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From: awetnayu@hotmail.com
Date: Fri Mar 18 2011 - 15:36:31 EST
Eritrea is a Stable Nation with Vision
Amanuel Biedemariam
Lately, enemies of Eritrea have umpped up their campaign to the highest pitch yet. This is a concerted campaign directed by the minority genocidal mercenary regime of Ethiopia. They are showing poorly edited documentaries with lots of holes. The Awate-gang led by the two Salhis has released a position statement on the US/UN sanctions against the people of Eritrea begging certain ex-Eritrean officials to unearth whatever evidence that could be used against Eritrea at the UN. Their desperation is evident because, firstly, if an ex-official is going to talk, wouldn’t he or she be telling on themselves? Secondly, they are begging foreign entities - the US, UN and Ethiopia to bring the change they want in Eritrea.
Clearly what this shows is, after over a decade of mischief, organizing, reorganizing, lies, deception, scheming and committing treason they have given up on Eritreans. The messages they sold ad nauseam fell on deaf ears. The question; why did those Eritreans who live in supposedly “free” societies reject them? The reason to mention them is not to give weight, attention or credence to what they represent; rather, it is to highlight how badly they failed in attracting Eritreans to their agendas and why Eritreans keep rejecting these vermin…
They made concerted effort to give the appearance of a disintegrating and embattled Eritrea. Run a deliberate misinformation campaign targeting the international community as well as good intentioned Eritreans who want to help fellow Eritreans in desperate situations. Hence, they use everything including the current Libyan, Egyptian and African refugee crisis as a cushion to make the case against Eritrea. They are pursuing their agendas in ways that are illegal and immoral. It is opportunism at it its best by abusing the vulnerabilities of the very people they are claiming to advocate for. They are using the refugees to raise money, recruiting them against the country they left behind and exploiting them by parading them on interviews at the most vulnerable moments in their lives.
Moreover, and this is why all Eritreans must care to put a stop to this madness; they are inciting hate towards one ethnic group of Eritrea, the Rashaidas this time. On March 09, Meron Estefanos released an article on Asmarino.com calling it, “Bedoin Rashaida: The Human Traffickers in North-East Agfrica.” In it, she accused the entire ethnic group of human trafficking. And the irony is she came to that conclusion by claiming to have interviewed a handful of individuals. To talk to-and-about the plight of the people she interviewed is one thing but to target the entire Rashaida community is very dangerous. It is stereotyping, it is singling out a community and dividing it. It is a deliberate act that is designed to create tension amongst Eritreans based on Ethnic and religious lines.
This of course is not new. It is a strategy of the minority illegitimate Meles Zenawi regime in Ethiopia that aspired to always use divisive strategies by targeting Kunamas, Afar, and other ethnic groups in order to weaken Eritrea and, use mules such as Tesfakihdet Mehareeena who danced on the grave of the Eritrean martyrs on his way to paying homage to the Weyane soldiers that perished trying to kill Eritreans during the Badme war. He is the lead man playing a journalist in Ethiopia by interviewing refugees in desperate situation and politicizing their cause.
The Truth; contrary to what they want the world to believe, talk about and act upon, Eritrea is a nation that operates as one family. Those who claim to be the messiahs are trying to break apart that very fabric of that unity. That is their main aim and the only way they think that they can win. Eritreans know this and have always rejected them, unequivocally! They have no place in the lives of everyday Eritreans. They are outcasts, regionalists, jihadists and defeated lost souls that have no connection to what is happening in Eritrea. They are persona non grata and most of them can’t even prove that they are Eritreans. For example Selam Kidane who is in the forefront taking advantage went the UK at the age of 16 from Ethiopia.
Hence, the best way to tell the world where Eritrea is today will be by applying Abraham Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs motivational model. The first stage being the basic physiological and biological needs such as water, food etc…; the second, protection and security; the third, belongingness and love such as family; the forth, esteem as in status, reputation, achievement etc… and the fifth and last is the self actualized or stage of fulfillment.
After the war for independence, Eritrea started to rebuild its war battered nation from ZERO. There was nothing in the nation! No agricultural infrastructure to feed the people; no medical, educational and pharmaceutical infrastructures. Eritrea was empty with destroyed port facilities, no roads and social institutions. However, the most pressing issues dealt with the human calamities. Eritrean villages and villagers had ZERO-basic services and facilities. There existed a crisis of internally displaced and refugees populations that needed to be repatriated.
