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Perspective
There are a lot of misconceptions about the non-violent movement. Some are understandable, while others are simply and utterly wrong. Before I delve into the appropriateness of the non-violent movement, it is important that I try to dispel these commonly held misconceptions. So many of my compatriots have done a fair job of delineating the reality and myth of the non-violent movement. I, however, don't believe that the subject has been adequately debated, and it is incumbent on all of us that we enlarge the size and magnitude of this seminal public discourse and increase it frequency. To this end, I'll continue to write on the subject with the aim of promoting public discourse, but hopefully to increase our awareness and political efficacy.
I proceed with the article, I like to appeal those that have ignored this subject, as an academic debate, to reconsider their position and participate in this important public discourse. For those journalists who went on hunger strike, this was not an academic debate. For those women who faced Isaias' "Halingi" at Asmara stadium, it was not an academic debate. For those landowners in Adi sHel, Embaderho, Adi kefelt and many countless others, this was not an academic debate. For those wounded veterans in May Habar, this was not an academic debate. In fact, one thing that is missing in this struggle is the remarkable absence of academic and intellectual debate. Granted these acts of resistance might seem anecdotal, but the lack of a coordinated movement and leadership does not negate the reality of this active resistance.
I agree that the movement has not discovered its hero, and it would not get much publicity anytime soon. But the movement is here and it is here to stay. I'm very pleased that the Eritrean Democratic Party has made the non-violent struggle the corner stone of its strategy. It is therefore of utmost importance that we have a proper understanding of non-violent struggle. I'm advocating for and supporting the non-violent political struggle not because I feel it is an easy and a safe way to struggle. There is nothing safe and simple about this struggle. As I rightly mentioned in my previous article, the movement would require tremendous sacrifice from its adherents. The defining characteristic of this movement is not, however, the readiness and willingness of people to make sacrifices but their refusal to inflict damage on others. It is a movement that would require an unprecedented moral courage and discipline. This is a struggle that would require us to get hurt but prevent us from hurting others. One might wonder, if this is the case of one turning the other check. It sure sounds like one. Nothing is stranger than asking people to get hurt and not allowing them to retaliate or exercise self-defense. With time and your patience, I hope to show that the best self-defense and retaliation would be attained with the realization of the dream that is animating our movement: justice, truth and freedom for all. It is extremely essential that we realize that we are fighting for something that is much, much bigger than the current, temporary and sad realities of Eritrea. Our movement must elevate our dignity and humanity to a much higher level by seeking some human and everlasting aspirations as the search for justice, freedom and the truth. I've repeatedly argued on this esteemed website that we're at a juncture in our history where we've to seriously ask ourselves, as people, on what we want. Our long history has been, for the most part, driven by outside forces. As people, we were never fortunate enough to look in-word (within us) with the eye of the heart and mind to lay the foundation of our identity, hopes, dreams and aspirations. "Higdef's" wag-the-dog strategy is to deprive us this opportunity. The 'weyanization' of Eritrea has sadly brought the closing of the Eritrean mind. Many Eritreans today can't think without thinking of the 'weyane'. (There is an Eritrean here in Dallas who is endowed with natural wit. When asked when he would be married, he humorously responded "after border demarcation"). In such mysterious twist of fate, life is affording us the opportunity to look in-word deep inside us and rise up to the unfulfilled promise of our struggle and the infinite potential of our humanity. We've to rise up and struggle to do justice to the dead, the living and posterity. Our struggle is one that seeks justice, freedom for all. The readiness to be harmed and the refusal to harm others is what defines and ennobles our struggle. Identifying the enemy is of paramount importance to any non-violent movement. Knowing the enemy would erode the strangeness of the strategy of non-violent struggle. I've said many times that "higdef" is an evil regime but the overwhelming majority of the people serving the regime are decent Eritreans. The majority of the people that are in the service of 'higdef" are not our enemies. The "higdefite" system is the enemy. It is the system that we're struggling to get rid off. The system is fundamentally flawed and hence it can't be reformed. It is a cancer that has