Alex Birhanu – alexbirhanu@yahoo.com

As a people we must be able to believe in principle and seriously consider that passion should be driven by principle and surrounded by reason. Otherwise, too much passion with no principle or rational reasoning will make the Diaspora Ethiopians to remain emotional and blind fighters. We should not let loose lips sink the ship called ‘Ethiopia’ that we are all sailing on for as long as we are breathing and alive. Why am I writing this article? What motivated me to share this very opinion with you all? The answer is clear. I feel that there is a missing link in our political outlook.

As a matter of fact, there are opposition groups that remain opportunistic and only contribute to enhance destructive political ploys by painting subsequent black images of episodes taking place inside Ethiopia and trying continuously carrying out ideas that encourage marshalling bulldozer politics. This reminds me of the following story I heard once: ‘Dan was a single guy living at home with his father and working in the family business. When he found out he was going to inherit a huge fortune when his sickly father died, he decided to marry a wife with whom to share his fortune. One evening at an investment meeting he spotted the most beautiful woman he had ever seen before. Her natural beauty took his breath away. Instantly he made a move to her: “I may look like just an ordinary man,” he said to her, but in just a few months, my father is likely to die, and I’ll be the sole heir to inherit his $200 million.” Impressed, the woman obtained his business card and three days later, she became his stepmother.’ That is the kind of story that brought the huge divide between EPLF and TPLF; and ever since the mid 1990s this shrewdest politics is keeping us all busy in endless political think thanks and tick-tacks arguing over the un-demarcated border issues as well as Ethiopia’s legitimate access to the sea through Assab Port.

As far as I see it we need to strive for change and change must be transformed through peaceful means at any cost. Particularly, we (people in Diaspora) are actually missing the middle ground on various national and regional issues as most of us run into emotion rather than attempting to be governed by objective reasoning. Extremism/emotionalism is nothing more than an expression of ignorance and greed; what so ever its basis may be. We should not go for bulldozer politics. Rather we should be responsible and rational in opposing or supporting any political opinions/groups regarding this beautiful country that has been and still is suffering in all aspects due to ignorance and greed, but nothing else. Thus, we need to be inclusive rather than exclusive, objective rather than subjective, rational rather than emotional. At the end of the day the middle ground will come as the result of our zealous efforts. Whenever we want to contribute especially to the political discourse of our country, I think, our objective should be how to break the conflict trap rather than how to generate further conflicts by adding fuel to the already burning fire.

Indeed TPLF was born and brought-up by Shaabia inside Eritrea; by no one else but Wodi Afom. All I know is that our peoples (those in Eritrea and Ethiopia alike) are at an alert for sometime now to start the next war at any minute here after. There is no UN-peace-keeping mission or any other war-protective guarantee. In such occasions I have no doubt that Shaabia will try to use the Ethiopian opposition groups in Eritrea as its front-runners to challenge TPLF. But for what good is war really? Cannot we come to round table discussions and resolve our differences for the sake of peace? In a recent interview Afewarki gave to Asharq Al-Awsat at which time he said: “there is no dialogue or nothing to discuss about with Ethiopia.”

We know for sure that Shaabia, the mother source of all misery and suffering in the region as a whole, has a very short life to live. Just now Shaabia is vesting all its interests in the border issue. And if Shaabia and TPLF go to war once again Afewarki is ascertained that this time round the death tall of TPLF army will be more than what it was during the 1998-2000 war. In fact Afewarki is sure that no Eritrean blood will be spilled this time as he has what he calls: “the gallant Ethiopian opposition groups inside Eritrea that are ready to chase the TPLF-army and claim Badme back to where it belongs – Eritrea. And no western power can save TPLF from its last demise since Shaabia has done its home work and will be involved only in the clinical surgery of it in helping remove the cancerous TPLF from the political arena of the region.”

All told, the night may be long but surely and eventually, a day will come soon when Ethiopia will retain access to the sea. Likewise, a day will come soon when Eritrean and Ethiopian peoples will join hands, talk the talk and walk the walk jointly for mutual socio-economic progress and peaceful co-existence. But the main precondition for these factors to be fulfilled is the wearing away of any form of tyranny both from Eritrea and Ethiopia.

By Obo Arada Shawl

June 7, 2009

I am ignorant, please educate me

On Ferenji

I am ignorant

Answer me why the C.I.A. aspire to yoke the Blue & Red of Aethiopia

Answer me, if you know

Why the European Parliament wish to untie the yoke

Tell me, if you know

Why the Asians penetrate unto us

On Nationality

I am ignorant,

Educate me why Mr. Afeworki wants me to be an Eritrean

Tell me also why Mr. Zenawi, his ally don’t want me to be an Eritrean

Answer me why the Oromos want me to be an Oromian,

If and when they become Independent

Not from Eathiopia but from Abyssinia

Educate me why I cannot be a Somalian

Do I have the right to be a citizen of any country?

Please tell me if I can’t be

On Religion

I am ignorant,

Educate me why the Pentecostal Christian wants me to join them

Tell me if you know, why the Catholics want my misery

Tell me again why the Protestants dearly love me

Answer me, why the Muslims find interest in me

Educate me, why the Jewish Community admire my company

How ignorant can I be?

On Language

I am ignorant,

Answer me, if I am qualified to be an Amharic speaker

Please, tell me if I am an Amhara

Answer me, what an Amhara is

For I know many languages

Based on languages

Where does one belong?

In America, Asia or Europe

Tell me if you know

On Politics

Strange as it may sound,

I love the sound of BR ( ብር )

Than the BR itself (Blue and Red states)

I love EE countries, in fact everything about E

Strange as it may sound, I don’t like the Asian mix

For I am Yoga

Connected to by land and Rainfall

Connected to History and Culture (ዘር)

I am an Eathiopian

By Yelfiwos Wondaya

If and when the fate of our nation is determined must be determined not by a small group of elites who desires to control state power but by the people of Ethiopia themselves.  With that said, I for one do not believe that Ethiopians are willing to accept any political gesture that negates what I stated first in my opening statement.  Afresh, alas, ER’s report aside, rumor has it that G7 is taking a Trip to Eritrea; a Trip supposedly compromises its own position of obligation.  So far according to what is being said on the part of so-called Ethiopian Review, G7 is once again flirting with enemy camps to join forces with them in order to achieve its own short-lived political goals.  Given that flirting with enemy is a failure by itself deciding to work with them is even worse than one can imagine and it is indeed a grave mistake and must be corrected immediately.  After all, dealing with enemies and being an exclusive in any important national matters that affect the future of the people is what Meles is known to have been doing against the will of our people.  So making a step forward to a wrong direction is an error that can make your political future miserable.  It causes public outrage and censure as has happened to TPLF and collaborators.  If continue to ignore the calls of Ethiopians, believe you me, you will have gone astray and shall never make it back again. Because, intentionally, holding secret meetings with one of Ethiopia’s biggest enemies is a betrayal for your own nation.  Once you breach the public trust, however, you lose your credibility altogether and that is a moral laps you are committing against your own fate like that of Meles of TPLF! 

Firstly, though one has to take national matters very seriously especially, not to compromise it for the benefit of getting attention and backing from the ranks of some fanatic supporters.  Instead, one has to change a trend and learn how to respect and defend the principles, the commitments, the duties, the beliefs and the ideals of his own nation.  Obviously, though Ethiopians have as much an intense and usually long lasting feeling of hatred, enmity and antipathy for EPLF as they have for TPLF if you will.  So in this case, siding EPLF to fight out TPLF does not make your move right since it is true that both EPLF and TPLF have a bad blood with the nation state of Ethiopia itself.  Are you recognizing Isayas’s contribution to the success of the campaign he has been waging against Ethiopian fate for decades?  We knew for fact that Elias Kifle is doing just that.  Isn’t that true that Isaya is the one who organized TPLF, OLF, and other Ethiopian rival elements in order to divide and weaken Ethiopia?  What makes you pick this time to pay an official visit to him and establish headquarter in Asmara?  And according to ER, forming an alliance with OLF, ONLF and other anti Ethiopian elements in Asmara is one of main agendas you are about to deliver.  . 

Secondly, one has to respect people’s right to self-government without any interference from outside in the name of support and Diplomacy.  Diplomacy aside, TPLF is the only political group that we know of that accepted Eritrea as an independent state and EPLF as a government of Eritrea.  Are you standing by the word and decision of TPLF in order to get help from Isayas of EPLF?  Because, that is the same condition TPLF used to get help from Isayas in the 60s and 70s of their struggle against Ethiopia.  Altogether though one has to take this notion of national independence as a matter of principle and live up to the principal values and beliefs common to the society as a whole.

