Unfiltered Notes

2011-09-24T10:25:00.000-07:00

Eritrea at a Crossroads – The people and a disgraced regime
testifanos@gmail.com

If Eritrea is to have a better future, the regime that has been actively dimming that future has to go. I love Aklilu Zere’s writings but this article (http://www.ehrea.org/birth.php) from 2003 in particular, still rings in my head. It paints a clear picture of how Isaias and his murderous ways have been continuously destroying lives for almost 40 years. As Aklilu aptly puts it "Why would a mad man change his behavior if every time he takes an action nothing happens to him?" Isaias is in New York now for UN’s 66th session facing demonstrators, both for and against – and the against is particularly significant. Organized by Eritrean Youth for Change and other brave Eritreans, this is probably the first time on American soil he will be hearing a different music directly. We are at a crossroads.

Since the regime has confiscated all of Eritrea’s resources, it has the means to make louder noises compared to the opposition – good material for its propaganda machine. But the voices of reason are also getting steadier and louder giving one hope that Eritrea could be next in line to topple another brutal dictator as the brave people of the Arab world have been doing. Could this be our own Rosa Parks moment, finally tipping the balance in favor of people power?

Following are two true stories to illustrate the two competing value systems in play – one based on mutual respect, listening and problem solving and the other on embezzlements, lawlessness and destruction. The first story, from a recent family gathering, is as inspiring as the second is depressing. Hopefully, the first one will prevail.

Bashay Zerai was a prominent member of his village’s baito (court). Through dialog, he and his friends regularly settled village matters under the proverbial daEro tree. One day Bashai Zerai hired an orphan boy to tend to his cattle. The boy, mesmerized by the baito discussions failed to attend to his duties and the cattle he was supposed to shepherd grazed someone’s wheat field. Understandably, there was one unhappy villager who reported the incident to Bashai Zeral. In a temporary loss of temper, Bashai Zerai hit the boy as elders often did to reprimand the young. Bashai Zerai’s good friend was not pleased when he heard this.

After deliberations of the next day’s cases were completed and people were getting ready to go home, Bashai Zerai’s friend made an announcement that they are not done for the day yet. Surprised, everyone settled down. He said "Bashai Zerai, everyone knows you are my good friend. And as your good friend it is my duty to point out something that is troubling me. You hit a boy who has no mother or father yesterday. That is not good. I know you very well and I am sure how you reacted does not please you either. As your good friend I just want to let you know that".

To which Bashai Zerai replied "HaqKa, Hmaq meAlti wEile", meaning you are right, it was unbecoming of me to behave so. The next day, Bashai Zerai went to Asmara to buy new cloths for the boy as an expression of genuine apology.

The story has many layers of beauty. It is indicative of the intrinsic kindness people have towards each other, their readiness to feel the pain of others and do something about it. The story also shows the true meaning of friendship – one pointing errors when they occur as a good friend should and the other heartily accepting responsibility because real friendship is just so. And finally closing the matter, with a specific action that leaves no doubt that words and deeds are in complete harmony.

Contrasting this value system, we now have Eritreans flying from all over to welcome a murderer (re-read Aklilu’s above mentioned article if still in doubt), which leads to the second story.

My wife and I were at a friend’s house where friends of friends were also present. As is often the case, Eritrean affairs started dominating the conversation. I thought I had heard all the vulgarity spewed by the regime’s supporters until someone (not my friend) said the reason why DuruE and his colleagues are imprisoned is because Isaias cares about them so much, he had to put them away to protect them from an angry public that would kill them for the treason they committed against the nation. Wow!

I guess it matters little to this crowd that many of the disappeared have died in prison already. Family members were not allowed to visit them when they were alive nor claim their bodies for proper burial. Having been stripped of all human dignity in life and in death, where do they see the caring?

Isaias has made sure democracy is dead in Eritrea as long as he remains in power and routinely ridicules democracies that are not perfect ("there is no democracy anywhere"). The one who has nothing to offer is laughably declaring those who cannot deliver 100% as failures. How would you feel if your friend or your child told you "I failed ALL my exams but no worries. Not all of my classmates got all A’s either?" Strangely, his worshipers somehow swallow this whole failing to see the irony even as they are actively squandering their own democratic rights to glorify tyranny -- essentially cursing their own free lives in the West and condemning their own people in Eritrea to continued indignities of oppression and poverty.

Some 2400 years ago, Pericles, paying homage to Athenian culture of his time, said the real disgrace of poverty is not in owning to the fact but in declining to struggle against it. Only in Eritrea’s case, the disgrace is deepened by a regime that has actively promotes poverty through slave labor under the guise of "national service" and by killing all forms of personal freedom.

So, are we -- as a society -- going to choose the values Bashai Zerai and his friends lived by or that of a regime that has outdone its predecessors in the distribution of misery? Click here to read an excellent article by "Bana from Asmara" with poignant points on what those who still support the regime can do to redeem their humanity. There is still hope for many. For some, there is really nothing that can be said or done. They will die with the disgraced regime – not unlike those who blindly followed Hitler, Idi Amin, Gaddafi, and countless dictators that history is, unfortunately, full of.

Blood Gold -- Western mining companies enabling tyranny in Eritrea

2011-09-21T22:00:00.001-07:00

testifanos@gmail.com

With dreams for a better future all but shattered, Eritreans have been fleeing their country in droves giving Eritrea the unenviable distinction of becoming one of the world’s biggest prisons and exporters of refugees (http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/apr/17/eritrea-human-rights). The regime’s terrorism against its own people spares no one. Peacefully demonstrating disabled veterans were brutally mowed down in the early 1990s. The cold and calculated message conveyed by Eritrea’s dictator, Isaias Afworki, at the time was if he can be that barbaric to disabled veterans who made Eritrea’s independence possible, then anyone who dares to ask for freedom and justice will fare no better.

Thousands of courageous Eritreans who dared have disappeared since. And those under 50 are condemned to a life of slave labor under an endless national service program -- supposedly designed to safeguard Eritrea’s security. To get it out of the way so they can get on with the rest of their lives, young people willingly signed up for the program when it was first announced with an 18-month limit in 1994. Sixteen years later, denied of all forms of personal freedom to lead normal lives, they find themselves trapped and betrayed.

Not surprisingly, those who can are leaving to "anywhere but here" facing harsh deserts and high seas in the process. And that is after surviving the regime’s shoot-to-kill policy. 335 Eritreans who braved the Sahara desert drowned in the Mediterranean Sea while attempting to cross to Italy on March 22, 2011 (http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/apr/03/lampedusa-african-migrants-feared-dead). Hundreds more perished in Egypt’s Sinai desert trying to reach Israel. Incapable of feeling the pain of his own people, Isaias and his blind followers routinely mock these victims as people going on a picnic.

Western Companies - Lifeline to Tyranny

Western mining companies, mainly Canadian (Nevsun) and Australian (Chalice Gold), now prop up Eritrea’s tyranny further extending the misfortune of the people. Given the current situation in the Arab world, a Western firm would be widely ridiculed if it openly praised Gaddafi or Assad. Sadly, praising Eritrea’s dictatorship brings no such shame.

Mr. Clifton Davis, The CEO of Canada’s Nevsun Resources Ltd (NSU-TSX), says "there is no government corruption in Eritrea (http://www.capitaleritrea.com/business/nevsuns-ceo-makes-the-cover-of-resource-world/). This is morally and factually wrong. To give Mr. Davis the benefit of the doubt, maybe he does not realize Isaias already owns all the resources of the country and doesn’t have to ask him for bribes directly. But contrary to Mr. Davis’s assertion, government corruption is so pervasive the regime has ruled the country opaquely without a budget for the last 20 years. Courageous Eritreans who demanded accountability and transparency about their country’s affairs and its finances have all disappeared -- many presumed dead after years of no news of their whereabouts (http://www.amnesty.org/en/for-media/press-releases/eritrea-prisoners-conscience-held-decade-must-be-released-2011-09-19). Corruption at the top is flagrant running the gamut of embezzlements, contraband trade, human trafficking and rampant sexual abuses of young women.

It can be said with almost 100% certainty that Nevsun is using slave labor in Eritrea today. And how does this happen? The regime, through the many companies it owns, assigns itself to be a subcontractor for foreign firms like Nevsun and collects full worker salaries that appear reasonable by ILO standards from them. It then pays the poor Eritreans it has subjugated to slavery under the guise of national service, 400 Nacfa per month -- the equivalent of less than $10 USD at current real market rates.

What can $10 per month buy you? A young family of four, if it has the luxury of three meals a day, and bread is all the family had every single day, the 400 Nacfa will not even last 10 days. That is with nothing left for vegetables, eggs, milk, shelter or other basic necessities. And how do people survive in this severely mismanaged country? The lucky ones have relatives outside who can support them. Those who don’t, suffer all the indignities of poverty including begging.

As hopeful as Eritrea’s gold rush may sound at first glance, very little if any, is expected to trickle down to the people. As it has been doing with Eritrea’s meager resources during the last 20 years, the regime will squander the gold revenues too – to fund internal and external terrorism. Luckily, some now understand the true nature of the regime and the UN has sanctioned it as a sponsor of (external) terrorism. To Eritreans under its direct control, however -- especially those under 50 – infliction of fear and terror have always been its ever present trademarks.

What Eritreans hope Canada and Australia would do

Although Eritreans bear the primary responsibility of deposing the oppressive regime, they also need moral and material support from the world at large. The UN is doing its part to tame the rogue regime partially. Similarly, the Canadian and Australian governments can play a decisive role to support the Eritrean people in their struggle for freedom and justice. A couple of months ago, England was able to free four of its citizens the Eritrean regime imprisoned for six months. The UK’s threat to declare the 2% embezzlement tax the regime imposes on Eritreans abroad illegal was all it took for the regime’s bombastic posturing to fizzle out. If Canada and Australia use the same threat and make it stick, Eritreans victimized by this criminal regime will be forever grateful. The press of the free world can also help by keeping officers of Western companies and their PR departments to be truthful by challenging them when they make outrageous statements that are offensive to the people victimized by unelected regimes they happen to be partnering with. Dictators are horrible creatures. Glorifying them with positive attributes they don’t possess, as Mr. Davis did, only adds insult to injury.

Eritreans do understand Nevsun and the other mining companies are in the business of making money and should be rewarded for the risks they take in their endeavors. The shady character it is partnering with in Eritrea increases the risk even more. In fact, Nevsun itself was a victim of the regime’s erratic leader when it was kicked out from Eritrea in 2004(http://www.resourceinvestor.com/News/2007/10/Pages/Nevsun-Flies-on-Bisha-Go-Ahead.aspx) that shareholders need to be keenly aware of. Second, it is possible but unlikely Nevsun can accelerate recovery of all expected profits before the regime falls to minimize the risk. If not, it would not be unreasonable to imagine a future Eritrea that feels no obligation to fully honor contracts that enabled this regime to inflict so much misery. That day of reckoning could arrive suddenly as it did in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya. Syria and Yemen should be next and Eritrea, hopefully, not far behind.

