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Eritrea, what time is it?
Eritrea emerge victorious by thwarting conspiracies, ensuring development, and safeguarding the nation’s sovereignty
By Amanuel Biedemariam,
The slogan “Our struggle is long, and victory is certain,” after independence, long pursued victory was at hand, and it appeared as though it was time to rest the slogan in the museum of Eritrean history. Twenty-one years later, the struggle continues, and the slogan remains true to the spirit, and Eritrea says, “The Struggle may be long, but Victory is certain,” for there is no other option.
To get anywhere in life, one must first know what they want and find a way to reach that goal. For Eritrea, it is easy because Eritreans understand what they want. Their creativity, dedication, and sacrifices paved the way to achieve the ultimate goal, Eritrea’s independence through the struggle. And history proves Eritreans are resilient and victorious. History proves Eritreans will do what it takes to come out victorious, and it also proves that Eritreans have paid and will pay dearly with their lives without hesitation.
It has been over 21 eventful years since independence, and during this period, Eritrea has gone through many transformations, changing the lives of Eritreans every passing moment. The question, if the struggle is ongoing, what are we struggling for and against? And what does victory mean this time around? To make sense of these essential questions, one must rely on the history of Eritrea and the understanding of the basic needs of humanity.
Eritrea is a nation that operates as one unit; hence easy to liken to an individual and apply the hierarchy of needs theory as-is, and try to gauge where we are as a societal unit. Eritreans are very resourceful bunches that have no problem providing for their needs and national defense. History attests to Eritrea’s successes and achievements in various areas based on Self Reliance. More uniquely, Eritreans have always defined Eritrea’s successes. That is what separates Eritrea from the rest. Even when the West and others try determining what success is for developing nations, Eritrea has consistently proven capable, as with the Millennium Developmental Goals (MDG). Eritrea is ahead and slated to reach these goals without much fanfare and relying almost entirely on self.
Eritrea achieves these benchmarks easily because Eritreans believe they can achieve the highest standard of living through hard work, dedication, and self-reliance. Eritrea commits to these goals not because it is a standard slated by the international community. Eritrea wants to ensure a high quality of life for every Eritrean; it is also a matter of national security.
When the scourge of HIV AIDS threatened Africa, Eritrea was at the forefront and met the challenges successfully. Malaria posed significant problems in Eritrea, and because of the hard work, malaria prevalence is negligible. Eritrea’s success in reducing child mortality and access to medical treatment for families everywhere in Eritrea is an example many developing nations can use. Schools are the backbone of every community in Eritrea. Yet, it is not enough since the goals and expectations are higher.
Eritrea’s achievements are infinite to detail and impossible to discuss in an article such as this. It is also clear to every Eritrean what success or victory means to Eritrea. It is to make the lives of Eritrean better.
Because of that, over the last 12 years, the enemies have also become aggressive and made a tremendous push to reverse those achievements, albeit fruitlessly. However, if anything, the persistent agitation made them are fiercely protective and fight harder because Eritrea’s achievements are precious.
The criminal TPLF junta targeted our achievements, values, arts, culture, music, and life. They held demonstrations during Eritrean events to disrupt it. To confuse Eritreans and divide them, the TPLF created similar events to spread the community thin. When Eritreans celebrate independence, for example, they will sponsor a similar event to dilute it.
For Eritreans, these significant achievements are second nature, and they can take it for granted, for they have been doing it for a long time automatically.
However, the enemies recognize these gatherings serve as the backbone to Eritrean communities and as a bridge to Eritrea. The TPLF wanted to break that connection, the bond, the nationalism Eritreans have for each other. These are some examples of how the enemies targeted Eritrean communities all over the world.
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To their dismay, however, Eritreans keep doing it better and frustrated them even more.
WHO IS THE ENEMY?
For decades, Eritreans believed Ethiopia was the reason they struggled for freedom and independence. That in large part was because Ethiopia was the visible barrier between Freedom and Eritrea. The warmongering of successive Ethiopian tyrants accentuated that belief. The mercenary nature of successive Ethiopian rulers and the brute force to subjugate Eritrea heightened strong feelings.
However, without aid and diplomatic maneuvers by the US, Ethiopia could not have colonized Eritrea. Even with the entire Western help, Ethiopia was unable to maintain its hold on Eritrea.
Eritrea was forced to wage the armed struggle for independence because the US and its allies wanted to pursue their grand agendas in the region and Africa. Eritrea started the armed struggle soon after the US decided to deny Eritrea independence and coordinated its effort with Ethiopia to deny Eritrea independence. After the US, Ethiopia dissolved the federation program they created to pursue their interests.
Hence, the struggle was essentially waged against the US in the first place, albeit indirectly and in layers. However, since Ethiopia colonized Eritrea, Eritreans had no choice but to wage the struggle against Ethiopia first.
