HERE AND THERE II
Dedicated to the struggle of the Eritrean youth for freedom from slavery
By Fetsum Abraham//3/1/2013

Hypothesis:
The Eritrean regime is at its most vulnerable condition at this point in time. It is spiritually detached from the people creating a void in between that is desperately waiting to be filled by a mass based organized political entity. This new development must be matched with a new strategy that can efficiently confront the challenges associated with. We cannot travel on the same road anymore because the new equation needs new variables for solution.
The question is; what do you suggest to this effect?
ACTION
I see the following ideas as important initiatives towards this drive:
1) It is time for the resistance to create a central command for generating a one-shot income from its supporters to develop Community Centers all over the place from which it can make money to efficiently manage its political business: lobbying western powers to support and finance it; organizing entertainment concerts to develop art, unity and make money as well.
2) It is time for the opposition websites to create an environment for debate between opposite ideas on the future of Eritrea. We have to pressurize ASSENNA, AWATE and ASMARINO to upgrade their strategy to this level of operation and we need to contribute to this end financially, so that our allies in Africa and the WEST will notice the resistance. This will also help to get funds from them.
3) This is the right time to shift the gear of momentum towards aggressively challenging the companies dealing with the government in the mining industry. We can start by organizing a synchronized international protest against them in similar fashion to how the Diaspora did it against the Eritrean Embassies. Constant pressure against the companies will do the magic in my opinion. This should be the main focus of the Resistance from now on.
Testimony
I do believe we all have different imaginations as to how to deal with President Isaias Afwerki’s end. Personally, I did not appreciate what the Libyans did to Kaddafi; it was inhuman and barbaric; a moment of spiritual meditation to me, the truth as to how ego can destroy a spiritually weak human being at last; and what an angry society can do to its central cause of misery. Divinity asserted its “what goes around comes around” philosophy through the karmic consequence of Mr. Moamar Kaddafi, for the rest of us to learn something from!
I, however, did not feel sorry for him: he asked for it. Kaddafi was a victim of arrogance, rigidity, self-deception and extremely thin penetration of human feeling and running a society. Yet, he could have saved his life and that of his family’s in exchange to his Peaceful resignation. So could Sadam!
To me, Afwerki is Kaddafi at very minimum characteristically, and so would be my feeling should he put himself in his role model’s unwise situation. But I prefer his safe exit as the best solution to the stalemate without hesitation and I would fight to the end defending his right to do so should he choose this and give us the chance to help. Because, I believe there exists an opportunity for him to negotiate said exit at the expense of his power. Whether he will chose his power or his life by ceasing the final moment is none of my business, but I know the first choice is fatal; needless to stress that today is said moment for Afwerki to survive in whatever condition his KARMA allows him to deal with survival outside the country. I do not think Eritreans should have any problem with this, do you?
Theory
I may have one more important communication to do (FORTO) with the president but monologuing to Afwerki does not mean he will respond. He did not respond to Obama (3-5 times) let alone to a low profiled conventional individual like me: I am not that naïve to expect a feed-back from him, nor do I care about it more than the peaceful resolution of Afwerki Vs Eritreans (his safe exit and the society’s well-fare as a result, if possible).
In so saying, I think he reads us everyday because he wants to know everything that concerns him especially at this decisive time in his journey. His fear of death would not allow him to sleep without reading us, since the things we do here directly affects his life more than his fading political power.
What do you think he does with all the time he has where nothing is going on normally in Eritrea: No leaders or diplomats to meet because of the isolation and the sanction; no business affiliated issues to monitor because of the State monopolized economy; no press conferences to do in the complete absence of journalism and no war to fight because of the relatively peaceful situation with our neighbors?
There is no tourism to accommodate because of the non-conducive environment (restriction of movement, ridiculously inflated NAQFA exchange rate, hotel/restaurant problems, and no airliner (Queen-Bee is not healthy to fly), gas, electricity, etc), no friends to visit for political business, no meetings to effectively attend internationally (AU, UN, IGAD), etc. As he said it in the EriTv interview last year he has a lot of time to sleep; so does he to play around.
In a country currently floating like a leaf on a sea without any tangible national policy and direction except protecting his power, the president has nothing else to do except surfing the NET.
Nothing is happening economically except depending on the gold-cash as the only source of foreign exchange by which the nation buys commodities and brings to the market for people to buy. There is no backup system that saves the regime should this only means of cash stop. One paralyzing blow against his god-cash by challenging the companies dealing with him will most certainly nullify him out of the economic game, which will necessitate the eventual political downfall of the regime.
In the going, I, as a conditionally pacifist activist only represent myself in my one-dimensional imaginary communication with the Omnipotent President. I do not see any problem with reminding my brother his best alternative without expecting anything in return for at least two reasons:
“[a] Psychopathic leader demonstrates an inability to comprehend the meaning and significance of his own faults. This is way he never tries to remedy the faults, instead he punishes critics.”
I do not think his advisers can tell him the truth without risking their lives; nor do I think the confused president is in the right state of mind to really grasp what is going on. I think he is dizzy with so many problems, only flowing with the wind in so far as the nation is concerned. We know he is deceiving himself but I do not think anyone knows if his self-deception is intentional or accidental (mental problem). Does he know what is waiting for him or he is floating with the country like the leaf on the sea only focusing on how to continue uselessly parking on the society with maximum control?
Whether I am tripping like him or not, there is a chance to exchange ideas trying to see all the possibilities that may take place in our struggle for freedom. The best card in this final confrontation between the Eritrean society and President Afwerki in my opinion is a peaceful departure to his safe heaven in exchange for his resignation from post. This offer is time sensitive and the Eritreans reserve the right to resolve the stalemate by any means necessary including nullification, otherwise. Which ever takes place first will do the job.
In the mean time, the Eritrean experience should never steal your moment; use it as a melancholic entertainment!