Selamat seb dehai,
I have been enjoying, as usual, reading the discussions about language,
democracy, etc. Even though it has become routine and some times
boring, I must admit that I have learned a lot this year from these
discussions, most noteably the origin of Jeberti (one of the best articles
in dehai this year by the veteran Saleh Gadi). It may not be the complete
story about Jeberti, but it has shed enough light to be seen and
understood by individuals or group who are interested on this subject.
You may have already noticed that I am one of the silent dehayers who air
their feelings occasionally. However this time, some of the unexpected and
unwanted messages in this media, specially during the last 2 weeks obliged
me to add my personal views on these ongoing discussions.
1. Democracy (see June 30,1996). Frankly, this word has been and still
is now (I am sure it will be even in the future) in dehai hotly dicussed
from different angles by many scholars (some times over qualified
scholars). I totally agree, the number of people involved, with their
varied, deeply searched, and elegantly presented messages, indicate the
importance of the subject matter. Despite the length of time and the
number of postings though, there are still people up there, who wants the
discussion to continue, either for knowledge or some times to relate to
their political ends. They keep on preaching the absence of
democracy in the country without presenting an alternative means of
achieving it at this crucial moment of time. Lasting democracy
(as I see it) must ivolve from the poplace within the country and
some input from the diaspora. Yes democracy is important for the
development of a country and it has to be practiced in Eritrea as
well, but believe me we can't dictate and
impose our way of thinking as we know it or as we think we know is right.
Having said this, almost all the discussions on this topic has been
healthy, without anomosity and name calling, and that is how it should be.
2. Religion..It has been discussed in
detail by many of you, but some of the words used to address the issue has
cuased an uproar by many of the followers. The case in point is that of
Amanuel's historical circumstances of Tewahdo stance in the 40's. He
peresented his findings from books as well as from elders (which is
usually our main source/means of information locally). I did not find it
that much ugly by all means, but for God sake, why don't we say so in a
civil way when some of us err?
3. Languge..This again was discussed brilliantly, by both pro and anti
arabic as a co-nationallanguage. I personally think Arabic is and will
remain to be a national language because the 50% of the population want
it. It has been in Eritrea for more 50 years, which is longer than the
state of Eritrea it self as a nation, period.
I remember some time in May/June 1996, Beyan Negash named one dehai
memeber as the future KKK/Aryan of Eritrea. I really admired him very
much, as soon as I told him to apologise to this guy, he promptly did. I
give him much deserved credit. To accept our mistakes is a virtue
that we have to practice and pass on to our future generation in order to
build a healty country and society. I wished the recent awsome exchange
between Saleh and Kiflom has ended peacefully, but personally I think SAAY
(sorry Yenus) intervetion and others did not help. I never thought Saleh
Gadi as bad, in fact he is one of the people whom I have come to respect
for his time and know-how of sharing knowledge with us all in dehai. I am
sure Saleh if use your maturity and intelligence privately, trust me, you
can reach to very good understanding. Kiflom please be flexible and try to
understand where it went wrong and also try to balance it with what some
of dehai members response to your post.
Where are the good people of dehai? Where is memher Rude ( I don't want to
be rude, but where is he?) Aya Fesseha Habte (NErki), and the other elders
in dehai. I have also noticed the absence of one of our eloquent and
smooth writer Ismael Ali Omer. I can guess and feel his absence due to the
disapponting, unwaranted, and uncivilised exchanges. He also had some bad
experiences, but he never twiched or boiled into replying ugly messages.
We need people like you Ismael, come out from your hiding and continue
your contribution, which is badly missed.
4.Troops fighting in Sudan..I thought this was a distorted message that
was corrected later, but still keeps appearing, mainly by Hagerawi and
Taha. If this is true, why is only relayed by these two people? One thing
Hagerawi and Taha, if you are part of an opposition group or you do not
like the present government, please try to present your side of argument
in an acceptable manner... 'your country...your government..etc' does not
entitle you to claim as an Eritrean opposition. What do you think has to
be done as an opposition (if you are) for a better Eritrea at the moment?
