In Negotiations Threatening Doesn’t Have a Space

Threatening is never meant to mend issues it will only polarize them. Mending is preceded by complements and positive gestures. But the editorial posting at gabeel.com indicate the opposite. It is a basket full of vinegar and lemon. Gabeel.com is the official website of EFDM. Who would expect an official website of an organization who claims to stand for Eritreans to spear head a campaign of hate. Prior to this article I believed that this group could contribute a diversified view in the building of a national democratic state. I respect their views and what they stand for although I don’t agree with them.

As the Khartoum conference to find a common ground in toppling the dictator is underway, all respective opposition organizations are expected to come equipped with the best negotiation tools to leverage their counterparts. That has been the case EFDM’s negotiation tone will put it this way; “…Today there are many in the opposition camp that are not just indifferent to the plights of our people, but openly call upon us not to even mention the atrocities that have been befalling our people from the days of the so-called ‘Commandis’ (1960s & 1970s) to the present day merciless pfdj ‘commandis’. Aside from the opportunist gutless individuals and groups, we should be left in no doubt that the opposition camp is clearly divided into those who wish to maintain the status-quo minus Issayas or with ‘reformed’ Issayas and those who genuinely favor fundamental changes that reverses the injustices of the last 50 years and restore the Eritrean people’s legitimate rights to autonomous rule and federally structured system of governance….”

What this reminds me is that there is abyss of grudge and animosity buried in someone’s brain. Many people have written and rewritten about the commandos misdeeds. Is the objective to find remedy or antagonize. I believe the Eritrean people through decades have agonized enough for a long time. I equally believe that propagating selective stories is misguiding and instigative action. Let’s be honest, can we also talk about the darkest misdeeds of my own Jebha Abai during the 1960s? By the way since the commandos are the subject of the day, who were they? Were they only Kebesa and Christians or other ethnic groups and religions were part of them too? Why didn’t the editor wanted to talk about the police Abai misdeeds also? Did the commandos ever collaborate with Jebha in fighting against Ethiopian colonialism at any stage? What was the commandos’ educational level and also what was the educational level of the Jebha fighters in the 1960s? Did Jebha used pull or push method in rallying the people? Was the barrel of the gun the main tool of mass education Jebha used? Did all the Kebesas or Christians approve the commandos’ misdeeds? Who is responsible for the misdeeds of the Jebha in the 1960s? Was the fight Jebha vs. Commandos or Jebha vs. colonialism? Will the true story of seria Addis will come out? I am not trying to compare and contrast but there are so many holdings, grudges, mistrust, and accusations from all quarters that need answers. I am still puzzled by the 50 year injustices. I believe the editor is trying to insinuate the highlander and Christian line of succession. If I am correct then this is a dangerous route which could tear Eritrea apart. Everyone agrees that there were 41 years of colonial repression and 13 years of brutal and repressive dictatorship.

Another gutsy negotiation effort is the following; “The EFDM should critically question the benefit of aligning itself with those who are indifferent to the plight of the different segments of the Eritrean heterogeneous society. If necessary, let the struggle for fundamental change take another 30 years instead of wasting time empowering groups that would continue the same policies of the Ehtiopian occupiers and their eplf/pfdj successors.”

I found this to be irresponsible and arrogant. It simply tells us “it is my way or no way”. I believe this group has wealth of experience and knowledge to grasp the scope of negotiations. In any type of negotiation you come to create common ground. It is always based on give and take principles unless some of the participants are in a weaker position or don’t have other option but to take what is offered to them. Again the editor used the highlander Christian line of succession which is wrong and instigative. The only winner here is the dictator.

The third negotiation tactics the editor display is; “thus we have nothing to lose, if we opt for distancing ourselves from the power-seeking unitarists”. I don’t know what to say more. Why make the trip to the Khartoum’s conference if seeking a solution is considered as wasting time. I believe every effort that is spent to bring all the opposition organizations under one umbrella is well invested time. In the opposition circle which is embroiled with mistrust and animosity, the probability of success in the first round of talk is slim. Mr. Fesseha Nair, one of the leaders of this organization, even said that we need to build a trust first to wage a successful negotiation. How could trust reign when what you have to contribute is going to be a basket full of negativity? Khartoum is not Las Vegas (a gambling city in the USA). Today, it is taken as the only hope for what we have left.

The convergence in Khartoum is to meet the people’s call. When parties sit around the negotiation table they need to remind themselves that it is a win/win situation. It should never be perceived as win/loose or loose/loose situation. The two sides of EFDM are sending us two signals. Mr. Nair’s writing is inviting and engaging while the editor official website approach is threatening, polarizing, and hate mongered. Where does EFDM as an organization stands in bringing the people of Eritrea together?

Do the people of Eritea hate each other as it is portrayed sometimes by some elements? I don’t believe so. It has only been polarized and misconstrued by power mongered individuals for personal gains. Allow me to share with you some of my experience. I was fortunate enough to deal with the great people of the Halhal and the two Marias in the best moment of my life. My first study of family tree of Eritrea started at these great places. Great many of the Marias clans and tribes were from kebesa and they always talk about their contacts with their bloods in kebesa. They also tell you how they were marginalized by their neighbors. Aboy Osman NafiE of Halhal used to tell me how the Tewque and Dembezan are brothers and came from Gondar. Those are just few examples and there should be hundreds of them. Eritrean people respect and love their blood ties. That is why any type of war was avoided so far between us.

There is a great deal of blockage that we need to clear. There is humongous of build up that we need to undo. There are many misperceptions and interpretations that supercede the actuarial events too. The question is how do we do it? The first thing we need to realize is each of us is not trying to change each other. We are only trying to coexist and live harmoniously. If someone is trying to alter the kebesa’s or barka’s character, they are just fooling themselves. We all need to recognize and accept that grave of mistakes have happened through decades and look for a solution collectively. Playing the victims games is not going to do it. Owning the issue and taking responsibility can drive it. We also need to be open and sincere for what we are trying to accomplish. We can accomplish this by being engaging and inviting with each other not negating and spreading hate propaganda. Positive tone is the beginning a winning negotiations.

I recently came across a TV commercial for the Tsunami victims that is running by two ex-presidents. This is what they say; “we can’t change to what had happened in the past, we can only change to what it can happen in the future.” I was totally moved by this emotional call and I thought it is a perfect fit in our case. Yes, we can’t change as to what happen in the past but we can make change to what it can happen in the future by building social bridges. Are we ready to make a change? We need to change our thinking first before we try to change others. It is all in the minds.

LET THE PROCESS OF CHANGE BEGIN!