To accelerate the arrival of that day, the Eritrean opposition and civic organizations must create much stronger alliances than before. Some have started puncturing the regime’s bombastic propaganda machine as some brave activists did in London recently during a meeting organized by the regime’s ambassador there. Isaias is now in New York for UN’s 66th session and to rally his worshipers who have, so far, failed to feel the pain and the crushing poverty their own people are subjected to. It is time Isaias and his puppets faced the same music their cowardly peers in the Arab World got loud and clear -- thanks to the inspiring iron will of the Arab people. And little by little, this regime will be no more brightening Eritrea’s future

Unfiltered Notes: Comments on “The Eritrean Covenant”

2010-07-29T23:17:00.000-07:00

testifanos@gmail.com

I finally got a chance to read The Eritrean Covenant (http://eritreancovenant.com/blog/the-eritrean-covenant) and in spite of some misgivings, which I will get into later, I found it to be a well intentioned document worthy of everyone’s support. Its clarion call for “radically different and transformative approaches” is a timely one. If heeded, it will go a long way in refocusing the disparate activities of many people and organizations who have so far failed to cooperate effectively to bring about positive change. The document invites everyone to imagine a better tomorrow and its emphasis on “emancipation of women” through education is particularly refreshing. After all, it is impossible for any nation to grow to its full potential when half of its saner population is intentionally diminished.

The document’s first words are “reviving the Eritrean Covenant”, indicating there is an original the authors were striving to bring to life. Could this be a reference to the two underappreciated giants of Eritrean history, Ibrahim Sultan and Woldeab Woldemariam – who, along with their followers, swore to fight for a common cause on the Quran and the Bible some seven decades ago? If so, even better. (Incidentally, Ibrahim Sultan has at least one high school in Asmara named after him. I can’t name anything named after Ato Woldeab, which is a real shame).

The authors identify the real culprits marginalizing Eritrea today by saying “the privileged clique is a small minority that is mostly made up of Tigrinya-speaking men, Christian Highlanders who now are in their 60’s and whose number is estimated to be a maximum of several hundreds (emphasis added)” -- which is a good thing. But a few hundred misguided individuals out of 4 million people is hardly representative of “Tigrigna speaking, highland Christians”. That being the case, why focus on this wording -- especially since these words often stir negative emotions among some? And even after such decent attempt to identify the real enemy of the people, the authors -- by implication or by assertion -- repeatedly chose to credit this “clique” with attributes it doesn’t possess.

For example, the authors falsely portray the regime as an entity that is advancing “.. the position of their particular ethnic group(s) to the detriment of others” to which one can only say “ezgiher wanaKum!”. One hopes the authors will realize, at least in hindsight, how deeply hurtful it is (some might even say insensitive or outright insulting) to tell the victim of abuse that the abuser is actually a caring protector. Doesn’t this contradict the call for “radically different and transformative approach”, that is so critical to building much needed bridges and alliances?

Some of the things missed or misrepresented may not seem important when taken individually but juxtaposed against “apartheid like ... ethnocratic patronage system...” that advances “… the position of their particular ethnic group(s) to the detriment of others”, it make the good intentioned document lose some of its edge.

The authors seem to forget since this regime came to power, every segment of Eritrea’s population has been impoverished, villages have been drained out of their resources and youthful energy, the family unit has been gutted out to provide the raw material for the regime’s failed social experiments, people have become virtual slaves and the list goes on. Can one really name any ethnic or religious group for whom the quality of education has actually improved (remembering the regime closed the only university the country had)? Or where freedom of religion and expression has flourished? Any place where people are free from harassment, imprisonment or disappearances? Any doubt the only thing this regime is good at is distribution of misery?

It is not hard to appreciate and sympathize with the grievances of Muslim Eritreans. Some, like Muslim sites not being included in the Cultural Heritage restoration program, are uniquely Muslim and, of course, shameful. But when the authors list “religious discrimination, marginalization, torture, murder by death squads, abduction, .. harassment; persecution of religious leaders and scholars; imposition of government appointed religious leaders; …” as “grievances of Eritrean Muslims”, it leaves the rest of their compatriots wondering why they don’t seem to recognize these are also crimes being committed against ALL Eritreans.

The regime has devised and implemented many ways to divide Eritrean society. And with easily manipulated population, whatever they tried have worked very well for them. The gebar vs tegadalay dichotomy was a clever ploy that worked very nicely for them right out of the bat. The authors add one of the many divisive practices of the regime by saying “whenever there is a roundup of draft dodgers, some residents of the Eritrean Highlands misdirect their resentments towards those who conduct them, who often are disproportionately Muslims from the Lowlands”. That said, why isn’t it clear to the authors that they themselves are misdirecting resentments when they say there is an “ethnocratic” regime that is protecting highlanders/Christians to the detriment of others – thus punishing their compatriots for uncommitted crimes? There could, of course, be differences of degree. But that is perfectly in line with the clique’s objectives – to give the impression that it cares about this group or that, when it actually doesn’t.

Here is a good example of where the authors play right into the devil’s hands. The document says “anecdotal evidence suggests that the majority of the youth fleeing conscription are Christian Tigrigna speakers from the Highlands. This evokes painful memories in our history when one segment of our society is perceived to be less committed to national causes”. The fact that Tigrigna speaking Christians are voting with their feet only proves the clique has never been there to promote their interests in spite of the authors’ assertion to the contrary. Yet, and I sincerely hope I have misunderstood this, the authors chose to give the plight of the fleeing youth an unpatriotic twist. Comparing this with “Eritrean Muslims have always been true to national unity” which lacks historical perspective (ELF) and the authors’ brave admission of “Muslim leaders played a destructive role in igniting the fratricidal battles that wasted the lives of many Eritrean combatants”, only compounds the confusion their readers are subjected to.

At times, it appears the authors could not agree among themselves and it seems statements were thrown in to appease opposing stakeholders who can’t reconcile their differences. An example of which is “the amelioration of Christian suffering was not Isaias’ concern..”. And then there is this: “The hopes of Eritrean Muslims were quickly dashed when the course of events conspired to bring about Isaias at the helm of power..” and “...his old hatred of Eritrean Muslims”.

No matter how one tries to spin things, there is no denying it that everyone’s hopes were dashed. In the eyes of this regime, there is no privileged group be it lowlander or highlander, Muslim or Christian. And this point is actually not lost to the authors because they acknowledge as much, at times by positive assertion and sometimes through negative logic – as when they suggest highlanders fleeing the wrath of the regime are unpatriotic --but nevertheless admitting, albeit involuntarily, that the regime is not in the business of protecting anyone. What does one expect from a clique whose leader says democracy will never see the light of day in Eritrea and that Eritrea is a place where “nobody promises anything to anybody”? And why is that alone, not sufficient to galvanize people together? It is not helpful to argue whether this tragic figure hates Muslims more than others -- he hates everybody.

The authors state they “... are encouraged to see the regime is being abandoned daily by its rank and files who are rejecting its divisive policies of pitting Eritreans against each other along regional, ethnic, and religious lines (emphasis added)”. Recognizing this fact alone should have been sufficient for the authors to pause and restate some of their dubious assertions. After saying this, it should not have been necessary to say “Eritrean Muslims are treated as second-class citizens by the ruling clique in their own country”. There is no doubt Muslims are treated as second class citizens. But then who isn’t? Compared to Abdella Jaber, Ali Abdu, Alamin and other Muslim members of the regime (and remembering the ruling clique numbers only a few hundred), any highlander/Christian is a second class citizen. Unfortunately, by focusing on Muslim victimhood and presenting it as if it is happening in isolation, the authors themselves, one could argue, may have inadvertently contributed to “pitting Eritreans against each other”.

While applauding the level headed Muslim and Christian writers who objectively share their thoughts with balanced perspective, it is hard to fathom the obsession of some who exaggerate regional, ethnic and religious differences -- playing right into the hands of the regime they proclaim to be fighting against. Why is it necessary to call victims being uprooted from their ancestral villages and forcibly being relocated “land grabbers”, for example? Doing so indicates the lack of understanding of Eritrean village life. Does anyone really believe highland villagers woke up one day and said “let’s go grab some land from the lowlands?” It will be wise to make a distinction between victim and victimizer.

Remembering where I grew up in Eritrea, it does not resemble anywhere close to the hateful division our cyber warriors keep on perpetuating. What I remember is PEOPLE (Muslim and Christian) sharing peaceful village life, mutually respectful of each other, at times risking their lives to protect life time friends of the other faith, chatting away for what seemed to be eternity asking about each others’ families wellbeing, sharing moments of happiness at each others’ weddings, sharing moments of pain at each others’ funerals, mischievous Muslim and Christian youngsters conspiring to cheat fasting traditions to the angst of conservative parents and so on. I never witnessed or heard of violence or exchange of angry words based on religion. Where our cyber warriors hail from, I can’t say.

If it is prejudice and ignorance that irks them, it is part of the human DNA and there is really not much one can do about it other than to reach out to each other, and to educate one another. Prejudice, of course, should never be justified but it should not be given more weight than it deserves, especially when the one feeling the outrage at the moment is not free from it to begin with. One hears Muslim grievances that Eritrean highlanders/Christians have closer affinity with Ethiopia and are prejudiced against their Muslim compatriots. Similarly, one also hears grievances that Eritrean Muslims have closer affinity with Muslims from anywhere and are prejudiced against their Christian/highlander compatriots. In the minds of those who have made up their minds, all this is no doubt “true” – even when it is not.

That is why The Covenant is a good place to start for reaching out and for cross education. Although it falls short in some of its analysis and diagnosis, it should be supported for its intended spirit. It should be shared and discussed widely. Hopefully, the authors will one day come out to promote it openly and actively. That will be a great way to honour Ibrahim Sultan and Woldeab Woldermariam – by stopping the blame game and trying “radically different and transformative approaches” to bring about positive change for ALL.

Unfiltered Notes: Idi Amin Buffoonery Reincarnated in Eritrea

2010-03-02T19:15:00.000-08:00

testifanos@gmail.com

The latest Al Jazeera interview with Mr. Isaias (http://asmarino.com/interviews/563-talk-to-al-jazeera-president-isaias-afwerki- ) was, for me, by far the most painful to watch. At one level, you feel sorry for him as he demolishes the dignity of his own person and that of the nation to shreds. Then you think of the hundreds of thousands of lives he has willfully destroyed and the initial feeling quickly fades into anger and disappointment. Every fact the journalist posed was rebuffed as a “pack of lies” not backed by “evidences”. Even responding to the question about the defection of Eritrea’s soccer team in Kenya and other athletes who defected in Scotland - which everyone knows to be true - is apparently, another “pack of lies”. He flatly said “this is news to me, I have never heard anything like that”. Whhhaaat!? So who is running the country if he is that clueless? Of course, he knows better and leaves little doubt as to who is the real source of the “pack of lies” - him.

