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Let us join hands and reclaim our dignity

I remember 1991 as if it was yesterday. I was almost 16 then. The six years that followed were the only glimmer of peace and hope for a whole three generations of us Eritrean. And

I remember 1991 as if it was yesterday. I was almost 16 then. The six years that followed were the only glimmer of peace and hope for a whole three generations of us Eritrean. And so, every now and then, my thoughts fly back nostalgically to those first 6 years of independence. Back then, when hope was alive, we had no doubt in our minds that we could heal a war-scarred country and chart a new and perpetually hopeful future. Almost three decades later, when I juxtapose the dreams of ’91 against what I see today, I see how far apart the two worlds are and it breaks my heart. The shattered dreams, the compromised pride and the muddied dignity is laid bare for everyone to see. And that in a culture that professes “kebdikha(n) Hamli ml’ayo zbanka(n) wedebo ayir’ayo”. Our dignity, after being trampled for two decades, hope is worn thin and our sense of identity as Eritreans is losing its colors.

I could go on and on and on… describing how hurt and unfortunate we have been. But, that would also mean a tacit admission to forfeiting our individual and collective agency to influence, alter and chart our destiny as a country and people. Most of our discourses center around expecting the people who ascended into power to fulfill our demand. When they chose to trample our rights, ignore our plight and deny what is rightfully ours we voted with our feet. There is nothing wrong with self-preservation but once we reached safety, it at least is expected of us to raise our voice in defense of our rights and our home. If a person invades his neighbor’s house, any dignified family would defend their home with all they have got. We Eritreans have the obligation to re-ascertain the ownership of our home and make sure that any current and future political leadership treats Eritreans as citizens and not as its subjects.

The reversal of current trends of national anxiety requires a bold engagement and enduring commitment. I am a firm believer in our potential ability to reverse the current curse and build a future we can be proud of. For this to happen, though, we first have to take charge and commit ourselves to the cause. One-to-one, we often discuss at great length about the dire situations we are in as people, and we hypothesize about the solutions. However, we do so in an inanimate and detached manner with no sense of urgency as if these existential threats are foreign or hypothetical.

For the last 20 years, we have never had news of hope and betterment except despair and anguish. For too long, bad and worse news of our loved ones alternated. The prolonged state of sorrow we have been exposed to has sanitized us to the level of numbness that we no longer show outrage even at the most horrific of tragedies. The saddest thing is that we have not tried in earnest to alter the outcome in our favor. Do we really then deserve a better country if we do not invest our time, energy and knowledge to mend it in times of need?

After all we have been through, don’t we deserve a lot better? As Eritreans, the choices in front of us have never been clearer. The future of Eritrea is at stake. I implore each of us to weigh in our conscience the options ahead of us and name our price. How much and how far are we willing to go to change our predicament? If the answer is that you will do what it takes to restore our dignity and built an Eritrea that is just, equitable and at piece with itself, let’s join hands and work together to realize it. On my part, my arm is eagerly stretched out to lock with yours.

I have as many ideas and questions as the next person on how we can coordinate our efforts, set our priorities and maximize our impact. I am, however, confident that we will sort them out once we come together. So, let us come together, organize ourselves and create a platform. We can then use the platform to advocate for the wellbeing of our people and sovereignty of our country. Our engagement will certainly embolden and energize our younger brothers and sisters who look up to us.

When waiting game is the strategy of the counterpart, fatigue will set in faster if we ran solo instead of relaying the baton and share the burden collectively. We can set better examples if we stand together and inspire one another. We are more likely to stay the course, have a better impact and a louder voice when we are organized. If you have as much trust in our collective resolve as I do, the future is bright for us.

We know the source of our ills. Better yet, we know our cure. What is probably missing is a sense of purpose, sense of urgency and determined will. The window of opportunity to save our country is not going to stay open forever. Let’s act on it while we still can.

 

Fitwi Wolday

Norway. February 28, 2019

 

aseye.asena@gmail.com

Review overview
30 COMMENTS
  • Abi February 28, 2019

    Hello Fitwi
    Have you ever wondered why the years 91-98 were the best years Eritrean ever had?
    That was the time when Eritreans arrogantly said ” ኤርትራ የግላችን ኢትዮጵያ የጋራችን
    It was like the worst nightmare I tried to forget. Your government and business people were busy stealing Ethiopia.
    It is the illegal activities of your newly born country that led to the devastating war that consumed over one hundred thousand lives. I see no reason to be nostalgic about this period.
    1998 Ethiopian independence from Eritrea!!
    Build the Wall.

