Is our love for the people of
Eritrea? The massacre of the disabled veterans; the reckless sacrifice of 19,000
the sadistic Isaias gloated about being too few compared to Ethiopia’s losses;
those perishing in deserts and high seas;
the thousands suffering and dying in prisons across the country; elderly parents held hostage for ransom are all
Eritreans we claim to love. Yet, we simply forget them after every sad event and
the lawless regime goes on to concoct the next tragedy. Where is the love when we
have let every year get worse than the previous one for the last 21 years?
Secondly, Eritreans seem to be too eager to offend each other and
equally ready to be offended these days. Hardly anyone is willing to forgive
and forget the small stuff or apologize for transgressions. Opposition groups,
churches, community centers, civic organizations who are and should be allies
against injustice are busy tearing each other down on secondary issues. Cooperation
is a bad word absent from our everyday vocabulary. Faced with common problems
with so much to gain by working together, the focus on trivia is only
comforting a ruthless regime that does not deserve to live another day. What
kind of love is that?
Is our love for Eritrea’s good societal
values grounded on justice, freedom and the pursuit of happiness? Hardly.
In fact, whatever decent values Eritrea had are either uprooted or severely
damaged by a vampire regime (to borrow from George Ayittey) known for its ruthlessness
and deceit. Tesfay
Temnewo (man of the year indeed and thank you Seyoum) eloquently encapsulates
this when he describes the sleepless night he had over 30 years ago worried
about the hijacked version of “independence” that will disappoint Eritrean
families; including the one in whose warmth and kindness he had his first meal
in a family setting since he joined the independence movement. Tesfay also explains the culture of embezzlement
and terrorism that was set in stone way back then when innocent families were
deprived of their livelihoods for “crimes” of association.
Similarly, KubromDafla describes the grand robbery by a regime whose legacy to date has
been massive poverty and loss of all types of freedoms Eritreans have never
seen the scale of before. Thank you Kubrom
for exposing it for what it really is with calm and fact-driven finesse! Based
on how we -- diaspora Eritreans in particular -- had so willingly denied the
same freedoms we enjoy ourselves to our brothers and sisters in Eritrea, there
isn’t much love to speak of here either.
Is our love for the courage of our
educated class speaking truth to power? This is probably the most
disappointing of our shortcomings. To mention the latest drama: Dr. Woldai
Futur spoke about the efficient infrastructure and solid institutions that are
in place to encourage new investments. Sadly, even the best education our
planet has to offer can’t steady a weak spine or enlighten a self-enslaved mind.
Everyone knows the crumbling infrastructure and the intentional destruction of Eritrea’s
institutions by the very regime the good doctor serves. Dr. Woldai, blessed
with a good education, should have been pained by the closure of the only
University Eritrea had and the ignorance era this regime has sunk the country into.
As an economist, he could have used his skills and experience to analyze the
root cause of Eritrea’s abject poverty and find ways to reverse it. Instead, he
chooses to be a mere errand boy for a failed despot who so despises education
and the educated. I wonder what Dr. Woldai would mention as his single
accomplishment that has resulted in Eritrea’s improved economic health.
Unfortunately, Dr. Woldai is not alone. We also have the likes of Dr
Ghideon Abays, Dr Woldeab Isaacs, Dr Amare Tekles who have greatly contributed for
dictatorship to flourish in Eritrea. Likewise, many Eritreans who sleep soundly
under the comfort of freedom the West provides them are perfectly okay with
Eritrea heading to the Stone Age as they continue to support a failed regime that
is bleeding Eritrea to death (follow the links and listen to Tesfay Temnewo and
Kubrom Dafla with love of country as a compass. Hopefully, you will get it this
time).
Is our love for a corruption
free and self-reliant Eritrea? Not even close. Kubrom Dafla who has witnessed the regime’s
corruption first hand explains how Eritrea’s entire resources are controlled by
Isaias and Hagos with zero accountability. Money is the first and only thing this
pair cares about. Whatever money flows into Eritrea (be it from Gaddafi or Qatar
for whatever Isaias sold them in exchange, the elusive gold revenues, loans in
Eritrea’s name etc) does not belong to Eritrea and its people. Eritrea’s entire
resources (from land to people), are for Isaias and Hagos to do whatever they
please. Now they are cooking up another future-is-so-bright,
never-to-be-missed investment opportunity. Without rule-of-law, however, all it
takes is a single awaj or a false accusation to shut down a business (teEashigu) or imprison or kill anyone they
feel needs to be taught a lesson. That is all. No questions asked. Investments are
necessary for Eritrea’s development and should be encouraged. But everything
dies under this regime and sustained development can only flourish in its absence.