Eritrea did not have the luxury of time, money or resources to rely-on in order to build the nation from the ground-up. This was also complicated by the diplomatic challenges and the referendum that needed to take place. Shortly after the referendum, Eritrea unleashed a campaign to write the constitution that all Eritreans participated in formulating. Without exception, villagers and the Diaspora fully participated in the making of the ratified constitution. All these, while trying to revive the economy and build institutional infrastructures, in a short period of time; seven years to be exact. For any new-nation this would have taken decades but for the visionary experienced leaders and people of Eritrea it seemed a cakewalk compared to the struggle for independence.
Unfortunately, that was a short lived respite because the TPLF unleashed a horrific war that took the lives of thousands. That set back Eritrea in many ways too redundant to detail. The key here is the fact that Eritrea needed to reorient her priorities. The economy that relied heavily on trade with Ethiopia collapsed overnight. The international community decided to suffocate Eritrea into submission and all of a sudden the country that was gearing to demobilize ex-fighters was forced to rearm and maintain a high level of alertness. It needed to redevelop the economy independent from Ethiopia, ensure food security, maintain national security and find new markets while facing major security and political challenges. Whilst Eritreans are extremely patient, understanding of the price of freedom; the enemies were relentless and determined to agitate the nation and the youth.
What is the number one job of a president? US Presidents, be it George W. Bush or President Obama will tell you, keep the nation safe. By that standard how did president Isaias of Eritrea do? In Eritrea everything is a national security issue. Fighting diseases such as HIV, malaria, polio and measles; infant mortality, food security, education, trade, currency and maintaining the morale and focus of a nation is one aspect. Elevating the nation’s future-viability by developing infrastructure and by training indigenous expertise to sustain it is a must for continuity. However, what makes me proud to be Eritrean is the fact that Eritrea is a nation grounded on a national defense ideal and structure that is second to none!
The ethos that freed Eritrea and is sustaining it to-date could be summed up in one directive or slogan. “The masses must be aware, organize and armed.” Many may take the idea of arming literally and translate it to mean militaristic. But that is just one side of it. Arming could mean empowering technically, technologically, medically, in communications, educationally and in all fields to enable Eritreans to compete in the competitive international arena successfully.
The idea of educating the public and organizing it is nothing new in Eritrea. Eritrea’s success could largely be attributed to her abilities to continually organize around core values, events and causes that unite us. To know the fact that Eritrea could thrive, only, with the participation of all her population is a source of pride and reason that bonds Eritreans. At a moment in history when nations are failing because they failed to allow their people to organize; at a moment in history when governments around the world including the developed Western nations are fearful of their youth and marginalizing them; Eritrea is organizing Eritrean youth and encouraging them to work with global youth organizations. As we speak they are roaring in Oslo Norway.
As a result of years of organizing, constant-consistent education, years of experiences, hard work, dedication and the willingness to pay and paying the price; there is a collective direction and vision of a nation. Therefore, the idea of defending THE nation becomes the responsibility of the people. It is the responsibility of the masses to safeguard the seas, the borders, their streets and the safety and wellbeing of each other. It is their responsibility to be aware and discourage things that could weaken their nation.
One of the most beautiful things that happened to Eritrea is all the pressure they placed upon her turned out to be a blessing. It made Eritrea dig deep into the values and worked hard to grow from within. When there was no bread and the world played politics with it, the leaders of Eritrea built micro dams, gave the public incentives and encouraged them to farm collectively to boost production capabilities. They assisted by providing experts and machinery. The result was an empowered public that knows how to fish and farm. I saw a village being trained how to farm fish in the fresh waters in one of the new dams. They provided a village nets, a boat and various fishes. If there is any nation with credible claims of self reliance, it is Eritrea because that is how the independence was achieved.
Therefore, by all measures the main responsibility of a government is to ensure that the nation is secured; citizens are fed, educated and healthy. It is to ensure that the societal needs are met, that the long term interest of the nation is on target. It is to ensure that the sacrifices made are repaid; families of the martyrs are not left hanging to-dry-neglected and, their future is brighter. It is ensuring the nations wellbeing with the citizenry being the primary focus. It is to make sure that equal distribution of resources and opportunities provided to all citizens…
The Key
Over the last two months there has been a concerted effort to attach blame and attack Eritrea for Eritreans that have illegally migrated into different countries seeking refuge. The reality is, regardless of the reasons and motivation that led them to take the potentially fatal risks, the responsibility for their life lies squarely upon them. These people did not consult the government when they decided to flee. Moreover, when they fled, their primary motivation was personal. Conversely, and sadly, once they take the step every step they take after that works against the interest of Eritrea. By fleeing the country they deprived the nation of a capable youth that is highly trained. It damages the image of the country. And when they fill their asylum request, the data is used against Eritrea by the enemies of the country for political and punitive measures. These are not actions of people concerned about a nation and her future and ultimately their actions have a lasting damage to them
Sadly, when these people leave they are in effect helpless, homeless and at the mercy of their new environments. They become a charity-case and helpless domains of their host nations. Moreover, and unfortunately, in the process they have to deal with potentially deadly traffickers as is the case for many unfortunate souls and ironically, all the countries they targeted as destination turned-out more dangerous that what they left behind.
