Dangling and Limping on the Scale of Justice -Part IV-
By: Ogbazgy Abbay Asmerom
April 2, 2004
He who conceals a useful truth is equally guilty with the propagator of an injurious
falsehood
--- St. Augustine ---
Part IV
It is a historical fact Eritrea is a small country and has about 5 million inhabitants.
On the other hands, Ethiopia is larger and has over 66 million people. That
does not make Eritrea less valuable and respected in international affairs.
Eritrea has its won values and merits. It does not want to trade its virtues
for what Ethiopia cannot offer.
Eritrea is yearning for national respect and mutual equality with others and
the application of international justice. The Eritreans, whether the world likes
it or not, are part of the human race and they demand to be respected for who
they are. They do not demand anything less or anything more! Eritrean national
identity cannot be reversed. It is as strong as a steel of iron. There is unity
in the national cause and territorial integrity. Eritrean national identity
is known by patience, unity, peace, perseverance, integrity, truth, equality,
and justice. There is no force that is going to dilute these exemplary qualities!
There may be very few who could be considered as renegades, traitors, and quislings!
Other than that, no one wants to see the scale of justice tipped to the wrong
side!
The Eritreans do not want to forfeit what is legally theirs, which is the implementation
of the Decision of the Border Commission. The decision is Eritrea's birthright.
It is the bottom line of the whole issue. It is the sum and total of the conclusion
of the unnecessary border war that took place in 1998 and ended in 2000.
The UNSC must not tamper with the decision, which was declared last and binding.
If it does this, it loses its credibility. The international body becomes a
mocking bird and its relevancy will be eroded. The worst of all, if the UNSC
wants to expose its irrelevancy, let it declare the Border Decision “null and
void”! Then, at last, there will not be any respect left for it. At this time,
in every moment, Eritrea is "crying" for justice to be served. For many years,
the Eritreans have fought for justice. They will never give up on justice and
truth!
It is to be recalled, the UN, through its inaction and indifference had prolonged
the suffering of the Eritreans. Eritrea should have been independent in the
1940s. However, political expediencies and selfish interests of the super powers
made it difficult for Eritrea to gain its timely independence. Nevertheless,
the Eritreans remained resolute, steadfast, and persevered for more than 40
years to gain international recognition.
It was on May 24, 1991, that Eritrea surprised the world community and wrested
its independence from the fangs of Ethiopian colonialism. Hence, the UN accepted
Eritrea in 1993 as a new nation. These experiences make the Eritreans suspicious
of the positions of the UN and its agencies.
From time to time, the UNSC has been issuing weak resolutions for too long.
It is time to act. The international body, whose mission is to respect and implement
all of its treaties that were agreed upon, must show its integrity and order
Ethiopia to accept without any equivocation the Border Commission's Decision
and let the demarcation border start and see it implemented. There is no need
to dangle, limp, waver, and vacillate on the scale of justice.
It has been declared many times, "justice delayed is justice denied." The Eritreans
know and understand the UN Secretary General and the UNSC are blocking the doors
of implementation. It is not Eritrea that is the main obstacle. Eritrea believes
it is the UNSC and the Secretary General who have spoiled the brat of the Horn
of Africa, Meles Zenawi, and made him poke his fingers at the eyes of the UN.
As it was indicated earlier, the office of the Secretary General is not a neutral
office for Eritrea. It is obvious the Secretary General has no good office to
show impartiality. Eritrea knows that it has no room or space in his office.
Dialogue with Ethiopia and normalization of relations will not work without
the implementation of the demarcation of the border. First and as a priority,
if the UNSG and UNSC are interested in letting Eritrea open dialogue with Ethiopia,
let them resolve the demarcation of the border! That should be their priority!
Anything else is a false notion of peace.
It should be known that Ethiopian unity must not be maintained at the expense
of Eritrean unity, territorial integrity, and national rights. Ethiopia needs
to be advised in clearer terms that Eritrean sovereignty is not for sale. Eritrea
appreciates, cherishes, and protects its independence. Eritrean seaports, Massawa
and Aseb, are not for grabs. Eritrea will not allow Ethiopia to use its seaports
without applying the laws of International Maritime Convention.
The UNSG and the UNSC as well as other nations need to realize that Ethiopia
must not be given the green light to act indecently and hold the demarcation
a hostage. Ethiopia should not be given any preferential treatment by the Secretary
General and the UNSC. The UNSG and UNSC should not conceal the truth that Ethiopia
is the only party that has refused to accept the verdict. It is important to
note that the UNSC should not commit an act of violence by concealing the truth.
The Decision is final and banding.
It must be known that Eritrea emphasizes unity in diversity, while Ethiopia
stresses ethnic division and animosity. Thus, there is a stark difference in
the political structure of the two governments. Eritrea is for peace. Ethiopia
is against peace. Eritrea accepts the rule of law. Ethiopia abides by the law
of the jungle. Unfortunately, the UNSG and the UNSC are accomplices in this
lawlessness and denial of justice. It is time for the UNSG and the UNSC to wake
up and see the difference between good and evil, light and darkness, peace and
turmoil, justice and injustice.
Therefore, as Shakti Gawain has stated, “The more light you allow within you,
the brighter the world you live in will be …. “