Libya's Duplicity

On January 30, 2008, the UN Security Council passed a resolution extending UNMEE's mandate for another six month occupation of Eritrea.  The resolution also carried a one-sided condemnation of Eritrea for hampering UNMEE's activities in Eritrea.

This resolution was passed under Libya's chairmanship of the UN Security Council.  Moreover, Libya didn't even object or attempt to modify the resolution to put pressure on Ethiopia.  But again, the relationship between PIA and Libya is one of servitude.  When our 'independent minded' leader is shuttling to Tripoli and Serte every couple of weeks, the Libyan leader has visited Eritrea only once; this is can only be a one-side relationship.  It is like you visiting your friend's house every other week, but your friend has never thought of you worthy enough to visit you while this very friend is busy visiting his other powerful friends.  Libya's acceding to the other members of the Security Council's strong resolution against Eritrea is yet another manifestation of our diplomatic incompetence and isolation.  If PIA can't convince even his supposed friends, who can he convince?

Of course, if there is one advice 'Comrade' Ghaddafi can impart on his frequent guest is that he [Ghaddafi] had to pay over $ 3 Billion to win back over West's friendship over questionable accusations against Libya.  Libya couldn't even survive ten years of isolation despite billions of oil money.  That is reality, my friends!  Eritrea, a country with no source of income, can only be suffering severely from international isolation.

'Kab Seb Zitetsebeye Bidewu Beleye'

Some accuse UN, UNSC and the witnesses of failing to enforce the Algiers Agreement.  As has been eloquently addressed by Mr. Berhane M. Tekeste of eritreadaily.net, there are no specific enforcement mechanisms contained in the Algiers Agreement to enforce the border decision.  In fact, the only provision in the Algiers Agreement that calls upon the UNSC to directly get involved is contained in the Cessation of Hostilities, which NOT Ethiopia but PIA who has fully trampled that provision.  PIA's current propaganda of 'virtual demarcation' is precisely to side-step this issue.

If there is anyone who expects the UN to enforce any UN resolutions or international decisions live in la-la land.  The Middle East is just one example where thousands of UN resolutions have remained toothless declarations.  The most tragic thing is that those who somehow expect the UN to carry out justice in favor of Eritrea are the very same ones who turn blind eye to the cruelest human rights abuses taking place under the PFDJ regime; cruelty never experience throughout the history of Eritrea.

PFDJ has long played the border as a wedge issue among Eritreans as if everything else is secondary to the border issue.  In reality, border is a secondary issue.  The primary issue can always be the rule-of-law; everything else is secondary including Sovereignty.  If anyone is confused over these issues, they are fertile grounds for dictatorships. Everything, including the issue of sovereignty, emanates from the rule-of-law.  Dictatorship is always ‘clear and present danger to our way of life, freedom, justice and sovereignty’.  It is a critical issue that can’t be allowed to ferment or take root until some other secondary issue is resolved.

The current struggle occupying Eritrea is precisely this, how do we ensure that the rule-of-law prevails in Eritrea.  For clarity, democracy itself emanates from the rule-of-law.  Min. Haile Drue raised this issue back in August 2000.  The PFDJ Central Council and the Eritrean National Assembly passed resolutions to proceed with the Constitution, to promulgate Election and Multiparty Laws, and to hold national elections by end of 2001.  Berlin Manifesto, G-15, Eritrean elders, students and many individuals raised the same issues in 2001.  Their messages were all the same: let us build a strong nation based on the rule-of-law which will enable us to tackle all other issues including the border in prudent manner.  This concept is so basic and yet has escaped even the most learned and those in Diaspora who are enjoying the very fruits of this concept.

Freedom, rule-of-law, justice and human rights aren't simply abstract concepts.  First and foremost, we must believe that human beings are born free and possess the absolute right to choose what is in their best interest as long as they engage with their fellow members in their communities in peaceful manner.  For instance, PIA or Mr. Alamin or Mr. Hagos have no right to tell me what is good for me.  They can never have enough wisdom in the world to dictate their views on me.  One can extrapolate this argument to address the border issue.  PIA doesn't have the legal or moral authority to dictate the rest of us how the border can be resolved.  In reality, PIA has had over 10 years to resolve the border and the only thing he can show for it is a nation in severe distress; our young people are fleeing the country en masse; our young nation is suffering under severe socio-economic distress; the rule-of-law is trampled.  PIA has turned our heaven on earth called Eritrea into a living hell.  Min. Haile Drue had predicted how PIA's intransigence would severely damage our precious country.  We are learning his wise words the hard way.

It is a shame that a whole country is held hostage for over a decade when it took just about thirty years to liberate the whole country.  At the current impasse, resolving the border issue will easily surpass the time it took us to liberate the whole country.  It took us less time to liberate the whole country than to resolve the current border because our liberation movements were wholeheartedly supported by every Eritrean soul.

A couple of days ago, Asmarino.com broadcasted a clip of Min. Haile Drue predicting that the border impasse would take a minimum of 5 years.  We also heard PIA complain few weeks ago about the border impasse using Min. Haile Drue's precise words about Weyane's foot dragging, but only some six years later.  If PIA understood these facts only yesterday, he suffers from serious incapacity to predict the most likely scenarios.

