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Initiating Ethio- Eritrea Dialogue for Democratic Development

By Fesseha Nair "Let us hope the year 2017 be the Year of Dialogue for Democratic Development and co-operation between all the peoples of the Horn of Africa in general and the Ethio-Eritrean people in particular."                      

By Fesseha Nair

“Let us hope the year 2017 be the Year of Dialogue for Democratic Development and co-operation between all the peoples of the Horn of Africa in general and the Ethio-Eritrean people in particular.”

                      Let bygones be Bygones!

A Peaceful coexistence in progress based on peace, democracy, human rights respect, the rule of law and good governance. Our region is the origin of humankind and homosapience, from city-state of Mesopotamia to Alexandria and Axum- Afro – Arab communities.It is time to renew the old civilization in agreement with the modern world.

History

Ethiopia and Eritrea are inhabited by diverse of mosaic identities of people. The people living in today’s Ethiopia and Eritrea lived together from time immemorial under different ruling systems from Axumite kingdom, different local rulers and later after decolonization of Africa under the Emperor Haile Sellasie, later the Military rule of Derg and recently from 1991 Eritrea as separate entity under a totalitarian one man rule and Ethiopia ruled by the federal democratic republic.

As we know historically,  the formation of states from  AD 990-1992 were formed by coercion and militarization. This was not the African legacy but inherited by European supremacist politics. The Ethiopian and Eritrean people, despite all internal and external conflicts,  were mutually respecting and hospitable. During the war between the Eritrean Liberation and Ethiopian ruling system of the emperor Haile Selassie and the Derg Eritreans were fleeing to Ethiopia and were living there in peace and similarly when a border war started (1998-2000) between the government in Eritrea and Ethiopia Eritreans fled to Ethiopia and has received all refugee rights and other opportunities as the Ethiopian citizens.

This shows how much the people of Ethiopia and Eritrea are tolerable towards cultural difference and aware of the importance of living together in peace. It is this culture we want to progress through dialogue between all stakeholders both in Ethiopia and Eritrea. It is time to renew the Ethio- Eritrean partnership in all fields of life in general, and partnership with political mission in particular. The Eritrean political and civic organizations for democratic change were in search of this partnership with the Ethiopian government and people. This partnership can be built by genuine dialogue for deeper discussions on concrete initiatives and procedures to promote the democratic principles on which all agree.

What is dialogue

Dialogue is the platform that encourages diversity of thoughts and opinions but not suppressing them. It leads to mutual understanding of problems and opportunities and search for common understanding. In practicing dialogue, there is an agreement that one person’s concepts or beliefs should not take precedence over those of others, and common agreement should not be sought at the cost of the others. We believe dialogue is the main instrument to discuss the opportunities and problems for democratic development, and to develop strategies to address the issues of common interest. A dialogue to be effective must be built on certain principles that serve to guide and structure the discussions.

We , in the Eritrean opposition struggling from dictatorship to democracy need dialogue with Ethiopian government and people to listen each other for a deeper awareness and understanding of what is actually taking place nationally, regionally and globally.

The value of dialogue

  Since we are in process of democratization , the impact of political dialogue can generate momentum to reinforce the democratic process and enables to assess the pace of the transition. The value of dialogue is to help us the assess/ evaluate pace of democratic development, enables us to identify of issues of priority. It allows us evaluate the impact of external democracy assistance.

Dialogue and conflict

Conflict in itself is not necessarily negative. It is unmanaged conflict, where stakeholders attempt to resolve their disputes through unconstitutional or even violent means, that poses the most complex problems. Democracy is all about managing conflict peacefully. In the Eritrean opposition case, dialogue can also act as a mechanism to help prevent, manage and resolve conflict.

As a mechanism for the prevention of conflict. By bringing various actors together for structured, critical and constructive discussions on the state of the nation, dialogue can result in consensus on the reforms that are needed to avoid confrontation and conflict.

– As a mechanism for the management of conflict. Dialogue can help put in place democratic institutions and procedures that can structure and set the limits of political conflict. Democratic institutions and procedures provide mechanisms for political consultation and joint action that can peacefully manage  potential conflicts.

