We Eritreans had long dream. We had a dream not only for a free and democratic Eritrea but an Eritrea of stability and prosperity, in which every Eritrean can enjoy the fruit of the long struggle equally and peacefully.
Unfortunately the reality is not according to our dream and vision. In reality we have a mere free, poor and undemocratic Eritrea. The state of Eritrea is not only ruled by one dictatorial party but by an autocratic system. A system which does not tolerate freedom of speech, press, assembly and belief. We have a state in which the most basic human rights are violated. The Eritrean people are suffering under unlawful system. There is no justice. People are arrested without any legal process. Our youngsters are leaving their beloved country in mass for exile. This was not what the Eritrean people dreamed for.
Our dreamed prosperous Eritrea is far away from reality. Economically the Eritrean people have now the worst scenario than ever. It is not as we dreamed and expected. I remember during our struggle for independence, even we had an ideal economic calculation in which every Eritrean could enjoy the outcome (rent) of Assab, certain amount of dollars per head. Just guaranteed. But the reality became something else. Leave along every Eritrean lives on the income from Assab, Assab itself has become an abandoned port without use. What we dreamed for a peaceful and stable Eritrea, the reality is a war devastated nation which lives in a state of tension with all its neighbors. Eritrea always a state of roundup (‘gffa’). A regime which rules the people by terror.
In 1995 I went back to Addis Ababa. I met some old class mates of the university. By chance there arose a discussion about the newly formed state of Eritrea. It seemed to me the group was not happy about that. Even I remembered some of them said that Eritrea can not stand alone without Ethiopia. I was little bit irritated and said loudly and proudly: “Ho!Ho! What are you talking about? We have the ports but Ethiopia does not. Economically we are better off than Ethiopia.”
One of them stood up angrily and she said, “Ah! Adhanom! Drink the water (‘wehaw tetut’). She meant clearly that the only user of the port is Ethiopia. Of course I was not convinced by her saying at that time.
Now when I recall (perceive) this in introspection I always say to my self “what the Ethiopian sister said was right”. What benefit did the Eritrean people get from the port of Assab? If Ethiopia does not use this port, What then? These are the questions which I have never got answers for . Yes, having a port for a country is advantageous economically. But the geographical location of the port is determinant too. More than that the political stability is a paramount importance for the economic life of a country.
Our regime had a dream too. It had a vision of strong Eritrea meaning strong PFDJ, mostly militarily. Mr. Issayas himself in 1993/1994 said: “ The boarder between Eritrea and Ethiopia was meaningless. We will go beyond that” . He pointed out to a political unity, whether he meant it for the purpose of his own interest or the interest of the Eritrean people, God knows. Even the PFDJ regime and its supporters promised to build another Singapore in the Horn of Africa. But this strength according to the regime must be achieved from the weakness and may be disintegration of Ethiopia and Sudan. Why? Why? In principle having a strong neighbor is advantageous. Economically and politically strong Ethiopia or Sudan is in our advantage. A democratic or undemocratic Ethiopia or Sudan has a significant concern to us as it is to them. Therefore, the evil formula of the PFDJ regime: The weakness of my neighbors = my strength, does not work any more. The dream of the regime could not be realized either. We need to live with our neighbors in peace and harmony. Economic growth without peace and stability is unthinkable.
It is true most Ethiopians perceived the Eritrean issue in the past and now through the angle of economic interest. They believe if Eritrea becomes independent Ethiopia will miss the ports. As a result Ethiopia will be weaker economically. This mentality led to the policies of Haile Selassie and the Derg: “We must keep Eritrea united by force”. But having ports only does not always bring economic growrth and development. As I mentioned above we Eritrean have had ports for 12 years. But the Eritrean people have never seen such poverty as today. In my view the issue is not the having and not having ports. The issue is the lack of political stability and above all the lack of democratic system in Eritrea.
The attitude of some Ethiopian Opposition parties or groups operating abroad is not encouraging too. When I wrote an article concerning the policies and attitudes of the United Ethiopian Parties towards Eritrea, some Ethiopian brothers and sisters responded me through my private mailing system. What they wrote me is shortly that Assab belongs to Ethiopia and that the Ethiopian people will never get rest unless they get it back. They said What they need is Assab and not the Eritrean people.
I replied to some of them brotherly and politely. I told them clearly that this way of saying and thinking is like the Haile’sllassie’s and Derg’s policies concentrating on the unity (interest) of the land and not of the peoples. I made it clear to them that when the Eritrean people struggled for 30 years it was not for the port of Assab or Massawa. They struggled for their rights and independence as people. The Eritrean people haven’t got any profit from these ports until now. Even when the port of Assab was used by Ethiopia, the income of it was not used for the interest of the people rather than for the regime in Asmara.
I hear some Ethiopian opposition forces condemning Prime Meles Zenawi for “granting Eritrea its independence” too. What choice did the EPRDF have at that time? They say: “If the Ethiopian government could not recognize the state of Eritrea, then Eritrea would never be recognized by any nation”. This may be true. But the Eritrean people had one choice and that is to continue the struggle, endless war. The Ethiopian democratic parties or individuals saw this scenario. I think this was the right decision.
One thing is important. As intellectuals or parties of a nation, we can not decide the fate of a people. The people must decide themselves either for unity or have own sovereignty. This is the right of the people in which none can infringe.
At the end of the day, it is the role and duty of the intellectuals from both countries to try to heal the wounds infected wrongly. We have to recover the damaged relationship of the two peoples. I believe by now we have learned a lot. What Ethiopia has, Eritrea does not have and what the small Eritrea has, Ethiopia does not have. Economic cooperation is the only way to progress.
I am writing this piece when the media in Europe is dominated by the joining of the ten former East Block countries forming a new Europe. A new era with a new idea, seeking everyone of them for economic growth and prosperity of their respectively citizens.
Finally, we Eritreans have a clear objective. Our objective is to establish a fair and democratic system. We will not repeat the same mistake. It is about a fundamental change. Not a cosmetic change. We have one option: to get ride of the PFDJ regime for good. This regime has reached the dead lock. A point where no to go. This regime can not go back and bring any democratic change to the people. It is not of its nature to do this. It can not be reformed. It has already been deformed. All the scattered Eritrean opposition forces must be united and coordinated. They must be able to work together under the motto of National Salvation. At least those who stand for a fundamental change must have a common understanding and try to work together to release their people from this terrible repressive regime.
Our Ethiopian brothers/sisters have an objective too. But this objective must be based on mutual interest of the two peoples. We must break the line of hatred. First and foremost we have to have dialogue at least among the intellectuals from both sides.