Even with very limited wisdom, this writer has managed to predict a couple of possible outcomes.  Basically, there are two types of predictions:  one prediction is about a general direction, whereas the second prediction is about a specific event.  The first predication can be made from close observation and experience, whereas the second prediction is nearly impossible unless one has some supernatural abilities.  For instance, if I notice someone's eating habits and lack of exercise, I may be able to predict that person will suffer from a specific illness and die very soon.  But no one can say that this person will die on certain day, say January 01, 2010, unless one is endowed with some supernatural abilities.

On December 3, 2007, this writer posted an article titled 'Thru the Storm' in which I asked if PFDJ would declare that the border is now demarcated [later dubbed 'virtual demarcation' by PFDJ] following the disbanding of EEBC on Nov. 30. This writer wondered if PFDJ would claim the Algiers' Agreement fulfilled.  Surely enough, few days later, a couple of PFDJ writers picked up this theme and PFDJ have now turned it into its central border politics.  PFDJ's political moves are as predictable as the sun rising on the East and setting on the West.  This is also why PMMZ and our antagonists have managed to put our precious country into a corner.  This is now a PFDJ nation on a suicide watch - unless we are able to throw a help line soon!

For those who like to play chess, PIA's predicament is like stripping the king of all its pawns, bishop, castle and queen one-by-one.  The king stands alone and naked while the antagonists whittle down his options.  Just because the king can move in couple of directions, he thinks that he is still alive.  In reality, the king’s antagonists are moving in for a checkmate.  PIA is running out of options as follows,

·                     PIA declares virtual demarcation which may give temporary hype to its ever dwindling supporters for a couple of weeks, but then what?  This won't advance PIA's tired and clumsy diplomacy one bit.  The fact that the opposition camp is able to predict PIA's moves is yet another manifestation of PIA's dwindling options.

·                     The US has tied down PIA's options in Somalia through threats of blacklisting.  Even Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed, from his base in Asmara, is taking softer stand towards the Somali government.  Uganda is contemplating of sending 8,000 troops to Somalia.

·                     PIA would like to roll his last dice by clashing with Ethiopia, but he won't be able to start it without immediate and severe condemnations from international community.  PIA would be accused for war crimes.

·                     Regardless of one's perception and views of PMMZ, no one can deny that he is playing his politics like a professional Maestro.

PIA is trying to remain relevant by popping up his head in Serte over Darfur or Sudan/Chad.  But the reality is that if PIA isn't able to deliver bread and fuel to its population, everything else won't address the core issues thus weakening the whole country and endangering our sovereignty.  Our antagonists are suffocating slowly.  Just because OEA is able to shop at a GIANT superstore 24X7 doesn’t mean that Eritreans in Eritrea are in the same comfortable situation.

Relations with Ethiopia

Although PMMZ has delivered Eritrea an unforgetful lesson when he expelled 80,000 innocent Eritreans without due process of law and in joining our reckless leader into a war costing precious lives, our paranoia towards Ethiopia continues to hamper our political judgment.  Our inability to get past Ethiopian politics is like one's hang-ups with an old girlfriend.  

Whether PMMZ remains in power or any other leaders replace him shouldn't be our primary concern.  Eritreans must only address their domestic issues.  Eritrea doesn't become strong by weakening Ethiopia.  Eritrea can only become strong by upholding the values of freedom and justice that we fought over thirty years to realize.  Eritrea can only become strong when we tolerate dissent, consult and respect each other.  The higdefawiyan concept that the population can only whipped into shape is only a sure to destroy a nation.

Despite our bloody relations with Ethiopia, Eritrea must pursue prudent policies that stabilize Ethiopia, never which weakens it.  Throughout history, prospering nations have shown their general distaste for war.  Throughout history, prospering people have refused to fight wars, leaving the dirty work of fighting wars to their slaves (with the exception of few like the Spartans).  In the contemporary world, prospering people have refused to fight wars directly, thus leaving that dirty job largely to high-tech warfare, where the modern day warriors are pushing buttons from the safety of thousands of miles away. 

Strong Eritrea can only be created from our unwavering belief in the rule-of-law.  The sooner we learn this the sooner we can build our strong Eritrea.  We can learn this lesson the hard way or the easy way - the choice is ours and only ours to make.

Hizbawi Mekete

It is understandable to see some gullible in Diaspora fall for the sovereignty issue.  It is never easy to understand such issues at conceptual level.  Of course, our ancestors are known for advocating for the rule-of-law and justice and we would have expected these same people to appreciate the wisdoms of our forefathers.

But it blows one's mind to think that there are some very educated individuals who enjoy the freedoms of their adopted nations NOT only turning blind eyes to dire situation in their country, but also becoming cannon fodders for the most intolerant and cruel regime in today's world.  It is just difficult to believe that they fail to understand that the current struggle is primarily about rule-of-law and justice.  They have forgotten that we didn't win our independence through capitulation, and it seems that it escapes them that instituting and maintaining rule-of-law is the single most important and burning issue that can't be achieved through capitulation.

