An Open Letter to Mr. “Kumsa Aba Gerba”

Dear “Kumsa”,

I read your article of June 26, 2006 under the title of “Eritrea proxy wars on Ethiopia - Revenge of the Imp” in the Sudan Tribune of Aug 13, 2006. It was interesting in that it is amazing how people like yourself and any organization you might represent, keep on regurgitating an old and totally idiotic thought that Eritrea is working for the demise of Ethiopia. Nothing can be further from the truth. Eritrea is on the record of ever advocating for a democratic and united Ethiopia. It is called “Stability” stupid! Unlike these days, when the TPLF leaders seem to be giving some unconvincing lip-service to the idea of United Ethiopia, ever since their infamous “Tigrai Manifesto” back in 1976, it was Eritrea that was strongly advising them that the fate of Tigrai was part and parcel of Ethiopia and that they should work for the establishment of a united and democratic Ethiopia rather than seceding from it!. Eritrea’s long standing desire has been and remains to this day that there is MORE to be gained from a democratic and united Ethiopia and everything to lose from a fragmented and out-of-control neighbor. Stability is normally conducive to peace and tranquility which may in turn lead to that “most dreaded word” among some TPLF supporters – COOPERATION between states. You see, as fate would have it and more importantly, whether we like it or not, the peoples of the Horn are destined to live together. Period! It is not like there was a choice otherwise - unless one wants to live in perpetual denial. To start with, let’s accept that fact. Let us also have the wisdom that we can build on to our natural neighborly confidence with each other by working for the amalgamation of all our sisterly countries’ interest and work diligently to the fulfillment of the way-overdue reconciliation process to heal some old wounds. We must see matters as they are and not, necessarily, as what they “should be” or “Ought to be”. The Horn region, long known more for its misery and desperation than anything else, is not as hopeless and unmanageable as we are lead to believe. Our region has abundant natural resources and our people possess some enviable and ingenious talents. What we are missing sorely, however, and which must be corrected ASAP, is to get rid some of the irresponsible and foreign subservient leaders like the TPLF regime in the dust bins of history and replace them with some true visionary, enlightened and democratically elected leaders and governments who place the interest of their people above everything else. But, to achieve that we in the Diaspora along with our counterparts at home need to work together for the betterment of the livelihood of our people instead of dreaming-up some emotional but erroneous scenarios whose real mission seems to be geared for prolonging the decaying regime in Addis Ababa by putting some last-ditch effort of “Life-support” when it may well be too late. Otherwise, harping over and over on non existent issues like the above referenced article in the Sudan Tribune is a wasteful endeavor and regression instead of moving forward to the wellbeing of the long neglected peoples of the Horn. Our people need peace, education, medical care, dwellings, roads, dams and other infrastructure – not wars, hatred, bigotry and some empty bravado which serves nobody - not even some of the TPLF zealots who frankly seem to be confused and deranged more than anything else. Otherwise why would any reasonable person constantly advocate for war and the unavoidable mutual destruction that is sure to ensue. It may be comfortable – very comfortable indeed - sitting in our chairs in the West and writing about this and that and indulge in such nonsense as the subject article of Kumasa propagates. This fellow has the nerve to spew out non-factual statements and present them as a matter of fact! By doing so, one should not forget that, in the final analysis, it is our people who will fell to be the helpless victims of our irresponsible and emotionally driven statements of nonsense which certainly lack some credence.

Long live the friendship and cooperation of the peoples of the Horn of Africa