Eritrea: A Perverted Understanding Of Societal Norms

Commentary

In an interview with LA Times Staff Writer, Edmund Sanders, posted today, the ruler of Eritrea, Isaias Afewerki once again exposed his perverted understanding of all the intrinsic societal norms including international relations for no other reason than his ceaseless attempt to fit societal norms to his tyrannical regime.

First, let me say just for the record, absent the national constitution, Isaias Afewerki has no popular authority and legitimization but the barrel of the gun for the position he has been assuming since Eritrea’s independence.

US – Eritrea relations

When asked how US-Eritrea relationship soured, Afewerki blamed US for taking Ethiopia’s side on the border issue and accused it of deliberately delaying the demarcation with the intent of reversing the border decision. But when asked why the US would do that, Afewerki’s answer was mere speculation and demagoguery: Superpowers pick on Eritrea because "We are one small voice, and I guess that irritates people."

When asked about US threats to add his government to US list of ‘State sponsors of terrorism’, Afewerki retorted, “There are no facts or evidence. For me to deny or not deny, first I'd have to ask about the evidence”. Mr. President, you are going to wait till eternity for that. US State Department has provided the information it needed to put your government on notice for the impending action. Beyond that, the US has no obligation to prove to you the validity of its intelligence findings or present evidence to that effect.

Nations have a sovereign right to determine their friends and foes based on their own standards. There is no one universal standard by which all nations determine their friends and foes. Eritrea determines its friends and foes based on its own standards. So does the US. Based on its standard, the US has determined that your government belongs to the list of state sponsors of terrorism. Take it, try to resolve it, or leave it. It is your call Mr. President. The US has nothing to lose in this game!

On the issue of the constitution

Here some correction is well called for. Writer Sanders may have missed it, but the constitution has long been ratified. It happened in 1997, that explains the president’s reference to ‘past 10 years’ (1997-2007). So, the question here is why the constitution has not been implemented?

As usual, the president became defensive, combative and hysterical and responded, “People may talk about democracy, but even those who pretend to be democratic are not democratic.” Mr. President there is no need to be hysterical. We are not talking about democracy or “Multiple political parties” . We are talking about the constitution. Yes, the ratified constitution.

“The constitution is a paper” said the president. Mr. President you are wrong. Have some respect for the wishes and will of the people of Eritrea. The constitution is not a paper but a solemn covenant between the people and government of Eritrea that happened to be written on paper for purposes of preservation. If the constitution were instead preserved in a CD Rom or Audio Cassette would you have then labeled the constitution ‘it is only a CD or an Audio Cassette? Mr. President, give our national constitution whatever label you want and belittle it all you want, but it is not going to go away.

“I don't want to cheat everyone with this paper” added the prez. Mr. President, unless you are having second thoughts about our constitution, you cannot “cheat everyone with this paper” because that is what the people want and unequivocally decided to have. No one is going to feel cheated for having ‘this paper’, just let us have it, sir.

“I don't want to mislead everyone that this paper is a panacea.” continued the prez. The mother of all problems in Eritrea is the issue of governance and there is nothing our constitution cannot solve in that regard. Yes, “this paper” has got it all; it is a panacea. Release “this paper” for public consumption as designed, just lay back, and see it working. There is no other legitimate way of governing our country until and unless we, the people, decide otherwise- very unlikely.

When asked why isn’t it conducive to implement the constitution now, the prez responded, “There is a process of transformation in any society. The political process is part of that social and economic transformation. You may tell me there is a constitutional monarchy here, or elections there, or multiple political parties over there. It's a mockery. It's become fashionable to pretend to be democratic, to pretend to have a constitution and multiparty-system. But those systems undermine all the processes that would lead to participation of the population. It's a matter of providing equal opportunities, not a political document, that guarantees your rights. It's not putting your vote in a ballot box that will guarantee you good living standards.” What, for heaven’s sake, are you talking about Mr. Prez? How does this blabber prove that the condition is not conducive to implement the constitution? In Eritrea, we are calling for the constitution not because it is ‘fashionable’ for it was not written because it is ‘fashionable’ but because we decided by our vote and subsequent ratification that it is indispensably necessary and the only way to govern our country legit.

Isn't the essence of a democracy having the right to vote once in a while?

“It's very sad. Democracy in its real essence should provide people with equal opportunity.” It does in Eritrea for why would we be writing a national constitution that deprives our people of equal opportunity, Mr. Prez.

Do you think Eritrea isn't ready for democracy?

”Eritrea could be more ready than those other countries that are labeled as democracies. What we see evolving are not democracies. We see tyrannies, corrupt governments and people deprived of any form of participation, in spite of the ballot box and constitutions that are publicized. . . . We can't do it with prescriptions coming from the wrong doctors. We say, leave us alone. Let us do our own work and arrive at a heavenly sort of democracy, if we can call it that.” Talking about tyranny, in the absence of the constitution, where do you draw from your sole and exclusive authority and legitimization to reign over our country, sir? The call for democratic governance in Eritrea comes from the right doctors: The people of Eritrea. The people of Eritrea don’t dream and never dreamt of ‘a heavenly sort democracy ‘. We are earthbound and all we want is a plane and simple terrestrial democracy as provided for by our constitution.

Independent media, religion, political prisoners

“There is no independent press anywhere.” said the prez. That is bad news and not a justification for banning independent media in Eritrea for as I told you many times, two wrongs do not add up to one right.

“Who guides the so-called independent media? Who finances these organizations? Unfortunately, the independent media are being manipulated by those who can afford to buy them.” Mr. Prez., no need to be paranoid. What do you care who pays them and who they work for if you were governing the country the only right way the people know: Constitutionally. Freedom of speech is a human right. If people abuse this freedom, then the right answer is to penalize the culprits not to ban Freedom of speech, sir.

“There is no restriction on religion. What's new about the Bible that you want to teach me? What is new about the Koran? I say there is nothing new.” Mr. Prez., freedom of religion is not limited to the Bible and Koran. That is a perverted understanding of freedom of religion. The right to freedom of religion entitles people to worship and believe in whatever they want including worshiping a cow, rat, or any versions of the Bible and Koran including the book of Mormon etc.

“They are not politicians. They are crooks who have been bought. They provided themselves to serve something contrary to the national interest of this country. They are degenerates. I don't take it [as] a serious matter.” Call them what you want, they still have the right to be arraigned and tried in a court of law. You may not take their case as a serious matter, but their families, friends, relatives and the international community take it as a serious matter.

How much longer will you stay in power? Do you think about stepping down?

”It's become a habit for me not to discuss this issue. I believe in a political process that will take this country from one level to a higher level. I see myself . . . in this process. I think I'm moving in the right direction. It's a long process under normal circumstances. It can't happen under abnormal circumstances. Unfortunately, we have entered into a situation we call abnormal because of external interferences that are blocking our progress.” Mr. President, where do you draw from the right and the authority for you to be the sole and exclusive person “that will take this country from one level to a higher level” but the barrel of the gun?

Mr. President, thanks for declaring yourself president for life. Only by The Barrel Of The Gun not by the will and wishes of the people of Eritrea as expressed by the constitution?

Author can be contacted at bmtekeste@yahoo.com