IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT TO THE PEOPLE OF ERITREA

Date: 20-04-2007

CITY–TORONTO

PROVINCE–ONTARIO

COUNTRY–CANADA

I, TESFAGABER–ASFAHA–KEFLEMICHAEL of TORONTO–ONTARIO-CANADA, am announcing that I have established a new political party of Eritrea on the day 20-04-2007.  The name of the party is Party of Peace and Democracy of Eritrea (P.P.DE).  I have established this new party in order to join hands with the other political parties and political organizations of Eritrea and accelerate our struggle and make sure the removal of the tyrant (dictator) ISAIAS-AFEWERKI from power and replace him with a democratic secular-multi-party system of governance in Eritrea.

  On the day of its establishment PPDE registered many memberships from the audience who attended the party announcement day.  These registered members of the Party of Peace and democracy of Eritrea (PPDE) made the first congress of the party and nominated, anonymously elected, endorsed and mandated Mr. TESFAGABER-ASFAHA-KEFLEMICHAEL (MEMHR) to be the CHAIR-MAN of PPDE and lead the party for the next four years (4 years).  After giving his gratitude to the members PPDE’S Chair-Man Mr. TESEFAGABER-ASFAHA-KEFLEMICHAEL (MEMHR), laid out the party’s political and economic policy in general and the short and long term political program in particular.  The following is the political manifest of PPDE laid out by its Chair-Man Mr. Tesfagaber-Asfaha-Keflemichael (MEMHR).

  An immediate and short term political program is to remove the tyrant-dictator Issaias-Afewerki from power in Eritrea and replace him with Democratic, multiparty, secular, constitutional and peaceful system of governance.  At this point of time we don’t need to waste time talking about how much the people of Eritrea is suffering under the tyrant Issaias-Afewerki which is very clear to any Eritrean with a rational mind.  Party of Peace and Democracy of Eritrea (PPDE) believes the tyrant (Dictator) Issaias-Afewerki will:

A.)   Not go by peaceful means

B.)    Cannot (in fact should not) be reformed, but has to be removed by all means available

PFDJ’S policy is pollution, and we all know that the most affected by it are:  Eritrea and Ethiopia.  So, (A) Eritrean-people (B) Eritrean force for change (C) Government of Ethiopia (D) Ethiopian-people all have the duty and responsibility to clean up this pollution.  To achieve this objective PPDE will join hands with al all forces of democratic change of Eritrea draft the Strategic Alliance with the Government of Ethiopia, draw the Road-Map to remove Dictator Issaias-Afewerki from power and put in his place democratic multi-party secular system of governance in (Government) of Eritrea.  Why that is the forces for democratic change of Eritrea should make Strategic-Alliance with Government of Ethiopia and not with other neighbor Governments?  Let us explore the natural facts to answer this question: (A) Geographic facts (B) Economic-facts (C) The politics which develops from these natural facts.  The only two main economic sources of Eritrea are: (A) Salt (B) The Sea-Port services which are both natural.  In order for Eritrea to utilize these two economic sources Eritrea needs consumers and users.  We all know that Ethiopia and only Ethiopia needs these two economic sources (Assets) of Eritrea.  Our other neighbors (Sudan, Joubuti and Yemen) have their own Sea-Ports and their own salt.  Therefore economically they are irrelevant to Eritrea.