There is nothing wrong with asking for evidence. In fact, it is a responsible thing to do. But if he is so fond of “evidences” all of a sudden, then we should also turn the tables and ask “evidences” from him. So, to start with, where are your “evidences”, Mr. Isaias, to back up your claims that your former colleagues and the journalists you have jailed for a decade are spies?

But let’s not fool ourselves. After all, this is a chap whose future is sadly behind him. There is really no point in trying to make sense of what he says anymore. Barring blind believers waiting for miracles of rapture, I have to believe there are decent folks who, for one reason or another, supported the regime in the past but keep finding themselves conflicted every time Isaias opens his mouth. Here are a few points to pause over and think about that even a five year old would have no trouble debunking. The quotes are his exact words from the interview.

“We never had any problems with Ethiopia”. Good. Then why did you sacrifice tens of thousands of our youth in a bloody war with people you don’t have any problems with? Aren’t you the one who started the war that consumed so many lives and property to supposedly avenge the killings of a handful of Eritreans whose names you have not shared with the public yet. Oh, by the way, where are the “evidences” for that?

“There has to be inclusive and comprehensive political process” for Somalia, Sudan etc, And not for Eritrea!? Does he even remember anymore that he is supposed to be Eritrea’s ‘leader’? As his supporters, doesn’t it make you angry that he actually knows what is good (like inclusivity) but never wishes those good things for his own people? In fact, not only does he not wish them for his people, he does everything he possibly can to make sure they don’t ever set foot in Eritrea’s soil.

Let me go off a tangent for a bit here. I have heard arguments before that he does these things because he is truly not Eritrean. Don’t believe it. Isaias is Eritrean, it is just that he is an Eritrean brute, our brute. Framing one’s thoughts around what percentage of one’s blood is this or that, on top of being so archaic, is also absolutely wrong. Although Woldeab Woldemariam was not 100% Eritrean by birth, he was 100% Eritrean by all other measures. I can’t even imagine anyone daring to call himself/herself to be more Eritrean than him.

I was in Eritrea for the duration of the 1998 war, the one Isaias now claims “was instigated by the United States in the first place” -- which, by the way, is absolutely false. During one of the major breaches of Eritrea’s defenses, stories were rampantly going around town that this was the work of a “traitor”, supposedly a former Eritrean tegadalai of Tigrean origin. The story smelled fishy and I asked another tegadalai I knew if this was true. The name of the guy being blamed for the debacle escapes me now, but I learned that the poor fellow was very sick and hospitalized all along. Not only that, the tegadalai I asked said he knows the so-called “traitor” in person and swore that he is no traitor and that he would do no such thing.

I venture to guess some of the “Eritreans” who were spewing this venom would not measure up to match the level of integrity or patriotism of the so-called traitor. I mention this to highlight how irrelevant differences are often cooked up or exaggerated to create divisions where none existed or should exist. The constant demonization of this group or that in our websites falls into this category. Potential allies going at each other with such misdirected energy, as CDRiE was the recipient of recently, only extends the oppression that is suffocating all Eritreans.

"There is no commodity called democracy". This is a tired phrase of Mr. Isaias and can probably be brushed off as such. But doesn’t that make you wonder why the word "democracy" is so prominently included in PFDJ's alphabet soup? Selling a non-existent commodity and successfully getting premium currency for it through various embezzlement schemes for so long, is a sad testament to the willingness of some Eritreans, especially the highly educated ones who can’t stop singing his praises, to be screwed over and over again.

Still doubt democracy actually exists? Even with the benefit of hindsight of the damning interview, many Eritreans participated in demonstrations in support of the regime. Nothing wrong with that if it is done out of deep conviction. But deep conviction is hard to fathom given the context of things these days. Folks participated in the February 22nd demonstrations, probably hurled a few insults at the democratic countries that have generously given them safe haven, went home, slept soundly (I hope) and woke up next morning with no one knocking at their doors in the dead of night to haul them off to jail. Don’t you ever wonder why you can’t do what you did here in Eritrea? Doesn’t that bother you?

So, you see, democracy is still a precious commodity -- except in Eritrea, that is. It exists and you are a living proof that it does. The only difference is Isaias has made sure democracy is a dead commodity in Eritrea and that is why he can declare it so with certainty. And many don't see anything wrong with that, unfortunately.

Eritrea is a country where "Nobody promises anything to anybody". This would be absolutely tragic if it was true. But it isn’t. On the contrary, Isaias himself has been making countless promises all along. Didn’t he promise Eritrea will be another Singapore? Only problem is he doesn’t deliver on those promises; or he delivers the exact opposite of what was promised. "Democracy" and "Justice" were indeed promised, at least by implication, when he created PFDJ -- a misnomer of a beast at whose door steps justice and democracy die every day. The question is: if he makes no promises to the nation he is supposedly 'leading', what is then the point of his "presidency" or even his own personal existence? With no vision to promise and deliver on anything, no wonder things are falling apart.

"This is a mockery of justice". Out of all God's creatures, Mr. Isaias should be among the least qualified to utter these words. He has mocked justice in Eritrea like no other ruler before him. At a whim, he has made people disappear, to which I am sure, he would say “where are the evidences”. We know Astier Yohannes disappeared from the airport as her children were waiting outside for her. I know my friend, Taha Mohammed Nur, died in Isaias' jail. We know the journalists are jailed because Isaias said they were spies, without “evidences”, of course.

"Let the people talk". Kind of ironic coming from the very person doing everything imaginable to ensure people's mouths remain shut - except when it is necessary to grease his weak ego. In essence, making sure all avenues for expressing oneself are non-existent and, for the “show”, declare “let the people talk”. How can people “talk” when demonstrations are illegal inside Eritrea, when news and opinions are only available through propaganda-spewing regime-owned media outlets, when people are not allowed to form associations to solve their own community problems, when it is illegal to gather in groups of more than a handful, when religious leaders are appointed and fired by an atheist regime…?

"Did you enjoy the show?". This was a question posed to the journalist if she enjoyed the Fenkil Festivities in Massawa after she asked why his shoot-to-kill policy is necessary. Yes, orchestrated “shows” are our answer to everything. We have "shows" to show artificial happiness the same way PFDJ is a front (as in not the real thing) for justice and democracy.

When asked who do you consider to be your friends, Isaias said “the whole world outside liars… Everybody is asking why these lies, why these sanctions..”. How I wish he was right! Yes, we did start on the right footing in 1991 with incredible goodwill from the whole world. But squandered it all in no time to the point where “the whole world” -- our neighbors, the whole of Africa and the UN body - took a united stand against us now. In spite of its small population, Eritrea is now among the highest refugee generators in the world. But where would be the evidence for that?

And the conclusion, "We are number one in this continent". This is the type of Idi Amin buffoonery that continues to haunt Africa. Unelected and unaccountable “leaders” stripping the dignity of their people willy-nilly, delivering nothing but empty slogans. Like the tigrigna saying "kebtimo wesidomen, ente xerfi gn zgedfanlom yeblanan". Isaias boastfully claims there is no food shortage in Eritrea and we know better. Isn’t that the sort of callous denial -- the refusal to feel the pain of his people – that eventually brought Haile Selassie down?

Even the most rabid diaspora supporters of the regime are not fooled by this “number one” bull, however. They may wrap themselves in the flag for the "show", curse the very freedoms they enjoy daily, and ungratefully slap the generous hand that feeds them. But they are staying put in their safe havens. They are not moving. What, no one wants to live in the number one country in Africa? Obviously, something must be wrong with that picture.

Unfiltered Notes: MLK’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail”

2010-01-25T07:50:00.000-08:00

Email: testifanos@gmail.com;

I try to read something by or about Martin Luther King (MLK) in January in celebration of his birthday. I do this primarily out of a sense of deep gratitude for the gift of freedom he gave us all. “BECAUSE HE WAS, WE CAN”. But also to get renewed inspiration from his vision, eloquence and his fearless determination to overcome daunting odds with such dignified composure. I re-read “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” again this year. It is an excellent read and you can see for yourself at (http://www.africa.upenn.edu/Articles_Gen/Letter_Birmingham.html).

As an added bonus this time, my wife and I were visiting relatives in Atlanta during the holidays. Of course, the MLK Center was on our MUST see list. I was a bit surprised by the feeling of wonder I sensed going through me just by physically being there. The eternal flame and the numerous marble etchings on the walk ways among them, “BECAUSE HE WAS… I CAN”, by Kindergartner (at least at the time of the etching), Junior Vasques. The absolutely stupid things men come up with to declare their worst prejudices as “laws”. The nice people (of all colors) who stood up and dismantled those silly “laws” so we, the beneficiaries of their struggles, can enjoy freedoms many of them never got to see. It was a wholesome experience for the body and soul.

As I took all these in, my daughter’s email signature line that says “a society grows great when old men plant trees under whose shade they know they will never sit” flashed through my mind. And they sure did. Where would we all be without the shades of freedom the trees they planted now provide?As one reads “Letter from Birmingham Jail”, it is hard to resist drawing parallels between the horrible conditions MLK fought against and the equally horrible conditions happening in today’s Eritrea. Take a look.

ON INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP IMMORALITIES

“Lamentably, it is an historical fact that privileged groups seldom give up their privileges voluntarily. Individuals may see the moral light and voluntarily give up their unjust posture; but, as Reinhold Niebuhr has reminded us, groups tend to be more immoral than individuals.”

The desire to protect material possessions and the privilege of frequent vacations are often mentioned as the primary reasons diaspora Eritreans keep bowing to a lawless regime that has debased centuries-old societal values. Compared to years past, there now seems to be a glimmer of hope that individuals are taking positive, albeit unsteady, steps towards giving up this “unjust posture”. As I see it, voices that used to bark loudly at dissenting voices before, have either become less common or turned the volume down a bit. One wonders if the beast has eaten enough of its children already. A welcome and good sign for sure. But these positive steps need to steady up really fast before group immorality dominates yet again.

As to group immorality, need one say more than the trance-inducing slogans the regime so cleverly crafts to keep minds numbed and hearts hardened to stone? Blowing the whistle of “meKete” (defiance), the regime has repeatedly been able to move the focus away from its egregious crimes with ease. This self-hypnotizing word is one of the potent weapons used to scatter people’s attention in a futile search for phantom enemies. And with a blink of an eye, the destroyer becomes the protector. The irony is that diaspora groups who support the regime, hold demonstrations and other forms of free expression afforded to them by their adopted countries, with full knowledge that the freedoms they freely exercise outside are absolutely denied to their brothers and sisters inside Eritrea.

ON WHICH LAWS TO OBEY

“I would be the first to advocate obeying just laws. One has not only a legal but a moral responsibility to obey just laws. Conversely, one has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws. I would agree with St. Augustine that "an unjust law is no law at all."”

