A Light in the Dark

The youth have invited Elsa Chyrum to give a key note speech. Elsa Chyrum, as usual, has shown a steel of will and amazing commitment as she read the names of those who died. Among them were highly educated people and mothers with children.  She concluded by warning that the end of the pain and suffering of the Eritrean people comes only with the demise of the repressive PFDJ regime. And change does not come by itself unless all Eritreans rise up to the challenge. The somber attitude, melancholy and sadness of the vigil has rendered the month of March unforgettable. A poem titled, “Black March” has said it all.
 
Many PFDJ supporters have also participated in the candle vigil in London. They were disgusted as to why the Eritrean media in Eritrea said nothing; they have realized the extreme cruelty of the PFDJ which is plunging the country into destitution.

Demonstration in San Francisco and Atlanta - USA:

Demonstrations and candle light vigil has taken place all over the world. In Israel, Italy, Germany, Sweden, Norway, Switzerland, Australia, Canada etc.

When I visited Assenna.com I came across a report of a demonstration in Atlanta on the 17 April 2011. Atlanta has been a pioneer of Eritrean Youth Movement. The organizers called upon all Eritreans World Wide to raise their voice in Unison to end the pain and suffering of people.

On 18 April 2011 the Eritreans in California carried out a successful demonstration accompanied by moving speeches poems and slogans. They sent a letter to Hilary Clinton – the US Secretary of State and to other prominent figures. This is profoundly important because USA and other Western democracies will lend their ears to the demands of Eritrean as it is the same demand of the people in Tunisia and Egypt which continue to engulf the Middle East and North Africa.

In the UK some civil societies among which CDRiE, Release Eritrea, and Eritrean Concern have made representation to the British Foreign Office.

It is phenomenal that Eritrean Youth Solidarity for Change (EYSC) have 4000 members gathered around Facebook.  The youth are definitely going to be the fundamental makers of Democratic Eritrea.  

The powerful talk of the Patriarch of the Eritrean Orthodox Church in North America during the congregation on 10-04-2011 had the power of empowerment of the people.  In his long and touching speech the patriarch exposed the pain and miseries of the people of Eritrea perpetuated by PFDJ repressive regime.  With the power vested on him by God to care for the oppressed and poor the patriarch called upon all the Churches in North America to undertake urgently memorial prayers for all those perished in the Sea. He particularly appealed to all those priests who did not abandon their responsibility of serving the people and did not tarnish the teachings of the church by openly siding with the repressive regime.

Catholic priests in Latin America have the reputation to stand for the poor and the oppressed. On the other hand many religious leaders in Eritrea remained silent when the monasteries in Eritrea are dismantled and even when the Roman Catholic Pope Benedict XV1 appealed to the Egyptian Government to rescue Eritrean Refuges taken hostage by Bedouin gangs. Many priests paid their life for justice.  On 24 March 1980 Archbishop Oscar Romero of El Salvador was shot dead in front of his congregation for openly denouncing oppression and poverty perpetuated by the Salvadorian Government.   

The Role of the Diaspora is becoming clearer and clearer:
 
Sharp a Boston academic has this to say,” If people can grasp what is required for their own liberation, they can chart courses of action which can eventually bring them their own freedom.”

There is paradigm change in the debate within civil societies and among friends. They are talking of drawing up action plan that can be monitored and evaluated. Some talk of holding workshops to exchange experiences and to undergo training. Some talk of a well written pamphlet asking those who would participate in the festival celebrating independence to demand the end of forced labour. They also talk about the need to strategise the activities and make it sustainable over a long period of time.

What is essential is the need to network and build credible civil societies to be the voice for the voiceless but also to persistently present the demand of the people for change to the international community.  However we in Diaspora don’t seem to unite on the clearest common denominator. That is to stand against the gross human rights violations, respect of law, the implementation of constitution and democracy.  In the era of globalisation it is only these shared values of freedom and justice that will bring solidarity among Eritreans from different walks of life and religious denominations and also with the people in revolution in the Middle East and North Africa and beyond internationally.

Not aware of a common denominator, some writers go to the extent of attacking those who advocate for change in a non-violent manner. For example Yosief Ghebrehiwet to Seyoum Tesfaye EGS chairman and also trivializing “peoples power”- referring to my article [Building the Foundation of a New World view – II]  More clarification on Part 11.

EGS- objectives and purpose is simple and clear. It is to coordinate, orchestrate and harmonize the efforts of Eritrean Civil society groups whose primary causes is the advocacy of justice, human rights and democracy in Eritrea.

Theses are the values that the protesters in the Middle East and Africa are fighting for. These are the values that sustained western democracy.  These are the values that gave rise to a “Civil Liberty” rooted in the minds of the population of the West. It is under this ethos that institutions such as human rights were formed. And many of those Eritreans in the West took advantage of these rights and asked asylum and won sanctuary. But it is a shame that many in the Diaspora maintain a double standard by enjoying the fruits of democratic governance while supporting the system that is violating the human rights of the people of Eritrea.
 
Active Civil societies can be a catalyst for change. They can enable Eritreans to focus on harnessing the human energy within an organisation by realizing their full potential. However we Eritreans lack the skill to undertake them. Training and workshops are essential.  Training will assist the effectiveness, capabilities and adaptability of organisations by improving both the processes by which people get things done, and the relationships between people and groups within the organisation. It is important to be aware of the need to develop the culture of tolerance. Central to the process is the issue of strategy.

All these candle light vigils, demonstrations, appeals and representations to various Governments plus the human rights activities carried out by the unsung heroes are increasing the empowerment of the Eritrean people.  It represents a Light in the Dark.


To be continued