The Eritrean question: Patterns of State Sponsors of Terrorism
Eremias Woldemikael
October 18, 2007
Few weeks ago, US State Department officials warned the regime in Eritrea, led by Isaias Afeworki to improve its behavior or be listed with the category of states that sponsor terrorism. Recently, the regime had also been cited in multiple UN reports as a country that supports and arms the now defunct Jihadist group known us Islamic Courts Union in Somalia. In Sri Lanka, it was also being suspected by the US Senate Foreign Relation committee of supporting the Tamil Tiger group which had pioneered suicide bombing as a tactic in the modern era. The New York Times correspondent Jeffrey Gettleman has recently been reporting about the horn of Africa region, and he seems to have shifted his attention to Eritrea. In his article, there was a slight hint of excusing the Isaias regime by bringing up its record of fighting against international Jihadist in Sudan. Some arguments about whether the Eritrean regime sponsors terrorism or not have also been made by some commentators. Unfortunately, a much more recent article of Gettleman has also referred positively to the “self- reliance policy” of Isaias government.
It is true that Isaias' government had fought foreign Jihadists when they were against its interest. While the purpose of this article is not to question or validate accusations of sponsoring foreign terrorists, I am convinced that the regime has now decided to fight with the Jihadist against others when it is in its interest. That has been answered, keeps being answered, and will most likely be answered by the relevant agencies of the UN and US. The aim of this article is to alert correspondents and policy makers to consider what terror-sponsoring regimes have in common with each other. By discussing that, one may achieve a moral and policy clarity as to what to do with the Eritrean regime and the likes of it.
By now, most people probably know the tyrannical systems of government terror-sponsoring nations such as North Korea, Syria, Cuba Sudan, Iran, and formerly Libya have. Human rights records of those nations and the treatment of citizens living in those nations are well known, too. Most of these regimes have first brutalized and terrorized their own people before they export that terror to other countries. Does the regime in Eritrea fit the image of those countries? The answer is: Yes, it has acted inline with the record of those nations.
Like the states listed as sponsors of terrorism, the government of Eritrea led by the sole party which calls itself People’s Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ) has routinely misgoverned and inflicted feeling of terror and tyranny on it s own people. When policy makers decide and reporters tell the story of such regimes, it is crucial to consider and examine the record of such regimes towards their own people. To illustrate the situation in Eritrea, it seems necessary for me to share observations and stories told to me by people in the country in my summer trip there.
I had a great opportunity to interact and observe many people’s feelings, but one of my relatives had a clever story or joke to tell. His father had been “martyred’ in the 70’s. He was kidnapped in the late 80s into conscription by Eritrean People’s Liberation Front (EPLF). Abduction and subsequent political indoctrination were a common form of recruitment for EPLF or Shaebia [Arabic shortened name of PFDJ, formerly EPLF] as it was commonly known. The rebel organization finally succeeded in its aim of splitting Eritrea from Ethiopia in 19991. The organization renamed itself People’s Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ).
My cousin had wanted and still wants to be demobilized from the defense department to raise his four kids, but the government had refused to release him of military duties. He was designated to be part of the elite Special Forces of the regime known us Division 525.
He began to tell me a common joke of Asmara about governance. He started by saying that a man was sharing his knowledge about political ideologies that govern the world. The man stated, “The world was governed by two dominant ideologies. One was Socialism which rules China and others and the other one was Imperialism [Western Capitalism] that rules America and Europe’ When the man was asked where Eritrea belonged in these categories, he replied, “Ah, Eritrea is governed by `Sakitism’.” In the slang terminology of Tigrinya, "Sakit" signifies aimlessness, haphazardly, or impulsively. There fore, Eritrea was an exception in its own category.
Leaving aside the crude understanding of the joker on the complex ideologies that are ruling the world, the story was amusing and on point in describing the unpredictable nature of the Eritrean system of government. This also said much about the sympathy of the people including members of the [non-service members] regular military. Indeed as they said, Eritrea is governed by haphazard, indifference, and unpredictability.
There is no constitution to speak of or guide the action of either the government or the people. The government that is in power is unelected and Transitional. The transitional national assembly which was composed of 75 unelected members of the Party and 75 elected regional representatives used to meet to rubber stamp the whims of Isaias. Now, it has not even met to do that since 2001. We have not heard of the national assembly in the last six years.
The comrades and ministers of Isaias who had asked for the implementation of the drafted Constitution and questioned his competence in the aftermath of the Ethio-Eritrean War of 1998-2000 are still jailed. The editors and journalist that published their questions are still jailed, too. The health or death of those individuals is not known to any one. They get no visits either from their family or International humanitarian or rights groups. They had never been formally charged or tried in any court. Some credible websites had recently reported on the death of some of the ministers, one general, and a well known local journalist.
Isaias, his Generals, and Colonels are ruling the country as they please. Basically, the government of Isaias Afeworki is accountable to no one. It does not even listen to International bodies or world powers anymore. The only friend of the regime in the world seems to be Muammar al-Gaddafi of Libya.
