It seems, the Ethiopian government has accepted the border commission's rulings, unconditionally. If true, and that is a big if, it is good news, to the peace loving people of the two countries. And let me extend, my qualified appreciation, to the government of Ethiopia, for taking a long overdue step. It is better late than not. However, we have a long way to go and the road is strewn with many challenges.
I would like to encourage, the government of Eritrea, to let bygones be bygones and work hard, to meet the Ethiopian government, half way. The Eritrean people are watching closely and will hold those responsible, for missing on this opportunity. This may be a diplomatic ploy by the Ethiopian government. It is too early to tell. However, what matters at this point is, how well we play our cards, and how well we demonstrate our readiness for peace. This may be the last opportunity to close this tragic war. History will judge us harshly, if we squander, what seems to be a golden opportunity for peace. INTRODUCTION:
Well! the long awaited interview, with PIA, was broadcasted six days ago. As reported in advance, it was about Ethiopia, Sudan and Somalia. It was mostly about Ethiopia. The purpose of the interview was to create a wedge, between the EPRDF government and the Ethiopian people. Those of us, who had waited for a message of peace and hope, were left holding the bag. It was the same old tired speech, with no substance.
PIA's interview was preceded by another lengthy interview with Sebhat Nega of the TPLF. This interview was also meant, to win the Eritrean people and counter the Eritrean government's propaganda. In the interview, Mr Sebhat pledged, not only to honor the territorial integrity of Eritrea, but promised to defend the Eritrean people, when and if attacked, by an outside force. It was just another self serving interview. |
Mr Sebhat's interview was too transparent and too crude to dupe anyone. Imagine, my dismay and disbelief, when a certain Professor, started accusing Mr Sebhat of selling to the Eritreans. What is more baffling is, the said gentleman, himself of Tigrian extraction, was beside himself with rage, when he learned of an alleged collusion, between the EPLF and the Dergue. Never mind that, if the alleged plot had succeeded, it would have meant the end of the TPLF and a longer lease, on the life of the Dergue. The said gentleman, is one of the few extremists left, who are still daydreaming about reversing Eritrea’s independence. For him and his ilks, the thirty years struggle for independence, was nothing more than, a futile exercise, for a better economic deal. Here is a direct quote from one of his articles. "On the other side of the equation, the Eritreans were duped into believing the independence-carrot dangled in front of them was for their benefit. What the Eritreans did not perceive in their blind ambition for “independence” was that they would have nothing to live on once cut off from the rest of Ethiopia. They did not anticipate that their dominant position in Ethiopia as the top business men with political clout to match throughout the reign of Emperor Haile Selassie will all be replaced by TPLF and its leaders, which did happen. As we come to realize now, Eritrea without Ethiopia is nothing." How can you win, the Eritrean people, with these words? And what does it take, to make this gentleman and his likes, to understand that, the divorce is final and has nothing to do with the economy? If it was about resources, we would have bargained for the highest bidder? How about the Sudan, Saudi Arabia or even the USA . If we have to choose, between the haves and have nots, our choice would have been to go with the haves; for, as they say, if for nothing else, there is plenty of left over to partake, from a well stocked table. Help me here, how is it possible, for such an obviously learned person, to spin, a low grade propaganda, meant to win the heart and mind of the Eritrean people and use it, to spread the gospel of hate and hopelessness? It just makes one loss his faith in humanity and call it quits. But then, what do the poor people of the two countries have to do, with the likes of these people or their wars. If for nothing else, it is worth writing and speaking up, to prevent anther war. If all it takes is, for some good men and women, on both sides of the border, to have their voice heard, then, that is the least we can do. Our deafening silence of yesterday, should not be interpreted, as our complicity. THE WAR AND ITS AFTERMATH:
The damage of the war, on the psyche of the Eritrean people, is enormous. In a country of less than four million people, the war and its aftermath is still reverberating. It has affected all families, without exception, in one form or another. After more than thirty years of devastating guerilla warfare; the last war was, an insult added to an injury. THE DEMOGRAPHIC IMPLICATION OF THE WAR:
Eritrea is a small county with a population ranging between 3.5 million to 4 million. Approximately, 1/6th of the population live outside the country, mostly living in the Sudan and Ethiopia. The number of people living within Eritrea proper is 3 million or less. And it is this population group that is being called to carry the burden of Eritreanism. When the country was liberated, they were asked to volunteer for the many developing schemes, and when the border war with Ethiopia erupted, the burden of defending the country was squarely put on their shoulders. The role of those Eritreans, living abroad, is limited to monetary contributions and the frequent gatherings, to celebrate, many of the official and non official festivities. It has been more than eight years and continuing, since the youth has to put their life on hold, to defend the country. In real numbers, for a young man who was conscripted at the age of 20, that means, 8 of the most productive years of his life was wasted in trench's. I don’t even want to raise the issue of our sisters and daughters. Eight years, in the life of a young man and woman, in a country with an average life expectancy of fifty years or less, is simply devastating. For most, if not all, the chance to set a family, built a home and raise their children in peace, is becoming impossible. The aftermath of the war is turning out to be a nightmare. No Badime or any other piece of land, could ever compensate, the ongoing demographic and economic catastrophe. It is immoral and down right irresponsible, to keep the youth, in the trenches or the many government development schemes, any longer. The government should look for an alternative mechanism to solve the border impasse. It is not enough to wait for something to happen. We simply can’t wait, any longer, for PMMZ and his government to go under. The border impasse can't be used as an excuse, anymore. THE LOST ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY:
The economy is in shambles, and will take a complete redirecting of, the micro and macro economic policy, to compete in the global economy. I believe, it is time for PIA and his government to put their priorities in order. It is time, to see beyond settling his personal grudge and focus on the well being of the country. At the end of the day, Badime or any other Pyrrhic victory, will not compensate our loss, in terms of our lost economic opportunity. It is time to stop the slow but sure death of the nation. It is time, to look beyond Badime and start concentrating, on the plight of our young brothers and sisters. It is time, to speak about demobilizing the conscripts and letting them lead a normal life. It is time to let those who are wasting their life, under the different development schemes, to go home. It is a derelict of duty, bordering to criminality, to try to build the infrastructure of a nation, using the unpaid labor of one generation. The responsibility of building the country should be shared. It should be equitably spread among the current generation and the generations to follow. It is unwise and down right inhumane, to put the burden of building the nation, upon the shoulders of a single generation, a generation that has already paid dearly.
