ERITREA – PLAN FOR IMMEDIATE ACTION; FORMATION OF A NEW ERITREAN MOVEMENT FOR DEMOCRATIC CHANGE – DRAFT DOCUMENT – By Our Voice – Eritrea
Mission Statement: The mandate of the democratic leadership of the Our Voice - Eritrea movement is nothing else but to function as a preparatory body to bring about the establishment of accountable and sustainable constitutional
Mission Statement: The mandate of the democratic leadership of the Our Voice – Eritrea movement is nothing else but to function as a preparatory body to bring about the establishment of accountable and sustainable constitutional governance in Eritrea in which all members of the society will have a full say. We are seeking no less than regime change and the transfer of state power to the people at the earliest.
Simon G. July 24, 2015
Our Voice,
I am a little confused on 5 items + 1 question as a bonus:
1. If you are advocating for regime change, how is that not political?
2. As citizen of Eritrea, how is that possible you don’t have political view? I am sure you care but doesn’t this make you look like you don’t care either way?
3. You suggest for peaceful way of change but at the same time you suggest to have military wing. Unless these are UN military, just to observe, aren’t they going to fight against the dictator.
4. You don’t seem to have members of engineering background and if it is true, is this purposely designed?
5. Who appointed your leaders? Or all the members are leaders 9which is small group)?
6. Why haven’t you approach people like Fetsum Abraham, since he has done a lot of work related to this kind of work? Just for clarification: I only know Fetsum (his work – to be clear) at Assenna.
Beside that, good luck with your initiative and don’t be easily discouraged.
Our Voice July 24, 2015
Hi Simon,
There is nothing confusing in what we are saying.
1. We only said that we are not a political party. Otherwise, we are established as a movement for a clear political purpose ie. to facilitate the removal of the dictatorship and usher in democratic governance.
2. In fact, we have very strong political views. We invite you top read the article again.
3. The military wing has three tasks. None of them is to knock out the Eritrean Army and change the regime. Please read the article again.
4. None of us is an engineer. We are looking for one, Sir!!
5. We are not leaders of Eritrea. only provisional organizers of the movement which will arrange a congress of all members to elect its permanent leaders.
6. We need help from every Eritrean – including your good self.
rahwa July 24, 2015
Our Voice,
We Eritreans as a PEOPLE and as a NATION stand on verge of extinction and collapse. Our identity Eritreanism is undermined and we are like herd without a shepherd. So we are hoping that you understand the significance of your initiative at this point in our history. Eritreans are willing to come together and fight the dictatorship back home. The problem until now has been that there was no opposition group at all which saw our survival as people and a nation as a priority. So show good will and consistency. Be inclusive. Remind us what it means to be Eritrean, (truthful, principled, courageous, loving, kind, humble ….etc) and we will stand by you all the way to building a democratic nation which is ruled by law not by man.
Raphael Arefaine July 24, 2015
Generally, this is a document that is worth considering for the following reasons:
(1) it aims at establishing a “movement” as opposed to a political party, which I believe Eritrean “political parties” in Diaspora are to be irrelevant as they can only be formed inside Eritrea with reference to a constitution;
(2) the intent to apply scientific approach to the problems and/or the solution is to be based on research, facts, and verifiability, which is to follow a decision making process is also completely absent in the opposition camp. The document recognizes this fact;
(3) the willingness to be governed by the principles of transparency, accountability, and inclusiveness are, I think, the fundamentals that are massively lacked by the opposition camp. The document highlights the importance of these principles.
The document is not perfect; with all its imperfections, which I think can be improvised down the road, it is a good start. However, you should have included the list of names of the “initiators” with the prescribed document. The transparency should begin from the get go.
Once, the transparency is evidenced from the get go, the imperfections, which some of which can be bottle necks for the success of the “movement” can be identified, shared, and a proposal can be put forward for consideration so that imperfections can be rectified.
