ARTICLES 2008

WHAT TYPE OF HELP TO THE DESTITUTE ERITREAN REFUGEES? LET US FORM EDF BY EAIM (July 04, 2008)

2008-07-12  Demofrankfort (July 04, 2008)

Press release. The declaration of our Frankfort conference 2008-06-24 DemoFr. (June 27, 2008)

EDA OPPOSITION WHERE IS THE BEEF? BY EAIM (June 21, 2008)

 You are respectfully invited to attend a paltalk discussion with Dr. Asia Abdulkadir this Saturday June 21, 2008.  Daniel Tewelde, Eritrean Youth Renaissance (EYR) New York,  USA Eritrean.Youth.Renaissance@gmail.com (June 20, 2008)

DEPORTATION IS NOT A SOLUTION  Daniel Tewelde  Eritrean Youth Renaissance (EYR)
New York,  USA Eritrean.Youth.Renaissance@gmail.com (June 17, 2008)

ERITREA DESTRUCTION OF A PROMISING COUNTRY  DESTRUCTION OF A PROMISING COUNTRY :- (Ghebremariam Tekeste (June 01,2008)

The Afar Quest of self-determination and the denAIl of the Eritrean politicians. Amin H. yassin (May 28, 2008)

 Karlsruhe conference (May 28, 2008)

 Newly formed organization, “TEHADSO”. E-Mail:- tehadso@gmail.com May 28, 2008

UNJUST RULERS NEVER LAST!  Observers and commentators  Afar federal Alliance (AFA) of Eritrea. (April 14, 2008) May 15, 2008

THE UNFINISHED ERITREAN REVOLUTION: WHAT IS GLOBAL SOLIDARITY UPTO? BY EAIM (REVISED 5/6/08) (May, 15, 2008)

THE ROLE OF LEADERSHIP AND THE SOCIETY IN THE ERITREAN POLITICAL STRUUGGLE ( BY EAIM revised 2/16/08)

 BOOK REVIEW ON “TOWARDS CONFEDERATION IN THE HORN OF AFRICA  FOCUS ON ETHIOPIA AND ERITRE (TESFATSION MEDHANE) BY EAIM—(AMARE GEBREMARIAM GEBRE) January 12, 2008

Alla redazione di Romagnaoggi.it Stefano Pettini (Gennaio 12, 2008)

BOOK REVIEW ON “TOWARDS CONFEDERATION IN THE HORN OF AFRICA  FOCUS ON ETHIOPIA AND ERITRE (TESFATSION MEDHANE) BY EAIM—(AMARE GEBREMARIAM GEBRE) January 12, 2008

OVERVIEW

 Authors write books for different reasons and objectives. Authors may be of different personalities, experiences, abilities and interest. Here are some of the general reasons some authors suggest why they write.

·         Free publicity-writing a book is free advertising for once business or profession.

·         A book begets another book. When you start with one you develop the habit of adding more.

·          It is a job that earns some one a living.

·         Create an image for yourself as an expert in your field.

·         Writing a book will create an ability to gain greater awareness.

·         Enables some one to become a top authority.

·         Touch other people’s lives.

      What ever Professor Tesfatsion Medhane’s intentions, motives or interests may

be in writing this book, here are some definitions from the American Heritage Dictionary that could help our readers, understand our book review.

     FEDERATION—the act of federating, especially a joining together of states into a league or federal union, A league or association formed by federating, especially a government or political body established through federal union.

    CONFEDERATION-a uniting or being united in a league or alliance. A league or alliance; specific, independent nations or states joined in a league or confederacy whose central authority is usually confined to common defense and limited political cooperation.

     INTEGRATION- the act or process of integrating. The state of being integrated. The bringing of people of different racial or ethnic groups into unrestricted and equal association as in society or an organization.

       RACISM-The belief that race accounts for differences in human character or ability and that a particular race is superior to others. Discrimination or prejudice based on race.

      CHAUVINISM- militant devotion to and glorification of one’s country, fanatical patriotism. Prejudiced belief in the superiority of one’s own gender, group or kind.

      Professor Medahne has written a book on federation between Ethiopia and Eritrea around 1987 that he never mentioned any thing about what he wrote at that time in this book to his readers and we would like to begin with WEHTIO TEBELKUWAS TEGOSMO meaning, when I say swallow it, she shovels it in. That book was an impediment and detraction to our armed struggle that suggested to tie Eritreans under the yoke of the brutal Derg, because our armed struggle was a just war for our freedom through self determination which was supported almost by every Eritrean. The author might say the leadership of the liberation fronts also had a dialogue on the issue, we say to him it was a political tactic for the sake of briefness.

  When we finish reading this book, sugar coated with confederation we felt that the author has some disdain on some fundamental democratic principles that we are going to pin-point as we go on reviewing the book.

The author in his current book of confederation with the sub- title “Why is Ethio-Eritrean confederation a possibility? Discusses at length on favor of it and quotes Dr. Amare Teckle and Dr Tekie Fessehazion, the two main messengers and theorists of PFDJ dictatorship. Mind you this book is emerging when the Eritrean opposition is discussing strategic relationship with the Ethiopian government as a winning strategy to erect democracy in Eritrea by getting rid dictatorial governance.

