July10, 2002

The following amendments were suggested by the honorable Aya Fisseha Habte and posted on Dehai.org (Jul 09, 2002) and the proposal was amended accordingly:

Note: Let me reiterate that nothing, absolutely nothing diminishes the sole authority of the GOE and its President, H.E President Issayas Afeworki, over people and land of Eritrea

Under “Recognizing”

Regarding the opposition the following was inserted: Moreover,

(a) The opposition further RECOGNIZES and confesses that boycotting the 1993 Referendum was wrong,

(b) The opposition also RECOGNIZES and confesses that aligning with the Woyane in 1998 to unseat the government was wrong.

Regarding the government,the following paragraph was deleted:

"To this effect, the government shall, upon acceptance and signing of this agreement, lift all unnecessary consular and other restrictions to enable all Eritreans, without prejudging them based on their political stances, to visit their homeland without fear of reprisals and to facilitate Eritrean investments and businesses."

Rapprochement (M’qrirab) (updated)

Proposal and political platform towards intra-Eritrean rapprochement

M. Filli A.

Introduction

All people including Eritreans are created equal but not identical. Thank God, Allah, The holy Cow, Jehovah, Buddha or whoever/whatever you believe in for that, because this would have meant a monolithic and monotonous society, where all people have one and the same opinion about all aspects of life. It is beyond anyone’s imagination to even think what socio-economic and political nightmare this hypothetical situation would have posed. This not being the case of our country, we are blessed to have a multiethnic state whose essence it is multiplicity of visions in all aspects of societal life and development. Ethnic diversity is also the source of creativity. It is an irreplaceable asset bringing people into contact with a wide variety of human experience and wisdom. Hence, difference of opinion in our society is the norm not the exception not because we look for it but because it is a simple reflection of our rich ethnic diversity, it is congenital, one might say!

Eritreans argue their opinion passionately, fiercely, and intensely because they don’t take anything for granted. And I am proud of that. But since consensus of opinion isn’t always achieved, we can and must be able to live with that. We don’t have a lot of options as to how to handle our differences of opinion: We are either stubborn and decide to annihilate each other (to the extent of being hostile and unsympathetic toward each other, as is the case today- Real Eritreans will never do this), or we accept and acknowledge the source of multiplicity of visions in our society, we are flexible and reasonable, and decide to live side by side despite and in spite of our differences, and work to narrow them peacefully, whatever peaceful means it takes- Yes this is what Eritreans will and are going to do.

The formation of the EPLF during the early stages of our liberation struggle was nothing more than an expression of the multi-visionary nature of Eritreans. After fighting alongside the ELF for a considerable time, a group of Eritrean liberation fighters came up with their own vision for the independence and liberation of Eritrea different than that of the ELF. It was wrong, very wrong then to declare that Eritrea cannot accommodate/tolerate any other liberation front, and it is wrong, very wrong now to advocate the hegemony of one and only one political party in Eritrea. Both instances are wrong because they deny the multiethnic and the consequential multi-visionary nature of the Eritrean society. Expressions of multiplicity of visions in Eritrea persisted beyond the day of our independence and reached its peak in May of 2001 when yet another group of highly notable Eritreans split from the GOE over differences of vision for running the government. This event polarized the already polarized Eritrean society more than ever not because of the merits/demerits of the issues raised but because of the personalities involved to the extent that the country appeared to be on the brink of plunging into chaos and anarchy. It is at this juncture that the GOE took restrictive measures and placed under its custody most members of the splinter group (D15) and any and every body associated with them. This again escalated the polarization further to such an extent that Eritreans are hostile and unsympathetic toward each other more than ever.

Although Eritrea has been vindicated not only once but twice in The Haag, the border dispute with Ethiopia has been settled to Eritrea’s satisfaction, the ultimate Demarcation of our international border is only a matter of a short period of time, and the initial momentum of the splinter group has petered out, the polarization of our society persists and we have reached a serious impasse, out of which we must find an exit.

Eritrea needs the participation and the resources of its entire people for our country to prosper, for peace, order, and harmony to reign, for the constitution to be implemented, and for a peaceful and democratic transition to a constitutional government as provide for by our constitution. This is a sine qua non for the realization of a free and independent Eritrea. It is this that motivated this proposal for Rapprochement – quasi Pax Eritrea – as a vital first step for the purpose of establishing/reestablishing or renewal of friendly/cordial relations between Eritreans that were previously hostile or unsympathetic to each other, a quasi state of peace and reconciliation. Fellow Eritreans and compatriots, allow me to re-state the obvious:There is a lot, a hell lot to be gained by being friendly to each other and nothing, absolutely nothing to be gained by being hostile and unsympathetic toward each other. With that and,

Acknowledging that the defense, protection, and preservation of our national sovereignty, territorial integrity, the maintenance of peace and order (our national security), and the issues of the IDP’s, take precedence over any thing and every thing in our country

Accepting that any and all individual, personal, or political interests are subservient to the expressed interests of the People and Country of Eritrea at all times and under any circumstances.