Raphael Arefaine
Ogbai Ghebremedhin July 24, 2015
ዝኸበርኩም OUR VOICE:-
ኣቐዲመ መንፈስ ነቐፌታይ ኣብ ሓደ ግሉጽነት ዘሎዎ ባይታ ብሓባር ንቕዱስ ዕላማ ደው ብምባል መዘና ዘይብሉ ጕልባብ ጸልማት ሃገርና ንኽንቅንጥጥ`ምበር፡ ንኣበርክቶኹም ንምጕዳም ከም ዘይኮነ ክበርሃልኩም እደሊ። ሓሓሊፈ ዘቕርቦ ጽሑፍ ጎፍ ዝብለኩም እንተ ኾይኑ`ውን ንእትደልዩዎ ለውጢ ዝድግፍ ምዃኑ ኣይትስሕቱዎን።
እዚ ድሕሪ ምባል፡ ነተን ቆንጪለ ዝሃብኩኹም ርእይቶ`ኳ መሊእኩም ኣይመለስኩመንን። ኣነ ብስመይ ክቐርበኩም ከለኹ፡ ብድሕሪ መጋረጃ ኴንኩም ክትምልሱለይ ከለኹም ግሉጽነት ከም ዘይሕብር፡ ስለዚ ኸኣ ክብሪ ዝከታተለኩም ህዝብኹም ተጕድሉ ከም ዘለኹም ክትግንዘቡዎ ኣድላዪ እመስለኒ። መሪሕ ሓሳብ ኣብ ቅድሚ ህዝብኻ ደው ኢልካ ብኽፉት ኣእምሮ ጽን ኢልካ እናሰማዕካ ምስ ዝኸውን ኢዩ ዘድምዕ። ሓቂ ከውሊ ኣይትፈቱን`ያ፤ ሓቂ ሒዝና ንህዝብና ከነገልግል እንተ ዓለምና ኸኣ ገጽ ንገጽ ደው ክንብል መባእታዊ ተደላዪ ኢዩ።
ኣብቲ ክፋል ታሪኽ ምስ እንኣቱ፡ ንዓይ ብብሩህ ዘይተረድኣኒ ነገር፡ እዋናዊ ሕቶ ብዛዕባ ዕንወት ህግደፍን መጻኢ ለውጥን ክነሱ፡ ናብ ርሑቕ ብምጋሽ ታሪኽ ጠቀስ ዝርዝር ምሃብ ነዚ ኣብ ቅድሜና ተገቲሩ ዘሎ ጸገም፡ንዓይ ሓዊስካ ካብ ኢዩ ኣይኮነን ናብ ዝብል ጓል ዘረባ ካብ ምሽማም ሓሊፉ፡ እንታይ ዓይነት እወንታዊ ኣገልግሎት ኢዩ ክገብረሉ? ከምኡ`ውን “ንጉስ ምኒልክ ምእንቲ ንርእሱ ክጥዕሞ ንኤርትራ ኣሕሊፉ ብምሃብ ክሕደት ፈጺሙ“ ምባል ኤርትራ ናይ ኢትዮጵያ ኣካል ኔራ ካብ ምእማት ሓሊፉ ብኻልእ ክትርጐም ይኽእል ድዩ? እዚ መጐተዚ`ኸ ክፋል ሕብረተሰብ ኢትዮጵያ ናጽነት ኤርትራ ንምኽሓድ ዝጥቀሙሉ ዘሎዉ ትምክሕታውን ባዶ ዘረባን`ዶ ኣይኮነን? ስለምንታይ ናብኡ ንኣቱ? ምኒልክ ዝገበሮ ታሪኻዊ ሓቅነት ኪህሉዎ ይኽእል`ዩ፣ ኣብ ትንታኔ ግን ኤርትራ ዘይትብጽሖ ምዃናን ንመሬት ኦሮሞ ንምውራርን፡ ንኻልኦት ነገስታት ኢትዮጵያ/ኣቢሲኒያ ኣምበርኪኹ ግዝኣቱ ንምድልዳል ዝተጠቕመሉ ምቹእ ዕድልን`ዶ ኪበሃል ርትዓዊ ኣይኸውንን? ኣብቲ ዝቐደመ ርእይቶይ መልስኹም ጐሲዩዎ ዝሓለፈ፡ ቅድሚ 100 ዓመታት ዝነበረ ጂኦ-ፖለቲካዊ ኩነታት ዓለም ክትምልከቱ እንተ ፈተንኩም ነዚ ሎሚ ዘሎ መልክዕ ከም ዘይውክል ዝሕብር ምዃኑ ንምዝኽኻር ዝዓለመ`ዩ ኔሩ። ኢትዮጵያውያን (ኣሉላ) ኣብ ከበሳ ብኸፊል ይገዝእ ከም ዝነበረ ክንክሕዶ ዘይንኽእል ታሪኽ ኮይኑ፡ ኤርትራ ተወራሪት`ምበር ኣካል ኢትዮጵያ ዝገብራ ኩነታት ኪኸውን ይኽእል ዲዩ? ካብዚ ንላዕሊ፡ ብዛዕባ ታሪኽና ምጽፋፍ ኣድላዪ እንተኾይኑ ግን፡ ኣብ ቅድሜና ዘሎ ሽግር እሞ ከም ደቂ ሓንቲ ሃገር ብሓደ ዕላማ ተጠሚርና ግዝኣተ ሕግን ፍትሕን ኣብ ሃገርና ነውሕስ፡ ደሓር ተዛኒና ብዛዕባ ታሪኽ ነርክበሎ እብል።
Dawit Tsegai, Our Voice July 24, 2015
Zikeberka Ugbai,
Bhasiru, kemzi kibl ifetu.
