The Perils of Debating about Fake Issues with a Real name: A response to, Tekie Fesehatzion.

Usually I read some articles, whenever I get time and pleased with the article. I am selective in reading, not on the author or source but on the issues, with much attention on two issues: the first is for articles that deal about the plights of our people in general and particularly about the thousands of our precious and innocent citizens who are decaying under the archaic tyranny of the one-man regime. The second is on individual liberty. That is I believe, as Eritreans we should have to put much weight on it. I strongly advocate that recognizing the value of every individual Eritrean is the guarantee for our future Eritrea, Eritrea in the post of the one man regime. If all do have certain contribution to democracy and freedom, article of individuals deserve reading.

In line with this belief therefore, I accessed a homepage in case I get an article with my interest, and come across with the response of Berhan Hagos. Following to that I reached Tekie's article which Berhan has targeted. Reading Berhan's response, I read Tekie's article as well for the purpose of reading both sides opinion. To remind Tekie, Let the other voice be listened! “Let the other voice be listened” was Tekie’s article published in Eritrea Profile in summer 2001 that I came to hear about him. That article was translated into Tigrgna by the Meqalih Private Newspaper, now banned including several private news papers. The editors (Mathewos Habteab editor in chief, Dawit Habtemichael coeditor, and Selamyinges Beyene member of the board, and they were graduates of Mathematics, physics and Sociology respectively of the currently dismantled University.

 All these and many other young professionals are with no hint of their whereabouts rotting in the archaic dungeons of “the Eritrean Government". Their crime is one and only one: Translating your voice you wrote in English into Tigrigna. Have you ever thought about these young Tekies, when you go to your bed, to work and in case when you communicate with the regime? In Tigrigna, your name implies replacement or substitute to a great loss that your family might have lost? Those supposed to be Tekie, you know where they are……..?As your name implies you were supposed to be at the forefront to think about the Tekie, Tekaeti (replacements or substitutes). 

When I read the second article of Tekie, I found it just a piece of Tigrigna version of the daily propaganda of the tyrant in Asmara. I don't expect a professor will waste of his precious time serving in this trash propaganda machine. I forced my self to give the name to other individuals; not to the one who have voiced six or so years for the other voice, sadly it is the same name. I voiced the perils of debating about fake issues with a real name. It is a peril, to see our professor allergic to pronounce the absolutely denied Universal Rights of our people, the God given rights. That is why I couldn't resist remaining silent and pass over to react which I never used to do so.

Dear Prof., it is not brutal to say that, by no standard your article isn't worthy for the Eritrean people at this very moment. You have wasted a lot of time and energy just to attack and defame Dr. Jendayi Frazer and Ethiopian regime. Should I remind you that the other voice you wanted to be heard six year ago is by now not only not listened but also completely destroyed? Where are you on this issue? Hundreds of your compatriots are being perished by the human degrading treatment and deprived of their due process of law. Thousands of your fellow people are fleeing from the country, mostly the youth, after they were used and exhausted under the slavery of the regime that still you expecting it to safeguard the sovereignty of our nation. Definitely these thousands of young Eritreans leaving their home are age wise they are your children. They are wondering to have safe heaven, probably in the land that you are comforting now. Unfortunately, after narrowly escaping the merciless regime, they are going with a great danger. For your human attention, about 600 Eritreans are under imminent danger in Libya, ready to be deported to Eritrea, waiting them Capital Punishment? After your recent article, however, no one can expect any sympathy from you toward these young ones. According to your outlook they should stay in Eritrea and defend the nation.

 Our people are dying due to the lack of basic needs and a grave violation of their basic rights. Families are being imprisoned for ransom to their children coming out of the country. Virtually the nation is dead. The regime is out of the heart of the people. Politically and diplomatically the state is out of list. All these are simply the result of ignoring the other voice you claimed to be listened. Sorry to say, it is at the time while your nation is demanding to be avante gadrde of human rights and democracy you preferred to be an avante garde propagandist of the one man tyranny.

What the people who with the other voice are demanding one thing, the removal of the tyrant. In spite of becoming a leading figure in advocating for the rule of law in this very important time, how series can it be your defense for Eritrea's sovereignty? No one can take it as in defense of sovereignty. It is fake issue; it is a myth of prolonging the suffering of our people. If you still are with a belief that we have a threat from Ethiopia, is good to say to you, wake up please! It is only a failed and tyrant regime that they throw this type of fake fear in the public. What the chief negotiator in defending our nation’s interest, Minister Haile Weldense’s philosophy is, Administer and defend the nation constitutionally. Failing to do this is failing your aim of existence as a system. Sadly this failed system still enjoys the support of some so-called professors to speak on behalf.

