosting otherwise peaceful Eritrean Diaspora communities. Be aware that there is an especially significant summer camp big one planned for 2010! Eritrean parents must closely supervise their childrens activities and should not provide PFDJ representatives access to their communities for the recruitment of young children. You do not need your own offspring working for PFDJ in your own homes!
Eritreans for Democratic Governance (EDG), now the Eritrean Movement for Democratic Governance (EMDG) launches its anti-dictatorial mobilization campaign urging our citizens to defend the nation by all means to liberate themselves from unceasing oppression, unmatched even by occupation forces in its history of successive European or African invaders. After conducting extensive brain storming sessions, and pre-conference assemblies from October 2008 to May 2009, EMDG released a press note to the public on May 11, 2009. It declared its formation by outlining its clearly defined political objectives, goals, and initiating a program intended to coordinate its efforts with other opposition organizations. The EMDG exists to support those who are paying the ultimate price by carrying arms to defend the nation. The movement is comprised of former fighters from both major liberation organizations-the ELF and EPLF, as well as a younger generation of men and women from the Diaspora ready to challenge the status quo on all fronts. Under the tagline of Good Governance, the basis for peace, security, and prosperity, (الحكم الرشيد ، أساس للسلام والأمن والازدهار ጽቡቕ ምሕደራ፡ መሰረት ሰላምን፡ ጸጥታን፡ ብልጽግናን), EMDG advocates strengthening the institutions necessary to build a democratic and constitutional government in Eritrea.
Members of EMDG understand that the Eritrean people are reluctant to support newly borne organizations. Until proven otherwise, EMDG will also be tainted by the presumption of under-representation as the organization is formed by individuals of similar upbringing, culture, and socio-political experience. We believe that this concern is valid. Over the past forty years, primarily because the society was programmed to believe that only one organization can function better, broadly representative civil organizations have been slow to develop. This notion goes back to the 1970s when the Eritrean Liberation Front (ELF) attempted to scuttle the Peoples Liberation Front (PLF) by stating that the Eritrean field of struggle cannot tolerate/carry more than one organization (meda eritra kab hade widb nlaeli kisewr aykielenyu), which was lateramended in its second National Congress of 1975 which concluded that two or more liberation organization can coexist and resolve their secondary contradictions through democratic dialogue. This thinking was expressed in current form by the now infamous vow by the president un-elect when he said from now on there will be no merry-go-round of organizations (kab hiji ninyew hashewyie nay widbat abkiuuyou). This was meant to exclude any viable political organization capable of surpassing PFDJ from developing.
We all remember the PLFs popular dance style named kuda–tewedeb (get organized), coined only to benefit one organization. The rest of society has no right to participate but to join and ask what task one can take within that organization. This belief was the foundation for the tagline one organization, one people and one heart! Hade widib, Hade hizbi, hade libi! The truth of the matter is that we are a multi-ethnic society enriched by diverse cultures. This reality is negatively exploited by the regime or other enemies to divide the people along regional, religious, and sectarian lines. After organizing every citizen under one widb, the regime intimidates citizens considering joining any other organization, and has become increasingly suspicious of any group critical of its policies-be they civic or religious. We should learn from our mistakes. Vowing allegiance to any one political organization for eternity, particularly when quitting that organization is considered a taboo, or even haram or sin, is unhealthy for the individual and society. Leaders will not change their behaviour unless they know that the loyalty of members is contingent upon their responsible stewardship.
EMDG believes that the organization has a unique role to play by implementing its vision of a united liberation army under one command- a beacon of hope for a national salvation. An army capable of reassuring members of the Eritrean Defence Forces that there is a national opposition army which is trustworthy, willing to receive and protect them if they join, and energize and rearm them if they plan to fight against a common enemy. Moving away from a political organization already intoxicated by negative propaganda and indoctrinated by hade libi/one heart sloganeering, one cannot expect that a member of the defence forces deserting its ranks will join a fighting force that represents a narrow ideology, sect, religion or ethnicity. For these Eritrean Defence Force soldiers of today to be compatriot fighters tomorrow they need to clearly understand our message that the opposition army represents common Eritrean national interests.
Following the formation of the current umbrella organization, the Eritrean Democratic Alliance (EDA) (formerly the Alliance of Democratic Forces in 1999), various supportersincluding global civic movementshave tried to address the importance of unity by demanding the formation of an army that is under one command. This fell upon deaf ears and was even mocked by certain leaders. Following the establishment of Eritreans for Democratic Governance (EDG) six months ago, we realized that the concept of movement adds value to our vision by reassuring our members and the general public that the organization pursues a very specific mission; the objective of the movement is to essentially put pressure on those organizations which have military wings to 1) assemble their military operations under one command and 2) lead the army as one liberation force fighting to fulfil the political aspirations of the Eritrean people. We respect each of these organizations political beliefs, and the demands will ultimately be addressed in the constitution of future democratic Eritrea. However, in order to reach that goal, and in order to achieve military victory over the current regime, the military wings have to come under one command. The situation is so dire that we cannot afford to have fragmented armed forces fighting on various fronts with uncoordinated military strategies.
