We do not delude ourselves: we know that the West and the international community is going to act from the perspective of its own interest and not necessarily that of the Eritrean people. But there is an overlap of interests here. We are for the proposed ban on foreign travel on the leadership of the Eritrean regime, freezing its assets which were illicitly earned, and hindering its ability to wreak havoc in the region. We called for this in February 2006 and we support it in November 2009.

But supporters and detractors of this seminar must know that the Eritreans attending the seminar are not from a “broad range of Eritrean civil society” 

Well, we could write an entire program and bullet points but a good friend of this website (and one of our regular advisors), Semere Tesfamariam, has articulated a view that summarizes what we believe: “We can start finishing the unfinished business by refusing to be part of anything that does not mirror Eritrea’s diversity. We need to categorically reject any organization that does not look like Eritrea.”

the right of Eritreans to express themselves freely—without having to get a permission from the government or the opposition parties. We stand for diversity—not just the diversity of people and customs, but diversity of ideas. We will provide platforms to ideas we agree with, disagree with, or are indifferent to—so long as there is a point of view, articulated intelligently. We trust the wisdom and maturity of the Eritrean people. One can’t have Reconciliation without Truth. And Truth can’t be managed by professional brokers, cultural translators, centralizers and those who think that only they can issue menqesaqesi.