  Ethiopia is our only neighbor which consumes and uses our only two economic sources (assets) therefore Ethiopia is our only customer in this regard.  At the same time, because Eritrea’s Sea-Ports and SALT are the closest available to Ethiopia it is natural that they are the most convenient to get from, therefore cheapest and economically efficient to Ethiopia.  So we can see that the natural facts (Geographic) resulted on Ethiopia’s and Eritrea’s mutual economic dependence on each other.  Also Ethiopia’s main economic sources are: (A) Animal products (B) Agricultural products like: coffee, sugar, crops... (C) Timber.  Eritrea imports these products some in full, others partial.  If Eritrea buys these products from Ethiopia, Ethiopia gets good economic advantage.  A retailer that has a one and only one customer should be careful not to lose it.  If he does, his store will be closed and he will starve.  Ethiopia is the only customer of Eritrea which consumes its SALT and uses its SEA-PORTS.  Eritrea and Ethiopia are like neighbors who have a common-wall between their homes where they have unavoidable interaction, but they have to handle it: (A) Peacefully (B) Carefully (C) Continuously (D) With mutual respect.  We all know that economy needs peace and tranquility in order to exist and operate properly.  The economic interdependence of Ethiopia and Eritrea makes it clear that mutual effort of both countries is needed to create, secure and sustain peace and security between them.  The status-quo between Eritrea and Ethiopia is no peace no war.  So, now what do we have to do to change the status-quo of no peace between Ethiopia and Eritrea?  Party of Peace and Democracy of Eritrea (PPDE) believes and says: “Let us remove Dictator Issaias-Afewerki from power in Eritrea and put in his place democratic, secular, constitutional, peaceful multi-party who believes in brother-hood with the Government of Ethiopia is the only option.  How do we remove the tyrant-dictator- Issaias-Afewerki from power in Eritrea?  Party of Peace and Democracy of Eritrea (PPDE) believes and says the following is the only way to do it: “PPDE will join hands with the Secular Democratic of Change for Eritrea and form a GOVERNMENT in EXILE of Eritrea which is composed (made) of all secular-Democratic forces of Eritrea.  The Government of Eritrea in EXILE, together with the Government of Ethiopia will draft the terms of Strategic-Alliance between the Democratic, secular forces of Eritrea and Government of Ethiopia and its action plan.  PPDE takes the strategic-Alliance with the Government of Ethiopia as follows:  Government of Ethiopia joins hands with Government of Eritrea in Exile involves military, it can be called regime-change to remove Dictator Issaias-Afewerki and put in his place the Government of Eritrea in exile as Interim and Transitional Government of Eritrea.  We all know that all the opposition forces of Eritrea are political organizations and political parties with no military wing, even though it is politically correct that the Government of Ethiopia should have armed the secular-democratic forces of Eritrea, but that did not happen so far.  So right now only the Government of Ethiopia has military power to remove Dictator Issaias-Afewerki from power.  After the strategic-Alliance is drafted and agreed upon, Road-Map will be drown to walk through and depose (remove) the Dictator Issaias-Afewerki and put in his place the Government in Exile of Eritrea to resume his interim and transitional Governance in Eritrea.  After we drawn our Road-Map to depose (remove) the Tyrant Issaias-Afewerki, we have one political obstacle standing our way, which needs to be addressed – the case of civilian damage, life lost or property lost during the war between Eritrea and Ethiopia from 1998 to 2000 and the properties left behind when the civilians were deported from Eritrea and Ethiopia.  This is becoming a real obstacle in our struggle for democracy in Eritrea, because many Eritreans say it is difficult for them to support the idea of the strategic-alliance of the Eritrean opposition forces with the Government of Ethiopia to remove the dictator Issaias-Afewerki unless the civilian-damage and the left-behind properties are addressed.  We all know that this damage occurred because of the war started by the dictator Issaias-Afewerki in the year 1998 to 2000.  This was decided by the court of EEBC.  So, Issaias-Afewerki is responsible for the criminal-liability of it.  Because the civilian damage has already occurred, all that can be done now is to mitigate the damage.  PPDE’S version of mitigation of this damage is compensation (indemnities).  After dictator Issaias-Afewerki is deposed (removed) State of Eritrea and State of Ethiopia get together quantum the civilian damage, agree how much will each state pay and then compensate every civilian who was victim in this war.  So, all civil Eritreans who are victims of this war will receive their full compensation (indemnities) from the hand of the Sate of Eritrea.  The victim will receive it, if he is alive; otherwise it will be given to his/her legal beneficiary if dead.  Then the two friendly Governments of Ethiopia and Eritrea will accommodate convention for the purpose of reconciliation and atonement between the two brotherly people of Ethiopia and Eritrea.  Now, we have the terms of strategy-alliance and the Road-Map in our hands; how we walk though the Road-Map and depose (remove) the tyrant (dictator) Issaias-Afewerki?  At this time the democratic forces of Eritrea do not have military power, they are simple political organizations.  Even though it was politically correct and necessary that the Government of Ethiopia armed them by now, that did not happen.  So, the Government of Ethiopia have the military to remove Dictator Issaias-Afewerki and put in his place the Government of Eritrea in exile to resume governing Eritrea as interim and transitional government.  This is because the government of Ethiopia has political, moral duty and responsibility to make sure that peace, security and economic prosperity prevails between Ethiopia and Eritrea.  At this junction of our struggle the young solders of Eritrea have: (A) To understand the oppression of the Dictator is heavier on them than anybody else (B) That this struggle is in motion so that all their rights are guaranteed including their will to live a peaceful life.  So, PPDE calls upon you to contribute your share to remove the Dictator Issaias-Afewerki.

