A wrong political communication between
leaders of the Eritrean political organizations

By Fesseha Nair

Politics by Eritrean understanding is not on issues but on personalities. The so called personal chemistry is the main instrument used to create divisions and conflicts. Policy making is not the business of politicians but of professionals of each public or private issues.

Politicians , either in the executive or legislative are to implement the demands of the citizens. In the Eritrean politics still those in the political leadership consider themselves that they are the managers of all issues of the nation. They consider themselves that they are the givers and takers of the freedoms of the citizens. The attitude of dominance and we are the owners of wisdom and knowledge of the Eritrean people is a wrong and misleading understanding of the so called Eritrean political leaders.

There are political leaders in the opposition camp who assume themselves that they are the only who have the wisdom and knowledge necessary to succeed in Eritrea. These leaders of some organizations who call themselves the, “ mainstream” or the dominant were never the solution but a major part of the internal conflict in the struggle for liberation and democracy in Eritrea

The wrong communication of the leaders of the so called dominant political organizations is not to build an enduring peace based on freedoms of the Eritrean diversity but to oppress, exploit and assimilate, or threaten sister organizations by interconnecting them with international terrorism. The political system that institutionalise exclusion some organizations claiming their rights is a wrong political communication. All the political organizations in the opposition camp should have access to power, participate in all activities without exclusion whether they struggle for their religious or ethnic rights.  The wrong communication of the so called dominant organizations leads to erosion and withdrawal of trust from the Eritrean people. Those who are excluded will seek their political arrangements and that can in its turn lead to armed conflicts and halt democratisation.

The politics of exclusion will never bring peace in Eritrea. The politics of exclusion weakens the unity of the opposition camp and instead elongate the authoritarian rule in Eritrea. The politics of exclusion practised by the regime in Eritrea and some political organizations in the opposition camp are the same coming from the hegemonic nationalism.

The so called dominant organizations need listen to the views and respect their claims. The opposition camp consists several organizations claiming their fundamental rights of religion , territory and many other human rights. What is Eritrea if the called dominant eats the minor? Where is then the democracy advocated by such organizations?

What is needed is a wise communication including all forces regardless of their claims. Our key word before the coming congress in Addis should be,  “ we cannot solve the challenges of our times unless we solve them together.”  We need to listen to the views and respect the collective will of the Eritrean people. The congress should not be a field for power struggle but reviltalise and strengthen the democratic alliance that can empower the oppressed people of Eritrea.