Eritrea is a small nation with lots of diversity and differences.  It is interesting to witness the exponential multiplicity of new political groups in the last two years.  I guess it is natural to see the birth of new political groups when larger ones crumble.  We witness that in 1981-82 after the ELF was pushed from the field by EPLF/TPLF war of conspiracy.  We are witnessing it now as EPLF is disintegrating.   With this phenomenon, many groups emerged and are still emerging.  One question comes to mind: 

What is the Irony Behind Democrats & Non-Democrats? 

All Eritrean political groups including PFDJ sing the same songs: 

�       They claim to be democrats

�       They blame the opponent to be non-democrats

�       They say or believe on national constitution

�       They say or believe on multi-party system

�       They say or believe on one national army

�       They say or believe on rights of individuals and religion

�       They say or believe on free popular election

�       They say or believe on independent justice system 

Why do have so many political groups then? 

The failure of PFDJ is no body�s doubt that it is based on their unwilling to implement what they preached.  It is one thing to say it and it is another thing to practice it.  Those people who practice the way they preach should shorten their lists and find common ground with other similar group to merge the same way ELF & ELF-RC did.  Groups with similar political programs exhaust their energy by duplicating everything.  There are groups who adapt minor programs like nationality and religious rights issues in their political program to display fundamental difference from their opponents.  In fact these issues can be answered by the national constitution.  And there are many minor issues that the national constitution should answer.  Some groups are still dwelling on the minor issues and promote them as a major political issue for their personal gains. 

Do we have personality problems then? 

Most of the leaders in all the political groups including PFDJ are the products of late sixties and seventies.  This tells us that most of these folks had some degree of association in the past.  As I was reading Manhot�s article last night about Haile DeruE and Seyoum O. Michael�s past association, I tried to put the puzzle together.  Of course, experience and culture can play a role on the differences.  But that shouldn�t stop people from engagements, dialogue, and focusing on the bigger picture.

In the private sector networking is the foundation of success.  Knowing people is a treasure and if one can exploit it, it can expand ones horizon.  Knowing people is a leverage to initiate many things.  If the association of the past doesn�t help to create a friendly environment for dialogue and engagements, then my assessment is we have personality problems.  All leaders, no matter what their difference is, should respect each other and engage in dialogue on the big picture.  What ELF & ELF-RC did should be followed by many of the groups.  Myself, I don�t see difference between most of the groups except elements cannot stand each other.  And some people love the spot life.  BTW If they didn�t know this, it is a sign of dictatorship. 

Taking this opportunity, I would like to praise and applaud the national salvation task force.  The initiative they are taking is right on the money.  And congrats on their first successful meeting conducted two weeks ago.  They brought diversity and differences together.  Bringing two ends of an aisle together is the beginning of our national salvation.  All political organizations should open their hearts and minds to implement the dialogue and engagement culture.  Let�s not label each other.  We all have similar labels.  We need to come together and craft a national framework where everyone can participate equally and peacefully.  We need to do it now not later.  Let�s do it.