written by gudguad at meskerem.net
part I

Sad to say, the recent PIA interview was all recycles of the past, there was nothing new, and thus , boring , and at times, it gets unbearably long and obnoxious.

He is the highest CEO of the country and as such, you expect him to personally accept responsiblity for any weaknesses, failures of any national programme, be it education, economy etc. Instead, he talks of them as if the deficiencies are some one else's and not his.

We all know that he frequently holds meetings with his Ministers and Regional Administrators, and if, for example, students in classs, are not progressing in Arabic education as expected, why didn't he instruct the Minister incharge to make the necessary changes at the time he noticed it instead of waiting to airing it on national TV? I cannot say for sure why he did what he did but it seems to me he had the Minister of Education for a target.

PIA acknowledged the Noblity of the Teaching Profession but lamented that the current qualities of teachers teaching at all schools in Eritrea, icluding elementary, Middle, Secondary Schools ,Colleges and Universities , are not at a level of comfortable competency........

Wedi Abe told him point-blank that some Eritreans in Diaspora want to come home but are afraid to do so. And when PIA attempted ressure him that no one would bother them, Wedi Abe countered that jenior officials might do so, and called upon the President to issue an official Proclamation, to which PIA agreed...............

Towards the end of the interview, probably tempted by the above success, Wedi Abe probed PIA for National Election but was immediately and turned down, left to chew his tongue, as we say in Tigrigna. But PIA did not reject him without an excuse, although very transparent and convoluted one; he equated National Election to Appeasing External Forces.

He is of course wrong. External Forces are working hard to prevent Eritrea from becoming fully constituted Nation with established constitution and with a public vested with the highest authority in the nation.

As a matter of fact,there is nothing that scare Eritrean enemies than implementation of the Constitution and thereof, duly elected officials because it will deny them the veils to destabilize Eritrea by taking advantage of his unelected twenty years of Presidency.

Needless to say, PIA has been an embodiment of our National Liberation Heroes but, unless he voluntarily, and today!, takes steps handing over the power to the masses, the future of Eritrea, and all the effort he and his co. put all those years, will be in serious jeopardy.

What he should know is that he does not have the luxury of longivity any longer. Any one above the age of fourty, his Mortality Time Doubles every decade. What that means is that death can come to him easily from any not so serious cause. Add to that the unstoppable steady decline of intellectual acuity with advancing age.

PIA must wake up and prepare the Nation to live well long after he passed away, and that can happen only if he let the youth take over the reign under his fatherly guidance now. Many Eritreans, including myself, are being haunted by the specter of Somalia after Seid Barre

part II

Do you think the procrastinators have valid reason on their side to link the implementation of the Constitution with the liberation of Badme and the demarcation of the border on the ground?

If your answer is positive, can you share with us a glimpse of their plan, means, and time of implementation?

As far as I am concerned, the procastinators have neither valid reason nor effective plan; they are simply hallucinating. What they need to do , therefore, is to wake up and confront the reality.

The reality is that it is the United States of America that is counseling, arming and financing woyane and to breach the International Law with respect of demarcating the border and vacating our territory. The case could not even presented before the UNSC because the United States, using its veto power, blocked it. Conversely, when the Djibouti Government accused Eritrea of border violation, within 24 hours the UNSC picked up the case.

The official USA rational against Eritrea is that the government is dictatorial, ruling without constitution.

The question now is: Would the USA change its stance against Eritrea if the Constitution is implemented?

Probably. Because it would lose its moral rational in the eyes of the world.

Unfortunately, to wards the end of 2011, when Wedi Abe asked PIA for National election, he prompty rejected it under the pretext of appeasing foreign powers, contradicting his statement in New York.

But lets probe little further the rationality of PIA on his rejection of the implementation:

It is true that he was elected to be provisional President of Eritrea by Provisional Baito, which was composed of 50% from the military and 50% from the public, pending the drafting and ratifying of the Constitution.


Since the wake of woyane aggression,however, the Provisional Baito and the drafted constitution have been frozen and he has been issuing rulling by decrees ever since, affirming the Baito was frozen. But in his interview with Wedi Abe, PIA denied to have ever declared State of Emergency, which means , in his capacity as a President, he did not officialy freeze the Baito. Then who did? But does he know the Baito has been frozen? And if he did not freeze it , why has he been rulling by decrees, by passing it?

part III

We have been accusing external forces and we have a lot of valid reasons for that but the question is: Are we, the Government and ourselves, totally blameless?

During the era of the Liberation War, there was, among others, a potent means of keeping tight the unity of the rank and files and leaders and thus fixed the Eyes on the prize. That was the merciless Criticism and Self Criticism.................................

Because the war was brutal , on going, day and night, many tegadelti--- rank and file and leaders, political as well as military cadres----, were falling off, there was a means of continual training and filling the gaps....................................................

After independence, the EPLFs tranformed themselves from Liberation warriors to be warriors for Democracy and Justice. Obviously, Democracy means government by the people for the people, and Justice, Supermacy of the Law, under which all people are equal. But these political principles had to be embodied in a Constitution to which all Eritreans subscribe and under which they consent to live.

To that end, PFDJ commissioned a group of Eritrean Intellectuals to frame the Constitution. In the meantime, provisional Baito was constituted, which elected Isaias Afewerki as Provisional President. Needless to say, the President was responsible to the Baito, without whose approval the President cannot put his ministers to work. The sole power of legislating laws was vested in Baito.