Bye for now,
Fishaye
On Thu, 1 May 1997 HAGHERAWI@aol.com wrote:
>
> * Dehai Retreat '97 in Eritrea: contact pnatnael@nodc.noaa.gov *
> * Win a round trip ticket to Eritrea for a $10 raffle and help Eritrean *
> * War Vetrans get a computer: contact yonasa@ibm.net *
>
> Selam SGhirmai
>
> Thank you for posting your feeling and emotion. Here is my full response.
> For sure I am not interested in the security and narrow interests of the
> ruling party of PFDJ, and handful bunches sorrounds it. But I am genuinly
> concerned about the national interest of Eritrea and its peple as a whole. I
> have never joked by suffering and sacrifice of any Eritrean as an individual
> or as a group. You can not be more close and concerned than anybody, they
> are equal distance for you and for me.
>
> But, my friend the truth is hiding on the other side. When Issayas, Beshir
> and Turabi alines (friendship) was on its Hey day, they were tracking and
> hunting every footprint of the Eritrean opposition Elements and their member
> bases . On January 2, 1992 The Sudanese Brigades from its border and EPLF
> forces from its bases launched an attack on ELF/RC and other Eritrean
> organizations bases and this fierce fighting took for 17 days. On April
> 26,1992 the sudanese security forces kidnapped two Executive Committee
> members of the ELF and handed them in Tessenei. My dear friend where were you
> at that time?? A lot of Eritreans have been fall victims for this
> heinous action and they are languishing in undisclosed prison cells,
> because the reason is simply that they raise the question of democracy, and
> they have different political idea period. Why don't you raise your voice at
> that time for their suffering ?? Aren't they your brothers and sisters??
> or your judgement is since they don't belong to the party you support they
> should be vanished from the world??
>
> SGhirmai wrote:
> "Dear Hagherawi, how long have you been out of Eritrea? My be a centuary?
> (misspelled) you better pay a visit to Asmara; sorry, I forgot the fact that
> the ruling party would not give you a visa for you are an opposition
> member:-) Let me tell you something, you don't have a tru (misspelled)
> picture of the current Eritrea. It is long since the 70's and 80's were gone"
> Ha! ...Ha!.. Ha!.. Funny!!! If you are dreaming that I am waiting for a visa
> from a dictatorial master Headquarters in Asmara, or its agents trust me you
> are thinking an Odd and fooling yourself.
> For your surprise I was inside Eritrea after the Independence without
> requiring me a visa or an ID. My visa to enter Eritrea is ready any time as
> far as I need it. Thanks to the Eritrean revolution rich experience, Eritrea
> is not a small purse like any one can put it in his pocket. When the Dergue
> was in Asmara and in towns of the country it did not required us to have a
> visa for movement my dear friend. I know your headache will flare, but I feel
> sorry for you buddy!
> SGhirmai wrote:
> "Hagherawi, be frank to yourself, isn't it true a treat to Eritrea if it is
> attacked by mersenaries from Tunisia or whatever? You think over it."
>
> Brother! may I add another information that you missed on your statement?
> According to Mr. Issayas press release for the Eritrean public and the world
> On January 1,1995 The mersenaries were not only from Tunisia, they were also
> from Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Morroco. So do you want me to believe this
> fallacy blindly without analyse it??
> History showed us that Mr. Issayas and his group who runs the propaganda
> machinery are really tough and creative. They know how to manipulate
> peoples' feeling and emotion. They should be credited for that and should be
> known as peoples' emotion and backward sentments manipulators. They used it
> and they have reached on the helm of a power by this form of tactics. They
> used it to strength their diffence line fences and fortified their power
> camp. So, do you want every citizen to be shaped or molded on their cult of
> wrong character?? Genuine Eritrean patriotic minded heroes would not let them
> have it forever. It doesn't mean that these Heroes are only members of ELF
> and other political opposition groups, but it includes the Patriotic Heroes
> within inside the EPLF who gave their precious life and youth to fulfill the
> aspiration of the Eritrean people, and enjoy by the fruit of freedom and
> democracy without exception as a whole society, which this holy mission is
> deviated by the present regime leaders.
