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From: dan e (eritreawi100@yahoo.co.uk)
Date: Tue Jul 05 2011 - 12:29:38 EDT
The United States has not abandoned the Eritrean people
The U.S.-Eritrea relations continues to deteriorate, as Washington extends its effort to tighten the existing sanction on Eritrea; and its policy in pursuit of potential opportunities to weaken or change the Eritrean government from within. The revelations of the Wikileaks cables have shed a great deal of light on how US conducts its business, its analysis and intentions.
The US considers the Eritrean Diaspora in particularly the Eritrean youth as one of the main means to bring about change in Eritrea. Is this a viable strategy? Has the US got its analysis of the Eritrean people right? These and other questions will be disused in detail below. First here are few words on the efforts tightening the sanction.
The motion for additional sanction on Eritrea has been set by the Ethiopian led regional organization, IGAD, which has called for economic sanction on Eritrea in its 28 June 2011 Communiqué on Eritrea. Further more the necessary background work including a report that backs up for further sanction have been produced by the Somalia Monitoring group and will be presented at the Security Council this month. This is the same group that produced several false allegations including the presence of “2000 fully equipped combat troops from Eritrea" in Somalia to justify the US backed invasion of Somalia by the Ethiopian regime.
The former American Ambassador to Eritrea, Ronald K. McMullen, in his cable messages, admitted having difficulty in convincing diplomats that Eritrea supported al-Shabaab. The cable message recommended briefing key foreign counterparts and the sources that can be used to support the claim; even though it further admitted: “previous attempts to do so flopped. One skeptical Western ambassador in Eritrea this week commented, "Are your claims of Eritrean support for al-Shabaab like those of Saddam´s WMD program?"
Worried by Eritrea’s current high rate of economic growth – due to the boom of the mining sector and its long term investment in food security and infrastructure- the US and Ethiopia, its closest ally in the region, are moving fast to impose additional sanction on Eritrea.
In addition, the US has also been actively trying to bring the Eritrean government under intense internal pressure. The leaked cables have shown a shocking revelation of its intelligence gathering on the army, political leaders and the Eritrean people at large; and analysis and explorations of the potential areas for regime change.
While it is perfectly reasonable for none Eritrean - with different view and experience of the world - to make less comprehensive and at times less matured and scornful arguments, it is, however, quite shocking coming from a representatives of the sole super power nation on earth. One can only hope such arguments are not used for policy making that have far reaching consequences. On the other hand this may well explain the policies the US practices in the Horn of Africa region.
The Eritrean youth and the Eritrean Diaspora are also described as the areas, where the US invests resources to bring about change in Eritrea. The cable message titled “Promoting educational opportunity for anti regime Eritrean youth” looking beyond the present government says: “giving young Eritreans hope, the chance for an education, and the skills with which to rebuild their impoverished country in the post-Isaias period is one of the strongest signals we can send to the Eritrean people that the United States has not abandoned them.”
There are, of course, more fundamental and significant things that the United States could do to show the Eritrean people America has not abandoned them. This will be discussed below, but lets have a look at one of the leaked cable messages, which has been widely circulated and a matter of great deal of talk amongst the Eritrean Diaspora.
A very detailed analysis, narration of the circumstances Eritrean Diaspora titled: “Engaging the Eritrean Diaspora” makes recommendations including funding NGOs “to encourage critical analysis of the GSE (Eritrean government),” “Working with non-political groups” to ensure “credibility and will not immediately be dismissed as having a political motive,” “a panel discussion on religious freedom in Eritrea” that should be led by Eritreans,” and giving youth alternative platform to counter YPFDJ, which is “the primary outlet for young Eritreans in the Diaspora to express pride in their culture.”
First, the title and the word “engaging” is rather misleading, “Penetrating The Eritrean Diaspora” would probably be a more fitting description for the content of the message. The intention is not only to create a platform but also to promote a certain agenda that can contribute in weakening the support the Eritrean government receives from the Eritrean Diaspora. This support has been identified as a critical factor for the Eritrean government by several Western and Ethiopian officials. Further more the Ethiopian lead IGAD is calling for the sanctions regime to include the Eritrean Diaspora.
Second, the conclusions and recommendations made - are the result of analysis with many flaws. It is clear a considerable amount of resources have gone into gathering the information, however, its analysis are largely of the outcomes not the fundamental causes. Hence the above recommendations are subscribed as a remedy for people who are unwilling to speak out or turn against the government - despite facing the many difficult circumstances described on the document.
The reason repeatedly mentioned for Eritrean people not speaking out or turning against the government is “fear”. Could there be more fundamental and logical reasons for the vast majority of Eritrean people to remain on the side of their government despite the difficulties of the last decade including prolonged national service? The cable messages and all previously Western institutions produced reports have largely interpreted the resilience of Eritrean people to be the product of fear and repression.
