Date: Fri, 7 Mar 2014 23:34:50 +0100
Ambassador AndeberhanWoldegiorgis: Selective Dementia or Sheer Dishonesty?
<http://alenalki.com/index.php/alenalki-news/208-ambassador-andeberhanwoldeg
iorgis-selective-dementia-or-sheer-dishonesty>
Published on Thursday, 06 March 2014 22:55
Part 1
Sophia Tesfamariam
Eritrea's former Ambassador to the EU, Andeberhan Woldegiorghis, released a
short "manifesto" of his new "political platform" through Youtube on 17
January 2014. This was apparently meant as a prelude to the still-born
"Forum for National Dialogue" that was subsequently launched in London in
early February 2014. I suppose it's the modus operandi-or predictable script
that he and his aging, ailing colleagues have been brought in to read from.
Before I present excerpts of his Youtube statement to give my readers a gist
of his new "political perspectives", allow me to share a brief 2007
encounter with the good Ambassador in Cairo, Egypt during a meeting there.
When we ran into Ambassador Andeberhan in the lobby of the hotel we were all
staying in, my colleague was excited to see him and went to greet him. He
then turned to me and said, "You know Sophie right", and before he could say
anymore, the good Ambassador extorted with, "No I don't know her". He was
telling the truth-but only a half-truth-or should I say, a selective truth.
You see, a few years back, he had come to New York with the late Minister
Ali Said Abdella and for some reason, I did not make it to New York then.
When Minister Ali called met say hello, he told me that Ambassador
Andeberhan had asked for me and that he was so looking forward to meeting me
in person. So, yes, we had never met in person, but to deny any knowledge of
me was a bit dishonest. Well, for the rest of the weekend, while he
hobnobbed with the Ethiopian delegation-we stayed apart.but he also poured
his guts out in a conversation with my colleague, as if to exonerate
himself. More on that encounter and his tantrums in Cairo later.
I am questioning his motives today, as many Eritreans like me who have heard
and read his previous speeches, are doing, as they see him flip
flopping-creating a narrative to fit his newly found job-as it is not a
profession-something he has said repeatedly, he was seeking. From what I
have been able to find out about this man-while many praise him for this
intellect-they tell me that his people skills are less than desirable-almost
dictatorial.
Looks to me like he is now in a very complex, historical and moral
conundrum-a volte-face mode that is untenable.considering his is a
well-documented life and by all accounts, was given more opportunity than
most. In any case, allow me to present some of his public statements, made
passionately at various international forums in his Ambassadorial capacity,
precisely on the issues he is now advocating.
As far as most Eritreans like me were concerned, Ambassador Andeberhan
defected in 2006 for personal rather than political reasons. He declined to
return home following the end of his ambassadorial posting to Brussels
reportedly telling close confidants that he was less than excited about his
new job as CEO of the National Bank, and that he wanted to see his sons
study abroad. He also made no public announcements that would give any
indication of serious grievances. So there are three plausible reasons why
he has decided to lend his voice to the defunct "opposition" at this time.
As I have previously stated, members of the Eritrean Quislings League (EQL)
seem to make their appearances-and debuts, when the minority regime in
Ethiopia finds itself in another quagmire. They serve as the "Eritrean
faces" for its agendas. So, from where I sit, the good Ambassador has either
been bought to serve as their new spokesperson-as the others, like Assefaw
Tekeste, Haile Menkorios, Paulos Tesfagiorgis and Bereket Habte Selassie
have been rejected by the Eritrean populace and their integrity and
credibility have been questioned for their treacherous activities . or is
suffering from debilitating dementia. or is blatantly dishonest. I'll allow
the facts and the record to speak for themselves.
For brevity's sakes, and to remind him of his past Statements, allow me to
simply juxtapose his YouTube statements with a verbatim replication of his
vehement stance on those very issues prior to his current bout with
selective dementia, or whatever it is that ails him today.
