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EDA: STOP AUGUMENTING THE SUFFERING OF THE ERITREAN PEOPLE

I would like to start my writing by congratulating those civic organizations, individual human right activistis, and members of traditional opposition groups for organizing and staging successful demonstration both in New York, Germany, and Sweden.

I would like to start my writing by congratulating those civic organizations, individual human right activistis, and members of traditional opposition groups for organizing and staging successful demonstration both in New York, Germany, and Sweden. The Youth Organizations based in USA have shown to the world that they are bold and courageous enough to confront Dictator Issais and his Monkey Toy (Yemane) and chase them from the streets of New York. We also witnessed the chasing of Yemane monkey with unknown poor lady for blocks in the streets of New York. Good job members of Eritrean Youth for Change (EYC) of the great Bay Area, California. Eritrean youth around the globe are in deed proud of you.

As many people will agree with me, the recent demonstrations were very different from previous ones, both in terms of the make up and numbers of the demonstrators. For the first time in the history of the Eritrean Opposition Groups against PFDJ, Eritrean youth group came out in huge numbers as well as participating in organizing and leading the events. The other thing the youth groups have shown to the world that they can organize any future demonstrations in no time using the social media available to them such as face book and twitter. I also see some resemblance in the mode of operation with the youth groups that led the “Arab-Spring” we witnessed in the Arab world. Thank you our gallant brothers and sisters for making us to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Eritrean dreams and hope have rekindled again because you start leading the real genuine opposition which was hibernated not only through one winter but for decades. It seems that time is on the “Real Opposition” side. Let us keep the momentum going, but be vigilant at the same time. The demise of the Dictator in Asmara is in sight as pressure and isolation is mounting on the regime both from Diaspora Eritreans, European Union, IGAD, USA, and UN. As usual some of the traditional political leaders of the opposition will start “salivating” like a hungry dog to grab power when Issayas and his gangs are removed from power. But it is not going to happen because we will not allow these inept leaders to fool us once again like PFDJ.

After the above mentioned successful demonstrations, the other big milestone in the history of the opposition is the coming National Congress for democratic change which was originally scheduled for October 20011 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. It is unfortunate that the meeting is postponed by another one month due to sinister calculated demands by few power-mongers of some EDA leaders. I am sure that this situation will create some inconvienience for those who are elected from different parts of the world to participate in the meeting. I strongly believed the demand put foreword by six-members of EDA was purposely devised to thwart the momentum of the oppositions. I tried to glean different information from individuals as well as official announcements from the commission. The EDA request definitely made the commission to succumb. This is my personal suggestion to the Commission: YOU SHOULD HAVE SAID TO THE FEW EDA MEMBERS “GO TO HELL. WE DON’T NEED YOU”. These so called opposition groups both members and non-members of EDA have failed us for so many years to create a strong, united, effective and credible opposition to confront the brutal regime of Issayas Afeworki. They have to show us that they are ready to fundamentally and honestly reform themselves before they even advocate for a regime change in Eritrea. Unless they are ready to do so, they have no place in future Eritrea that will elect its future leaders through elections not through arm-twisting and scary tactics.

The above sad affair is a small setback to the momentum we garnered in the last few months, but at the same time it gives us the opportunity to scrutinize leaders of the traditional political opposition groups both members and non-members of EDA who don’t wish the success of the upcoming historical National Congress (Waella). I will try to enumerate below few of the reasons why:

(I) Status Quo: they love it
If you follow the leaders of the EDA members and non-members, they have been in power leading their organizations with only handful of members for decades. These political opposition groups look big with fancy names on paper but in reality they are like empty huge rooms with scattered few items here and there. Some of the leaders are serving as chairman of their respective mini-organization for over 25+ years. Are they the only competent individuals in their respective parties? Why not they try to recruit young individuals into the leadership? One thing is so obvious with these individuals: most of these them are living comfortably either in western countries or in Ethiopia. God knows how they earn their living. They don’t want to change this status quo. Their way of life right now is the best for them. This is one of reasons that they want to thwart the current momentum to their advantage.