Here comes the worst, Prof. Tekie concluded his response with the following statement:

"Only the brain dead will tell you there are no problems in Eritrea. There are. Let me put it as plainly as I can for the umpteenth time.  I remain sore at the non-implementation of the 1997 constitution.   But here is the crux of the matter: despite my disappointment, I am not willing to throw the baby with the bath water. The baby is too precious to let go. I suspect the majority of Eritreans feel the way I do."

This reminds me the Tigrigna saying, Kab Qedamayus, Dahrayu Yigedid. Though in a reluctant way, it is good that you didn't deny the colossal problems in Eritrea. But what kind of problems are and who brought these problems? As academician, you are expected to come with concrete reasons and data. Furthermore, as economist you should be ashamed with the current life standard of your people and work for its solution than to attack Dr. Frazer. Further surprising sentence is your opinion regarding the Constitution. I would like to tell you this is not only very mild stand but I suspect, it is your down payment to the post of the current one man rule. I left to others to throw their opinion on your suspicion about the incapability of the Eritrean people to deal their affairs according to Constitution. Similarly regarding to your attack to Berhan Hagos, he doesn’t need any help of others, he is Kindi Shih to challenge you. What I want remind you in this point however, if you don't get allergic with the books he wrote is to find out the real name of George Orwell, the author of Animal farm and 1984. No body cares about his real name, but fascinated with his books. It of an individual most important I hope all of us to be like that, focus on issues rather than on personality. It is the salient feature of tyrants and their company to search out the identity of individuals than the issue in discussion.

 The general import of Tekie’s article settles on the sovereignty. But what is sovereignty? Doesn't include the people, constitution? And how do we defend it?   Constitution is the main instrument of defending a nation. Go through the Constitution of Eritrean (article 25), I believe that you were close to the process of drafting the Constitution of Eritrea. But if you only sore about the non-implementation of constitution, how can you make a nation to defend its interest. A country without a constitution is subjected to all sorts of violations and threat. Take a breath please and think about this question, what is the alternative for a Constitution to administer a country? a decree, a whim of individual leader or a whiskey?

 The border issue which you are "advocating" is finalized with the final and binding verdict. By now the border between Eritrea and Ethiopia is not an exclusive issue of Eritrea and Ethiopia only but it is part of the African borders, and international law. The non-satisfaction of one party can't be a reason to consider or revise the law. Ethiopia's several excuses after the final and binding verdict, in any way can't supersede the legal decision. The method chosen to end the conflict is arbitration. And arbitration by its nature is final and binding. Beyond that in our case it is locked by the phrase ex aequo et bono. The solution for the current stalemate is Ethiopia's unequivocal acceptance for the demarcation, with no ifs, buts, or in principles. It is the duty of all Eritreans to work for that the demarcation to be achieved peacefully. But here, it is the duty of those of us who boldly condemn the tyrant regime in our country and work for its total removal. Those of us we demand a constitutionally limited government which respects the rights of all Eritreans and serves the Eritrean people interest. Those of us, that we call an immediate release of all political prisoners, and prisoners of conscience. But not those who only sore at the non-implementation of the Constitution and that suspect the capacity of our people for democracy. It is only their hypocrisy to see people who deliberately ignore and only sore at the gross violation of our basic rights barking about the sovereignty. As to the tyrant at home and his clique have no moral or legal ground to talk about Eritrea's sovereignty. They are doing their best to administer the nation with the bottles of whiskeys they drink, determined to destroy our nation and our very existence. Sovereignty is the responsibility and capacity of those Eritreans who wish and work for to have a rule of law both in internal and external issues simultaneously.  

To sum up, dear Prof. Tekie, there is time to modify your tune than to be a spokesperson of the merciless one man rule and I urge you to play the role of a Prof. Call an immediate introduction of the fundamental rights in Eritrea first, and then what so ever calls to Ethiopia, and Dr. Jendayi Frazer.

Peace and justice to the people of Eritrea!

24.02.2007

Semere Kesete, Semere.kesete@gmail.com,

Disclaimer: this is my sole opinion and I am responsible for it.