    • Debebe Giddadda March 1, 2019

      Dear Abi,
      We Eritreans had all the opportunity to build our nation Eritrea but for real we proved that we can’t govern ourselves, period. The window of opportunity went on for 27 yrs, now we are at a brink of loosing it all.
      On the eve of Independence i was told that the notorious Tefera Wonde said, Eritrea will be free but i don’t think they will be able to govern their nation. very true.
      Abi, do me a favor stick to the concrete, no steel please, you seem to be Trupm’s die hard follower.
      peace…

    • Genet-origimal March 1, 2019

      Abi
      I see you are an Ethiopian. Good for you. Also you must understand we, the Eritreans people defeated you once and will do it again, if it is necessary. I am actually with you about building the wall. We should have done that long time ago. In retrospect our people shouldn’t have been too kind to any outsider. If we were like you, clever, narrow minded, the traitor in- chief wouldn’t have the chance to do what he had done. Yes, build the wall!, but first get all the termites out with a potent poison, so they don’t do what they have done to Eritrea.

      ERITREA FIRST !!!!!!!
      To All Eritreans every where, now is the time to come together no matter our differences. We have to take a stand to defend our country. All Ethiopians, want to use article 39 to get what we already achieved. It is still in our control Use social media come out and challenge each other. Use social media for a good cause., not like our neighbors who are using it for disinformation or distraction like the newly minted “digital W”. Yes, we know.
      Enough is Enough!!
      Eritrea first!!!!

      • Abi March 1, 2019

        Hello Genet
        Your comments lack originality. Very disappointing!

  • UNCLE SYE February 28, 2019

    Dear Abi,
    Do not exaggerate ,Eritrea only depended on Ethiopia’s cheap local currency bought food,suar fromወንጂ,coffee (that every eritrean needs) from ከፋ ,sorghum that was needed by asmara melotti beer from ኣርሲ, በርበረ that is necessity to habesha cooking (although we are not habeshas), ሰሊጥ from ሕሞራ , electric power from nile & all construction materials to build anything & everything….Well ,in short.If you refuse to accept us back ,we have no choice but start another ገድሊ to be re=re annexed with the motherland. It is a matter of survival !!!

    • Abi February 28, 2019

      Hello Dear Uncle
      Love your sarcasm.
      How about more coffee for export? You can easily reclaim your spot as a number one coffee exporter in Africa!!
      Uncle, please write more in English or Amharic. I don’t want to miss great sarcasm.

      • Genet-origimal March 1, 2019

        Abi
        What is the matter? you don’t want to use your own language?
        How about using the PORT OF ERITREAN ASSAB FOR FREE.

        • Abi March 1, 2019

          Hello Genet
          My hope is Ethiopia never use Eritrean ports.
          There are many ports readily available for use. Why bother with ports? I don’t see any advantage in using Eritrean ports except the inevitable headache.

  • k.tewolde February 28, 2019

    The pundits are out in full force to sell their newly manufactured merchandise called (MEDEMER),thanks to the oil oligarchy which can throw money around anywhere in the world,this website and the social media is inundated by them to deflect the issue from the enemy of the Eritrean people,no matter how loud and obnoxious the campaign,the enemy stands stark naked in front of our eyes, we can’t avoid the sinister sight.>>>”I am, however, confident that we will sort them out once we come together.” Fitwi asserts. Indeed,Eritrea’s sovereignty is non negotiable,unalterable,engraved as a shrine by the blood of those gallant fighters who fell for our sake.

    • Abi February 28, 2019

      Hello K Tewolde
      A 50 meter tall concrete wall between the two countries will definitely give you a peace of mind.
      Long Live Sovereign Eritrea!