Besides, there have been a lot of speculations and debates about the behavior of hyper G7 especially, about its political behavior, the way in which it acts and responds in a tense environment and under any other circumstances.  In my view, G7 is unique in many ways.  One of which is that it is Anxious, eager, agitated and obsessed with power and fame.  For instance, it has been extremely busy in giving passionate speeches and interviews about coupe’s allegation and all of a sudden brought us controversial news associated with a Trip to Eritrea.  Up until this movement, however, it spent a restless week fearing that the publicity it has been getting from several news outlets would wither away.  What is next?  Landing at the same category CUD landed?  Recreating the same AFD with the same old parties of course, this time CUD is no more but Hyper G7 is on the scene.  For a strange reason, however, Hyper G7 loves to go on its own way and enjoys stopping at places of its interest just to fulfill its own promise of greatness.  This time the province of Eritrea is found to be the right destination for Hyper G7 to land for another spectacular show! 

However, only a fool would trust G7’s move and invest in its failing scheme for nothing.  Thus far, despite few individuals here and there, the vast majority of Ethiopians are in a state of high alert not to get duped by such moves G7 is making.  We have learned expensive lessons from the election of 2005, and the decision of CUD to go into partnership with the OLF, ONLF and formed AFD.  It has to be stopped there.      

More to the point, paying an official visit to the mastermind of all Ethiopian enemies is like recognizing his bravery with medal as if he has done something heroic and worthwhile for Ethiopia.  Honestly, though without affectation or pretense, it is a known fact that all the integral parts of AFD with the exception of CUD were liberation fronts engaged in an armed struggle against the “Abyssinia Empire”. Now the hyper G7 is replacing CUD to bring the so-called AFD back to life.  Besides, aside ONLF, OLF is an old liberation front and who is also an old hand at the foundation of AFD, which is why millions of Ethiopians were skeptical then and continue to be clear-headed and responsive to that of a new deal made by CUD then and Hyper G7 now.  Fearing that it may result in crisis, however, Ethiopians would not appreciate such dealings and decisions made by such parties behind their back.  Once again fearing that the Holland’s conference was yet about to reinforcing the London’s’ conference many Ethiopians were quick to react against such formation, and questioned it whether or not the intent and the purpose of such parties was to serve Ethiopia’s interest.    And yet the HYPER G7 is in the move to hold the same conference comprising the same parties that compromise the unity and territorial integrity of our nation. 

Next, the so-called liberation fronts are ethnic-oriented, promoting nothing but ethnic politics and often do speak in favor of disintegration. That is why they call themselves Liberators Fronts and declared the fighting open to free their respective regions from the rest of the “Abyssinian Empire”? Amassing all these facts and more of their nature, who can easily be duped into thinking that merging with them is a good decision to liberate Ethiopia from Ethnocentrism?  It is unworthy of serious risk for CUD to suppose then and for HYPER G7 now.  Dealing with liberation fronts by deliberately avoiding Ethiopian organizations at large is the making of Isayas as usual.  However, unlike Hyper G7, the rest of pro unity forces are concerned not only for they find the nature of liberation fronts is threatening to Ethiopia’s sovereignty, they also learned that their political ideology is fetal to the existence of Ethiopia as a nation as well.   Can one imagine that ethnically based liberation fronts would stand in line with the unity forces to go to war in order to preserve Ethiopian unity?  That is unthinkable!  Seriously though this is part of the reason why millions of Ethiopians are still held up with fears and tension, and most important of all, forming an alliance with such forces backed by Isayas of EPLF is unthinkable to say the least. 

Be that as it may, one would also ask the following questions.  How likely things would go well between them in terms of reconciling their diametrically opposite ideologies?  Given that, we believe that Hyper G7 has an ideology of some sort, how can it go to adjust actions with OLF in response to the call of unification?  How can one expect to have the same end result from a unit of measurement that has different values in different context?  Clearly, these are the questions at the core they ought to resolve first.  If not, the carbon-copy of AFD yet about to be formed by the two strangers will suffer a lack of public support and will be adversely affected by the anger and rejection of the public at large. In other words, the vast majority of Ethiopians did not accept their formal piece of writings that would compromise the unity and territorial integrity of Ethiopia.  And most important of all, the pro unity forces shall remain adamant to that of their general doctrines and principles that formed the basis of AFD to begin with. 

As a result, one would suspect that the ambition of assuming state power by any means possible is the only factor Hyper G7 might have in common with OLF and ONLF. Whether or not, this formation of alliance was intended for a strong yearning of power to achieve or a set of procedure for achieving something greater than power is yet to be seen. So, at this point in time, neither the political shift G7 made nor the nature of OLF or both can sway the publics’ opinion on their side nor can it change the very deep seated skepticism millions of Ethiopians bound to have about their motives.  Little did we know what the settlement is for, however, one would say for sure that the political shift G7 made to be a junior partner to the OLF and ONLF is good breaking news for the old guys involved.

Ironically, though all parties participated in Holland’s conference CUD included were unanimous in their agreement to work on the so-called Ethiopian constitution. Silly and amusing as it sounds Hyper G7 seems to be willing to implement the same agreement CUD representatives reached to agree with OLF.   The paradox about Hyper G7 is also that knowingly or not transforming itself from centralist to a moderate political ideology that plays down unitary system in Ethiopia.  Meaning it has moved from promoting a unitary system of government to accepting that of WOYANES’ model of ethno-centric federal arrangement. Besides, accepting the basic laws by which Ethiopians are forced to accept against their will is by no means going very much against the interest of the public. Ethiopians are no longer in the mood to deal with a leadership who is devoid of moral compass and irrespective of Ethiopian unity and territorial integrity intact.

Lastly, one has to remember the London’s conference, a conference in which EPLF was the brainchild, and the break away of Eritrea was one of the main topics on the table.  And also, OLF and TPLF were part of the principal forces to decide on the fate of Ethiopia and her people which in the end created the so-called Ethiopian constitution. Primarily, though the so-called Ethiopian constitution was framed by secessionists and ethnically based liberation fronts at that time.  Yes, the constitution was arranged to bring about the “formal withdrawal” of SHABIA from Ethiopian political arrangement altogether and to allow the province of Eritrea to break away from the main land of Ethiopia. The constitution was resolutely put together in a ways things were arranged in an appropriate order so that they can use them effectively against the unity and territorial integrity of Ethiopia. Think of article 39 G7.  AFD accepted the so-called Ethiopian constitution for the fact that OLF is part and parcel of the trio conferences that took place in London, Addis Ababa, and Holland and who know where now.

In conclusion, on the part of genuine Ethiopians, tending to make unfair dealings with organizations that do not have Ethiopian agenda is no longer acceptable.  Ethiopians like any other nations deserve to enjoy their rights of government and could not be happy to see another exclusive political club assuming state power without their full consent in Addis ever again. Moreover, it is true that deciding on issues and matters according to a classification system would undermine equal participation of all ranks from within a party and public participation at large.  So such bad practices would also undermine pluralism, equal opportunity and access to determine one’s fate especially, on the decisions and actions that would one way or another affect our national lives.  Taken as a whole, if and when the fate of our nation is determined must be determined not by a small group of elites who desires to control state power but by the people of Ethiopia themselves.     

Long live Ethiopia!!

Yelfiwos Wondaya

Comment- rahel yergashewa

Hi my friends,

I really appriciate your patience and strength to be involved for a long  time in a poletical struggle. It has been 40 year since EPRP started its struggle. You are not able to bring any change for the Ethiopian people who is currently suffering from the tyrant weyane during these 40 year.

Ethiopians are really suffering by the brutal weyanes and I do not think that Ethiopia never experienced such a danger in its history. I hope you better explain and undrestand better than me the current situation. I am not a member of any poletical party but  I strongly need Woyane to be thrown away. My dream and my prayer is always that. But the relationship among the various poletical parties who are fighting to throw Woyane  makes me hopeless. all the time

I was trying to visit your web site how your anti-Woyane struggle is progressing and to get some information about your opinions(stand) about the huge sum of poetical parties who are trying to get rid of  weyane form the oppressed Ethiopians.

I have one point that  I would like to suggest it is about your opinion about the Ginbot7 poletical party. It is bout the article that were posted in your web site concerning the party’s struggle strategy and its leader (Dr Brihanu) . I do not think that this is the right time to accuse any one who is going against Woyane whatever his/ her ideology is . We better come together and save Ethiopia before it is too late. Ethiopia and the people of Ethiopian are in a big trouble. I do believe that this is the right time to be wise ( at least we can learn from  the Woyane themselves how they are trying to use the band Oromos and Amahras to buy time). You are Ethiopians you know  that we have a saying ” yetelate telate wedage new”.

So lets come together and get rid of Woyane and save Ethiopia and the Ethiopian people. We have plenty of time to blame one another.Plenty of time after we have got the chance to be considered as a citizen of Ethiopia in Ethiopia. The problem in Ethiopia is more than anyone can imagine. People are dying, tortured, jailed and children are dying of shortage of food. We have no drinking water, no electricity, no information there is nothing.