The Constitution was subsquently framed and ratified; General Election set for 1997. Unfortunately, Election was posponed to 2001 under the pretext of war with woyane. By 2001, the President, probably, using the War Act, although he recently denied to have ever declared State of Emergency, imprisoned many senior officials of the Baito as well as the military for allegedly demanding for election, and he, unilaterally, cancelled Election for ever.

Some of question we have to deal now are:

Was the war inevitable?

Could Eritrea abort it?

Did we play into the hands of woyane?.

If it could have been aborted then, are we now committing the same mistakes?

The war with woyane was President Isaias's maiden mistake, which, unfortunately, has been breeding profusely everafter.

Woyane had been looking for ways and means to redeem itself of the damage it had incurred during its 17 years of collaboration with EPLF against its own country, and its subsequent recognition of Eritrean Independence in 1993.

Woyane continually created escalating tensions on the Eritrean-Ethiopian border purposely to push Isaias Afewerki into military confrontation. Finally, woyane got what it was looking for. Isaias responded in kind; rolled his tanks. woyane cried out foul. International community jumped aboard to denounce our incursion.

What move did Isaias miss?

International Diplomacy.

He should have notified the UNSC, OAU. This simple mistake costed 20,000 Eritreans their lives and greater many, their bodies, not to mention the isolation of our country and people from the world community etc. etc.

The next issue we have to put under our powerul microscope is:

Did Isaias Afewerki purposely shovel the Constitution, imprisoned senior offfials to avoid responsiblity for the wrong war ?

Part IV

"Unexamined Life Is Not Worth Living." Socrates

Dear Eritreans:

Whether you like it or not we are not a Sovereign People, Isaias Afewerki is; We are not citizen, we are his subjects.

The EPLFs gave us Independence in 1991; subsecontly, established the Provisional National Baito and Framed Constitution, but Isaias Afewerki, creating a pretext by torching unnecessary war with woyane in 1998, has put the country and people under his totalitarian brand of dictatorship. His megalo egotistic personality

As a proof of his contempt on the people, he leisurely speaks to have suppresed and stamped out the Will of the People without ever declaring State of Emergency. His megao-egotistic personality could not stand the prospect of putting himself under National Baito, the expressed Will of the People.

Isaias Afewerki is not responsible to anybody but unto himself; Laws in the form of myriads of Proclamations spring only from from him, which the Ministers, Military Generals , people etc. implement without questions asked. Should they dare ask, they end locked up in prison. He is the Judge, Legislative and executioner, in one piece.


The War with woyane was not necessary and therefore, was a wrong War;

Was torched by Isaias Afewerki as a pretext to suppress the Expressed Will of the People ( my contention)

You do not have to take the word from me; it is the word of the Eritrea -Ethiopia Claim Commission in The Hague, December 19, 2005. read bellow.

But before I embark on the take of the Claim Commission, let me clarify that Badme was in the hands of ELFs . It was in the aftermath of its
liquidation that TPLF occupied, and for reasons known to them only, EPLFs did not bother; even years after Eritrean Independence, Badme remained as integral part of Tigrai. This is weired but is historical fact. Take a note. It is a mistake for which Twenty thousand Eritrean youngsters paid with their lives.


8. " ......... in essence, Ethiopian contended that Eritrea planned and carried out these attacks against Ethioppia in violation of its obligation under international Law, including notably the requirement of Article 2, paragraph4, of the Charter of the United Nations that all members refrain from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any State. Ethiopia alleged that, between may 12 and June 11, 1998, Eritrea launched a " full scale" invasion of Ethiopia at many points along their mutual border from Badme in the West to Bure in the East."


9............ Eritrea denied Ethiopia's allegation on the merits. In its written pleadings, Eritrea made the following three main defensive assertions:

(a) That Ethiopia was unlawfully occupying Eritrea territory in the area around Badme, which was the area of much of the initial hostilities in May 1988, citing the decision of the Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission of April 13, 2002.

( b)that Ethiopian armed militia near Badme carried out forcible incursions into Eritrea in early May 1998 amd fired on Eritrean forces on May 6,and 7, killing eight Eritrean soldiers and setting off fighting between small units in the area during the next seversl days.

( c) that it was Ethiopia that declared war on Eritrea on May 13, 1998

On the last days of hearing , Eritrea argued that its action in taking Badme and adjacent areas on May 12, 1998 were lawful measures of self-defense, consistent with Article51 of the UN Charter , taken in response to the fighting near Badme that began May 6 and 7, 1998. While Eritrea asserted that these incidents occurred within Eritrean territory, Ethiopia asserted that they occurred within Ethiopan Territory.

10. The Commission cannot accept the legal position that seems to underlie the frist of Eritrean contention---that recourse to force by Eritrea would have been lawful because some of the territory concerned was territory to which Eritrea had valid claim. It is true that the boundary between Eritrea and Ethiopia in the area of Badme was never marked in the years when Eritrea was an Italian colony , during Eritrea's subsequent incorporation with Ethiopia, or after Eritrea independence in 1993, and it is clear that the Parties had differing conceptions of the boundary location. However, the practice of States and the writings of eminent publicists show that self-defense cannot be invoked to settle territorial disputes. In that connection, the Commission notes that border disputes between States are so frequent any exception to the prohibition of threat or use of force for the territory that is allegedly occupied unlawfully would creat a large and dangerous hole in a fundamental rule of international Law.

11. The Commission turns next to Eritrea's second line of argument . In general , recourse to the use of armed force by one State against another is unlawful unless it is used in self-defense or occurs with the sanction of the Security Council pursuant to Chapter VII of the UN Charter . As the next of Article 51 of the Charter makes clear, the predicate for the a valid claim of self-defense under the Charter is that the party resorting to force has been subjected to an arm attack. Localized border encounters between small infantry units, even those involving the loss of life , do not constitute ar armed attack for the purpose of the Charter. In that connection , the Commission notes that Eritrea did not report its use of armed force against Ethiopia on May 12, 1998 to the Security Council as measuer taken in self-defense , as it would be obligated to do by article 51 of the Charter in case of self-defense against armed attack.

