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HERE AND THERE

HERE AND THERE By Fetsum Abraham//3/18/2013 Solidarity Message I humbly transmit my solidarity message to the PLATFORM FOR CIVILIZED DIALOGUE AMONG ERITREANSthat will take place in the Bay Area on March 23. I thank the organizers of this occasion

HERE AND THERE

By Fetsum Abraham//3/18/2013

Solidarity Message

I humbly transmit my solidarity message to the PLATFORM FOR CIVILIZED DIALOGUE AMONG ERITREANSthat will take place in the Bay Area on March 23. I thank the organizers of this occasion because I believe this is the time for every Eritrean mind to freely participate in the struggle for democracy in Eritrea. I hope this will be a good role modeling to all of us in different parts of the world. I also hope that the exchange of ideas will take place in a free environment minus inhibition and pretension.

Let this be the new culture of our communities to agree to disagree on the basis of tolerance and intellectual involvement like how our Somalian brothers and sisters did it to form one of the best democracies in our continent.

Quote of the moment: There is no unity without diversity and no life without freedom of speech: A transitional government is the only way of unifying different ideas towards democracy; THE REST IS DICTATORSHIP

Dear Eritreans;

In response to my last article on solidarity message to the EDPD conference in Addis,

A concerned brother Petros Haile stated;

This article of yours is full of contradiction and highly judgmental, not to mention shallow (by your own admission. the little I know about the original differences was mainly on the number of representation, and also a major rift on principle issues, such as the methods of struggle. I am not sure why EPDP2 retracted from that position and decided to join the EDA “

Answer

Thank you for the response and I respect your opinion fully, needless to state that open academic exchange of ideas as such is what we need at this point in the struggle. As you said, my exposure to the internal politics of the EDPD is shallow, and it had to be so because of lack of information from the party itself. Information monopoly and taking the people for granted have become the modes of struggle for our politicians in the resistance. We have been conditioned to work on the little information that comes out public and nothing else. I claim that I am a victim of ignorance like all other Eritreans because of the parties’ secretive political culture and probable conceptual misunderstanding of democracy as a subject matter.

I suspect that you may also be a victim of the same problem because you “know little about the original differences” and pointed that they differed on “number of representation and principle issues, such as the methods of struggle”.

My brother, that is the same problem I have about the opposition groups in Ethiopia. Yet, let me comment on the points you brought for discussion

1] Number of representations in the EDA:

a)     If this was one of the causes of the rift between EDPD1 and EDPD2, I want to know as an individual the complete details on the matter in order to take position as matter of my right as an Eritrean. Minus information, I suspect someone wants to represent us without our mandate. In this regard, I claim that Eritreans were not well represented democratically, because they have been denied their freedom of information from the EDPD. This problem, however, can be corrected by both groups should they claim to be democratic.

b)    The EDA should have constitutional rules concerning number of representations per political party and I think a merging party has to be abided by the rules. I cannot think of this issue to drift the two groups to the point of split; nor can I consider the problem that important for them to take such a long time to resolve.

c)     Should EDPD as a whole considered itself as one political party, it should then have accepted the allotted reprentation in the EDA as any other independent party in resistance. This party could not have asked for more representation in EDA without prioritizing political power to forming a transitional Government, which is the urgent call of the moment.

2] Principle issues such as methods of struggle:

a)     If this was one of the causes of the rift between EDPD1 and EDPD2, I want to know as an individual the complete details on the issues confronted within in order to take a position. What are the so-called principles that contradicted the two groups and why did not they resolve them democratically (by vote)? What were the different methods of struggle that caused the drift and how come they could not solve this issue democratically (by vote)? Minus information, I suspect someone wants to represent the Eritreans without their mandate. In this regard, I claim that Eritreans were not well represented democratically speaking because they have been denied their freedom of information from the EDPDs.

b)    I don’t think an independently functioning party should alone decide a method of struggle in our situation. Any method of struggle should be unanimously decided by a united front through equal participation of all the parties within. Such a decision cannot be monopolized by a single party according to democratic principles and will not serve the interest of the people at all.

d)    I cannot think of this issue to drift the two groups to the point of split; nor can I consider the problem that important for them to take such a long time to resolve. Let us have a common principle that abides all the parties claiming to represent the society and let the party representatives establish this democratically: anything else to me is unacceptable.

