By Yohanes Tesfaldet, May 31, 2000

Since the demise of the Menguistu regime, Ethiopia has single-mindedly devoted itself to peace, the fight against poverty and the construction of a democratic society. It slashed military spending to a negligible sum, heavily invested on agriculture, and unleashed the seeds of democratic thought. And until the onset of the Eritrean invasion of Ethiopian territory (May, 1998), peace had enveloped Ethiopia, and the country had scored significant breakthrough in both the war against the scourge of famine (underdevelopment) and in laying down the infrastructure for a democratic society. On the peace and democracy front, Ethiopians had switched from fighting with bullets to fighting with words. On the latter, although the country has a along way to go, encouraging stride has been effected in Ethiopia, and the push to deepen a democratic culture within the country was beginning to bear fruit.. Agriculturally, in a span of a few years, the Carter Center was citing Ethiopia’s agricultural policies as one mandatory for emulation by other developing nations. Contrast the metamorphosis in Ethiopia with that of Eritrea. Eritrea continuous to be blessed with the horrors of life. The demise of Mengistu did not bring peace to this impoverished nation of three million disenfranchized Ethiopian inhabitants. The subsequent declaration of "independence" did not result in freedom and the rule of law. The Eritrea of the "superior, resourceful and invincible" so proclaimed by the EPLF did not deliver. Thirty years of war only produced another round of war, and more oppression and poverty. In fact, the so-called Eritrean independence was a mere graduation from one war to another.

Shortly after the take over of Asmara by the EPLF, the young of Eritrea learned that they are a draftee destined to fight with not only themselves but also with all their neighbors. And in a flash of time, the youth of Eritrea were fighting with the youth of Eritrea holding different perspectives, with the people of Djibouti, Sudan, Yemen and finally, with their kin- the Ethiopians. They were fighting too in Zaire, Rwanda, Somalia. It is quiet possible that the Eritrean dictator had volunteered Eritreans in every hot spot in the world too.

In the economic and democratic sphere (a key yearning of ordinary Eritreans), let alone making a dent in the Herculean challenge which faced Eritrea, the EPLF had no clue of the basics of economics and democracy; in violation of the law of nature where change is a must, the new dictators in Asmara remained frozen in time incapacitated by the scourge of ignorance and illiteracy. No economic policy, no democratic transformation, no structure of courts and juries prudence, no freedom of the press, no freedom of religion, no rights of nations and nationalities, and no meaning to life! Thirty years of war, thirty years of death and destruction, thirty years of displacement and dismemberment, and thirty years of enormous sacrifices for nothing better, but worst!

But one needs to give credit where it is due. The EPLF did excel in something. It dreamed hyperbolically. According to this dream, Eritrea became economically synonymous with Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan and militarily with Israel. But there was a crucial difference between the tigers of Asia and their African counterpart -Eritrea. Whereas the tigers of Asia earned their wealth by their sweat, the African tiger was set to create wealth by exploitation, robbery, contraband, fraud, embezzlement, theft, smuggling and more importantly, by war. And hence Eritrea’s war with everybody!

The latter brings us to the root cause of the current war between Ethiopia and Eritrea. In deed Eritrea’s mission to live off the backs of other people is the cause of the current conflict. Eritrea invaded Ethiopian territory solely to extract economic handouts. Just like its Italian colonial masters, this citadel of neo-fascism has chosen war as its tool for its daily bread. In this sense, Eritrean has learned so well and emulated perfectly the worst of what Europe had to offer. And as a result and once more, Ethiopia became a target. Accordingly, Ethiopia’s advocacy for peace and democracy, and the war against poverty started following the demise of the Menguistu regime has fallen prey to the state sponsored policy of theft, deceit and piracy officially sanctioned by the Eritrean regime. In deed, the cause of peace, the construction of democracy, and the mission to eradicate the scourge of underdevelopment have fallen prey to tyranny. And tyranny Ethiopia must fight against!

It is ironic that one has to advocate war to ensure peace, democracy and development. But that is the prescription. No alternatives. No compromises. No half-ways. The choice is clear; when it comes to peace and democracy, Ethiopia must have it all. Ethiopia can not afford a future where its young would grow up to be consumed by the inferno of war. We can not afford and must not tolerate any future where our young people may be diverted for causes other than building our country. We must have our young people to fuel the energy required to transform our country.

Similarly, Ethiopia can not afford its economic resources squandered in war. We need every available resource in the good fight against poverty and backwardness. We need our resources to build schools, hospitals, roads, industries, energy sources and modern communication networks. In deed, the stakes are high; ensuring peace is the fundamental precondition for all that we have mapped out to accomplish. We must have peace to live happily, to develop our economy and to advance our experiment with democracy.