PIA'S HOT AND COLD WARS:
There is something amusing about the leaders in our region. In a time span of less than two decades, we have witnessed, friendships being created, only to be destroyed, before the ink is dry.
Most often, the friendships are shallow, all concocted by the leaders, without the participation of the people. As a result, even a minor conflict, will erupt into a major war and the people have no say. Lets take, a brief tour, of PIA's rather tumultuous and bloody relationship with our neighbors. Leaving aside, as to who is to blame and for what, one can't help but wonder, at the magnitude of Eritrea's involvement, in all the conflicts, in the neighboring countries. From Hanish to Badme to Eastern Sudan to Somalia, the Eritrean government is involved, in different levels and magnitudes. Needless to say, the human and economic damage of all these cold and hot wars, upon the people, is simply devastating. The question however is, what are the repercussions on PIA and his government? Who is being held responsible for the pain and suffering of the people? One can say, with certainty, absolutely nobody. In fact, in some quarters, PIA is already being hailed as a peace maker. He is successfully negotiating, influential positions, for his former friends, within the new government. These former guerrilla leaders, turned politicians, will always remain indebted, to PIA and his government. Any Eritrean opposition leaders will be, persona non Grata and any potential asylum seekers, will be harassed or discouraged. The Sudan, is a perfect example. For all practical purposes, PIA has pacified that front for may years to come. How about the other front, the Ethiopian front? Despite the recent set back in Somalia, PIA does still have an arsenal of weapons, to make the life of PMMZ, miserable. All he has to do is, army and finance the many opposition groups and unleash terror. And if the strategy fails and push comes to pull, he can always accept the five point peace plan of PMMZ. With that, the saga of the past eight years will come to an end, and the two leaders will be hailed as peace makers and go their old ways. For PIA, it will be another front pacified. For the Eritrean people, it will be another route closed. With that, the encirclement of the Eritrean people will be complete. And with no where to run or hide, the capitulation of the Eritrean people will be complete. War or no war, peace or no peace, PIA will come out of the debacle, smelling like a rose. But what did the Eritrean people get from all these? Absolutely nothing. And who knows, the peace starved people of Eritrea, may even excuse PIA's trespasses, and give him a second chance to mend his ways.
CONCLUSION:
Finally, we may have peace in the region. However, the history that is waiting for verdict is, the accomplishment of the two leaders in Eritrea and Ethiopia. While it is intellectually dishonest, to minimize, the role they played to liberate the people, their performance in the past few years, has left a sour taste, in the mouth, of so many, well meaning people.
Liberating the country is not an end by itself. It is only the beginning of a long and arduous journey. But somehow, most African leaders seem to think, otherwise. After struggling for many years to free their people, they always end by being the jailers and not any better, than the once they replaced. They often tend to mimic, the once they replaced. As a result, our continent is strewn with broken promises and dashed hopes. Look at the many African countries that has achieved their independence in the last fifty years. For many, indepndence has turned out to be a nightmare, and not any different, from the pre Independence years. The former guerrilla leaders, mostly poorly prepared to run a country, often revert to force, and demand, for more and more sacrifice. For most of them, it is hard to believe, the refusal of the younger generation, to heed, what they believe is, the sacred call of the motherland. It is this misunderstanding, that is creating a widening gap, between the two generations. For the young, the promise of independence is quickly becoming a nightmare. It is one thing to die fighting for your country, it is another, to spent your youth trying to satisfy the never ending demands of those in power. After all, what is the price of freedom? At what point does the demand of sacrifice and more sacrifice ends and the fruit of freedom is consummated? when does enough means enough? |
