Conference on Eritrea Without the Participation of the Stake Holders!
Berhane Alazar
November 13, 2009
At a conference , held in Brussels on 9th and 10th November 2009, we were told with somewhat amusing fanfare that some Hodgepodge of pompous individuals, self aggrandizing organizations in which the "More Catholic than The Pope" Super Power was reportedly represented by peoples with known grudge against the hard fought and hard won political independence of the State of Eritrea. There was no surprise there, however, for the US, itself, has been the culprit for the negation of Eritrean independence since the 1940s. http://www.eepa.be/wcm/content/view/1038
Speaker after speaker gave it what amounts to "Their two cents" worth, albeit unconvincingly, how everyone of them was concerned about the "Human rights situation", "Religious persecution", "Democracy" and the usual mumbo jumbo that we have been accustomed to hearing from such organizations that routinely shed crocodile tears to the hardship of the "People of the Horn" (read ´Eritrea´)!
So, what was new, if any, about the latest round of Eritrea bashing, as it were, that makes it any different than similar provocation that has been carried out many times against the peoples and Government of Eritrea? To my knowledge – none – other than the usual half-baked analyses and disingenuous "anxiety" mostly based on some misinformation and hearsays.
But, for what it is worth, let me just take a look at a couple of their "Concluding Statements":
1) "Human rights concerns in Eritrea and the region, in the understanding that states and the international community have an obligation to address these concerns"
No problem with that except,
What "Human right concerns"?
When was the last time that the so called international community addressed the persecution and hardship of the Eritrean people who had suffered through out their history in a fair and equitable manner?
Where were the international communities when Ethiopia with the unconditional support of the US and the now defunct USSR were openly trying to subjugate the Eritrean people´s inalienable right to self determination and unquestionable desire of political independence?
What concrete steps had the international communities ever taken to safeguard our Eritrean refugees who escaped from the daunting and persistent aerial bombardment carried out by successive Ethiopian regimes? Has the UN, for example, ever come to their assistance except to throw them at some refugee camps in which some of them lived there , it seems, for ever?!
What has the UN done in the face of blatant Ethiopian government action that saw the expulsion of some 80,000 Ethiopians and Eritreans, not for security reasons but, the Meles regime knew it can do so with impunity!
What has the UN done to enforce the Eritrea Ethiopia Border Commission (EEBC) final and binding decision in which the US was one of the guarantors among the nations that witnessed the Algiers Peace Agreement signing ceremony?
2) "Eritrean Diaspora perspective for opening the country out of repression towards democracy and regional stability"
Two issues need to be looked at in the above somewhat bizarre statement:
Who are these "Eritrean Diasporas"? How were they selected (or should I say invited themselves)? I have a reason to believe those selected for the conference were groups and individuals who have chosen to blemish Eritrea for whatever "advantage" they see above and beyond that of the Eritrean people. Thus, whatever "Perspective" they may have had is a no starter. On the second part of the statement, I am not sure what they were trying to address by "Repression of democracy". At any rate, as a sovereign nation, Eritrea will govern itself with what it deems is necessary for the maintenance of its political independence, national sovereignty and territorial integrity. If that assertion doesn´t bode well with the conference organizers and participants - so be it! Nobody, but nobody, is going to tell us on how to run the affairs of our country! And here is the funny part: "Regional stability". I am not sure what to make of it. But, if I am going to go by past accusations, it probably was a safe bet that they were not acknowledging Eritrea´s contribution to the stability of the Horn region. At any rate, let me just remind the "know it all" zealots that Eritrea is proud of its solid contribution to the stability of the region! These achievements can be witnessed by its contribution to the unity of North and South Yemen, the successful reconciliation talks of the ungrateful Djiboutian authorities with one of their rebel group that was fighting them, "North South Sudan" rapprochement, the Darfur Sudan and the East Sudan initiatives. Add to that its principled stand on the Somalia issue, which is based on letting the Somali people decide their political future with out the interference of external forces which usually comes in the big brother "I know it all" mundane mentality.
3) "The empowerment of Non State Actors in Eritrea and the Horn"
Who are these "Non state actors" that this illegal gathering is supposed to empower and empower for what and under whose authority? No power has a legal mandate to do anything in Eritrea without the explicit authority from the Eritrean Government and people. So, what the hell are these groupies trying to tell us? I am not sure, but we will cross that bridge when we get there.
4) "The respect for the rights of ethnic and minority groups"
Hah? Eritrea is a mosaic of nationalities just like the majority of the nation states of the world. But, perhaps, unlike many countries, we always took it for granted and believe that our diversity is our strength with 9 nationalities living harmoniously. Our history is one of unique peoples´ struggle that has seen every strata of our population voluntarily joining the armed struggle for independence and in preserving its sovereignty. Every citizen, male and female, is treated equally and equally shares the temporary hardship that is imposed on us. So, I am not really sure what "Rights" our "Holier than Thou" groupies want us to know!
5) "Respect for freedom of religion"
One wonders if any of these groupies have ever been to Eritrea, or are they talking about another Eritrea that we Eritreans are not familiar with? What are all these hullabaloos all about? Eritrea is populated by Moslems and Christians who have taken those respective religions voluntarily and are living comfortably as one indivisible people long before the Americans and Europeans were Christians. So, there is plenty of "Freedom of religion" as we know them. But, Eritrea is not prepared nor will it ever accept foreign imposed "Religions" with ulterior motives and on the behest of foreign agents! We have our age-old religions and thank you we do not need an "IMPROVED" version of any of them for God/Allah is the same who does not need to be improved and you can keep your phony religions for what they are worth.