1. Ambassador Andebrehan's YouTube statement on the detained former
government officials and political realities in Eritrea:
".Since winning the war and exercising the right of self-determination in
the form of independence, the people have not had the chance to choose their
own government. In other words, the national liberation front of which of
course I am a founding member of the Central Committee, it waged a long war,
built an efficient war machine combat effective, achieved military victory.
But it became ill suited running the affairs of a state. It failed to
transform itself and its functions from waging a war of National liberation
into running the affairs of state in time of peace. As a result, attempt to
transform it from within was aborted and those who have attempted ended up
in jail. I will not bore you with a long story, but in short, in 2001, the
national assembly, which is the country's parliament was suspended."
Let us take a look at what he said in his statements to the EU-ACP Assembly
and read excerpts of a letter sent to the Secretary General of the Inter
Parliamentary Union (2001-2005):
. ".The detention of certain individuals engaged in unlawful acts against
the security and sovereignty of the State has nothing to do with any
political views they may hold and/or express. Moreover, these individuals
had no agenda of reform that sets them apart from the Government or the
ruling Front of both of which they were among the leading members.. Ensuring
national security is a cardinal responsibility of the state. Thus, the
detention of culpable officials to ensure the security, stability and
integrity of the State can, in no way, be construed as a general violation
of human rights. Far from being 'representatives of the opposition' or
'advocates of democratic reform', the arrested were senior Government
officials holding positions of high authority when they engaged in
activities harmful to the security of the state in wartime."
. ". The National Assembly had duly addressed the issue of their
parliamentary immunity and mandated the Government to appropriately deal
with the matter."
. ".The gravity of the acts perpetrated by the former members of the
National Assembly against the security and sovereignty of the State at a
critical moment when its very survival was threatened by a brutal
aggression. The extreme sensitivity of aspects of the case, arising from the
implication of foreign powers in a plot to oust the President of the State
must be highlighted. Hence, the handling of the case requires prudence and
appropriate timing to avoid possible negative external ramifications."
. ". The question of whether to bring their case to trial before a court
must be considered in conjunction with progress in the peace process, as the
case entails extremely sensitive aspects pertaining to the implication of
third countries and a possible negative impact on the peace process."
. ".Unfortunately, the paragraphs on Eritrea in the Motion on East Africa
have been tabled without making the minimum effort to ascertain the real
situation in the country. They fail to recognize, or be informed by, the
evolving process, underway, of building a participatory political system
through conducting transparent, fair and free elections at the local and
regional levels. These successful local and regional elections, constituting
an exercise in home-grown grassroots democracy, are the precursors of the
planned national elections. Hence, the presumption of certain MEPs calling
on Eritrea 'finally to take the road towards democracy' is superfluous,
condescending and unnecessary. For this very reason, we appeal to the
distinguished delegates assembled here to reject the condescending
paragraphs on Eritrea."
2. YouTube Statement on the Eritrea-Ethiopia war (Shamefully repeating
Woyane's narrative):
".Eritrea went to war virtually with all its neighbors from 1995-2000. So we
have utter repression at home and no war no peace situation with our
neighbors. So the aim of the forum for national dialogue which has been
recently established by most prominent Eritreans who escaped being jailed of
suspended inside the country who are mostly in exile is first of all to
bring about democratic transformation from within and bring about durable
peace with Ethiopia. I will go the regional aspect Eritrea and Ethiopia went
to war again 1998-2000 the international community came in there was UN
sponsored peace building mechanism which has not yet secured the peace. So
they have this state of affairs that can be best described a cold wars a
state of no war no peace where the borders are closed but these are the two
closest countries closest peoples in Africa. They shared a long history they
have a shared culture and religion and many strategic interests. The two
economies are complementary, so we believe that the future of the two
country lies not in the kind of relations they have today but in
reconciliation, in working together in economic integration.once the two
countries abide by the final and binding decision of the boundary and Claims
Commissions then the two countries can use classic diplomacy to restore
normal relations between themselves and cultural diplomacy to actually heal
the wounds of war to heal the animosity that exist."
