Part one- the current Medrek’s resuscitation of the  politically dangerous wudbetaat

I had attended the EU-parliament organized workshop on migration on Nov 9- a summary of which was posted In Assenna’s website on Nov. 11, and the Tigringa version is read over Assenna’s radio few days later.

I was happy to attend it, but I was the same time sad for not seeing an elected representative(en) of the Eritrean opposition in such workshop. (I was able to contain my anguish during the  workshop, however, thanks to a) the early start of the workshop, and b) my self-imposed promise to demo.archive.assenna.com to write a summary about the workshop.)

The failure to create a single movement for a democratic rule in Eritrea is a source of sadness for many Eritreans in the opposition; the anguish is repeatedly expressed at different times, and it is also expressed a number of times in the oppositions’ Paltalks rooms. The failure has been our own making, which many Eritreans- including people like me- admit without any hesitation. Our shameful failure has damaged our opposition quite immensely. Our failure  to form a single movement- which was, and is still within reach under certain conditions- has allowed  a) the support base of the dictator in the Diaspora not to shrink by double digits, b) de-motivation and extreme disappointment within the opposition camp to continue and c) de-moralization of the opposition inside Eritrea- who are struggling under difficult circumstances. The sad state of the opposition must have pleased the inner circle of Isayas and the gumamats. Another is the highly tarnished image of the opposition- leading foreign powers- like USA and EU-, and countries like Sudan and Ethiopia to gradually ignore the opposition or not to waste time with. ( It can hardly blame the powers and the nations; we don’t regrettably deserve their attention for obvious reasons.)

The failure is due to the a) mess within the wudbetaat- excluding the ethnic-based group (EBG), and the long wait on the wudbetaat to put their houses in order, and b) the slow pace of the non-members of the wudbetaat to form a single movement for a democratic rule in Eritrea, once we have realized that the wudbetaat are not good during this struggle and in post-dictator Eritrea. (The slow pace is largely attributed to the missed opportunities, and the destructive roles of some groups, which few of medrek members are allied with; this will dealt with in another article- with a great emphasis on the significance of creating a single movement of non-wudbetaat .)

I will now concentrate on the wrongs or destructive potential of wudbetaat- excluding EBG-; this will hopefully point out medrek’s  regretful wrong approach or drive to resuscitating the wudbetaat.  To start with, the wudbetaat had all the time in the world to put their houses in order in the interest of Eritrea, and the Eritrean opposition, and in the interest of their own. Many did expect them- excluding the ethnic-based groups- to follow three consecutive steps, all leading to the formation of a single movement- after, of course, dissolving their wudbetaat. But wudbetaat’s intransigence or intention to remain separate at all cost- similar to Isayas’s intention at all cost- has continued unabated- reflecting their political immaturity or undemocratic nature; such political wrongs are of an immense proportion; the wrongs blinded them.

The wudbetaat’s  failures- which has caused a serious despair, de-motivation, etc among the opposition- stem from the failure to recognize certain facts. They have failed to recognize that a) they have no responsibility- morally or otherwise- to map guidelines, or to decide on languages, religion, administrative system, etc, b) the people of Eritrea are the ones who must decide on all those issues in post-Isayas en co. Eritrea, c) their obligation is to concentrate on one single issue- i.e. to prepare the ground for an effective opposition, with an aim to facilitate the emergence of a democratic transitional government in Eritrea, where Eritreans will freely appoint their transitional leaders, and democratically map their future without any coercion from any side, and d) there is no short cut to power.  ( Many Eritreans proposed solutions to solve the mess, but it felt on deaf ears, the Eritreans intellectuals- who meet some years ago- did advise them as well- although it was not forceful enough; I called upon them back in 2003 or 2004 to dissolve their wdbetaat, and to replace them with a single movement in Eritreans’ respective areas of residence. .The failure to recognize the simple and straight forward facts did lead to many unsuccessful meetings, and that in turn lead to almost 12 years of discussions- which is too long for less than zero result….)

The recent past failures are still fresh. The wudbetaat derailed the work of baito, which was itself formed without prerequisites. The wudbetaat have manipulated the works of baito, and the nature of the wudbetaat- the insensitivity, the undemocratic nature, and the power to stay at any cost- has brought baito to its kness at lightning speed. The whole mess is the making of kidan, and it has left destructive trails- some of which are real and some are bad sinbirats. ( I never liked the politics of Kidan, and EPDP…I told a man- who later had held a powerful position within the commission- that the plan will never work with Kidan around; i wish i was wrong, but the prediction did come true. Now we know that Kidan was not honest from start; according to Beshir, Kidan was looking at the non-kidan members as advisors.)

Many  of the same wudbetaat were present in Kenya, during which Medrek did act as the facilitator. I am wondering whether or not the same  wudbetaat are planning to be members of two baitos; whether they have the interest of post-dictator Eritrea, or they are just intending to board any ship- in case that is heading to post-dictator Eritrea. I am wondering whether or not Medrek do fully understood the mess of the wudbetaat, and the danger they pose to post-dictator Eritrea. I ask myself whether or not medrek is serious with a number of issues. ( I prefer to restrict the questions for the time being, and i prefer not to say a word about the sudden appearance of some ex-highly useful idiots, whom many Eritreans don’t believe for a moment for very good reasons.)

At this moment in time, I am deeply worried with Medrek’s resuscitating of the wudbetaat; people like me had hoped to see the latter fade away and slowly disappear- preferably years before the emergence of post-dictator Eritrea. I strongly believe that the wdbetaat- with all their divisive, and destructive viewpoints, and altitudes- are political danger to that post-dictator Eritrea.

Solomon

In Belgium