Sele Ethiopia hezb belachehu yehanene erse berse manakor akumu.

Thank you

GOD BLESS ETHIOPIA

Abraham Berhe – <abrehe@gmail.com>

Customarily come the month of May, Eritrean Independence Day is what comes into the picture for any Eritrean first. Rightfully it was so. Indeed, with the ardent sacrifice and unflinching support of TPLF, on May 24, 1991 Eritrea happens to claim its national independence from Ethiopia. Now that Eritrea is free in political, legal, or in legislative terms from Ethiopia still remain a riddle until further unresolved key national issues are completely solved and its inhabitants are freed from endless military captivity.

No matter how this might sound and, is odd or even bizarre, the cruel and undeniable realities on the ground inside Eritrea even as we speak dictate the very question whether Eritrea is really a nation of serfdom or freedom; whether Eritrea is certainly independent in the true sense of the word or not; or is she yet to reclaim that independence stance in its solid terms either by asking the international community for the border demarcation or by making a deal with the opposition forces being supported inside Eritrea. The answer is quite far from, and not even close to, what we may call freedom; indeed Eritrea is an absolute and unequivocal state of collective serfdom; a nation of military garrisons and guerrilla warfare camps openly observable everywhere. The overwhelming majorities of the nearly 4-million Eritrean people remain incarcerated in military garrisons; and are no where near claiming to be free people! Nor is the boundary demarcating Eritrea as a free nation is clearly settled by any international or national means. In the last nearly two decades Eritrea has declared war plainly with all its neighboring states indiscriminative all around.

To one’s dismay, the Eritrean tyrant Issayas Afewarki has already turned Eritrea exactly into his private Estate; and Eritrean inhabitants into his serfs bound to remain loyal who unquestionably obey his leadership or commanderships. They are inculcated with absolute caution to fulfill only his will in every aspect of societal life; including asking his permission to move from point A to point B! No national constitution, no parliament, no basic human rights, or no elected officials exist in today’s Eritrea. Tyrant Issayas Afewarki single-handedly picks, hires, and fires folk at will. He appoints public officials, “diplomats”, “Ministers”, “zonal administrators”, “zonal generals” and makes sure that they in turn acknowledge him as the strongest Eritrean man who must be feared and obeyed by any and all means for leading them to “freedom”.  Like every landlord, tyrant Issayas Afewarki has the last words over every thing that pertains to his private Eritrea Estate! The Eritrean people are only told; not consulted about Afewarki’s decisions or actions. Yes, it is customary for serf-masters not to consult the untouchable serfs. As loyal serfs, the Eritrean people have accepted the hardship conditions exerted by their landlord as they have no other options; but left obviously to concur with the landlord’s daily decisions; or whatever he (Tyrant Issayas Afewarki) who must be obeyed by all means has to say or to offer for rendered labor or military services! How different is this contemporary Eritrean livelihood than the feudal era of Ethiopia? Or the collective communistic military garrison state of Northern Korea today?

First of all, Tyrant Issayas Afewarki openly declares democracy as ‘non-existent’ in the world. That means, for their own survival or for their own good, the Eritrean serfs must know how to concur! Secondly, Afewarki dismisses elections as western conspiracy to divide the people of Eritrea along vertical differences. Consequently, the Eritrean serfs are propagated day in day out through the Eritrean mass media and through community cadres to zealously continue to concur for their own survival! And if Afewarki were to say 10+1=14, serfs would concur that too! Especially after September 2001 when his most prominent opponents were summarily arrested or fled the country, Issayas Afewarki’s predominance is boosted by his handpicked persons holding key positions for fear of political reprisals.

In short whatever the tyrant has to mumble on the national TV or Radio or in his public speeches the serfs simply concur that without any questioning at all! Thirdly, as serfs, the people of Eritrea are there only to render their labor services however they are compensated for it by the landlord, if any! Fourthly, it is clear that social, economic, and political emancipation indeed constitute the major props of freedom. But these are non-existent in Eritrea as such ideas are said to be western liberal talks that happen far from the preaching of the Western World in the Western arena itself. So in Eritrea, it is all about serfdom under the guise of freedom all the way through! It is befitting to communism or state capitalism to keep Eritrean people in serfdom. Eritrean people are told by the landlord Tyrant Issayas Afewarki that they shouldn’t get all what they want; but they may feel free to want what they get! As per tyrant Afewarki, the Eritrean people don’t want what the Western World terms as: “democracy, justice, rule of law, elections, human rights, free press, etc”. To Afewarki, these are empty terms in ideal context. The Western liberals talk all about freedom that never exists in reality. As far as Afewarki is concerned, “indeed the Eritrean people want what they can get. And the state expects from each according to his ability and provides to each according to his needs”.

In a recent interview Afewarki gave to Asharq Al-Awsat he stated saying: “We do not have a misguided press in this country and we do not think there is an absolute press freedom in the world. The world newspapers are now operating in the so-called age of globalization. It is a process of monopoly by specific groups that are known by name and known by their capabilities, financing, and management. Press freedom is non-existent and we are opposed to this situation in the world on which certain quarters impose their control. These quarters are using the media to serve their private interests. The true voices of the media are the voices that oppose the monopolization of the media that are distorting the facts and serving monopolist interests. The media is now monopolized by a specific quarter that has interests, ambitions, and policies of hegemony and monopoly. They are exploiting the media and this is part of their policies. Should we be part of this process or should we make our voices heard and not allow these quarters to muzzle us? We do not allow these world organs to be active on our land to distort the facts and create discord in our country or our region and in our environment. This country and this region need a free media, a free media that convey the information as it is so that the people would build on facts and correct information and then analyze viewpoints in the interest of these peoples. This region needs to create and unify harmony among its peoples not to use the media to cause division and create sedition among nations and countries. This is not true media but media of distortion and fabrication of discord. We do not welcome and we have no interest in adopting such a process. That is the false media say that there is no free press in Eritrea. We are reassured and at peace with this process because the accusations against us are being made by oppressors, counterfeiters, and monopolists that think they alone have media and no one else. We have a clear stand on this issue and the people are following up on what is happening in the world and in the region. They differentiate between facts in this country.”

But let me say it clearly and loudly: It is long overdue time for FREEDOM from tyranny and serfdom in Eritrea.

By Alex Birhanu – alexbirhanu@yahoo.com

Funny enough we are told by Eritrean /“Ethiopian”/ Review article of May 28^th 2009 that Andargachew Tsigie the Secretary General of Gunboat-7 Movement is currently on a working visit in Asmara, Eritrea mainly holding talks with Issayas Afewrki’s regime on how to create a united front with Ethiopian People’s Patriotic Front (EPPF), OLF and ONLF. We are informed that Andargachew’s visit followed Issayas Afwerki’s recent interview with “Ethiopian” / Eritrean Review and eppfOnline.org earlier this month. The Ginbot-7 Secretary General is thereby permitted to setup its temporary headquarters in Asmara; and that Ginbot-7 chairman Birhanu Nega who loves most to call himself as the “legitimately elected mayor of Addis Ababa” to travel soon to Asmara in order to conclude necessary pacts for the forthcoming military operations. By so doing the leadership proved what has been widely talked and speculated about Ginbot-7 thus far.

Obviously, for as long as they pave the way they see it fit for their dream position in power, the Ginbot-7 leadership simply doesn’t care whether or not what they do in the name of the movement really does affect the integrity and political moral of the Ethiopian people or not.

The next two quotations taken from the Ethio-Media-Forum (EMF) does attest what is being contended. Firstly a certain Namara on EMF under the title ‘Minority ethnic domination of the military in Ethiopia’ wrote today staing the following: “As an Oromo Ethiopian, who lost my father as a Derg Army Officer during the war against EPLF, I sincerely admire and respect President Isayas Afeworki and the Eritrean People who provided refuge and support to OLF and other anti-Woyane forces – at a time when it was not popular to do so. He has certainly earned my respect and confidence. President Isayas is a true champion and symbol of freedom of all oppressed people from the yoke of tyranny.”

Likewise under the same topic and in the same tone a certain Aden Farah Hasan said: “As an activist of the Ogaden National Liberation Front I have eye-witnessed efforts done by the heroic and iconic leader Issayas Afeworki for giving not only trainings to people of oppressed nationalities from Oromia and Ogadenia but also assist those who would like to bring change in the current regime of Ethiopia. Indeed President Isayas has demonstrated that he is a great friend of the Horn by his unlimited support not only to ONLF and Al-Shebaab but also to EPPF and Ginbot-7. As a result I hold my highest regards for the people, government and President of Eritrea and wish them all peace and prosperity in their future endeavor against imperialism and against the Amharic-Tigre Colonial Ethiopia.”

