Voice of Assenna: Interview with Dr Asefaw Tekeste Re Eritrea’s Current Political Situation
On the occasion of the 22nd anniversary of Eritrea's independence, Voice of Assenna asks Dr Asefaw Tekeste to asses the current political situation in Eritrea. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9k71nejbSiw&width=200&height=200
On the occasion of the 22nd anniversary of Eritrea’s independence, Voice of Assenna asks Dr Asefaw Tekeste to asses the current political situation in Eritrea.
Araya-11 May 23, 2013
outstanding interview Dr, I wish you do interview with VOA!!!
Obahara May 23, 2013
Selam,
Following is a an earlier compiled note and consists of two hastily compiled parts form here and there. The fist one is legal and historical while the second is legal and political as follows thus:
Par A :
Eritrea became what it was because of Italian colonization. Eritrea is a colonial construct like any other in its class. Thus formed, it was not granted independence but was put under British Military Administration in 1941 an was then joined to Ethiopia in a federation in 1952. The spirit and letter of the Eritrean-Ethiopian federal union was violated as soon as it was let to come into effect. Seeing that the Eritrean-Ethiopian federal union was turned into that of an occupier and occupied, Eritreans challenged the Ethiopians to respect the articles of the federation peacefully to no avail and were forced to ultimately take up arms to liberate their country from Ethiopian occupation.
As a result of the state of affairs briefly state above, one of the political wings of the Eritrean Liberation Movement called on Awate to initiate the Eritrean Armed Struggle for Independence from Ethiopian occupation. Awate as a leader of the first Eritrean Liberation Army,the ELA, fired the first bullet and announced the call to Eritreans to take up arms and free their country from Ethiopia feudal and backward rule in 1961. As a national figure, Awate is a father of the Eritrean Armed Struggle for Independence. Therefore, trying to raise issues in relation to Awate’s life prior to his initiation of the Eritrean Armed Struggle for Territorial Independence from Ethiopian colonial rule can’t hold any water at a national level.
Awate’s Eritrean Liberation Army soon grew and gave birth to the Eritrean People’s Liberation Army, the EPLA, before it was ejected from the Eritrean field by a unified EPLF (Shaebia) and TPLF (Weyane) assault. The EPLA liberated territorial Eritrea in 1991 and this was legally sealed in 1993. However, territorial independence from Ethiopia occupation brought with it the loss of both individual and collective freedom to one man and his cult of evil, a plague that is now known as the “PFDJ”. This cult calling itself “People’s Front for Democracy and Justice” does the opposite of what its name implies and ought to rightly be called People’s Foe for Dictatorship and Injustice as it has turned the Eritrean people into slaves and beggars in their own country.
In conclusion, it should go without saying that nobody can stand as tall as Awate when it comes to look the beast on the face to give him a bloody nose on the battlefield and remove him from the Eritrean homeland. By the same token, nobody can stand as tall as Wedi Ali when it comes to look the beast on the face in his own den and challenge him to set his people free. Awate rested after calling an aspiring nation to take up arms to free its homeland from for foreign occupation. Wedi Ali rested after he called a nation to free itself from the worst internal oppression the world has ever seen! Awates leg of the Eritrean revolution ended in victory and may Wedi Ali’s call for liberty, justice, democracy, and the rule of law to reign in his homeland take root, send shoot, and bear fruit!
The Bad Part:
Enda Hgdef are like worms and think with their stomach or body as prostitutes do. One should not expect much of a clear mind and or clean heart from people who treat others like hated slaves and animals. Worse, Enda Hgdef think like parasites and can only feed on the blood and sweat of others before they die after or before they kill their host. There is no “We” between Eritreans and the Cult of Isu or “Nhna-Nsu”. Since they are Isaias and Isaias is them, they will follow him till he ends up in his ugly grave leaving them with nothing but empty and bloody hands, shame, and disgrace! Don’t condemn’ the darkness or the devil but light a candle, some may say! And some others may say, be careful about how you go about treating people and ideas for the devil once lived in heaven and you may not recognize him if he crosses your path. If you ever try to fight the devil on his own terms, you are bound to lose and lose big time for it may involve losing your soul as well.
Proceeding, one may wonder about why people waste their time talking to beggars who depend on another beggar to get where and what they want? Can one naive beggar make a good profit by begging a wicked beggar to do business? Can a beggar who begs another beggar to do business and make a profit find many customers who can buy his product? What can the Weyane friendly Eritrean political organizations and individuals do other than talk to Hafash Hzbi Eritra, the Broad Eritrean Masses, from Addis Abeba or Debre Ziet, or elsewhere in the land of the hag of old? These yearly Picnics that Eritreans take in the land of the lawless Weyanes have produced nothing but noise and bickering! There are tough question to answer and hurdles to overcome before what is written or spoken can tick, grow legs, and walk:-).
