ERITREA  TODAY

ERITREA TODAY

By Sami Mehari

01.09.2002

The usual assumption is that the present should be better than the past, the new better than the old. But this is not true for Eritrea of today compared with its own situation of, say, 1991.

September 1, 1991 was not a simple 30^th anniversary of the commencement of our people’s long and arduous struggle for national independence and prosperous life in a democratic setup. The Bahti Meskerem of 11 years ago was part of the euphoric celebrations of that summer of victory. No one felt bad. Even the tens of thousands we lost during the years of struggle were considered alive and rejoicing the victory they brought about.

·                    Economic prosperity in a peaceful land was seen as a high possibility and within the reach of our hard working people. Eritreans genuinely aspired for a Singapore-like economic miracle becoming a reality, and not remaining a dictator’s bluff, in a country at peace with all neighbours in Africa and the Red Sea basin.

·                    Everyone believed the country would welcome all its sons and daughters back home, including the refugees who languished in camps of squalor for several decades outside home.

·                    People believed a democratic model would be provided by our new Eritrea. For that matter, no Eritrean thought the rule of law and the freedom of expression and assembly would remain distant dreams under a sovereign state of Eritrea.

·                    There was hope, confidence and pride in every corner, and in everybody’s heart!

·                    The New Nation’s image abroad was also bright and high in sky, while the international community was ready to extend a helping hand to a Nation that deserved it.

But the Eritrea of September 1, 2002, hardly carries the looks of the buoyant Eritrea of 11 years ago. 

·                    The depressed economic condition of our people in today’s Eritrea cannot be worse than what they are now after having  reached the lowest limit of poverty that can hardly cushion human survival.

·                    Streams of new refugees fleeing the country, which was turned to a big prison for its people, became among the flash news of the season. Malta and Italy are only a few of the destinations for Eritrean refugees of the 21^st century.

·                    Freedom and security to one’s life became the most rare commodities in today’s Eritrea. 

·                    Utter deception and pessimism had replaced the throbbing hopefulness, deserved pride and self-confidence in one’s Eritreanness that prevailed 11 years ago today.

·                    The Nation’s image abroad had been tarnished.

The current situation in Eritrea is a bitter lesson for now and the future. The next 11 years should find Eritrea and the Eritrean people in a much better condition in all spheres of life. If that is to be realized, the start would have to be made today.

And what is to be done today in order to make bring about a better tomorrow?

On my part, I read the solution in the pronouncements of the ELF-RC and a few other Eritrean political organizations, civic associations and individual democrats who represent a wide public opinion. These are:

1.                  The urgency of removing the dictatorial regime without loss of time. This is presented as a slogan: ‘National Salvation Above Everything Else’!

2.                  Speedy action to restructure the Alliance of Eritrean National Forces into a working democratic tool for wider participation, and effective mechanism for unified action.

3.                  Preparing for the formation of a Transition Government after the fall of the dictatorship:

a)                  Holding a wide meeting of opposition forces to establish a Preparatory Committee for a National Conference;

b)                  Spelling out the specific tasks of the Preparatory Committee;

c)                  Convening the National Conference of the opposition forces within a specified period of time.

d)                  The National Conference (Hagerawi Wa’ala) shall represent all political trends, social institutions including religious establishments, civic societies, national figures and intellectuals and discuss a national agenda.

 This plan of action is being actively pursued by the ELF-RC in conjunction with the Alliance and the newly emerging civic societies of the Eritrean Diaspora. NOTE: The only force that has been dragging its feet on this plan of action is, to my observation, the EPLF-DP of Mesfin Hagos. Why???  This is one of the questions posed by our Eritrea of today. The answer must be provided to our people by  Mesfin Hagos and his DP.

 Regards.

 Samimehari at hotmail.com