The Eritrean people carried out an armed struggle for over 30 years for independence, freedom, and human rights. However, the country is now ruled by an oppressive party under the leadership of a tyrant. The people attained independence in name only and their dignity and human rights is violated. People have been denied the right to free thought, free speech, free press, freedom of association and freedom of religious belief. In short, the suffering of the Eritrean people is in its highest stage.

Every section of society regardless of class, gender or age has been affected by the cruel regime. Businessmen have been categorised as enemies and are continuously accused and imprisoned. This results in the scarcity of skilled manpower and industry and agriculture are not able to produce enough to satisfy the demands of society. Parents are denied the ownership of their loved children and they are not even allowed to mourn the loss of their children in wars. Young women have become victims of sexual abuse by military officers of the PFDJ. The Eritrean youth has become either a source of free labour or if they ever get a chance flee the country to avoid the slavery which has denied them normal schooling and decent upbringing.

The unity of the Eritrean people established over a long period of tough struggle has been put into serious jeopardy due to the ugly divide and rule tactics of the ruling PFDJ.

The irresponsible and deficient foreign policy of the regime has resulted in many wars with neighbouring countries, which resulted in an incalculable human and material loss to the Eritrean people. Eritrea has become a shame of Africa and the Eritrean people have been isolated from Africa in particular and the world community in general.

Under this deteriorating situation of political, social and economic uncertainty, not only is the regime heading towards implosion but also the survival of the country and the people is at stake. To start with the PFDJ does not recognise or accept any opposition force. Therefore, in order to reverse the eminent national disaster it will be necessary to create a broad mass based struggle.

The Eritrean people have at the present time two fundamental demands. First, they want peace. They want a stop to all types of bloody confrontations that have gone for too long. The demand peace inside the country and with their neighbours. A second demand is that they want a guarantee of present and future livelihood. If these are the demands of our people and the destruction of our society is in the horizon, the question becomes what should the practical solution be by the opposition forces.

To save the country every effort should be put together and fight the regime. Of course, the participation of the people is paramount in this struggle. All parties, political organisations and civil societies should fight united under a minimum program of action.

URGENT POLITICAL INITIATIVE.

A call for a national salvation movement.

A nation-wide organisation will be needed to carryout the task of national salvation and there is an urgent requirement for organised political and social groups to form a national salvation movement if we are to save the tragic predicament Eritrea is in. These movement can then chart a program that can satisfy the needs of the populace and is widely supported by them.

This movement will have two goals:

1. To stop the disintegration of our society by employing a united strategy of struggle and avoid the inevitable consequences of the regime�s implosion.
2. Chart a short and long term structure and program of a transitional or national salvation government.

This proposed movement needs to satisfy two demands in order to materialize the above mentioned goals. First, a widely accepted draft constitution should be prepared. Second, it must initiate the process of a durable nation reconciliation, a process which will guarantee peace and tranquillity in the country.

Political program

1.Basic political principles.

a.      The people are the only source and main beneficiaries of the political power.

b.      The individual is at the centre of a democratic system of governance.

c.      Realizing that accountability is the basis of true democracy there must be a clear distinction between the judiciary, executive and legislature.

d.      Political and social organisations will be formed reflecting the diversity of political and other views in Eritrean society. Differences of ideas and interests are taken to be natural and solutions for any conflicts are sought in a peaceful manner. Open and transparent elections are also to be held between competing forces.

e.      Human rights as enshrined in the national constitution and ratified by international and regional bodies are strictly to be honoured.

f.       Private property will be honoured as a basic right of an individual in the society.

g.      Political and cultural rights of ethnic groups will be accepted and they will be allowed to use their languages in schools and administration in their localities.

h.      Freedom of faith and equality of religions will be honoured and they can create independent institutions in order to exercise their religious activities.

i.        There will be absolute separation of state and religion.

j.        Any government or social interactions will be guided by the rule of law.

k.      The national constitution is the highest legal and sovereign document of the land because it is the basis of the identity of the Eritrean society. To safeguard this document an independent constitutional court will be formed and its main task is to interpret and elaborate the constitution. Its deliberations will have the highest political and legal authority.

l.        We will support the establishment of an independent human rights commission.