Shouldn’t we all then disobey the regime’s unjust laws, which are no laws at all? These “laws” include shoot-to-kill orders against those who dare to free themselves from slavery, innocent people wasting away in prisons all across the country, jailing elderly parents for ransom, the take-over of religious institutions so obedient “religious leaders” can be deposed and anointed at will; just to name a few. “A law is unjust if it is inflicted on a minority that, as a result of being denied the right to vote, had no part in enacting or devising the law.” Only in Eritrea’s case, the unjust “laws” are concocted by a handful and imposed on the whole population. No questions asked.

ON DISTORTED LOGIC

“In your statement you assert that our actions, even though peaceful, must be condemned because they precipitate violence. But is this a logical assertion? Isn't this like condemning a robbed man because his possession of money precipitated the evil act of robbery?”

Or blaming survivors of shoot-to-kill policy for “deserting” a regime (falsely equated to the country) that has deprived them of life and where a future of servitude is the only guarantee. Or blaming the few brave souls who dared to speak up and disappeared for bringing it upon themselves, in essence, saying “don’t they realize how ruthless the regime is? They should have known better and kept their mouths shut”. If MLK had used that feeble logic to guide his actions, we wouldn’t be enjoying the freedoms that everyone takes fore-granted now. Good thing he didn’t.

THERMOSTAT OR A THERMOMETER?
“In those days the church was not merely a thermometer that recorded the ideas and principles of popular opinion; it was a thermostat that transformed the mores of society.”

How can Eritrean society be transformed if diapora Eritreans choose to curse the very freedoms they enjoy in the West by aligning themselves with a regime whose key trademarks are vicious cruelty against its own people and absolute denial of freedom to all? Repeating “meKete” like a zombie is being a mere thermometer, going with the flow, parroting things just to be part of the crowd. Where is the courage in that? The courage is in being the thermostat, and to stop blaming victims and glorifying criminals.

ARE OUR SOULS AT REST?

“… seventy two year old woman in Montgomery, Alabama, who rose up with a sense of dignity and with her people decided not to ride segregated buses, and who responded with ungrammatical profundity to one who inquired about her weariness: "My feets is tired, but my soul is at rest."

It was not too long ago that so-called “revolutionaries” used to blame our fore fathers for ‘selling’ Eritrea. Now that we have become our fathers, what will the next generation say about the abysmal role we are playing – selfishly enjoying freedom ourselves and yet so willing to deny it to others? Could it be that we don’t have souls to speak of anymore?

“… right defeated is stronger than evil triumphant”A

nd that is the consolation and reason for eternal hope and optimism. That in spite of the crashing frustration Eritrea’s people are subjected to and in spite of the overwhelming power the oppressors enjoys today, the “rascals will be thrown out” one day. Then what? Will we act like zombies again? Will natural allies miss yet another golden opportunity again, as appears to be the case nowadays, by wasting precious time bickering amongst each other only to allow another dictator “waiting in embryo” to take over? Let’s hope not.

I will close with this quote which, for me, shows the convergence of MLK’s humility, his humanity and clarity of his vision. Thank you Martin Luther King!! “Because you were, I can”.

“If I have said anything in this letter that overstates the truth and indicates an unreasonable impatience, I beg you to forgive me. If I have said anything that understates the truth and indicates my having a patience that allows me to settle for anything less than brotherhood, I beg God to forgive me”

Unfiltered Notes: Made In Eritrea

2009-11-29T15:25:00.000-08:00

Take a look at your electronic gadgets, articles of clothing and other household items and chances are they are made in China, Malaysia, Mauritius, India or other developing countries. I wish we were marching towards that day when Eritrea starts making products for world markets. Unfortunately, the only things made in Eritrea these days seem to be misery, refugees, prisons and untimely deaths. With the uproar the November Brussels conference has created, Eritreans in the Diaspora have now added new undesirable items to the list – failure to see the positive and incapacitating cynicism.

First, the obvious – measured against perfection anything can be declared a failure. And that, to me, seems to be the core of the problem. Folks who have not achieved perfection themselves are tearing down good people who tried to do something noble and worthwhile imperfectly. I think those who participated in the conference deserve our gratitude instead of this endless second-guessing. Dr. Van Reisen, director of Europe External Policy Advisers (EEPA), who hosted the event gave further clarifications to awate.com that those who attended the conference did so “in their personal capacity” and that the participants paid all or some of their expenses. Among the topics discussed include the dire refugee crisis. If people get together spending their own money and time to lobby for issues as important as this, more power to them.

I am totally ignorant of what subtexts might be at play here and the wrath of various commentators seems grossly misplaced to me. I listened to Abdurahman Sayed’s interview with Assenna.com. Improvements are always possible as Abdurahman readily accepts (“the work has only began…”, “… it will require the participation of all of us…” to finish the job). Call me dense but I am still scratching my head as to what all the fuss is about. Decent Eritreans participated in the conference – Elsa Chrum, a courageous lady I respect greatly, among them. Given Elsa’s track record of action (not just talk as many, myself included, can rightly be accused of), I would think 10 times before criticizing an event that Elsa was a part of. Additionally, since everyone came in their “personal capacity”, why are certain individuals being singled out for the vicious attacks? Or is the issue NOT about the Brussels conference and simply about individuals we don’t happen to like?

I hope this is just a huge misunderstanding and cooler heads will prevail soon. EDA addressing its complaint to the EU – an entity that did not fund or organize the conference, for example – is indicative that the misplaced anger is likely based on cumulative misunderstandings. I think EDA itself would have been better served if it had thanked Dr. Van Reisen and all the participants for bringing relevant Eritrean issues to the front burner first. It, then, could have proceeded to use this opening to engage the powers that be to help EDA (and/or others) in their efforts to accelerate Eritrea’s day of redemption. Otherwise this sort of negativity primarily encourages inaction and stagnation. It discourages people from taking the initiative to act in whatever capacity they can because their positive actions could be trivialized and second-guessed so willfully.

Selam Kidane’s excellent example (http://www.awate.com/portal/content/view/5368/5/) of her “weaker” childhood friend successfully turning the tap on where ‘machos’ failed is a perfect analogy to use here. I attempted to make a similar point in http://unfilterednotes.blogspot.com/2009/10/unfiltered-notes-rosa-parks-moment-for_3868.html where “failed” attempts by those before her incrementally built the solid foundation for Rosa Parks to take the struggle for justice to a higher level. Instead of tearing apart the good intentions and considerable efforts of good folks to the delight of the oppressive regime in Asmara, it would have been more constructive to accept the Brussels conference, at the very least, as a step in the right direction. Small and incremental steps, such as those of Selam’s childhood friend and Rosa Parks (especially when they are least expected), could just be what we need to release Eritrea from the grip of death it currently finds itself. But spending our energies and our precious time condemning each other -- and against positive action at that – will only make us look silly.

On Inclusiveness / Exclusiveness

From what I understand so far, reflecting Eritrea’s full diversity was not the objective of the Brussels conference. This doesn’t mean striving to represent Erirea’s diversity is not a good thing. It absolutely is. But, no matter who does it, defining the focus of a conference narrowly on what can be achieved realistically, such as improving the plight of ALL Eritrean refugees or asking world powers to align their policies towards Eritrea is absolutely the right thing to do as well. Therefore, trying to measure the conference by objectives it did not start out to accomplish is unfair to say the least.

I do understand and appreciate the concern some are voicing for vigilance against justifications of good outcomes achieved through wrong means. But I also see the same voices going to the other extreme ready to throw the baby with the bath water. The Brussels participants included men and women of different faiths. Although not perfect, it seems obvious to me that there was some level of diversity. Paraphrasing Abdurahman: assenna.com started its program in Tigrigna and later on added Arabic. But still not all of Eritrea’s languages or all of Eritrea’s diversity is reflected in assenna.com today. This is a relevant point. No one can deny assena.com is making progress, but it is also true that Eritrea’s full diversity is not represented either. And that is why I am having such a hard time grasping the logic behind the uproar. As imperfect as we all are, why do we demand perfection from others? Again, measured against perfection anything can be declared a failure.

Although the overly negative reactions can probably be brushed off as growing pains in the democratic process, it is a bit unnerving that the most vicious attacks are voiced by very articulate folks with obvious capacity, if they so wished, to re-channel this misplaced anger in a constructive manner. I was particularly dismayed when those flaunting the chauvinism card resorted to demeaning some participants of the conference as ornaments fronted by “chauvinists”. Why such viciousness? If the target is who I think it is, and based on what I know and heard so far, he certainly is nobody’s ornament.

There is no question chauvinism exists (a global phenomenon) but I don’t think it is present in every closet as some are making it out to be. As mentioned earlier, the Eritreans in the Brussels conference included men and women of different faiths. Is it a reflection of all of Eritrea? No. But it would also be wrong to brush off what was represented as ornamental. It is not. Acknowledging progress when it occurs breeds more progress. By contrast, failure to do so stifles excellent ideas from flourishing. I will venture a guess that chauvinism against women is the most pervasive in all segments of Eritrean society -- I believe, with no exceptions. Is it fair then, to give undue importance to real or perceived 'chauvinism' if it is perpetuated by ‘outsiders’ while remaining silent about the sure thing in our midst?

This will probably be misunderstood but I will close with one other point. Abdurahman is unfairly being criticized for saying “we started out with people we know” or words to that effect. I can see why this would generate objections but isn’t that exactly how just about everything gets started? If one has a brilliant idea one wants to act on, doesn’t one start with people one knows first? The founders of American democracy come to mind and no one can deny it was an exclusive club that did not include women, blacks or Native Americans. But one can’t deny the greatness of their ideas either. How diverse an audience the idea ends up attracting in the long run is a bit more complex and dynamic.

It will depend on who the people you know also know and, in turn, invite to the table. It depends on the level of trust between groups and how interconnected they are. It will depend on how open and receptive the originators of the idea are to welcome others. It also depends on the initiative of enlightened ‘outsiders’ willing to ‘invite’ themselves in. If one of the weaknesses of the originators of a good idea is not being inclusive (hopefully not always intentional), wouldn’t it also be reasonable to expect an enlightened ‘outsider’ to say: “hey guys, I like what you are trying to do and I want to be part of this. Count me in. By the way, shame on you for not reaching out to me and people like me out there. And here is a list of who you should include, etc.”

Chauvinism in all its forms should be opposed although I doubt it will be eradicated. The Brussels conference is an indication, I think, that this monster is being overplayed and is driving people who should be cooperating to the extremes of polarized positions. I believe the Brussels group acted positively. With apologies to all those who are taking positive action, the rest seems to be just talk (mine included by the way). Talk devoid of action is cheap. Eloquent talk without a sense of balance, although not worthless, is even cheaper. If we can only split atoms the way we seem to be splitting hairs!!

Unfiltered Notes: A Rosa Parks moment for Eritrea – Part II

2009-10-13T22:51:00.000-07:00

“Part I” attempted to show how “Constructive Optimism & Positive Action” could be helpful in achieving a Rosa Parks moment for Eritrea. The idea being, when there is hope and optimism, positive action is likely to follow. Here is Part II.