Some of these educated people suffer from convenient thinking, which in reality is capitulation to dictatorship.  Eritrea can't break third world dilemmas and quagmires by fighting bush fires and jumping from one crisis to the next.  The capitulators tell us, 'let us resolve the border first - whenever it happens, then we will address the rule-of-law.'  Our answers can only be, 'ya, sure, keep dreaming...!'   History tells us those who capitulated today will always capitulate because they lack convictions and thus suffer from convenient thinking.

Of course, when Eritrea becomes a democratic sunshine, it will be today's capitulators that will become the most self-righteous.  It is like today's higdefawiyans who have not spent a single day in the struggle, and yet have the gall to belittle the heroes that spent their lifetime liberating our precious Eritrea.  In reality, those who condoned, encouraged or even turned blind eye to today's human rights abuse and the trampling of the basic rule-of-law can NEVER become champions of these ideals tomorrow.  Capitulators are always capitulators!

The guest speakers and organizers of 'Hizbawi' Mekete raise interesting observations.  If we examine the few regime supporting educated elites, i.e. the "doctors", that are propping up this regime, we can distinguish them into three distinct groups,

1.  Educated elites that migrated back to Eritrea to help PFDJ - these include Dr. Woldai, Dr. Araya and others.  Although we regret that these individuals are propping up the regime, we must remain highly respectful of them. They left the comforts of the West, took their families back to Eritrea, lived and worked with PFDJ hoping to bring about change.  As much as we wish they had disengaged from the regime, but regardless, they are men of conviction.  Their experience, which undoubtedly must be bitter, inside Eritrea and with the regime will remain valuable for future democratic Eritrea. 

2.  The second group of educated elites is those who live in Diaspora and support the PFDJ by actively engaging in propaganda by writing articles or other means.  Their active support of the regime by indirectly engaging the opposition shows certain degree of conviction.  The second group's activism helps us to better understand if there are any rationale reasons for supporting the regime.

3.  The third group of educated elites is those who lend support to the regime by regurgitating Haddas Eritrea, ERITV and General Wuchu to a friendly or hostage audience.  They will never engage the opposition in writing or personal debates. If they ever had the courage of convictions, they would have been front and center engaging the opposition camp as the second group does or go back to work in PFDJ Eritrea as the first group (defined above) has done.

Asmara Stench

Asmara Stench’s latest attack on brother Gadi is totally repulsive.  But again, what does one expect from a psycho?  This is a woman that thinks that she is a war general in PIA`s personal army.  In reality, she is just a `fenji regach` (cannon fodder) with the delusions of a war general.  Moreover, just because she can write her English grammar properly doesn’t mean that her articles are worth any more than what they are - rubbish.  They are full of inconsistencies, hypocrisies and lack intellectual arguments.  The couple of secrets she blurts out are provided to her by her PFDJ handlers and [she] doesn’t even have the intellect to understand what they are feeding her.  None of us should expect anything positive from a psychotic fenji regach.  The best option is to sue her and likes as awate.com is contemplating; and we are behind you, brother.  The second best thing is to just ignore her, which would be a big punishment for someone who needs constant attention due to certain deprivations and deficiencies.

Our biggest criticisms should be reserved to those who use her as fenji regach.  For instance, where is OEA?  What is their stand?  Can their conscious and personal beliefs accept when their prominent member is engaged in rude and libelous acts?  Can't OEA discipline its members or disassociate itself from such repulsive lies? Are they willing to condone indecency for the sake of silencing anyone that opposes a brutal regime?  What do they stand for?  Do they have any convictions in anything decent and right?  Do they think that they can ignore every indecency and personal assassinations today, and yet that they can advocate for such decency tomorrow?  Their silence screams through the hills and mountains of Eritrea and Diaspora outlets.

Eritrea’s Foreign Minister

It is curious that our Foreign Minister appeared for one conference in Tehran since being appointed to the new position and has disappeared since then.  Whereas Ethiopia’s Foreign Ministry is busy issuing communiqués on the border and engaging in border debates, our foreign minister is just locked up in his office.  It is also interesting that the latest PFDJ letter to the UN was signed by the charge d`affair rather than the permanent representative.  I guess the permanent representative is too busy to sign two letters a year written by PIA to the UN.  What do these people do?  If they can’t convince Libya to vote in favor of Eritrea and can’t sign a couple of letters a year, bring these UN representatives back and let us use the foreign currency savings to pay fuel for poor Eritreans.

But again the foreign minister is unemployed because we are delinquent with our AU dues and can’t attend it and we are out of IGADD.  We go to China and the Ethiopians upstage us.  To add insult to injury, the sponsoring nation of Community of Sahel-Saharan States CEN-SAD, Libya, just backstabbed us in UNSC.  Thinking about it, better our foreign minister sit at home and save that precious commodity – USD$.

Eiraeiro is a symbol of cruelty against loving mothers such as Aster Yohannes and Senait Debessai!

Free our loving mothers, sisters and elders!

Restore the rule-of-law and free all PFDJ hostages!

Hijiwin Ab Metkelna!

Berhan Hagos

February 01, 2008