JANUARY 6, 2014 |
Snippet of Eritrea in 2013
By Amanuel Biedemariam,
A little over a year after it gained independence, the Republic of South Sudan is on the brink of civil war that can destroy the freedom won with blood. In this short period, South Sudan’s debt reached over 4.5 billion US dollars. During this period, entrepreneurs from everywhere ascended in South Sudan, took advantage of the loose business climate, and became wealthy.
That leads to the question, what is Eritrea’s debt in 21 years? What, if in the first year of independence, Eritrea allowed entrepreneurs from all over to establish businesses that enriched few? Where will Eritrea be today? The real struggle would have been for nothing. The fighters that bled would have become employees and servants of a few wealthy entrepreneurs. That is what has taken place in South Sudan.
With the above background as the backdrop, the enemies of Eritrea’s design for Eritrea was precisely that. They wanted to see Eritrea destabilized based on Ethnic religion or any crack that could create to destroy the nation’s fabric by splintering the people for their benefits and narrow agendas. However, they failed and kept failing because of the unshakeable conscious social fabric that sustains Eritrea that started from the days of the struggle.
The year 2013 could not be seen in isolation. In 2013 alone, the level of hostilities Eritrea faced was unparalleled. Yet, the people of Eritrea managed to navigate above these hostilities and reached a new platform that placed them on a trajectory of success and prosperity based on a solid foundation.
In 2013, the hostilities against the people of Eritrea started on January 21 with a loud noise that made it feel like; Eritrea collapsed, and anarchy had reigned. Eritreans heard lies, misinformation, disinformation, and fabrications to demoralize, frustrate and paralyze Eritrea Every day.
By all standards relative to other African countries, the demonization campaign against Eritrea was unparalleled. The level, intensity, and consistency of the attacks against Eritrea are comparable to those reserved for Iran and North Korean countries with nuclear arms or the capacity to build them.
Nearly every day, the anti-Eritrea elements have lied about individuals, events that happened or did not, to the point that it became so outlandish that they had to retract in some cases.
These lies are insults to the intelligence of Eritreans. In one instance, they lied that streets Asmara is patrolled by mercenaries from Tigray and wrote analysis as if there is an iota of truth to the story they concocted. (Eritrea supports anti-TPLF DEMHIT)
Eritrea is a country that lives by the motto of self-reliance. Eritreans are amongst the most capable of self-govern that they do not need mercenaries or any other group to patrol them. Furthermore, every Eritrean is armed or has access to protect his nation from outsiders, and it will be outrageous to consider that the Government of Eritrea can bring, of all places, people from Tigray to control them. However, these are lies Asmarino.com brazenly told.
It is not easy to understand the logic or make sense of what the intended outcomes are. Eritreans are not stupid. They are genius about the politics that govern their country and not easily confused by poorly initiated PR gimmicks designed to entice them to react.
Why do they lie? What is the purpose of lying that a general has left Eritrea? When it is not true? What can they possibly gain by lying to Eritreans over and again?
They cannot intimidate the public into seeing things their way with lies or bully them easily because Eritreans have paid dearly, paid-hell to get here. Therefore, it is ludicrous and a joke when they try to change people’s minds using threats and intimidation.
That, however, is evidence that they have turned to criminals in the name of fighting PFDJ, Isaias, etc.
They are throwing stones and vandalizing Eritrean buildings established by Eritreans. The Eritrean Community Center in Oakland is owned by Eritreans reside of the community for a long time. They are outstanding citizens aware of their rights to be intimidated by thugs.
These thugs, claiming they are fighting for the rights of the people of Eritrea, are a sham and a joke. They are bankrupt and devoid of any human decency. They have no cause and constituency in Eritrea and abroad. They are devoid of morality and ethics that are pedigrees for the basis of any cause.
However, that is the resume the TPLF and their handlers require. Thuggery. So they can pursue their destabilization agenda, using vandals.
Their aim is simple. Repeat lies over and again; eventually, it will become the truth. However, as the Eritreans say,
“The rod of truth may thin but never break.”
Eritreans believe in truth. They believe in the truth so much that they have another saying,
“Speak the truth and lay on the railroad.”
An expression that means the truth shall set you free.
The objectives of the lies are varied:
1. Minimize the gallant history of the people of Eritrea by diluting it with falsities and by injecting their agendas and making it their story. The best example of this is their gathering in Bologna, Italy.