1. Ane simey Dawit Tsegai iyu.
2. Nai hager zanta meseretawi sile zikone, bizey megletsi inte tehalifu, bizuh midngarn natu saibiyenin zeymrdain sile zeketil mezezu bizuh iyu. Zanta zedliyelu miknyat imbear izi iyu. Nmered’i kkonena, bizuhat Ertrawyan, Amharu tselaitom kem zikonu iyon zird’u. Ab mengo nai Etyopya gezaitin, hzbi Eyyopyan zelo fil’ly kirdi’om aykiln. Izu abi gega iyu. Tarik atsebikna mis nfelit, hizbi Etyopya nigezai ri’isu tchikum kem zinebere nirdai. Imbeay, zanta mi’mrmarn mftatn zelena atekasasban ginzabiyen kenestekakl yihgzena malet iyi.
3. Zanta kem zitiemeka aykonen tgebro. Haki kn’amn alona. Intezeykoynu ab zigedede tsegem ina nemirh. Ab mengo Ertran Etyopiyan zelo rikib nay werarn tewerarn zanta tray diya? Aymeslen’n. Izi atehasasba izi intezey tearimu, kab tsegemna knwetsi’i iwun nkiel aymeslenin. Netsanetnaqn, Lualawinetnan, kibrnan hizna, mis Etyopyawyan biselan innebrelu megedi medlay alona. Ertra nay Axsum Mengisti akal do ayneberetn? Izi zikehad diyu? Kindey nay Etyopia negusat, Nmjdri Bahri yemahadiru indo ayneberun? Kidmi Ras Alula nab Ertra mimtsu’u, Dejatch Hailu Gebremedhin (Tseazega) do aykonum nkebesa Ertra zemehadru zineberu? Nsomke ab thti Hatsey Yohannes do aykonun zimehaderu zinheberu? Nezi nezi inda zekerna mihzret mis kalot hagerat kenedeldl alena’mber, hehmaku inda tekesna mis gorebabtna in’nakorelu intay miknyat alo? Nay Sudan iwun bizuh tsubukn himakn alo.
4. Nay Ertra tsekem aimro’awi iwun iyu. Biu miknyat ina zeynsemama’i. Izi kulu mermirna fewsi kin rekbelu alena. Zelilna nab mefthi kinatu inte fetin’na, temelisn nan chika ina n’atu!! Nsika kemzmesleka tsegemna kelil aykonen. Nska tbil zeleka swilemntay zelilna bizaiba meftikitat zeynziti iyu. Nhna kea, izi kdmi migbarna iti gibui mkr’rab nigber nigeza’i ri’isna niflet, nestekakl ina nbil zelona.
Abzi kulu hateta mi’itaw ahaguisnan fetinan aykonen!!
Sorry, I hope this makes sense!.