13. The parties aggreed that a joint body met in Addis Abeba on May 8, 1998 to discuss border problems. Ethiopia asserted, and Eritrea did not didpute, that the head of the Eritrean delegation to that meeting was its Minsiters of Defense and that , following the meeting on May 8, it s delegation left Addis Abeba during the night . Ethiopia asserted that it had expected the meeting to continue on May 9 and that it was surprised by the departure of the Eritrea delegation . Eritrea asserted that in response that its delegation left because the meeting had been concluded. Ethiopia also aserted that the meeting had been cordial and that agreement had been reached that both sides should avoid crossing by armed personnel and that the two sides would meet again in two month in Asmara to seek agreement on the border issues. Eritrea did not respond in the present proceedings to those assetions.


14. The evidence showed that, at about 5:30 a.m. on Monday 12, 1998, Eritrean armed forces, comprised of at leasttwo brigades of regular soldiers , supported by tanks and artillery, attacked the town of Badme and several other border areas in Ethiopia's Tahtay Adiabo Woreda, as well as at least two places in its neighboring Laela Adiabo Woreda. On that day and in the days immediately following, Eritrean armed forces then pushed across the flat Badme plain to higher ground in the east. Although the evidence regarding the nature of Ethiopian armed forces in the area conflicted , the weight of the evidence indicates that the Ethiopian defenders were composed of merely of militia and some police, who were quickly forced to retreat by the invading Eritrean forces . Given the absence of an armed attack against Eritrea, the attack that began on May 12 cannot be justified as lawful self-defense under the UN Charter.

15. The areas intially invaded by Eritrean forces on that day were either within undisputed Ethiopian territory or within territory that was peacefully administered by Ethiopia and that the later would be on the Ethiopian side of the line to which the Ethiopian armed forces were obligated to withdraw in 2000 under the Cease-Fire Agreement of June 18, 2000.In its Partial Award in Ethiopia's Central Front Claims, the Commission held that the best available evidence of the areas effectively administered by Ethiopia in May 1998 is that to which they were abligated to withdraw in 2000. In the same Partial Award , the Commission explained why it must hold Eritrea liable for violation of international humanitarian law committed by it within such territory and why such holding concerning conduct during the war have no effect on the international boundary as subsequently determined by the Eritre-Ethiopia Boundary Commission. The same principle governs application of the fus ad bellum.


16, Consequently, the Commision holds that Eritrea violated Article2, paragraph 4, of the Charter of the United Nations by resorting to armed forces to attack and occupy Badme , then under peaceful administration by Ethiopia, as well as other territory in the Tahtay Adiabo and Laelay Adiabo Wereda of Ethiopia, in an attack that began on May 12, 1998, and is liable to compensate Ethiopia, for damages caused by the violation of international law..............................."

Part V

Since Our People At Home Are Muzzled To Criticise the Government of Isaias Afewerki, The Burden Has Fallen On The Shoulders Of Those Of Us in Diaspora To Expose the The Fallacy of Isaias Government.


Dear Eritreans:
The detailed testimony of the Eritrea-Ethiopia Claim Commission in the Hague, which Eritrea accepted wholly, says lound and clear, that the government of Isaias Afewerki was the culprit for starting the war.

During the hearing, Isaias Government presented Self-Defense in defense of its action. The Commission invalidated the argument , among others, because Isaias Government did not notify the UNSC in accordance with the UN Charter required under such circumstance.

But does that mean Woyane was innocent?

Absolutely, not.


Woyane was wholesale burning the properties of Eritrean residents of Badme and pushing them by force to leave the area. Not only that, woyane was killing Eritrean soldiers too.

War was woyane's motive all along , its army was already mobilized but purposely kept hidden, far from the vicinity in wait for PIA to shoot the first bullet. The Eritrean Traitors were informed the war plan and advised to get ready to take over Isaias Goverment. Woyane was very optimistic of success. Twenty thousands young Eritreans laid their lives and foiled the weagle.


The outrage of Isaias Government was understandable but by taking the Law into its own hands, violating the UN Charter, not only it exonerated woyane from its Violation of Human Right but also enabled it to gain the moral high ground in the eyes of the world community.


Had Isaias Government acted in accordance with the UN Charter:

There would have been no War;

Woyane could have been found liable for its Human Right Violation;

Most important, Eritrean people would have been spared from all the agony and suffering they have been going through ever since.

And had we had Constitutional Government, Isaias Afewerki would have lost his job. But again, that is why he has shoveled the Constitution; locked up in prison those who demanded its implimentation and he is ruling by Proclamation. All this is to avoid accountability.


Unless reversed, the ruinous path Isaias Afewerki is taking Eritrea will soon get us to a point of no return.

The country is isolated;

the people are feeling the seige;

there are no meaningful foreign investors ;

there are neither jobs nor prospect for jobs;

youngsters are leaving the country in search of jobs etccccccccccccccc.
Isaias Government has been concentrating on Agriculture almost to the exclusion of other economic development but since our country is not endowed with extensive fertile land, and adding insult to injury, the rainfall is erratic, therefore, secondary and tertiary sectors of the econmy should have long been given equal attention.

But again, development of secondary and tertiary sectors require diplomatic skills, Statemanship, political flexibilty, Patience, respect other countries' identity, which Isaias Afewerki is in short supply, and which the weagle woyane is taking advantage of tremendously.

