Let us keep the discussion straight. Both camps agree that Meles and the Woyane group with their Woyane mentality are the first enemies of our people. How to get rid of them is the central point of discussion here. The whole notion depends on the on going struggle of our people.
Let us for a moment forget the people in Eritrea. Let us not be concerned on the way they are governed. Let us not care for their being Ethiopians or not. Let us forget about the people and the land for our argument. Let us have a blind eye and forget what Issayas is doing to our Eritrean relatives. What is Issayas in the eyes of an Ethiopian? This is the central point of our discussion. The role of Issayas in the coup attempt of 1989 is simple. Both Mr. Tibebe Samuel Ferenji and Neamin Zeleke agree that Issayas knew about the attempt. He knew about it and tried to use it to his advantage. His actions may have led the army in Eritrea to punish their well intending leaders. The leaders of the coup were doing what true Ethiopians in their position would have done and that is not denied by Mr. Tibebe Samuel Ferenji. Neamin Zeleke is right and so is Mr. Tibebe Samuel Ferenji.
What I did not understand on Neamin Zeleke’s presentation is that he spent most of the writing on small details and did one paragraph on what matters most. He twisted the argument and the purpose of the discussion by attacking the historical presentation of the coup facts. That is relevant only for people who are interested in the historical facts for whatever reason they need it. For the argument at hand the fact is yes Issayas has learned about it – it does not matter what time – and he tried to use it for his purpose. How does it help Neamin Zeleke when Issayas learned or what he intended to use it for. The facts for the purpose of the argument are met. If we accept that Issayas learned late and he did not orchestrate the attempt help the argument to cooperate with him? How? Neamin should have explained why it does? On the other hand I read Neamin Zeleke putting the blame on Mr. Tibebe Samuel Ferenji as follows:
It would not serve both the current readership and posterity to twist facts and rewrite history in order to fit one’s political caprice in a singular but futile pursuit of trying to convince Ethiopian liberation groups not to engage with the government of Eritrea.
Mr. Tibebe Samuel Ferenji is not writing history. He is describing why it is not good to believe a single word of Issayas and why cooperating with him is not a good idea. One of his arguments was to show Issayas’s role at the time of the coup attempt. The whole purpose of Mr. Tibebe Samuel Ferenji’s writings is to show Issayas is a leader not to be trusted and very dangerous to put on one’s side. It is this central point I wished Neamin Zeleke spent most of his effort and his argument on. Here is the central point of Neamin Zeleke’s argument that he should have defended most:
In order to hasten attaining our freedom and dignity from the bondage of the fascistic mafia murderers and tugs in power, one will explore any and all options including dealing with any and all forces to advance the objective. Even those who ceaselessly preach about freedom and democracy will deal with anyone as long as it serves to promote their interest. The minority regime in Addis Ababa has far worst records of human rights abuse, ethnic cleansing, war crimes, and accused of genocide in Gambela and the Ogaden, not to mention the plethora of crimes it has perpetrated against the people of Ethiopia. But they support and prop it so long as it is “their dog.”
Neamin Zeleke, Mr. Tibebe Samuel Ferenji, and I agree on the last part of this direct quote. I do not have clear understanding on what Neamin Zeleke understands on the part I highlighted. Does Neamin Zeleke know what Issayas’s interest is? Neamin Zeleke wrote: “Throughout history all alliances were formed to promote mutual interests.” You are correct but can you tell me our mutual interest i.e. between Issayas and us Ethiopians? This for me is the core of our argument? Yes Issayas wants Meles gone, but so does the Al Shabab in Somalia. Will that also lead us to be friends with Shabab – like Meles did with the then Somalia Government at the time of Derg? Issayas is a leader who is no better than Meles except like our saying – leba siTala enji siserk ayTalam – they quarreled because of their share sizes. Issayas wanted to benefit more at the expense of Ethiopia. Let me think that Neamin Zeleke is not sure of Issayas’s motive. Does Neamin Zeleke think Issayas’s interests include what is going on in Ethiopia – to Ethiopia’s benefit? Does Neamin Zeleke have a clear understanding of the war Issayas waged on Meles in Bademe?
What I gathered Neamin Zeleke put forward to make cooperating with Issayas palatable to us is that “. . . It was also TPLF that refused a ceasefire during the coup of 1989 while the EPLF agreed.” and “EPLF was willing to accept a Federal arrangement and was even considering participation in an all inclusive transitional government.” These for me are what I take from Neamin Zeleke why we need to cooperate with Issayas.
My point: Yes we have a right to use any means available to free ourselves from Meles and his Woyane political philosophy and Woyane administrative policy. To achieve this we have to first and foremost have confidence and belief in our people. In the present world political reality, it is not the arms and the bases that will decide the outcome of the struggle but the people. The people are fighting inside in the cities and countryside each day and each night against the cadres and brutal force of EPRDF. The only and biggest block right now is the lack of unity on our part. We do not need the help of one enemy to fight another enemy when the interest of the enemy we want to cooperate with is historically proven to be the same as the one we are fighting against. Cooperation is between two identities that have common interest. Issayas wants to enslave us as he is doing the Eritrean people.