THEME TWO – NEVER STOP ASKING QUESTIONS

“Colonel Korn’s rule was a stroke of genius. Under Colonel Korn’s rule the only people permitted to ask questions were those who never did. Soon the only people attending were those who never asked questions, and the sessions were discontinued altogether, since … it was agreed that it was neither possible nor necessary to educate people who never questioned anything.” –Catch 22.

Catch 22 was written in 1961 and I am amazed by how accurately these lines portray current day Eritrea. Isaias used to respond to “questions from the people” for a few years after independence. Then the questions got tougher demanding accountability and Isaias got visibly irritated – in essence telling people to stop asking questions. Soon the sessions were discontinued all together. He is now surrounded by a cadre of messengers -- “yes” men and women -- and no questions are asked anymore. I attended what was to be the last session in the Municipality building in Asmara in 1996. I still remember the event with disbelief on how poorly he conducted himself.

Instead of addressing the issues as one would expect from a good leader, Isaias intimidated the folks who dared to ask. One of them, a young law student, asked what many thought was an excellent question about why the special courts were created without the opportunity to appeal. Isaias went on a foaming tirade, demeaning the guy for bookish cleverness. Sometime later, I heard the same law student was killed in a “car accident”. I can’t help wondering now if this was the same sort of “car accident” that, in 2008, also killed Mohammed Hagos, a decent Eritrean I knew.

Why have we, as a culture, failed to ask the tough questions to uncover the truth? (The “we” here primarily refers to diaspora Eritreans as those inside have no means to express themselves). The official reason given by the regime for the 1998 Badme war was that Eritrea was responding to the death of about a dozen Eritreans killed by Ethiopian militia forces. To this day, I doubt if anyone even knows their names. Do we even know the event occurred as claimed by the regime? By the regime’s own admission, Eritrea lost 19,000 lives and Eritrea’s bleeding has never stopped since. And all that to avenge an incident that may not even have taken place. Imagine that!!. And what of his eye popping claim that he learned about the war after someone woke him up from his nap? Really ?!! Is this going to be our recorded history?

I don’t recall the title of the book I read years ago at the moment. The author, a reporter, says he submitted his first story about a dead body that was missing one arm. In the book, he retells the story about how his editor reprimanded him for not specifying which arm was missing. That kind of focus and attention to detail to get to the very bottom of the truth is what is missing in Eritrea’s post-independence culture. Tyranny thrives in an environment of fear where people stop asking questions. No further proof is necessary than to look at the two Koreas and former East Germany; or even at Eritreans who succeed in education, in business and life in general anywhere else but in Eritrea -- same people, same DNA, just different environments.

Has Eritrea crossed the line where it is “neither possible nor necessary” to awaken people who never question anything? I certainly hope not. We need to rejoin the vibrant nations of the world who are fast moving forward as we are marching backwards. And we can’t do that and get to our Rosa Parks moment without asking the good and tough questions to help us uncover the truth.

THEME THREE – STOP FALLING FOR ILLOGICAL & CIRCULAR ARGUMENTS

Isaias is notorious for taking an example of a bad thing happening anywhere – usually an exception – to make a hugely inaccurate conclusion in an attempt to cover up his crimes. Notable examples are his endless ranting about the absence of free press, or lack of democracy anywhere.

Although he may be right in absolute terms, he says these outrageous things to divert attention from the miserable state of affairs he has subjected Eritrea to. The exceptions he refers to in the countries he maligns happen with 100% certainty in Eritrea. Never in his rumblings does he ever acknowledge that the countries he despises (Sweden as his last victim and the West in general) do have self-correcting processes in place to ensure they are protected from the type of tyranny that has befallen Eritrea.

In other countries, brave souls who stick their necks out against injustice or those who dare to speak for the voiceless don’t end up in jail or dead as happens in Eritrea. Even if we grant him that free press in the West can sometimes miss its mark, it does not change the fact that free press absolutely does NOT exist in Eritrea. The world still has many courageous journalists who expose corruption and other weaknesses in their own societies and their people are the better for it. The ones who tried this in Eritrea are ALL in jail, exiled or dead.

It is a fascinating mindset that never addresses Eritrea’s real issues. But then again, Isaias is not known for his problem solving skills. He is a tragic figure who is, sadly, very good at escalating resolvable problems into full blown crisis that end up consuming lives and resources with abandon. But he has very little, if any, to show that he actually solves real problems. I understand why he would position things the way he does but it is hard to understand why Eritreans are not massively outraged by these fallacies. Realizing this point alone and being the wiser for it, I think, will go a long way in realizing Eritrea’s Rosa Parks moment.

Another one the regime uses with some measure of successes is the “look how worse off Ethiopia is” trick. Unless Eritreans are sadists, why are we even expected to rejoice at someone else’s miseries? And secondly, what relief does it bring to a hungry, imprisoned, enslaved or impoverished Eritrean that another human being is also suffering somewhere else? Those who like to perpetuate this kind of thinking can go back to the stone age if they prefer, but no sane person should have any part in it.

So, here is the bottom line with these irrational and circular arguments: On one hand, Isaias argues that there is no democracy or free press anywhere in the world implying - falsely of course - that these attributes only exist in Eritrea. On the other, he tries to tone down his monumental failures by saying Eritrea is at least not the worst failure on earth. It is time that we stopped falling for such nonsense.

THEME FOUR – IT MAY NOT BE THAT COMPLICATED AFTER ALL

Some say Eritrea is so messed up that Isaias is the only one who can keep it together. This tone of despair cuts the issue the wrong way on so many levels. First, you don’t entrust what you cherish to the care of someone who is actively destroying it. Second, this mindset overlooks the simple fact that he certainly will be gone one day. And then what – leave it to another brute? So, the sooner we move beyond such disempowering fixation, the better off we will all be.

There is another mindset that says if Isaias is gone PFDJ will be there to carry on. I don’t know what the future holds either but my take is that PFDJ will evaporate into thin air without him. It is an organization built on mistrust, cronyism and corruption held together by the manipulative skills he has perfected over the last four decades. If enough of us, at a personal level, decide to stand for what is right, PFDJ will have nothing to stand on and will simply crumble. I remember my uncle telling me stories of how shepherds with sticks were “capturing” Ethiopian soldiers with their big guns in 1991 when the ground fell from under their feet. I don’t think PFDJ’s fate will be any different. Remember Rumania’s Ceaucescu and the fall of the Berlin wall –how formidable they seemed and the speed with which the end came crushing down?

Of course, the challenges of nation re-building after cannot be underestimated. Reacting to “Part I” of this piece, I got a sober email that stated the problem as: “lowlanders and highlanders don’t know each other”. I like the clear and simple definition of the problem. If we decide to put our hearts and minds to it, making serious progress in knowing each other should not be that difficult. Now instead of throwing energy dissipating tantrums at each other, the question can be reframed as: “what can we do to know each other better?” Can we put ourselves in the other person’s shoes long enough and regularly enough to know what is truly valued by the other? And can we then use those common values to march forward TOGETHER to realize common goals – goals that everyone values such as freedom, justice, prosperity, better education, better life for the next generation etc.? And if we can’t do this, what is the point of Eritrea or any nation for that matter? A country should be measured by how much it values the lives of all its citizens. Otherwise, it is really nothing more than a piece of geography with interesting land marks.

Community centers could be a good venue for getting people together to help them know each other better. But our record on that has been close to dismal. Although attempts are made by good people frequently, negative mindsets often prevail and spoil it for everyone. I was recently told about a church group in California that had a serious falling out among its members. Not surprisingly, some were supporters of the regime. Why an atheist regime managed to successfully infiltrate a God worshiping church in a free country thousands of miles away is pretty amazing.

And it gets worse. The two sides, apparently missing the higher religious calling of forgiveness and turning the other cheek, failed to reconcile and between them ended up paying over USD 300,000 in legal fees. Instead of using the community’s hard earned money for the betterment of their church and their community, it was thrown away to enrich others. Studies show one dollar entering the Chinese community circulates 33 times before it exits their community. In the church case above, money went from the pockets of church members and out to lawyers. This all-or-nothing mindset must stop if want to leave something good for the next generation.

You want your blood pressure raised a bit more? We are all painfully aware of the mass exodus of Eritrea’s youth over the last several years. I am sure you have met some of them as I have. The route is difficult and expensive. Relatives in the diaspora have to come up with USD 15,000 to 30,000 to bring one person to safety. Conservatively, I will guess over 5000 left Eritrea this way. If we average things out and assume $20,000 per person, $100 million dollars was siphoned out of Eritrean communities. This is $100 million that could have been used for the betterment of Eritrean lives – pay for college, save for retirement, improve life styles etc.. If Eritrea was a free country, this $100 million could also have been invested in Eritrea to start businesses and other life enriching projects. Instead, the regime’s failed policies are actively impoverishing Eritreans everywhere – inside and outside.

Of course, since this $100 million was used to save lives, it is definitely money well spent. The point is, if people were allowed to travel in and out of Eritrea freely, the cost would have been that of a plane ticket instead. Keep in mind though this $100 million does not even include the lives lost in the deserts and high seas. And the opportunity cost of what those lives could have been along with 200,000 of our young tied down in the regime’s poverty projects and thousands more held in limbo for years in refugee camps in Sudan and Ethiopia.

These outrageous crimes are being committed in our name. And it is really not that difficult or complicated to understand and act on what is going on. Can we all agree to refuse to go to the back of the bus -- so to speak? To keep things in perspective, many courageous people before Rosa Parks had refused to go to the back of the bus. But although they individually failed to make freedom arrive sooner, their collective sacrifices were what made the arrival of the Rosa Parks moment inevitable. If it were not for those who “failed” before her doing exactly what she did to succeed, Rosa Parks would not have been able to trigger the moment of no return. Similarly, our individual acts may not seem significant and, individually, we may feel like we are failing to make a difference. But since it is okay to “fail” doing the right thing, these “successful failures” are exactly what we need to build the much needed foundation.

And don’t listen to the naysayers when they try to discourage you from doing the right thing. To illustrate this by way of example, I often get feedback – some first-hand and some not -- that it is unwise for me to get involved in politics. To start with, nothing can be further from the truth. I consider myself to be as apolitical as they come. I voice my opinion because I see Eritrea has become the deathbed of all those good dreams. Rejecting this regime for the fraud that it is and for the pain it has caused has nothing to do with politics and everything to do with justice. When Isaias says “we have our own ways of dealing with things” (meaning ‘shut up and do what you are told, I decide who dies and who lives’), it becomes a criminal case – not political. I see people herded to jail never to be heard from again, and I say Isaias is the worst enemy Eritrea has. This is not politics but simply pointing out the obvious – a case of crimes against humanity.

