September 1st, A Day of Escalation of our Struggle

When all political and peaceful means of the struggle of the Eritrean people in the form of different parties, workers union, student unions as well as conferences and mass demonstrations failed to achieve an independent Eritrea, it came to a point where the people had no choice but escalate the revolution to an armed struggle on September 1st, 1961.

Since then, September 1st has remained a day celebrated and commemorated by all Eritreans.  Along with that day, a hero and an icon of our armed struggle gets remembered and celebrated as the person who led the first guerrilla unit that started the armed struggle firing the first bullet on a place known as  Adal on the western lowlands of Eritrea.

Today, 42 years after the sound of the first bullet was heard, Eritrea finds itself independent but its people suffering under merciless dictatorship of its own children.  It is not the colonial enemy that suppressing the people any more.  It is power monger group commonly known as "gujle 7 " to mean the click of 7 that is ruling the country under a military decree for all practical reasons.

42 years later, we find ourselves proud of our independence but saddened and disappointed for failing our people in granting them the freedom and liberty they paid huge sacrifices for.  We find of ourselves in our independent country where heroic fighters that who  practically dedicated their lives to the cause of the country cannot attend the funerals of their loved ones be it heir  father, mother, sister or brother. 

Of course those in the opposition camp can say that they are doing  the best they could to change the system of governance in our country and hand over the power to our people.  However, The Nharnet Team says all the best that is being done by the opposition camp has not risen to the level required to mobilize the people with out whom a real change cannot be achieved to its side.    Many political analysts may have an array of reasons as to why the people despite the cruel treatment by PFDJ have not embraced the organizations on the opposition camp.  We leave this to each organization to take a hard look at itself and try to answer the question objectively and honestly.

Let's  take a scenario where Awate came back for a visit to see the development of the struggle he helped to ignite.  As wise he is, he brings a team of martyrs that have left significant marks on the struggle.  Let's just say his visiting team included:

Martyr Alem Mesfin, Abdulkadr Ramadan, Abraham Tecle, Said Salih from those in ELF and Ibrahim Afa as well as others from EPLF.  The purpose of their visit is to:

1. evaluate the status of our country and the condition of our people

2. the harmony between the different forces of change

3. point out the weaknesses they see

4. map out a venue that would fulfill the cause for which they gave their lives

We do not claim to have the wisdom , courage he had.  However knowing those heroes that followed him, we can fairly guess as to what his observations would be:

1. He would wonder what ever happen to the promise of liberty, equality and decency that our people deserve as they paid immensely for it.

2. He would wonder what happen to the morality and respect of one another that we inherited from our ancestors.

3. He would be disappointed by the lack of  respect for our martyrs and handicaps.  He would ask how they came to be forgotten.

4. He would be amazed when he sees new externally imported religious and philosophical tendencies divide our people who have lived in harmony and mutual respect for eternity.

5. He would see that a lot of divisive and subversive acts being launched in the name of democracy and the people.

6. He be upset at the lack of justice, freedom, respect and the reign of fear in our people.

7. He would look at the whole opposition camp and wonder how it got to the level of disarray it is in.

His team members would wonder how we did not inherit from Alem Mesfin's selflessness.  They would ask us how we did not learn from the commitment to democracy , wisdom of solving problems as well as tactical skills of trouble shooting of Abdulkadir Ramadan.  They will ask those who are in power submissive to the system how they missed the courage to stand up for the truth from Ibrahim Afa even when it endangers his live.  They would ask them selves how the courage of Abraham Tecle and Said Salih as well as many others was not passed on.

Is the opposition ready to listen to the questions of the visitors and change their ways?  Talking about the weaknesses of PFDJ without adhering to principles that would bring fundamental changes to our people may not mean much to our suffering people at the end of the day.

September 1st should be used to reflect back on what we learned from our heroes who gave their lives for the cause of our people and country and we should refresh our minds with the teachings of Awate and the others who followed him.  We should pledge to do the right thing for our people and country instead of what satisfies our individual egos.  We should use this anniversary to escalate the struggle for liberty and freedom.

The Nharnet Team