Having been in liberation struggle for many years, one would think Isaias Afewerki to be well versed in Dialectics and that democracy in Africa would take hold after many years of ups and downs, just as it did in the Western countries, but he, on TV, and EriTv continually denigrate the attempt as a ploy of the Western countries by pin pointing the drawbacks.

The diplomatic fallouts of Isaias' blunders on the people of Eritrea have been transpired not only in woyane's successful refusal to vacate Eritrean territory but also its successful conspiracy to convince UNSC on flimsy ground,t o impose three sanctions on the people of Eritrea.

I mentioned above that he shoveled the Constitution to avoid accountability and he is predicating, ----his eulogists are echoing-----
his usurpation of the authority of the people on Fear Mongering.

And For his shameful economic performance: he has copied a phrase from North Korea, the so called Self-Reliance, which means Living In perpetual Hypernation, away from the prying eyes.
But not any more!

Part VI

We must build a Nation that is at Peace with itself and the world;
A Nation with its Expressed Will embodied in a Constitution;

A Nation with elected leaders that obey and strictly adhere to the principles of its Constitution; leaders that respect other countries internal affairs; leaders that accept and obey the UN Charter and if there are deficienceis, work diligently with members to fix them.

The perennial problem our people are facing emanates from the fact that Isaias Afewerki, willfuly abolishing the People's Baito and trampling down the ratified Constitution, has been ruling answerable to no Laws, national/international but only in accordance with his unpredictable emotional whims, most often to the detriment of the country and people.

Isaias and EriTv often touts the alleged bliss and peace the country and people are in. To draw the contrast in a dramatic fashion and thus indocrinate Eritreans, whereever they are, EriTv, flashes its screen, every day, every hour, every violent episodes that takes place around the world.

But Isaias, on EriTv, says the bliss and peace he is allegedly witnessing in Eritrea is not enough if it is not replicated in the neighboring countries. I am sure the neighboring countries see this as a threat and very ominous sign.

Any one who visited Eritrea, talked to various people, farmers, teachers, shopkeeprs etc., knows very well that there is no bliss in Eritrea. For any cursory observer, it can appear that there is peace in Eritrea but appearance is deceptive.

The apparent peace is not engendered by joy and happiness but by fear. Eritrea is under military rule and military enforces its law strictly. If you are overheard expressing your political views, you will be picked up and thrown into the jail.

There are no indepndent civilian lawyers in Eritrea to represnt you in court, and there are no independent judiciary to try you either. Under this circumstances, the only viable option for any Eritrean at home is to do, to say, whatever they tell you. In short, act like as if you are a sheep. and sheep is peaceful.
However, it is not political views that can put you at loggerheads with the government, even they can deny you employment, and food, since the government is almost the only employer in country and at the same, the only food distributer. Food is a political weapon in Eritrea to keep the people quiet.

The over all situation of Eritrean people is awful, specially those who do not have family member abroad. But the transformation of begging from shameful practice into accepted way of life can effectively explain the depth our people have lost their self-esteem.;

People who own mini-Bus, shops go around begging. Every corner in the down town of Asmera is occupied with one or two sitting beggars with their small kids; You can not sit in a bus at Edaga Hamus and not be swormed by beggars; the most heart-wrenching sight however is the vicinity of End Mariam Church, where hordes of extremily emaciated and wearing tattered clothes scream at passer-by for food.

Part VII

Eritrean delegations to the Claim session in the Hague in Dec. 19, 2005, were four, of whom, one was Eritrean, and the rest of them, three Europeans.

Conversely, woyane sent five delegates, all of whom were Ethiopians.

The name of Eritrean Delegates were:

1. Mohammed Suleiman Ahmed, Eritrean Ambassador to the Netherlands.

2. Professor Lea Brilmayer , Co-Agent for the Government of Eritrea, Legal Advisor to the Office of Isaias Afewerki.

3. Howard M. Holtzman, Professor of International Law, Yale Law School.
4. Ms. Larraine, Deputy Legal Advisor to the Officer of Isaias Afewerki.


When I saw the list of delegation , I was puzzled and a question flusheds my mind, Is Eritrea Welad Mekan?

Were there not any educated Eritreans who were qualified enough to represent their country at that crucial National hour?

I have no doubt there were and still are, but why were they not favored instead of the aliens?

The Isaias Afewerki did not want educated Eritreans to represent him. Why? First and Foremost, since he was intellectually out witted by the weagles and the outcome was a foregone conlcusion, he decided to limite his embarrassment before Eritreans to a minimum; secondly, to this day, he does not want to be outshined by any educated Eritreans.

The first reason is self explanatory but the second has its roots back in the early 70s when, within EPLF, the Choguar Danga ( peasants-uneducated) were exalted, and the educated were castigated as opportunists ( Muhur Tebelatsi).


I will continue next time with the momentary disappearans of the idea from EPLF and its resurgence now

part VIII

During the early phase of EPLF, Choguar Danga ( peasant) was glorified and the educated was denigrated as opportunist ( Muhur Tebelatsi).
Within the Front was established a Party, dubbed Labor, whose purpose was to streamline the Front along a given ideological framework.

Isaias and Romodan, both top in the hierarchy of leadership, had been educated in Communist China, which had waged dual wars concurrently:

one, liberation against colonialist Japan;

another, against local pro-Western Nationalist, Chiang Kai Shek.

The Chinese war was conducted on the back of the peasants, who were 99% of the population. Since their education level was almost nil, their emotion was easy to brainwash, and their body, hardned and built to endure , was tremendoudly fruitful on the long and difficult struggle.