Although it is troubling to see folks failing to make these distinctions, stopping to speak out because you could be misunderstood would be absolutely the wrong thing to do. I’d much rather take my “successful failures” any time of the day. I pity those who intentionally discredit voices of reason as involvement in “politics” because, unless they wake up soon, they will be their beloved regime’s next victims.

My hope is that this two-part article will have added a tiny bit to the dialog and will nudge a few people to stop enabling the regime in any way – stop consuming its propaganda, don’t fall for its old tricks, etc, etc. And with a little more from others, the true Rosa Parks moment will come to pass. The failure of post-independent Eritrea is a bitter lesson. As the Dalai Lama said “when you lose, don’t lose the lesson”. Now is a good time as any to redeem ourselves as people – work towards a Rosa Parks moment.

Unfiltered Notes: A Rosa Parks moment for Eritrea -- Part I

2009-10-06T20:45:00.000-07:00

The legacy of Rosa Parks sits center stage in the struggle for justice during the Civil Rights era. Her simple yet transformative act of refusing to go to the back of the bus, helped create unstoppable waves and changed the course of history. As a result, the lives of millions of Americans and immigrants from all corners of the world -- mine included – are made infinitely better compared to their humble beginnings in our countries of origin. Where do you even begin to thank people like her?

Rosa Parks proved that a single individual can and does make a difference. On the bedrock of momentum that was already established by sacrifices paid by many, her defiance was enough to tip the balance in favor of justice and equality. That tipping point transformed the crushing pessimism of the day into optimism and eternal hope. Hope and optimism that eventually gave birth to Obama’s presidency.

What would it take for Eritrea to experience a Rosa Parks moment that will help us build enough focus and courage to re-write Eritrea’s current sad history and help it take a positive turn? I don’t know for sure, but I think there are several general themes that can help.

THEME ONE – CONSTRUCTIVE OPTIMISM & POSITIVE ACTION

The regime ruling Eritrea should have been the easiest to oppose and unite against. It has alienated and abused every segment of Eritrean society regardless of age, religion or region. This should have been sufficient to start and sustain a formidable resistance, yet we continue to ignore our common plight with eyes totally off the prize. People routinely cry in their own little corners oblivious to the fact that those in the nearest corner are crying about exactly the same things. To our peril, we have failed to recognize our own echoes. Listening to what others are crying about and joining forces to solve our common problems can be a good start in ramping up towards our own Rosa Parks moment.

Two examples may help illustrate this point. Yosief G is one of the most brilliant and fearless writers I know. I have said so before in more detail in http://www.awate.com/portal/content/view/4976/5/. Like any human, there are times when he is wrong. I think the tone of despair has run its course, for example, and there ought to be a limit to how long you can beat a dead horse. Yes, the regime has killed the dream thousands died for and Eritrea is now unrecognizable compared to the mental image thousands gave their lives for. But that does not mean the dream cannot be resurrected.

Pessimism is a potent negative force often leading to inaction. And what is the point of continuing to dwell on this disempowering pessimism if not to obliterate the little residue of hope remaining? Unless we reverse course soon, the likely alternative is a marginalized and weak Eritrea that will be easy prey to external forces. I am all for cooperation, confederation and even union of few, functional African countries who can come together to leverage their resources effectively in this fiercely competitive world. But for that to happen, Eritrea first needs to get its proper footing to be able to negotiate favorable terms from a position of relative strength.

It is now up to the living to make sure the sacrifices were not in vain. Although Yosief’s critical analysis is useful in exposing our weaknesses (so we can do something about them), it will be a welcome breath of fresh air if Yosief can occasionally mix things up a bit and use his brilliance to share ideas on how the reservoir of old and new sacrifices can be made worthwhile again. In short, how a Rosa Parks moment can be replicated in Eritrea to knit back the broken pieces.

Another divisive hot topic these days is the lowlander/highlander, Muslim/Christian dichotomy initiated by Ali Salim (believed to be a pen name) in awate.com. Although it is in the regime’s DNA to embezzle from anyone and from anywhere, I still support Ali’s basic grievances. But Ali’s approach is not helpful.

His broad brush lumps many innocents with the regime’s thuggish clique and alienates many who would otherwise be sympathetic to his own cause. My take is that Ali doesn’t feel represented by the Muslim members of this regime. But he seems to miss that -- for exactly the same reason -- “highlanders/Christians” don’t feel represented by its so called highlander/Christian members either. The way I see it, the regime serves no one but itself. And from what we have seen so far, its crimes do not spare anyone. There is nothing the regime wouldn’t do to abuse anyone or embezzle from anyone – be it confiscating land to sell for foreign currency, jailing aging parents for ransom or confiscating the meager harvests of the very “Hafash” for whose liberation it supposedly fought for.

Sure, the clique is composed of people and they have to come from somewhere. But to extrapolate from this that these individuals represent the interest of the places they came from is inaccurate. First, there is no evidence that the regime actually stands for anything other than power for power’s sake. Second, even within its own tight quarters, it only takes one minor mis-step for a so-called “insider” to become an “outsider” or dead – again showing greed and power are the only things worshiped here. These individuals don’t even care about their own family members let alone wider segments of populations or regions. That is why, I believe, Ali Abdu serves the regime so enthusiastically even when he was fully aware of the indignities his otherwise very dignified father suffered at the hands of the evil system.

The regime’s members are there to maintain their power at any cost and cannot be classified by religion (they are godless atheists anyway) or region. I will even go a step further to say, Isaias as the high priest of this regime, has never fought for freedom in his entire life. I admit that this could be a tall order for some to swallow but the historical evidence is there. Sure, he rode on the backs of those who selflessly dedicated themselves to the true ideals of freedom and he was for the “independence” of Eritrea from Ethiopia so he can have his own slave colony.

But he spares no one if freedom becomes the central issue. That is why his reaction to any expression of freedom BY ANYONE – from the much denigrated “menkaE” to the G15 and anything in between or since -- is the same predictable brute force. So, if he does not value freedom, what reason is there for him or those who serve him to represent any segment of Eritrea’s population that strives to be free? For the regime, anyone who demands justice, freedom, or rule of law is a threat to its power base and is, therefore, an enemy by definition.

I am sure Ali Salim didn’t intend it that way, but the way I see it, his approach serves the regime’s interests perfectly. The approach he took defuses the positive energy that would have been available for positive good and dilutes the legitimacy of real issues (including the land issue he raised), that are worth fighting for. Notice how Ali’s legitimate grievance is no longer the center of discussion as it ought to be. Instead of focusing on how to solve Ali’s and other issues afflicting the population at large, precious time and energy is wasted in meaningless witch hunts. In the process, the regime’s honchos, seeing their power base is secure, sleep soundly while the majority toss and turn.

This is not to say there is no prejudice in Eritrean society. That is a human character. In spite of the tremendous progress made and in spite of his brilliance and mixed blood that should have enabled people to see a little bit of themselves in him, there are still folks who cannot accept Obama’s presidency, for example. By the same token, some Eritreans thinking they have more in common with Ethiopia/Christainity or the Arab/Muslim world may have been too quick to abandon longtime relationships with their Eritrean brothers and sisters when they met “strangers” of their faith. But that is mainly ignorance.

There are plenty of anecdotal Eritrean cases where the bond between the faiths is legendary. As well, many Eritrean Muslims and Christians are blood relatives and it is good to see many have not lost sight of that. So, there is definitely a mix of good and bad. It simply boils down to what one decides to focus on. I also believe Eritreans are among the most binary creatures on earth who, more often than not, prefer to see the extremes of bad and good; friend and enemy; patriot and traitor etc. We typically go for the easy and lazy bad/good categorization, missing the rich and important nuances of gray in between. We also have a tendency to over emphasize the “bad” that is harmless and innocent; and often fail to differentiate it from the vicious kind of bad.

If you take any country on the planet and you step out of your door looking for evidence of hate or other human failings, you will find plenty of it before getting back home at the end of the day. On the other hand, if you put your filters on to find the best in human kindness, you will find plenty of that too. I suspect Ali Salim’s filters are mostly set to look for the worst in Christian/highland Eritrea. Not surprisingly, he found plenty to make him angry and his approach made plenty others angry in return – to the extent the good cause is almost forgotten now. The resulting compounded negative energy pretty much ignores the reservoir of goodwill that is always there – the invisible elephant in the room, so to speak. Of course, Ali has the right to express himself in any way he pleases but it would also be foolish to expect cooperation and goodwill to be the default responses.

Switching to generalities, the best case scenario for the regime is when those professing to fight injustice are constantly at each other’s throats. It is a shame that by acting this way with unnerving predictability, we are generously giving the regime the very breathing space it doesn’t deserve. I can see in my mind’s eye the regime’s architects laughing at us for our perpetual failure to rise up and fight injustice together; and at how perfectly their divide-to-rule formula has worked for them. Lucky bastards!!

According to Wikipedia, India has more than two thousand ethnic groups. It is not perfect but India does an excellent job of managing this complexity under one roof. So far, we are failing miserably in managing less than a dozen. At times, we seem to forget that Eritrea is a tiny country that would become irrelevant if divided into smaller pieces. To be viable, it needs to be a nation of justice and freedom where all its people feel safe within its borders. Even the framing of our resistances seem ineffective where every aggrieved party decides to wage a lonesome fight and wants to create its own “liberation movement”. i.e. cryng in our little corners. If the Kunamas are suffering injustice, it should be the concern of all Eritreans to right the wrong. Fighting it under a national human rights agenda -- along the lines of EGS and CIDRiE, for example -- would be a more effective way to go about it (of course, EGS and CIDRiE must be supported by the full spectrum of Eritrean society if they are to achieve these goals). If others don’t stand up on the side of the Kunamas now, their turn of suffering will surely come one day as that is one of the unfailing promises of tyranny. Without the context of a national agenda, I just can’t see what a splintered Kunama, Afar or, shall I say, a Tewahdo “liberation” movement can accomplish.

It would be far more effective to find ways to unite Eritrea’s 4 million people with a common purpose based on justice, freedom and equality. That kind of foundation will be very helpful in building the incremental critical momentum that will be necessary to get us to our Rosa Parks moment.

To be continued...

Eritrea not "child friendly"?

2008-11-22T08:23:00.000-08:00

Accoding to CNN.COM http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/africa/11/20/africas.children.ap/index.html

A report titled, African nations ranked for 'child friendliness', states:

The top countries of the 52 ranked as [“child friendly”] are Mauritius, Namibia, and the northern African countries of Tunisia, Libya and Morocco. The bottom five are Sao Tome and Principe, Gambia, Central African Republic, Eritrea and Guinea Bissau.

No surprises there, unfortunately. Namibia and Eritrea are two of the youngest nations in Africa. While it is gratifying to see Nambia getting things right, Eritrea has turned itself into a stagnant authoritarian system. Children born into the dawn of its independence now find themselves consumed by a militaristic system where talent and human potential are squandered so recklessly.

Credit Default Swaps (CDS) – What Are They?