It is with such groups of anti-Ethiopia elements that Berhanu and Andargachew are courting to befriend themselves with in the name of Gunboat-7, a movement that claims as standing for “freedom” and “justice”. Well opposing Woyane is one thing but joining hands with elements standing for Ethiopia’s disintegration and development of Ethiopia’s under-development is totally another thing. These fellows have undermined the Ethiopian peoples’ ability to withstand such shrewdest stand amidst the tough time we are facing under the Woyane regime that is not our liking or choice by any measure. You don’t go to the mother of all troubles under the guise and Ethiopian pretext and give your psychic make-up to the man next door that is waging his fingers warning to hold you tight by the throat till you chock or become breathless.

I wonder what in the “Hell” Asmara has to come into picture and do with likely outcomes of Ethiopian political events that concern directly Ethiopia and Ethiopians. Isn’t Asmara Issayas Afewerki’s home, the man who never sleeps before he makes sure that Ethiopia is reduced to multiple mini-states? Had there been an inch thick of a heart that worries for Ethiopia under the chest of Issayas Afeworki, at all? Asmara wouldn’t have opened its doors for separatist elements that fight to dismantle Ethiopia, and for EPPF syndical enough an organization that claims to firmly stands for the unity of Ethiopia. If there is anything that the opposition gets from Asmara today, it will definitely be paid back at an exorbitantly high price tomorrow. The question of Assab, the un-demarcated border issue that face the current opposition collectively or individually are problems yet to come as challenges in the future when anyone of them are supposedly to assume power. If we believe that Issayas Afeworki is willing to raise a lion that may ultimately devour him, we’re just simplifying very complex national issues. We should not follow suit and make mistakes just as the Gunboat leadership does. Someone among us must attempt to call a spade as spade at this critical time of Ethiopian politics.

Andargachew and Berhanu should know the following: For as long as there are foot-lickers and sell-outs that are ready to serve their Eritrean master for the sake of personal gains, it may not matter to them; but it does matter to Ethiopians. We do accuse Meles Zenawi for betraying Ethiopia and Ethiopia’s vested national interests; but we hate and despise Issayas Afeworki because this tyrannical dictator is always ready to kill Ethiopia if he could. He is the mastermind for all the pains Ethiopia is suffering today. Afeworki is a dangerous bandit who is waiting for the day when the wounded Ethiopia falls apart so that he can tear it apart into smaller pieces and dine it too. We hate those fools who try to tell us that, in order to bring down a regime, it is quite OK and necessary to destroy the country first and then try to build it up all over again. We should realize the expertise that one should not burn his house down in order to eliminate the unwanted cockroaches.

Call me by my name, address and title – Obo Arada Shawl
May 23, 2009

History of Arts

Any real history starts at the grassroots. Any one of the following seven disciplines is a type of visual art. This may be a simplified version of what we know about visual arts means. Eathiopians do not seem to have problems in distinguishing these types of arts.

Visual Arts

1. Drawing

2. Painting

3. Sculpture

4. Architecture

5. Printmaking

6. Film

7. Photography

It is true that the first five disciplines of drawing, painting, sculpture, architecture and printmaking were mainly found in the Orthodox Eathiopian Churches – though missing from the views of the general populace.

The phrase “the Arts” as a term was discussed scholarly and it was quite often limited to the following:

1. Music

2. Rhetoric

3. Dialectic logic

4. Grammar

5. Astronomy

6. Geometry

7. Arithmetic

Just like the visual arts it was again categorized into seven disciplines. With the exception of geometry and arithmetic, the rest five disciplines were quite known in the Orthodox Eathiopian Churches. Although this category started during the 16^th century, in our case, mostly the debteras were the critics to be heard, the rest of us had to comply with the Orthodox Christian form of Arts.

It seems that I am crediting too much to the Orthodox Churches ledger in terms of ኪነት Ki’net. As time passes bye and as if these categorization were not enough to make us confuse, the above seven Arts came to be known as the “Fine Arts” so as to distinguish them from the “useful arts”. Useful Arts – people were too busy or lazy to have need for education. Here comes the conflict of visions for the Arts.

As the difference between science and art become sharpened, the phrase “Fine Arts” came to mean anything that has been associated/created to please the senses.

After losing the sciences, the list now includes the following four elements as well as what we normally think of as “Art”.

• Music

• Dance

• Opera and

• Literature

With the single exception of the Opera, Eathiopians are good in Music, dance and Literature. This is the art that DEBTERAW used to promote with specially emphasis on Literature- the domain of DEBTERAW. And the so-called scientific analysis by the educated classes of Eathiopia have added more confusion to the Eway Revolution that was underway to rectify Minilik’s concept of modernization, Tewodros’s act of unity, Yohannes’s handling of religion and Haile Sellasie’s type of education.

My first reaction about Arts was in relation to the death of Tilahun Gessesse. A commentary was written entitled “what is Art? What is Artist?” And it can be read at SOLUTIONS WITH DEBTERAW, a commentary on the “arts of death.” In the commentary, I concluded by stating that Tilahun Gessese has dwelt very well on the triangle of Love-Family-Friendship whereas DEBTERAW Tsegaye and Yemane Baria were aiming at the trio for Liberty-Unity-Justice – the Eway to 23^rd century of ETHIOPIA አኤትዮጵያ

It is important to remember that during the 20^th century, “fine arts” came to be categorized as

• Visual Arts

• Auditory Arts (music, drama, spoken literature)

• Performance Arts (visual/auditory or combination)

The place and role of the Arts in the Eway Revolution

During the era of Haile Sellassie, Art was performed or housed only in two places, in the Hager Fikr ሀገር ፍቅር theatre and at the Haile Sellassie I National Theatre ብሔራዊ ቲያትር these two places were meant to display and encourage the elites of Eathiopians to be patriotic and nationalistic respectively. Those who frequent Hager Fiker Theatre were destined to be patriotic whereas those who go to the Haile Sellasie Theatre were lured to be nationalistic. Unfortunately, those attendees at the Haile Sellasie became hyphenated Eathiopians. The main reason was that creativity was discouraged but carbon copy of foreign materials encouraged. That was a place and a time when the two Tsegayes G. Medhins collide – one for domestic creativity and the other for foreign adaptation. Of course, the National Theatre became a place for confusion and alienation.

Fortunately, there were ‘what I call the third tier of Eathiopian Artists’ such as Tesfaye Lema, Telela Kebede, Awlachew Degene and many other heroic artists who lived under duress or had to leave these two places involuntarily.

During the DERG era “the Arts” was carried on a similar manner with tightly controlled in the name of their “fake revolution”. In fact, as the top men in the power of the DERG were only military and engineers, there was no way to engage the broad masses ሐፋሽ Hafash in the Arts. But thanks to DEBTERAW and his Political Party, EPRP that ኪነት Kinet has flourished albeit under clandestine በሕቡዐ circumstances. Access to the unsung heroes and heroines to make Arts live and well to the broad masses of Eathiopia was encouraged by EPRP albeit at a high cost.

While the DERGists and the Nationalists were busy propagating the Youth with arming with hate and violence, EPRP with the help of its leadership prominent among them DEBTERAW were teaching by example how to love one’s country, respect for one self and to empower others by means of poems, literature and discipline. The result is what we see today. Have a look closely at each individual person.

In other words, politicians, activists and citizens of Eathiopia should re-evaluate their stand on what ኪነት means and how it is applicable to their daily lives. In order to do that, let us examine and relate the case of the following three Artists.

• Wogayo Nigatu a case of Performing Art

• Tesfaye Lemma a case of Living art

• DEBTERAW Tsegeye a case of Enduring Art

Let us start by asking how, where or why. Of course, the how question is relevant to Wogayehu Nigatu, the where question is for Tesfaye Lemma and the why question relates to DEBTERAW.

In other words, how did Wogeyehu Nigatu die at such a young age? Where is Tesfaye Lemma currently located despite his efforts to develop and promote Eathiopian Arts? And why is DEBTERAW IS STILL HELD INCOMMUNICANDO? I believe the answer lies deep in each of us who are interested in the Eathiopian Arts?

Now that we have established that we all cannot live without some sort of Arts, let us understand the basic forms of Art.

Art has two parts, a Form and Content.

Form includes elements of art, principles of design and physical materials that artists use.

Content is based on idea that portrays what an artist means, what an artist actually portrayed and above all how people react to the artist’s actual or intended messages.