Recognizing that there can be one and only one government at a time in our country now and in the future.

Recognizing that transition of political power can be achieved only through peaceful and democratic means.

Accepting the objective realities at home (The illegal and continued presence of Woyane occupational forces in our country, the Demarcation process, the presence of UNMEE, Demoblizatin, and the resettling of Eritreans from abroad) and acknowledging the priorities of our government in that respect, the

Opposition

Accepts the legitimacy of the government of the State of Eritrea and its head, H.E. president Isaias Afewerki, despite and in spite of its disagreement with it, in honor and respect for our beloved people and country.

Acknowledges that the government of Eritrea has the mandate and the therein-entailed authority to protect, defend, and preserve our national and territorial sovereignty, to maintain peace and order, and to transition the country into a constitutional government, in honor and respect for our beloved people and country.

Recognizes that the government of the state of Eritrea is the sole representative of the people and country of Eritrea and accepts its authority over politics and policies of the country, in honor and respect for our beloved people and country. Moreover,

(a) The opposition further RECOGNIZES and confesses that boycotting the 1993 Referendum was wrong,

(b) The opposition also RECOGNIZES and confesses that aligning with the Woyane in 1998 to unseat the government was wrong.

Pledges to cease all kinds of media war, in and outside of Eritrea, of character assassination, name-calling, and denigration of personalities and focus on issue based debates and discussions immediately upon signing of this agreement – ditto for the government (see below)

Pledges to refrain from all activities, in and outside of Eritrea, that are divisive and discordant, that will affect the lives of the Eritrean people in general, and our national security in particular immediately upon signing of this agreement,

Pledges not to engage in any subversive activities, in and outside Eritrea, that might compromise our national security, disrupt societal normalcy, or undermine the governing of our country immediately upon signing of this agreement, in honor and respect for our beloved people and country.

Acknowledges that the slightest violation of this agreement will have grave legal consequences.

Acknowledges and accepts that at present the laws that govern the formation and activities of political organizations are not yet in effect and consequently political parties have no legal basis in Eritrea

Accepts that this agreement stipulates compliance in and outside Eritrea and agrees to uphold, defend, and protect this agreement at all times in all places. The

Goverment

Acknowledges the multiethnic and the consequential multi-visionary nature of the Eritrean people and shall, upon acceptance and signing of this agreement, grant freedom to express such views and opinions individually or in groups in and outside Eritrea without fear of reprisals.

Shall, upon acceptance and signing of this agreement publicly and in the presence of foreign and national organizations, if necessary, reinstate the Eritrean private media on probationary basis until such time that they have proven their compliance with this agreement beyond any shadow of doubt.

Shall, upon acceptance and signing of this agreement publicly and in the presence of foreign and national organizations, if necessary, release all political detainees on probationary basis until such time that they have proven their compliance with this agreement beyond any shadow of doubt, at which time they either make their case in front of free, open, and independent judiciary setting, or they might even be eligible for presidential pardon

Recognizes that Eritrea needs the participation and the resources of its entire people for our country to prosper, for peace, order, and harmony to reign, for the constitution to be implemented, and for a peaceful and democratic transition to a constitutional government.

Shall, upon acceptance and signing of this agreement, grant visitation on probationary basis to all Eritreans, who, individually or as a group, stood in political opposition to it until such time that they have proven their compliance with this agreement beyond any shadow of doubt, at which time they either make their case in front of free, open, and independent judiciary setting, or it is dismissed.

Shall by virtue of its sole authority over people and land of Eritrea, as a gesture of goodwill, and in the spirit of rapprochement take the first step by releasing first few political detainees based on this agreement? And the

People of Eritrea

Shall witness the signing of this agreement and will be the arbiters in the event of noncompliance

Shall be the monitors of this agreement. It is the duty and the obligation of every Eritrean to document and report any noncompliance with this agreement in any form.

Shall provide their indispensable moral support to all involved to help them accept the spirit and letters of this Rapprochement.

Compatriots, please discuss/debate this proposal. Your input is indispensable. Finally, I appeal to and call upon our government and the opposition to give this proposal a very serious consideration. I also appeal to the organizers of this year’s Festival in Washington DC, to make Rapprochement (M’qrirab) the Theme of the Festival.

Cc: Government of Eritrea via ambassador Girma

EPLF-DP via eritrea1.org

EPF

Awate team

AENF via Messelna/meskerem

Others

Eritrea will prevail

Eternal glory to our martyrs

Long live our veterans

Dr. M. Filli A.