|
 Network
of Eritreans for Constitutional
Governance
(NECG)
‘Qiddim
Hagher’: Eritrea Tyrant’s Fascistic Mantra
23
October 2008
Berhane
M Tekeste
‘Qiddim Hagher’
is a constant mantra of Eritrea tyrant, his surrogates and enablers,
and means ‘Country First’ expressed in Tigrinya, one of
the dominant local languages in Eritrea. ‘Qiddim
Hagher’ is the automatic and routine response of enablers of
Afewark's tyranny when they get challenged with issues that pertain
to democracy.
This
leading mantra ‘Qiddim Hagher’ combined with yet more
Tigrinya slogans like ‘Hade Hzby, Hade Lyby’ meaning ‘One
Nation, One Heart’ under one leader, ‘NiHagherka
Gberella’ that means ‘Do Something for your country’,
and ‘Bzaeba Hagher Hmaq Aytzareb’ that means ‘speak
no ill of your country’ helped ruler Afawarki perpetuate his
totalitarian grip on our country Eritrea for obvious reasons: They
all sound good and persuasive, for who would be against putting the
nation’s interest first, unity of the nation, or doing
something for his country?
Yet
and in principle those slogans are eerily reminiscent of fascist
Hitler’s “Ein Volk, Ein Reich, Ein Führer” and
fascist Musolini’s “Non
chiedere cosa il tuo paese può fare per voi, chiedete cosa
potete fare per il tuo paese, and ‘everything
in the state. nothing outside the state. nothing against the state’.”
What they all have in common is the fact that they promote blind
submission into higher authority even above and beyond life itself
and the idea of an omnipotent government, in this case the tyranny of
the unelected Eritrea ruler Afewarki, whose authority should not be
questioned.
And
as a matter of fact and in reality, Afawerki’s ‘Qiddim
Hagher’ mantra does just that and is indeed fascistic for it is
coming directly out of the mouth of a real and barefaced tyrant, who
publicly and unabashedly trashed the national constitution as paper
and only a piece of paper, declared democracy luxury item, pronounced
political dissent treasonous, tabooed rule of law and justice and
dismisses calls for Human Rights, Free Press, Elections and religious
freedom as foreign conspiracy aimed at unseating him and an attempt
to reverse Eritrea’s national independence.
Consequently
and obviously, Afewarki’s ‘Qiddim Hagher’ fascistic
mantra has nothing to do with putting the nation’s interest
first but every thing to do with fascistic suppression of mounting
and ceaseless national call for democracy and justice under the guise
of putting the nation’s interest first (Qiddim Hagher).
Now,
let us see. Putting nation’s interest first versus what? Of
course, versus democracy?
Why would a constitutionally governed and
democratic Eritrea be counter putting the nation’s interest
first or hamper the nation’s ability to preserve, protect, and
defend nation’s interest?
To the utter contrary. A
constitutionally governed and democratic Eritrea at peace with itself
is in the best possible position not only to put the nation’s
interest first but also to preserve, protect, and defend its national
and territorial sovereignty than Eritrea under absolute tyrannical
reign, not at peace with itself, neighbors, and at odds with
regional, continental and major international organizations including
major powers?
That would be asking too much of barefaced tyrant
Afawerki because it means asking him to commit political suicide,
for democracy is the proven antidote to tyranny. That is why he
is fighting tooth and nail to perpetuate his totalitarian grip on our
country Eritrea by whatever means necessary. For that, in the slogan
‘Qiddim Hagher’ or ‘Country First’ ruler
Afewarki found a surefire mantra to conceal tyranny by blunting and
frustrating calls for democracy, for who would argue against
nationalism!
Notwithstanding
gullible Eritreans, coming from a blatan tyrant like Eritrea ruler
Afawerki, the slogan ‘Qiddim Hagher’/'Country First' is
fascistic by all measures.
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