Furthermore, coming in the spoken form or in print, clear, clean, and simple ideas are what are important for dealing with the demands of life or existence. Next to good living ideas, what are important are clean, simple, and clear hearts in order to live and let live in peace. Next to good and living hearts, what are important are clean, strong, and giving hands to help oneself as well as others to make their own stand. Home is where one’s heart is. Home is where one’s homeland is. Home is one’s Father or Motherland. The rest is artificial that one has to earn, rent, buy, or steal. He that steals somebody else’s home is a criminal as the bestial, lawless, and useless errand regimes of the PFDJ in Eritrea and its EPRDF counterpart in Ethiopia are!
In closing, people of a descent common sense understand or ought to understand that one’s mind should control one’s heart. Next, one’s heart should control one’s desires. Last beat not least, one’s desires should be to do good for one’s individual as well as the collective well being. It is said that those who come by the sword will also go by the sword. Likewise, those who come by the word will also live or die by their word. Truth lives eternally while lies sooner or later die and go to hell, also, eternally! If people are dealing with the likes of Hgdef, the Weyane, and Kidan, they should not expect anything good to come out of them because their notions, emotions, actions, and motions are governed by the rule of the jungle. Until one and all stand up for the rule of national and international law to rule, things and people will remain where they are and were till death do us apart!
Peace!
Kabbire May 23, 2013
Obahrari writes, “In conclusion, it should go without saying that nobody can stand as tall as Awate when it comes to look the beast on the face to …”
Ask to the ethnic Kunama who live between the Gash-Setit rivers or inquire
http://www.ehrea.org/
Obahara May 24, 2013
Selam,
Before it takes off the ground, the noise coming from one of Weyane hired bellies or cry-babies should add to what it this:
“Therefore, trying to raise issues in relation to Awate’s life prior to his initiation of the Eritrean Armed Struggle for Territorial Independence from Ethiopian colonial rule can’t hold any water at a national level.”
Peace
Kabbire May 24, 2013
Obahrari,
it is good enough that you admitted shifta Awate was a Janjaweed monster who terrorized the Gash-Setit region as one of the worst outlaws after his fascist Italian masters were kicked out.
This does not mean that he stopped his criminal atrocities after he started to wear his new Jalabia awarded to him by Abdela Adam and Idris Gelawdeios to do the dirty jobs that they do not want to touch from their hide outs in Cairo.
For more visit: http://www.ehrea.org/
————————–
Obahara May 25, 2013
Selam,
Listen you creep full of crap, how the hell did you come up with this:
“it is good enough that you admitted shifta Awate was a Janjaweed monster”?
I despise a liar who bends over or spread all for as a as a prostitute or hired belly does! You ain’t worth spending much time than you deserve and you can now get lost and go earn your stinking bread from your beggar Weyane masters!
Peace!
Peace!
Salim May 23, 2013
“If people are dealing with the likes of Hgdef, the Weyane, and Kidan, they should not expect anything good to come out of them because their notions, emotions, actions, and motions are governed by the rule of the jungle.”
‘ti HmaQ bahryat nay Se’Adu gdefo:: ktneqf ‘neloKa – metan keytSla’ ilka — nkulua ayHawawesn ‘yu:: Woyanen kidann Sela’ti hzbi Eritrea kKonu ‘nkelewu POPULAR FRONT dma hagerna zhanSn nhagerna dma zkelaKeln dermas hzbawi wdb ‘yu::
Obahara May 24, 2013
No time or word to waste talking to the noise coming from one of the servants of the devil of Nakfa or Isaias Bedan and recasting a simple truth should suffice thus:
“Enda Hgdef are like worms and think with their stomach or body as prostitutes do. One should not expect much of a clear mind and or clean heart from people who treat others like hated slaves and animals. Worse, Enda Hgdef think like parasites and can only feed on the blood and sweat of others before they die after or before they kill their host. There is no “We” between Eritreans and the Cult of Isu or “Nhna-Nsu”. Since they are Isaias and Isaias is them, they will follow him till he ends up in his ugly grave leaving them with nothing but empty and bloody hands, shame, and disgrace!”
Peace!
Salim May 24, 2013
ObaHasad,
You can not be an Eritrean.
Kabbire May 23, 2013
Obahrari writes, “In conclusion, it should go without saying that nobody can stand as tall as Awate when it comes to look the beast on the face to …”
Ask to the ethnic Kunama who live between the Setit-Gash rivers or inquire
http://www.ehrea.org/
ማሊሻ May 23, 2013
What is wrong with the silence of Radio Wegahta?
Despite all the jamming, it was the only opposition radio broadcast that had been heard in Eritrea until last April 2013.
