ERITREAN DEMOCRATS SHOULD TACKLE
DICTATORSHIP FROM ALL CORNERS
BY EAIM

Fellow Eritreans, as we lurch from crises to crises, we have to stand on our feet on our move. We entered the heart of Eritrea in 1991 through the rubbles of war, parched fields, shrinking forests, dying rivers, craters left by F5 bombs. After all those sacrifices of our gallant fighter brothers and sisters, now our country, almost cease to be merely a country and became the prison of its citizens. Ladies and gentle men and fellow Eritreans the scale of operation or the governance system should change dramatically once and for all. Eritreans through out our history recognized the need for our own system of government for the people by the people and to the people. Our struggle enabled us to get rid of colonialism with the heavy lose of life and property not taking into account how colonialism hampered our economic and social development. To the surprise of ourselves, the world community and peace living nations we ended up with brutal dictatorship. After all those sacrifices in our armed struggle how could such thing happen? Most Eritreans believed in bright future and fought side by side irrespective of nationality for the common question first and for most which is colonialism. Eritrean liberation heroes do remember now the tricks of these dictators used to play military slogans like “pack up and walk until your legs fail you, where you never ask -tebges yebluka tebeges , kid kesab egrka tegurest, naby aytehateten.”

Democracy is simply defined as “GOVERNMENT BY THE MAJORITY OF CITIZENS”. Laws and decisions are made by democratic governance and citizen participation, not by a monarch or dictator. Thus, legitimacy and power is given to individuals and agencies through the people they govern, not because of family heritage or military strength. A government is an organization that has the power to make and enforce laws for a certain territory. “Govern” means the power to administer, whether an area of land, a set group of people, or an association.

The process through which a political system becomes democratic depends on the political reality of the society, nature of the existing government in power, social and economic development of that particular society, maturity and strength of the political opposition, etc.

Aristotle defined democracy as rule by the people, and this idea that in some way the people govern themselves is still the core meaning of democracy. But around this idea several related themes have developed that are now integral to what democracy means. They can be stated as:
People govern themselves by regular elections through which their highest leaders are periodically determined (representative democracy) or policies governing them are chosen (direct democracy).

The right to vote that includes all adults. This is modern addition. Not so long ago governments were called democratic that exclude from the franchise all slaves, women and people that did not meet certain property or literacy requirement.

The acceptance of certain democratic rights, such as the right to vote, the right to have one’s vote counted equally, the right to run for office and the right to organize political groups or parties.

Provide the framework for democratic rule and this protects democratic rights.
In addition to the above basic meaning of democracy, the following must be present in order democracy to exist. Free communication media, open competition for political office- which means more than one political parties, religious freedom, freedom of expression, freedom of association, constitution, peoples economic power, minority rights and political right of nationalities.

How is the above ideal to be achieved in our beloved Eritrean contemporary political situation?

The other day I talked to a young Eritrean who came to the US. who is fortunate enough to escape EPDJ prison. I asked him how life was in Eritrea? He said “ it would be an utter lie if I say to you it was fine. I read about slavery in my history lessons, but I don’t think you will believe me if I say to you slavery is the Eritrean experience of every day life”.

Eritrea faces very serious challenge in the task of nation building and growth of the political culture, which accepts that all the citizens and every citizen should be free to participate in framing the destiny of the country in accordance with his or her conscience.

FRUITS OF DEMOCRATIC STRUGGLE:
· Expand the circles of development and build the infrastructures of democracy.
· Ignite workable economic policy.
· Strengthen alliances to deal with poverty, healthcare and illiteracy.
· Prevent saboteurs from destruction.
· Champion aspirations for human dignity.
· Work with others to defuse regional conflicts.
· Develop agendas for cooperation.
· Erect multi-party democracy
· Allow freedom of conscience, of expression and of association.
· Respect life, liberty, security, of the person and protection of the law.
· Establish the law of the land, which is the constitution and enforce its practice.

THE SCOURGE OF DICTATORSHIP:

· Enslave Eritrans in the name of national service and defense of the mother- land.
· Massacres people.
· Herd Eritreans in prisons of unknown locations.
· Open accounts and invests in places like China while Eritrea is deprived of hard currency.
· Practice corruption and bribery in governance.
· Dived and rule.
· Cause human suffering of mal-nutrition, hunger, illness, and ignorance.
· Cause economic destruction by governing the country with no economic plan.
· Cause severe bodily and mental pains on the people who govern.
· Creates flood of refugees.
· Reins on one-party dictatorship the negation of our armed struggle and the Oath of independence.

