From: Milkias Berhanu (fwd@dehai.org)
Date: Thu Oct 29 2009 - 22:25:05 EST
It is a classical example of a pot calling a kettle black.
Some countries in the Horn of Africa have been engaged in a concerted
vicious smear campaign against Eritrea. On 25 October Djiboutis
Foreign Minister, has once again unleashed his deafening accusation
that Eritrea is exporting chaos.
For Eritrea and seasoned outside observers of the region; the sources
and motives of such accusations are too well known. Should there be
anyone who could be deceived by these accusations; must be a casual
on-looker peering through a pair of binoculars from afar. A close-up
look would suffice to understand the futility of this whole exercise
of mudslinging.
Such vicious smear campaigns might be common disingenuous form of
discourse in diplomacy. Yet, these ad hominem attacks against Eritrea
that by all standards amount to public gossip (allegations made at
the media) are simply meant to divert attention from the ugly truth
of the internal problems that arise from their internal weakness, to
use a tired clich, as fragile polities. Therefore, their empty cry
has become a narrative of everyday crap and the awkward retarded
truth they want to conceal are seeing day-light with each new day.
Djibouti along with her giant neighbor Ethiopia have become the niche
for external intervention. Djibouti is a camping state whereby the
largest French military base is found and now American mega-base is
taking hold. Leaving the petty details of the dire security
consequences these bases might have on the continent, I shall focus,
in this case, on a far more important issue: assigning blame to
Eritrea. Whenever, their chronic internal problems come to the fore
and a sense of panic sets in; it has become too obvious these regimes
look someone to point fingers at. It seems that there is, to put it
bluntly, nobody else left to blame when things go wrong. What they
have learned all too well is how easy it is to deceive and how easier
it is to blame others for ones weakness.
This whips-cry may go on apace and still nothing changes. Obviously,
he is rendering a lip-service to his masters. One might think, as do
these countries, becoming a dog-wagging-tail is a plus in the world
of diplomacy. But it simply tells the inherent internal weaknesses of
such entities. It too is common wisdom that blame-game is for the
weak. These countries indulge in such rudimentary game because their
strength is in their weaknesses. That is why the government of
Eritrea has, thus far, chose to remain a voice of calm amid this
clamor of slander and vilification. Besides, it is in no one's best
long-term interest except the short-term agenda of regime survival in
these countries.
The truth, however, is that Eritrea is a self-respecting, hard
working and determined for development and above all peace-loving and
proud nation. Therefore, to quote President Franklin D. Roosevelt
Eritrea is the kind of neighbor who resolutely respects himself and,
because he does so, respects the rights of others. The Government of
Eritrea pursues an independent foreign policy of peaceful development
that emanates from this socio-cultural fabric of the Eritrean society.
Eritrea is a nation with a proud past, solid socio-political unity,
developmental consensus and internally at peace with itself. As many
rightly believe; Eritrea is an oasis of peace in the sea of conflict
this region has become. Independence Eritrea has tremendously
contributed to the peace and stability of the Horn region. Such
examples include its contribution in the peace that it brokered in
the Sudan, as an important player in the Sudan-Chad conflict etc.
Which country in the Horn would, then be better placed than Eritrea
to offer peace and tranquility? First and foremost Peace like charity
begins at home.
Milkias Berhanu
Canada
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