2008-10-16T23:19:00.001-07:00

I thought I knew the meaning of these three words, when taken individually. But when they are put together in this sequence, they convey something I never knew even existed. Some have called them financial weapons of mass destruction. What? Three innocent looking words as weapons of mass destruction? Then I took a look at my 401K and knew right there and then that I, like many others, have been hit by these nasty weapons. In a matter of days $1.6 trillion worth of savings evaporated into thin air. Baby boomers: welcome to the golden years.

Of course, I don’t pretend to understand why and how credit default swaps, all of a sudden, froze the entire global market and drove world leaders into a panic reaction. But the little I know makes me wonder, why some of the things that were allowed to go on were even legal. CDS can be used to ensure a bond you own against loss, which is good. But credit default swaps were also used to allow people to buy insurance for assets they don’t even own. So, if I were the gambling type, I would look for an asset that I believe is on the verge of failure, and buy insurance against it. If that asset fails, as many solid looking institutions suddenly did, I stand to collect the full value of the insurance.

As experts estimate, companies like AIG collected about a trillion dollars in CDS fees while leaving themselves exposed to an estimated sixty trillion worth of liabilities. They saw this kind of insurance as easy money because they assumed the assets people were buying the insurance for would never fail. Well, they failed and they did so in a big way. As bad as it has been so far though, there could be more nasty surprises down the road. Supposedly, it is very difficutlt to quantify the extent of the damage because Credit Default Swaps were sold and re-sold many times over as private transactions. You just don't know until claims are made by people down the chain, only to find out the insurer one level up has no money to cover the claim, and so on and so on.

CDS – weapons of mass destruction indeed. And I have one sorry retirement account to prove it. In "free" market economies, regulation is a bad word associated with "socialism". Now that the lack of reasonable oversight has caused this enormous crash, governements around the world are forced to buy equity in "market driven" businesses - back to socialism. Boy, am I confused?Governments are now rescuing the very people who caused this mess in the first place. The smart but unethical guys have successfully "privatized profits and socialized debt", as concisely put by others. They cash in big when capitalism works in their favor and cash in again when "socialism" kicks in to bail them out with public money. Hey, with no risk to their personal wealth, any amount of risk can be taken with abandon. And that they did.

How much does John McCain love America?

2008-10-11T16:28:00.000-07:00

A lot, I would imagine, given his long history of service. But wasn't it strange to hear him say he knows how to get bin Laden and yet, so far, not to have done anything about it? As far as we know, bin Laden is still at large. Unless he just had an epiphany (or made it up) during the debate, it sure seems weird to withhold critical knowledge, that would directly benefit the country, unless, as he made it appear, he is elected president first.

To give him benefit of the doubt though, maybe he is already doing something about it and, one hopes, there is secret work in progress based on what he knows. Otherwise, it raises a question whether McCain loves America enough -- if he denies her the immediate benefit of his knowledge.

McCain has also been a bit 'erratic' the last few weeks for letting his campaign take us to dangerous territory. To his credit, he is beginning to stand up to the vitriol of his extremist supporters who still fail to understand America is a diverse nation that belongs to ALL its citizens. America is much better than the turn his campaign took (with his permission or tolerance) - a divisive turn that weakens America instead of strengthening it through unity.

The suggestion by his supporters that there is something un-American about being a Moslem, by the repeated amplification of Mr. Obama's middle name, is un-American itself. The failure to distance himself from such hate mongering in no uncertain times, tarnishes McCain's judgment and character. Although he repeatedly questions Obama's judgment - which is fare game - his own judgment should also be seriously questioned for choosing a running mate whose primary contribution so far has been pressing divisive emotional buttons - which seems to be bringing the worst in people.

I hope good Republicans are outraged enough by the hate-filled crowds shouting "off with his head", "terrorist", "kill him" -- to stand up and say "not in my name". This kind of "energizing" may win Mr. McCain a few more votes. But it is more damaging to the long-term image of the Republican party, and good-hearted Republicans ought to be the first to condemn it -- loud and clear.

I fell in love with an America that, in spite of an ugly past, managed to re-invent itself with a promise of a better future for ALL its citizens. A beautiful America where people ought to be judged by the "content of their character" (MLK), where education and hard work are appreciated and rewarded. After decades of solid progress, it would be tragic to renege on that promise now. The old, ugly and xenophobic America where injustice, segregation and lynchings were accepted as the norm should be allowed to die and to stay dead.

Regression to the old "us and them" dichotomy will be very costly to ALL Americans and people, especially Mr. McCain and those of his caliber, should not be tempted to tolerate hateful people for the sake of a few votes. After all, it was Mr. McCain who bravely once said he would rather lose an election than lose a war. Well, going back to the old America would be the mother of all wars, and there will be no honor in that.

In spite of election season fireworks, it is very encouraging to see the momentum is still in favor of the beautiful America. Mr. Obama has done a good job of bringing people of diverse backgrounds together energized by a common vision - a vision that America belongs to ALL Americans where none are left behind by design. That promise is to ALL its citizens - and yes, including Moslem Americans - inspite of how Mr. Obama's middle name is used by some to suggest otherwise. By the way, what is McCain's middle name? This is the silly season of politics and this may even be the first time in American history where a middle name is given undue prominence - unfortunately not for good intentions.

The main problem, it seems to me, is the monopolization of politics by the two behemoths. Everyone talks about how lobbyists have taken over Washington but nothing seems to be done to reduce their influence because both parties happily take their money. When elections cost so much and last so long (I am so bored and tired of it by now), it is hard to imagine the influence of lobbyists diminishing any time soon.

What we need is more parties to shake things up a bit so people can have real choices. Or enough people to abandon the two parties and become independents (I did). That way, both parties, with their bases shrunk down to size could be kept on their toes so to speak. Maybe then, they will stop taking people for granted. Wall street monopolies kill meaningful competition in the financial and business world. Ditto for the Republican and Democratic parties.

Toxic Nationalism

2008-10-09T23:09:00.000-07:00

There were two good articles in awate.com published in late August I wanted to piggyback on. Hopefully, this is still relevant. .

Referring to the discomfort Yosief's writing generated among some readers, Gebrehiwet Andemariam's thoughtful article titled "The Peril of a Convoluted Argumentation" urges us to "swallow our pride and move on" as a way to create more productive dialog. This is indeed good advice and good medicine against the prevailing toxic nationalism that continues to condone injustice in the name of "sovereignty".

Yosief is, no doubt, an out-of-the-box writer who refuses to be confined to what is safe or popular. His brilliantly argued ideas can shake the core of previously unquestioned assumptions. I don't always agree with Yosief. But agree or not, I find pleasure in the refined nuances and the unexpected turns his brilliant mind enlivens its arguments with. Any attempt to silence him and others by attacking their person, as Gebrehiwet warns, instead of challenging their ideas with better ones is a huge mistake. Doing so will only add more proof-points to one of Yosief's well-written articles titled "Equality By Subtraction" – which should be required reading, especially for Diaspora Eritreans.

In today's Eritrea, equality is maintained at misery levels by continuously taking away ("subtracting") rights and freedoms. Education is devalued and professional accomplishments are "subtracted" until a doctor, a teacher or an architect is reduced to a mere "gebar" (lowly tax paying subject) in the lingo of the regime's elites. Professionals whose services should be put to better use are forced to do menial and meaningless work where they are ordered to dig ditches only to fill them up later. They are often locked up without charges and forgotten, creating equality through misery that no human being should be subjected to.

In today's Eritrea, families who successfully supported themselves and educated their children for decades by working endless hours in neighborhood shops and other small businesses find themselves seriously marginalized. Their self-reliant nature is now "subtracted" to poverty levels through unfair competition from regime owned shops that don't pay taxes or pay fair prices for business inputs. Hard-earned money that was once very productive in the hands of families who managed it responsibly is now squandered to support corruption and cronyism. What, one wonders, do the regime and its supporters believe is being accomplished by the willful destruction of families who - through hard work and grit - competently cared for and educated so many before?

In today's Eritrea, one of the regime's despicable practices includes jailing aging parents until ransom money is paid; yet another way to "subtract" from the already precarious financial health of struggling families. If toxic nationalism was not getting in the way to justify such criminal behavior, the regime would not have dared to take such action to begin with. And when it did, it would have been forced to return every penny embezzled in this manner to its innocent and rightful owners. It is impossible to put currency to the regime's empty "self-reliance" slogan when its repeated actions continue to sap the life blood of previously self-reliant people like no parasite can.

In today's Eritrea, the regime is actively destroying centuries-old culture that valued family, education, honest work and respect for one another; only to replace it with a culture of arrogance, destruction of the family unit and reckless adventurism where people are sacrificed without ever entertaining alternatives on how to protect them first. The regime's shoot-first policy has been sacrificing young and old without justification. Yosief aptly puts it this way: "a cause doesn't become a justification because you die for it; its justification should be established prior to the sacrifice".

The second article by Daniel G. Mikael titled, "God Save Us from those who Love their Country", also caught my eye. Like Daniel, I too cannot see why any sane person still supports this regime unconditionally. Daniel does an excellent job of articulating what misplaced "love of country" can do to justify any crime. To expand a bit on Daniel's points, I doubt very much if conscious love of country is driving the support. A country is not a government and it certainly is not one person. In an environment where people are reduced to "disposable creatures" (as Yosief puts it) with absolutely no voice to talk back to power, there is a pervasive idiocy among Diaspora Eritreans that unashamedly sees Eritrea and the abusive system that has hijacked it and its constitution as one and the same. In its most ridiculous form, Eritrea is equated to the very person who has transformed it to a wasteland of no institutions and no laws. You point out his monumental failures and you just insulted the country. Countries "loved" this way usually don't fare well.

His last interview with AlJazzira is a clear case of how absolute power has corrupted absolutely again. His pointless and incoherent responses shifting to irrelevant issues of Americans missing their breakfast and food shortages in Egypt and, according to him, lack of democracy and freedom everywhere else except, apparently, in Eritrea was painful to even watch. Incapacitated by delusion of grandeur, he seemed more concerned about poor Americans and continues to show no interest in addressing Eritrea's problems. What makes this particularly tragic is seeing many in the Diaspora, including many with the highest levels of education the world has to offer, simply parroting the same suffocating propaganda. Hope and optimism were so pervasive in this once promising nation. The AlJazzira interview shows the regime has essentially extinguished both.

Things have gone this far in such a short time because the toxic nationalism people have so far been unable to shake off (where country is "subtracted" to the level of one person) has gotten in the way of people's good judgment. This sort of irrational nationalism can be very destructive as seen in Zimbabwe, for example. As he shreds the country's fabric to pieces, Mugabe claims success with the obscene justification that he is standing up against the West. When a country is ruled by slogans, the thinking process gets seriously clogged. Instead of coming up with solutions to problems, this sort of corrosive nationalism can only be counted on to come up with more meaningless slogans to cover up previous failures.