The organizers´ agenda had apparently included much more than I have chosen to repudiate above. But the core of the message seems to be – you guessed it – making Eritrea the boogeyman - for all their miserable failures and political intrigues.
Eritrea is not interested in a sort of "Tit for tat" adventurism. She is busy building her war ravaged and long neglected infrastructure. Eritrea will continue to strife to better the economic lot of its people, which is mostly man made imposed on us in collaboration by the so called international communities. Eritrea believes in some genuine partnership with any country or organization that respects her political independence, national sovereignty and territorial integrity. But, she is not prepared and will never kneel down for handouts and alms no matter where they come from - for that is not in the Eritrean psyche!
Speaker after speaker gave it what amounts to "Their two cents" worth, albeit unconvincingly, how everyone of them was concerned about the "Human rights situation", "Religious persecution", "Democracy" and the usual mumbo jumbo that we have been accustomed to hearing from such organizations that routinely shed crocodile tears to the hardship of the "People of the Horn" (read ´Eritrea´)!
So, what was new, if any, about the latest round of Eritrea bashing, as it were, that makes it any different than similar provocation that has been carried out many times against the peoples and Government of Eritrea? To my knowledge – none – other than the usual half-baked analyses and disingenuous "anxiety" mostly based on some misinformation and hearsays.
But, for what it is worth, let me just take a look at a couple of their "Concluding Statements":
1) "Human rights concerns in Eritrea and the region, in the understanding that states and the international community have an obligation to address these concerns"
No problem with that except,
2) "Eritrean Diaspora perspective for opening the country out of repression towards democracy and regional stability"
Two issues need to be looked at in the above somewhat bizarre statement:
Who are these "Eritrean Diasporas"? How were they selected (or should I say invited themselves)? I have a reason to believe those selected for the conference were groups and individuals who have chosen to blemish Eritrea for whatever "advantage" they see above and beyond that of the Eritrean people. Thus, whatever "Perspective" they may have had is a no starter. On the second part of the statement, I am not sure what they were trying to address by "Repression of democracy". At any rate, as a sovereign nation, Eritrea will govern itself with what it deems is necessary for the maintenance of its political independence, national sovereignty and territorial integrity. If that assertion doesn´t bode well with the conference organizers and participants - so be it! Nobody, but nobody, is going to tell us on how to run the affairs of our country! And here is the funny part: "Regional stability". I am not sure what to make of it. But, if I am going to go by past accusations, it probably was a safe bet that they were not acknowledging Eritrea´s contribution to the stability of the Horn region. At any rate, let me just remind the "know it all" zealots that Eritrea is proud of its solid contribution to the stability of the region! These achievements can be witnessed by its contribution to the unity of North and South Yemen, the successful reconciliation talks of the ungrateful Djiboutian authorities with one of their rebel group that was fighting them, "North South Sudan" rapprochement, the Darfur Sudan and the East Sudan initiatives. Add to that its principled stand on the Somalia issue, which is based on letting the Somali people decide their political future with out the interference of external forces which usually comes in the big brother "I know it all" mundane mentality.
3) "The empowerment of Non State Actors in Eritrea and the Horn"
Who are these "Non state actors" that this illegal gathering is supposed to empower and empower for what and under whose authority? No power has a legal mandate to do anything in Eritrea without the explicit authority from the Eritrean Government and people. So, what the hell are these groupies trying to tell us? I am not sure, but we will cross that bridge when we get there.
4) "The respect for the rights of ethnic and minority groups"
Hah? Eritrea is a mosaic of nationalities just like the majority of the nation states of the world. But, perhaps, unlike many countries, we always took it for granted and believe that our diversity is our strength with 9 nationalities living harmoniously. Our history is one of unique peoples´ struggle that has seen every strata of our population voluntarily joining the armed struggle for independence and in preserving its sovereignty. Every citizen, male and female, is treated equally and equally shares the temporary hardship that is imposed on us. So, I am not really sure what "Rights" our "Holier than Thou" groupies want us to know!
5) "Respect for freedom of religion"
One wonders if any of these groupies have ever been to Eritrea, or are they talking about another Eritrea that we Eritreans are not familiar with? What are all these hullabaloos all about? Eritrea is populated by Moslems and Christians who have taken those respective religions voluntarily and are living comfortably as one indivisible people long before the Americans and Europeans were Christians. So, there is plenty of "Freedom of religion" as we know them. But, Eritrea is not prepared nor will it ever accept foreign imposed "Religions" with ulterior motives and on the behest of foreign agents! We have our age-old religions and thank you we do not need an "IMPROVED" version of any of them for God/Allah is the same who does not need to be improved and you can keep your phony religions for what they are worth.
The organizers´ agenda had apparently included much more than I have chosen to repudiate above. But the core of the message seems to be – you guessed it – making Eritrea the boogeyman - for all their miserable failures and political intrigues.
Eritrea is not interested in a sort of "Tit for tat" adventurism. She is busy building her war ravaged and long neglected infrastructure. Eritrea will continue to strife to better the economic lot of its people, which is mostly man made imposed on us in collaboration by the so called international communities. Eritrea believes in some genuine partnership with any country or organization that respects her political independence, national sovereignty and territorial integrity. But, she is not prepared and will never kneel down for handouts and alms no matter where they come from - for that is not in the Eritrean psyche!
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