Before we address the pathetic state of Dehai and the intellectual dishonesty of its contributors, a little introduction about the heading is due to young Eritreans who may not be familiar with a common Tigrigna expression in the Eritrean highlands.  Here�s the short story:

Two friends spot a dark object in the distance.  A discussion follows on the nature of the object that results in a disagreement:  one thinks the object is a goat; the other thinks it is a bird.  The �it is a bird!� and �it is a goat!� back and forth goes on for a while until, in the distance, the dark object flies off.

The fellow who was saying the dark object is a bird has a big smile on his face and looks, triumphantly, at his friend, expecting the obvious: a concession, an apology, an admission of error.  But this is what his friend says:

Wela Tinfer Tel�eya!

I don�t care if it flies; it is still a goat.

If Dehai had an emblem, it would be a flying goat.   It is a playground for every freakish, paranoid, extremist, isolationist idea: day in and day out, it is filled to the rim with contributions that cannot possibly be the result of a rational mind.  The contributors have convinced themselves that the entire world is against Eritrea, that every ugly fact is not what it appears, but part of a concerted and global campaign waged �against Eritrea� that requires interpretation�one that can be provided only by PFDJ.   To them, it is all part of �psychological warfare� and any action the PFDJ takes� to step on its feet, to stumble, to lie, to cheat, to imprison, to torture, to starve--is legitimate because in war, as in love, everything is fair.  To them Eritrea is not made up of millions of citizens who have rights, but only tiny, tiny fractions of PFDJ who make up the whole: the PFDJ.  These tiny fractions must either do their part to fill the whole, or be discarded as useless.  

This game of assembling and discarding is tragic, futile and, occasionally, hilarious.  The citizen is not of inherent and irreducible value, no; he or she has value only to the extent that he or she fulfills his fractional role in making PFDJ whole.  And, he or she can be substituted�and not even by a citizen.  It can even be some ignoramus from Hawaii who knows nothing of our history, our customs, our traditions�in the PFDJ system, he is instantly elevated to position of judge, jury, executioner of Good Citizen Certificate.  All he has to do is attend festivals and attack other Eritreans.

Enough introductions, here is a sample of Dehai and its Flying Goats:

The Players: Fisseha Habte, Mike Seium, Berhane Seyoum, Sam B, Thomas Mountain, Asmir, Zeyhilel, Tekie Fessehazion, Ghidewon Abbay, Tseggai Isaac, Berhan Sium and a few others. 

1-     Fisseha Habte:  This man, who is occasionally an NGO-expert, a world-traveled sophisticate and a layperson, continues to demonstrate that there is no direct co-relation between age and wisdom.  The older he gets, the bigger the dunce hat he insists on wearing.  There are some poor misguided souls who consider him a respectable role model�in itself evidence of the deterioration of Eritrea�s culture under PFDJ rule.  In Eritrea, people his age are expected to be �shmagle��mediators, and sources of reason, moderation and wisdom.  But in the New Eritrea in the model developed by PFDJ, aging is just a mathematical function, and Fisseha is only too happy to oblige-forever adolescent. 

2-    Mike Seium:  Mike is to journalism what a bus driver is to an astronaut.  Both can claim that they are trained professionals who use a vehicle to get from one point to another, but the similarities end there.  A journalist is a curious creature�answering the what, where, when, who, why and how.   Little Mike is just a conduit, a human telegraph line who transmits messages from PFDJ to Dehai readers.  He is quick to declare victory (Eritrea Scores Back-to-back Diplomatic Victories!) and, in the face of contradictory evidence, just as quick to declare conspiracy (The World Media is against Eritrea!)  Mike Seium has been riding the flying goat for quite a while�telling us, for example, that the real journalist, Joshua, is a criminal, among many of his fairy tales. His credentials? He has a picture with Isaias.

3-    Sam B:  Yes, we too have our theories on who that might be�because Eritrea could not have produced that many devout disciples of Chomsky.  But until we see references to Amilcar Cabral, we will reserve judgment.  An un-reformed America-hater, he is one of those loopy ideologues who lives in a world all his own. His credentials? We don�t expose friends.