(II) Recognizing Civic and Youth Organizations are more potent their mini- political organizations

The recent demonstrations were organized mostly by Civic and Youth organization. Nobody can refute the potency of these demonstrations. They clearly exposed to the world how brutal the regime we have in our country is. They used appropriate placards as well as clear messages. Who one would not pay attention to the placard that reads: Where is my Father? Where is my son? How about the big, fat rat with Issais’s face in its belly? These are creative slogans by our creative young brothers and sisters. These few extremely powerful messages have contributed at pushing the current momentum against the tyranny in our country foreword. I am sure there are some of the so-called leaders in the traditional political organizations will not like it. This is what I expect from some of the leaders in EDA: bury fatal mines on the path that leads towards the “Waella” which is expected to form Transitional Government of Eritrea in Exile democratically? They will try their best to block Waella from having a successful meeting unless they are assured by the commission positions in this Transitional Government prior to the meeting without election. May be they will try to negotiate power sharing schemes with commission in the coming one month. I hope the commission will not succumb again to such sinister schemes and demands put foreword by these inept leaders.

(III) Lacking Clear Vision

The so-called leaders of the political organization seem to luck clear vision on how to get rid off the dictatorial regime in Eritrea. They have not figured out yet after 25+ years the “Road Map” that transforms us to a peace full and democratic Eritrea. They should not have wasted their time all these years fighting among themselves on trivial issues that are not important to the Eritrean people. They themselves are to be blamed for extending the suffering of our people. One thing that they are really good at is: split and merge, split again and merge-again. About 10 years ago there were less than five political organizations in the USA that splintered from ELF. Currently there are about 30+ organizations and still counting. All these organizations have redundant and boring political programs. Why not they form a single united, stronger, credible, viable, and effective opposition organization instead of keeping their useless tiny organization with no clear vision? It is frustrating to see these tooth-less organization multiplying like genetically modified rats. What a shame? The Eritrean people are requesting the leaders of these organizations to provide them the “Road Map” that removes the dictatorial and brutal regime in Eritrea right now, not tomorrow. People are losing hope and become skeptical on the motives of these impotent leaders in EDA as well as outside EDA. Hitherto they don’t have this “Road Map”. They squandered the golden opportunity bickering and splitting rather than focusing on the removal of the dictatorship in Eritrea for many years. Leaders that have hard time to “Characterize and Define the Regime in Eritrea” also will have to hard time to convince us to elect them to public offices in future Eritrea. Because of this crippling short coming, they will try their best to hijack the momentum these Eritrean Youth that are building in recent months. One way to do this hijacking is to frustrate these youngsters by preventing “Waella” to be successful. These youngsters have invested so much time discussing the important documents forwarded by the commission in many sessions in different parts of the world. On top of these, they were busy participating in different events fighting the PFDG. If you try to stop the upcoming historical meeting in November, Eritrean people will hold you accountable for augmenting their suffering.

I hope the leaders of the six-organizations that demanded the delay of the meeting by one month are paying attention to the frustration of many people like me. You tried your best to lead the opposition for years but failed miserably. The short comings I mentioned above are only few that are hindering you from leading us in the right direction. If we continue to allow you as leaders, we are definitely doomed to fail. I honestly ask you to heed to the demand of the Eritrean people to be genuine leaders or retire gracefully from political leadership. Eritrean people are asking you either to Put up or Shut up. Currently you are becoming a liable rather than an asset in fighting against the PFDJ. Please pass the torch of leadership to the Eritrean Youth who can clearly ‘Characterized the Regime in Eritrea as Brutal Dictatorship that has to be uprooted by all means”. They are ready to fight the regime by all possible means available to them. Give these young Eritreans the courage and the support they deserve rather than trying to kill their fighting spirit.

Lastly, I also admit that the Commission is not a perfect one. Under the circumstance in which the commission created last year, it is doing its best to have a successful Congress. The commission prepared at least some sort of “Road Map” and important documents for discussion. I believe because of the commission’s effort, we are one step forward in our struggle against the regime of Issayas Afeworki. Personally I thank you all members of the commission for serving honestly and tirelessly for one whole year. Good luck with the up coming meeting. If still some groups threaten to boycott the meeting, please allow them to walk out. No more begging.

Thank you.

Tewolde Kibrom, USA

aseye.asena@gmail.com

Review overview
45 COMMENTS
  • GOOD MAN October 11, 2011

    The question becomes how we change the system to work for all Eritreans :
    I call on people to take this issue very seriously, our struggle is increasingly controlled by special interests interested only in their short- term profit. We cannot allow so called leaders to continue charting down the path towards destabilization. We need actions that are bold enough to wake them up. Are we happy with the direction the opposition are moving in? I am very disappointed. The disappointment is heartbreaking. Their failure will no longer lead us to catastrophe; game is over. They can get away with it. We hold the key,and the power is for the people, let us move forward. The courage and the passion of our nation are the youth. The youth have to help empower the masses. Our young can give that energy and want for change to the the older generation and help them assimilate into a new era.