The international community is aware that the downfall of the regime in Eritrea is inevitable, even imminent, but cannot throw its support behind opposition organizations because of their fragmented military organizations. A unified opposition army is necessary now to secure a stable Eritrea and to safeguard the future of its people. Based upon recent events, there are glimmers of hope from within the Eritrean Defence Forces. With a united opposition the people can rise up and express their opposition to tyranny through various means including civil disobedience or even simple expression of dissatisfaction about a regime that is increasingly isolated from its own people and the international community.
The Eritrean people are waiting for the moment when they can say yes! Now we can express our feelings in the streets of Asmara, Keren, Massawa or Aseb because there is a unified opposition army and polity that is beginning to coordinate the future security and stability of the nation. Unified opposition will have a positive influence on Eritreans in the Diaspora by tipping the balance of the momentum towards the opposition. Government support among the Diaspora communities is mainly driven by the untouchable appearance of the PFDJ crowd, mistreatment and constant harassment by their agents (tax collectors), and not merely from the fear that they would lose their property at home if they defy the regime and stand for justice and democracy. EMDG has a specific mission of mobilizing our people at home and abroad to rise up and defend themselves and their families.
We will campaign to discourage the youth from fleeing the country and support them in resisting, just like our former organizations did when fighting Ethiopian occupation. We are not going to dictate tactics to the young generation that wants to demonstrate its opposition against the current government, but we will openly tell them that fight and not flight is the key to destroying the regime. The great lyrics of Teklemichael Ghebrus 1974 song say it best: tokormika motye, asafihka motye, nanay nbahri nhade amet’ye. Loosely translated as whether you sit here (in the city) curled up in misery or laid back with indifference youre likely to be killed (by the Derg), so you might as well go to the bush (the battlefield) for a year. The youth cannot continue to flee and die crossing the desert and the Mediterranean Sea indefinitely, sooner or later they must take up their generational obligation to confront the PFDJ and defend the nation against enemiesforeign or domestic.
The movement hereby declares its firm commitment to and advocacy for:
Human Rights
Good Governance
Political Pluralism
The unconditional return of refugees to their homeland
Land to the Adi (village)
Return of power to its sole owners-the people.
We will closely work with other civic and political opposition organizations. We will serve in a supportive role to those organizations which show and prove full commitment to dislodge the current government militarily. This extremely authoritarian and doctrinaire regime does not understand peaceful means of transitioning Eritrea into a democratically governed state. It does not believe in peaceful means of engagement. The current government of Eritrea can survive years of diplomatic pressure and will continue to exploit the human and economic resources of the nation for an infinite length of time. We believe that in addition to military and diplomatic pressures, voicing full support for African Union and United Nations led economic sanctions is the correct path to follow in opposing this dictatorial regime.
During our liberation struggle for independence both ELF and EPLF practiced economic sanctions against the enemy dwelling in the major cities. Citizens in the rural areas were prevented from supplying food and energy sources to the enemy. Now we can apply the same rules against the new enemy in Eritrea, and declare economic sanctions with money transfers only focused on the elderly and the vulnerable. Financial transfers into Eritrea by the Diaspora should be limited to helping elderly parents. All investment and business ventures, luxurious vacations, 2% taxation, and scandalous “Mekete” exploitations must end.
In the following weeks and months EMDG will engage the public and media to spread its message. Paltalk sessions reaching all sectors of our society will clarify our mission and positions. We call for a summit of opposition political organizations currently operating militarily in Eritrea. We call for the formation of a central command of leadership to strike the enemy in its most strategically sensitive positions. We call upon all Eritreans to cut the chains and break the yoke from the shoulders of our people once and for all.
Meles mentioned no national unity, sovereignty, or national interest, in his reply to the question of what his moral conviction is like in his political life. The question was asked by one of the journalists during his recent press conference in Addis Ababa.
It is no wonder though that many Ethiopians are outraged by his provocative remarks he always uses against our national symbols and flags at every occasion. With that in mind, one would conclude that there is no Moral Conviction other than love for money and lust for power for individuals like Meles whose measures of values are cash, wealth and power. Well, there is no such thing as being humble and respectful toward humanity on the part of narrow nationalists either. So Meles is all of the above, since he is a tribal chief and a sell out man all the same time, he is a man of cynic whose actions and deeds are insincere and motivated by his own selfish desires. He is always negative, sarcastic and derogatory about symbols others value so much, most important of all, he is interested in prices but not so much in values and moral convictions.
