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Joining Hands and Creating a New Party is
Logical and Timely
The 6th National Congress of ELF-RC wisely and boldly
declared that the organization will dissolve itself and form a party in
partnership with other organizations/parties as well as groups and
individuals that are willing to do so within two years. This is a
fundamentally new outlook on the Eritrean political phenomenon in which
the tradition is for organizations to form United Fronts. It is a fresh
and courageous change from the historical approach of calling others to
join one’s organization. The core idea that evolved from the congress
was a response to deeply analyzed as to why others be it parties, groups
or individuals join the traditional organizations, which have names and
practices as historical background which they were not part of. The
youth, the women, the different groups that did not want to associate
with the historical context of the organizations are looking in from the
outside and there needs to be a new way or at least a new approach of
getting them part of the struggle for change of democracy. ELF-RC
believes that dissolving itself and form a new party that is inclusive
and broad is that new approach. Through out the discussions of all
members that was initiated by our late hero Martyr Seyoum; the echo was
the struggle we currently are engaged in is one for a democratic change
and not one based on historical vindication or revenge. If so, then the
struggle needs to be accepted and joined by all Eritreans irrespective
of their past political view or alliance. It needed a bold new start.
Thus, the announcement from the Sixth National Congress of forming a
party.
There are many reasons that convinced attendees of the congress to adopt
the resolution and all members to endorse it. The reasons why are being
explained to the public by holding public meetings through out the
world. The focus of this article is to share with our readers as to why
we think it is logical from a strategic and tactical point of view and
also timely from the perspective of what is happening to the nation and
the people of our country.
PFDJ is getting desperate: A dictator cornered with out
any escape route can take destructive desperate measures that may
devastate the country further. Even the die hard PFDJ supporters have
started to admit that the country is in desperation and change is
needed. There is no business opportunity as every little one is owned
by PFDJ tentacles. Corruption has become rampant and open. The army is
deserting. The only politics in the country begins with “Woyane” and
ends with “Woyane”. The regime is in confrontation with the world
bodies like the United Nations and by that with the world opinion. The
recent development in which PFDJ entered the Demilitarized Zone and
taking control of UN stations shows frustration. The excuse came too
late and then was as lame as it can be. Could they have discussed the
need to get in and pick up crops or other projects with the UN
representatives? Could they have found alternative labor to work on the
project? Is it a project that has to be completed by tanks and guns?
The whole scenario seems to be a desperate act that can lead to
thousands more of youth to be lost again. As a young student who lives
in the US put it with out any political bias “what the government has
done does not make any sense. The whole world now thinks that we are
the bad guys”. True, there in no rationality to Isayas’s actions. No
one around him is courageous enough to tell Isayas that he is playing
into the hands of the “Woyanes”. Now that he is fighting the whole
world, the “Woyanes” do not have to do any thing. His action plan does
not make sense even from his own narrow blinded vision. The desperate
act of arming the Islamists in Somalia when contrasted against his
refusal to talk to the Eritrean Opposition labeling them as reactionary
Islamists does not have any rational reasoning other than desperation.
The economic fall out that has griped the nation because of his arrogant
and reckless policies and the political desperation all hint that he may
resort into a blind jump and may take the country along with him. Thus,
it is both rational and timely to take a bold approach.
Those who are currently inactive can join the struggle: An
explosive or a desperate situation calls for every one to join hands and
prevent the ultimate devastation of the people and the country. It is
easier for people to join hands and work together when they are involved
from the get go and have a say in the start, development and conclusion
of the action plan. Hence, we want parties, groups and individuals to
have a say on the goals and strategies as well as on how to go about
forming the party. It is easier to take ownership when one is involved
in the process. That would enable us to form a formidable strong force
that can get the attention of our people and the world that can
challenge and defeat PFDJ of course working together with the other
opposition forces. The educated, the independents, and all those who
care need to join hands in forming the party and prevent further
desperate destructive measures that PFDJ can take. There are some who
think that the only or the best way is just for organizations to form a
united front. The uniting or working together of the organizations is
good especially in contrast to the splitting phenomenon which has taken
place in the last couple of years. ELF-RC is going an extra step by
bringing in the so-far bystanders, independents, and others to the new
party. It is step forward to derive the membership beyond the
traditional opposition base by reaching out to women and the youth who
are either neutral or at the PFDJ political fold. Now, the ball is at
their corner to join and stand by their nation and people not in words
only but in deed. Given the desperation PFDJ is in from the above
paragraph, blaming the organizations does not cut it any more. ELF-RC
has removed all doors and walls and has called for a fresh start from
the center with every one around it.
Bridging the historical rift: Even though the opposition
has shown a decent stride in showing that the struggle against the
dictatorship in Eritrea is not based on the historical Jebha vs. Shaebia
differences, our people are lagging behind in understanding that the old
differences are not the main factors in the continuation of the current
struggle for a democratic change in our country. Having a new party
with a new name and a new start and common goals will go a long way in
bridging the historical rift and focus our thoughts into national agenda
and the differences of ideas and practices with PFDJ political
strategies and practices with others. In the new party no one is
accepting any one’s history; every one is starting on equal footing with
full participation on democratic goals and strategies satisfactory to
all participants. This can go a long way in addressing the future
issues and problems that can face the country and does not merely deal
with current differences in the opposition to fight the regime
effectively.
Timely Action: The mobilization effect which is expected
to come out of the hard work of forming the party will engage more
people who were looking from the side lines into action. This
mobilization and involvement of more people in the struggle will have an
effect on the Eritrean Army who is getting wiser and conscious about the
sufferings of our people by the day. At the end of the day, it is this
kind of mass mobilization that will end the PFDJ dictatorship era and
alleviate our people of their misery. It is this lack of involvement of
the masses and the army that have prevented the demise of PFDJ. Until
then, the PFDJ will survive on one foot for a long time. So, the little
time it will take to form the party will be compensated with the effect
it will have on mobilizing the people.
It is a for gone conclusion ELF-RC will continue to work with other
opposition parties on cooperation level parallel to the mutual agreement
in our political ideologies, strategies and goals. Engagement with
those who differ with us has been a common practice of our leadership.
Exclusion, condemnation, and false defamation of those who differ with
you is a not a democratic practice and only leads to the predicament
PFDJ is in and that leaves our people and country in the worst possible
situation. Those who see this democratic and hones approach as wavering
or weakness are those who have not learned any lessons in past 25
years. Adhering to our democratic principles and being flexible in our
approach and dealing with those who do not agree with us manifests the
wisdom and dedication of our leadership and confidence of our members in
themselves and their organization.
In conclusion, let us join hands in forming a formidable party that will
have a significant effect in challenging PFDJ and move forward to
prevent the further desperate destructive actions by PFDJ. We call and
encourage you to talk to our leaders, cadres and members at large in
your area about the 6th National Congress decision of forming
a party. You can send your open opinions and comments to be posted on
Nharnet via
webmaster@nharnet.com or in confidence to the leadership via
party@nharnet.com.
Thanks for Reading,
The Nharnet Team
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