Now let us take a look at Ambassador Andebrehan's corresponding public
statements while in office until 2006:
. ".We, in Eritrea, have always viewed this imposed conflict as senseless
and futile, incurring unnecessary loss of life, wanton destruction of
property, costly diversion of meager resources and lost opportunity for
development and improvement of the human condition.. And we all know that
Ethiopia launched an all-out invasion of Eritrea in May-June 2000, occupying
large tracts of sovereign Eritrean territory in the West and South."
. ".Expeditious demarcation, as stipulated by the Algiers Accords, was meant
to complete the peace process and lay the basis for the gradual rebuilding
of reciprocal confidence, normalization of relations and the healing of the
wounds of war between the two countries. .However, Ethiopia has been engaged
in a deliberate and systematic effort to delay, obstruct and derail the
demarcation process. To this end, it has sought, in collusion with other
states in the region, to subvert Eritrea's sovereignty and territorial
integrity."
. ".All this is dictated by Ethiopia's flagrant stance of non-respect for
the sanctity of the colonial borders. This was the cause of its aggression
in 1998 and remains at the heart of its willful obstruction of the
demarcation process to date, thereby jeopardizing regional peace and
security. Ethiopia's noncompliance and threat to disrupt demarcation unless
the BC alters its decision so as to grant it Badme, signify that war clouds
are, once again, hanging over the Horn. Needless to say, the resumption of
hostilities will visit another tragedy on the peoples of Eritrea and
Ethiopia and pose a grave threat to regional peace and security."
. ".Ethiopia's call for dialogue is thus a ruse that contravenes the Algiers
Agreement, defies UN Security Council resolution.. Indeed, Ethiopia's
flouting of the international rule of law threatens to ignite new
hostilities and disrupt regional peace and security..."
. ".Today, Ethiopia stands in violation of the delimited colonial treaty
border whose demarcation it obstructs. Defying UN Security Council
resolutions, it continues to occupy and build new settlements on sovereign
Eritrea territory ."
. ".Ethiopia's call for dialogue to amend the EEBC's final and binding
delimitation decision contravenes the Algiers Treaty, defies UN Security
Council resolutions and flouts the international rule of law. If not
reversed, Ethiopia's intransigence poses a grave threat to the fragile peace
between the two countries as well as to regional peace and security."
3. YouTube statement on political liberties:
".The basic ingredient of democracy is lacking, there is no freedom of
expression, assembly and association, in fact it is illegal in the country
for any people more than two for any group more than two or three people to
get together to discuss a thing they conspiring and therefor it is illegal
and they be detained under such circumstances."
Notwithstanding the fact that the god Ambassador has not provided a
<http://alenalki.com/index.php/alenalki-news/208-ambassador-andeberhanwoldeg
iorgis-selective-dementia-or-sheer-dishonesty>
singlehttp://cdncache1-a.akamaihd.net/items/it/img/arrow-10x10.png evidence
for his YouTube assertions, allow me to present corresponding statements
made on the same issue during his Ambassadorial tenure:
. ".In the past few weeks, we have witnessed a seemingly concerted and
increasingly negative depiction of the situation in Eritrea, precipitated by
the detention of politicians and the clamp down of the private press, all
exacerbated by the expulsion of the Italian ambassador. This portrayal of
the situation in Eritrea is distorted, unjustified and unacceptable."
. ".The private print media has been suspended due to persistent
contraventions of the country's press code. The fact is the Government has
merely ordered a temporary suspension in response to persistent
contravention of the Press Code and the loss of independence under the
inducement of foreign funding."
. ".National attention and resources are now refocused away from defense
into reconstruction and development, into the systematic reduction and
eventual eradication of poverty through rapid sustainable development and
the equitable distribution of its fruits. Moreover, the last years has seen
an extensive participatory process, involving the grassroots level, both at
home and in the Diaspora. Eritrea remains committed as ever to good
governance, to the accountable and transparent management of national
resources, and to the persistent fight against corruption and economic
crimes as a matter of state policy and practice."