As a mechanism for the resolution of conflict. Political dialogue can defuse potential crises by proposing appropriate peaceful solutions. Democratic institutions and procedures provide a framework to sustain peace settlements and prevent the recurrence of conflict.

What should be the guiding principles for the dialogue

– Partnership and cooperation promoting democratization.

– Disseminating democratic principles in all areas of the cooperation

– Deepening the dialogue at both national and international level

– Assessing the democratic struggle

– Assisting the democratic development

Dialogue framework

– We in the Eritrean opposition as initiators of the dialogue would like demagnetize to identify the challenges, analysing the participants, evaluating available resources.

– Participants: political society, civil society, national and international experts both at the national and inter Eritrean- Ethiopian dialogue.

– Objectives: Analysing the dynamics of the transition, seeking a national consensus on priorities and searching for effective cooperation

– Assessing results and monitoring the implementation.

Who are the actors and their functions at the inter Eritrean- Ethiopian Dialogue

Three key functions to be fulfilled in the dialogue for democratic change at the national and regional level.

Analysis function. By providing a comprehensive analysis of the constraints and opportunities for further democratization, the dialogue contributes to diagnosing the flow of events and experiences at the national and regional level.

– Dialogue function. By providing a platform for change of experiences and lessons learned and a forum for building consensus on the challenges and opportunities for democratic change, the dialogue contributes in itself to the consolidation of democracy. It should ultimately lead articulation a democratic reform agenda with specific policy recommendations primarily defined by the national participants and thus owned by them.

Brokering function. By providing international institutions and donor agencies involved in and committed to democratization with a reference framework, the dialogue contributes a mechanism to assist the international partners to identify concrete support measures, better target their interventions and co-ordinate their assistance.

The national dialogue for democratic change could be structured around three main groups with specific roles:

  1. The Dialogue Group: Composed of prominent national experts and key players in the process of democratic change in Eritrea and Ethiopia, the dialogue group should be sufficiently representative and have legitimacy and leverage to make the dialogue meaningful and sustainable. The members of the dialogue group should hence be carefully selected, based on their professionalism, reputation and willingness to enter into a genuine dialogue.
  1. The Expert Group. Composed of international experts with undisputed credentials and reputation, the expert group provides the national participants with comparative experiences and lessons learned in other contexts which could be of assistance in the design of democratic change in Eritrea.
  1. 3. The Support Group: Composed of representatives of the international community involved in and committed to the democratic process in Eritrea represented as observers of the dialogue. The support group constitutes a structure assisting the democratization process in Eritrea. External partners or facilitators should not dictate but can only support the process of democratic change.

Eritrea as a country emerging from conflict need dialogue in itself and dialogue with Ethiopia.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Review overview
28 COMMENTS
  • PH January 3, 2017

    I understand and admire the brotherhood of the people in the horn region and no one could under value. But the matter of dialogue belongs to policy makers . I mean, on the basis legitimacy and democracy . so far no ground for that and never been in the past. there for; democratic activists are no and can not make dialogue. If they do their fate will be exactly as the era of federation

  • Sammy January 3, 2017

    Not bad!

  • k.tewolde January 3, 2017

    In order to engage in a democratic process you need a democratic mind and spirit which fosters patience,tolerance of your fellow human being and a clear conscience free of biases.These are the rudimentary characteristics that motivates someone to reach out in good will.These elements don’t even remotely exist in today’s rulers of both brotherly people. Even though the above article is well written,it simply remains one of the New years wish list.

  • Z, Hagos January 3, 2017

    Commendable call. It is time to start heart to heart and open discussions. All goods start with the word “please” and inviting all to sit and discuss our problems.
    ..
    The proposal is worth trying at all levels. Be it people to people level or higher will be indicative of goodwill to start the new year with a promise of peace. Who hates peace? Only the criminals are taking advantage of no war, no peace.
    ..
    For sure, the victims of the criminals are not against the total stop of all criminal activities. To do so, the families of the victims may have to first extend their pardoning words until the criminals stand their trials at courts of law.

