By
Nebarai Keshi
June
17, 2003
In
any endeavor, measuring success and failure are part of the package. Keeping
the initial mission intact, one strives to avoid elements that intentionally or
unintentionally change the intended objectives set out for that endeavor.
Things are done in a manner that would augment the success of your goal and
minimize your failure.
For
example, if one sets out to establish a "political opposition force"
with the aim of becoming a government in power, the job becomes
bigger, which requires more sophistication, leadership and great minds.
Unlike other ordinary plans, which may or may not potentially change the
meaning of a given journey, a political opposition's fate is based on how much
success or failure it sustains in its pursuit to become a real, credible and
effective force. And it is arduous task that necessitates political savvy ness,
ingenuity, incisive thinking and leadership skill to achieve the desired outcome.
In carrying out this huge mission, a vibrant and step-by-step system of
building public support must be put in place - a system that galvanizes and
generates a progressive, continuous, and meaningful public support. But
most of all, the opposition force must first establish the basic elements of
being an opposition force. And that is to embrace a legitimate cause, a cause
that identifies itself with the interests, aspirations, problems and needs of
the people it claims to represent.
As
time progresses, alternatives are weighed, programs are evaluated, and a new
plan of actions is designed. These changes reflect new development
and other dynamics that might occur in the society. And this might be an
opportunity for the opposition force to lead and produce some alternatives
against the policies of the incumbent government.
What
any opposition force, however, can’t do in my opinion is to assume
representation without the support and consent of the people. In essence, one
shouldn’t exclude the vital input and role of the people. When people
are sidelined on issues that primarily affect their nation, government, and
their social and economic well being, the significance of an opposition becomes
irrelevant and unrepresenting. In addition, alienating the people, the very
source of strength and backbone of the opposition, causes a serious damage
beyond repair. Not only that, now you have changed the meaning of the
opposition political force from leading, organizing, guiding, advancing the
cause, influencing and facilitating to self-seeking and dictating the
terms of the cause in the name of the people. You have become an opposition
force without representation. Sooner or later, the opposition force loses the
support and voice of the people. Without people, an opposition force is nothing
but a group of people.
Why
does the relationship between any political opposition force and the
people deteriorate? At some point, an opposition force fails its people
for a number of reasons: weak leadership, lack of tangible and measurable
achievements, lack of democratic practices, power friction within the
leadership, lack of viable and appealing programs, self-perpetuating
leadership, and unable to deliver promises ... etc. This development, if
left unchecked, heralds disagreements, barriers, irreconcilable
differences, disorganization, turmoil, and eventually defeat of the opposition
force in real sense, starting from its hierarchical and organizational
institutions to its very foundation. In the end, two options emerge: one is to
admit defeat and join the winners and or to live in self-denial claiming a
"political opposition force" while evidently, ineffective, dead,
unappealing and inoperative political entity. Many groups who claim they are
political opponents symbolize these flaws and drawbacks.
In
the Alliance's case, it is even far worse than defeat. The ELF offshoots,
following their establishment as an Alliance Force in the land of Eritrea’s
lethal enemy, have gone far and changed the essential character and principle
of a noble opposition force. In fact, in perpetuating this undignified act
against the motherland, the Alliance leaders exposed and plunged themselves
into a naked shame and disgrace. As an Eritrea, I saw their Eritrean pride,
spirit, hope, and culture being exploited and abused by Wayne Tigray, an enemy
hell-bent to reverse our independence at the maximum, and to put the legitimacy
of our sovereignty into question at the minimum. In fact, going back to 1981,
it was not an accident when an organization as popular as ELF found itself in
big trouble and collapsed in less than six months period of time in 1981. Now,
one can tell who the real source of this massive failure was? It was Abdella,
Hiruy, Nassir, Suim, and the rest of Labor Party (LP) leaders who were in power
back then. Now, after two decades in hibernation, a sudden political wake up
surfaced in March 1999 (an Alliance of betrayal) and those same self-proclaimed
leaders who failed ELF in 1981declared political opposition force against the
incumbent government in Eritrea. How did this happen?
