Unfiltered Notes: Spitting in the Wind

Unfiltered Notes: Spitting in the Wind

By Tewelde Stephanos    Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

I read an article in asmarino.com recently that illustrates how deeply PFDJ’s culture of negation has penetrated the Eritrean psyche. . Zekere Lebona’s¹ article with Yosief Ghebrehiwot’s (YG) supporting comment lashes out at the twenty two Eritrean Intellectuals who wrote a petition addressed to Eritrea’s despot and his muted ministers (click here to read the petition)².  I do admire both writers for their eloquence and brilliant minds. Both are regular contributors I have learned a lot from over the years. Although I disagree with YG’s conclusions, his diagnosis is - more often than not - on the mark. My favorite is “Equality by Subtraction”³, a must-read for Eritreans. 

To be clear, I am not suggesting Zekere or YG curb their rights of self-expression. However, a pinch of humility and respect for others can advance the discourse a great deal. Just a little pause to check what we say or do is not condemning Eritrea to continued PFDJ oppression, unintentional though it might be, will do. This does not mean, however, bad ideas from allies should go unchallenged (and I find the stand the 22 took to be a good one). But often, we tend to spend more time going after each other instead of channeling our energies against the oppressive regime.

The said article’s anger is directed at the twenty two Eritreans, whose hearts happen to be in the right place.  But as Zekere puts it, the appeal “… made by the twenty-two intellectuals from the diaspora is the most scandalous” compared to other appeals before it. YG chimes in accusing the “22 muhuran” of “… enabling [the regime] to stretch its life beyond necessity”.

YG’s accusation of extending PFDJ’s life is not getting through my thick head. In this case, I would argue that the dismissive tone of rejecting those who dared to speak up, albeit tenuously, is more to the liking of the despot. I can almost see Isaias grinning ear to ear satisfied with how frequently and readily - we the people – go full force to break the stride of those who are taking their first steps against his rotten regime.

I do agree with their point that appealing to Isaias is a futile exercise. I even agree with Zekere’s point the appeal lacks a “sense of urgency, indignation and outrage”. But by focusing on its weakness, we are discounting its positives. This group of fine Eritreans has moved away from the club of silent majority (Isaias’ greatest asset) and they have chosen to be vocal. That is a huge deal. As such they deserve a welcoming spirit and a nudge to do more, not dismissal.

Recognizing this significant shift to break away from silence of the majority the despot has been enjoying, it would have been more productive for YG and Zekere to just chide the group for what obviously is a dead-on-arrival appeal, while making a good faith attempt to challenge them to do more. And they can do more given their immense intellectual capacity and the connections at their disposal to help make things better.

Inexplicably, Isaias has chosen death and destruction for Eritrea. To reverse this unfortunate choice, we need to encourage and welcome those who are stepping up, regardless of our personal biases how late or tentative we perceive their actions to be. There is no doubt in my mind this is NOT what Zekere and YG intended to do but through their dismissiveness, serving Isaias is exactly what they ended up doing. Hopefully it won’t be the case, but who wins if some of those 22 thoughtful Eritreans, go back to being silent or end up participating with reduced enthusiasm?

Lack of humility in our discourse and the quick negative reactions we exhibit towards each other are things the regime has been exploiting a million fold to its own advantage. This attitude of my way or no way is the main problem that has made the 30 plus opposition parties ineffective. Intentionally or not, they continue to serve Isaias’ interests. Is there no common goal these folks can work together on to bring about a better outcome?

These 30 plus groups have been in the opposition camp for decades now. Yet, I doubt if there is any action they have taken singly or collectively that matches Arbi Harnet’s approach to connect with change agents inside Eritrea. Apologizing ahead of time for my potential ignorance, Aribi Harnet is the only action-oriented group in the opposition camp that I am aware of. One can argue whether what Arbi Harnet is doing is sufficient or not. But that is the best we have so far and they deserve everyone’s full support to accomplish more.

We all know now that Eritrea’s struggle for independence was a single task undertaking. It was very narrowly framed as freedom from Ethiopia with no vision or strategy on what follows next. And that is why we are paying the heavy price today.  We can’t afford to repeat the same mistake again. Although Isaias’ demise will be a welcome event, the day after will be messy and we need to look beyond that day itself. Eritrea is a failed state where all state infrastructures are either completely out of commission or in need of serious repair. Adopting a culture of inclusion and a welcoming spirit for everyone’s efforts – big and small – will be critical in reversing the damage that has been done sooner than later.

Which is all the more reason to stop this bad habit of spitting in the wind.  The often repeated phrase one hears when someone or some group begins to make sense is ‘where have they been’ (abey nerom). We need to resist this temptation of belittling those we should be embracing. Any break away from the regime, as long as they are clean from proven criminal record, should be welcomed and embraced.

It is my hope Zekere Lebona and YG will take no offense from this posting and accept it for its intended spirit.

1 http://www.asmarino.com/articles/1927-eritrea-a-petition-to-the-ghouls
2 https://www.dropbox.com/s/f4upx2feg867mci/Appeal-06November2013-FINAL.pdf
3 http://www.asmarino.delina.org/blog/wufyat/hdmo/7/item/1332?view=article