Let us take for instance, the following incidents

• What Mellese Zenawi has said in relation to the Eathiopian flag,

• What Issayas said in relation to the Ethiopian state

• What Wallellign has written in his essay in relation to an Amhara mask and

• On DEBTERAW’s pun of words concerning Haile Sellasie’s betting on the throne. All four had opinions – after all that was why the main reason they received education – to express opinions. But to say what they said and to write what they wrote

ጨርቅ ባንዴራ (መለስ) through the prism of arrogance

ኢትዮጵያ ሃያላን ባይኖሩ ኖሮ … lack of understanding of social history

እስከ መገንጠል(ዋለልጝ) through the prism of family dispute

ዴሞክራሲ ያለ ገደብ (ፀገየ) through the prism of Arts

Should be judged and evaluated based on

• Place

• Time and

• Circumstances, otherwise it is an historical for all of us not to discern the differences.

DEBTERAW’s works is full of content – the form of Arts – that has influenced religion, politics and society in general.

Our years of war and revolution in terms of politics and social influences as perpetuated by Artists and citizens of Eathiopia who were summarily executed in a historical context brought us mixed feelings of revulsion, anger and sorrow.

Though no fault of DEBTERAW and his political party, he is in prison for what power holders have pronounced and for what many cone artists have composed and sung.

What about Religion

There is a huge difference between an organized religion and a non- organized religion, the former not only it is relatively recent but also it is based on some rational or scientific phenomena, while the latter depends on faith alone.

So what is the main religion of Eathiopians? I bet there is no clear answer for my question. Obviously, there are all kinds of Christians such as Orthodox, Catholic, Protestant, Pentecostal, Jehovah, etc. etc, but they are all Christians – or are they? Please, someone explain to me in lay terms. Eathiopians are Muslims with Sunni or Shiite affiliates, but they are all Muslims – or are they? There are Eathiopians who practice Judaism, and there are people who are anti-Christ or no religion at all. So why is that religion suddenly became an issue in Eathiopia or is it going to be?

Is that because of the return of King Yohannes’ children posed as atheists? Maybe the absence of followers of Teddy’s unity, or lack of education despite Haile Sellassie’s effort for economic development and nationalism or the lag of scientific modernization as frequently blamed King Minilik of Shoa? Does the future have to catch up with the past?

I do not understand.

As far as religion is concerned, the elites of Eathiopia were not educated, as Christian Evangelists no as Madras’s though have had attended Christian and Moslem universities. The Christian elites were educated in Addis Ababa University while the Muslim elites were educated in Cairo universities. This condition relates before the Eway Revolution.

The Eway Revolution had encouraged for religion to travel from Arat Kilo and reached Mercato via Arada (AKAM).

Arat Kilo was/is a place where churches, palaces and universities conglomerate.

Arada also known as Piazza harbor businesses, entertainment and government (BEG).

Mercato was/is a place where a mosque and a church stand side by side harmonizing people to people and business transactions of all goods and services.

So where does DEBTERAW and his political party stand on religion? I believe DEBTERAW and his political party, EPRP stands independent of all organized religions. I believe DEBTERAW had tackled the issues of

• Personal and family

• Social and cultural

• Politics and economic

• Church and ministry and

• Theological and Spiritual issues,

As separate entities.

If this is not the correct idea and method by DEBTERAW, what then was/is the alternative one? For this DEBTERAW IS STILL HELD INCOMMUNICADO. Do we live for Arts or Arts serve us all? It is high time to stop acting and become real people. It should start from the top down – DEBTERAW SHOULD BE FREE.

TRUTH WILL PREVAIL

For comments and questions

woldetewolde@yahoo.com

May 20^th 2009  by Mintesinot Haile – mintesinothaile@gamil.com

The Ethiopian Review (ER) editor Elias Kifle has been accused several times as a well-paid “Shaabia” agent and for his persisting stand on the side of Shaabia to date. There is no doubt that Elias Kifle has given clear evidence by his repeated deeds that he is a 100% Shaabia stooge among us who dares to tell us that the Issayas Afeworki we know of is a rational man that hosts LFits and opposition leaders in a more friendly manner. As I write Elias Kifle’s video has not yet been aired; but we have no doubt Elias Kifle is trying to twist Diaspora Ethiopian arms with his “make believe story from Asmara” that the Asmara man who recently labeled as the piracy phantom and as the tyrant of Asmara is actually an other person whom Elias has discovered for us as being actually the most friendly comrade of Ethiopia and Ethiopians.

In the name of “free media” Elias kifle has been muddling around Ethiopian issues as it befits his egoistic world outlook. Elias lacks the professional quality to rationalize between the type of news he aught to bring to the attention of the Ethiopian audience and the action he took to make business out of an interview session with the man in Asmara who boasts of land-locking Ethiopia from her access to the see and for keeping Ethiopia in check with his venomous ethnic feud that will continue to disintegrate the country further. If we don’t keenly become protectionist to such ill-devised propagation it is easier to become futile and give leeway to intriguers who wish to soft-land on national matters of high importance.

Let bygones be bygones Elias Kifle should go and tell such factious story to those ill-informed followers of his and not to us who know Elias Kifle already as the wolf hidden in a sheep skin pretending to be the most innocent Ethiopian fighting for Ethiopia. Suffice to say that his ER-journalistic card has burnt away for his repeated mockery on Ethiopian Diaspora by contempt and hypocrisy. Elias has no heart nor the sympathy for what happens to or on Ethiopians; for as long as he popularizes his ER sites with anything he sees fit as ER’s-sensational breaking news no matter if it has nationally sensitive repercussions or not. Rationalizing is neither in his dictionary nor does he give a damn if it hurts others’ feelings or not. To add salt into an injury he made on the eve of the New Year (2009) Elias has dared to exhibit himself as a one hundred percent loyalist to Issayas Afeworki. Elias adores the Eritrean tyrant who is isolated largely by world leaders for his piracy and for war mongering with all neighboring states indiscriminately; and the man who humiliated Eritrean people speechlessly to date.

Obviously, Al Jazera has the right to interview Issaias Afeworki as it is neutral to either the Eritrean or the Ethiopian side of incidences to talk about. In fact it becomes a medium for both parties to air out their feelings on each other. But when this is done by Elias Kifle, the man who claims to be an ER editor, the man standing for Ethiopia’s causes, then it shows insensitivity cowardice to sensitive national issues; unless he is a sold-out journalist who does his earnings by giving a damn to national feelings and the pain it leaves on those of us who love Ethiopia dearly.

As a journalist, there is no one who knows better Issayas Afeworki than Elias Kifle. Already years back while in California in the 1980s Elias knows well that Issayas Afeworki is the man who raised all kinds of ethnically affiliated politicians at his “baby-boom factory” of the Horn of Africa located in the outskirts of Asmara. Afeworki trained these die-hard egoists to build and flax their muscles and carry out their fight on Afeworki’s blessings and green signals – be it as regards arms trafficking, money launderings, piracy or what have you; so that we don’t hold Afeworki accountable for the take-away of Assab Port; on which Elias’s ER is 100% mute or silent.

Having known quite well that Issayas Afeworki is continuing to hatch his venomous egg inside Ethiopia with its well-orchestrated agents including OLF, ONLF, EPPF and recently breezed pro-Afeworki-egoists, Elias Kifle washed his eyes with salt and dares to tell the Ethiopian Diaspora that Afeworki is Ethiopia’s well-wishing man who deserves to get our standing ovation as the “man of the year”; and as the man helping “build democratic opposition forces” achieve their disintegration agendas respectively within the region.

Well informed by his mere residence at the capital of the USA, it is absolutely clear that Elias Kifle is well informed and well aware of the fact that Issaias Afeworki has been recently accused by the Obama administration for supporting the Islamic extremists in Somalia; and by the UN-for arms shipment into this troubled nation for quite sometime. Furthermore, Elias knows well that few concerned citizens have even gone to the extent of renewing the Eritrean call for a regime change in Asmara due merely to the hardship of living conditions in the entire parts of Eritrea.

At the cost of informing to the grave digger, Elias Kifle knows well the inhuman atrocities taking place among the Kunama and other minority ethnic groups in Eritrea as well as the slavery SAWA camps where Issayas Afeworki is confining the Eritrean youth. But does it matter to him a bit for as long as his interviews are broadcasted on air and on websites to legitimize his sinister missions? Not at all; in fact, amidst all these, Elias Kifle is trying to preach the good side of Tyrant Issayas Afeworki although well aware of the fact that many army officers who defected in support of the ongoing clandestine or underground operations for what is known as “ethnic alliance” have now made Eritrea their “safe” heaven; from where they complot on how to advance ethnic self-determination and mini-states building as their money making business. This atrocity stretches itself as far out as Darfur in Sudan, Al Shibab’s bases in Somalia, and attacks complotted on the Afar population within Djibouti. So it is easier to tell his story and convince the already converted pro-Shaabia opposition leadership who tell us to keep soft hearted attitude towards Shaabia; but not the majority Diaspora Ethiopians who already know the Tyrant of Asmara for decades.