On
closer examination, these factions suffer from lack of clear vision and
objective analysis of Eritrean situation. Ever since the disintegration of
the ELF, their number grew exponentially. I am not referring here to the
grass-root membership support and strength of the factions. I am pointing out
to the number of factions and personalities who claim they represent an
opposition force. Second, despite their profound hatred and opposition
to the GoE, they failed to establish a minimum untied front that would
help them pressure the GoE. Where were they? Were they in a cooling off period
for twenty years? The truth is no unity or a joint working mechanism of any
sort was ever successful or possible until the war broke out between
Eritrea and Ethiopia in 1998. Third, over the course of twenty years, the
support of Eritrean people dwindled dramatically; their operational and
organizational infrastructure collapsed which once used to be reasonably
effective and vibrant. Fourth, each and every one of them came up with
seemingly a political program of their own, in which none of them could be
considered viable and inclusive working programs. Not only that, they went
on a barrage of political acrimony, destructive criticism,
vilifications, and belittling at each other which rendered further defeat to
their cause.
Not
long ago after the collapse of ELF in 1981, these factions adopted a
policy of seeking foreign support and alliance seemingly to strength their
individual factions in isolation of Eritrean people. For example, those of
Sagim and EDM went to Ethiopia, ELF of Abdella Idris and the fanatic clerics
holed up in Saudi Arabia and Sudan, and the ELF-RC went all over the
globe. Needless to say, when the war began all of them surrendered and ended up
in supporting and boosting TPLF's war of aggression against Eritrea. Such
irresponsible, unpatriotic, and self-seeking alliance with Woyane and
other foes in time of war crumbled their cause and rendered them illegitimate
political force in Eritrea. Majority of their supporters lost hope and
withdrawn their membership; Eritrean people didn't see the benefit of joining
or supporting these factions. As we know, these are the most unpalatable
facts the leaders of the Alliance have always refused to recognize and
admit. They have become a bunch of leaders who are down-to-earth afraid to
change their minds. This Alliance, a gathering of fanatics, opportunists, and
tribalists can’t deliver a formidable opposition to the GoE.
Then,
came March 1999 and we were told the formation of the Alliance was
concluded in Mekele, Tigray. This is the first and the only alliance ever
to happen twenty years after ELF disbanded as an organization in 1981. On the
surface, it sounds positive, but the timing and the political circumstances,
and other key variables under which the Alliance was formed
confirms otherwise. In their feeble minds, the war was taken as a new reality
to be seized immediately. Little do they know that the war that Woyane unleashed
on us was a critical and decisive moment that almost shook our hard won
independence? However, in an environment full of cynicism and doubts, Eritreans
defended their country and stood tall as always. Eritreans have always
encountered such predicaments from many corners, but we proved them wrong time
and time again.
Now,
let me underline few points how the Alliance leaders get duped and played into
the hands of Woyane during the war:
·
The creation
of the Alliance of betrayal took place under the roof of TPLF in March 1999,
precisely at a time when our enemy (TPLF) was conducting a full-fledged
aggression against Eritrea.
·
Once Woyane
reigned on them, the newly formed Alliance factions were given all the
help they needed and soon after became part of Woyane's invading army. In the
wake of the war, their handful units were stationed in Senafe side by side with
the occupying Ethiopian army.
·
As the war
progressed to its peak, the Alliance intensified their political
propaganda on behalf of Woyane. To our dismay, they made it their single
mission to discredit and damage their own country and people in tandem with
Woyane in the middle of a ravaging war. Eritrean people will never forget this
unholy alliance with Woyane.
·
Unequivocally
supported and endorsed Woyane's formal declaration of
war against Eritrea. No criticism or own perspective of the war
was ever written or spoken against Woyane.
·
When the
GoE and its people came to the defense of the country, however, the
Alliance leaders scorned and despised it. The Alliance leaders further
accused and blasted the GoE of conducting "unjust war or
unjustifiable war", however one defines the theory of just or unjust
war.
·
The Alliance
leaders toured Europe and North America in August and September of 2000 to
defend and justify Woyane's invasion and occupation of our territories.
There was one such meeting held in Washington, DC attended by Tewolde of Sagim
and others.
