As The Wheel Turns

In the past couple of years, the wheel of the opposition seemed stuck in mud, spinning in the same place and at times sliding backwards or skidding sideways. The opposition organizations seemed to be in a defensive posture for a long time - not because of PFDJ but because of the killing wrangling among themselves. No genuine observer can deny the fact that ELF-RC had been the target of heavy blows coming from many corners for the stand it took at the 5^th Alliance meeting and recently for its vigorous advocacy for the acceptance and implementation of the international border ruling. As time passes, the wheel seems to be turning and the public seems to be regaining the hope it had lost. In respect to our organization, and as notes for the record, we can enumerate some points on which it was criticized heavily and on which the momentum seems to be changing to the better:

In spite of tainting split, ELF-RC remained a dynamic democracy. Our leadership consistently said that the split it suffered a year ago was a failure, regardless of who was to blame. As a result, that split had a temporary but all the same tainting effect on the image of ELF-RC. However, the developments which have taken place since then have clearly demonstrated that views and perceptions held against this organization were not correct in regard to the causes of both the split and then the much talked about protest walkout. In the end, independent researchers and observers have come corroborating just that correctness. Indeed, the ELF-RC is described as a dynamic democracy. We have no iota of doubt that more and more genuine Eritrean quarters will reach the same conclusions on those matters. Nharnet is not bluffing. It is only trying to remind readers, including those who do not want to hear it, that the ELF-RC was not treated fairly by a number of its critiques.

Contrary to what detractors claimed, the ELF-RC always stood for unity of the opposition. In January of this year, ELF-RC put forward a proposal for a broader coalition in which ENA (as an entity), EDP and ELF-RC would be founding members. This fact counter-weighted and negated the blind allegations by quarters who, coming from the blue sky, wished to say that this organization is against unity of the opposition. The truth was that our organization and its leadership firmly stood for unity. However, the ELF-RC did not want, and we still believe does not want, to see the Alliance manipulated or put out of context. On the contrary, it wished to elevate it to the level of fully operating democratic that is trusted and accepted by all Eritreans of all political tendencies inside and outside the country. Today, many forces that spoke against that unity proposal of January 2004 are no more against it. In fact, some are endorsing it. We at Nharnet.com believe that the process of forming a broad coalition will slowly but surely overwhelm the politics of our currently fragmented opposition.

Ethiopia’s unwelcome refusal of a international ruling is now replaced by its wise and welcome acceptance of the same ruling we stood for. The leadership and broad bases of the ELF-RC supported the task assigned to the border commission since its inception and declared that their belief in abiding by its decisions regardless of the outcome. This was based on the principle of resolving disputes by democratic dialogue; it was understood from the beginning that the result may not satisfy both parties. It was natural then that our leadership announced its acceptance of the results and called for both countries to abide by it whether their respective leaderships feel they have gained or lost. There are some points that we need to reiterate to our readers in regard to this important point:
1. Our stand on this had nothing to do with diplomatic relationships. It is solely based on the firm belief that it is the best way of solving the dispute and making peace and harmony prevail among our two countries and peoples. Leaders and administrations will come and go but the border will be there forever. The demarcation is an important step for a harmonious and cooperative neighborliness irrespective of the relationship of incumbent administrations.
2. Our stand was not based on whether Eritrea gained from the ruling or not. It is evident that the border issue yields a complex pattern, and the fact remains that a number of villages whose population paid dearly during the struggle for independence may have not remained to our side of the border. But the border ruling, far from generating a mood of hostilities and pessimism, should invite a renewed commitment for peace and an essential prelude to devising mutual cooperation. The reason we advocated for the acceptance and implementation of the ruling is based on the belief that the ruling should not be in a suspense where one party accepts it only if the outcome is in its favor.
3. Some were concerned that PFDJ would exploit our stand and our vigorous advocating for it. First and foremost, Eritrea belongs to all Eritreans, not to PFDJ. Therefore, we can’t base our principles and their resulting policies based on fear of PFDJ exploitation. We frame our stand of national matters based on lasting national interest and benefit. We choose a strategy which is best for the nation; not what is the easiest or the most beneficial to one’s organization. Temporary exploitation of the border issue by PFDJ should be and can be countered without much difficulty. In fact, the just settlement of the border shall deny PFDJ excuses of holding our people at bay and our youth in the trenches. It also takes away a very big cave of hiding its tentacles by saying that the country is at risk until the border is demarcated. On the other hand, our clear stand did not allow PFDJ to paint the opposition as weak and unpatriotic which does not stand for national interest - a powerful tool to alienate the opposition from the people. We in the ELF-RC helped deny that propaganda tool to PFDJ.
4. Nharnet did not overplay the subject of the border ruling. In our opinion, respecting international law by Eritrea and for Eritrea is a national Eritrean agenda. We saw that failure to accept the ruling could mean serious consequences. We have not forgotten all the destruction of the last senseless war. Also on this point, the Nharnet Team took it as a responsibility to make our readers and the world be aware of the dangers hanging over our people and country and had, and have if necessary, to shout as loud as possible in an attempt to avoid another destruction of homeland and our youth. Unlike the propaganda machinery of the rogure regime, the purpose of our coverage is to enlighten our readers and therefore our people of the dangers of war and the need for settling disputes peacefully and on the basis of agreements and laws. On the other hand, PFDJ is to scare people and keep our youth hostage in the trenches. That contrast could not have been crystallized by avoiding the subject.