      • Danilo February 28, 2019

        Abi, not nnecessarily need to build a wall with concrete.because our bone and blood is already up there fencing our border. I mean the known by UN and African union. That is the wall should respected. If not, eritreanism is the greatest wall been and will be forever. .no doubt, EPLF of Isayas ( terminator of society built a wall beyond tigray ( wrongly & intentionally which ELF never could have done. Instead, could had built the real wall excluding tigray. However, who will benefit from any kind of wall is Eritrea because Eritrea never got peace due to Ethiopianism. Imagine! We are at war since 100 years if not more. Therfore, we have no other option but to fence our country by bone and blood. This is our wall. Thank you.

        • Abi February 28, 2019

          Hello Danilo
          We can definitely use the bones and blood of the freedom fighters as a solid base for the Wall. Now that we have a solid base underground what is left is to erect the concrete wall above the ground.

      • Genet-origimal March 1, 2019

        Abi
        Wait a minuet, now you are an Eritrean who believes in the sovereign Eritrea. Differently you are a computer generated bolt. Yes, the newly minted “digital W”

        • Abi March 1, 2019

          Hello Genet
          Kind of disappointed with you. I was expecting you to endorse my comment.
          Sovereign Eritrea is the best thing to Ethiopia.
          You are neither bright nor original.

  • Chwa Ertrawi February 28, 2019

    Dera Abis and Syes,

    There is one thing (Truth) you don’t deny but don’t assimilate to conscience.
    Eritrea is always better off with out Ethiopia.
    Go back and search our cause we have fought for! You think we did that for your rubbish Teff.?
    We did that for our decent and high highly valued uncompromised Independence and Freedom.

    Dear Abis and Syes remember the past and thing for the better tomorrow.

    • Abi March 1, 2019

      Hello Chewa Ertrawi
      I agree with you that Eritrea is better off without Ethiopia. The reverse is also true.
      All we need to do is return Badime and all the contested land to the rightful owners and demarcate the border permanently.

      Please refrain from calling my food “rubbish”. It is not expected from a “chewa Ertrawi”.
      I heard Eritreans are happy with the price of Teff dropped since the boarder opened.

  • Warsay Adhanom February 28, 2019

    I am not sure how old you are, but you strike me rather young, We don’t need to build a wall, just like you don’t have a wall with Sudan, Djibouti, and Kenya. We just need to respect each nation’s sovereignty. We can trade with each other like every country in the world. No country has everything, including the USA. That is why it imports goods, and services.from all over the world. If we go down the road of who took from whom, you will not win the argument. If we added up what Ethiopia took from Eritrea during the 30 years since e legally abolished Federation, and add the loss of over 65000 people, not to mention burned villages, and murdered civilians, including children.. . .

    • Genet-origimal March 1, 2019

      Warsay Adhanom
      Brilliant point, but Abi and Sey no body’s uncle are not here for any fact based discussion, Nope, they are here to distract a good discussion among Eritrean people. Don’t believe their statement for any meaningful interaction.

      One thing is for sure. No Eritrean will allow for anyone to annex our country all over again. No Eritrean will allow our villages to be burn again or our people killed. Now every thing is clear for us. the traitor in chief is unmasked, we have to get to work to weed out and isolate his termites.

      We are Eritrean first and most!!!
      ERITREA FIRST!!!!!!!