   When Eritrean opposition is suggesting:

·         ECONOMIC –Ethiopia and Eritrea have been using each others products through out their history, even during the colonial era. At present Ethiopian products are being imported from the Arab countries into Eritrea. Eritrea has good ports, while Ethiopia is looking for easiest, safest, quickest, and cheapest way of delivering of its imports and exports. This is a win- win situation where every nation gains. Energy resources are plenty in Ethiopia where Eritrea could have easy access that keep both countries economies sustained and growing. The economic advantage is not limited to the ones we mentioned, but a lot to be added. Eritrea and Ethiopia should not be countries that compete, but cooperating ones instead.

·         SECURITY-RELATED- Eritrea is a neighbor to at least five countries and the same with Ethiopia. Cross-boarder violence is a concern of both countries, but their strategic relationship can minimize it if not eliminate it. Terrorism and sabotage is the drawback to development and innovation that the two countries have to tackle together. They can be effective in their voice of weapons of mass destruction if they work together. There is a lot to gain, but nothing to lose if strategic relationship is achieved. 

·         POLITICAL- Past political experience of the two countries whether destructive or constructive is a shared one. There is a lot to analyze and learn and set for future directives out of it. Ethiopia is the home of more than fifty nationalities. Eritrea is also the home of more than nine nationalities. We can learn on how to deal with the issue of governance. The issue of the question of nationalities and religious freedom is a burning issue in both countries. We need to exchange expert ideas on these issues from both countries. The issue of nationality rights and religious freedom is of whether you believe in democratic right or you give lip service to democracy. It is not an issue of constitution, but an issue of governance. There are and were national constitutions which deny democratic rights. If organizations do not want to clarify their stand on democratic rights issue and want to hide behind referendum, it is obvious they are not democratic; rights issue is not a majority or minority issue, but whether you are democratic or pseudo-democratic.

       Suggesting federation in 1987 was disservice and disruptive to our armed struggle and confederation is disservice and disruptive to our democratization process now.

    The author alleges the Ethiopian government as naked invader of Somalia. “Owing to its political weakness, the TPLF/EPRDF regime was bound to seek more intimate relations with the U.S. It needed to further endear itself to the world’s sole super-power in the hope of containing or even neutralizing the challenge to its opposition.” “It was in its capacity as Washington’s surrogate that the Ethiopian regime invaded Somalia in December 2006, striking the Union of Islamic Courts.”

 Misstating and hyping facts lead to distrust, to some extent one has to agree with what most of the world nations are saying. This author in our opinion does not. Here is our version in contrast to the author’s version. 

 The present government of Ethiopia had and is having enough cross border attacks which hamper economic development and stability. Most of the attacks are from Somalia and Eritrea. In Somalia, there was no government to take responsibility. To minimize such attacks, Ethiopia helped in the formation of TFG of Somalia recognized by world organizations and countries. But the now scattered Somali Islamic court leadership made public threat to attack Ethiopia and made a claim to the Ogaden region of Ethiopia. At the same time the Islamic court leadership moved to get read of TFG militarily.

   When Ethiopia got a call from the TFG to help strengthen it militarily, Ethiopia saw this opportunity that helps them solve their national security problem and jumped for it and executes it with admiration. We say people should understand how Ethiopia got involved and we don’t think Ethiopia’s intervention in Somalia is a breach of sovereign rights, invasion, and occupation as some governments; organizations and individuals try to portray it, but legitimate national interest.

The author clearly shows his disgust to article 39 of the Ethiopian constitution which is basically the political rights of nations and nationalities. The author states that “Politically engaged Ethiopians generally view article 39 as a threat to the country’s territorial integrity”. We would like to say this to the author: The issue of the question of nation and nationality was a burning issue in Ethiopia, Addis- Ababba University in 1967-9 and the Addis Ababba student union adopted it as its political policy and supported the Eritrean question of self determination and up to including secession. We are glad the Ethiopian ruling party worked hard to enshrine it in the Ethiopian constitution and we hope it will be also in the up coming Eritrean constitution. We know that you quoted chauvinist worshipers of Emperor Hailesselassie, not main-stream Ethiopian views and that does not give you sound reason for your disregard a very fundamental democratic principle and nationality political right..

    We couldn’t understand that how the author dared to entertain the notion of racism between Ethiopians and Eritreans. The definition of racism does not allow the author to use it in any way or form when he discusses Eritreans and Ethiopians, we are both of the same races and being colonized for some 60 years by Italians does not make us Anglo-Saxons.

  Professor Medhane while entertaining chauvinist Emperor Hailesselassie’s worshipers’ complaint on Eritreans says “History has been badly abused in the course of the liberation struggle. It has not merely been misconstrued, but has also become the subject of fraudulent discourse.” The Eritrean armed struggle used to orient  the people that it is the government, but not the Ethiopian people who is our enemy, We have never heard such accusations from Ethiopians or the world institutions so far, Actually our independence was militarily won, the referendum was only a formality in our opinion unnecessary. To substantiate his imagination, the author quotes Dr. Tseggai Isaac and the Dictator Isaias Afeworki, We don’t know what you are up to, but in our opinion, what you are saying does not hold water in the course of history and we urge you to come with documentation that the world institutions verify.

 We are planning to organize a forum on WAYS TO PEACE AND STABILITY ON THE HORN OF AFRICA in the near future and we may revisit your books sir.

      We strongly feel you owe the Eritrean people an apology and if you substantiate it by donating the proceeds of this book to the Eritrean refugees languishing in many refugee camps of the world Eritreans may forgive you.

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    Glory to our Martyrs