> An answer regarding the foreign mersenaries invading Eritrea.
> It is sad that the ears of the Eritrean people are hearing the same
> historical cycle replica or resemblance of propaganda inherited from
> Haileselassie and Mengstu again.
> Haileselassie and Dergue were giving a falsified created propaganda for the
> Ethiopian people that the Arab Moslems and the "Petro-Dollar mersenaries" are
> invading Eritrea and its people " raise your hands and arms to save your
> brothers in the north". But they did not give any substantial concrete clue.
> We are witnessing the same replica message from Mr. Issayas and his iron grip
> ruling party, which they couldn't produce any concrete evidence regarding the
> mersenaries from Tunisia, Afghanistan, pakistan and bla bla bla.... It is
> strange and causing laughter when our ears heard the same replica of fallacy
> and reminds us the old days of the Occupation. This falsification can not
> deceive any wise Eritrean person, except the diehard and ardent supporters
> who commited to set up their minds as one channel frequency receivers.
>
> The Eritean people are well aware of what is going on especially on the
> country's political course. Building roads, 5 Star Hotels, palaces for sale,
> could not be a cover up and camouflage for their gross violation of human
> rights and their political ugly faces. My friend whether you like it or not
> sooner or later the heat is coming up.
> SGhirmai wrote:
> "We don't need a dialogue with traitors and people who are out of their
> senses, like you Mr. Hagherawi, for you guys ....the Eritrean people, rather
> wants to see the persecution of those who collaborated ...."
> Amazing! this is not new for me from ordinary normal person like you, but
> this message was conveyed on June 20,1991 when Issayas stepped his foot
> first in Asmara at Negheste Saba Stadium. I don't think so that you are
> updated and have been given another new message to say.
> My friend, regardsless of your emotional anger I advise you not to be a
> disaster messenger. In my opinion, again I think so it is better to reconcile
> our differences for the best of the country. It is wise and prudent for
> political compromise to meet on the half middle of the road for solution. If
> you reject to reconcile with your own country men objectively, and want to
> continue on denial and alienation their existence, well and fine, let's go on
> parallel line, and we will see and wait what the future brings.
> You wrote "The Eritrean people rather wants to see persecution ...."
> First of all who is the Eritrean People?? could you define it ? Is it the
> diehard ruling party PFDJ supporters and the one way cult molded ardent
> followers only?? Oh! boy you better be back on your right sense brother,
> otherwise you are repeating the same carbon copy of your counterpart "ESEPA"
> followers to their country men, so you will pass in history to the similar
> path. You should understand that the Eritrean opposition organizations
> members are not created out of stone and woods, or they are not aliens
> descended from the outer universe. They are born the same like you from the
> Eitrean family. Whether you like it or not they have a social base, they have
> a sympathy and support from the Eritrean people, and they have also ardent
> diehard followers who can respond fire by fire, spear by spear if neccessary.
> Your statement is clearly inviting for conflict and violence in the country.
> Wodi Haweboy! let me tell you something. Democratic rights is not granted nor
> given willingly by any ruling party or system in the world. It is taken by
> any form of struggle by the people who wish and demand it.
> That's why we want and wish the path process for democratic rights in Eritrea
> should be through peaceful means of dialogue and reconciliation, but you and
> your favorite ruling party are forcing people to get and take their rights on
> the hardest way.
> On the conclusion, might be you will wonder and say what a dream it is, but I
> assure you that the dream of forming a Government of National Unity in
> Eritrea will come true. Then I will pay a visit straight to Asmara on that
> bright day. Hopefully I will met you at Godena Harnet and have a wonderful
> and peaceful discussion concerning our country. Even though if you choose to
> be an opposition at that time, your political stand is respected and
> recognized to excercise your full rights. I want to see this type of Eritrea
> and this is my dream. We need to each other we don't want any Eritrean to be
> singled out and remain outside of his/her country. Our country needs shared
> common ideas and efforts from all her sons and daughters, not a dictation and
> imposed laws from a Specific circles.
>
> I wish you the best my friend.
>
> Hagherawi
>
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