March 10, 2002

When patriotism is misconstrued as partisanism

M. Filli A.

It is indeed sad, very sad to see Eritrean compatriots gloating maliciously over a resolution concocted and contrived by EU interventionists, and the recently rendered equally contrived Statement of the status of “human rights” against and regarding our beloved country just to assuage their political grudge against GOE/PIA/PFDJ! That is one way to score points and make a case against their political opponent but has nothing to do with love for one’s country and every thing to do with the motto: “The enemy of my enemy is my friend” heedless of paramount and expressed interests of people and country.

Having said that, no one national government enjoys full support of its public and GOE is not an exception; neither do all Eritreans are content with the current political situation at home or do they want to ignore it. No, no. The casus EU/US is not at all about that. It is about the fundamental principle of and respect for the political independence of any sovereign state regardless of political nature of governance and government; that was the final nail in the coffin of colonialism, as we knew it! This is well enshrined in the Charters of all international organizations and communities including ACP-EU Cotonou Agreement for it constitute the basis of international relationships in all aspects. Political independence entails the inalienable right of nations to sovereignty over their own internal/external political and economic policies, not to mention the universal principles of noninterference as determined by UN, OAU, and yes, even EU Charters. It is all integral part of the inalienable right of nations to self determination!

Eritrea is, like all other such countries, entitled to and can benefit from foreign development and economic assistance with or without strings attached. But again, it is not about that but about foreign donors using such assistance as leverage to violate our political independence by issuing ultimatums to impose their political will on us. That is now absolutely off limits to the strings attached to foreign aid! Our political independence and sovereignty over whatever kind of governance we choose to have is too precious to surrender and Eritreans refuse subjugation to foreign aid under all circumstances. That is never an Eritrean option. Call this empty slogan or whatever one wants to call it, but it is the reality of Eritrean Patriotism (ERITREANNESS).

One may also ask, aren’t there more than 11 people in custody, for much longer time and before September 2001, since our independence? Why call for justice for only the 11 people when all Eritreans are equal before the law? Well, casus EU/US is not about justice or rule of law, it is about exploiting the social status of the 11 people and the consequences of the woyane aggression to create the social and political ambience that they need in order to impose their political will on the Eritrean people. “Justice, rule of law” is only a ploy they use to camouflage their ostensible political goal: Undermining the political independence of our country. And that, is neither negotiable nor for sale irrespective of the government de jour, diplomatic demarche, “human right statement”, or EU parliament “resolution” because that is what the People of Eritrea fought for! Now, this is not GOE-partisan politics but Eritrean patriotism (ERITREANNESS).

How about “democracy, political pluralism, human right”? It is not about that either. There is no “democracy, political pluralism, human right” as they know it, in China, to site an example. EU has put democracy on hold in that part of the world and here is how it is handling it: “Human rights sidelined as EU and China talk trade”

Of course, donor nations may express their dissatisfactions in matters human right, free press, or political pluralism, but see what EU says whose responsibility that ultimately is: “ACKNOWLEDGING that a political environment guaranteeing peace, security and stability, respect for human rights, democratic principles and the rule of law, and good governance is part and parcel of long term development; acknowledging that responsibility for establishing such an environment rests primarily with the countries concerned;” ACP-EU Cotonou Agreement, emphasis mine. Again, it is not about expressing their opinion but about them trying to impose their opinion by using Foreign Aid as leverage to the extent of taking the whole nation hostage!

There is nothing wrong with applying political and economic pressure on any national government, like inviting the opposition, criticizing its politics on issues like the ones cited above, Flight, commercial and diplomatic restrictions, or re-calling ambassadors; but there is every thing wrong when such pressure is loaded with ultimatums and resolutions dictating the internal/external policy of a sovereign state: That is when they transgress international law and start violating the political independence of a sovereignty state. The principle of non-interference is a two-way street. Hence, if a sovereign state were to accuse the GOE of interfering in its internal matters and if that were indeed the case, then the GOE will certainly be reprimanded in no uncertain ways for its actions!

Given that backdrop, it is therefore obvious that Eritrean protest against previous and current EU/US actions against our country is a principled one: In defense and protection of our political independence regardless of the political nature of the government de jour (GOE,Dxy,ELF..), under all circumstances. Hence, it is an unequivocal and simple expression of a solid Eritrean patriotism (ERITREANNESS) and the notion that it perpetuates GOE-partisan politics is simply preposterous and wrong. I don’t consider myself a die-hard GOE, PFDJ, PIA, Dxy, or ELF supporter but a die-hard Eritrean and a die-hard supporter of Eritreanness, for governments come and go while our national sovereignty and political independence stay!

ERITREA WILL PREVAIL

EU and Co. will again fail