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Journalist and visitor to Asmera have always associated the palm tree, and the cappuccino machines with the landscape of the capital city. Occasionally the cathedrals and mosques are also mentioned. A few have also not forgotten the bougainvillea; I say it is a biased story.
A keen observer would not miss the Shebakha, an exotic regional tree. This ubiquitous tree, found in many parts of Asmera, endured successive droughts. On top of that, it suffered under the axes of fuel-hungry inhabitants of the city during two major sieges.
When the EPLF army marched into Asmera in 1991, it found a ghost-like town. The city dwellers were hungry, nervous, unsure, and incredulous about the outcome of the battle. Most of the jubilant welcomers that one notices in the amateur videos appear to be old and children. A certain demographic group (between 18-35) appears to be conspicuously absent.
After the brief euphoria, the new EPLF administration rounded up several card-carrying members of the Workers Party of Ethiopia (mind you, like people nowadays, most people were forced to join the ruling parties). Like its totalitarian ilk, the EPLF reputedly has a pigeonhole for every group it governs. Whoever opted to stay in Asmera, before its victorious march to the city, was labeled "Shebakha," of course with a negative connotation.
The mentioned age group, humble and to some extent, and "guilt-ridden" for not marching with the winners chose to stay in low profile. Like the rest of townsfolk, they lavishly praised the "yekealo", their surviving former schoolmates and friends. Notwithstanding what the Dictator had previously said, " That the entire three million Eritreans were his army," they were dismissed and relegated. Denied the contributions they made, and the role they played during the war that lasted for several decades. They were not largely naive and innocent; a sizable percentage of them had operated within the wehayotat, and sirietat (clandestine cells) of both liberation fronts. Some had bad experience and had witnessed gruesome sights during their frequent forays outside the city for clandestine work. As a result, some chose not to join the liberation organizations.
Their lot worsened when the Derg got the militarily upper hand and the guerrillas retreated. They had to go through the Dergs "denunciation meetings" conducted by zealous Ethiopian cadres. Many of these were humiliated and incarcerated. The rest become street vendors selling chewing gum and cigarette to support their dwindling and impoverished families.
Yet, they accepted the status of the lowest rung imposed by the new regime. They did not grudge it: when some girls were swooning for some "yekealo" fighters, who ditched their former fighter wives, they were only sad because they were not invited to watch the May 24 celebration, the Independence Day parade.
When the often-mentioned day of "national reconciliation arrives, the "Shebakha" must also be invited and be heard. Unlike the fictional character in the Dutch story, Rip Van Winkle, "who slept for forty years," the "Shebakha" has been wide-awake. Now gray haired and wiser, they have a lot to share with us. It is time to "rehabilitate" them without any delay! And the bad press they received must be reversed. |