Knowing that those who lined up behind him are making empty noise by masking colorful masks labeled as freedom, democracy Elias Kifle once again traveled all the way to Asmara to confer with and interview the man that keeps on boasting for having given Ethiopia an “ethnic-venom” puzzle that would take a century to solve; and yet calls himself a true Ethiopian that has passed the litmus test for being an “Ethiopian” not only by declaring the globally known pirate phantom Issayas Afeworki as ER’s “Man of the Year” for 2008 but also dared to hold an interview session with him as recent as last week.

Well, Elias may claim that an imbecile has been crowned an emperor, a fool has become a president and a womanizer has been made an archbishop; why should it be unusual for a bloodthirsty dictator, a sworn enemy of Ethiopia to be called “person of the year? Our reply is simple. For as long as there are foot-lickers and sell-outs that are ready to sell their country and serve their masters for the sake of personal gains, it may not matter. We do accuse Meles Zenawi for betraying Ethiopia and Ethiopia’s vested national interests; but we hate and despise Issayas Afeworki because this tyrannical dictator is always ready to kill Ethiopia if he could. He is the mastermind for all the pains Ethiopia is suffering today. Afeworki is a dangerous bandit who is waiting for the day when the wounded Ethiopia falls apart so that he can tear it apart into smaller pieces and dine it too. We hate those fools who try to tell us that, in order to bring down a regime, it is quite OK and necessary to destroy the country first and then try to build it up all over again. We should realize the expertise that one should not burn his house down in order to eliminate the unwanted cockroaches.

No matter how hard Elias may give it a try, Issayas Afeworki is a die hard old fashioned communist still wearing the old political mantle and acts as the ‘God father of all troubles infested in contemporary Eastern Africa: starting from Sudan in the North down to Somalia in South East, South Sudan and Northern Uganda in Central; and Rwanda and Burundi in Southern Africa. To say the least, Afeworki is the mother of all troubles and trouble breeding terrorists including Al Shibab, regional piracy and money laundering Indeed, Afeworki is the mastermind responsible for what is negatively unfolding in today’s Ethiopia. Afeworki’s master plan that are eventually put into action while we keep on witnessing ethnically organized groups running around to create smaller ethnic enclaves like the outdated Bantustan system in Apartheid South Africa in order to benefit Eritrea’s 3 million populations at the expense of Ethiopia’s landlocked 80 million populations. Without wasting time, Eritrea should get rid of this power mongering regional bandit and Eritrean tyrant once and for all; and Elias Kifle better shut his advocacy for a tyrannical regime of Asmara.

By Abraham Berhe – abrehe@gmail.com

Background:

In Early January 2009 Issayas Afeworki gave an extraordinarily defiant interview to the tightly controlled Eritrean media by openly accusing the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) of the USA for masterminding a plot to undermine his regime. Since then he maintains unrepentant antagonism as his astounding political feature against the USA and Western powers.

To those of us who knew him for a long while now, Issayas Afeworki is a hardened guerrilla warfare leader run for over 3-decades before he assumed power in 1993. Each time he delivers interviews he constantly looks back to those glorified anti-Ethiopian struggle days, which provided him the cornerstones for his political legitimacy; claiming that Eritrea is surrounded by larger states that permanently seek to dominate and destroy it. Tyrant Issayas is the Eritrean figure that single handedly articulates his regime’s domestic and foreign objectives that prevail against any contrary opinion coming either from his subjects or from commentators on Eritrean issues. The political strategy and makeup of Afeworki’s regime centrally depend on viewpoints directly emanating from Issayas himself. Especially after September 2001 when his most prominent opponents were summarily arrested or fled the country, Issayas Afeworki’s predominance is boosted by his handpicked persons holding key positions for fear of political reprisals.

Yet, we know well that the 1998-2000 war he instigated against Ethiopia considerably weakened the internal cohesion of Afeworki’s regime; and totally impaired and weakened the Eritrean military and population’s morale. At this point as I write no sober citizen has any faith left in his regime. Enthusiasm about Issayas Afeworki’s tyrannical ruling has eroded and drastically declined; Eritrean people are suffering from the ever diminishing and poverty stricken living conditions. Indeed, the series of wars that are carried out from time to time by Afeworki’s regime have now created a paradoxical situation as it seems too late to reverse the economic decline. Such action actually needs putting in order sweeping structural and sector reforms that would take time to produce results. In Eritrea where the population’s main concern is on how to secure the next meal it seems difficult for them to think about on how to overthrow Afeworki.

To date, Afeworki’s autocratic and tyrannical nature has eventually became a threat to all neighboring states since Afeworki has embarked on an aggressive foreign policy built upon the belief that only a militarily strong Eritrea could play a central role in what is known as “the Horn of Africa”. To add salt into injury, Afeworki is involved in popularizing piracy and illegal smuggling actions over international waters and oceans. Piracy has become a tool for Afeworki to siphon hard currency and divert public attention from the apparent lack of functioning democratic systems in Eritrea. His involvement in Somalia’s domestic politics, piracy and illegal arms smuggling and trafficking as well as his regime’s antagonism towards all neighboring states could amply testify to it’s over reliance on brinkmanship and military threats. Within the initial 5-years after he assumed power in 1993, Afeworki quarreled with Sudan in 1994, Yemen in 1995, Djibouti in 1996, Ethiopia in 1998 and Djibouti once again in 2008. Afeworki has even gone to great lengths by undermining the neighboring states’ stability; and intentionally works on how to make these states vulnerable to his militaristic pressure by providing training sites and arsenal and arms supply to Ethiopian, Djiboutian, Sudanese and Somali opposition armed groups. In 2007 he decided to pull out of the regional grouping IGAD and the AU due to his ill-conceived foreign policy.

Episodes Happen While We Watch Immobilized:

The Eritrean populations have unconditionally lost thousands of young men and women to the 1998-2000 Ethio-Eritrea war. Fully aware of that Issayas Afeworki will not halt his military operations against all regional challenges, the forcefully recruited youth soldiers continue to desert in large numbers; and are seeking refuge world wide. The polarized and silent Eritrean Diaspora, which had been generously financing Issayas Afeworki’s war efforts, has begun openly to question Afeworki’s domestic and foreign policies and has significantly reduced its remittances.

Popular Dissatisfaction and Divisions:

Afeworki is facing already internal popular dissatisfaction and divisions; a dilapidated economy surviving through piracy and arms trade and rampant corruption. One thing is clear to all walks of Eritrean people. Succession is paving the way to weaken Issayas Afeworki’s regime. No one knows today as to who will succeed Issayas Afeworki next. This is potentially creating instability on his eventual demise or death. After all, he is mortal, the Eritrean public doubts if democracy could be established in Eritrea when Issayas Afeworki dies or deposed of power, accidentally or otherwise. That means the potential for increased possibility of civil wars, dismemberment and opportunistic external interference from Ethiopia is quite vivid or crystal clear.

As a viable solution, most Eritrean people have resorted to consider negotiation and diplomacy as meaningful basis for the Eritrean regime to resolve its costly conflict with Ethiopia; to reestablish its political legitimacy and assist all Eritrean political forces to peacefully resolve their differences for the sake of national unity. But we deem that Afeworki is not ready to ascertain and respect the sensibilities and intentions, with regard to common issues, of neighboring states; particularly that of Ethiopia. We doubt if he can halt his deliberately provocative remarks and actions against the USA and neighboring states. We doubt if Issayas Afeworki is ready to compromise for the sake of regional peace and stability; we doubt if Issayas Afeworki is ready to learn from his past errors of judgment and soften his belligerent defensiveness, at least during high-profile interviews. In a net-shell suffice to say the idiomatic expression: ‘You cannot teach an old dog a new trick.’

Cases for Public Attention and Reaction:

Although totally alienated from the rest of the world and from the African Union, Issayas Afeworki continues to commit flagrant violations of human rights by turning Eritrea into a country where democracy and justice are absent; where the Eritrean population yearnings for independence and freedom are ultimately trapped in intimidation, indecency and untold old time serfdom tradition. Issayas Afeworki’s cohorts (those that seldom complain about him) and the silent majority who consider this staunch and stubborn leader as their hero who must be obeyed by all means, by all accounts, and at any cost. Points outlined below are cases in point for reader’s attention:

• There happens mass fleeing, and horrific incidents including barbaric ethnic cleansing of innocent detainees from the Kunama ethnic group;

• As the most mentally and physically exhausted army in Africa, led by a hand-full of hungry hounds and opportunist Generals, the Eritrean army is undertaking the heaviest load of slave-labor program by way of Warsay-Yikealo, with an extreme nationalism and sovereignty protection propaganda just as the Nazis of Adolph Hitler used to make in the 1930s.

