The Fallacy of Habtom Yohannes on
 “Reject the Petition: a call for a sane struggle”

By Rezene Michael

Dear Habrom Yohannes,

I really appreciate your concern for Eritrean people. I have read your article of September 07, 2007 but I found some obvious fallacies. Here are some of them:

1. First of all, I do not know your intention when you say the writer of the petition is unknown? Have you tried to know who the writer is? I would assume you will not be interested even if you know. So, what is the cache to say unknown? If one can not be part of the petition then one can not proceed to know who the “WE” is.

2. I do not believe demarcation can bring lasting peace between two countries or save Esayas from being the terrorist. So, I do not understand the relevance of Hague with Esayas and his regime being the terrorist. Or are you saying, Essayas has a reason to be a terrorist just because Ethiopia refused to demarcate the border. I do not understand why an Eritrean citizen talks about Ethiopia when the real problem is in Eritrea or is this legitimizing the use of Essayas’ border issue as an excuse to prolog instability and terrorism inside and internationally?

3. What matters is whether this regime is a terrorist or not. It does not matter whether US gave him blessing or not to invade other countries. If the regime is working against peace and stability inside Eritrea and in neighboring countries and with international community and especially with superpowers, it is against Eritrean common people benefits. A regime that interferes in the relation of other countries constantly and does not work for the benefit of Eritrean is but terrorist (Sudan, Congo,Ethiopia,Yemen, Somalia, and now in Srilanka) and also USA. A lot has been said and written that Eritrea indulges itself fully in the Somalia issue, changing Eritrean Warsay Ykealao names (Samson has been changed to Osman…refer to www.asmarino.com and also in the www.aigaforum.com and www.shaebait.org ) for the sole purpose of terrorism at the moment and the special rescue of General Hadish Efrem and his few group from Kenyan prison by  special mission of Colonel Teame (Mekele). A lot has also died in foreign land and their family is still waiting their whereabouts. If their name has been purposely changed to destroy evidence, what do you call this, mercenary or terrorism? I believe this is slavery for Eritrean people and terrorism to the international community? That is sponsoring terrorism in its highest level to an Eritrean and it should not matter what the US call it or not.

4. Big Fallacy of all is to equate some the fellow grassroots or individuals/members of the struggle whether in ELF, EPLF and PFDJ with the kind or nature of the party they fought in for the independence of Eritrea is big time a fallacy . So, talk about how the system was and not the intentions of its individuals or their deeds and behavior of individual character. The analogy is like saying if Eritrea as a state is put in the terror sponsoring state, all Eritrean people are terrorists. It is big fallacy. All individuals who are involved themselves in the terror acts of the regime will be though under scrutiny. If PFDJ is not a terrorist while killing innocent people languishing in prisons, then what is this? Killing innocent people just because they have different religion or just because one has not coming to the military stations on time is purely terrorism, especially killing them in market area. Is not that terrorizing people? To say my definition of Terrorism does not coincide with what US wants is fair, which is not an issue to an Eritrean. We know that the regime is a terrorist and as such the regime needs to be removed. It will be effective if we did our homework as an Eritrean. What Tangible work have you done yourself in this Endeavour? Should be the question directed to every individual. The US has its interest and so do we in taking this dictator away. Or are you saying, we are not taking this dictator because we are not sure what the future holds for us?! If that is what you are saying, then start being objective. We should control our fate; at least, we need to do our homework. Have I done my homework, have you done yours, have we done ours, is the question to ask. It is not also bad to say, I do not see a clear vision on how to save Eritrea so, I prefer USA to wait till I have a clear picture or till I become optimistic that a real democratic change will be replaced instead.

5. The Fallacy of reform: saying that the regime can be reformed is long overdue. The neighboring countries want to see weak Eritrea, so does that mean we can secure strong Eritrea by supporting a terrorist regime. Where is the logic?

6. “To support the US might be counterproductive for national interest of Eritrea” you put, so I would say, Eritreans need to take the control and not the terrorist regime and nor USA. So where is the logic of supporting the regime or his existence in power by not putting him in the terrorist list? While the US acts, the Eritrean needs to organize themselves and get rid of this regime but then weakening the regime is a benefit for a change. To say, we need to do soul search is good and  I do agree and that goes to all Eritrean who want real and sustainable change as you said but to await from inside Eritrea is either not knowing the inside or not remembering what happens to G-15 and others in hundreds who are languishing in jail. I rather suggest, unite the free Diaspora, and then penetrate inside. If you think the other way might work, then please explain the prospectus in practical terms. We know a lot of potential people are constantly dying in jails and leaving the country.

7. “The PFDJ are responsible” you said. I agree with you but it does not mean they are willing or able to fix it? At this moment, the so called PFDJ is the accused and they can not be the solution. The solution should come from the people. The few leaders of PFDJ are equated to terrorists. They can not bring change. How can you imagine change to come from the PFDJ when you see today is better than tomorrow….., I do not see the reason for your reform syndrome but then with due respect.  Then, of course the other things like the desire for peaceful transfer of power and no vacuum of power, I share the same desire but that is not going to happen as far as PFDJ is in power, so I call it the reform syndrome….still in you. Prove it to me, how that works. I do not see it. It is not realistic. PFDJ leaders has waged war on Eritreans on every aspect of their lives, in social, education, economy, religion, stability/peace inside and outside, the right of thought ( they imprison you by saying you thought you want to oppose the government…..bla..bla). So, dear Habtom, I would leave you by saying “Tigushtetka”! Forgive me if I am a little harsh but I felt this deserves some kind of reply on behalf of Eritrean people who are inside and desperately waiting for freedom and rule of law. I wait to learn from you more on this.

Rezene Michael