|
Eritrea:
Network of Eritreans for Constitutional Governance
Editorial
EritreaDaily.net
15
Oct 2007
The
slogan ‘Constitutional Governance Only Way Forward For Eritrea’
has been the mantra, guiding principle, and mission objective of this
website ever since it was first launched over 5 years ago. Following
is the basic rationale for adopting this slogan:
We
picked this slogan not for the purpose of establishing a proprietary
claim, because it is a celestial imperative, or our eternal wishful
dream but for the sole reason that it properly reflects the
unequivocal wishes, aspirations, will, and demand of the people of
Eritrea as expressed in writing in our national constitution that
was voted on and legitimately ratified in 1997 but has since been
quarantined into oblivion to this date. That is the constitution we
are referring to here.
While
that was the primary reason why we adopted this slogan, our
intention was also to draw the attention of and call upon the myriad
of Eritrean political organizations, which for various legitimate
reasons stand at odds with the interim governmental authority in
Eritrea, to unite behind this slogan and to make it their primary
goal instead of getting mired in differences in tactical approaches
including petty power struggles and then splitting into disputatious
factions accordingly as has been and is the case today.
Finally,
by adopting this slogan we also meant to send a loud and clear
reminder to the interim governmental authority in Eritrea that,
barring second thoughts, it has the solemn obligation to pave the
way for constitutional governance, for the constitution was drafted
with its active participation and then ratified with its unequivocal
consent.
As
you can see, therefore, the message of our slogan was not, has never
been, and is not limited to a particular group but is directed at all
Eritreans as individuals or in groups including the tyrannical
governmental authority that our country, Eritrea, has been subjected
to ever since independence, now over 16 years.
We
have been struggling with ourselves for so long trying to figure out
the most effective and action-oriented way to struggle in unison for
the realization of this sacrosanct national slogan because the
Eritrean diaspora appeared to have settled to the way it is organized
to-date split into a myriad of disputatious political organizations,
stand-alone civic organizations, human rights groups, public forums
etc. And some that are turned off by this sort of factionalization
have simply chosen to remain politically indifferent.
As
it stands today, therefore, the Eritrean diaspora finds itself
organized split along political differences, which in turn has
hampered our ability to act in unison even for a common cause:
Constitutional governance of our country, the lack of which we
believe is the source and cause of all that has been ailing our
country, Eritrea, for now 16 years and counting.
The
purpose of this proposal is to suggest a model where we can get
organized as one entity on individual basis based on THE MINIMUM WE
HAVE IN COMMON (Minimum Common Denominator) and struggle for it in
unison. Once so established, we can use the model as a forum to
narrow/hammer out our differences over a myriad of issues or discuss
other national issues of common interest in small groups, via
seminars, through research etc. Following is a bare outline for
establishing such a model:
PROPOSAL FOR
ERITREANS FOR CONSTITUTIONAL GOVERNANCE (ECG)
Brief prelude
Soon
after national independence in 1991, the people of Eritrea decided
for democratic governance to be the only legitimate way of governing
our country. To that effect, following a 4-year long debate, a
national constitution was drafted and legitimately ratified in 1997
but has since been quarantined and sent into oblivion and our country
has been subjected to the rule by the barrel of the gun. Yet, the
demand of the people of Eritrea for democratic governance as dictated
by the national constitution persists. Today, it is difficult if not
impossible to find one single Eritrean that is objected to
constitutional governance of our country despite and in spite of
political differences and pros and cons of the national constitution,
for what would be the alternative? It is this indubitable fact that
makes Constitutional Governance of our country a sine qua non
hence qualifying it as the one minimum common denominator or
ground behind which each, every, and all Eritreans can be rallied and
get organized as one entity on individual basis, whose sole purpose
and goal it is to act in unison towards its realization.
Minimum
Common Denominator, therefore, behind which we can all rally, get
organized, stand and operate as one entity with a common designation
and upon which such a model is based is the unequivocal imperative
Constitutional Governance in Eritrea. Constitutional governance
means democratic governance provided for, anticipated, and
dictated by the 1997 constitution as updated to current.
Name:
NETWORK OF ERITREANS FOR CONSTITUTIONAL GOVERNANCE (NECG)
Nature:
Grassroots movement encompassing Eritrean grassroots movements to be
constituted locally as ERITREANS for
CONSTITUTIONAL
GOVERNANCE (ECG) all over the world. As such
It
is not a political organization, hence
Does
not have political program/platform or constitution.
It
has no political ambition or objective, meaning it does not strive
for political control of the country.
It
is strictly non-violent movement
Sole
objective: Agitate and struggle for Constitutional Governance in
Eritrea
Structure:
The lowest unit of NECG is a local grassroots chapter of
Eritreans for Constitutional Governance (ECG), hereunder referred to
as ECG. The local ECG is established by any number of individual
Eritreans that come together in their neck of the woods for the sole
purpose of agitating and struggling for Constitutional Governance in
Eritrea. Of course, all locally pre-existing Eritrean groups are more
than welcome and we indeed encourage them to join NECG should they so
determine – we see no reason why not?
Centers
of Activities: NECG does
not have headquarters in the traditional sense but Centers of
Activities that serve our declared purpose and goal most effectively.
Centers of Activities are those chapters of ECGs that happen to be
located at the same place as the ‘capitals of major world
powers and seats of major international organizations’ such as
Washington DC, New York City, Geneva, and Brussels, possibly The
Hague etc. Consequently, those local ECG take the lead in
coordinating our efforts to agitate and lobby for our cause with
respective powerhouses and major int’t organization. To that
effect, the local ECG may or may not request additional help, but it
is the responsibility of all partners of NECG to respond swiftly and
positively should one such local ECG request or call for additional
help.
Mode
of Operation: NECG is not orchestrated by traditional power
structures. Once so established, it is up to the local ECG to
determine how best to do its business – Decentralized mode of
operation.
Practical
Activities: In order to realize our purpose and goal, ECG has
tasks to be accomplished:
Agitate
and lobby for our cause with the people of Eritrea and the
international community at large via whatever peaceful means
available
Expose
and raise awareness about the palpable negative consequences of the
lack of constitutional governance in our country via print and
electronic media outlets including fostering necessary relationships
with major Newspaper publishers and television station, organizing
large demonstrations, flyers, blogging, putting up posters, etc.
How
it works: Local ECG chapters have certainly no problem to arrange
for a local meeting to plan, map out, coordinate, and organize their
activities. But in the case where the participation of other ECGs is
need, then we can utilize closed paltalk rooms to serve our
purposes.
International
Exposure: It
is imperative to launch a website for the international community to
be aware of our existence, for our presence and activities to be felt
wordwide, as a source of information about our cause and as one
effective means of communication between and among ECGs all over the
world, etc.
Logo:
Thumbs up hand
signal
Summary
This proposal is
certainly open for adaptation to local needs. Getting organized in
the form of a grassroots movement on individual level and based upon
the minimum we all have in common, constitutional governance, and
under one common designation is all inclusive and positive because no
one can object to it for what better option do we have to govern our
country? Once so established, this model provides us with a forum
where we can debate and resolve our differences or any other issues
in an organized fashion, too.
Yes, VIVA ERITREA
THUMBS UP FOR NECG
Berhane
M Tekeste, for
EritreaDaily.net
|
