Meskerem 12/15/2005
Meskerem contacted Dr. Yohannes Zeremariam before his departure to the
west coast to participate in the "open forum" and invited him to make
comment on the current issues. The following are the comments:
On the recent rumors of an attempt on the life of the
Eritrean President:
He said, "The rumors of an attempt on his life saying that either way they mark
the weakness of the dictatorship. Dictators all over the world use real or
presumed attempts to get rid of groups they consider dangerous. So whether a
real coup has been attempted in Eritrea (which shows that people are emboldened
and will try again) or Issayas wants to get rid of rivals ( which proves his
paranoia is rising and those he trusts are getting fewer and fewer) the regime
is weakened.
On the possibility of war:
The dictator would love a skirmish but cannot afford a full fledged war.
On the Opposition and the Leadership of the Opposition
The regime is weakened does not mean the end is near, because unfortunately
for us Eritreans, our country is run by a crippled (thus more vicious)
dictatorship, and our opposition is even in worse conditions. If the saying
that a people deserve the leaders they get is even slightly true, then we must
be goading the spirits, just look at all our leaders!
On the Youth and the Opposition:
"You know there are more than 11000
(eleven thousand) young men and women in refugee camps around Shire where the
EDA recently held a military seminar, and there are as many if not more in camps
around Kassala. Most of these young people are trained soldiers who deserted the
dictator's army. Anybody with even the slightest intention of military action
would most certainly think about them. Again any political activist militant
against the dictatorship would most certainly work on the hot issue of young
Eritreans dying in the desert trying to reach an opening of hope or in the
Mediterranean trying to cross to Malta and Italy.
On the role
of the Public:
"The only voice heard of any significant political meaning in recent months are
the activities of the Eritrean civic societies to whom I express my most sincere
gratitude for keeping our cause alive."
On Sudan and Ethiopia:
"Peace in Sudan, turmoil in Ethiopia? Their business as Issayas is our business.
Good neighborly relations and each take care of their own sore points, and no
offences given nor none taken.
The San Diego meeting. Who is invited and what issues are included? Will you allow the above issues to raised.
San Diego will be an open forum and no limit to what can be said