In the last few years since independence of our beloved Eritrea, the objective and subjective conditions had ripened making it possible to firmly and irrevocably root out the dictatorial regime in our country, and to create a genuine, revolutionary political parties and civic societies spread to every corner of Eritrea, intensifying the mass struggles for democratic and human rights and national liberation.

Three major water-shed historical era occurred in our historic struggle since the Eritrean entity was clinched in the nineteenth century.

· The heroic struggle of our fathers and mothers for the independence of Eritrea which ended up in federal yoke.
· Our historic armed struggle that enabled us to snatch our independence.
· The presented day struggle for democratic and human rights, for national liberation and economic development.

Today Eritreans have the task of liberation which voluntarily and enthusiastically have chosen to undertake. Eritrean revolutionaries have the obligation to erect stable Eritrea by putting an end to the grip of the dictatorial regime. The eventual goal is to turn to political, social and economic reconstruction to make it the pre occupation of all Eritreans, where we can create growth and development, so that injustice vanish and just distribution of resources and power prevail and people will employ in fruitful production.

Even in peaceful and stable Eritrea people will differ in their political, social and economic approach. People differ in their approach in accordance to their need and aspirations. That is why Eritreans are trying to get rid of dictatorship and establish multi-party democracy. Some people confuse the contemporary political stage we are at in the opposition camp with full fledged political system establishment. In many political gatherings and seminars we see and hear some people saying “ we form committees representing the people. The leaders of political organizations must be accountable to the Eritrean people”. We say this is like putting the cart before the horse. We are not there yet. Political or ganization leaders are accountable to their political program, united front leaders are accountable to their charter. We are at the era of revolutionary struggle where organization members serve their political program and the mass follow the one which they think will serve their interest. This is the era where political organizations may contemplate transition to political parties, form alliances, united fronts etc. It is crucial that all revolutionary organizations unit on minimum national program which enables us transition to provisional national government. That is why we hailed the formation of the Eritrean National Alliance ENA, now EDA and joined it to contribute to the effect of liberation.

Fellow Eritreans should be aware and attentive to distinguish rhetoric from unity for plan of action. Rhetoric is defined as “the art of expression and the persuasive use of language may be insincere or pretentious so as to influence or persuade others.” Rhetoric appeals to emotions rather than reason. Rhetoric duels on creative speeches rather than documentation and records of achievement..

Nowadays some Eritrean opposition organizations are issuing joint communiqué of agreement, others communiqué of understanding. Some are EDA members, others are outside EDA. People say “unity is strength”. Is it universal? We say it depends on the nature, history, circumstances and the scope of the unifying factors. Countries, parties, organizations form alliances, unity, federations--- etc like UN, AU, Arab league for international, regional, economic and political interests and some times overlap on being members in two or more alliances. We say such alliances are healthy and unity is strength.

In Eritrea today we have short- term and long- term political objectives. The short- term objective is to get rid of dictatorship and the long term is peace, stability and prosperity. The alliances and unity for the short term should be based on minimum national charter which already exists known as the EDA charter. This charter could be strengthened and broadened with new ideas, but should not be abandoned. Eritrean opposition organizations which have similar political programs may discuss and stride towards forming political parties which is one of the long term Eritrean National Program which is healthy and acceptable unity.

THE ROLE OF LEADERSHIP AND THE SOCIETY
IN THE ERITREAN POLITICAL STRUUGGLE

In our political world, government leadership serve citizens, political party leadership serve members, organizations serve grassroots. The citizens, members or grassroots may be free societies, people with the political power at their will and who are always listened and heard or sub-servants to their leadership, always follow orders, never have input in governance.

Governments, political parties and organizations to reach the desired goal should possess the basic organizational characteristics:
A) Stable relationship of leadership and citizens.
B) A rough division of labor.

QUALITIES OF LEADERSHIP
At any political situation whether stable or unstable, it would be reassuring to know that a strong, intelligent leadership is at the helms of our nation or organization. Once Napolean was asked what distinguishes a great leader from regular politician, he explained that “it was not innate intelligence, but the mental power that is to concentrate on objectives for long periods without tiring.”