There is a price for all this but Ethiopia must pay that price now. The price is the least now than it would be if left to the future. The good fight for peace, democracy and elimination of poverty must go on. Ethiopia must once more stand up against fascism, and do so at any cost. Peace and democracy are worthy of any price, for they are what give meaning to life, and preconditions for victory over poverty and famine. There are no alternatives. We must see to it that the right of our people to live in peace and dignity is guaranteed, and that peace and democracy envelop the beautiful landscape of our beloved country. It is only when we can guarantee peace and democracy that we can ensure victory over the cyclical trauma of famine, and the entire spectra of challenges associated with underdevelopment.

Ethiopia has an enemy reared in war. The EPLF is nothing but an organization created for war, by war, and is terminally condemned to stay that way for perpetuity. The Italian foray into Africa was not to preach the Gospel. It was to design or program people to serve their interests. And they have succeeded in Eritrea. It would not be an exaggeration if one concludes that Eritrea has become the citadel of all that the Fascists of Europe dreamed of. Where else has Fascism captivated so many in Africa other than in Eritrea? Where else in Africa are people so proud of having been the slaves of European colonialists other than in Eritrea? Where else are people in Africa so ashamed of being black and ashamed of their indigenous culture other than in Africa? Where else are people in Africa so ashamed and hate themselves other than in Eritrea? And the list can go on and on!

It is mind-boggling. But the socio-engineering in Eritrea has been so complete that even education at the PhD level has failed to liberate the Eritrean. It is not by coincidence that Tekie Fisehazion, Ghidion Abay, Asgede Hagos and others act the way they do. It is not by coincidence that Tekie is condemned to write about "In defiance, Eritrea was born; in Defiance, it will live forever." They can not help it. They were programmed to be that way. The Italians have engineered these robots to disown their heritage and to be oblivious of their history and of themselves. But more dangerously, these robots have no feeling like you and I. We only look alike but we are light years apart. We revere life and love everything that is ours. They disdain life and yearn to be that which they are not. And no wonder in a world where the war for liberation has been fought to atomize anything and everything that is colonial, the Eritrean spent thirty years to resurrect it. The Eritrean has truly become the black race’s embarrassment and liability. It is sad but true that this embarrassment, this liability and this dream of Mussolini has been allowed to join the family of nations. It is naiveté at its pinnacle to entertain the thought that peace would reign in the Horn of Africa so long as these disciples of Mussolini are allowed to hold state power in Eritrea.

The war Ethiopia must wage is not really about breaking the back of the Eritrean army. The latter is a small but important part of the mission. What Ethiopia must break into fragments is the thought process which gives birth to Eritreanism. Ethiopia must destroy this fountain of evil. Peace will only come to Ethiopia if Ethiopia destructs the psychogenetic force which condemns the Eritrean to be a living robot so synchronized to think and act uniformly. Ethiopia must break the back bone of this trait. Ethiopia must see to it that the new born of Eritrea grow in an atmosphere where African values are taught and nurtured. The young of Eritrea must be reconnected to the history that is truly theirs. It is only when people are made whole that peace and happiness reign. It is only when we are surrounded by rational people that we can dream and reach greater heights.

What more evidence do we need? Just like Mussolini, the Eritrean did not hesitate to drop cluster bombs on school children. Just like Mussolini, the Eritrean had set out to plunder Ethiopia. Just like Mussolini, the Eritrean has denigrated the Ethiopian people and their history (which incidentally although the Eritrean does not know it, is also the history of the Eritrean). Just like Mussolini, the Eritrean is doing to Ethiopians in Eritrea that which Mussolini did to the Eritrean in colonial times. Have you seen what the Eritrean has done to Zal Ambassa? Every house of ordinary citizens was bull dozed to the ground. Have you noticed the savagery of this killing machine? What about the 4,000 Ethiopian soldiers who were massacred after their surrender in 1991, and their remains later used by the EPLF to convey atrocities of the Derg on Eritreans? We need to recall too the famine of 1984 when the EPLF blocked shipment of relief supplies from the Sudan to the people of Tigray.

What other evidence do we need to realize that the EPLF is the replica of Mussolini’s Fascist party? If it has not been for lack of military power, this author is convinced beyond any shadow of doubt that the Eritrean would have, just like his/her master would have, colonized Ethiopia. And such ambition would never cease to exist until Ethiopia breaks the backbone of the engineered trait. It would be efforts in vain if Ethiopia confines itself to the destruction of the Eritrean army. There has to be a higher mission if we are to have meaning in life, if we are to prevail over the war against poverty, and if we are to succeed in the building of democracy. Peace and life, the rule of law, eradication of famine, and socio-economic development toll upon us that we destruct the reincarnates of Mussolini.

The choice is clear. The destruction of the EPLF is a mission for life, peace and democracy, a duty for the rule of law, a war against famine, and a prerequisite for economic development. There are no alternatives to the latter. If we are to have meaning in life in our corner of the world, we must not only break the back bone of the EPLF army but more importantly, we must destroy the thought process which gives birth to this fountain of evil.