Most Eritreans in the Diaspora know what these people are going through because they themselves went through the journey at one time. They understand the anguish and have carried the burden for long by supporting each other. The difference being, in the past Eritreans did not have the luxury of groups in Israel campaigning on their behalf. They didn’t have human rights watch and various US agencies advocating for them. The largest flood of Eritrean refugees came out in the late 70s and early 80s. At that time millions were being displaced, villages were being torched and the screaming voices of Eritreans fell on deaf ears. The cries of those who passed-out from hunger-strikes in front of the Whitehouse were never reported. There is no record of marches and demonstrations in Europe and around the world by Eritrean desperate to get international attention. Thence, why, the change of attitude? Are the new refugees better Eritreans?
The reality is, before independence, Eritrea was exactly where these groups wanted it to be; under brutal dictatorships that are answerable to them. Now, Eritrea is a free nation under leaders that are attuned to the needs of Eritreans. The villages and cities they helped destroy are being developed. Most of the families that disintegrated due to the militaries they supported and regimes they propped up have resettled in communities with social services. In other words if Eritrea turns into another Somalia today, these refugees will be in the same predicament that their parents were. They will be like the Somalis; even worse like the Palestinians with no attention. That is the kind of democracy that they want to bring back for the people of Eritrea.
This raises some questions. First, do this people have any obligation to Eritrea and if so what? Secondly, what obligation does Eritrea have to them if any and why? What role can the Diaspora Eritreans play?
The fact is the government and people of Eritrea have always been responsible and generous to their fellow Eritrean. The problem is, some Eritreans are trying to politicize their plight and, by doing so, they are creating unnecessary tension amongst Eritreans. That need not be. Because it doesn’t serve the best interest of the people of Eritrea; it could only serve the interest of the enemies. The obligation Eritreans have towards these individuals is purely humanitarian and moral. That is something that needs to be clear. They also need to understand that Tesfakihdet, Chirum and the like have sided with Weyane and basically declared war on the people of Eritrea. By working with them you are becoming their soldiers. In the process you are heading into confrontation with the Diaspora that has always been the backbone of Eritrea; in a sense becoming the enemies of Eritrea.
Conclusion
Actor Richard Dreyfus once said, speaking about the US, “We are the only nation bound by ideas only. We have no common ancestry, no common religion, no common military victory or defeat, no common crime that binds us. We are bound only by the ideas of the enlightenment, reason, logic, clarity of thought, critical analysis…”
Eritrea is the exception. In addition to our common ancestry, military and other historical commonalities; we are bound by the idea of success could only be achieved through the UNITY of the Eritrean people. That unity was a result of years of hard work and conscious effort by very bright leaders that believed that masses need to be educated, organized and armed in unison. Moreover, collective experiences have bonded Eritreans in ways that have become the envy of many. That is why Eritreans are sitting in a stable nation in a region that is boiling like lava. Eritreans are calmly building the future by charting their own direction. Therefore those that want the best for Eritrea and the youth need to accept the ultimate solution lies on the success of Eritrea as a nation. As the saying goes, there is no place like home.
Fortunately, the government of Eritrea stayed ahead of the curve by empowering the public. Eritrea is the only country where true revolution evolved for over six decades. After years of hard work and sacrifices; Eritreans are turning the corner. The enemies know this is their last hurrah and have intensified their campaigns. However, due to their humble nature, Eritreans have remained quite while the enemies took shot after shot raising issue after issue in an effort to put them on the defensive. We have seen lies after lies by the likes of Amanuel Iyasu. Enough! Those who need to defend their actions are those who are committing illegal acts not those who have diligently served as a backbone of Eritrea for decades. Therefore, it is time to put them back on their rat holes.
Eritrea is on the right and doing the right things by focusing on the basic needs of the people that are trying to improve their standard of living for good. The leaders along with their people have done miracle by liberating a nation, and placing it on the platform of success. The lives of millions of Eritrean families and kids have improved by transforming their living environments. They are getting basic education in schools instead of tree shades without benches to sit on. The work is ongoing because the needs are that much great. The leaders of Eritrea are all the Tegadeltis that have given all their life to the nation, and deserve our best. They have done their part, have we? Is there anyone that has done better than them? That is where we should all focus; the people, martyrs families, kids and the youth that are in Eritrea building the nation!
Hiji-wn Awet N-Hafash
Awetnayu@hotmail.com
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