You said that my “simplistic view does not serve justice, specially unjustly trying to discredit EPDP1 and promote EPDP2, just because they extended an invitation to you, in order to buy your sympathy …”

Brother, I do not care for their invitation but I respect it. I have decided never to be dominated by external mind, only to learn from it. My independent mind is my life that I will never compromise for any personal advantage. I am not a member of any party and I like to stay independent in order to transmit my subjective views without hesitation. Therefore, I did not write my opinion because EPDP2 invited me to attend its Addis conference but only to support it because it has joined the united front and to encourage other independent parties to do the same. I am here to sympathize with any party that I think takes a step towards forming a transitional government through United Front. Further, I do not see my sympathy more important than any other sympathy in my community for the party to consider it more important.

You also said;  “I don’t think EPDP1 ever claimed to be the only alternative, or vanguard to bring about salvation in Eritrea, if they have said that, please direct me, this way I would not be another uninformed, shallow and judgmental Eritrean in diaspora !!!

Brother, I cannot show you material evidence (written or said) to this effect because of lack of information from the party but failing to join the united front and keeping the information secret from the people is “claim[ing] to be the only alternative, or vanguard to bring about salvation in Eritrea”, at least in my understanding.

In conclusion, Eritreans do not have time to wait for the political parties to resolve their internal differences but only to move on in the direction of a transitional government that equally represents the political parties encapsulated within. No political party can independently claim to salvage the society from the yoke of dictatorship because this idea is anti-democracy. We need a transitional government immediately and the time to pressurize the parties to unite under one political emblem and for every Eritrean to take this responsibility through active participation has arrived. This is time for ACTION, not for philosophizing politics or nurturing a cult: let this wait until we get rid of the dictatorship in Eritrea. Let democracy dictate the terms of expressing policy differences in post-democratic Eritrea under the transitional government.

Experience has, however, thought me never to worship and blindly follow any party that claims representing the Eritrean people. It has taught me to be careful about individuals who focus on power and to peacefully challenge them using the principles of genuine democracy. I will continue to use my inherent freedom of expression to the fullest of my capacity without any prejudice and fear.

In the mean time I thank you brother Petros for provoking a topic for discussion and I encourage Eritreans to read my solidarity message to the EPDP in order

to relate well to this communication.

Thank you

 

aseye.asena@gmail.com

Review overview
19 COMMENTS
  • jonah March 21, 2013

    Well,
    First I don’t want to digress too much from Fetsum’s message..
    I didn’t like nor condone the behavior of Ethiopian leadership for the deportation of Eritreans. Do Woyane have the interest of Eritreans at heart? I don’t think so. Why should they anyway?

    I am not sure I understand Eritrean magnanimity part. Without the Woyane, I don’t think Eritrea would be independent in 1991 or it wouldn’t be more than 30 years maybe a lot longer.. and without the Eritreans the Woyane wouldn’t have toppled Menguistu and take over in Ethiopia as soon as 1991.
    It was mutually beneficial to Eritrean and Woyane to work together to achieve their goals. So, if EPLF and TPLF worked together it was because it was to their benefits or interests. It is not out of anything else- if it was what do you think it is? It is simple my enemy’s enemy is my friend. One do you think Ethiopia host eritrean opposition and vice versa..
    This is just Realpolitik.
    http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-realpolitik.htm
    What you are calling treachery and evil might be just someone doing what is in their best interest. When Nixon opened relation with China in 70’s which was communist country many anti-communists were against it but America at that time felt it was in its best interest.
    We Eritreans need to start thinking in terms of what is in our best interest NOW and how do we achieve instead of all this “Good” or Evil” talk. Most of Eritrean thinking or attitude is largely influenced by Orthodox faith which is very “Black/White” type of thinking.. We don’t seek harmony nor have pragmatic attitude at least at leadership level can’t speak for every eritrean. That is why things have to get really really really bad before we take action. There is no pragmatic attitude like this is not working how do we adjust or how do we make work better.. this is not helping achieve our goal or interests.. let’s adjust. That sort of thinking is completely absent from the Asmara leadership and even the opposition. And the brave people who do speak up end up in jail or like Wedi Ali get killed.
    In terms of comparing the Woyane to Nazi.. that is just a far fetched and ridiculous and hyperbole on steroid. But of course if I look at things from the black/white or Good/Evil lens- you can perceive someone doing things in their best interests as Evil..

