Ethiopia has refused to peacefully demarcate and delimit the border. The systemic mTrar (illegal demarking ) of the internationally recognized Eritrean-Ethiopian border by TPLF authorities was the cause of the present conflict. Tigrayans moved border markers onto the Eritrean side. Twenty monthes into the war, the truth behind their action has come in from the depth of seven heavens where TPLF had buried it. She never believed in the Mereb mlash (Ethio-Eritrean) international border.

It is true, in principle, TPLF had verbally supported Eritrea's right to self-determination, but its mobilization call whithin Tigray negated this principle. The call for the reincarnation of Tigray's past glory of Alula, Yohanes, and Aksum has at its roots a claim on Eritrean territory. These obviously twin and contradictory demagoguery by the TPLF leadership is a well crafted political skill and held as a useful ideology in all its transactions.

The world has become aware why by the tens of thousandth have died in the Ethiopian-Eritrean Conflict. Why an even greater disaster is looming with hundredth of thousandth of armed men and women facing each other. The world is now aware that the TPLF government of Ethiopia in its dream of glories of yesteryear wants Eritrea to kneel down or be prepared to have its back broken. It seems Ethiopia's ( read Republic of Tigray ) greatness depends upon Eritrea's submission.

Eritrea has a known international boundary. Eritrea's standing policy is to negotiate peacefully with its sister states regarding border questions. As the youngst nation state, she has not gotten a lot of respect from her immediate neighbors. However, Eritrea's commitment for peace and stability in the region, her commitment for human rights and justice continue to bring respect and prestige among her immediate family states and the international community. The Eritrean-Yemeni border solution is a great example of the maturity of her principles and a great contribution to the stability of a dangerous neighborhood. President Beshir's admission that it was Sudan's fault for the bad relations between the two sister states will go a long way in this regard.

Archbishop Silvano Tomasi, Nuncio to Ethiopia and Eritrea, is quoted as saying, "the conflict, which began as a border dispute, can largely be explained by Eritrea's justified desire for national autonomy and identity and Ethiopia's aspiration to maintain its traditional and historical leadership in the Horn of Africa." I agree with this statement to a large extent. The Ethiopian government, TPLF, should be aware that its "aspirations" for greatness is destablizing the entire region. TPLF's disregard for human rights, ethnic cleanising, its hellbent desire to persecute the Ethiopian-Eritrean border conflict (instead of the disease, ignorance and poverty ravaging its people) can only bring shame to her in the long run.

Prior to this conflict, an Eritrean crossing the border to Ethiopia might have a sign to remind him/her. In some border areas families were intermarried. You could say the majority of the people on each side of the border were from the same blood line. Twenty monthes after the start of the conflict, a bright red blood line marks this border. This blood line will stand strong like a wall, stronger than the wall of China. This line will identify the border line. This blood line will be Eritrea's holy line but Ethiopia's shame line.

Eritrea will prevail for she is right.

Awet nHafash
Tesfai Bahta
Oakland, Ca.