The reverse was the case with the educated people: very difficult to brainwash; their body relatively soft and above and beyond, they had to be carefully watched lest they infect the peasants to fight for their rights.

It is obvious, therefore, that when the the EPLFs exalted the peasants and castigated the educated as opportunists , they were adopting China for a role model. Only time will tell how many Eritrean elites left the organization demoralized, and how many died through work of conspiracy.
After Mao Tse Tung, died in 1976, Deng Xiaoping took over as the Chairman of Communist Party of China and China has not been the same again. It openned itself to capitalists investments and now, it has become not only the secondest richest nation but also second most powerful nation in the world.

Although the EPLFs lost their role model,Chins, they still had the Soviet Union to lean to, albiet undependable. But when the Soveit Union entered against Eritrean Liberation War on the side of Ethiopia, EPLF had no choice but to look to the Western countries for help. It was for this reason that Isaias Afewerki, probably in 1978/9, officially declared, in Saudi Arabia, that EPLF was not a Communist organization.

Why in Saudi Arabia ? Because Saudi Arabia was/is a puppet of the Western countries and that the Western countries would hear the news very easily and quickly. They did. Many Western journalists flocked to Eritrea to meet and interview Isaias Afewerki; they reported war news and flashed the EPLF victories against the Soviets around the world.

In 1991, Eritrea became Independent; in 1993, after the successful Referendum, the Western Countries recognized Eritrea as independent Nation and welcomed her with their extended hands to the UN. Eritrea complimented their forthcoming recognition by underwriting a democratic Constitution.

But then how and when did the rift between Eritrea and Western Countries transpired?

Part IX

In the early 90s, the love affairs that had developed between Isaias Afeweki and the United States was remarkable, to say the least. He was touted a new model-leader for the rest of Africa.

The Clinton family was so impressed with his past accomplishment and his future democratic program for Eritrea that Hilary Clinton personally came to Eritrea, met with the people and Isaias family. Putting on one of our National dresses, she was all smile and ecstatic.

When he was in coma with Cerebral Malaria in 1993, it was the United States who, aboard her military plane, took him to Israel, where he was treated successfuly and returned back to his county fully recovered.

While the parachute of admiration and respect of Isaias Afewerki was flying high in the stratosphere in the eyes of United States Officials, that of the weagle woyanes' was still at the bottom, neglected with disdain.

But then, all that love affairs suddenly crumbled and the rift between the two has been growing steadily ever since. The question is :

What went wrong?

What was the straw that broke the backbone of the flourishing relationship?
Isaias Afewerki is telling us that the cause is unreconcilable ideological difference.

But is it true?

No. It is false.

Because Isaias Afewerki had already confirmed to the world ,in 1978/9 in Saudi Arabia, that EPLF was not a communist organization. He reconfirmed it in 1993 when he underwritten a democratic Constitution, very much a mirror of that of the USA.

The real straw that broke the backbone of the Eritrean-USA relationship was the reckless visit of Isaias Afewerki to Gadafi of Libya under the illusion of independent foreign policy.

The United States took that visit to Gadafi by Isaias Afewerki as a slap on her face, and placed him on her enemy list.

Back then Gadafi was the enemy of the United States. President Reagan had bombed his residential areas but missed to kill him.

In connection with the Lockerbie incident where more than 200 air travelers people were masscred by terrorist in 1988, Gadafi was imposed with sanction by the UNSC after he refused to cooperate with investigators.

A wise leader of a country must not be led on the spur of his own emotion but by the concern of his own people in particular and the world in general.

He should respect and observe local laws as well as International because promoting peace and tranquility, at home and abroad, is his ultimate goal.

Unfortunately, Isaias Afewerki is very short on that, the result of which the people of Eritrea are paying darely.

Who is benefing on the Isaias Afeweki's foolhardiness and bravado?
The weagle woyane, of course!!

I do not believe we have the same Isaias Afewerki that we had before 1993. In his interviews, he frequently contradicts with his past assertions.

For Instance, when ex-President W. Bush planned to invade Iraq, Eritrea was one of the willing supporters, but lately, Isaias flatly denied it

Part X

"Seeing is believing" as they say. You have to go to the homeland, as I did, to discern the harsh reality under which our people are languisging from the drum of diversionary propanganda Isaias Afewerki and his cronies are beating, day and night.

I will deal with this in full next time. Today, I will show you with concrete facts that Isaias Afewerki, quite contrary to what his eulogists say, did indeed hopelessly try to rekindle his love with the USA through:

1. Voluntering uninvited to be one of the willing supporters of George W. Bush in his war against Iraq;

2. Offering USA Eritrean Red Sea Coasts , Ports and AirPort for use in its war against terrorism.

The motive of Isaias Afewerki was to drive away the weagle woyane from the USA fold and reap all attending benefits. Its reply:Fool me once, shame on you; Fool me twise, Shame on me. He was left high and dry. The USA picked Djibouti. This is the reason Isaias Afewerki has been mouthing foul against the USA. All the other garbages he is telling us against USA are simply to hide his utter failure.

Given the importance of the USA in the diplomatic arena and his past reckless deeds, one would expect him to remain patient and wait for an opportune time.

No! He did not do that. Instead, he chose to exacerbate the situation further by going to Iran, another country whom the United States consider an evil. As a matter of fact, EriTv, gets its news sources from Press Tv, an Iranian property.
//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Here below is the speech of Ambassador Girma Asmerom in 2005 at George Washington University, confirming in black and white that Eritrea was one of the willing partner of George W. Bush on Iraq War.