2. Economic program.

1. The economic system will be guided by a free market economy and will allow private and state investment.
2. Individual initiative will play an important role in economic activity.
3. Wealth distribution by the state will take social justice into consideration.
4. Anti-poverty campaign will take a top national priority.
5. Special consideration will be given to agriculture, pasturalism, fisheries and the development of the countryside.
6. Recognize and develop human resources as main engines of the economic system.
7. Restrict political parties from economic activities.
8. Prevent and fight economic corruption.
9. Encourage and widen trade inside and outside, in particular with neighbouring countries.
10. Encourage local and foreign investment and in particular give Eritreans in the Diaspora the chance to participate in the economic activities of the country.
11. Realising that land ownership during colonialism and the land proclamation after independence are unjust, it should be decided by the participation of the people after a thorough study.
12. The state will nationalise PFDJ owned wealth and put it in the service of the needy. Individuals who illegally lost their property will be given back.

3.Institutions.

Public Administration.

a.      The country�s public administration will be decentralised and differentiated from political power; the civil service is permanent while political power is transitory.

2. The new administrative division put into practice by the Eritrean Government was implemented without the participation and consent of the people and thus will be returned to what it was during federation and thereafter until changed by the Eritrean government.
3. Public administration should be open, clear, free from political interference, fair, and based on merit and not on loyalty or obedience to particular forces.
4. The existence of the right to control public administration by citizens is an indication of the practice of rule of law.
5. Citizens have the right to get information, express their ideas freely and file complaints and appeals to government officials and their representatives.
6. Administration bodies should be obliged to respond to people�s complaints and appeals on time.
7. Public department should report its activities to the people and their representatives.
8. Inculcate the culture where administration bodies are paid to serve the people and to rule them.

Judiciary.

a.      The job of the judiciary is to practice rule of law.

2. The judiciary is absolutely independent of all political and social forces.

Social Program

The aim of a political and economic system should be to improve the social life of the people and the basic needs of a human being are work, shelter, health, education and social security.

1. Give equal chance of education to children in towns and countryside.
2. Education will be free and compulsory up to the age of 16.
3. Higher education after secondary school will follow a quota system in order to realise equality of opportunity among ethnic groups.
4. Make a strenuous effort to eradicate illiteracy.
5. Health service is considered to be a basic right.
6. Public health to concentrate on prevention.
7. Health and education services to be run by the state and private sector.
8. Take appropriate steps to stem down the socially destructive unemployment situation.
9. Make an effort to support victims of unemployment.
10. Workers rights will be respected under relevant labour laws.
11. Realizing the big role women played in the independence struggle and condemning the governments deliberate sidelining of women�s issues, the formation of an independent women�s organisation will be supported in order to give women the chance to play their rightful role and to safeguard their political, economic and social rights.
12. Enact laws, which cater for the vulnerable members of society such as children, the disabled and the elderly.
13. Establish a special ministry to look after the interests of the war disabled and pensioners.
14. Establish a ministry, which looks after the interest of Eritreans in Diaspora.

Defence.

a.      The size of the national defence force will be limited, and with the cooperation of the police, its function will be to safeguard citizens and their property, to maintain internal national security and institutions.

2. The police will safeguard citizens and their property and maintain internal security institutions.
3. Defence will be under civilian administration.
4. Defence force members will be professionals who will be recruited on merit and voluntarily. 

Foreign Policy.

a.      Eritrean foreign policy will be based on democracy, sovereignty of the rule of law, and the protection of human rights.

2. This policy will support the independence and development of people, friendship and good neighbourliness, non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries, condemns conflicts and wars, and believes in solving differences by dialogue and international laws.
3. As globalisation demands, Eritrea will play an active role in economic and social interactions with its neighbours.
4. As a first step for this coordination there will be free movement of people, capital and goods.