For the last 19 months we have lived under the constant threat of war, destruction and annihilation. Since the Ethio-Eritrean border crisis began on May 6, 1998, until the present time, the leaders of the "Republic of Tigray" or the pseudo representatives of "Greater Ethiopia," the prize they have been looking for was not peace, but a piece of Eritrea or all of Eritrea. Their dream has been to get an outlet to the sea -- Red Sea and get Assab or Massawa.
Peace is what Eritrea and the people of Eritrea need. I am sure the common man in Ethiopia also seeks peace and prays for peace. Peace does not come in a vacuum. It has to have its conditions. The conditions of peace are: honesty, integrity and dedication. It asks the players to commit themselves to work day and night for peace and achieve an absolute peace, where posterity can have its dividends for its citizens. The laity, priests, Sheiks, monks and debteras should be agents of peace, not accomplices of war and self-destruction. Tigray and Ethiopia can't afford another cycle of violence, which could be greater than the one, which they witnessed and endured during the time of Emperor Haileselassie and Colonel Mengistu Hailemariam.
What we have been hearing from the leaders of Tigray and Ethiopia from day one were ultimatums and threats. It is childish to dwell on such kinds of "hide and seek episodes." Meles Zenawi & Co. have been telling Eritrea and the Eritreans that they: " Will teach them unforgettable lessons." If they were teachers of peace, it would not be easy to comprehend and accept. However, there is no lesson to be learned when they are not seeking for a just solution to the real problem. The whole world knows where they stand. At this time it has become evident the leaders of Tigray and Ethiopia are not for peace. They are calling for national mobilization to start another war. What do they get out of war? No earthly benefit comes out war! They are burning themselves with the desire to be destroyed by their own vices and evil intentions. Since they do not have inner peace within themselves, they can't be agents of peace, but agents of destruction. They need to look at themselves in the mirror and ask: " Do we need peace with Eritrea or not?" No one should answer that question for them, except themselves.
In many instances, in one way or another, border wars or crises do start between nations. There may be real causes or perceived causes to the border wars. Greed, economic, social, political and personal factors can create greater havoc and hence border wars or real wars do affect people's lives. During the last 19 months, I am convinced there is no Eritrean who has not been affected by the war. We have family members who are at the front lines. We have deported family members. We are also working to bring this insane war to its final end. We want peace. We are not for self-destruction. We do not want to be destroyed with those who are ready to be consumed by their own making, deceit, arrogance and pseudo nationalism.
This Season is a time of Peace for Christians all over the world. I am sure our brothers and sisters who profess other religions also are yearning for peace. Peace is what every decent human being is praying for. The New Millennium is also at the corner and we want the Year 2000 to usher a new hope, particularly for Eritrea and Ethiopia and in general we want the world to be a place of peace and love. Genuine peace has to come from the heart. Peace does not come by standing at the crossroads and by calling for it to come. A person has to work for peace, if he needs to get peace. This also applies to political leaders and statesmen. The leaders of Tigray and Ethiopia have an obligation to their subjects and people to conclude a just peace with Eritrea.
The leaders of Eritrea, right from the beginning of the crisis, have been saying: "A peaceful solution must be found for the border crisis." However, the leaders of the "Republic of Tigray and Greater Ethiopia" have been telling us and the whole world Eritrea must be destroyed and then Ethiopia can live in peace. This kind of an approach is foolhardy and reversed logic. Today Eritrea is at a point of no return when it comes to guarding its independence. What seemed impossible has become possible. Today Eritrea is equal to all free and independent nations of the world. The Eritreans have tasted the fruits of freedom and have smelled the good scent of independence. Their tears have been wiped out since May 24, 1991. They do not want to see any agents of destruction ruling over Eritrea. The noble goal of all peace- loving Eritreans is: "Never again shall Eritrea be under bondage," which is similar to what the Jews have told the world: "Never again shall the Holocaust be repeated."
The Organization of Africa Unity ( OAU ) with the backing of the United Nations, United States of America, the European Union and other regional and international agencies, as well as concerned individuals from all over the world want the war to come to an end. His Holiness, The Pope of the Vatican, John Paul II, last week, met with president Isaias Afewerki and shared his concerns about the border crisis and wanted peace to come to the two countries.
The Technical Arrangements, which were issued in August 1999 by the OAU, are the best means of resolving the crisis. Eritrea has accepted them without ifs and buts. This shows Eritrea has bent back words to make compromises. It has a greater stake in this crisis. It knows there is no alternative for peace. Ethiopia, as of this date, has rejected the Technical Arrangements.
Meles Zenawi and his men are telling us the alternative for peace is war. Do not they understand what war means? What language do they want us to use to tell them? Peace is better than war. We have paid enormous price to be where we are today. We know peace is for our advantage, not for our disadvantage. We are calling for peace not out of weakness, but out of wisdom and understanding and out of strength. We want secure borders with Tigray. We want the border to be demarcated and delineated based on colonial treaties and agreements. Peace is a prerequisite for reconstruction and development. Eritrea and Ethiopia must use their meager resources and energies to fight poverty, various diseases, illiteracy and backwardness.