spread all over and it has to be completely removed. (Of all the people, one would expect the good doctor, Dr, Assefaw to know this.) A tree is known by the tree it bears and the "higdefite" tree has given us a whole list of problems: wars, economic stagnation, underdevelopment, moral decadence, human rights violations, widespread corruption, mismanagement of resources, militarized state, ignorance, isolation from the civilized world, poverty, diseases, hopelessness, fear, submissiveness and poor national pride. If one wants to judge the health of a nation, all s/he needs to do is visit the prison and school system of that country. The way we treat our citizens in jail says a lot about the justice system. In a just system, all due process of law, right to trial, right to an attorney, right not to self-incriminate, right to call witness, right to cross-examine are respected and even upon conviction, an inmate has the right to be visited by loved-ones and the provision of life's basic necessities. In Eritrea, all of these are non-existent and the mere mention of them would guarantee one a sure one-way ticket to jail. The way we treat our wrong doers and alleged wrong doers is a reflection of how we treat our people in general. "Higdef" is not only abusing and destroying the lives of current generation but it is also endangering the future of the next generation. The investment in education is at a very dismal low, even by African standards. To add insult to injury, our high-school boys and girls are now required to go to Sawa: a military camp that has become a rape camp to many young women. Those that should be studying at universities and colleges are living in foxholes, being victims of a modern-day slave-labor project known as Warsai-Yekalo. This is the "higdefite" system we need to completely eradicate from the face of Eritrea. This is not a system you enter into a dialogue with. This is a system you actively defy and resist and win over. The regime is in power because it rules with force and instills fear in the public. In the euphoria of liberation and in a gesture of goodwill, the Eritrean people unquestionably submitted to authority, and the regime is capitalizing on this tacit compliance. We need to aim, with a laser-beam concentration, on how to remove governmental control from our people and encourage them to actively defy and resist the system. Ours is a struggle that appeals to the fundamental decency of people. Our message should be a message of hope, full of enthusiasm and positive energy. Our aim is to galvanize and mobilize our people. The people must understand that our enemy is the system and not the people serving the system. The majority of the people serving the system are as much victims as we are. This is not a struggle that seeks revenge but justice and freedom for all. Let it be known that the Isaias and companies are monsters, but they're not aliens. They're citizens as much as anyone else and they would be given the justice they so denied others. The demise of the regime is a prerequisite in realizing our objectives. If the aim of our struggle is to bury the "higdef" in the dustbins of history, how is it that some people are calling for a dialogue with an evil regime? First, any serious and responsible dialogue would mark the beginning of the end of the system, and one has to aptly ask why the regime would dig its own grave. One could argue that in light of the mounting international pressure and isolation, the regime might concede to enter into a dialogue, but that dialogue would be on the basis of power-relation and the objectives of our stated goals would never be realized. This kind of dialogue usually resembles that of labor and management dispute. I think the Eritrean people deserve better. They have been short-changed many times and we should not let it happen again. Second, if the aim is to galvanize and mobilize our people for a non-violent struggle, what is the wisdom of calling for a dialogue? This dialogue call would push away so many of us that are rallying behind the cause of freedom and justice for the rightness of the cause. The opposition camp, at this point, can't afford to lose any support due to tactical errors. Negotiation, dialogue and compromise are not necessarily bad and I can certainly understand their lure and attractiveness, but I urge that we see them in their proper context. What is at stake is so fundamental that any compromise or negotiation would not do the job. The dialogue that needs to take center stage is the dialogue within the opposition camp. The leaders in all the parties must show tremendous goodwill and reach out to each other. This is an Eritrean cause that necessitates all Eritreans who believe in justice, freedom and democracy to come and work together. I know I've promised to write on the futility of violence and the strategy of non-violence. I've not forgotten. I'll do so as more time becomes available – a promise made is a promise kept, so rest assured. Thank you all who have honored me with your comments.
As usual I welcome your comments. Please contact me at weriz@yahoo.com |
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