Editor's note: this is a translation of an Arabic article  written by Omer Jabir, a veteran of the liberation struggle. It appeared on alnahda website on September 11, 2008 and was translated by awate.com.

Ramadan Streams 2
From Front to Party and Vice versa
Omer Jabir, Melbourne, Australia Sept. 11, 2008
.

The Eritrean Liberation Front –Revolutionary Council announced that it transformed itself to a party (Eritrean People’s Party).

The change came after two years of debate and dialogue – in other words, the result was a full conviction of the members, regarding the idea and its goals.

The idea and the naming is not new in the Eritrean arena- meaning, building a party in the time of self-determination [1940s], there were several parties, the popular among them, the Islamic League (Rabita) and the Unionist party (Andnet). During the revolution period, there were secret parties – Labor Party within the ELF and People’s Party within the EPLF. [In the period] after liberation [of Eritrea in 1991]- there appeared other parties (Democratic Party, Islamic Party, and Nahda Party).

What was the motivation for the new members [of the EPP] to join- was it the name or the program?

There is certainly a difference between a Front and a Party – the composition and the program.

Rights and obligations are clearer specifically in a party.

A Front is like a snowball that rolls to become like a fierce, over-flooded river.

A Party is like an arrow that travels towards a target- if it hits, then the whole party takes credit and if it misses, the leadership alone bears the responsibility.

Party leadership has a wide-ranging authority and an absolute trust and respect- it is listened to and finds support in its steps and decision.

A Front, as the Martyr Abu Shanab had said, has Allah as its secretary.

In the classical definition, a party is a group of people who come together around a common goal, and are driven by one idea, to build and reform a country. How? By controlling power, either by winning in a general election and if that is not possible, by building a coalition (Front) with other parties.

There is no party that is formed just for the sake of existence only -- If [a party] doesn’t have the ambition, the hope and means of reaching to power, there is no meaning to its existence.

Strangely, there were differing views on the announcement of the party by some observers and commentators. Some judged the Party based on the vision and the background of the ELF legacy. [That is] because of [our] experience [in political] parties [which] is so little and rare. They say, for example: The number of Muslims is less than the Christians! [But] it is their party- whoever wishes can join [the party] and [others ] do not have to. Then, how about the parties that didn’t include a single Christian? And others that are based on specific ethnic affiliation?

All [of] that is temporary and it is a result of the unnatural phase, including disrupting [of] balances, clannish supremacy and dictatorial hegemony; after [the establishment of] democracy, there will be party [formation] law that defines the conditions and specifications. [Only] then it can be said that a certain party doesn’t meet the criteria of the law and therefore, it should not be allowed to operate. The slogan of democracy is attractive and easy for anyone to raise and demand- but its practical implementation- that is another case.

Ramadan Kerim