  • UNCLE SYE March 1, 2019

    Abi,
    “የኣክሱም እና የካርቱም ሰዎች የጀመሩት የነጻነት ትግላችን” !!!”
    Abi, What you fail to understand is we Eritreans are special people (special breed), miracle workers.
    የኤርትራው ለ”ነጻነት” ትግል ሲጀመር ,ኤርትራ ለኤርትራውያን የሚል በ 1940 ዎቹ የተመሰረተ እንቅስቃሴ የጀመሩት ኣቦና ወልደኣብ ወልደማርያም ይባላሉ ,መበቀላቸው ዓዲ ኽልተ ኣክሱም የእዛ እንቅስቃሴ እስላማዊ ጀሃድ wing ራቢጣ ኢስላሚያ መስራቾቹ ሃጼ ዮውሃንስ በክሕደት ብሎ ከኣክሱም ወደ ኤርትራ ያባረራቸው የትግራይ ኣክሱም እስላሞች, የግብጽ ዋና ከተማ ተሰብስበው የመጀመርያ ጥይት ተኩስ ያሉት ሰውየ ኢድሪስ ሓምድ ዓዋተ በናቱ ወልቃይት ባባቱ የሱዳን ቤጃ ሳይሆን ኣይቀርም !!! ትግሉን በረሃ ወጥተው ጀብሃ የምትባል የ”ነጻነት” ግንባር ፈጥረው የጀመሩት (ኣህጉራዊ እስላማዊ እንቅስቃሴ ስለ ነበር) የሱዳን ወታደሮች የነበሩ ከካርቱም ገብተው …… የረሳሁልህ ደግሞ ፌዴሬሽኑ ከመፍረሱ በፊት የኤርትራ ግዛት ኣስተዳዳሪ የነበረው መበቀሉ ናይጀርያ (ፈላታ) የሆነው ተላ ባይሩ የሚባል ሰውየ .. ኤርትራን “ለመጥቀም” ብለው ጀብሃን በ1981 ዓመት ያባረሯት ወያኔ የሚባል በዓድዋዎች የሚሙራ ግንባር እና ከተምቤን (ትግራይ) በበቀለው ታጋይ እና የኢትዮጵያ የውስጥ ኣርበኛ ኢሳያስ ኣፈወርቂ የሚመራው “ሻዕብያ” የተባለ “ነጻ ኣውጪ” ግንባር . ኣሁን በፕረሲደንት ካለው “ዓጋሜው” ኣባባ ኢሳያስ ኣፈወርቂ ሌሎች ከርሱ ጋር ታማኞች ኣማካሪዎቹ
    1) የማነ ቻርሊ (ዓጋሜ ትግራይ)
    2) የማነ ማንኪ (ባንግላዴሽ እና ዓጋሜ ትግራይ)
    3) ሓጎስ ክሻ (ይመስለኛል ዓድዋና ዓጋሜ ትግራይ)
    4) ኣልጋ ወራሽ ኣብርሃም ኢሳያስ ኣፈወርቂ (ኣባት ተምቤን እናት ዓዲ ግራት ዓጋሜ ትግራይ)
    = እንደ ጎበዝ ጠያቂ ” እንዴ ኣጎቴ ስየ “ታድያ ምንም ኤርትራዊ ያልጀመረው እና ያልመራው ትግል እንዴት ኤርትራዊ ይባላል ????” ብለህ ልትጠይቀኝ ነው !!!
    ለኛ ለኤርትራውያን special people በመሆናችን መሞቱን “መሰዋት” ብለው ኣሳምረውት እርሱ የኛ department ነው . ውግያ ላይ ደግሞ ኣንፈረጥጥም ምክንያቱ እርሱም “tactical withdrawal” ብለው ስሙ ስላሳመሩለት መፈርጠጡ ሲያልፍም ኣይነካን !!!
    ጨርሻለሁ ,ግን በባድሜ ውግያው ላይ ኢትዮጵያ ባታስቆመን ኖሮ እስከ ኣስያ መድረስ ስለምንችል የነበርን ቻይና በጣም ቦክታ ነበር !!!
    ደግሞ ከባድሜ ወጣን ማለት ጸሓይ እንደገና ኣትወጣም ማለት ነው ብለን ፎክረን ነበረ ,ግን ኣስለቀቃችሁን,,,,well, የወጣችው ጽሓይ የወያኔ ጽሓይ ነች እንጂ እውነተኛዋ ጽሓይ እስካሁን ኣልወጣችም….ስለዚህ ቃላችን bullshit ኣልነበረም.
    thank you for reading it
    THE BRILLIANT
    UNCLE SYE

    • Abi March 1, 2019

      Hello uncle Sye
      Thanks for Eritrean history 101. Now I understand why Eritreans call themselves ” special breed “.
      We live to learn.
      የቀንየለይ አያይ ስዬ

      • Ermiyas March 1, 2019

        UNCLE SYE, please explain why you call Eritreans “special breed”, why special breed?

  • UNCLE SYE March 1, 2019

    You are welcome Abi , it is really true history.

    stay brilliant
    uncle sye

    • Genet-origimal March 1, 2019

      Sye no body’s uncle
      No change no matter what is going on in the world or East Africa. May be you are the first bolt created before the current one.