Here are some leadership qualities stated by many researchers.
· VISION-one of a good leadership qualities is strong clear vision and the ability to convey it. You need to understand where you want to lead your people, how you plan to get them there and the ability to communicate this destination to your people. The goal set by the leadership must be specific, realistic, achievable and measurable.

· THEME- a theme is what people associate with, which in effective leadership will be the relentless pursuit of the vision. For example Nelson Mandella although he is associated with the liberation of South Africa his theme is about THE UNIVERAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS. Once his work in South Africa was done he continued to pursue ways and means to help other communities access these rights.

· TRUSTWORTHINESS OR CONFIDENCE- people won’t follow you unless you have shown integrity and consistency. Developing trust, belief and confidence in the members and their abilities is essential. Leadership who never trust others will either try to do most of the work them-selves or minutely scrutinize the work of others. This will result in excess work- load which such leadership never be able to cope. Thereby reducing leadership’s own effectiveness.

· CONSULTATION OR MODESTY-leadership should have the courage to delegate or consult. Knowing the members opinions on matters affecting working of the different division of labor is essential to make them feel that they are involved in decision- making. People perform their best when they feel that they are in a democratic situation with freedom to express their views. Appointed or delegated groups should be able to make their decisions without interference from the leadership.

· COMPOSURE OR COOLNESS- ability of leadership to maintain their cool under most trying and adverse situations in work place will help them to provide strength to their people and boost moral. Good leadership doesn’t run around like the world is about to collapse every time there is a problem. The attitude, should be “ we can work this out.”

· COURAGE- mental and psychological courage to own responsibility for actions, inactions and decisions and to learn from past mistakes is a hallmark of any successful team builder.

LEADERSHIP STYLES

In the past several decades some experts have undergone a revolution in how they define leadership and what their attitudes are towards it. They have gone from a very autocratic approach to a very creative participative approach. Somewhere along the line, it was determined that not every thing old was bad and not every thing new was good. Rather, different styles were needed for different situations and each leadership needed to know when to exhibit a particular approach.

Here are some basic leadership styles.

· AUTOCRATIC LEADERSHIP STYLE- is one in which the leadership retains as much power and decision making authority as possible. The leadership does not consult the people nor are allowed to put any input. Every body is expected to obey orders with out receiving any explanation. The motivation environment is produced by creating a structured set of rewards and punishments. This is supposed to be practiced in military organization.

· BUREACRATIC LEADERSHIP STYLE- it is well known as “ by the books”. Every thing must be done according to procedure or policy. The leadership enforces the rules. In such a situation people usually lose their interest in their activities and duties and in their leadership. People do only what is expected of them and no more. There is no room for creativity growth and innovation.

· DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP STYLE- is characterized by a structured, but cooperative approach to decision making. It is also called the participative style. People are well informed of what is going on that could affect their lives. The style requires the leadership to be a coach who has the final say. Democratic leadership can produce high quality and high quantity work for a long period of time. Team spirit and high moral is the manifestation of democratic style leadership.

· LAISSEZ FAIRE STYLE- is characterized by the absence of any real leadership. Usually with no goals or direction. There is a state of confusion and lack of confidence in leadership. Productivity is usually low. It is said to be “hand-off style”. This may be applicable in highly skilled, experienced and educated society.

THE ERITREAN EXPERIENCE

Eritreans have been and are going on continuous political struggle for freedom and democracy since the inception of our Eritrean identity. Struggle asks organization and organization needs leadership and membership. It is beyond this article to give researched, reasonable of expert quality opinion on the history of Eritrean leadership and membership on the long struggle we are tiptoeing. But we would like to shed our decent observation.

Eritreans fought chain of colonial governments for the liberation of Eritrea. We would like to classify it as pre- armed struggle, armed struggle, post armed struggle.

The pre-armed struggle did not seem to have neither vision nor the right theme. They were the Unity with Ethiopia proponents, Pro- Italia grouping, The Rabbita Al Islamia organization, Eritrea for Eritreans, Mahber shewate (party of seven)----etc. There wasn’t cohesive leadership, no common goal and no vision or theme, but miraculously enabled Eritreans to promote the struggle to an armed revolution.

