I am Meron Stefanos

I am Meron Stefanos

Aida Biedemariam

2013-12-27, Stockholm

Since its birth in 1991, Eritrea has not seen positive developments. In a brief period it looked like Eritrea's development went ahead but with the imprisonment of leading politicians and journalists it turned out that the occasional developments were false signals. The action taken by the president at the time shook us all and we should have asked for his immediate resignation. The arrested were not only people who stated what should have been stated much earlier, but who gave their life for Eritrea’s independence.

I happen to know the parents of Meron since way back. None of those people who say they know Meron, seem to know that her parents have worked to see Eritrea freed from Ethiopian rule, more than what these people can ever dream of. Their description of what Meron does and her origin, is an indicator of everything that has been wrong with the current Government in Asmara. She is an Eritrean citizen, and as a citizen Isayas Afeworki is her servant.  People who should know better having lived for over twenty years in the Western world, are trying to vilify Meron and her work just because of the facts that she is presenting, does not match the picture of the Eritrea they want to paint. They should instead question the Eritrean Government and ask themselves why so many Eritreans choose exile knowing the dangers they are encountering, taking risky ways to flee the country instead of living in Eritrea.

No, these people spend precious and meagre resources of Eritrea denying, or rather lying about how life looks like for people in Eritrea. The harsh reality that the Eritreans and the country is embellished, have been denied in order to portray the leader in a better light. This is nothing new, it is a well-established system that has been going on for many years since Isaias has been in power. Today, it is not possible to escape seeing Eritrea's deep problems, no matter how hard you turn a blind eye. That there are still people who do not want to change the situation of the country is to me unacceptable, if one is said to have the slightest good intention for Eritrea and Eritreans. It shows the total lack of compassion for the people, or that these people benefit from peoples suffering in Eritrea.

I am convinced that Meron has succeeded in her work as the campaign to vilify the truth-tellers has been most intense towards her. Meron has managed to do something that so many of us, including myself, have wanted to do but never even dared to try, because it's such a demanding and large task. She has even managed to get several people convicted in court in Sweden for extortion and for trying to shake money from families to victims of captivity. Money they intended to send to people smugglers.

I have also had the opportunity to meet Elsa Chirum who does the same work as Meron, and for whom I greatly admire. For a sensible person, these Eritreans are pride for their country and its people. What they do is they stand up for the weakest and they help people. People which none of us can or want to help, get out of captivity outside their own country.

Isayas´s extended arms still don't how they are the reason that Eritrea still is in this precarious situation. As it looks right now, they will not be satisfied until they see Eritrea in total chaos, created by Isayas Afeworki. The longer he stays in power, the deeper will the problems get and finding solutions to the problems become more difficult. Shameless as they are, they chant "we are him and he is us" and therefore, I think they should help Isayas Afewerki to the United States, and let him live with them since they do not represent the people who live in Eritrea. It will also be the most convenient solution for everyone involved if he resigns without blood being spilt.

The reason I'm writing today is to say to those who are busy defaming Meron, that all of us who fight for human rights are Meron Stefanos. Meron has doubled herself and tripled herself and will continue to grow thanks to the continuing misery in Eritrea.

Personally, I dream about the day when people like Meron will not work abroad, but inside Eritrea without ending up in jail. I dream of Eritrea when Eritrea's population may decide on its fate and not countrymen with lack of empathy, outside Eritrea who sees Eritrea's politics as a leisure activity. I dream of Eritrea where all children can go to school and adults to their paid work. I dream of Eritrea where people are not ashamed to tell that they are hungry and demand for bread and are proud to demand their right. I dream of Eritrea where the leader serves its people and not vice versa. In short I dream about all the best for Eritrea and Eritrea without Isayas Afeworki.

Next year is the year when we demand for immediate release for prisoners of conscience.

Next year is the year when we demand a peaceful and speedy transition of the power to people.

Happy new year.