August 10, 1998
Dear Netters:
There is an upcoming Returned Ethiopian and Eritrean Peace Corps Volunteer Conference in Los Angeles this week. Mr. John Rude has managed to insert himself into the conference schedule as a featured speaker on the Ethiopia-Eritrea conflict.
In light of this, it may be useful to review a little about what Mr. Rude has been doing to deliberately plant false information in the American media.
First, here is John Rude himself stating that "objectivity never won any battles" and that his access to the media benefits Eritrea (He used to be a newspaper editor, and has many contacts in the news industry). He also states that he finds it "regrettably" necessary to exploit the anti-Africa bias in the media and use it against Ethiopia.
July, 24, 1998 As one of those Western "experts" who is given far more credit than he
deserves, I agree with your point of view. In this case, my access to the
media benefits Eritrea, but there's certainly an anti-African bias at work
here, and I find it regrettably necessary to exploit it. Recently I've been vilified in Ethiopian compter groups for my lack of
objectivity. (Note: objectivity never won any battles, and I'm glad your
professor didn't recruit you to his passive, irrelevant "neutral ground".)
These critics make a fundamental mistake: they attack the messenger, rather
than the message. That is why I admired Amare's careful, point-by-point
rebuttal of Clapham. You win some, you lose some...but the truth will prevail. I give you an "A"
for your perspicacity in forseeing the outcome of the 1961-1991 conflict, and
I assume you'll be accurate in predicting victory this time around, as well. Best wishes, John Rude
Selam Tewolde,
(Incidentally, the rebuttal of Amare Tekle to Clapham, was actually an abusive, aggressive diatribe that missed the issues... It was all about demanding that Mr. Clapham show the proper respect to the EPLF... I am surprised that a scholar such as Amare Tekle could have written such a piece...)
However, the worst thing that John Rude has done, is to purposely spread information which he knows to be false. What he stated in the San Francisco Chronicle article of July 22 is one example.
He claimed the conflict "began with a map" ... Ethiopia produced a new map in 1997, and the Eritreans "wondered what was up." Then he goes on to state that the real motive for the conflict is Ethiopian attempt to regain Assab!
As a member of Dehai, he has obviously seen the numerous articles posted by Eritreans. Many Eritreans have posted articles mentioning how Badime was founded by Ras Mengesha, how Haile Selassie came to visit the area in the mid-60's, how the ELF, TPLF and EPLF clashed in this area in the 1970s etc.
Any casual visitor to Dehai would have no problem understanding that the border problem goes back several decades. Even the prominently featured Tekie Fissehatzion's article provides detail on the border issue as a long-standing problem between the EPLF and TPLF.
Furthermore, I exchanged e-mail with Mr. Rude on July 7: Here is what he wrote:
The failure of both nations to reach a settlement on the disputed boundary is the true cause of this war, not all the economic balderdash that has been the subject of press speculation. The sooner we can return to this central issue and resolve it (Hanish-style, if necessary) the sooner both countries can resume their long march out of poverty.
Thanks for calling your site to my attention. I will re-visit it on occasion to monitor your perspective.
John Rude
The most interesting thing here is his statement that:
That was on July 7 in a private e-mail to me. Then on July 22, he tells the San Francisco Chronicle that the true cause of the war is Ethiopia wanting to capture Assab. He also gave the impression that the border issue dates from 1997 ("conflict began with a map") and that the border dispute was knew to the Eritrean government ("Eritreans wondered what was up").
This is terrible. To purposely spread information which you know to be false, and to intentionally try to create a false view of the conflict in the American media is highly unethical behavior.
However, it is good that we know what he is doing. Ethiopians need to be aware that there is an intense media lobbying effort being conducted by Mr. Rude. We need to contact editors, newsagencies, and public figures to make sure they know the whole truth.
- Dagmawi
PS: The Eritreans are planning to reward Mr. Rude's propaganda activities with a special prize at their separate annual meeting in Washington DC this week. This is a pretty clear indication of how the Eritreans feel that he is an important tool in their media campaign. In fact, he has been the leader of the Eritrean media efforts originating through Dehai. He was so enthusiastic in his anti-Ethiopian warmongering that a conscientous, African-American member of Dehai felt it necessary to reign him in back on June 14 (see below). However, this rebuke had no beneficial effect on him.
The "us" and "them" game is not beneficial to peace. Not every Ethiopian is for war, nor should it be seen that the entire Ethiopian diaspora is the enemy. I understand that fostering an "us" and "them", may benefit your position, but it doesn't benefit the best interests of Eritreans or Ethiopians. Avoiding this type of colonial thing, is the very reason why many have been searching for an African solution.