"................................Partnership with the United States

In line with our commitment and contribution to fight terrorism, Eritrea
sees itself as linked with the world and the United States in the noble
cause to defeat fundamentalism and global terrorism. Indeed, we are charter
members of this fight. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, in recognition
of Eritrea's important role in this united effort, stated in a joint press
conference with President Isaias Afwerki of Eritrea on December 10, 2002 in
Asmara:

"The way we think about the relationship is the way the President stated . .
. it is that this country has been dealing with the problem of terrorism as
our country has. We both agree that these are the kinds of problems that are
global, not the kinds of things that can be dealt with by any single country
that requires cooperation over a sustained period of time, and multi-faceted
relationships that are mutually beneficial . . . we would say that this
country [Eritrea] has considerably more experience than we do. Over a
sustained period of time. And we can benefit from its knowledge and from
that experience."

Eritrea was also the first African country to join the "coalition of the
willing." Our participation was immediate, public and bold. In a written
declaration of its stance delivered to the White House on March 12, 2002,
the Eritrean government stated:

"The decision taken by the Bush Administration to complete an unfinished job
is very much welcome . . . The task is indeed one of completing an
unfinished job for the sake of the stability and security of the Middle East
and the permanent removal of a serious threat without losing another
opportunity. In this vein, Eritrea continues to maintain that the necessary
measures must be taken without equivocation."

Translating words into action, Eritrea has made it clear on a number of
occasions that it stands ready to assist the United States in any way it
can. It has offered among other things its resources, including the use of
its facilities along its 1,200 km strategic Red Sea coastline, two major
deep-water ports in Assab and Massawa and the new airport near the port of
Massawa that can accommodate any size airplane, blanket flyover rights and
the sharing of intelligence.

For any serious anti-terrorist activity to succeed, troops must be on the
ground; airspace flyover rights have to be secured; friendly ports are
needed for refueling and restocking supplies; live fire training facilities
must be close to areas of conflict; air control and radar capabilities need
to be established; and for major ground offensives, there must be a front
line staging base and a solid regional ally to provide unwavering political
and military support. Eritrea is therefore the natural choice and partner.
In this context, I can say that Eritrea stands willing to share the burden
and success of this fight and that on the basis of mutual benefit interest
and respect, we are willing to do even more.

I would like to underline that Eritrea's cooperation with our development
partner is not based on political expediency or financial reward but on
mutual benefit, long range vision and strategic thinking. In this respect,
Eritrea's location along the Red Sea, a major international trade route and
oil rich volatile region, should be utilized to create the favorable
conditions for regional and global peace and stability so that the real
enemies of peace, poverty and ignorance, can be collectively challenged........."



















[DEHAI] AMBASSADOR GIRMA ASMEROM'S SPEECH AT GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY

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From: freweini ("freweini@embassyeritrea.org)
Date: Tue Nov 22 2005 - 12:13:44 EST

On Monday November 21, 2005, at the invitation of the George Washington
University's Elliot School of International Affairs, H.E. Girma Asmerom,
Eritrean Ambassador to the United States and Canada presented forum on
"Eritrean Perspective on the Demarcation of the Eritrean Ethiopian Border."
The Ambassador's written comments, distributed before the event to allow
more time for questions and answers, were delivered in an oral summary.
Members of the audience included, Prof. David Shinn, former U.S. ambassador
to Ethiopia and Adjunct Professor of International Affairs at GWU.
Ambassador Girma's written presentation can be found below.
Embassy of Eritrea
Washington, DC
22 November 2005

AN ERITREAN PERSPECTIVE ON THE DEMARCATION OF
THE ERITREAN ETHIOPIAN BORDER

by

H.E. Mr. Girma Asmerom
Ambassador of the State of Eritrea to the United States

Sponsored by
The Elliott School's Conflict Resolution Forum
at
George Washington University
Washington, DC

Monday, November 21, 2005
7:00 p.m.

Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, good evening.

First, allow me to thank you for inviting me to Elliot School's Conflict
Resolution Forum.

Eritrea, the youngest country in Africa, is one of the most promising
democracies of the African continent. The history of its struggle for
independence dates to the colonial scramble for Africa, during which its
administration passed through the hands of foreign colonial rulers including
the Italians from 1890-1941, the British under a protectorate system from
1941-1952, federation with Ethiopia from 1952-1962 and finally forceful
annexation by Ethiopia in 1962. After thirty years of armed resistance
against Ethiopian annexation and occupation, Eritrea gained its independence
from the Soviet backed communist regime in Ethiopia in 1991. Soon after
independence in 1991, the building blocks for a vibrant democracy were put
in place. In 1993, following the UN observed referendum in which 99.8% of
Eritreans overwhelmingly voted for independence, a National Assembly was
established and Isaias Afwerki was elected president by the legislature.

Eritrea is a country that can be characterized by its immense respect for
and adherence to public awareness building and accountability, grassroots
participation and the rule of law. As a matter of principle, Eritreans
have approached all matters of nation building from the perspective that the
process must be inclusive, transparent, democratic and free of corruption.
This principle is apparent both in law and practice. An undeniable example
of this belief being put into action was the formulation of Eritrea's
Constitution from 1994-1997 during which Eritreans both in and outside of
the country took part in one of the most transparent, extensive and publicly
engaging deliberative processes.

The ratification of the Eritrean Constitution in 1997 first by the
527-member Constitutional Assembly comprised of Eritreans from all walks of
life, representing communities nationally and worldwide and second by the
150-member National Assembly reaffirmed the values upon which Eritreans
struggled tirelessly for decades to realize, including freedom, justice,
democracy, the respect for human rights and gender equality. In line with
the tenets of its national Constitution, Eritrea at this time began the
process for its first Constitutional elections against a backdrop of rapid
social and economic development.