  Because natural facts and realities decide it, the Government in Eritrea and the Government on Ethiopia should always be very friendly, who can work together like hand and glove.  It is also true that there is no argument about natural-facts and realities, because we cannot change them.

  Every Eritrean has to understand that whether we remove Dictator Issaias-Afewerki with or without the help of the Government of Ethiopia, there is only one result which can bring peace prosperity and security for the people of Eritrea.  That result is, we have to produce a very friendly Government of Eritrea to the Government of Ethiopia.  Otherwise, it is back to square-one, that is (vicious-circle) Eritrea war with Ethiopia again.  Any Eritrean civil or politician who thinks differently than this is wrong.  Therefore he/she needs to adjust her/his mind with the reality of natural facts.  So, strategic-alliance with the Government of Ethiopia to depose (remove) Dictator Issaias-Afewerki is politically correct for us and also that is the only option we have.

  Because of geographical situation (natural fact) the economy of Ethiopia and the economy of Eritrea are interdependent on each other to survive and sustain.  In order for economy to exist, to grow and sustain, among other things, it needs:

A.)   Peace

B.)    Security

C.)    Tranquility

How is the peace and security between Eritrea and Ethiopia at this time?  There is no peace between Eritrea and Ethiopia; it is “No Peace No War” situation with their border.   It has been closed for the last ten years (10 years), absolutely sealed – no person can cross it.  With it closed for the last ten years is the international sea gate of the Red-Sea, which has never been closed since Adam and Eve were born on the planet Earth.  Because of this closure the ports of Eritrea stopped serving their beneficiaries, the people of Eritrea and Ethiopia.

  In the process people of Eritrea lost big income and the people of Ethiopia are forced to import and export their goods through other neighbor’s ports which are very far making it inconvenient and expensive.

  The people of Eritrea and the people of Ethiopia in general and the people of Eritrea and the people of Tigray in particular STRUGGLED long army struggles, paid a lot of blood in order to live in peace, security, tranquility and economic prosperity.  Not to find their God-given economic gift, the RED-SEA closed to them.  The status-quo of no peace no war in Eritrea and Ethiopia with their border closed by no means benefits one country and hurts the other.  It equally hurts both countries especially economically.  Everybody including Dictator Issaias-Afewerki agrees the status-quo of no peace no war between Eritrea and Ethiopia has to change.  It is because of this that the forces who have a stake in this area are divided into two groups, have drawn two scenarios and fighting against each other.  These two groups are:

(A)   Dictator Issaias-Afewerki and the Ethiopian opposition groups working very hard to overthrow the Government of Ethiopia and put in his place Government of Ethiopia very friendly to Dictator Issaias-Afewerki.

(B)   Government of Ethiopia and the Democratic forces of Eritrea joined hands and working very hard to overthrow the Dictator Issaias-Afewerki and put a Government which is very friendly to the Government of Ethiopia.

Party of Peace and Democracy in Eritrea (PPDE) by joining hands with Government of Ethiopia and the secular-Democratic forces of Eritrea will fight very hard to depose (remove) Dictator Issaias-Afewerki from power and put in his place a secular multiparty democracy of Eritrea which is very peaceful and friendly to the Government of Ethiopia.  Even though the removal of Dictator Issaias-Afewerki from power is exclusively the duty and responsibility of the secular-democratic forces of change of Eritrea and the Government of Ethiopia, we appreciate any assistance we receive from any democratic countries.

