For those of us who read two consecutive articles by Namerra Gabbissa on Walta’s web page, regarding Ethiopia’s ownership rights on Assab, we might have been a little confused whether we were on Visafric-Shabia’s propaganda organ or on Walta.

The "patriot" writer has taken the daunting task of disproving Ethiopia’s rightful claim on Assab on behalf of Shabia while Eritreans are busy in taking revenge on defenseless Ethiopian people at that very moment. The writer has painstakingly argued that Eritrea has more right than Ethiopia on Assab, even if less than 2% of the Assab population constituted Eritreans before independence and almost no Afar considered himself as an Eritrean before the so-called Eritrean referendum. One may wonder here that whether the writer could have been much successful in his task on the truth on Assab, if he had only devoted 25 % of his time spent on behalf of Eritrea to the cause of Ethiopia- "his country", as proving the Ethiopian identity of Assab is much simpler than trying to disprove the trivial.

Of all historical facts that can serve as a legitimate ground for the ownership of Assab by Ethiopia, there is one important precedence that the writer didn’t want to mention about, and this is perhaps because of the writer’s concern that the evidence may tilt the debate in favor of Ethiopia (which he doesn’t want). That legitimate question is this: Who is the last colonial power in Eritrea? As admitted by Shabia itself the last colonial power in Eritrea is Ethiopia. The Eretrean referendum followed from this very fact. Did it not? Even the world appreciates this historical precedence, and how the term "colonial" may in fact benefit Ethiopia’s territorial claims (see BBC reports posted on the Internet right after the signing of the Algers Peace Agreement).

Unlike this specific writer (who sounds very Eretrian than an Ethiopian), the opinion of those other writers on Walta who appreciated at least making a legal claim on our port Assab should be welcomed (although the commitment that can be read from their reluctant tone seems; "Ok let us take the issue to international court, but we don’t want to win!").

Regarding Mr Nammra’s level of commitment for Eritrean cause however, what one can say here is that he is doing the job so superbly, (although unsuccessful in convincing Ethiopian minds), and we just wonder whether Eritrian big propagandists like Tekie Fitsahtsion on Visafric (who told us unashamedly that Eritrea is saved by the power of its Air force!) could do any better job on behalf of Eritrea.

As no Eritrean has been seen promoting Ethiopia’s interest against his own country, no self respecting Ethiopian could also argue on behalf of Shabia again the way this writer did, lest when Ethiopian citizens are being tormented, dehumanized and subjected to all kinds of atrocities in Eritrea. The writer appeared eager to cede his country’s only access to the sea for a foreign country, even before the demarcation processes starts and Ethiopia makes a peaceful legal claim on international courts. I can imagine how the Eritreans could make a good laugh of this type of personalities and the contempt they have for them deep down in their hearts. Shabians aggressed Ethiopia unprovoked; they killed, maimed and displaced thousands of Ethiopians. What happened to them? Nothing! They got away with their crime. They now have put another thousands of Ethiopians in Nazi- type concentration camps through out Eritrea, raping and killing women and deporting thousands in a very dangerous situation. What happened to them? Nothing! As usual they will get away with it (save the intermittent and knavish warnings issued on the government’s web page for media consumption).

For many Ethiopians in Eritrea the damage is already done on every aspect of their life (their pride, property psychology etc) Here we are then people like Namerra Gabbissa arguing for the interests of Shabia again. This is an affront to all Ethiopians who died for the honor of their country in the last two years, and for those who are subjected to untold sufferings in Eritrea at the present time.

Regarding our legitimate right on Assab one is still obliged to ask questions of national importance such as:

• What real guarantees and alternatives do we have for the use of borrowed ports?

• Should we remain landlocked in the trouble-torn and volatile region of East Africa?

• Are we not to face another conflict in the future whatsoever?

• Should we pay expensive hard currency port fees for Eritrea again, so that it builds its military using income from Ethiopia’s own Asset-the Assab port?

• Should we not reinstate our ownership right on some portion of the Red Sea and related islands so that we could be treated with respect and on equal terms with Eritrea by the so called "big powers?"

• Is it not this loss of ownership right on the Red sea that promulgated the contemptuous treatment of Ethiopia by the US and others in the last two conflict years?

• How could we correct this twisted policy never to happen again in our future survival?

The right answers for these and similar questions can’t be labeling people Reactionaries, Chauvinists, Old guards, New guards, Blue guards, Brown guards etc etc. The right answers for questions of national importance could only be found in putting the country’s interest first, and by dropping the "Eritrea First!" "Ethiopia Second!" slogan once and for all. Only when we put our country’s interest first, Ethiopians will speak for Ethiopia while Eritreans speak for themselves-the interests of Eritrea.