The jokester had a clever word to describe the ideology of the government. However, his term does not describe the form of government. I am tempted to call it Banditry. However, the old bandits of Eritrea, who roamed the highlands, had strict codes of Honor against entering a household headed by a woman. It would be dishonoring to such bandits to be equated with the rulers of Shaebia who have no honor towards the elderly or women. I call Shaebia’s rule “Thug-ocracy” Anyway one describes it, however, there is no legitimate government in Eritrea. There are only men with guns that are forcing people without guns to obey.
Those in power describe their organization as People’s Front for Democracy and justice. However, as Voltaire had described the Holy Roman Empire as Neither, Holy, nor Roman, nor Empire; Isaias’ party is neither people’s nor for democracy nor for Justice. In fact, it is against all of these ideals.
Reminiscent to the pre-independence years the young people of Eritrea are being extorted into signing up for unlimited years of “National service” in exchange for the chance to finish the last grade of high school. Some decide not to sign up for such deals, and they are sent to the “Gulag-like” labor camp of extreme heat and humidity known us Wi’a, in the lowlands of Eritrea. Then, they are transferred to a less harsh military training camp for a whole year before they are sent to the endless service program.
The freedom of movement within the country is limited. During my travels back and forth within Asmara, I had to pass through the notorious checkpoints. To reach my destination in the southern region, I had to pass through 4 checkpoints reminding me of the old Ethiopian Derg regime days of “Blokos” or check blocks.
In these checkpoints young people are asked to show their “Movement papers” that are often issued by the defense ministry. I was asked for those papers, but upon seeing my foreign passport, the guards often returned it immediately probably because it was difficult to read. These checkpoints and papers are supposed to dissuade the young generation from escaping the undetermined and unlimited national Service program or escaping from the country entirely.
Unlike the opportunity Mr. Gettleman and others enjoy in other countries, there is no free media of any kind in the country. In fact, the records of reporter’s advocacy groups, human rights organizations, and the State Department are filled with instances of how Eritrea is the biggest jailer of journalists. It is also known as the biggest violator of human rights, freedom of the press, religious rights, and political and civil rights.
There have not been national elections for the last 16 years to redress such grievances. Eritrea is a mini-North Korea without nuclear weapons. Now that it has completely accomplished oppressing its own people, Isaias' regime is capable of allying itself with terrorists or other extremists, if it is helpful to its survival.
The presence of the Al Qaeda-linked Dahir Awey in Asmara in the last few weeks has answered the question of whether the Eritrean regime sponsors terrorist groups. Now, the question is not whether the Eritrean regime sponsors terrorist groups or had anything in common with the regimes that belong in the list of state sponsors of terrorism Now the question is how do the UN and US punish the regime without punishing the innocent people who had been enduring terrorism and tyranny by their own government. The UN sanction regime of Iraq during the Saddam years must be remembered to avoid a humanitarian crisis.
It is true that Isaias' government had fought foreign Jihadists when they were against its interest. While the purpose of this article is not to question or validate accusations of sponsoring foreign terrorists, I am convinced that the regime has now decided to fight with the Jihadist against others when it is in its interest. That has been answered, keeps being answered, and will most likely be answered by the relevant agencies of the UN and US. The aim of this article is to alert correspondents and policy makers to consider what terror-sponsoring regimes have in common with each other. By discussing that, one may achieve a moral and policy clarity as to what to do with the Eritrean regime and the likes of it.
By now, most people probably know the tyrannical systems of government terror-sponsoring nations such as North Korea, Syria, Cuba Sudan, Iran, and formerly Libya have. Human rights records of those nations and the treatment of citizens living in those nations are well known, too. Most of these regimes have first brutalized and terrorized their own people before they export that terror to other countries. Does the regime in Eritrea fit the image of those countries? The answer is: Yes, it has acted inline with the record of those nations.
Like the states listed as sponsors of terrorism, the government of Eritrea led by the sole party which calls itself People’s Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ) has routinely misgoverned and inflicted feeling of terror and tyranny on it s own people. When policy makers decide and reporters tell the story of such regimes, it is crucial to consider and examine the record of such regimes towards their own people. To illustrate the situation in Eritrea, it seems necessary for me to share observations and stories told to me by people in the country in my summer trip there.
I had a great opportunity to interact and observe many people’s feelings, but one of my relatives had a clever story or joke to tell. His father had been “martyred’ in the 70’s. He was kidnapped in the late 80s into conscription by Eritrean People’s Liberation Front (EPLF). Abduction and subsequent political indoctrination were a common form of recruitment for EPLF or Shaebia [Arabic shortened name of PFDJ, formerly EPLF] as it was commonly known. The rebel organization finally succeeded in its aim of splitting Eritrea from Ethiopia in 19991. The organization renamed itself People’s Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ).