The Eritrean armed revolution had a clear goal and a theme. The goal was “FREE AND LIBERATED ERITREA” and the theme was “THERE IS NO ALTERNATIVE TO SOVEREIGN ERITREA, TO ACHIEVE OUR GOAL WE SPIL OUR BLOOD ”. The leadership from the very beginning was not capable of setting a clear plan of action and put the goal into vision with steps of plan of action to reach the goal. It was clear some groups in the leadership had hidden or ulterior motive which we think led us to bloody continuous civil war which helped the enemy to bleed us for unnecessary thirty years. We observed the leadership’s determination for domination in the Eritrean politics by all means possible throughout the armed struggle. Such malicious and connive attitude was tolerated by the fighters, because we had to look for the bigger picture that is vanquishing the enemy to achieve the goal and also of misunderstanding the hidden agenda of struggle for domination. Of course it does not mean there was no concern and objection by visionary fighters, some even gave their lives for it, but was only marginal. Eritrea’s armed struggle was full of strife for domination. It is not history yet that Eritrean fighters perish in civil war comparable to that we lost fighting the enemy. Domination prevailed over reason, but thanks due to the shifting of global cold war to one side helped to some extent to attain our independence besides the effort of our gallant tolerant fighters. Then the dominant ones took power in our new born country, the vanquished ones remained out of the country leading op position organizations. It is with this in mind we have to struggle to erect democracy in Eritrea.

The current dictatorial (PFDJ) leadership of sovereign Eritrea has neither a vision nor the intellect that Eritrea badly needs. There is no economic plan, but to depend on donor countries. No social interaction guidelines, but to ban and intimidate who ever raises questions. No national security rationale, but enslaving every physically fit Eritrean in the name of “national service.” No political discourse, but herding Eritreans in camps to clean out-dated guns to keep them busy when they are not busy.

The vanquished do not seem to have improved and learned from past mistakes, we see their incompetence and IYO MACHO attitude in the following ways:
· Craft political programs and charters that never dear to implement
· Never delegate people in places where the need is crucial.
· Have no sense of accountability and transparency. Have meetings, formulate programs that are never conveyed to the very people they say they represent.
· Split when they see their position is threatened.
· Some craft one man party program and ponder as if they have members.

The famed psychologist Abraham Maslow is often quoted as saying “ IF THE ONLY TOOL WE HAVE IS A HAMMER EVERY PROBLEM LOOKS LIKE A NAIL.” Regardless of the situation or circumstances Eritrean chain of command or leadership tends to utilize the same tool even though alternate tool might be more appropriate. Are we Eritreans having systemic weakness of leadership quality that we are not aware of? Who is to blame? We Eritreans as a society share it as a whole. We cannot shove the inaction to our fathers from generation to generation. Education is not knowledge, but action.

REJOVINATION OF THE OPPOSTION FOR VICTORY

The vehicles that could enable us to erect democratic institutions are conferences, seminars, workshops, forums---etc. The goal is democratic peaceful and stable Eritrea and the theme is, liberate Eritrea by all possible means. It requires all agents of change to be involved in innovative economic, social, political and military initiatives, based on shared values and objectives tailored to specific national and local situations. Effective civic societies, the media, political organizations, human rights group organizations, watch dog groups can enter into social, political dialogue and partnership to promote democratization, national reconciliation and peace building. Let us be all part of the solu tion of the systemic weakness of leadership quality in Eritrea today.

WHAT SOME SUGGEST

* All these political organizations give lip service to democracy and only wait for change to happen miraculously. Let us start from the scratch. Is it feasible to jump a process?

· To break the stalemate, parties that advance secular program, parties that advance federal program, Islamist parties should enter into unity or alliances to form three blocks and work together with minimum program. We say unity is strength, but we don’t agree with the categorization and characterization. Our struggle is democratization , movements organize with their base’s issue or political right denied , because of such situation to brand those who emphasize religious freedom Islamists and those who emphasize nationality rights federalists when they willingly and gleefully are a party in formulating and abiding by the EDA char ter is not fair. How are the organizations that have problem with freedom of conscience and question of nationality are said to be secular? We think all of them work for secular government in Eritrea as the charter suggests.

· The goal of the Eritrean armed struggle which was freedom is achieved. There is no need for another civil war, let us give TIME a chance change will happen sooner or later. Our question is will praying help?

