What has been a border issue for the last two years has now escalated into invasion. Ever since the clash broke out we have all along have been told that it is that of undefined enclaves along the eastern and western parts bordering the states of Eritrea and Ethiopia.

However the recent development about Ethiopian forces invading Eritrea baffles those who have gone along with the established facts—facts pointing to the disputed areas. No matter how we look at it, the question has now gone beyond that of boundary. Why is Ethiopia invading Eritrea? A military strategy or the means to another disguised end? There is no immediate and verified answer to these questions at the moment. Time will tell none the less.

The fact has it that despite the internationally brokered peace plan or rather in defiance of it the Ethiopian current government is crusading to besiege "tiny but resilient Eritrea". This invasion typifies an illusionist policy—a policy that is contrary to the wishes and aspirations of the Eritrean people .Under international surveillance the overwhelming majority of Eritrea voted for its independence(1993) for which a lot of human sacrifices had been made. Thus it is for the Eritrean people to decide what constitution, governance and mandate should be pursued. Any neighbouring state should not fiddle with this particular matter.

Of the dispute one hears that the Ethiopian government wishes to see not only a change of heart on the part of the Eritrean government and the Eritreans but a change of government—a government that pledges obedience and allegiance to their whims. The invasion of south western parts of Eritrea shows clearly that it serves no other purpose than to attempt to subjugate the Eritrean people and to subvert the Eritrean government, perhaps only to annex the land once again.

In international terms this means defying the international law and equity. This indicates there are double standards by which the world is ruled: Watching a state being intruded by another state, this being in contrast to the international norms and conventions. It is a mystery indeed why Ethiopian forces are pushing and Eritrea´s pulling! Piles of reports are being issued to assure the world that Ethiopia is moving its military forces "deep inside Eritrea".

In regional terms this demonstrates that the OAU seems incapable of deterring Ethiopia from going so far as to invade a sovereign state—Eritrea. The OAU charter of conventions and resolutions condemns any kind of invasion of any internationally recognised state or encroachment by another state. Yet no sanction is yet stated or authorised or implemented. As an Eritrean I am most inclined to view this inaction and reticence as a pat on the shoulders of the Ethiopian government as though the Ethiopian leaders were performing an act of integrity and honour.

If this invasion is to be let to continue, anyone can imagine what it eventually means and how and where it is to end. Bloodshed, human loss, suffering and misery; the destruction and depletion of resources and the extinction of wild and domestic animals are among the first to envisage if... !

An internationally concerted action taken against the invasion of parts of Eritrea by the Ethiopian forces can have the effect of stopping these imagined horrors from taking place.

Above all else the OAU has the moral and ethical obligation to ascertain that no African state invades or in any way intrudes on any other African one.

G Gebry Haile