• The Swiss daily French newspaper, Le Temps, reported on 21 January 2009 that Eritrea, which today shares only with North Korea the title of being “the pariah state” of the international community, has become unlivable hell to its people who are taking all possible risks to flee the country and be dispersed in all corners of the globe. During 2008 alone, 2,849 Eritrean people entered and asked asylum in Switzerland compared to 2,050 in 2007 and 1,201 in 2006.

• Under the big headline of “Eritrea of President Isaias Afeworki: A Prison State being deserted by its people en masse”, the reporter, Angelique Mounier-Kuhn, quoted a recent New Year speech by the dictator in Asmara to show his unbelievable readiness “to make war” in spite of the suffering it causes to the small nation of Eritrea. She describes Isaias Afeworki as “a solitary and arrogant person obsessed with traces of the [country’s] frontiers”.

• In the lengthy reportage on Eritrea by this major Swiss newspaper, Mr. Francois Piquet, a researcher at the Geneva-based International Institute for Higher Studies and Development, is quoted to have said: “The paradox in the situation of Eritrea is that the best organized liberation movement in Africa has given birth to a political system dictated by one man” who has chosen to conscript up to 300,000 persons in the army and in forced labor camps.

• The Le Temps reporter also interviewed a number of Eritrean refugees in Swiss who expressed fear to criticize the Asmara regime openly because of fear of imminent risks to their families in Eritrea. The interviewees said there are “agents of the dictatorship” among them and they are keeping away from opposition politics because of this fear to their loved ones back home by the merciless regime. The interviewed persons also revealed that each and every Diaspora Eritrean individuals pay the illegal 2% tax and other extortions because of fear of something happening to them and to their relatives in Eritrea.

• To one’s dismay, it has been a while since Issayas Afewoki started to blame the US for every evil unfolding to his administration. Yet he was the first to endorse the invasion of Iraq. He has even once said in his interviews at the time, “the mission was long overdue, the Bush administration should rather have finished the job in 1991”. Yet the same person and his supporters try to define who goes with whom and what kind of alliance and organization to make with others. Some in the opposition have also fallen prey to this game.

• Somalia’s new government led by Sharif Sheik Ahmed is accusing Issayas Afewoki’s of arming insurgent groups in Somalia. The allegation is a repeat of events two years ago, when the United Nations accused Eritrea of secretly sending weapons to Somalia’s militant al-Shabab group.

• Recently Isaias Afewerki forced the United Nations Mission to Eritrea out of Eritrea by cutting off all supplies to the UN-mission. In response to the departure of the UN-mission, both Eritrea and Ethiopia have now repositioned their respective militaries in a manner that would seem to indicate the potential for reengaging one another in devastative military conflicts.

Needless to say, a war between Ethiopia and Eritrea may bring a destabilizing effect if and when these two nations return to war. This action could further undermine Somalia’s Transitional Federal Government, which is heavily dependent upon Ethiopian military support. Ethiopia would also likely pull out of its pending commitment to provide peacekeeping troops to the Sudan AU/UN Mission in Darfur. Djibouti could also be affected by a return to hostilities in the form of border dispute, Eritrean refugees, who could present local security and humanitarian concerns.

In the past two years alone, there have been a growing number of pirate attacks off the coast of Bab-El-Mendeb and Somalia – some ending in death and others ending in the payment of ransom. The shipping lanes off the coast of Bab-El-Mendeb and Somalia are some of the most economically and strategically important in the world. There has been a long chain of illegal trade operations in the form of weapons trafficking, human trafficking, criminal dumping of nuclear and chemical waste from around the world in Dhalak, Sahel, and the environs of Masawa and piracy. Particularly, piracy off the coast of Africa has become a critical issue in the region, because extremist groups often directly participate in and financially benefit from piracy operations.

Crucial Issues to Lay Charges against Isaias Afewerki:

It is time for Eritrean Diaspora, to start putting together charges against Isaias Afewerki for crimes that include, but not limited to, conspiracy, murder, and treason. Enough evidences have been gathered to go forward and lay charges and oversee this task through a national committee. As reminder key crimes committed by Issayas Afeworki include the following:

1. Illegal killings of the so-called “Menka’e” and other groups during the struggle.

2. Mal-treatment and killings of fighters in “Halewa Sewra”

3. Summary execution of disabled fighters in Mai Habar

4. Illegal war with Ethiopia. His refusal to call meetings or consult with congress, the cabinet ministers, or the central committee

5. Extra-judicial imprisonment of fighters such as the G-15 and journalists, and the subsequent murders of many of them.

6. Illegal imprisonment of religious groups.

7. Refusal of food aid when it was critically needed by the broad masses

8. Criminal dumping of nuclear and other chemical waste from around the world in Dhalak, Sahel, the environs of Masawa, and other parts of Eritrea for fetching hard currency

9. Execution of about 160 rounded-up people in Adi-beito.

10. Execution of soldiers and civilians who were allegedly trying to cross into Ethiopia and Sudan from Eritrean-Sawa-army fortresses.

11. Execution of members of the Kunama ethnic groups

12. Illegal training and underground piracy operations from Dhalak and Masawa portal areas.

Since 1993 when Issayas Afeworki presided over the leadership position, serfdom has became the official doom in Eritrea; the Eritrean public is now caught-up in sheer disillusionment of independence; living under the iron-handed Afeworki’s regime that is totalitarian by nature keeping the entire youth population in its slavery camps in the name of military services. It is time now for Diaspora Eritrean population to raise our voices and bring Afeworki’s case to the attention of International Court of Crimes (ICC) and to the world powers in order to get rid of him and establish a legitimate replacement regime without further delay.

References:

“Eritrean President revisits his military alma mater in east China”. http://english.people.com.cn/200502/23/eng20050223_174334.html. Retrieved on 2007-08-30. 

Habtetsion, Efrem (2006–08-03). “On Developing Higher Level of Education”. http://www.shaebia.org/artman/publish/article_4617.html. Retrieved on 2006-08-03. 

“Perverted Reasoning From the Perverted Minds of “Les Enfants Terribles d’Erythree””. http://shaebia.org/wwwboard/contributedarticles/messages/86.html. Retrieved on 2007-03-02. 

“US Considers Terror Label for Eritrea”. http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6857330,00.html. Retrieved on 2007-11-19. 

“Eritreans Deny American Accusations of Terrorist Ties”. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/18/world/africa/18eritrea.html. Retrieved on 2007-11-19. 

“[Eritrea & Sudan]”. [& Notes]. 2007-11-13.

http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=24025

Parade Magazine. “The Worlds 10 Worst Dictators”, 22 March 2009

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/3644630.stm

Rena, Ravinder (2006). A Handbook on the Eritrean Economy. New Africa Press. ISBN 0-9802534-6-2. 

Isaias Afewerki. President Isaias interview with business Focus. Eri-TV. Retrieved on 2007-03-21.

“China-Eritrea relationship, China-Africa relationship will have a very significant impact for generations to come: President Isaias”. http://www.shabait.com/staging/publish/article_006354.html. Retrieved on 2007-03-21. 

“Eritrean president wants Ethiopia out of undisputed land”. CNN. 2000-04-06. http://edition.cnn.com/2000/WORLD/africa/06/04/horn.africa.01/. Retrieved on 2007-12-27.

www.abugidainfo.com/?p=9182 – Issayas Afeworki the Piracy Phantom – by Abdullah Habashi abalhabashie@gmail.com, May 6th, 2009.

www.wan-press.org/3may/2009/protest.php?id=1039

by Alex Birhanu alexbirhanu@yahoo.com

Introduction:

Pragmatists are very passionate politicians that follow their instinct or their heart’s feelings and guts. Usually they dream of or believe in what they think as the absolute and unshakable truth. Opposed to principled idealist thinkers, pragmatists never entertain different views coming from various sources other than their astounding beliefs; and no matter the outcomes, they stead fistedly act bold, passionate and desperate when taking decisive actions. Pragmatists use whatever means is available at their disposal to secure what is in their vested interests. At times, they may become merciless in their executive actions especially when circumstances get tough. At such moments they act tougher and gain unwavering militaristic victory.

On the contrary, principle oriented politicians are idealist thinkers who bring about visionary thoughts; and are considered as principled people with good national visions. They are often blamed for being ‘paper-tigers”. But they never give up the principles they stand for in desperate times and in challenging and tough situations. Indeed unflinchingly they stand to the principles they adhere to and remain there till the end, no matter how badly circumstances may change for the worst. A case in point in the Ethiopian politics is the zealous EPRP-followers unwavering stand and efforts that adhere to EPRP’s initial political principles to this very day.

