By Amare - Ethiopian, May 31, 2000

Ever since the war broke out between Ethiopia and Eritrea, I always found my self asking so many questions. Two agonising years has passed since this unnecessary and by any means unexpected war has ignited.

I wrote the (1st part) of my questions back in February 1999 after the decisive war at Badme. At that moment of time, emotions were very high at least from the Eritrean side and I did not receive any proper explanation. Perhaps the unexpected situation at war front did not give time to reply to my questions.

I now read a lot of articles from Visafric and Dehai that the main reason for the Eritreans retreat is due to the population size difference between the two countries. As far as I understand comparing the population size of Ethiopia and Eritrea does not make any sense at all unless prior to 1998, no Eritrean was capable of making any comparison just to identify the difference between 4 million and 60 million.

Going back to my original point, I am listing all of my questions and hope that may be just may be I will find a convincing answer from any one who happens to care for both nations. It will be very interesting to find a proper and justifiable answer from any one who is the citizen of either of the nations. I will most well come any reply from any Eritrean's (brothers and sisters) if they truly believe there is a definite answer and conclusion to my questions.

Questions about Ethio/Eritrean war - (Part I)

I wrote the following questions, (Part I), after the battle of Badme. By answering the following questions, you are helping us to understand the overall picture of this crisis which has been raging for more than TWO years.

1. Who/what actually cause the war?
2. Why Eritrea/Ethiopia got involved in this war?
3. What actually Eritrea/Ethiopia gained from this war?
4. Why all this unnecessary sacrifice for the innocent youths?
5. What actually happened at Badme on 6th of February?
6. Why did Isaias's army withdraw from Badme?
7. Is that because his army was winning/loosing?
8. Why did Eritrea accept the OAU frame work at the same day of the battle?
9. Why did-not they accept the OAU peace plan, in the first place?
10. Did not Isaias mislead the population? Yes or NO? If yes, why?
11. Who is actually accountable for the deaths of tens of thousands of youths & displacing the innocent citizens of both nations?
12. How, if ever, the two governments going to mend the relation among themselves and their own population at large?
13. Who is going to be accountable for all these wrong deeds and destruction?
14. Who are actually Eritrea's/Ethiopia's' good neighbors?
15. How are they you going to live in peace and harmony with their neighbors? Perhaps, this is appropriate questions mainly for Eritrea?
16. Considering the situation in the ground - How is Isaias going to bring peace and stability to his own people - not to mention prosperity?
17. When is the time for Isaias and the army to stop this military adventure and divert their attention to economic development and prosperity?

All the above as well as the following questions should be raised by both Ethiopians/Eritreans and make the judgement for themselves and make their own destiny.

Questions about Ethio/Eritrean war - (Part II)

At this moment of time the situation is getting worse and I thought the questions I have listed below will answer some of the questions not only to me but also to so many people who are originated from either of the nations. After all we Ethiopians and Eritreans are brothers and sisters who are destined to live together and we both are genuinely concerned about this tragedy. The following questions are mainly directed towards Eritrea and Eritreans - it is only because the situation on the ground is becoming almost unbearable for ordinary citizens of Eritrea and unlikely to ease unless a concrete solution was found by the stake holders themselves. By answering the following questions, you are helping us to understand the overall picture of this crisis which has been raging for more than TWO years.

1. Why is Eritrea in deep crisis?
2. Why there is not any tolerance in Eritrea? Why there is not even a religious tolerance?
3. Don't you remember what happens to 3000 Eritrean Jehovah witness followers - who refused the regimes military training?
4. Don't you remember what happens to disabled Eritrean veterans of the struggle?
5. Did not Isaias order to surround and execute the veterans when they took to the streets to protest?
6. Why poor Eritrean still are pushed into concentration camp?
7. Why there is only one political party?
8. For how long are you Eritrean's going to tolerate being fleeced alive?
9. By what right can Isaias is going to dominate your lives?
10. Can't you see you are moving deeper and deeper into crisis?
11. How do you plan to extricate yourself from the quagmire you are fast sinking into?
12. Do you really believe that Isaias and his disciples are going to remain in power indefinitely? 13. Don't you see the Eritrean economy is already in disarray?
14. Don't you see Eritrea is fast heading to-wards total collapse?
15. What do you think you can do?
16. How you see your role in the salvation of Eritrean?
17. Should you continue to stand on the sideline or follow blindly and watch your country slide by Isaias to oblivion?
18. Don't you think a good neighborhood based on mutual understanding, co-operation and peaceful coexistence among the countries of the region is important?
19. How is Eritrea is going to exist without peaceful coexistence among the countries of the region?
20. Don't you think the future of Eritrea is in your hands?
21. Don't you, as a person calling yourself an Eritrean? Don't you think ought to do something? 22, Finally I ask - what are you going to do?

- I will leave the decision for you but act now!!!

Amare - London

(Email: amaredw@hotmail.com)