  • GOOD MAN October 11, 2011

    The question becomes how we change the system to work for all Eritreans :
    I call on people to take this issue very seriously, our struggle is increasingly controlled by special interests interested only in their short- term profit. We cannot allow so called leaders to continue charting down the path towards destabilization. We need actions that are bold enough to wake them up. Are we happy with the direction the opposition are moving in? I am very disappointed. The disappointment is heartbreaking. Their failure will no longer lead us to catastrophe; game is over. They can get away with it. We hold the key,and the power is for the people, let us move forward. The courage and the passion of our nation are the youth. The youth have to help empower the masses. Our young can give that energy and want for change to the older generation and help them assimilate into a new era.

  • Barentu October 11, 2011

    The fundamental problem of Eritrea is the older Jebha-Shaebia class generation. This class is part of the problem.
    Stop blaming Hgdef alone.

  • Barentu October 11, 2011

    The long term and decisive change in Eritrea will only come from inside Eritrea. The Kidan is as worthless as the old Jebha was. Stop dreaming that the Kidan hyenas can replace the Hgdef dictatorship inside Eritrea.
    The only option is that the young members in the commission should insist the conference take place in the Summer time around June 2012 where more young organized Eritreans can participate.
    These looks like the late 1960s where the old reactionary Qiada al Ama was secretely hunting down and jailing the young and educated Eritreans as well as the Obelites. This also looks like the hzbawi Hayltat hunting down the so called menkaEs and yamenis.
    Bereket needs to be open to confront the fact that the first Gubaie or conference was not a sucess, it was more of a propaganda. You guys are in big trouble now because you were covering up and exagerating past events.
    Every kidan commission meeting did not have more than 30 people in the diaspora. This is in major western cities where Hgdef can garner more than 6 thousand strong people who are willing to give their time and money. Hgdef supporters are so dedicated they can easily fund raise tens of thousands of pounds in one sitting alone.
    The old Jebha and its would be leaders are still way behind to confront the Hgdefites.

    • Maazza October 12, 2011

      Barentu

      Part I
      I read your posts and hear what you are saying but it seems to me you tend to see things as black and white. I think that the present Kidan entity could be most effectively used to evolve into ‘sky is the limit’ if appropriate mechanisms of handling the congregating is used. Last year’s gathering is a case in point. Things, we understand, did not go as the organizers had planned. Participants took matters into their own hands and common sense reigned. Please correct me if I am wrong and things did not go in that direction. Every effort should be made for this ‘conference’ to take place so results could be scrutinized and assessment made to enable the Eritrean pepole what Kidan is all about. That there should be all sorts of elements (good and bad) in it is inevitable. Only the outcome can say glaringly what it really is.

      • Maazza October 12, 2011

        Part II
        Again in your second post I detect anothre black and white thing. You state that the ‘Arab Spring’ is heading towards an “Islamic fanatic Spring”. I totally disagree. There are all sorts of elements that will attempt to snatch the victory to serve their purposes. It is not that you try something as complex and complicated of overthrowiing a repressive machinery and you come out, in one go, with the finished product, without any blemishes. This is why I say you tend to see in black and white. Processes are not static and are in movement, reading them and coming with a static definition may not give you the real picture. Personally I think that the craving for freedom and justice (globaly) utweighs any other consideration and will win the day.

        • Maazza October 12, 2011

          Part III

          You state ‘Hgdef supporters are so dedicated they can easily fund raise tens of thousands of pounds in one sitting alone.’
          Hgdef supporters are not dedicated, they are opportunists whose unshakable ground on the advantage they draw from this repressive system is clear to see for our people at home and those who are against hgdef in the diaspora. They are the same people who , in private, will not hesitate to bad-mouth DIA and hgdef in no uncertain terms. Most are cynical and their gain (seeing their loved ones at home and acquiring property, etc) is so indispensable to their existence that they will not ‘squander’ it for an unknown future. Your seeing them displaying support and mistaking them for a dedicated lot is I think a bit superficial. Mark my words, when the system is deposed, they will show their grabby dispostion by appearing dedicated. These types exist in all societies, nothing new there. They are in the borderline watching for any signs of change and in a blink of any eye, the dedication you wrtire about will be dumped.