  • ወዲ ህዝቢ March 3, 2019

    genet original

    ንሕና እዞም ድሌት ናይ ህዝብና ክንፈልጥ ዝደለና እኮ ትውጽዑና ኣለኹም : እቲ ኣንክል ስየ ተደመሩ ህዝብና እውን ይድመር እዩ ዘሎ ይብለና(በቲ ዝኣምነሉ እውን መርትዖ የቕርብ ኣሎ) ንስኺ ዘለኽዮ እውን ካብ ምድማር ሞት ንመርጽ ህዝብና በታ 1993 ዘድመጻ ክትቅየር የብላን ትብሉና; እዞም ድሌት ህዝብና ክንፈልጥ ንደሊ ተወሳኽን ርጉጽን ሓበሬታን እናቕረብኩም እንተተረድኡና ምበለጸ ምኽንያቱ ህዝብና ንሳላሳ ዓመት ተቓሊሱ ንኣሜሪካን ሕብረት ሶቭየትን ከም ዝስዓረን ንኣምን,ግን ሎሚኸ ብሓቂ ፈሪሑ ድዩ ሱቕ ኢሉ ዝድመር ዘሎ ? ህዝቢ ኤርትራስ ከም ህዝቢ ኦሮሞ ቄሮ መሳሊ ፈጢሩ ብሰልፊ ምቅዋም ፈሪሑ እዩ ከም ኣድጊ ተኾብኪቡ ዝድመር ዘሎ ? እዚ እቲ ኣነ ዝፈልጦ ኤርትራዊ ህዝቢ ኣይኮነን ;
    በጃኺ ገነት ኦሪጂናል ሓፍተይ ብጭቡጥ መርትዖ ኣረድእና ህዝብናስ ዝተቓለሰሉ ገዲፉ ድዩ ሓሳቡ ቐይሩ ወይሲ ብሓቂ ጃጃዊ ህዝቢ ኾይኑ እዩ ?
    ሓውኪ ወዲ ህዝቢ ካብ ኤድሞንተን ካናዳ

  • ወዲ ህዝቢ March 3, 2019

    genet original

    ኣብዛ ቖራሪት ከተማና ቅድሚ ነጻነት ክልተ ኮሚኒቲ ኔረን , እታ ሓንቲ ህዝቢ ኮሚኒቲ መንደፈራ ኢሉ ዝጸውዓ መብዛሕትኦም ተቓለስቲ ተ.ሓ.ኤ ዝነበሩ ክትከውን ከላ እታ ኻልአይቲ ድማ ብኮሚኒቲ ሰገነይቲ ትፍለጥ ናይ ህዝባዊ ግንባር ስሩዓት ዝነበረት እያ ; ብድሕሪ ነጻነትና ተሓናፊጸን ሓንቲ ኮሚኒቲ ኤርትራ ፈጢረን ,ድሓር ብዓል ድሩዕ ምስ ትኣስሩ ‘ጋንታ ድሩዕ’ ትብሃል ካብቲ ኮሚኒቲ ወጺኣ ናይ ባዕላ ጉሩፖ ፈጢራ እንዳ ሻሂ ከፊታ, እዚኣ እታ ኮሙኒቲ ሰገነይቲ ብምባል ትፍለጥ ዝነበረትያ: ተፋላልየን ድሕሪ ምጽናሕ ሎሚ ክቃራረባ ይፍትና ኣለዋ : እቲ ጥዑም ዜና መብዛሕትኡ ኤርትራዊ ህዝቢ ኤድመንተን ምድማር ተቓዊሙ ነጻነት ኤርትራ ዝድግፍዩ: ዘሕዝነና ዜና ግን ካብ ቫንኩቨር ,ሳስካችዋንን ቶሮንቶን ዝመጸና ዜና ብዙሕ ሰብ ምድማር ናይ ኣቢይ እናደገፈ እዩ; ንሕና ደቂ ኤድሞንቶን ናይ 30 ዓመት ቃልሲ ነጻነትና ንምዕቃብ ድሉዋት ኢና ; ኣብ ኤርትራ ዘሎ ህዝብናኸ ምሳና ድዩ ?
    ገነት ኦሪጂናል ሓበሬታኺ ወሳኒ እዩ ሓደራ ሓብርና ;
    ሓውኪ ወዲ ህዝቢ ካብ ኤድሞንቶን

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