·
When Woyane
deported 80+ thousand Eritreans in an inhumane way, the Alliance leaders
wholeheartedly welcomed the action. In fact, they accused the deportees as
being spies and security operatives of Shaebia.
·
The Alliance
leaders mobilized their resources and called upon Eritrean people to stop
financial and material support to defend their country. For example, their
radio broadcasting program from Mekele, Tigrai was aimed at producing as much
lies and distorted information about the war as possible corroborating the most
damaging language of Woyane.
In
sum, the whole strategy was based on seemingly mistaken but conspiratorial and
subversive enterprise that assumed the aggression of TPLF would succeed to its
fullest mighty, meaning paving the way for the Alliance leaders to grab state
power in Eritrea. The war was believed to produce a fast-track journey to
power; at least that was what they thought would happen at the end of
the war. In fact, this was the main downfall that brought them irreparable
damage to their cause. Again, the Alliance leaders must have been at the
height of their political naivety and illusion to engage themselves
in a series of political and national blunders against Eritrea for the
sake power. However, the truth is had Woyane succeeded in occupying Eritrea,
the Alliance leaders would have been the next enemies of Woyane. No, they don't
want to hear this truth. They call it speculation and unfounded evidence
perpetuated by Shaebia for domestic consumption. These leaders can’t think
outside the box, nor can they free themselves from the bondage of Woyane
Tirgay.
The
point is when leaders such as Abdella, Hiruy, Yassin, Suim, Tewelde...etc get
converted into treason and collaboration with Eritrea's enemies, it becomes an
act that categorically defies the basic tenents of genuine political opposition
force. Moreover, it is also a political behavior born out of years of defeat,
bitter feeling, and frustration that have driven them away from the principles
of genuine political adversary. You know, prudent and responsible political
opponents soon recognize defeat and learn something positive out of it.
However, it would be unthinkable by any standard to cross the borderline and
rally themselves with the enemy of their own country. That would be only the
work of people who betray the people of Eritrea behind an enemy known for its
naked aggression and destruction. It is a matter of time before Eritrean
historians began to set the facts and records of these political losers into
history books.
When
defeat bears unprecedented level of disloyalty and breach of national trust, it
soon becomes a trademark of destruction and annihilation. It is also a mark of
fundamental departure from the primary national obligation - an obligation that
an opposition political force sets out to achieve. We can also see
how defeat throws individuals such as Hiruy and Abdella into
collaboration, unbecoming behavior, and unsuccessful venture to the extent of
inviting external forces to topple a national government without knowing the
irreversible consequences that might follow as a result of it. I believe opposition
force in our country is vital and necessary. But no group will be welcomed to
undercut Eritrea’s legitimacy and sovereignty in the name of opposition. No
opposition, political differences, or hatred of Shaebia rises above Eritrea and
its people. And for those of you who aspire to establish a political opposition
force in Eritrea, you must keenly study the political attrition and failures of
the so-called Alliance force. Moreover, please don’t follow the footsteps and
political trail of the Alliance force in any form or shape. It is driven by
defeat and frustration. They are kaput and finished. What part of the defeat
did Hiruy or Abdella not understand?
The
Alliance leaders may seem important and serious with their unending
declarations, resolutions, press releases, and sometimes ultimatums, but all
they do is present a twisted and perverted politics to cover up their defeat.
It is not hard to decipher when the minds of defeated individuals such Hiruy,
Abdellla and their stalwart supporters flounder helplessly. The kernel of the
truth is that Abdella, Hiruy and their associates have played the most damaging
role during and after the war against their own country. It is hard to reverse
what they did to Eritrea and its people. There is no way around it, and it
wouldn’t matter much what they do and say. It is rubbish, nonsense, and
unpatriotic. They can't admit that the Alliance leaders were charged with the
responsibility of attacking and discrediting Eritrea's legitimate right to
defend itself. My question is how many defeats does it take for those of
Abdellas and Hiruys to realize that their chances of becoming government in
Eritrea are bleak and nonexistent? When do they shed the legacy of ELF? What took place
twenty-three years ago can’t be used to derail democracy in Eritrea, nor can it
be exploited to the detriment of Eritrea and its people.