4. Acceptance of demarcation, as a big step forward, will contribute to building trust between our two peoples. Our organization’s stand has been expressed in our Chairman’s statement and the comments from our Information and Cultural Affairs Office. We have high hopes that this will lead to an actual demarcation and a lasting resolution. Our people will keep PFDJ on its toe and counter every excuse it manufactures to keep the nation in suspense in regard to the border. We will continue exposing its blunders. ELF-RC believes a sincere neighborly cooperation with all neighbors of our country on the basis of mutual respect and understanding. Our neighbors can count on our commitment to peaceful and prosperous future cooperation. We believe a sustaining friendship and mutual cooperation cannot be attained by temporary maneuvers and short-term calculations. If this scenario was to be taken to a personal level, a friend who bluntly tells you when you make a bad decision is preferable to someone who smiles and encourages you while knowing the path is not a good one for the fear that he or she might lose whatever interest he/she had.

A typical example of what we just stated is the position of Herui Tedla of the ENA now and before. Not very long ago, the ENA secretary general has been stating with force that the border ruling concerns only to the two governments; meaning PFDJ and the Ethiopian government. Most of our readers remember his repeated refusal to call for the acceptance and implementation of the ruling in the meetings he conducted in the USA. Now, he reversed his stand and is calling on the rest of the opposition to support and take a position on the proposal made by the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Meles Zenawi. That is very telling, isn’t it? It is the same decision, the same ruling that he refused to take a stand on until recently. This does not only reflect on his character but also on the credibility of the opposition in the hearts and minds of our people as he is ‘the top man’ of ENA. The concerns of many of us about Herui’s ascent to a high post of the ENA that he disdained for long were well placed. At the end of the day, the masters and the benefactors of the change we aspire to bring about are the Eritrean people - at least for those of us who struggle for a total change to a democratic system, where the people are empowered rather than just replacing PFDJ by another bunch of usurpers. Trust us, the Eritrean people are watching us very carefully even though it is in silence and in a subdued mood under the guns of PFDJ.

5. PFDJ does not have the interest of our people and nation at heart, just how to hold on the steering wheel of power. The stand that the demarcation should be left for it is really unwillingness to call on Ethiopia to accept the ruling. Otherwise, it is clear to everyone in the world that the reckless PFDJ is incapable of resolving conflicts by dialogue. If that was not the case, Eritrea would not be in the predicament it is in internally and externally. Those who tried and still try to question our noble stance on the border ruling and equating it to the “language of PFDJ” were not only unfair but also were misleading some people. Others insinuated that we are engaged in a dialogue to return ‘to the fold of PFDJ’. In reverse, one would say those quarters were in fact speaking the language of PFDJ - the language of fabrication and distortion of realities. Ever since October 1991, the ELF-RC never trusted and never thought Isaias and his PFDJ would come down for dialogue. Yet, our principles and policies are not opposed to bringing about real and lasting solutions through democratic dialogue. Those principles of resolving internal differences and conflicts by democratic dialogue adopted in the second national congress of 1975 are still intact. Our organization practices dynamic democracy and therefore cannot have undemocratic principles and policies that forbid dialogue. At the same time, there should be the understanding that PFDJ is incapable of resolving internal or external issues through dialogue. If it did, it would not be a dictatorship. A system that does not acknowledge the existence of opposition cannot get itself to sit down for a dialogue with an entity that does not exist in its mental framework. As a democratic organization, we cannot afford to abandon our principle of peaceful coexistence with those we have principal and policy differences for fear of blackmail by elements that do not have a clear understanding of PFDJ. Are they truly afraid that PFDJ will submit its power and meet the requirements of a democratic system based on multi party approach? They seem to have forgotten that the reason the Eritrean people started the armed struggle was because the enemy would not recognize the cause and would not resolve the Eritrean case peacefully by dialogue. The people did not choose to fight but war was imposed on them. In the same light we will always have principles of engagement, peace and dialogue while pursuing to change the system by all means necessary.

And back to one of the issues raised above: Why did the border issue become the concern today to those who said it was “none of the opposition’s business” yesterday? Our people, who today appear to be ignorant and silent, know why. The people also know the road to survival, the road to change for the better requires vision, conviction, courage, consistency, and dedication. They understand that it is tough voyage that cannot be completed by changing directions and positions at every bump you encounter. The martyrs, whom we commemorate today, December 1^st, taught us the lesson that we have to remain steadfast when the going gets tough and pay the sacrifice required. We shall remain true to their aspiration of liberty and justice for the Eritrean people. Thanks for reading.

Nharnet Team

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