Editorials
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A Broad Coalition, A winning Formula Implementation of the Border Ruling as Significant as Ever
ELF-RC has always maintained that working together is a must for the opposition. It certainly has had difference with many quarters of the opposition about the need for the implementation of the demarcation and the stand of non-interference in internal matters. However differences should not be seen as a total block from working together on basic matters of mutual agreement on national matters.
At this juncture, it may be appropriate to answer some insinuative questions about the meeting of our delegation led by the chairman with the Prime Minister and other leadership of the Ethiopian government in Khartoum and Addis Ababa. Some have picked a phrase or a sentence out of our news item and try to ask whether we have changed our position on demarcation. Those who insinuate intentionally, we do not even bother about them. To the innocent reader and listener, a phrase or a sentence out of news report does not supercede any of our declared stands or official statements. There is no change in our position of the border ruling that it should be implemented without any precondition or any tactical delays. Yes, Ethiopian Government’s acceptance of the ruling is a very positive step when seen against the backdrop of earlier “Null and Void” stance. We bring you the following highlights of the only official statement issued after Ethiopia declared its acceptance of the ruling by the chairman on November 26, 2004. On our view of the change of position of the Ethiopian government, the statement reads as follows: “We in the ELF-RC have received with warm welcome Ethiopia’s recent stated decision to accept in principle and hopefully abide by the Border Commission’s ruling as good news for the peoples of Eritrea and Ethiopia and for the Horn Region in general. This hopefully genuine position would no doubt help remove the threat of renewal of hostilities that had negatively charged and polluted the security and political atmosphere in the region for a long time now” “Ethiopia’s acceptance of the border ruling and more so its implementation would also remove one important negative factor in overall Ethio-Eritrean relations…” The chairman went on to say “The ELF-RC believes that in the last analysis, the question of abiding by the internationally sanctioned border ruling is more a matter of responsibility of peace and safeguarding the destiny of coming generations than a question of loss or gain of contested border territory”. He further clarified the unmistakably clear stand of our organization that the ruling should be implemented with out any delays or preconditions as follows. “In the meantime, we urge that all the arsenal of non basic and unnecessary accessories, preconditions and delaying factors in the position of both parties be dropped to unequivocally give way to a positive atmosphere more conducive to peace and thus more helpful to speed up and facilitate actual implementation of the ruling which is final and binding.” Please click on the following link for the whole statement to read the whole statement. http://nharnet.com/Archives/Arch_2004/Nov_2004/ELFRC_Chairman_Nov26.htm
It was only yesterday the same detractors were voicing their concern that Nharnet was overplaying the border demarcation issue. To that effect Nharnet had an editorial titled “As The Wheel Turns” about Ethiopia’s unwelcome refusal of an international ruling is now replaced by its wise and welcome acceptance of the same ruling we stood for which you can read the whole editorial on the following link: http://nharnet.com/Archives/Arch_2004/Dec_2004/NharnetEditorialDec01.htm Nharnet and the rest of the organizational organs shouted loudly and clearly for the acceptance of the international ruling of the border demarcation, and now we are calling for its implementation.
Now, we turn our focus to the essence of this editorial about the move towards the formation of a broad coalition and the much awaited meeting to be held at the end of the week. The organizations in the opposition camp have different political programs and differing political philosophical beliefs. Unless some abandon or change their political program, entities with opposing political programs cannot be molded into one organization. However, they can work together on matters they agree on. There are always basic minimum points on which parties and organizations of the same nation can work together. Even at a time of heated controversy, soon after the ELF-RC delegation walk out from the well known 5th Regular ENA meeting, our leadership declared its door of dialogue to be open and called for working together to the extent possible. It continued to meet with organizations open for the dialogue that are members as well as non-members of the ENA. As a formal push to get the opposition to work together, ELF-RC leadership presented a proposal to form a broad coalition of the opposition which contains 10 points in January of 2004. The document was made public in Tigrinia, Arabic and English towards the end of June 2004. It is to be remembered organizations open to the idea have been meeting and the last one was in Khartoum last November.
A couple of weeks ago, the opposition met in Khartoum and a statement was issued in which the signatories are ELF-RC, EDP, ENA and EPM. This is good news and has given reason for our people to be optimistic again. For ELF-RC, it is rather a continuation of the effort that has been in the works and is not a new phenomenon. As a result, our members are excited about the prospect this agreement can bring if handled properly and is put to practice effectively. Our people have heard and read similar declarations and statements before. Almost all of them have ended in disappointments or fell apart flatly as they were not executed properly. The question of the day is whether the opposition can change the pessimism of our people by executing a workable practical plan and delivering tangible results. Whether our people abandon PFDJ and boldly join the opposition camp in a last push to get rid of the dictatorship and replace it with a democratic one may depend on that answer.
The Nharnet Team has been observing the reaction on the streets and on the cyber space. The news has been welcomed by almost every one. That is not to say that every one who welcomed the news is optimistic about seeing the fruits of the agreement. The associations, individuals, and groups who are pessimistic often forget that they have roles to play. It is easy to blame the organizations when they fail to deliver. The hard part is for the same individual, association or group to ask itself what it could have done to overcome the stalemate. Ideas should flow. Pressures should be exerted and extend a helping hand materially. Participation and doing one’s part is the only sure way of seeing results.
Organizations on their part should not forget that it is the people when and if convinced that the organizations are working for their (the people’s) good and betterment that can bring about the much needed change. Changes cannot be dictated and would certainly fail if they were. They need to be endorsed and accepted by the majority even to the extent of taking ownership of the change. Organizations should adopt honesty and transparency in their approach. Resolutions and statements need to be answered to the satisfaction of the people. The actions and policies need to alleviate our people of the fear instilled in them by PFDJ that the opposition is a sell out to foreign interests. The stand of the opposition should be clear on sovereignty and other national matters. The meeting that will take place about the new broad coalition should take these points into consideration carefully and address them fully if the people are to join the struggle for change.
Nharnet Team |
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