Regarding self-reliance, Isaias or Hagos haven’t earned a living based on honest
hard work and never had to worry about the challenges people face balancing
income and expenses to support their families and to run their businesses. What
they don’t earn, they steal, they hold elderly parents hostage for ransom, they
kill for. Decent, hard-working Eritreans like Mohammed Hagos were murdered in
cold blood with no one held accountable? So the concept of Eritrea becoming self-reliant
under the stewardship of this parasitic pair is only a pipe dream. Where is our
love then, if it doesn’t even manifest itself in reversing a feudal system that
has taken complete control of people’s lives – modern-day slavery and all?
Is our love for the beauty of
the land? At great risk to his/her
safety, Bana from Asmara showed us this once beautiful and peaceful
city is crumbling. Kentiba Haregot, with minimal education and great love for
the city, managed it well and it showed. We can’t even build on the solid
foundation this great mayor and native son left behind. 21 years after “independence”
Asmara and other cities are decaying, the shrimp farm is gone, our 1000 Km of
sea shore produces nothing, there is no commerce flowing through our ports and
tourism is dead. What kind of love is it
that keeps silent when the land and its people are getting destroyed?
Is our love for the personal
freedoms our people enjoy? Nope!! Can anyone honestly say Isaias ever stood
for safeguarding personal freedoms of the Eritrean people? These are the very ideals
so many died for and what free Eritrea was meant to represent. And yet, the one
who has so betrayed the promise is still in power 21 years later-- some love,
eh?
Is the love for our problem-solving
skills? What national problems have we solved since “independence” -- anything
worth mentioning? How about reliable electricity, vibrant cities, rule-of-law,
economic development, food security, quality education, accountable leadership?
Anything?
So What Next?
That we believe we love our country is a
good thing. What is needed now is honest self-assessment and taking concrete
actions– big and small – to convert that belief into reality. How about these?
1.
Own your mind and think freely. If you believe
the CIA is the cause of Eritrea’s problems based on foaming-from-the-mouth
tirades to cover our failures, think again. Did the CIA kill our disabled
veterans in cold blood? Cure thyself and those around you from “worship the
king of the day (znegese ngusna)”
disease. This disease kills.
2.
Reject the regime’s culture of arrogance. It is
a shame this failed regime has become the face of 5 million Eritreans to the
rest of the world. That can’t be who we are.
3.
Accept reality and deal with it. Talking about
Ethiopia’s problems to hide ours won’t solve anything. Our problems are worse.
At least Ethiopia had a peaceful transition of power after Meles died. What is
Eritrea’s transition plan? Anyone?
4.
Focus on how 5 million people CAN defeat a
handful few who are destroying this once promising country. Remember the Arab
Spring?
5.
Make a personal pledge to contribute, even
in tiny, tiny steps, to bridge divisions and promote cooperation to
solve common problems. Small positive steps add up to form a solid national
character, which is good insurance against bad guys.
6.
Embrace other
Eritreans. Be a good man/woman and apologize when/if you offend others.
7.
Think more about the future and talk less about
the past. Yes, the past was painful and the history not told fully or truthfully.
Let’s hope more Tesfay Temnewos come forward to document the past fairly and
honestly. But Eritrea is dying now and
collective focus should be on the future and how to salvage what is left. The younger generation with the least baggage
from the past but deprived of normal life since “independence” can play a pivotal
role in shaping the future. Take charge and run with it.
8.
And diaspora Eritreans? We are the sorriest lot
of all. In plain language, Isaias said you will not live in the houses you are
building because you will come to Eritrea in coffins to be buried. Why the
misplaced love for the very person who despises you and your people so openly?
Stop the madness and give your moral support to those fighting for justice and
freedom instead.
9.
Don’t underestimate the good that can come out
from a transformed PFDJ. The regime having destroyed all other institutions, the
only organized entity left is PFDJ. Without Hagos, Yemane, Alamin and few others
with blood in their hands, it can play a positive role in reshaping Eritrea’s
future for the better. Most of its
members are living the harsh life themselves and there are decent people waiting
to be empowered to do the right thing.
10.
This is a bit of a stretch but it would also be great
if the Dr. Woldais and Dr. Ghideons of our world follow Kubrom Dafla’s example.
Abandon the regime and use your education and experience for the good of
Eritrea for a change. The Titanic is sinking. You don’t have to go down with
it. What makes you think you will be treated better than Naizghi Kiflu’s
lifeless body? Help Eritrea rid itself of its worst enemy and cross the line to
the right side of history.
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