Ogbai Ghebremedhin July 24, 2015
ኣብቲ መበገሲ (ትሕዝቶ ታሪኽን ግሉጽነትኩምን) ተሓጺረ ስለ ዝጸነሕኩ፡ ነቲ ዘቕረብኩሞ እ።ማመ ምስ ነበብኩዎ፡ ይጠቅም ዝብሎ ርእይቶ ክልግስ ክፍትን`የ።
Ogbai Ghebremedhin July 25, 2015
DAWIT – THANK YOU FOR YOUR HISTORICAL INPUT. I ASURE YOU, I DO NOT TRY TO PRESENT HISTORY SELECTIVELY, AS YOU HINTED – Zanta kem zitiemeka aykonen tgebro -I BELIEVE RIGHT OR WRONG, HARD AS IT IS, IN THE TRUE UNEDITED HISTORY. IT IS WISE TO REMEMBER THAT EVEN HISTORIANS ARE ALSO INFLUENCED BY THEIR TIMES AND THEY TOO HAVE THEIR PARTIALITY. IN ANY CASE, I AM NOT AGAINST HISTORICAL DISCUSSION. BUT WE ERITREANS HAVE YET TO WRITE OUR OWN HISTORY. HOWEVER, PRESENTLY, MY QUESTION IS: DO WE NEED TO RAISE THE HISTORY OF THE 19TH CENTURY TO SAVE ERITREA FROM THE CURRENT TYRANNY OF DICTATORSHIP? WITH THAT, I HAVE AN ISSUE. WE HAVE TO LEARN FROM THE DIGRESSIONS WHICH HAVE BLINDED US SO FAR FROM FOCUSING ALL OUR ENERGIES ON SOLVING THE PRESENT PROBLEM. LET US MOVE ON TO THE TASK ON HAND; FOR WHATEVER ITS WORTH, HISTORY OR CURRENT AFFAIRS, WE CAN NEVER CHANGE THE PAST.
Natnael July 29, 2015
Dear Ogbai,
I will also try to post my opinion as frank as you do, then only truth can move us forwards unlike obscurity does.
If you mean “… WE ERITREANS HAVE YET TO WRITE OUR OWN HISTORY. HOWEVER, PRESENTLY, MY QUESTION IS: DO WE NEED TO RAISE THE HISTORY OF THE 19TH CENTURY TO SAVE ERITREA FROM THE CURRENT TYRANNY OF DICTATORSHIP? … HISTORY OR CURRENT AFFAIRS, WE CAN NEVER CHANGE THE PAST.” In my eyes, you have got the core problem of our situation. In reality Eritrea doesn’t have its own histry as such (refer to Amb Andebrhan’s interview, Axumite kingdom/empire, Abysinia (Amhara, Tigray and Eritrean highlands),…etc)except the colonial era/time in which the good Menelik is envolved, ….etc. Hence Eritrea exists now as a political entity as we also see this developement in eastern Europe (Russia, Yugoslavia,…etc). We have to learn to speak the truth. Exactly these issues have made the developement of Eritrea very complicated as “we can never change the past”. I suppose that the women/men behind ‘our voice’ aim to raise this issue as a target. Without a clear vision of the past, we are condemned to trip over the facts (=hindrances) and move in a devil cycle.
Gabir July 25, 2015
My Message to Our Voice initiators.
Please do not reveal your names until all the groundwork has been finished. This may seem strange, but from our experience in the last 10 to 15 years, Eritreans concentrate who the author is rather than what the idea he/she is providing. As a result of our backwardness and so called transparency, many initiatives fail before they start. The PFDJ is very clever on this. Once you reveal your names, it is easy for them to vilify your good will.
Do not call for a public meeting until you find all potential supporters of the initiative all over the world. Do not do any interviews with media outlets but try to convince all justice loving media outlets to support your initiative.
The structure of the movement must be well crafted in terms of the chemistry of its members.
Dawit, Our Voice - Eritrea July 26, 2015
Hi Gabir,
I am amazed!! That is exactly what we plan to do!! We are aware of the risks. We very much appreciate your concern.
May God bless you in abundance!
Many thanks.