4-    Thomas Mountain: A Stalinist who will never, ever have a chance to experiment his communist theories in the United States and is looking for a poor African country to volunteer as a guinea pig. Found a home in Dehai where he specializes in insulting Eritreans and stripping them of their citizenship. His credentials? He has a set of adultered Eritrean traditional attire, goes to PFDJ festivals, is married to an Eritrean and heads the Eritrean American Friendship Organization that doesn�t exist (good luck googling it; please tell us if you find it). He is credentialed enough.

5-    Asmir: �Ajokum! Ajokum! meNG�stKumN Nguskum deGfu.� Translation: Forward, with your government and your King!  Need we say more?  Everyone in dehai addresses him as Weizero Asmir- they think he is a lady. We know he is not, at least physically.

6-    Zeyhilel: Those who obsess over the dangers of regionalism are either visionaries or confessors of their own regionalism.  If Zeyhilel is who we think he is, we are 100% sure that he is �chiew zbele wegenawi��totally and completely eaten up by the �disease.�  Beware of false prophets! Any news from Yeftahe Demitros these days?

7-    Tekie Fessehazion:  The Tigrigna proverb �Techebbittka motiye, assafihka motiye� � (Whether you are relaxed or in a tight spot, death is inevitable) was coined for people like Tekie, who are guided by dual standards. The response to abuse against Eritreans, if committed by Weyane should be condemned; but if the abuse is practiced by PFDJ, it should be treated with silence.  Tekie, how much mileage will you squeeze out of two articles your wrote in four years? And which part of �the citizen has a responsibility to defend the constitution� is confusing? Apologies Tekie!

8-    Tedros: A simpleton who thinks the PFDJ is Eritrea and Eritrea is the PFDJ. After having lived in the USA for decades, he doesn�t understand the relation between election and representation. �The Government represents the People, and that Government is (SHAEBIA) the People of Eritrea�.

9-     Berhan Sium: Yes, the goat is flying. No, it is not locust; it is a herd of cattle blocking the sunlight. Now comes the flying camels. Look up!

This message was necessitated to further document the nature of PFDJ supporters whose rational is Wela Tinfer Tel�eya! I don�t care if it flies; it is still a goat. The drama started a day after Gedab News published news about the PFDJ expelling USAid. Discussing the news, the believers of the �flying goat� wrote many quotable quotes excerpts of which are appended below followed by copies of the subject news. But before you get into that let us show you a representative sample of what went on:

The Exhibits:

1. Fisseha Habte

A day after Gedab published the news, this is what Fisseha Habte, the old man who continues to get less wise with every passing year, wrote on 8/1/05:

�This is Awyate.com's biggest lie.  It is so serious it may be the last.  Anyone who believes this latest Awyate.com's lie does not realize that USAID means the State Department which means the USA.  The GoE are no fools to do what Awyate.com HOPES they did - cut diplomatic ties with the USA.�   �This time Awyate.com has gone beyond acceptable lying limits.  I hope the concerned authorities notice what Awyate is up to, and take appropriate steps to stop these sobs.� On the same day, he reinforced his wisdom by writing the following: �I would still advise you to ignore Awyate.Com's BIG LIE.  It is not believable by an stretch of imagination.  Awyate's wish is an evil wish.  Its  evil wish is the collapse of the government of Eritrea by hoping that Eritrea will cut its little remaining "political emblical cord" with the USA Administration.  No sane government in the world would do what Awyate wishes the GoE to do. Our government will not do this folly. I will bet my life on that.�

But when more than three weeks later the news was confirmed by the USA Ambassador as quoted by Reuters, on 8/26/05, a certain Samson requested this from the Wise Fisseha Habte:

�I just stopped by to remind you your own words? Did you say Awate.com made up the story of expulsion of the USAID? Now that the Reuters has reported it mentioning an official from the USAID, you won't have any chance to even suspect its authenticity. Now, instead of defending your arguments by pointing at AWATE's failure to present realiable news, would you care stepping forward to enlighten us on the possible consequence of the recent action taken by the GOE?�

Those of you worried that a man who had "bet his life" would be in the process of paying on his bet, and that it is very important that you would be trying very hard to talk him out of his foolish bet.  Send some real shmagles to convince him that very little is worth betting a life on, and being wrong on a bet doesn't rise to that.  Admit your error, move on.  But that assumes he has something rare in Dehai: honor and integrity.  This is what Fisseha Habte came back with:

�Let me repeat it: Awate�s assertion that the GoE expelled the USAId was a LIE�.and the Ambassador�s �own words� was: �We will be here as long as the Government of Eritrea wants us to be here. We will respect the government�s choices�. The only way the GoE �wants (them) to be here� is obviously when they fulfill the GoEs wishes, and when they �respect the government (of Eritrea�s) choices�

Let�s all watch the skies in case we see a flying goat!

Asmir

Next the best quote that appeared at dehai.org, the Think-Tank of the PFDJ, during the last two weeks. The quote is from Ato Asmir of New Zealand who thinks Eritrea has a government and a King. This is what he wrote: �This is all about The Red Sea state being like a diligent mother and wanting to keep her children and household above water with tight a budget and not being extravagant�. Ajokum! Ajokum! meNG�stKumN Nguskum deGfu � Asmir nz  8/25/05

With supporters of this sort, the PFDJ wouldn�t need enemies if not for its obsession with exponentially growing its list of enemies by the day. The Excerpts:

More Fisseha Habte

Give the man a shovel, and he won't stop digging, getting himself deeper and deeper:

�I do not believe the GoE will dare to get into an unfair duel against the State Department, under whose auspices the USAID operates�. [USAid] operates and oversees the food aid assistance to Eritrea, which if removed, would completely cut the food lifeline that sustains the lives of millions of Eritreans in addition to turning Eritrea into a pariah state, shunned by all governments of the world�. God forbid that there is one so foolish in the GoE who is so Quixotic to dare fight with a gigantic windmill. That kind of folly will ensure the collapse of the regime in no time. �

�I would still advise you to ignore Awyate.Com's BIG LIE.  It is not believable by an stretch of imagination.  Awyate's wish is an evil wish.  Its evil wish is the collapse of the government of Eritrea by hoping that Eritrea will cut its little remaining "political emblical cord" with the USA Administration.  No sane government in the world would do what Awyate wishes the GoE to do. Our government will not do this folly.  I will bet my life on that.�  From: Fisseha Habte 8/1/05

�The following is an item that I cut and pasted.  It may serve as legal precedent for future action against Awate.com and Asmarino.com for all the defamation they practice against the people and Government of Eritrea�. I hope, this time, the Government of Ethiopia succeeds in its litigation against those who, for simple political reasons, wallow in the mud of hateful lies and unfounded allegations.�

Officials Charge Four Ethiopians with Defamation in a U.S. Court...

Senior Government Officials Charge Four Ethiopians with Defamation in a U.S. Court

Fisseha Habte, 8/9/05

�Let me repeat it: Awate�s assertion that the GoE expelled the USAId was a LIE�. and the Ambassador�s �own words� was: �We will be here as long as the Government of Eritrea wants us to be here. We will respect the government�s choices�. The only way the GoE �wants (them) to be here� is obviously when they fulfill the GoEs wishes, and when they �respect the government (of  Eritrea's) choices�. Let�s wait and see if this promise by the Ambassador will be kept�.We all know Awate has its source from within the PFDJ Ruling Party (a leftover from the discarded Gs of 2001). The stolen data of Eritrea�s fallen heroes that was posted in Awate.com the past year is a testimony to that.  This Awate�s handler within the Government may have come across the fact that there were rumors that the GoE was expressing it discomfort about the USAID, and passed it on to Saleh Gadi, who took it upon himself to tell the exaggerated LIE that the �GoE expelled the USAID�. my opinion on the consequences of the GoE act.  Like all transactions, diplomacy is an art of "give and take".  I am sure our billiant diplomats will handle it to the satisfaction of the Eritrean people.  Fisseha Habte 8/26/05