The deductive reasoning used is if some one is unhappy about certain things or measures, he/she should consequentially turn against the government. For instance the cable message described many examples of categories of people, who could be skeptical as a result of policies or measures the government has taken, yet they do not materialize to anything. Why is this so?
The reasons is simple - Eritreans have developed a strong common understanding of their national interest that is well served by uniquely rich culture; and values and principles shaped through the so many decades long struggle of national journey. It is not because of security apparatus Eritrean people -wherever they are- relentlessly defend their national interest despite sacrifices that have to be made, it is because most Eritreans envisage a prosperous and fair nation that owns its own destiny.
The cable messages misjudge the Eritrean youth in Diaspora saying: “For those that support the GSE, their unwavering dedication likely stems from their isolation as a minority in another country and from the ever-present hand of the Young People’s Front for Democracy and Justice (YPFDJ) to enforce a "proudly Eritrean" identity.” Further more the message ridicules the youth: “only in Eritrea for a few weeks at a time, will vehemently defend the country against criticism.”
With a little research on the history of the Eritrean youth generation, the US official would have been able to accurately describe why Eritrean youth defend their country. The Eritrean youth are part of the struggle of national journey for identity and dignity. Since early childhood they grew up not only watching their parents making sacrifices, but they too also joined all the activities including - raising funds for the cause and public demonstrations in the 1980s for independence, in the late 1990s for the international community to stop the war, in the first decade of the 21st century and until this date calling for the US to shoulder its responsibility implementation the border ruling, to end the Ethiopian occupation of Eritrean land and now to stop victimizing Eritrea through the illegal sanction.
What about the youth who left their country during the last ten years? These are youth with glorious history who made so much sacrifice in maintaining the independence and building the country. There was so much expectation of them to create mass opposition against the Eritrean government. As those who have worked hard and failed for this to materialize, testify, not only has it been impossible, but, they have become a new source of energy with incredible knowledge and patriotism for the Eritrean Diaspora and country.
The anti-Eritrea elements now found themselves trying to intimidate them from joining the national activities and the youth movement, YPFDJ. This has also failed, as YPFDJ is made up of Eritrean youth with very diverse backgrounds in their profession and education; speak many different languages. Many were born and raised in different countries, others were born and raised in Eritrea and now live in the western nations some for many years and others for a few months, yet what stands out above everything else is their unity and commitment for Eritrean national values.
The US does not do itself a favor or harm the Eritrean government by making lists of the difficulties the people and country face or its attempt to encourage Eritreans to turn against the government. Because the US has fundamental role in the conditions Eritrean as well as all of the people of the region find themselves. Had the US representatives carried out a comprehensive analysis, they would find people largely see the US as one of the main players responsible for the ongoing crisis.
Moreover the Eritrean people largely understand that in the face of a very hostile neighbor with population of sixteen times bigger than itself and fully supported by the West, the Eritrean government had had to take difficult measures - economic, politically, socially and most importantly military.
The Eritrean people are unable to put their guards down and have had to make so much sacrifice as their freedom and right as a nation have been violated. In violation of international law and ruling that ended the border problem, the Ethiopian regime with full support of the US is occupying parts of Eritrean territory.
Hence it does not make much sense for the US to talk as it were a merely observant and claim to want to help Eritrean people. The USA has not been an honest broker in the problem between Ethiopia and Eritrea – looking for a solution at the expense of Eritrea - that is a weaker Eritrea that could be arm twisted to accept any terms or a “regime change” in Eritrea.
After Ethiopia’s military adventure failed and legal concussion of the Eritrea-Ethiopia border problem reached - everyone expected peace would come about - but the policy pursued, was to hold Eritrea a hostage of the no-war-no-peace situation in a hope it would collapse from economic and political pressure. With the intention of speeding up the collapse the country, financial assistance for development from the western governments and institutions were withdrawn.
Successive American diplomats undermined the final and binding ruling; seeking to maintain the no-war no-peace stance. They came up with several initiatives - “normalization of relations,” “dialog,” talk of “bigger problems” among others- diverting from addressing the underlining cause of the problem, which was Ethiopia’s refusal to accept a legally-binding ruling.
The US-Eritrea relation further deteriorated after the US-backed Ethiopian invasion of Somalia. When President Barak Obama was elected, there was great sense of hope for change of the policy of the United States on the region, however, this was momentary. The Obama administration has continued with the same policy on the region and moreover it increased pressure on Eritrea and has imposed unjustified sanction on Eritrea using its diplomatic influence and now working for more.
In conclusion, Washington’s erroneous policies are compromising both the interest of the US and the Horn of Africa region. By reviewing these policies and addressing the fundamental causes of the current crisis, the US can show it has not abandoned the people of the region. The US and Eritrea have far more mutual interest than differences, which are the basis for good relation. This can be achieved with mutual respect and recognition for the values and charactricsts of Eritrea which were achieved through immense suffering and sacrifice the Eritrean people.
Daniel Berhane
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