In Eritrea, regime supporters are quick to mention that roads, schools and clinics are being built as justification for their support. This is really an empty statement because I have yet to hear anyone who denies these things are important. It reminds me of Bush saying "you can't talk me out of freedom being a good thing"(doubtful that anyone even tried). The question is at what cost are these roads being built? What goods and services do they carry? Do they encourage vibrant commerce and tourism or are they mainly serving the regime's suffocating control over everything? Who is building them? Are the schools centers of learning or military boot camps? Why is the only university in the country closed? Why are the "colleges" that supposedly replaced the university administered by the military?

Why is Eritrea's most productive segment of the population leaving in such huge numbers? Some brush this off by saying there will always be people who leave their country of birth – not an honest response really. On per capita basis, Eritrea must be among the top countries in the world, with the biggest exodus of its vibrant population segment. On honest reflection, it is easy to see that people are leaving for reasons far and beyond "normal" migration. They are fleeing a system that devalues their lives. They are running away from slave labor and a bleak horizon where they can't see opportunities for a brighter future. People leave with passports in their pockets during normal migrations. To the contrary, these new refugees are leaving by taking huge risks, crossing borders while fully aware of standing "shoot-to-kill" orders. Many have actually been shot while trying. These people are not leaving as part of "normal" anything. They are running for their lives, running from real conditions that are snuffing out peoples' hopes and aspirations.

So, what to do?

Gebrehiwet's advises us to be less defensive and to get out of our box; to start over. With two hands clasped together as a prayer icon, Daniel, I think, is asking us to pray first; which is a good thing. But also, to wake up from being "hypnotized zombies", to stop the mindless support for what has turned out to be a criminal system.

To carry on a bit further on their points, I would add the following. With an open heart and clear mind, try to listen to the people who made it out by going through improbable routes – with many dying along the way. You will learn how thugs (literally) are given unquestioned powers by the regime's top brass to do anything they want to anyone. No questions asked. They can take anyone to prison with instruction to prison guards to just "hold" their victims (axneHaley).

Although physically in prison, these victims are intentionally not registered. When a loved one fails to come home, families typically fan out to all the known prisons. Prison personnel open the register and inform relatives their loved one is not in the register. In other words, that victim just stopped to exist. As unbelievable as this sounds, some get "lost" for years because the one in whose name the victim is being "held" never came back to clear the matter. As a result, many continue to rot in jail, some die and some are murdered. It now appears Mohammed Hagos, a decent and intelligent man I had the pleasure of meeting on several occassions when I was living in Eritrea, has become one of their latest victims.

You will hear about the countless 5-square-meter cells where people are packed like sardines for months and years. They will tell you how incredibly difficult it is to even turn on your side. You will hear about awfully unhygienic conditions, with ever present stench of human waste in the packed cells, which makes one wonder how in the world did they ever manage to live through it to tell their stories. Listen carefully when they tell you about beatings they endured while hanging upside down from tree branches and other limb twisting torture techniques meant to break their spirit.

Perhaps there is a Darwinian element to it, but the ones I have come across or know about clearly show how miserably the regime failed in making a dent in their spirits. Their spirits are high and they are ready to pursue their dreams with bountiful energy. You will see the same people who were forced to aimlessly waste their lives under a repressive system coming alive in an environment that gives them hope and opportunities. Many new arrivals have excelled in school (a few I know with PhDs in hand) and at the work place -- same people, just different environments. Why are these admirable qualities crushed and not allowed to blossom in today's Eritrea?

Some in the Diaspora regurgitate the regime's failed propaganda saying the ease with which America accepts these Eritreans proves the CIA is encouraging them to leave their country. Two points: America would be absolutely stupid not to accept such intelligent and energetic individuals. These guys are at the prime of their lives and America gets the full reservoir of productivity they have to offer without paying a penny for it. Secondly, a more thoughtful response should have been if the CIA is encouraging them to leave, what is Eritrea doing to keep them? And who told Eritrean students in South Africa to get lost because Eritrea can get talent from Asia? Hopefully, people remember it was not the CIA. The "dear leader" contemptuously tells people to get lost, and with the same forked tongue disingenuously declares Eritrea's primary wealth is its people. Toxic nationalism blinds one from seeing such glaring contradictions. Instead of being outraged by the duplicity, Eritreans abroad normally cheer like "zombies".

Before uttering the first word of support for the oppressive regime, one ought to try to put oneself - even just for few fleeting seconds - in the shoes of the innocent victims for a change. Imagine you are the one disappearing, the one being tortured and locked up in the filthy cells, imagine you could have been Mohammed Hagos. Before saying anything about the roads, think about the villages that are hollowed out of their youthful energy. Before you praise the regime for building clinics, demand that Dr. Fitsum (the only psychiatrist the country had), and the countless innocents rotting in prison be freed immediately. Yes, building roads is a good thing. But wouldn't it be better if they were built without slave labor and with better quality. And why not in an environment where people's dignity is given the utmost respect and priority? And why not in an environment where hard work and honest means to earn a living are recognized and rewarded?

Once the questioning process starts, once the process of empathy starts by putting oneself in the shoes of victims, once you start asking why hard working Eritreans are being pushed off their decades-old means of livelihood by corrupt regime businesses, then the much needed healing process can take hold. If one person at a time stands up for what is right, it is another nail into the coffin of injustice and misery. Only then, can the country be saved and improve its chances of revival.

Unconditional support given to such a regime essentially negates the very freedoms we all enjoy in our adopted countries. This includes the positive personal experiences of the regime's supporters themselves – experiences and freedoms they cannot have in today's Eritrea. Here is the irony: in rare but unguarded moments, even the most rabid supporters refer to their beloved regime as a "use and throw" system. How strange that while many fight slavery valiantly, others just can't seem to snap out of an enslaved mindset - even after experiencing freedom. This is not a case where ignorance is bliss.

To borrow Daniel's point again, let's stop being zombies. Although toxic nationalism disingenuously plays the 'sovereignty' card, sovereignty is exactly what is being compromised. Eritrea, like Zimbabwe, is much weaker and less viable as a nation today precisely because the very people it needs to ensure its sovereignty are imprisoned, killed or told to get lost. It is time to abandon this failed mind set. It is time to unblock hearts and minds – to think and to be humane.

AFRICA – BLAMING OTHERS AGAIN

2008-09-13T09:52:00.000-07:00

AFRICA – BLAMING OTHERS AGAIN
Email: testifanos@gmail.com

The king of Swaziland, during his 40th birthday bash, told his subjects “we need people who take their responsibilities seriously” - good advice, really. Only problem is, the good king failed to show this by example. Officially, poor Swaziland spent $2.5M (http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/africa/09/06/Swaziland.ap/index.html) to celebrate his 40th birthday. Unofficial estimates go over $12M. According to the king, this is not personal but a celebration of “nationhood” -- where yet again a nation is equated to one person.

Mugabe was among the invited guests and commanded the “loudest cheers” from the crowd because, apparently, he “stands up” to the West. How is it that you run a country to the ground, conduct yourself in the most irresponsible ways imaginable and somehow this is interpreted as a virtue? The king himself made references to “a world full of prejudice”. That explains it perfectly – Mugabe “stands up to the West” by destroying his country and “prejudice” is making the king squander the nations' meagre resources to enrich "the West". Eight of his 13 wives went luxury shopping in Dubai for the occasion while the country wallows in poverty. Oh dear God, please save Africa.

ALWAYS THANK YOUR TEACHERS

2008-08-04T20:49:00.000-07:00

THANK YOU MEMHR TIBLETZ
Email: testifanos@gmail.com

Memhr* Tibletz was my first grade teacher in Adi Teclezan, Eritrea. Although she may not have known this, she is one of the few people who made a profoundly positive difference in my life. When I returned to Eritrea in the mid-90s, I tried to find her and thank her in person, unfortunately, without success.

My father was a struggling trader when I was in first grade; He was mostly gone trying to find ways to support the family and that is where memhr Tibletz steps in. She noticed that I was often coming to school at the end of the day when her students were just about ready to go home. I am not sure how useful I was with field work at seven but my chores included helping my uncle in the fields. And for him, school time was whenever field work was finished and that is when I would start trekking to class.

My uncle, I know, loved me and did not do this with any bad intent. He was protective of me and I remember him punching the daylights out of a man who rubbed poison ivy on my legs one day. I failed to keep our oxen away from the man's crops and my uncle, I am sure, would not have disagreed that I needed to somehow learn a lesson for my inattention. But the use of poison ivy infuriated him so much he decided to physically deal with the man. I must say, it felt good to see the dude pinned down to the ground making himself useful as a helpless punching bag. But I digress.

Concerned about my lack of regular attendance, memhr Tibletz made a point of finding my father when he was in town (okay, village). My father had a serious talk with his youngest brother and it was decided that I would still help with field work but not at the expense of my schooling. Reflecting back on this now, I believe it was one of the key turning points in my life.

After I became a ‘regular’ student, I remember memhr Tibletz’s gentle words trying to build up my confidence. She used to encourage me by telling me how nicely my handwriting was improving although I needed to stop flipping my letters. I don’t recall consciously internalizing what she meant by this but I somehow must have gotten it because she stopped saying it after a while. Decades later, I was suddenly reminded about the “flipped letters” in my Tigrigna lettering exercises when I saw my U.S.-born children writing their Es like 3s. Hopefully, that is the only genetic defect that was passed on.

I was very lucky to have memhr Tibletz as my first grade teacher. For me, she epitomizes the true meaning of what it is to be a teacher. She cared enough to step out of the classroom to reach out to my father and changed the life of one goofy seven year old who couldn't tell time. I have had great teachers since then. But memhr Tibletz holds that special place and she has always been my favorite teacher.

If there is anyone out there with a similar story, don’t wait like I did to say "thank you". For those still in school and who might not even know what to thank their teachers for, do it anyway. It is highly likely that happy blessings you encounter later on in life can be tied back to the influence of a great teacher who cared.

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* memhr is a revered Tigrigna word which shallowly translates to teacher. When I was a kid, students respectfully addressed their teachers as "memhr" in person. When the teacher was not around, it was "memhr" followed by the teacher's first name – thus memhr Tibletz (I don't remember her second name which is the father's name. Eritrea and Ethiopia don't use family names). When we saw our teachers walking by, even outside school grounds, we students would stop whatever we were doing and stood still until they were out of sight. Sometimes, the teachers wouldn’t even see or know we were standing by to honor their presence.

That reverence for teachers seems to have faded away nowadays as I witnessed it during our family’s six-year stay in Eritrea. I got to be familiar with the conditions of my old high school (Qehas then, Red Sea Secondary now). My children were going to Red Sea and I joined the PTA where we held candid discussions with students and teachers. The teachers would tell us that in spite of the highly appreciated status teachers enjoyed in our days, teaching is not the same anymore. So much so, the teachers would tell us, if a young lady is past “marrying age”, people would express their surprise by saying, “What is the problem, she can’t even find a teacher?” Although there is a joke component to the line, it was told with a sense of loss that strongly suggested reality was not far behind.