First it was the satellite broadcast of the most trusted daily Radio Erena to be knocked off, then Radio Assenna.
The death of Radio Wegahta cuts off the direct communication between the diaspora opposition and the Eritreans in Eritrea and diaspora.
The only remaining source of news for Eritreans inside the country will be bado-seleste and VOA Tigrinya.
Zaul May 24, 2013
“A viable political alternative must have not only a compelling programme on minority
rights but also a track record of respecting them in its own operations and structures. The
rise of small, armed ethnic parties – whether or not encouraged by Ethiopia – is a response
to the lived experience of domination, from personal insult and cultural chauvinism to discrimination and systematic exploitation and exclusion in the economy and politics. Inevitably, demagogues and external forces will exploit such popular dissatisfaction. But those
who would counter them must come up with programmes that undercut their appeal so they
can be isolated and marginalised. Only a demonstration of both sincerity and effectiveness
will accomplish this, as Eritrean politics are replete with examples of soaring rhetoric and
unfulfilled promises.
These and other questions do not need to be settled, but options need to be put out to
stimulate public discussion and to demonstrate that those who propose to rule a postIsaias Eritrea have the imagination and the sensitivity to do so in a manner that speaks to
the deepest-held needs of the Eritrean people. Nothing would be more constructive than
a vigorous public debate on these issues among leading opposition figures – one that
not only showcased the positions of those involved but that demonstrated their capacity
to carry out a debate without resorting to violence or coercion to determine the outcome.
The people need hard evidence that those who propose to lead will be different from
those they have today, not only in what they say but in what they do and how they do it.
Eritrea has a long way to go to achieve political stability and the democratic institutions
to sustain it, as well as the political culture to nurture it over the long term.
Widening thecircle of those discussing this – and making it far more transparent – is the most urgentlyneeded step today. New leadership is just as important in this process as new ideas.”
Dan Connell, From resistance to governance:
Eritrea’s trouble with transition
http://www.danconnell.net/sites/default/files/%20Eritrea%20in%20ROAPE%208.26.11.pdf
Salim May 24, 2013
Zaul,
SaEda zbelo ayteqalH::
Zaul May 25, 2013
tmal tmal ms hzbawi gnabar qoyqoy zbl znebere, hiji nab tsaeda teqeyiru? entay eyu zibl zelo astebhl.
“Nothing would be more constructive than a vigorous public debate on these issues among leading opposition figures –
one that not only showcased the positions of those involved but that demonstrated their capacity to carry out a debate without resorting to violence or coercion to determine the outcome.
The people need hard evidence that those who propose to lead will be different from
those they have today, not only in what they say but in what they do and how they do it.
Eritrea has a long way to go to achieve political stability and the democratic institutions to sustain it, as well as the political culture to nurture it over the long term.
Widening the circle of those discussing this – and making it far more transparent – is the most urgently needed step today.
New leadership is just as important in this process as new ideas.”
weygud May 24, 2013
Dr. Assefaw, this time, I appreciate you for your analysis on the current siuation in Eritrea; however, I hardly agree on your comment civil tongue. As far as I know many of the former fighters use vulgar words in their conversation. It isnot only the dictator use rude words but I think, it had became a norm during the 30 years armed struggle. No civil tongue for elderly and women. Once, the DIA insulted all African leaders , excluding himself,that they have big ugly lips. This is the bad manners legacy, some exhibit to the young generation. ” asadagi yebedelew “kkkkkkkl
weygud May 24, 2013
Adhanom G.Mariam is disinformant to disinform the informed and to misinform the uninformed. He seems arrogant, defamer and hypocrat. On the other hand, Tesfay Temnewo is humble, courteous and he tried to share us our hidden history. Adhanom inflicted character assasination and belittled the general audience as if they were ignorants. Mr. Researcher took one year to talk such nonsense things.
Hazhaz May 24, 2013
ayte Issaias has a habit of talking truth once in a while. These are like a big truth, said before such as “Awate was a monster shifta”.
Issu repeated it again and blew off the lead of the Ghedli Romantics by saying: Ethiopia did not colonize Eritrea. We all knew this truth but the Ghedli Romantics will not listen.
Here is what he said in front of tens of thousands in Asmara on the so called “Independence Day”. Thanks God Issaias is learning new stuffs.
On May 24, 2013 President Isaias’ Address on the Occasion of 22nd Independence Day Anniversary, Issu said:
“Although we habitually refer to “Ethiopian colonialism,” the fact remains that such a phenomenon amounted to surrogate colonialism under the then existing world order. And this because the Ethiopian authorities of the day lacked the potential to meet the assumed criteria.”
ida May 24, 2013
We need people like Dr. Tekeste to lead our Eri.
ida May 24, 2013
P.S. radio asena, please keep finding brilliant minds. I love, love, your interviews.