Unfortunately, within months of these commendable achievements, of ratifying
the constitution a seemingly resolvable border conflict with Ethiopia
erupted into all out war in early 1998, during which over 250,000 Eritreans
were quickly mobilized to defend the country, over one million Eritreans
became internally displaced, over 90,000 Eritreans and Ethiopians of
Eritrean origin were forcibly expelled from Ethiopia, 120,000 Ethiopian and
19,000 Eritrean lives were lost and over $500 million of damage was done to
property and the country's infrastructure.

Investing in our people

The people and government of Eritrea, as part of both the country's short
and long-term development strategies, have invested heavily into the
development of one of its greatest resources, its people. As exemplified by
the various indicators, Eritrea's commitment to the physical and
intellectual development of its people is great. With the few resources
available to it and even in the midst of war, Eritrea in the last 14 years
has been able to take command of the development of its people and to
produce tangible results. The principles by which Eritrea achieved its
independence from foreign domination, namely self-reliance, justice and
grassroots democracy, continue to drive the development efforts of the
country today with intensity.

Access to education and proper health care are not only an inviolable human
right in Eritrea but also a matter of national policy. To give you a brief
overview of some of the achievements registered in Eritrea over the last 14
years in these sectors. I would like to mention the following activities.
In the education sector, the number of primary, junior and secondary schools
in Eritrea increased from 473 to 1001, boosting enrollment rates up by more
than 100%. Whereas only one university existed in the country at the time of
independence in 1991, the country now boasts a university which offers
graduate degree programs, a College of Medicine and an Institute of Science
and Technology both recently founded in February 2004 and expanded technical
and vocational schools in which women's enrollment has increased by 129%.
Additionally, colleges of agriculture, marine technology, economics and
business management, social sciences and commerce are established.

In the health sector, hospitals and clinics now located throughout the
country increased by over 200% and are providing services to communities
formerly neglected. Two of the deadly diseases plaguing Africa, malaria and
HIV/AIDS, are being tackled vigorously. Targets to reduce the incidence and
mortality of malaria by 60% set by the Abuja declaration in 2000 to be met
by 2010 have already been fulfilled in Eritrea in early 2004. Eritrean
health authorities therefore have set new targets of 80% for 2005. The
country has one of the lowest HIV/AIDS infection rates in Africa, much of
which can be credited to the aggressive community education and awareness
campaigns taken on jointly by the government, the people and the media. One
such program sponsored by the government of Eritrea to promote peer
counseling and education within the armed forces recently received
international recognition.

Demobilization of the armed forces, which began March 1, 2004 with the
demobilization of 65,000 soldiers, will be completed over three phases. Not
only does the program provide financial and physical assistance to all
demobilized soldiers, but also psycho-social, professional and educational
counseling through a nation wide network of case managers so as to lessen
the difficulties in reintegration and to support rehabilitation.

Economic Freedom

A fundamental part of Eritrea's national development strategy and in
particular its poverty reduction strategy emphasizes the importance of food
security as well as trade in place of aid and the presence of a vibrant
private sector. In order to encourage these two objectives, the government
of Eritrea has implemented very liberal investment and trade policies,
streamlined and now recently computerized the tax system, instituted
programs to provide low interest small business loans and simplified the
business licensing process to a one-stop-shop.

Special attention has also been given to rebuilding Eritrea's
infrastructure, which has included the rehabilitation of the two existing
airports and the construction of two additional modern airports that can
accommodate any size plane, the asphalting of all major roads connecting
Eritrea's cities and towns, the expansion of feeder roads to villages and
areas of agricultural production, the reconstruction of the Asmara - Massawa
railway line, the institution of a national airline carrier, Eritrean
Airlines, the rehabilitation of the two major ports Massawa and Assab, the
electrification of major cities and villages and the upgrading of nationwide
telecommunication services.

Within two weeks of its launching in 2004, the Eritrean mobile provider,
EriTel, sold approximately 10,000 mobile telephone lines, 96.8% of which
were sold to individuals, 3.1% to diplomats and NGO's and 0.03% to senior
government employees.

The liberal trade and investment policies in addition to a number of other
advantages allow unrestricted movement of capital and remittance of profits
and guarantees foreign capital from nationalization. They also encourage
the transfer of Technology, knowledge and expertise through the hiring of
nationals. Out of the 42 companies nationalized by the former Ethiopian
communist regime that ruled Eritrea until 1991, 2/3 of them have now been
privatized. The Asmara Brewery Company and the National Insurance
Corporation of Eritrea are transformed into shareholder companies.

Increased effort has been put into expanding key industries, including
fisheries, tourism, manufacturing and mining, as well as reducing and
eventually eliminating tariff and non-tariff barriers to trade. A Free
Trade Zone Authority has been established and its construction activities in
the port of Massawa have already begun.

