Not long ago, this writer, based on my profound desire to reach as many Horn Diaspora folks as possible, posted a goodwill gesture ushering in the New Year on the Internet. I do not doubt that many Diaspora folks share my wish for peace and tranquility to materialize in the war ravaged Horn region. I also was cognizant of the fact that some people might have a differing view than mine. Be that as it may however, I have to admit that I was surprised to hear the double talk usually reserved to dishonesty on the part of the “Foreign affairs” person of none other than the much ballyhooed “Kinijit” of Ethiopia! Notwithstanding the division of Kinijit that has come to surface lately, Dr. Yacob’s attempt to deny that there was some “Division” in the Kinijit camp basically exposes his insincere disposition. It just never stops to amaze me how some people believe they can get away with lie after lie. But, again perhaps coming from a person that mimics the Weyane gangs posture vis-à-vis Ethiopia’s relations with Eritrea shouldn’t surprise anyone. However that is for our Ethiopian friends to address; and I simply wish them all the best to deal with such unprincipled people as Dr. Yacob Hailemariam.

I believe it is worth stating the obvious that no Eritrean organization, not least the Eritrean government, wishes any harm to Ethiopia and the Ethiopian people. We never have. This is not an empty slogan, but a principled stand of the Eritrean people. Just to site one example is the well documented act by the Eritrean People Liberation Front’s humane handling of thousands of captured Ethiopian troops. Another widely reported incident was the fact that our freedom fighters did not take any retribution or “Get even” activity towards any member of the Dergue regime that were basically sitting ducks when we finally liberated Eritrea. The Eritrean people simply do not believe in “Tit for tat” activity except when they are forced to defend themselves against forces who do not wish them well. That being the case, however, our magnanimity toward the people who wished and continue to wish us some harm should not be mistaken for a sign of weakness. As human beings, there is a limit to the degree of abuse we can take in spite of our desire to live in peace and harmony with all our neighbors.

To come back to my subject of today, from information I received by an Ethiopian friend of mine, I listened to Dr. Yacob’s audio interview streamed on January 4, 2008. What caught my attention was how the doctor thinks he can get away with double talk about the Eritrea Ethiopia relations when he was answering a question by the Radio moderator. When asked to comment on the “Ethiopia/Eritrea” relations, he stated that while Ethiopia should and will respect the Eritrea Ethiopia Border Commission (EEBC) “Legal” decision, he expressed concern about the implementation of the verdict. Does that sound familiar? He specifically sited as the “Division” of the Irob community and how the Irobs that would fall on the Eritrean side of the border wouldn’t be happy campers; and that they have expressed their desire to remain “Ethiopian”. Assuming Dr. Yacob may not have read the rules and regulations that lead to the Algiers Agreement, let me just offer him some of the salient facts.

1. This lame duck excuse is the same old tired make-believe story that the Ethiopian Government and their handlers would like to sing. It is an illegal attempt to get some international sympathy for their foot dragging technique not to vacate from occupied Eritrean territory when the Algiers Agreement signed between Eritrea and Ethiopia specifically does not make room for such exercise in futility.
2. I am sure it can be arranged to relocate anyone that may not wish to be on the “Wrong” side of the border.
3. More importantly, though, when the Ethiopian Government agreed to abide by such verdict as “Final and binding”, that is what it is. It simply does not entertain such meaningless posturing by anybody for the sake of argument and as means of delaying tactics.

The other absurd statement made by Dr Yacob, as incredible as it may sound, was that he stated the Eritreans would have to give back Asseb to Ethiopia for the port is vital to Ethiopian “National security”. As if to tell us some “Long forgotten” discovery in history, he sited the issue of how General Napier of the British expeditionary forces used “Adoulis”[in Eritrea] to invade Ethiopia. Hmm! That gave me a pause for thought.

There are two basic sordid fallacies on the good doctor’s “Concerns”. How does having “Ownership” of a particular port in Eritrea “Prevent” another invasion of Ethiopia by anybody using any of the many “Ports” found along the Red Sea coast line? Doesn’t the invasion of Ethiopia have to be accomplished after overrunning some Eritrean positions if indeed the “Invasion” comes only from the coast as the good doctor fears? By expressing such concerns, isn’t our educated person telling us that it is only Ethiopia that can assure the security of the Red Sea area with the clearly arrogant and chauvinist behavior that Eritrea is incapable of securing its own territories? Why can’t the “invaders” the Doctor alludes come through Port Sudan or Djibouti or Bosaso or Massawa? Do our Ethiopian friend has some asinine plan to snatch some or all of those ports on the Red Sea selectively to safeguard their country’s security regardless who the legal owners of such ports might be? Wow, that would be some tall order in the making and I wonder if the delusional Ethiopians think the Sudanese, Djiboutian, Somalis and (oh yes) Eritreans would sit idly and receive the would-be invaders with flowers in hand. Hey, one should never say never as dreaming comes free of charge. Doesn’t it? After all these are cyber warriors who probably have not been through the misery and hardship the Eritrean and Ethiopian people had to bear through the last half century or so. There is a Tigrigna saying that states “quinat zeyweAle beliH”. Attempting to take something that doesn’t belong to you, my friend, would inevitably lead to mayhem and war; and that is not pretty. We, Eritreans have seen it all and our prime desire remains peace not only in Eritrea but for the entire neighborhood.

Finally, if the various Ethiopian regimes’ failure to subjugate forcefully the Eritrean people for more than 40 years; a UN sponsored referendum’s assertion that the overwhelming majority of the Eritrean people expressed unflinching desire for political independence; and the finalization of the legal demarcation of the Eritrea Ethiopia border does not convince you that Asseb is and will remain always Eritrean, then I am afraid you will just have to dream about it for no Eritrean government will ever relinquish what is legally Eritrean territory.

Berhane Alazar

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