. ".I wish to reiterate here that Eritrea's commitment to the democratic
process, respect for human rights, the rule of law and good governance is
first and foremost a commitment to its people, to whom it is solely
accountable. These are internal issues for Eritrea and its people to deal
with in accordance with its respective historical processes as well as
economic, political and social realities. They cannot be objects of
imposition or willful interference by third parties."
The stark comparisons outlined above illustrate, adequately, that Ambassador
Andebrehan's current political views do not cohere with his public positions
and pronouncements of yesterday. Unfortunately, he cannot hide behind, and
attribute his previous positions to "a sense of duty" and/or the exigencies
for adhering to one's "diplomatic briefs". After all, he was an active
member of, and duly attended, all the meetings of the National Assembly when
the sad affairs of treason and sedition were debated in the legislative
body.not to mention the fact that he was much younger then and even more
agile.
What makes his YouTube presentation even sadder is that it is being made at
a time when even the minority regime in Ethiopia itself is professing
acceptance of the Algiers Agreement without any pre-conditions (another
gimmick). It is coming at a time when almost everyone in the international
community is calling on Ethiopia to abide by its treaty obligations and
vacate from sovereign Eritrean territories. His appearance at this late
hour-to serve as a tool for the defunct "opposition"- is not only shameful,
but rather opportunistic.and from where I sit, he has nothing to offer that
could possibly compete with what Warsay and Yikaalo are offering the
Eritrean people, in terms of leadership, commitment and innovation.he is
spent fuel.
In addition, as I said earlier, he also made statements to my colleague that
were contrary to what he is now professing on YouTube. He told my colleague
that he left because there was no "professional growth", no "professional
advancement" in Eritrea and that he was prevented from growing
professionally. He mentioned his tenure at Asmara University, his position
as Eritrea's Commissioner at UNMEE, his Ambassadorship at the European
Union, and claimed that he was pulled out of those positions in order to
deny him the "professionalism" that he desired.It is with great pity that I
write this piece today, as he of all people should know that in Eritrea, the
<http://alenalki.com/index.php/alenalki-news/208-ambassador-andeberhanwoldeg
iorgis-selective-dementia-or-sheer-dishonesty>
singlehttp://cdncache1-a.akamaihd.net/items/it/img/arrow-10x10.png most
important profession is that of a selfless tegadalay.
Speaking of tegadalay.in a 24 May 2013 write-up about Ambassador
Andeberhan's presentation titled "How To Build a Country From Scratch," at
an event co-sponsored by Drexel's Office of International Programs and the
Drexel Student Alliance of the United Nations Association on 21 May 2013,
the Triangle reported the following:
".Giorgis was a founding member of the central committee of the EPLF. After
Eritrea gained independence, he served as president of the University of
Asmara, governor of the Bank of Eritrea, a member of the Eritrean National
Assembly, and an ambassador to numerous European nations and the European
Union. Giorgis is currently a board member and senior adviser of the
European Center for Electoral Support, a senior expert in the Peace and
Security Section of the Global Governance Institute, and an adjunct
professor of Diplomacy and African Politics at Vesalius College, Free
University of Brussels..."
The most important part of his life.that of his tenure as a Hizbawi Gimbar
(Eritrean People's Liberation Front) fighter was conspicuously omitted.
Today he is instead, known for the various anti-Eritrea "
<http://alenalki.com/index.php/alenalki-news/208-ambassador-andeberhanwoldeg
iorgis-selective-dementia-or-sheer-dishonesty>
jobshttp://cdncache1-a.akamaihd.net/items/it/img/arrow-10x10.png" and
assignments.If I were him, I would be thoroughly insulted!