In short Eritrea's vision for economic development and regional stability
are anchored in 6 core pillars:
1. Developing our human resources and the acquisition of
knowledge in the fields of science and technology through public investments
in education and health.
2. Adhering to the principles of self-reliance and national
ownership of development strategies to prevent the trap of dependency on
foreign aid
3. Encouraging equitable partnerships in trade and investment
4. Cementing dynamic public-private sector cooperation grounded
in sound regulation and effective public sector institutions free of
corruption and mismanagement
5. Promoting widespread and comprehensive development
throughout all regions of the country with the popular participation of all
Eritreans, especially women and other disadvantaged groups
6. Expanding the physical infrastructure of the country to
create an environment conducive for investment and growth in key
advantageous economic sectors

Ruling Justly

The foundations for a grassroots, inclusive, participatory and transparent
democracy are also taking root. Village and district elections for local
councilmen and magistrates held in 2003, 2004 & 2005 and the 2004 & 2005
elections for regional assembly representatives are clear manifestations of
the people's and government's commitment to the democratic growth of the
country. The 2004 & 2005 elections in the six regions of Eritrea witnessed
92.1% voter participation and the ascension of women candidates to the
forefront of public leadership, making up 30% of the elected regional
assembly representatives. These elections took place without any presence of
social, religious or ethnic strife and have paved the way for the coming
free and transparent national elections. A democracy owned by the people is
a living reality in Eritrea that continues to grow with each day.
Eritrea's battle with terrorism

While Eritrea has labored tirelessly to remove its population from the
scourges of decades of conflict and poverty, it has not had the fortune to
be free from the ugly faces of terrorism that has violently made its
presence known to the rest of the world in recent years. Terrorism is not a
new phenomenon to Eritrea. Wanton acts of terrorism that destroy lives and
property and undermine development have been occurring since 1991.

As a secular state, with 50% Christians and 50% Muslims living in peace and
harmony, Eritrea was one of the first targets for fundamentalist and
terrorist groups. Ten years ago when Osama Bin Laden was an invited guest in
Sudan and supported by the National Islamic Front (NIF) regime in Khartoum,
Al-Qaeda and other terrorist groups financed and trained individuals
constantly attempted to infiltrate Eritrea's borders.

The activities of a handful of Eritrean terrorist groups financed and
trained by the minority regime in Ethiopia and the NIF in Sudan, such as the
Eritrean Islamic Jihad Movement (EIJM) which is a member of the umbrella
organization of mercenary and terrorist groups, the Eritrean Democratic
Alliance (EDA), has links to Al-Qaeda and whose members are trained in
Afghanistan, Sudan and Ethiopia include the planting of land mines in
pastoral and agricultural fields, the shelling of civilian and humanitarian
transports, the destruction of public facilities including schools,
hospitals and water supplies, and the cold-blooded murder of innocent
civilians. They were responsible for the ruthless and brutal murder of 5
Belgian tourists in 1996 and more recently, the murder of British mining
expert, Timothy Nutt, in Bisha near the Sudanese border in April 2003, the
bombing of a hotel in Tessenei in 2004 and massacring of innocent civilians
in Barentu and Aquerdat in 2004.

In spite of these atrocious acts by the Ethiopian and Sudanese financed and
trained mercenaries and terrorists, Eritrea has successfully thwarted their
activities and secured its borders through a disciplined and vigilant people
and approach. Eritrea knows how determined and vicious these ruthless
murderers are and we encourage our partners to stay the course in these
difficult times. The people and government of Eritrea respect the enormous
costs being paid by peace loving peoples all over the world to uproot
terrorists wherever they might be.

Partnership with the United States

In line with our commitment and contribution to fight terrorism, Eritrea
sees itself as linked with the world and the United States in the noble
cause to defeat fundamentalism and global terrorism. Indeed, we are charter
members of this fight. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, in recognition
of Eritrea's important role in this united effort, stated in a joint press
conference with President Isaias Afwerki of Eritrea on December 10, 2002 in
Asmara:

"The way we think about the relationship is the way the President stated . .
. it is that this country has been dealing with the problem of terrorism as
our country has. We both agree that these are the kinds of problems that are
global, not the kinds of things that can be dealt with by any single country
that requires cooperation over a sustained period of time, and multi-faceted
relationships that are mutually beneficial . . . we would say that this
country [Eritrea] has considerably more experience than we do. Over a
sustained period of time. And we can benefit from its knowledge and from
that experience."

Eritrea was also the first African country to join the "coalition of the
willing." Our participation was immediate, public and bold. In a written
declaration of its stance delivered to the White House on March 12, 2002,
the Eritrean government stated:

"The decision taken by the Bush Administration to complete an unfinished job
is very much welcome . . . The task is indeed one of completing an
unfinished job for the sake of the stability and security of the Middle East
and the permanent removal of a serious threat without losing another
opportunity. In this vein, Eritrea continues to maintain that the necessary
measures must be taken without equivocation."

Translating words into action, Eritrea has made it clear on a number of
occasions that it stands ready to assist the United States in any way it
can. It has offered among other things its resources, including the use of
its facilities along its 1,200 km strategic Red Sea coastline, two major
deep-water ports in Assab and Massawa and the new airport near the port of
Massawa that can accommodate any size airplane, blanket flyover rights and
the sharing of intelligence.

For any serious anti-terrorist activity to succeed, troops must be on the
ground; airspace flyover rights have to be secured; friendly ports are
needed for refueling and restocking supplies; live fire training facilities
must be close to areas of conflict; air control and radar capabilities need
to be established; and for major ground offensives, there must be a front
line staging base and a solid regional ally to provide unwavering political
and military support. Eritrea is therefore the natural choice and partner.
In this context, I can say that Eritrea stands willing to share the burden
and success of this fight and that on the basis of mutual benefit interest
and respect, we are willing to do even more.

I would like to underline that Eritrea's cooperation with our development
partner is not based on political expediency or financial reward but on
mutual benefit, long range vision and strategic thinking. In this respect,
Eritrea's location along the Red Sea, a major international trade route and
oil rich volatile region, should be utilized to create the favorable
conditions for regional and global peace and stability so that the real
enemies of peace, poverty and ignorance, can be collectively challenge