Here is what Henry Richard wrote about how resources could be used:
The president of Eritrea, Isaias Afewerki, made it clearer that there is no alternative, but to co-exist with our neighbors in the south. What our neighbors forgot and continue to forget is governments shall pass, but generations do stay and continue to stay. The leaders of Tigray and Ethiopia, deliberately and insidiously, have created rapture in the social fabric of the two neighboring countries and peoples. They have implanted the seeds of separation, enmity and hatred. For what purpose? Their wounded ego has blinded their minds and eyes not to see the difference between war and peace.
One of the unthinkable phenomena in this century is the mass deportation of Eritreans and Ethiopians of Eritrean origin from Tigray and Ethiopia. Haileselassie and Mengistu, even though they were working to destroy Eritrea, did not take such hideous steps to disrupt the social fabric of Eritreans. They have committed a cardinal sin and there is a consequence for their actions. They are responsible for the looting, confiscating and destroying of Eritrean properties. They are also responsible for the detention, killing and banishment of Eritreans.
If peace is to come to our region, the leaders of Tigray and Ethiopia should repent and amend what has been broken. They have to tell the Eritrean people and the whole world they are for peace and should accept the Technical Arrangements. There are no prevarication and returning to square one. Malice, deceit, lies and dishonesty will not take them anywhere. The whole world is learning more about the issues and the genesis of the border war. The truth is being revealed.
Appeals and more appeals have been extended to the leaders of Tigray and Ethiopia to accept the proposals for peace. There is no ambiguity about it. The proposal asks for unconditional cease-fire, troops withdrawal and demarcation of the border. The status quo ante the leaders of Tigray have been crying about should not be the handing of Eritrean territories to them before any jury decides to whom the territories belong. Eritrea, like any African country, which has been under European colonial administration, has boundaries, which should be respected by the leaders of Tigray, as the Cairo Declaration of 1964 has affirmed and accepted colonial boundaries to be sacrosanct.
It is no secret it was since November 1993 that the local leaders of Tigray began removing border markings and added Eritrean lands into their own. The final straw that broke the back of the camel was the issuance of the New Map of 1997, which really exposed the intentions of the thieves of Tigray. How can a thief be trusted before he returns the property he stole?
Let me conclude by reiterating the final solution to the problem. Weapons of mass destruction, technical advisors from foreign lands would not bring peace. The Cold War should be a good example for the Woyanes and their supporters. Let them learn a lesson from what had happened to the former Soviet Union and its satellites!
It is amazing how the so-called intellectuals of Tigray and Ethiopia have attempted to explain the situation in Eritrea. They claim business is as usual in Ethiopia and their economy is growing by leaps and bounces, but it is doom and gloom in Eritrea. They try to portray to their people and the whole world Eritrea is the most wretched place to be under the leadership of Isaias Afewerki. They have developed an unparalleled fear and hatred of Isaias Afewerki. This is really a sad picture of their psychology and personality.
There should not be any illusion. Isaias Afewerki is a shining star in the conscience of Eritrea. He and his colleagues did not struggle for 30 years to let the Woyanes of Tigray to be rulers over Eritrea. They need to realize there will not be any "Yohanneses and Alulas" any more in Eritrea. Eritrea belongs to Eritreans and it shall remain that way.
Meles & Co. must have peace within their hearts and should work for peace, if they are going to live in peace with Eritrea. Eritrea and the people of Eritrea are destined to live in that area of the Horn of Africa. This should not be a bitter pill not to be swallowed by Meles and his men. The reality has to be accepted. The referendum of April 1993, with 99.8% in the affirmative, confirmed the wishes of the Eritrean people, which overwhelmingly voted for independence. With referendum or without referendum, the Eritrean case was decided at the battlefield on May 24, 1991. The leaders of Tigray and Ethiopia, willingly or unwillingly had to accept the verdict of the battlefield and the results of the referendum. If they have a change of heart now, it is too late. What is done can't be undone. Eritrean independence is irreversible! It is the reality of the day.
The choice is clearer. Do they want to be destroyed or destroy Eritrea? Eritrea can't be destroyed. As Gwynne Dyer said: "Ethiopia is a sea tanker and Eritrea the coral reef." Any sane person should realize the only alternative we have is peace. If the leaders of Tigray want to destroy Eritrea, they must realize they are going to destroy themselves. There is no tragedy in the human comedy than self-destruction!
John Milton said what peace means: "Peace has her victories, no less renowned than war."
The prize we are looking for during this Holiday Season is PEACE. Let peace reign in our hearts. Let us not waste our time in hair splitting when there is no time to do that! Peace heals our wounds. We need to seek that kind of medicine. Let our eyes look for the prize!