From: Michael Abraham (mikeabk1@yahoo.com)
Date: Sat Jan 17 2009 - 01:46:10 EST
Samson: You sound like a well informed person on Eritrea's external
political enemies. And thank you for posting your thoughts. But I have to
comment on the important matters you did not talk about.
The mounting external pressure faced by Eritrea is a fact, but it is only
one side of the story. The other equally urgent question is the
deterioration in the lack of trust, unity, compassion and lack of tolerance
among Eritreans of varying ideological and political persuasions. I may
sound like an idealist fool, but I am convinced this state of affairs is the
worst enemy of all. And the only sure way to reverse this dangerous trend is
by allowing people freedom of expression and freedom of conscience and by
honoring human and democratic rights without delay.
External enemies would encourage the continuous absence of the values that
bond Eritreans together because without them a nation is prone to being
divided and therefore too weak to defend its independence and sovereignty.
(Ethiopia faces the same dilemma today.)
None of the fleeing young Eritrean compatriots accepts the notion that the
tight grip over the people was making the citizens more nationalistic. It is
of course having the opposite effect and that is why the number of defecting
people continues to grow.
I would have enjoyed reading your journal better if you had also made some
mention of our internal predicament. May be next time. But I firmly believe
the question of liberty and democracy are also questions of national
security.
Michael Abraha