  • Dubarwa March 22, 2013

    Dear Johns
    Please when we are thinking on governance it is very difficult the old or the new leadership in both nations have so many good and bad events. Although they have a great influence on their own people to be destructive or genuineness. The problem was the hidden agenda of few leaders and intervention of fpreing nations, which was not clear for the honest member of the society. Society at large to be honest is influenced by the committed or visionary leadership. so it is very difficult to judge the people of Ethiopia and Eritrea as an enemy in general. taking this into consideration I believe that it was worst events on both side to rise some sensitive cases when the ‘degue’ military regime fails in Eritrea so many honest Ethiopian who were just residing for more-than 50 years with out any tangible evidence and with out any of their own wealth, they were deliveretly forced to fire from the nation. this is the most stupid event of the era for both society which is not seen in the world specially although they were not migrant being migrant is typical culture and model duty of an Eritrean in the world even at Mars . In the Ethiopian side just thinking that Eritrean who are reside on Ethiopia are assumed and expected in side with government that they were organized to create fragmented Ethiopia internally. with such assumption it was forced to fire from the country but the governor of Ethiopia was make an excuse for such event it was not delivertly. This needs to appreciate if leadership learns from their own mistake it is good. That is why nowadays Eritreans they have an opportunity to have scholars and foreign chances and they are also engaged in their own business without any problem in Ethiopia, just taking this into consideration it is advisable to forget and to take lesson learned with the bad old history of both leadership. We are expected to come up with the good future for both of us. Just we have to ignore the bad events of the leadership on both nations
    God bless Eritrea.

  • Dubarwa March 22, 2013

    Dear Johns
    When we are thinking on governance it is very difficult the old or the new leadership in both nations and we have an experience with so many good and bad events. Although they have a great influence on their own people to be destructive or genuineness. The problem was the hidden agenda of few leaders and intervention of foreign nations, which was not clear for the honest member of the society. Society at large to be honest is influenced by the committed or visionary leadership. so it is very difficult to judge the people of Ethiopia and Eritrea as an enemy in general. taking this into consideration I believe that it was worst events on both side to rise some sensitive cases when the ‘degue’ military regime fails in Eritrea so many honest Ethiopian who were just residing for more-than 50 years with out any tangible evidence and with out any of their own wealth, they were deliveretly forced to fire from the nation. this is the most stupid event of the era for both society which is not seen in the world specially although they were not migrant being migrant is typical culture and model duty of an Eritrean in the world even at Mars . In the Ethiopian side just thinking that Eritrean who are reside on Ethiopia are assumed and expected in side with government that they were organized to create fragmented Ethiopia internally. with such assumption it was forced to fire from the country but the governor of Ethiopia was make an excuse for such event it was not delivertly. This needs to appreciate if leadership learns from their own mistake it is good. That is why nowadays Eritreans they have an opportunity to have scholars and foreign chances and they are also engaged in their own business without any problem in Ethiopia, just taking this into consideration it is advisable to forget and to take lesson learned with the bad old history of both leadership. We are expected to come up with the good future for both of us. Just we have to ignore the bad events of the leadership on both nations
    God bless Eritrea.