          My advise is to look deeper into these phenomena and try to understand, in depth, what they mean. Perhaps because I may be older than you, I do not take things for their face value. Thanks.

  • HGDF October 11, 2011

    What were you expecting from bunch of ELF war lords, jihadists, tribalists, regionalist, opportunists, traidors and so on?

  • Gaul Medefera(rahel) October 11, 2011

    at all hgdef mendef is the worst leader!… just boasting boasting boasting.. and undermining others… while his home is making it empty…

  • ahmed Saleh October 11, 2011

    The demand for democratic change as we know it doesn’t come overnight. But to pay attention to our voice we will
    keep send the message to be heard by everyone in our political circle. We need a leadership with progressive
    political agenda and economic reforms that would pave a way for bright future. For those opposition organizations
    with my appreciation I also give them credit to survive that long bythemselves .

    • ahmed Saleh October 11, 2011

      To those who don’t feel ready to join the demand for political change obviosly you have no business
      to enter this forum. Most of you gave me an expression that for reason nobody understand you shut the
      door on yourself. Our reactions are shaped by our experience. WE see this political activity as part of our
      national obligation to pursue liberty and justice to all.

    • g yosef October 11, 2011

      You know what, we need to see what the socall opposition are doing for many years they did not pass the first step ,to me this people are more forthem than for the eritrean people . we try to suport them with every thing ,but no result is shown in thier part, so it is time for all the suporter to find a better option .

      • Ahmed Saleh October 11, 2011

        g yosef
        I agree with you . That is why we are looking a way to create a civilian political force to be its catylst.

  • ባህታ ደሊይ ፍትሒ October 11, 2011

    ዝኸበርኹም ኣሐትን እሕዋትን እቲ ኣውራ ዘሕዝን እዞም መሪሕነ ሰውራታታት ዝበሀሉ ገዳዬም ተጋደልቲ ሐዲግና መንእሰይ እዪ ዘምጻኦ እቲለውጺ ንበገስ ጥራይ ። እዚኦ ኣብ
    ኣብ ኣዲስ ምስ መለስ ክመሳኩኑ ዝዕሉ ስለዝኾኒ ካብቶ ኣብ ኣስመራ ዘለዉ ዘይፍለዩ ሰ ዝኾኑ በዙኣኦ ከይተ ዓናቕፍና ንበገስ ምስ ሰራዊት ኣብ ውሽጢ ሀገር ዘሎ በሀላይ እዬ ። ሰዚ ለውጢ በቲ ምሰረት ህዝቢ ጥራይ እዬ ዝመጽእ እሞ ተለዐል ወዲ ሀገር ።

    ኣጀኹም ኣጀና ኸይንከዳዳዕ ኣብ ዘለና ኣሊና ሸጥ መዐንጣ ምስቲ ኣብ ሀገር ዘሎ ህብና ።

    ባህታ ደላይ ፍትሒ

  • Barentu October 11, 2011

    There were a lot of problems and weaknesses with in the Kidan and Commission, such as lack of transparency, shirking democratic principles, power lust, financial greed and ignorance, to say the least.
    But the young members of the opposition such as Bereket, journalists such as Amanuel Eyasu, Amanuel Sahle, Mickael Abraha, Habtom Yohanes … and many others were not honest and brave enough to tell us the truth and to confront the issues head on. All members of these so called worthless Kidan-commission were throwing a lot of the concerns under the rug, so that young Eritreans would not find out the truth.
    Worse, many of you were engaged or allowed your own media to tarnish many prominent Eritreans, such as Mesfin Hagos, Weldeyesus Amar, Bereket H. Selasie, Cidrie, the Global solidarity … and many, without giving the opportunity for them to defend themselves.
    We all know what the so called “Arab Spring” is heading to “Islamic fanatic Spring” after the killing and torture of many innocent poor migrant sub Saharan black Africans in Libya, and now the burning of churches and the massacre of the Coptic Christians in Egypt.
    If you are not honest and brave enough to confront evil, you will be consumed by it, no less than what Jebha did in Sryet Addis, Obelites, Falul or the Menkaes. Those who fail to learn from history are condemned to repeat it.

  • qoute October 11, 2011

    Bhaili aikonen feshilkum ikhum tekebeluwo new york miskir iyu 5000 degefti mengisti 500 tekawemti dos bnatkum melekie zwehede iyu zwsn (ab majority aikonkumn tamnu)n500 ketehgusu 5000 dimocrasiawi meselu ktghefuwo

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