Bologna is near and dear to the history of Eritrea. For decades Eritreans gathered in Bologna, Italy, during the armed struggle.
That is why they targeted it. They are trying to destroy history. In one YouTube blabber, quote, “Bologna was just a party.” What if it was just a party? What is wrong with that? If Eritreans needed, then was it wrong for Eritreans to gather around music or party? However, that is how they want to dilute the history and blemish it to fight Eritrea’s strong nationalism.
2. Dilute the meaning and pride associated with national events.
On May 24, as Eritreans readied to celebrate independence, these hooligans came to demonstrate in front of the Embassy of Eritrea in DC with eggs to throw at the Embassy.
However, nationalist Eritreans stood in front of the Embassy and protected the Embassy. It makes one ask, why would any Eritrean throw eggs at a flag that bears the weight of Eritrea’s martyrs?
It is an effort to minimize the gallantry and weight associated with the nation’s independence! Hence, they try to divert the attention from celebration to their crazy agenda by disturbing the event.
3. Create discontent.
The way to create discontent is by telling Eritreans how bad their life is under the government. Relative to our region and based on many measuring sticks, Eritrea fares well on human development indexes, literacy rate, Millennium Development Goal (MDG), mortality rate, life expectancy and access to education, etc.
Nonetheless, the enemies are hell-bent on pointing out any-and-all perceived negatives about Eritrea and trying to exploit in an effort to garner support. When that fails, to shame Eritreans for supporting the government of Eritrea.
As a result, it is impossible to have a reasonable discussion with them because they keep jumping from issue to issue, just repeating the same accusation ad nauseam. The way they describe Eritrea is so wrong, making one wonder if there is another Eritrea because the Eritrea they represent exists only on their heads.
However, if one is to ask, are there any positive developments in Eritrea or, what positive, if any contribution; material, intellectual, financial, etc., they are making; their answers are, of course, full of excuses. By default, their job has become the bearers of bad news for Eritreans. Wahabti Merdi-e. And ironically, that is the only when you see these people in public, at funerals, and in mourning.
However, regardless of how many times they repeated their lies and exaggerated false narratives, they have not been able to change the trajectory of Eritrea’s destiny. They have not been able to make a dent.
How many times can you tell Eritreans that these person or group has defected? How many times can you tell Eritreans that there is no water or electricity in Eritrea?
Moreover, it has become clear they are collaborators with those responsible for the plight of Eritrea’s youth. It is mind-boggling to think that any God-fearing Eritrean can try to entice Eritrean youth to dare athletes, musicians, and businesses people into defecting with bribes and incentives.
If youth flight is a concern, wouldn’t it be easier to help create stability by supporting youth activities that nurture and fulfill their needs? If an entire soccer team defects, who ends up getting hurt? Not the government of Eritrea. It is Eritrean youth and the future of the sport. Is that the desired outcome?
That, however, is what these criminals are doing—trying to publicly entice the youth to ask for asylum in the countries that Eritrea voluntarily sent them to play or perform.
Eritrea is doing what it can to bring these youth to par with the world. On the other hand, these criminals are trying or, in some cases succeeding in sabotaging the youth and turn around using the defections to accuse the government of youth flight.
However, the core of their objective is to deny Eritrea her youth that is building and defending the nation. Hence, when they report defections repeatedly, it is a call for others to do the same. Regardless of how many times they repeated their lies, its objectives remain the same. Eritrean youth is central to their campaign because if and when the youth abandon their country, their masters, the TPLF can then walk into Asmara unchallenged. That is their dream.
Their latest campaign is called “Stop National Service” in Eritrea, describing the National Service as slavery in a sense making a mockery of the term slavery itself.
Therefore, the core objective of their plan is to use all the negative propaganda to incite uprisal in Eritrea eventually. The criminal robocalls and other campaigns are a part of it.
The Lampedusa incident was an opportunity they tried to use to incite spontaneous reaction by the people and failed. All the noise and petition by the so-called intellectuals was a part of the grand picture. However, it failed and continues to fall because they have no constituency. The people of Eritrea are politically astute and aware of their interests to be fooled by immature individuals.
Who are these people? These people gambled on Eritrea losing. People who are unaware of what time it is. People who believed their lies that Eritrea would fall soon, yesterday. People who overestimated the powers of the TPLF and, by extension, the US exert pressure to bring change in Eritrea. Their kind of change. These are people that felt that the State Department was their father’s house.
