By REGASSA on Wednesday, May 24, 2000 - 10:08 pm

We heard that Eritrea has agreed to withdraw from Zalambesa by Midnight the 25th of May. This clearly is a move made in the wake of imminent defeat. At any rate there are at least three reasons why the Ethiopian Government should not succumb to Eritrea's demand for a similar committment and for a ceasefire.

ONE: Zalambasa is not the only Ethiopian LOCALITY that is still occupied by Eritrea (The Eritrean statment makes no mention of the surroundings of BURE). Hence, just like the previous time, Eritrea still appears to be unwilling to withdraw from all parts of Ethiopian territory.

.....Continued

Eritrea's acquiesence: .....continued
By REGASSA on Wednesday, May 24, 2000 - 10:11 pm:

TWO: Eritrea came even this far not out of conviction BUT out of the realization that Ethiopia's military victory is irreversible. Isaias did just that in the aftermath of operation sunset. After paying (most likely) a huge price in terms of both financial and human resources, the Ethiopian government should not acquiesce to Isaias's ploy and agree to a cease-fire just to give him a respite for the second time. Remember the saying "a man convinced against his will is never convinced at all". Therefore, Ethiopia must make sure that the man is left with no more 'claws' to 'scratch' with.

continued.......

Eritrea's Acquiesence: ....continued
By REGASSA on Wednesday, May 24, 2000 - 10:22 pm:

THREE: Finally, the OAU mediation efforts and documents were all intended to avoid this, i.e. the option of the use of force. That avenue has been exhausted during the past two years and as a result Ethiopia is achieving what the OAU mediation efforts did not achieve. Hence Ethiopia shall not be bound by the terms any of the OAU plans. They are void. It would indeed be illogical for Ethiopia to continue a negotiation that is meant to achieve what it has already achieved at huge cost. If it negotiates, it should be in its own terms.

These shall include: the method and amount of Eritrea's compensation for the Ethiopian lives and property lost because of the war it initiated, and on the type of restraint that should be placed on Eritrea so that it should never commit acts of aggression. The constitutional restraints that were imposed on postwar Germany and Japan can serve as good starting points.

God Bless Ethiopia,

REGASSA