My cousin had wanted and still wants to be demobilized from the defense department to raise his four kids, but the government had refused to release him of military duties. He was designated to be part of the elite Special Forces of the regime known us Division 525.
He began to tell me a common joke of Asmara about governance. He started by saying that a man was sharing his knowledge about political ideologies that govern the world. The man stated, “The world was governed by two dominant ideologies. One was Socialism which rules China and others and the other one was Imperialism [Western Capitalism] that rules America and Europe’ When the man was asked where Eritrea belonged in these categories, he replied, “Ah, Eritrea is governed by `Sakitism’.” In the slang terminology of Tigrinya, "Sakit" signifies aimlessness, haphazardly, or impulsively. There fore, Eritrea was an exception in its own category.
Leaving aside the crude understanding of the joker on the complex ideologies that are ruling the world, the story was amusing and on point in describing the unpredictable nature of the Eritrean system of government. This also said much about the sympathy of the people including members of the [non-service members] regular military. Indeed as they said, Eritrea is governed by haphazard, indifference, and unpredictability.
There is no constitution to speak of or guide the action of either the government or the people. The government that is in power is unelected and Transitional. The transitional national assembly which was composed of 75 unelected members of the Party and 75 elected regional representatives used to meet to rubber stamp the whims of Isaias. Now, it has not even met to do that since 2001. We have not heard of the national assembly in the last six years.
The comrades and ministers of Isaias who had asked for the implementation of the drafted Constitution and questioned his competence in the aftermath of the Ethio-Eritrean War of 1998-2000 are still jailed. The editors and journalist that published their questions are still jailed, too. The health or death of those individuals is not known to any one. They get no visits either from their family or International humanitarian or rights groups. They had never been formally charged or tried in any court. Some credible websites had recently reported on the death of some of the ministers, one general, and a well known local journalist.
Isaias, his Generals, and Colonels are ruling the country as they please. Basically, the government of Isaias Afeworki is accountable to no one. It does not even listen to International bodies or world powers anymore. The only friend of the regime in the world seems to be Muammar al-Gaddafi of Libya.
The jokester had a clever word to describe the ideology of the government. However, his term does not describe the form of government. I am tempted to call it Banditry. However, the old bandits of Eritrea, who roamed the highlands, had strict codes of Honor against entering a household headed by a woman. It would be dishonoring to such bandits to be equated with the rulers of Shaebia who have no honor towards the elderly or women. I call Shaebia’s rule “Thug-ocracy” Anyway one describes it, however, there is no legitimate government in Eritrea. There are only men with guns that are forcing people without guns to obey.
Those in power describe their organization as People’s Front for Democracy and justice. However, as Voltaire had described the Holy Roman Empire as Neither, Holy, nor Roman, nor Empire; Isaias’ party is neither people’s nor for democracy nor for Justice. In fact, it is against all of these ideals.
Reminiscent to the pre-independence years the young people of Eritrea are being extorted into signing up for unlimited years of “National service” in exchange for the chance to finish the last grade of high school. Some decide not to sign up for such deals, and they are sent to the “Gulag-like” labor camp of extreme heat and humidity known us Wi’a, in the lowlands of Eritrea. Then, they are transferred to a less harsh military training camp for a whole year before they are sent to the endless service program.
The freedom of movement within the country is limited. During my travels back and forth within Asmara, I had to pass through the notorious checkpoints. To reach my destination in the southern region, I had to pass through 4 checkpoints reminding me of the old Ethiopian Derg regime days of “Blokos” or check blocks.
In these checkpoints young people are asked to show their “Movement papers” that are often issued by the defense ministry. I was asked for those papers, but upon seeing my foreign passport, the guards often returned it immediately probably because it was difficult to read. These checkpoints and papers are supposed to dissuade the young generation from escaping the undetermined and unlimited national Service program or escaping from the country entirely.
Unlike the opportunity Mr. Gettleman and others enjoy in other countries, there is no free media of any kind in the country. In fact, the records of reporter’s advocacy groups, human rights organizations, and the State Department are filled with instances of how Eritrea is the biggest jailer of journalists. It is also known as the biggest violator of human rights, freedom of the press, religious rights, and political and civil rights.
There have not been national elections for the last 16 years to redress such grievances. Eritrea is a mini-North Korea without nuclear weapons. Now that it has completely accomplished oppressing its own people, Isaias' regime is capable of allying itself with terrorists or other extremists, if it is helpful to its survival.
The presence of the Al Qaeda-linked Dahir Awey in Asmara in the last few weeks has answered the question of whether the Eritrean regime sponsors terrorist groups. Now, the question is not whether the Eritrean regime sponsors terrorist groups or had anything in common with the regimes that belong in the list of state sponsors of terrorism Now the question is how do the UN and US punish the regime without punishing the innocent people who had been enduring terrorism and tyranny by their own government. The UN sanction regime of Iraq during the Saddam years must be remembered to avoid a humanitarian crisis.
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