Reluctant Admission

�Selam Mike, I think you should also listen to your own advise and not write too much. It looks like every time our Government makes some unpopular or popular action you are here trying to justify the action of our Government. My unsolicited advise to you is please don't try to justify or explain the actions. Let the Government officials explain to our people for the what ever action they took. The question i have for you here is very simple regardless who the source is did our government ban the USAID from operation in our country. Yes or NO please don't want to hear any explanation from any one except from the Government officials�.As much as I dislike the agenda and motive of the Awate and Asmarino websites one think for sure though that Gedeb news has been very accurate to this date. We may hate it or dislike it but facts are facts and can't be changed. � Beraki 8/26/05

�it is not that I believe Awyate, I do not believe Awyate at all. If for instance you take a closer look at the issue, if true (big IF), the implication is far reaching.� Sam B 8/1/05

The Chomsky Disciple

�US Instrument of Espionage and destabilization�..Getting the boot???? Any word from Asmara? can�t start to celebrate because Awyate said so, not exactly the most reliable source of news is it? I hope it is not just another tease. Please view attached image [an Photoshop image depicting a boot kicking USAid].� SAM

Decency, At Least By Dehai Standards

�What has changed within the last year or so all of a sudden, I notice a change of tune from our dear aya Fisseha and Dr. Isaac? Please be frank with our cyber-community what is it that is bothering you so much about our diplomacy both at an individual and government level?�.US policy makers decided to be inimical to Eritrea's interest for more than sixty years�. please stop attacking each other unnecessarily and call Awate.com by its real name instead of by a derogatory name. Lets first respect each other and agree to disagree in a civilized way.�  Simon Stefanos, 8/4/05

More Paranoia From Tedros (A Resident of the US)

�In the United States of America, the media and the State Department are doing all in their power to corrupt some Eritreans, to promote America's interest and maintain America's leadership in the world.  That is why we have few Eritrean, or the Weyane owned web sites, or the traitors and fraudulant defectors and copycats who want to destroy their country and kill their fellow countrymen, or are practicing, "Let's go and spread out "anti-Eritrea" propaganda to the world... The Government represents the People, and that Government is (SHAEBIA) the People of Eritrea. � Tedros A, 8/4/05

More Flying Goats From Berhan Seyoum

��there is a difference between �EXPELLED� as Awate.com had it, and being told to cease operations�.�  Berhan Sium 8/27/05

The Incompetence of The PFDJ

All of this neglects a serious issue: the mind-boggling incompetence of the PFDJ.  If the Dehai disciples had any notion of intellectual discourse, they would have discussed, openly, this question: is it in Eritrea's interest to dismiss the agency responsible for most of the aid that comes to Eritrea, particularly when 2/3 of the population is facing starvation?  Is it wise to pass proclamations that result in grain stuck at Eritrean ports for weeks?  Does anybody really believe that the Ministry of Labor "paid taxes" to the government to release the food that was stuck at the port? Was it not the case that the government was, as usual, playing brinkmanship and it, again, lost and as face-saving gesture, had to pretend that one ministry paid taxes to another ministry? What kind of "government" do we have when diplomats speculate that reason it chose to punish America and starve its own people is because its president is unhappy that the American president "unillaterally" announced to provide 100% of the food aid it needs?

These were issues PFDJ's Think Tank, Dehai, should have found time to discuss, sometime between the endless festivals and campaigns against imaginary enemies.

Last Assignment to "journalist" Mike Seium: take the following two news reports, one by Gedab and the other by Reuters and ask a real journalist this question: does the Reuters report confirm or refute the Gedab News report?  If that is too personal, do this: take Joshua's reports and your reports, and take them to somebody who used to work for USSR's Pravda and then ask which one would be most likely to run in your paper in the 1970s?