Truly Truly i say to you July 25, 2015
Please stop your mockery and blasphemy! Do not call it “our voice” but you better call it “my voice!” From the beginning your historical explanation is much offended, Keep it your tell tell narration to yourself, because no real Eritreans buys it. I can assure you, your new formed organization, its purpose unless again and again by causing division among oppositions so that not succeed and be fruitful to weaken and paralyze them, and by doing that unless to extend and strength it is the dictatorship, by no means could be supportive for fulfil the real Eritreans dream. So honorable Ato Okbay G/Medhin like Abu Barka advised you please do not waste your energy and do not give much regard to this useless movement, we know you how very matured, honest real indigenous citizen you are. So, to you and alike serious intelligent person. If you allow me to tell you the truth, believe it or not, whatever Eritrean organization in whatever angel language and program would be appear, let alone the very wicked, very divided society like Eritrea to chose its own leader, in the whole third world countries even in most developed countries would be, if someone believes it is by people choice all time presidents holding power, I say the person should be either meek , or abc student for politic or should be in its own Phantasy who lives. That to convince you, i don´t go further, just recently before the Ethiopian regime going for election, it was the US regime who decided Hailemariam Desalegne as would be prime minister, not the regime nor the people. Everywhere what happened is only what they said is only, specially in third world. May some meek may think , no the Eritrean Pharao Isayas Afework is by its own might he came to power and he still existing. No, without their aknowledgment and blessing he can not come to power , if found useless and he is to go what they seriously decide is only will happen. So aknowledging this fact my only pray is the next coming president, like Isayas with no Eritrean root ,very wicked, negative mind, cruel not to be appointed on us; but real indigenous God fearing real Eritreans, with big human heart and intelligence, who can be good shepherd for our helpless people to appoint for us it is. Some of you may will tell me, Truly why do you make human being gods and ask them to appoint up on us good leader, why don´t direct ask God? It is good question!But because I believe under Almighty God there are gods for this position it is. If you want to prove read Psalm 82.
WediHagher July 26, 2015
“Ertra nay Axsum Mengisti akal do ayneberetn? Izi zikehad diyu? Kindey nay Etyopia negusat, Nmjdri Bahri yemahadiru indo ayneberun? Kidmi Ras Alula nab Ertra mimtsu’u, Dejatch Hailu Gebremedhin (Tseazega) do aykonum nkebesa Ertra zemehadru zineberu? Nsomke ab thti Hatsey Yohannes do aykonun zimehaderu zinheberu? Nezi nezi inda zekerna mihzret mis kalot hagerat kenedeldl alena’mber, hehmaku inda tekesna mis gorebabtna in’nakorelu intay miknyat alo? Nay Sudan iwun bizuh tsubukn himakn alo.”
Dawit Tsegai, Our Voice
I think you are giving unnecessary attention to history, at least at this time. Since you want dwell on that, let me tell on thing:
– Looking at 16/17th century maps of Africa you will see that Abyssinia is a large part of East Africa that goes beyond present Ethiopia. Abyssinia was not a State or a Nation State. The Tigreyans and Amharas were competing for power to control their surroundings with the help of foreign forces, mainly the British, who were concerned with French and Italian expansion in the region. Hence, Ethiopia came into existence only at the end of 18th century, after incorporating Oromo, Somali and Southerns lands by force with arms supplied by British colonialists. The 3000 years history claim is not based of present day Ethiopia. The majority of non-Habesha have nothing to do with it. They were not part of Lalibela, Axum or Gonder castles history and culture. May be people in Eritrean highlands have more do to with it than Oromo, Afar, Somalis, Beni-Shengul etc.
In a nutshell, the present day Ethiopians have no shared history, as is he case of many African countries. What about Sudan aren’t they Abyssinians too ?, look at the maps made about 300 years ago.
– You said, it’s because of Minilik that Eritrea emerged as a colonial entity. This is a bit strange, to say the least. Menilik did not own Eritrea. It’s true that the Eritrean highlands had some history with other Habesha people in South, but to claim that this was Eritrean history or that all highlanders were under Tigreyan and Amhara rule is absolutely wrong. The Italians wanted Wuchalle agreement to secure their presence in Eritrea, because they did not trust the British who had strong presence in the region.
– We need to live in peace with our neighbors, but no amount of intimidation or twisting of historical facts, should oblige us to revise history to suit any political agenda. Eritrea has history with all its neighbors. And all of them are important to us. We should do our best to build bridges with them. Whatever, historical relations we have with them can also be used to strength good relations and mutual benefit. But we don’t need to invent a history that did not exist or accept the narrative of Ethiopian ruling classes, for whatever reason.
Ogbai Ghebremedhin July 29, 2015
DEAR OUR VOICE – I TRIED TO REACH YOU WITH THE E-MAIL YOU PROVIDED INV ORDER TO TALK TO ABOUT THE TIGRIGNA TRANSLATION BUT SAID – FAILED PERMANENTLY. SORRY!
Dawit, Our Voice - Eritrea July 30, 2015
Dear Ogbai,
Please try again on ourvoice.eritrea@yahoo.com
Thank you for your help!
Our Voice