  • Beleza March 22, 2013

    Dear Respected Reader
    መድሓኒት ኣይተስኣነን ዝተሰኣነ ነቲ መድሓኒት ብዝግባእ ተረዲእካ ተርጊምካ ዘይምጥቃምን ዘይምክትታልን ኢዩ ስለዚ ኣብ ሃገርና ኤርትራ ሰላምን ምዕባለን ንክፍጠር ናይ ፈለማ ዕዮ ገዛና ክከውን ዝግብኦ ንሕና እንታይነት ማለት እንታይ ኔርና ንምንታይ ተቃሊስና መን ኣቃሊሱና እንታይ ብዶሆታት ኣጋጠሞምና እንታይ ውፅኢት ረኪብና ንምንታይ ከምዚ ኮይና ንቀፃሊ እንታይ ክንክውን ኣለና እንታይ ከጋጥመና ይክእል ኣብ ውሽጢን ወፃኢን ዘሎና ኩነታት ዳህሳስ የድሊ ብዛዓበየ ክንኣልዮ ዘለና ዓቢ ሕፅረት ትምክሕቲን ፀቢብነትን እዩ ካሊእ ምስ ኣሕዋትና ኢትዮፐያውያን ሱዳናዊያን ዱቡቲ ወዘተ ስጡም ርክብ ምትሕልላይን ክንፈጥር ከምሽጣራካ ምንባር ናይ ቅድሚ 50 ዓመት ኣታሓሳስባ ስለዝኮነ ከነወግድ ኣሎና ኣብ ኤርትራ ቅድም ክብል እቲ ዝበሰለ ፈላጥ ዝባሃል ወዲ ሽቅ ፅዋለ ኣዝዩ ብሱል ኣታሓሳስባን ሓልዮትን ስለዝነበሮ ኢዩ ዝዝረበሉ ኣብዚ ሕጂ እዋን ግን ኣብ ኣዛራርባ ጥራሕ ዕዋል ዝምስል ኣብ ተግባር ግን ፋራ ዝኮነ መሪሕ ወኒንና አሎና ስለዚ ምትዕራቅ ምርድዳእ ምትሕልላይ ዝዓሰሎ ሰላም ልምዓት ንክፍጠር ክንሰርሕ ኣሎና ኣጀንዳና ውራይና ናይ ባዕልና ጥራሕ ኢዩ እዚ ዳስ ዘማዕርጎ ድማ ንቁሕ ኣሳታፈይነት ሕዝብታት ኤርተራ ብዛይ ኣፈላለይን ክንፅዕረሉ ንክእልን ዓቅሚን ኣሎና
    Modernization is the best policy in any environmental. Peace is the pillar for all. when we are thinking on governance, it is very difficult to remind the old or the new leadership in both nations and we have also an experience with so many good and bad events. Although they have a great influence on their own people to be destructive or genuineness. The problem was the hidden agenda of few leaders and intervention of foreign nations, which was not clear for the honest member of the society. Society at large to be honest is influenced by the committed or visionary leadership. so it is very difficult to judge the people of Ethiopia and Eritrea as an enemy in general. taking this into consideration I believe that it was worst events on both side to rise some sensitive cases when the ‘degue’ military regime fails in Eritrea so many honest Ethiopian who were just residing for more-than 50 years with out any tangible evidence and with out any of their own wealth, they were deliveretly forced to fire from the nation. this is the most stupid event of the era for both society which is not seen in the world specially although they were not migrant being migrant is typical culture and model duty of an Eritrean in the world even at Mars . In the Ethiopian side just thinking that Eritrean who are reside on Ethiopia are assumed and expected in side with government that they were organized to create fragmented Ethiopia internally. with such assumption it was forced to fire from the country but the governor of Ethiopia was make an excuse for such event it was not delivertly. This needs to appreciate if leadership learns from their own mistake it is good. That is why nowadays Eritreans they have an opportunity to have scholars and foreign chances and they are also engaged in their own business without any problem in Ethiopia, just taking this into consideration it is advisable to forget and to take lesson learned with the bad old history of both leadership. We are expected to come up with the good future for both of us. Just we have to ignore the bad events of the leadership on both nations
    God bless Eritrea.

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