The first layer was the inner struggle, the second, against Ethiopian rule. Thirdly, the struggle for global recognition, fourth, in defense of Eritrea from the US aggression that spans for nearly a century.
US-led Western hegemony on the region and particularly against the people of Eritrea have denied the people their nation and the right to live peacefully. The Us challenged the very existence of Eritrea, held progress hostage, and till this day, the US remains committed to denying us freedom-free from hostilities.
For a long time, the US used Ethiopia and the UN as cover to pursuit their Eritrea agenda. But when all that failed, it forced the US to come and overtly attack Eritrea by all means.
The Assistant Director for African Affairs, Dr. Jandai Frazer, went through Ethiopia to Badme. The disputed town the Hague awarded to Eritrea and tried to redraw the map. The decision was based on the agreement that the US is a signatory. Here, it is important to note, that the border is a pretext to destabilize Eritrea. It is, therefore, essential to note the motive. The US officials brazenly discounted the International Hague court that decided Eritrea and Ethiopia’s boundaries, violated the Eritrean territories, and pushed Eritrea to accept TPLF’s demands. Her actions made it clear that the Bush Administration’s plans for Eritrea followed long-standing US policies.
All Africa, a South African online magazine, posted an article about the border conflict and called “Meles Zenawi: Two-Sided Man.” The author Richard Dowden said,
“Meles told him that he was trying to steal more than just Badme. We are claiming much more than that.”
Beggar Meles Zenawi was in no position to feed Ethiopia, let alone claim more without the help of his enablers. The US is currently at the forefront to undo Eritrea’s independence however possible. The sanction US pursued and passed twice through the Security Council speaks to the viciousness of US intentions since the illegal sanctions are based on fabrications. The punishment the US tries to inflict on Eritrea is unwarranted, unjustified, and without merit. It is Hostility without provocation, irresponsible act, abuse of power, and disregard of its international responsibility.
The Eritrean-Ethiopian borders are demarcated for good, and nothing could change that. It is a legally binding decision that the people of Eritrea won. They are illegally occupying sovereign Eritrean territories is for two reasons:
Firstly, to perpetuate the conflict using the no war no peace strategy to pursue illegal “regime change” agenda against the government of Eritrea.
Secondly, by claiming that the area is contested, Ethiopia can settle any number of people and assert that they are Eritreans. The settlement Meles Zenawi built-in Badme attests to that fact. If elections are conducted after they changed the government of Eritrea, any number of Ethiopians can vote as Eritreans. And as long as the border remains un-demarcated, Ethiopia can push these agendas. And once they place a puppet government, it will be easy to accomplish their Eritrea agenda using Eritrean face as the cover.
It is a proven strategy they used in Ivory Coast and other places. In Ivory Coast, the UN divided the country into two using “UN peacekeeping forces.” The French stirred the UN forces to control the situation and implement the regime they wanted. The Eritrean-Ethiopian Temporary Security (TSZ) was designed to do just that.
Simply put, the intricacies and the web the US put in place were so sophisticated that it stands as an example of the brilliance, wit, and ability of the people and government of Eritrea to stay one step ahead in thwarting existential threats patiently and in unity. All their attempts to subjugate Eritrea failed for decades because they failed to control the hearts and minds of the people of Eritrea everywhere. Eritreans are among the most aware and informed people who know what they want and understand what the enemies wish to as well.
THE END GAME
Eritrea’s advantage is that Eritrea is the 24/7 business of the Eritrean people. The lives of every Eritrean revolve around it. Eritrea is also lucky since it comes with lots of revolutionary experience from the days of the armed struggle. The determination to succeed and willingness to sacrifice is another advantage. In addition, Eritreans are a quick study able to sniff Western trickery from 10,000 miles and can stand against it. Above all, Eritreans are united, love their unity and, want to nurture that unity, for it is their primary protection.
Thus far, every war waged against Eritreans has been foiled with the help of the mother’s prayers, hard work, and sacrifices. Eritrea was at its worst when Eritreans could not afford shoes.
Today, however, every step they walk on is turning to gold and keeps getting brighter. The enemies falter and break apart, while the knees they wanted to see buckle are more robust. Eritreans are united and realize that victory is at hand while the enemies are shaken and incoherent, not knowing what tomorrow will bring. The tentacles of the mighty cut, all the mischief they wove loosening while the people of Eritrea are shining brighter.
Hence, it is more important to maintain, stay the course-vigilantly and with fierce determination. It is essential to define what is necessary and cherish it. It is also critical to understand what got us here and continue on that path as always cheering “Victory to the masses.” It is only then that “The Victory is certain.” That is also the only way to ascertain “Glory to Our Martyrs.”