One recent development highlights this vividly. The Voice of America (VOA) hired one nationalist Eritrean to broadcast from Eritrea. Their uproars and protest against this hiring are telling that these people are not aware of their limitations.
These are people that forgot that they are just tools in the bigger scheme of things. They are instruments of the TPLF or the State Department and not the other way around.
They forgot that there is no permanent friend, but interest and when the US decides its interests are served better by working with Eritrea, their services will no longer be necessary.
That is what the government of Sudan did, which used to be their stamping-ground until they got kicked out and went to Ethiopia. It is a matter of time until they end in the dumpster of history dumped in the garbage grounds of Addis Ababa.
Eritrea the Unstoppable
Amidst all that noise, the empty noise of lies that the president is sick and dying claims that the president has anointed his son. To give the impression that Eritrea is unstable and in dire need of saving, Eritrea stands as a pillar to peace and stability.
After month-long lies, President Isaias Afwerki went to Sudan by cruiser, opening newly built roads between Eritrea and Sudan. He met and greeted Sudanese people who adored and respected him along the way.
He then conducted serious business and inked bilateral agreements with Sudan. The agreement allowed much more significant business cooperation to take place, including the free-flow of people by abolishing visa requirements between the two brotherly countries—establishing a foundation for future stability and security and economic prosperity for both nations.
Soon after that, President Isaias attended Kenya’s 50year Independence celebrations. President Isaias stood tall as he stood by the side of the leaders of Kenya in their honor.
During his visit, President Isaias conducted a seminar with Eritreans in Kenya where he told Eritreans that Eritrea had foiled all ill attempts against her. He said,
“Those who tried to weaken Eritrea into submission have given up because Eritrea ensured that they give in. “Alash Ilom.”
President Isaias’s visit to Sudan and then Kenya sent powerful messages to the enemies of Eritrea. It sent messages that echoed, in the greater scheme of things, they mean NOTHING.
Regardless of what they say and do, they cannot stop Eritrea. And there is no way they stand on the path of Eritrean people. Most importantly, it showed that they failed. They failed to make a dent in the core of the Eritrean psyche. On the contrary, they empowered Eritreans.
They got exposed, showed their true colors, and exposed their agendas and approaches for all to see in the process. Their irrational exuberance led Eritreans to know who these people were and what they wanted, and they cleared them out of the way for good, like pests.
The exhilaration of Forto was then capped by Eritrea’s victory when President Isaias stood tall on the global stage in Kenya, proving wrong to those that like to point out the negative.
Eritrea will keep proving them wrong because the upside of Eritrea is immeasurable. When electricity becomes their issue, Eritrea opens the world. When they try to make diplomacy their point, Eritrea’s diplomacy shines through with the most powerful nations of the world knocking at her doorsteps because Eritrea deals from strength.
When they joke Eritrea has no economy, Eritrea is dealing with the world’s most important economies in real terms, making an impactful and meaningful change in people’s lives.
When other African nations are selling all their resources to stay afloat, Eritrea, on the other hand, has remained steadfast by relying on the people of Eritrea, the true champions of the future, by SELF RELIANCE.
Conclusion
It is not fashionable or sexy enough for the detractors when Eritreans build a road that connects one village to a city. It is not good enough when Eritrea opens a clinic in a remote village. It is nothing to them to see a dam built in a remote area providing opportunities for farming. The real change that is stabilizing the lives of the people means nothing. On their heads, the only thing that matters is the lofty ideals, immature ideas that others use to exploit African nations. Eritreans, therefore, have rejected these vermin.
If there is one thing evident to all Eritreans, it is the fact that no matter how well Eritrea performs, they will try their best to suppress it because they are afraid the excellent example Eritrea sets could resonate.
They will downplay or deny every-and-all achievements because they must always tell the world that Eritrea is doing poorly to continue their charades. They are also out of options because they have nothing to offer to the people of Eritrea since they have nothing tangible.
Based on history, the people of Eritrea know full well how the world operates. They understand the bias against them. And no matter what they achieve, they know that is not what the world wants them to do. They know those achievements are for their future. They understand it is not to impress the world.
It is for the future generations of Eritrea. Therefore it is fitting when Eritreans say,
“let the Camel March as the dogs’ bark.”
The dogs are barking and the camel is marching to a new year while stepping on the insects along the way!
Eritrea has prevailed, and those that played and overplayed their hands will pay dearly.
2014 and the future is bright. Nkid-Tray.
Awet N-Hafash
