Editorials

Three Years Ago Today

September 11, 2001 brought a new political dynamics that impacts the new world order.  It was a sad event that impacted and still impacts thousands of civilians from all over the world who resided in the city of New York and worked at the Twin center in particular.  ELF-RC leadership sent a message of sympathy condemning the act to the president and the Secretary of State Department of the USA.  Eritreans from all over the world frantically tried to contact relatives and friends in the USA.  People and governments of the world condemned the act and were fully occupied with it as this can happen any where else.

On the Eritrean side of political theatre, 2001 was a year which showed division within the seemingly crack-less PFDJ.  The Berlin manifesto had been publicized and the reckless and arrogant response from the dictator to the representatives of the G-13 was a disappointment to many who believed and advocated PFDJ was a progressive democratic entity.  It was a year the G-15 who openly voiced their concern and called for improvement through dialogue and meetings. Since the dictatorial behavior does not allow Isayas to engage for a democratic dialogue to resolve differences of views and opinions, the country went in suspense. 

Exactly one week after September 11, Isayas took the steps that he had been taking on many other opposition figures including our two brave members of leadership on his own comrades who served his power journey.  The shock that was around the world and the fear and worries of the Eritrean American community was seen as the ripe opportunity to take the country down the hill.  As a result, he jailed each and every one the G-15 his security apparatus can grab. Some who were not in the country escaped the jailing.  It is to be remembered the courageous eloquently outlined public notice by Ambassador Hibret Berhe as to why she disassociated herself from the regime. 

ELF-RC saw this phenomenon as a positive development and proceeded to publicly voice as such.  Other organizations quickly stood against them and labeled them "two faces of a dollar" in a Tigrinia saying.  Their leadership was keen of the label "Woyane" and so did not coordinate as soon as they should in the level they should.  But, they were not to be spared of Isayas's label of "Woyane", traitors and many others are terminologies to be used against any one who stands against him or voice a different political opinion.  It did not matter how well they served EPLF, PFDJ and the struggle towards independence, they were to be called traitors and they did.  He accused them of being defeatists and security risk.  The sword that was used against many of our comrades including those who are suffering in his dungeons was turned inside word towards them. 

A PFDJ member put it in a very understandable phrase in Tigrinia when describing the behavior of Isayas when he was talking to some one he trusted.  'Isayas does not care about your region or religion; does not care if you are Muslim or Christian; you are his enemy and would be dealt as such if you say or do any thing that touches his power grip in a negative way'.    This brings us to the current situation and some of the issues by many circles of the opposition:

1. The rumor that the trio who signed the memorandum of understanding wants a dialogue with PFDJ.  This is a waste of time and a point that comes mostly from those who could not defend their own stand and miraculous unity declarations that does not reconcile with their programs and principles.  We stated long time ago that Isayas is neither capable nor willing of any kind of resolving issues via democratic dialogue until he is weaken enough and does not have any choice.  That cannot be accomplished by resorting to ethnic and sub national agendas.  Those who worry or spread about this rumor are those who do not have objective evaluation of the dictator.  They want to take us back to 1994 when ELF-RC declared PDJ a dictatorship and Isayas a dictator. 

2. The memorandum of understanding was hastily issued in response to the 4+1 unity declaration.  This memorandum of understanding came as an outcome of the discussions through out the years.  The meetings in London and some where else were publicized as they took place.  To the contrary, it is the 4+1 that was formed as a response to the united front that was in the making for a while now. 

3. The Isayas Regime is a system of a one ethnic oppression against others namely the Tigrinia speaking against the rest.  This has been analyzed to death and so there is no need to dwell on it.  But we want to give a blunt response to a perception and rumor that helps the dictator.  Many talk as if one region is in power oppressing the other regions and mobilize their own bases as such.  PFDJ as a dictatorship uses any divide and rule mechanism to continue its grip of power and so may give the false appearance as if a certain religion or region is preferred to others.  Our people need to look below the surface and recognize attempts to disunite them for their own political expediency.  As a result, they need to look at the facts if Isayas works for any one's sake except his power grip.

4. We want to remind our readers G-15 are not the first political prisoners.  Many of our comrades have been suffering in the dungeons of the dictator long time before September 18, 2001.  Innocent patriotic Eritreans were routinely executed, tortured and jailed with no one knows their where about.  In a dictatorial system like Isayas's every one awaits their turn.  Those who think they are the makers and shakers will be the next target and they are all under suspicion.  No one is safe under the dictator regardless of the religion or region.  Thos who tell us otherwise are either fooling themselves until the turn of their faith in PFDJ or want to use sub national issues such as religion or region for political expediency in the opposition.

The Eritrean people have shown their unity when it matters.  Ibrahim M. Ali, the ELF-RC speaker has provided an excellent analysis of the historical perspective of the unity of our people and country.  He has articulated that the Eritrean people have fought against the scheme of dividing their country handing the western part to the Sudan and the highlands and the Eastern to Ethiopia.  The Voice of Democratic Eritrea International Team has a good job in translating it to Tigrinia audio.  We invite our readers to read his article and listen to the broadcasting.   It is imperative for our people to defy appearances of deception by PFDJ and antagonism by sub-nationalists and ethnic dividers.  On this day where PFDJ true colors was revealed to the world, our people need to remind themselves that they need to show their unity once again any news schemes of dividing them.  They need to maintain nationhood and sovereignty in tact while pursuing aggressively to dismantle the dictatorial system.

The Nharnet Team

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