  • Haile stupid Drue January 3, 2017

    What happen down down hgdf now asking for peace shabia is sttil the gov of ERITREA so weyane start begging

  • Haile stupid Drue January 3, 2017

    ሕጂ ድአ ድያሎግ ድያሎግ ኢልካ ምልማን ንምንታይ አድለየ ምስ ህገደፍ አበይ አሎ ዳውን ዳውን ህገደፍ ምባል ተሪፉ በጃኻ በጃኻ ህገደፍ ኮይኑ

    • Yohannes January 4, 2017

      The only thing i can say to you is “LEKBAT”. Keep dreaming Mr Nafat.

  • koubrom January 3, 2017

    Haha all the snacks calling for peace and dialogue after all the charming naming language, as the amhara said IBAB ANDE RASU HULET MILASU ,typically agamee attitude .
    We will never thrust you again .
    If you want peace evacuat our land.

  • Daniel January 3, 2017

    PFDJ is floating. he has lost grip. it is only surrounded by old aged die hards followers and some dirty mind diaspora like koubron who are acting wild and none sense. The key to salivation of Eritrea is on the hands of Eritreans. there is no a country in the world that went on to war with three different countries in a time span of 4-years. It says a lot about the misconstrued perception of Shaebyans on the world around them. Shaebya is a product of the Eritrean society.there is a polluted culture there which is at odd with their own selves and with world. Eritreans must cleanse themselves through confession and education, discover who they are, and how to behave with others. The first act should be to call Eritreans to a meeting and under take self-analysis as to why they are unable to live in peace and harmony with others, then is easy to come with other people to understanding. There is no other short cut than behaving yourself!

    • koubrom January 4, 2017

      Daniel I think you are mistaken ,who is loosing his grip your criminal tplf regime is the one, the ethiopian people will soon eat you, you tigrayan will never have peace in your own country
      It’s game over

  • yemane January 4, 2017

    Kubrom, don’t worry your government will exercise just to evacuate the Ethiopian forces from badme. yes this was what your government officials were announcing certain weeks ago. I think higdef has forgotten the concrete channels of BADME and AIGGA(alittenna) where the Ethiopian forces convert it to ashes and many young eritreans were buried there. don’t beg the world just to make pressure over the Ethiopian government to withdraw from your sovereign territories, just come and capture if you can. but it is an incredible to you to see your sovereign territories has come free by Eritrea forces. the only thing you can do is just to receive the 5 points pease resolution drafted by the Ethiopian government.

    • koubrom January 4, 2017

      Well I think you have forgotten assab front thousands deads, tsorona front thousands dead, bure,barentu, igri mekhel, journalist from the world reported ,we eritrean have to buries them while your tplf had denying them,
      Are you kidding me, the objective was assab and asmara for regime change and it have been bitten badly my friend.
      The only thing left for you is gurra.
      Your stupid tplf is keep telling at his parliament he will attack eritrea,and it’s been years now we waiting.
      He won’t I can assure you

        • Kubrom January 7, 2017

          Why are you sensuring me assena it’s that ok when they insult me but it is not ok when I can respond ,
          What it is wrong with there is even worse they are some who insult Islam everythime you are not fair and you are not different from any dictator if you sensur

      • yemane January 4, 2017

        Dear Koubrom are you waiting the Ethiopian forces to come there? for what reason, we already occupied your territories for about 19 years long. we don’t need more others. the eritrean forces are fleeing to Ethiopia everyday. if you want to assure it please visit the website Salina.com, their photographs, name and from which front line did they come. anyways no more heat is required to eritrea, provided that Eritrea is melting by itself. More or less you have to take in to consideration is the Ethiopian government doesn’t have time to fight you since many MEGA PROJECTS are ahead of him. not only this but also accommodating your brothers, sisters, mothers and fathers coming from your beloved country daily in at least five refugees camp. if you want you can come but don’t forget that something is mandatory, educational certificate. you will join in either of the 33 universities as your brothers and sisters did. so tell me what do you think……. don’t worry just throw your gun and join the higher level of education otherwise you will be the guardian of not your country but the President for life( Iseyas Aforkie) for your lifetime.

  • Yohannes January 4, 2017

    Yemane

    Meanta yelan. the only thing Wedi Medhin Berad can do is right boring a letter to foreign leaders. Bok Bak Atinea!

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