WHAT EAIM SUGGESTS

· We believe the EDA charter can guide us to victory, so we say don’t end it, or mend it, implement it. Restore associate membership and the membership card which did not get the chance to see the daylight Avoid voting criteria until victory which at this time is recipe for exclusion and is party criteria, but membership application criteria is fine. We see the EDA preparing to conduct national congress in the coming six months. Where did this idea come from? Did you sense it from the people you serve? No precedent of its kind and we don’t think it make the charter better. Is it a means of hibernation? Besides, conference was a hot issue some years ago, but problem such as that moderates it, financing, security concern and ideal place of conference. The EDA a year ago suggested conference to be conducted right after victory and having the above obstacles in mind most people were satisfied if not all. Now the EDA is having a committee discussing national conference. Is it for after or before victory? If it is for before victory, are the obstacles solved? It looks that you are saying “what is on the mountain let the wind blow it, what ever on the plains let the flood remove it.” Please don’t read us wrong, we understand the importance of a national conference, but the obstacles should be tackled first.

· The EDA and all other political organizations should introduce term limits retroactive for leaders at the executive and legislative branches and we say reshuffling is not term limit. When some one in a comma for years is the chair person, others are at the executive level in their respective organizations and alliances they form, we see autocracy, but not democracy.

· The dictatorial regime in the country is devoid of public trust and support, but these Eritrean public don’t have neither the confidence nor the trust on the opposition organizations. The opposition organizations should engage themselves on activities which build public trust and confidence. To mention some, accepting the five point plan of Ethiopia and call for implementation of the commission concerning the boarder conflict is not enough in our opinion. We should set a committee that study how many Erireans are affected with this verdict and how many villages and towns are being split, so as to say negotiated settlement is helpful to demarcate the boarder and we have to have records and documentation. Eritreans were sent home from Ethiopia while thousands remained there. We need to form a committee in consultations with the Ethiopian government which assesses such situation. We are in Ethiopia where no less than 300,000 Eritreans live as Ethiopians. This committee can discuss the possibility of dual citizenship for both Ethiopians and Eritreans. Eritreans live in neighboring countries as refugees. A committee is needed to work into how they exist and ways to improve their livelihood. The committees should not cost any thing, because they can be organized from the people who live there, but leadership is needed to approach the neighboring governments. People trust you when you show them that you are there to serve them.

· The opposition should think seriously on building strategic relationship with our neighbors. Giving lip-service is one thing while committing yourself to it is another. Eritrea and our neighbors benefit from stable, economically vibrant region. Some individuals deliberately try to relate our call for strategic relationship with our neighbors with what PFDJ used to propagate and sell the idea of federation or confederation with Ethiopia and economic tie with the intention of dominating the East African market. We opposed such ill conceived relationship then and we oppose such relationship now. Please read our theory on strategic relationship from our recent articles on this issue and expose the distortion of these writers. When we say strategic relationship, we are presenting a vision so as to build confidence, trust and common understanding between the two parties at this moment, but not legal binding and government level agreements that need mandate and ratification based on the vision after democratic Eritrea is realized. Based on this mutual confidence and trust, the opposition gets reasonable help for the struggle and create durable relationship after victory. That will be the day that EDA will form a committee and call the neighbors that it is ready.

· Approach Eritrean intellectuals and academicians to participate and share their expertise in required field of study, such as FORM OF GOVERNANCE, CONSTITUTION, LAND TENURE, EDUCATION IN ERITREA, HEALTH SERVICE, NATIONAL ARMY, FEASABLE DEVELOPMENT PLANS IN ERITREA, ETC. EDA has to identify these experts and invite them to help erect democracy. They don’t come to us, but should approach them.

· In our opinion the regime in Eritrea has to be dealt with armed resistance. Organizations that are pro-armed resistance should coordinate and organize armed resistance institution under unified command with the theory ONE ARMY, MULTI-PARTY. Those who are for peaceful opposition should respect the activities of the army and since it is in the charter there should not be room for reservation in a way to bleed the contents of the charter. What is agreed and ratified should be respected.

· The EDA should delegate a chairperson, a vice and a secretary in each zone where Eritreans reside with the power of decision making. The practice of having a committee from a member of each organization in the area, did not work, is not working and will not work It is the innovation which is lacking to make things work. In fact most of the above suggestions could easily be effective if there is a will of the EDA leadership.

WE STRUGGLE WE SUCCEEDED
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