Eritreans worry Isaias may start war with Ethiopia again

June 18, 2004

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Eritrea was defeated in the last war

Weary of the last 1998-2000 Eritrea-Ethiopia War that left an estimated 90,000 soldiers dead on both sides, Eritreans have continued to air their fears that Eritrean leader Isaias Afwerki may once again spark a bloody conflict with neighboring Ethiopia under the usual cover of “Ethiopia has invaded us; it is our right to exercise self-defense.”

Eritrea’s national radio – Dimtsee Hafash of the ruling Isaias Afewerki regime – is explicitly embroiled in intense propaganda warfare that it gives the impression Eritrea is in the thick of war with Ethiopia. The Eritrean radio propaganda smacks of a state of emergency, urging all Eritreans to throw all their weight behind whatever the government of President Isaias Afwerki sets out to execute in the troubled Horn region. Although the prison-like situation in Eritrea is very clear, once again Isaias seems determined to avenge the defeat he suffered in the last war.

Ostracized by neighboring countries and western nations as a dictator who rounded up and jailed even his old comrades at one go, who labelled young Eritrean journalists as “terrorists” or “mercenaries”, President Isaias seems determined to try for the second time to invade Ethiopia in case that may pull his bunkrupt regime out of the deep pit.

Consequently, the number of Eritreans revolting at the thought of another war with Ethiopia has dramatically increased in recent weeks. One Tigrinya poem reads like this:

I smell the odor
An odor of the past,
It’s coming again,
to hang, chock and kill
life on its path.

Where can I flee?
Where can I hide myself?
The storm is coming,
To uproot every tree on its way.

I may have some food,
On which I can survive

But it is my spirit,
that is dying in fear.

WAR IS IMMINENT

Meanwhile, followers of Mr. Isaias have upgraded their propaganda work; they’ve styled themselves as “neutral Eritreans” who try to “alert” Eritreans in Diaspora to brush aside political differences and rally behind their nation to save an impending “invasion from Ethiopia.”

The following paragraphs are excerpted from a long “Eritrean government” statement posted not on their propaganda websites (Shabia.org or Shabait.com) but on a relatively opposition-leaned Asmarino.com. The statment is headlined: “Important announcement: Concerns about war between Eritrea and Ethiopia” (June 18, 2004)

“We hope our people and the entire region can be spared from another war.

“If the need comes, however, the question will become how much popular support will this imposed war attract. We are painfully aware that it is a test of endurance, perseverance and a tough challenge of our patriotism; and even some may melt and give up. Nonetheless, protracted war is the responsibility of the entire population – the old and young, peasants and women, the youth and the entire Diaspora, and above all, the entire new generation. Undoubtedly, there is a great chance this war could be Armageddon-like in its scale. Villages and towns may be leveled. Infrastructure and utilities may be destroyed. But not the Eritrean spirit. Our will to fight for our rights, to aspire to modernization, to sacrifice for our people, is rooted in our bones, and it is to lack a sense of history to expect it will be erased by the intimidation of Ethiopian leaders.

“Should our people be forced into another war, we dare you to consider the possible outcomes:

• The creation of an Ethiopia that will never contemplate meddling in Eritrea’s internal affairs.

• The creation of an un-Ethiopian Ethiopia that does not exhibit any behaviour or intention of playing games with Eritrea.”