  The Government of Eritrea in Exile will join hands with Government of Ethiopia based on the strategic-alliance and the road map of action, remove Dictator Issaias-Afewerki from power in Eritrea and put the Government of Eritrea in Exile in his place to resume interim and transitional governance in Eritrea.  Now we have Government of Ethiopia and Government of Eritrea who are very friendly to each other.  This situation is like the proverb in Tigrigna which says: “(aden-gualn-ddo-enqui-yeesareka).”  It translates like this: “It is unlikely that mother and daughter will steal beads from each other.”  The long term political program of Party of Peace and Democracy (PPDE) is as follows: “Within one year the interim which is also the transitional Government of Eritrea in which (PPDE) will be part of, shall co-ordinate a direct representative democratic-election by which the people of Eritrea elect their representatives and send their elected officials to the parliament of Eritrea.  PPDE proposes Eritrea to have 150 electoral-constituencies and one constituent to have about 20000 electorates (persons).

  The assembly of representatives (congress) in the parliament will be 150 persons in number.  This is PPDE’s version which is open for discussing it with the other forces of democratic change of Eritrea.  From these elected members of congress, a committee will be formed to write (draft) THE FIRST DEMOCRATIC CONSTITUTION of ERITREA in one year, then deliver it to the congress to revise it, vote and pass it.  This new constitution of Eritrea becomes LEGITEMATE, because it is written and passed (AUTHORISED) by the elected members (officials) of the PARLIAMENT of Eritrea.  Based on this legitimate, secular-democratic constitution, the people of Eritrea will go to election within a year, exercise their new democratic rights, by using simple majority system (50%+1), and elect one of the competing SECULAR-DEMOCRATIC PARTIES to Govern Eritrea for the next four years (4 years).  From this day on power will be transferred peacefully to the democratically elected party.  Party of Peace and Democracy of Eritrea (PPDE) prefers direct representative by his/her own choice of elected official (representative) in the parliament and the local and state Governments.  This way the Government of Eritrea will be formed from bottom-up (from people), NOT from up to bottom like the Government of Dictator Issaias-Afewerki

  Under the party of Peace and Democracy of Eritrea (PPDE), Eritrea will be a SECULAR-STATE where (religion and the state of Eritrea are separate).

Eritrean-Citizen:  Any person born in Eritrea is Eritrean citizen, unless born under the situation of visitation or tourism.

Diaspora-Eritrean:  Any person born from one or two Diaspora Eritreans is Eritrean if he/she desires to be.

Immigration-Eritrea: Any non-Eritrean citizen who lives peacefully for five years (5 years) with desire to be Eritrean is qualified to be Eritrean.

In the parliament of Eritrea there will be Legislative and executive bodies.

SOURCE of LAW of Eritrea will be:

A.)   Elected-Legislation (Law-Makares)

B.)    COURS of the STATE of ERITREA (common-law)

Cultural and traditional rules are acceptable, only if they are:

A.)   Harmless

B.)    They operate peacefully.  If any contract is broken and needed litigation to settle it, then only the state laws will be applied to decide it.

Eritrea will have the following courts:

A.)   Civil-Courts Civil-Law

B.)    Criminal-Law Criminal-Courts

C.)    Family-Law Family-Courts

D.)   Constitutional-Law Constitutional-Courts

Under PPDE’s Governance in Eritrea: Religion is strictly private-matter and all peacefully religions are equal and protected, developed equally by the constitution of Eritrea.  Economic-policy under the Governance of Party of Peace and Democracy of Eritrea (PPDE): “Eritrea will have free-market economy ruled by the law of the Globalized-world.

FREE-PORT: Under the Governance of Party of Peace and Democracy of Eritrea (PPDE) all ports of Eritrea are going to be FREE-PORTS, which means goods and persons which pass through the sea-ports of Eritrea will NOT pay any TAX at all.  The ports of Eritrea will be tax-free ports Governed by the rules of the international law of free ports.

  Message:  “We remind all Eritreans who believe in peace and democratic values to get organized by the member of the secular-democratic parties or organizations and support the ongoing struggle for democratic Eritrea.

  Victory to the Party of Peace and Democracy of Eritrea (PPDE)

  Victory for the struggle of the Eritrean people

  Eternal glory to our fallen heroes

This is official political MANIFESTO of the Party of Peace and Democracy of Eritrea (PPDE).

Chair-Man: Tesfagaber-Asfaha-Keflemichael (MEMHR) 20-04-2007

E-Mail:  tesfagaber_keflinkiel@yahoo.ca