The reason being that narrow nationalists have a victim mentality is also that their hearts are filled with hatred, prejudice, blood-feud and revenge usually to the exclusion of all others. For they feel they are minor in every field one can think of, they feel too inferior to measure up with any given level of excellence accepted by the society as a norm by which actual attainments are judged by the their own merits. That is an image Meles inherited from his superiors through times. Whats more, as any racially driven hypocrites, Meles has an excessive devotion to his own tribe often associated with a belief of inferiority complex he suffers and revenges against all others, other than his own. He is altogether xenophobic, intolerant and compulsive in his approach; as a result, xenophobia, the pseudonym of the Cynic currently adopted by TPLF under his headship in our land is the ash heap of history and shall be remembered as such for the generation to come.
If need be, it is those genuine patriot political organizations whose national agenda is well in place to serve our national interest and sovereignty that have got to take the leadership role in todays Ethiopia. Only a responsible government would take such serious events like territorial integrity and protecting that territory against intruders at any cost. Till then, Ethiopia is at a time when she needs her children to come to rescue her from domestic and foreign cannibalism. Ethiopia is not an abandoned land! Ethiopia is not and would not be considered as such so long as we the citizens of Ethiopia are
alive. Therefore, we must come and reach her and let others know that Ethiopia would not be mistaken for an abandoned land any longer, a land without citizens that protect her against all odds. Although some might given up hopes and signed documents appealing for forgiveness, launching a campaign to raise money, and resources to join the parliament, many other patriot Ethiopians are still in duty in terms of exposing, confronting, and defending of Ethiopia s national interest. Ethiopian patriots are hustling against the regime and its shady and illegal deals Meles is making with foreign powers and companies on a daily basis. That is the fact! Therefore, on part of such patriots, seeing the
nation of Ethiopia put up for sale, by sell-out Meles is unthinkable as opposed to those cowards who are fearful for the safety of their capital investment. After all, it is in their moral conviction to defend, protect and challenge enemys action aimed at the heart of their national unity, and territorial integrity of their nation.
After all, isnt that good enough for us to tell that his strict adherence to anti Ethiopia is still there and his narrow-nationalistic dogma continues to manifest more of its misdeeds against the interest of our nation? This time he is selling the entire boarder line commencing from Metema to Gumbella out to the Sudan , he is currently in agreement with The Sudan authorities to give them a chunk of land. The last cession is in progress in Mekelle. Reportedly, people in Meklle danced and showed traditional Ethiopian songs. Upon arrival at Mekelles Allula Abanega international Airport, the 135-member Sudanese delegation was warmly welcomed by Tigray regional president Tsegay Berhe, government officials, and with hundreds of residents in traditional closes waving both flags, singing and dancing traditional Ethiopian songs Sudan Tribune. Earlier on, Meles of TPLF annexed parts of Gondar , and Wollo into Greater Tigrai and helped Eritrea seceded. Now the next episode at hand is selling part of our territory and fertile lands out to foreign governments which is a new development and a trend that deprives Ethiopians of their own land, rights and privileges altogether. Most remarkable about these new developments are also reportedly that Sudanese authorities were warmly welcomed by Tigray regional president Tsegay Berhe, government officials, and with hundreds of residents in traditional closes waving both flags, singing and dancing traditional Ethiopian songs. Imagine they have celebrated this festival, by dancing and performing some Ethiopian traditional song in favor of Sudanese interest and of course at the expense of other Ethiopian nationals. Keep that in mind for the record. Yes Meles is known to have been reading a book of vile confessing death to Ethiopia, praising Killil in a place of greater Ethiopia, watering down any thing Ethiopian, and yes accompanying himself with the sworn enemies of our Ethiopia to harm Ethiopia itself, and telling us so much of unfounded stories that negate the entire historic reputation of Ethiopia for so long. So much so, what else do we expect from Meles other than dismantling our unity and rewriting our history on his own image and selling out of our lands territories to strangers? Ethiopia with her rich experience of governing herself for so long has also a history of defending her territory against foreign invasion. But this time, she is turning out to be under foreign mercenaries paid to serve for foreign powers. Meles is selling Ethiopia s integrity for a short-term advantage. Isnt that what Meles is all about? In conclusion, from the out set, many concerned Ethiopians especially; EPRP told us that Meles of TPLF does not have the courage to win and the will to preserve Ethiopia s unity and her territorial integrity intact. They further warned us not to get duped by Weyanes misleading propagandas and they have done so by speaking clearly, frankly and firmly in every occasion. That is on the record. To that end, Meles of TPLF together with his impotent group ruling in Addis are neither endowed with talent nor with some Ethiopian sentiment to share Ethiopianet with the rest us either. Finally, I have something to say to those who claim to be leaders of minor oppositions, supposedly, though not election, but Land is the foundation of human pride and it is something that people value and it should be as well that the leaders have to respect and live by. But simply ignoring this call and accompanying Meles instead by being a guard or a guide to prolong his power will bring about incalculable mess against your fate in due course.