These two extreme categories of political traits at the extreme ends of an isle are at times referred to as the realistic traits versus the idealistic traits. In essence, however, power without principle is vicious; and yet principle without power is unproductive. That means, in real life, each perspective needs some combination of traits taken from one another in order to keep things in a balanced motion. Why is it so necessary to balance between these 2-well known ideological traits standing at extreme ends of the isle? The reason is clear. If our end goal is to bring about a more democratic sphere of functional change in Ethiopia, then we must draw the good bit of each trait to the center with which we can gather momentum for a huge take-off that eventually leads to democratic national building plans devised harmoniously. As each category represents the extreme political stand, each keeps on shaping up human history for good or for worse. Those who took the mid-way between these 2-extreme traits did forge democratic changes required by their nation; and brought about lasting peace. Much of what we observe in Western societies today is simply the result of such outcomes. The relationship between the pragmatist and the idealist political traits are not mutually exclusive; rather, the relationship between these two political traits is a symbiotic one. In either case, one of the traits may achieve its end results without forging something from the other. But such a move doesn’t arrive at any happy endings; in fact it arrives at disastrous results or that of maintaining the status quo without any forward moving progress. On the one hand, if the pragmatists are left with unbridled freedom to exercise their power, then they mess-up national systems and networks beyond repair. On the other hand, if the principled idealists are left all alone to do the most they can, and then they may waste so much time on a series of principal discussions and round-table decision making processes without achieving tangible results – i.e., such moves may leave the public to come to a point of despair.

Idealist Opposition:

Embarking on the prevailing Ethiopian political arena, the majority in the opposition camp both at home and in Diaspora seem to fall in the idealist category. We make lots of thinking, and come up with so many proposals, so many ideas, beautiful ideals etc., but still the key works to be done in concrete terms lack enough of the passion with which to bring about change. As opposition groups we remain vocal but action wise we are seriously mortal. Volumes of vocal opposition were produced thus far. But we achieved practically insignificant outcomes in concrete terms inside Ethiopia. Hence, Ethiopia remains artificially land-locked with no access or no retrieving made to regain Assab Seaport. Its people lack basic human rights to speak of; with Birtukan Mideksa still remaining jailed for unfounded reasons. Majority Ethiopian livelihoods still remain in abject poverty. And if we have to reverse TPLF’s anti-peace-policy standing in practical terms by a sustainable peace in the region, it is highly justifiable for the 80 million Ethiopian peoples represented by its solidified and united opposition front to eventually regain the legitimate Ethiopian rights to regain access to the sea through Assab Port. Likewise, by returning the port of Assab to Ethiopia willingly, Eritrea will remain in a better socio-economic and political networking position with Ethiopia and with the rest of its neighbors. It means none of the two countries are to worry about counter-fighting one another due to geographically unsettled demarcation issues that still remain pending under TPLF for nearly 2-decades in raw.

Pragmatist TPLF:

Most of the time, pragmatists are said to be good leaders in war times and in managing crisis moments. Soon after that, however, they become obsolete. This is a typical case of TPLF. Ever since they captured power from the DERG, the TPLF regime has decided to remain in power indefinitely. It declares its unflinching decisions never to kneel down for those coming through ballot boxes for what it paid in blood, tears and sweats under the barrel of the gun. It also means TPLF has already begun to eat-up its own glory of the early 1990s slowly. As pragmatists TPLF-leadership remains tough, stubborn and stuck into their own passionate militaristic glories of yesteryear even when things are getting tougher by the day. But this might have been acceptable in the hay days of the early 1990s, now nearly after two decades later; such stubbornness casts shadows of doubts associated with the pragmatist traits of the man on the driving sit in Ethiopia. When things are tough the PM remains pragmatic and takes critical measures regardless of their repercussions on TPLF’s political features. This might have served him well during those hay-days in the struggle against the DERG regime; but this time around, that same stubborn political stand is simply eating him up alive by each day that goes by; and by depraving him of all the dignity and glory that might be bestowed up on him as a good leader otherwise. Usually, the PM is known for taking swift and decisive actions no matter what these actions might ensue at the end of the day. A case in point is the expulsion of Eritrean persons from Ethiopia. And if such situations start to slide out of hand the TPLF-regime will deal with each, till such time it builds its own glory out of each case. The worst problem with TPLF is that it listens to no one, but to itself.

Lessons Learned From Past Mistakes:

Focusing on the current predicament of the idealist opposition camp, one can see that the number of Ethiopians opposing injustice is increasing by the day; not excluding those who are indifferent and those withdrawing their consent silently. However the leadership of the idealist opposition camps is not yet able to harness or channel this mass opposition inertia of pluralistic nature into a constructive unitary political entity. That means we need to learn from past mistakes and stop acting as vocal opposition only barking from Diaspora or from the Parliament House in Addis Ababa. We should go for winning the hearts, souls, and minds of the Ethiopian public at home and abroad; and bring about a fair and fraternal change without causing havoc or destruction; or without many losses of valuable human lives and property. This can be achieved only when the opposition groups at home and in Diaspora are ready to merge and do away with our die-hard differences for the sake of rescuing Ethiopia’s unity and national stability. We need to come to a workable consensus beyond crying foul on ethnic, religious or worldview differences among us. The idiomatic expression: ‘United, we win; divided we fail’ has been preached many thousands of times but in vain. It is easily said than done. In a serious note, we seem to remain stubborn, and go our own individualistic way to oblivion. When the quest for forging a firmly united opposition force remains at stake; and when the 2010 election is coming closer by each day that goes by, we seem still not fully prepared to deal with our heart-aching tasks properly beyond tones load of vocal opposition. How much of the homework expected of the opposition group is done in a systematic and structured manner compared to the vocal opposition and lip services we rendered thus far? The judgment is left for each reader to outweigh the gravity of our failures thus far.

Ernest Call for a Solidified United Opposition Front:

Transforming those who are in the opposition camp into change agents must be the priority of the opposition camp leading us eventually towards forging a solidified united opposition front. By converting ourselves beyond vocal opposition into fierce fighters and practically contributing partners we can enrich the struggle by the opposition’s united front to achieve results. There is no question regarding our vested will to bring about government change in Ethiopia. Both the overwhelming majority of the Ethiopian public and the well-trenched opposition party sympathizers and members dream of government change. But translating this existing political inertia and vested will into concrete actions require technical expertise, financial, human and material resources. That means both at an individual and group levels, the opposition camp must be more committed and more proficient in our collaborative efforts. I realize that Diaspora people do have other responsibilities. On top of our daily concerns for Ethiopia we remain providers not only to our family members in our immediate surrounding, but also to extended family members in Ethiopia. In order to draw more and more Diaspora groups into the opposition camp for the actual struggle, there is no other alternative than to devise more appropriate means which are compatible with or complimentary to our lifestyles here abroad. Provided that we are solidified as a united opposition front both at home and abroad, the Ethiopian people know well not only that the TPLF regime is on its way out from office, but also they know it will happen pretty soon. For that reason, it is our common task to create a favorable environment for Ethiopians of all walks of life to involve us in the struggle for victory by a solidified united opposition front both at home and abroad.

Finally, the opposition group has to be disciplined. It must learn its lessons from past emotional mistakes and act purposefully, swiftly and by rational reasoning means on the following 3-crucial factors outlined for further consideration:

Firstly, the opposition should act strategically on matters pertinent to foreign relations and seize opportunities to its advantage when they surface incidentally. It should try to hold the balance between political principles and passionate interests concerning foreign policy.

Secondly the opposition should make a strong presence inside Ethiopia. As a united and firm standing body, the opposition group must be solidified, united, and well equipped to do the grass-roots concretization job at home inside Ethiopia with relative ease. Those groups with knowledge of the local background might do well in each ethnic region that they are familiar with. This will help the opposition executives to critically and rationally allocate organizational roles according to merits rather than emotions. Politics is about reality, and reality is created by perception or reasoning. So there has to be a will and a way the opposition group can compliment each other’s weaknesses and strengths. The opposition group should collectively draw strategic action plans on how to stay united, solid, and remain relevant for winning the struggle waged by the opposition camp. The opposition camp must forge viable semblance for national unity rather than going one’s own way single-handedly.

Thirdly, the opposition group must realize that time is a critical factor of essence. In that case, why is the process for unification taking such a long time? It is very shocking and saddening to watch each opposition group behaving as if it has all the time in the whole world to unit itself gradually with others in the distant future. This shows that time is taken by the opposition groups as luxury entity and opposing the TPLF-regime is taken as an easy job to be accomplished in the unforeseeable future. Let us not be mistaken. The road to freedom is a long and tiresome march. The opposition has to identify and manage its passionate desires and its idealist political principles in clear terms so that some compromise is forged for the good of unity; and for jointly achievable outcomes in a reasonable window of time. Meanwhile each opposition group should place a means of checks and balances that help the smooth working relationship between the two extremist traits. Actually, the opposition group needs to balance its politics between forging shrewdness and aggressiveness of pragmatists and considering its idealistic and current global political perspectives for brighter Ethiopian political governance.