How a man of his caliber, who left the United States to join the liberation
movement and fight for the rights of the Eritrean people, could today serve
those very same interests that robbed him and thousands like him of their
youth and life as Eritreans for over 30 years is beyond me. How is it that
the likes of Ambassador Andeberhan would succumb to temptations and end up
working for the very same entities that robbed them of their own youth? Was
it not the UN and the various agencies that he is now associated with
responsible for the suffering of the Eritrean people for the last 50 years?
Is it not the misguided and wrong US and European policy for Ethiopia that
contributed to the deaths of his comrades in arms? The destruction of
Eritrean villages, and robbed an entire generation of Eritrea's youth their
lives and limbs?
How he could bring himself to parrot Woyane's anti-Eritrea rhetoric, stoop
so low as to hobnob with the likes of Assefaw Tekeste, Bereket Habte
Selassie-two men that he said were traitors for meeting with Meles Zenawi's
advisors in Japan during the 1998-2000 war, is truly sad, but also very
telling of his desperate state of mind. The good Ambassador's volte-face
cannot be easily explained unless he is suffering from a debilitating bout
of selective amnesia/dementia. One that strips you off your dignity, sense
of purpose and respect of fellow compatriots...
Another more probable explanation, is that in his new "job"-he is merely the
news anchorman-mouthpiece, paid to read a script written by his foreign
handlers; a simple case, as it were, of "he who pays the piper picks the
tune". It should be recalled that the "Forum" leaders have been foolishly
bragging to their miniscule audiences that "money is in not indeed a
problem"; thereby unwittingly giving away the sinister game that the big
fish are playing. From what I have been able to find out about the good
Ambassador, from those who know him best-is that he is the perfect catch-and
his blabbering does make sense, as he is also notoriously known for his
insatiable and exception greed in matters of food, money and other carnal
vices.
I doubt that we can blame it on any illness, or even new found money..my gut
feeling is that he is just being plainly and unconscionably
dishonest.cowardly and un-Eritrean! Exactly, the kind of leadership Eritrea
DOES NOT need or want.History and the people of Eritrea will judge him and
his ilk harshly.betraying the rust of his compatriots is probably
forgivable, but betraying the trust of Eritrea's beloved martyrs is NOT.
More on Ambassador Andeberhan and his ilk in another sitting.
God save Eritrea from her own treacherous children.
References:
1. 1st Session ACP -EU JPA (Joint Parliamentary Assembly), 11 October
2000, Brussels, Eritrean Delegation Statement on the conflict between
Eritrea & Ethiopia
2. 5th Session ACP -EU JPA, 31 March 2003, Brazzaville, Republic of Congo,
Eritrean Delegation Statement
3. 5th Session ACP -EU JPA, 31 March 2003, Brazzaville, Republic of Congo,
Eritrea Delegation Statement
4. 9th session ACP-EU JPA, 18 April 2005, Bamako, Mali, Eritrean
Delegation Statement
5. 5. 9th session ACP-EU JPA, 18 April 2005, Bamako, Mali, Eritrean
Delegation Statement
6. 3rd & 4th Session ACP-EU JPA, 30 October 2001, Brussels, 20 March 2002
Cape Town, South Africa, Eritrean Delegation Statement
7. Letter to the IPU Secretary Mr. Anders Johnson SG IPU
8. 5th Session ACP -EU JPA, 31 March 2003, Brazzaville, Republic of Congo,
Eritrean Delegation Statement
9. 3rd Session ACP-EU JPA, 30 October 2001, Brussels
10. 4th Session ACP-EU JPA, 20 March 2002 Cape Town, South
Africa, Eritrean Delegation Statement
11. 4th Session ACP-EU JPA, 20 March 3002 Cape Town, South
Africa, Eritrean Delegation Statement
Anderberhan ICGPeace boat 1Andeberhan Assefaw Adem
(image/png attachment: image001.png)
(image/jpeg attachment: image002.jpg)
(image/jpeg attachment: image004.jpg)
(image/jpeg attachment: image006.jpg)