Voice of Assenna: Panel Discussion on the Eritrean Constitution, Thurs, Feb 05 , 2015 (Part 2)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_YNWjNSefE&feature=youtu.be
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_YNWjNSefE&feature=youtu.be
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Mike February 7, 2015
MightyEmbasorya! I have been anticipating your excellent points from anyone for I was “challenging” almost everyone that seems to have pulled himself up in life and done well. If many of us or these people (our elite Eritreans) are leading educational and Business institutions every day and yet just simply looking from a distance the plight of Eritreans then that is simply not acceptable. Morally an acceptable. Simply those group of people do have responsibility and need to start walking the walk. Mind you, I am way young relative to these people (Dr. Bereket, The man who has written a book, these honorable doctors, and a few more I have heard…). However, I feel most of these people gave up and looking in the rear mirror regarding Eritrean state.
What Have I done then? Simply nothing I am as guilty as anyone. I stand clear and submit myself that I have done nothing. However, I have convinced many and conversed with many fellow Eritreans that we should not be part of any activity the Eritrean government does anywhere. My wish and plan is to work with the Eritrean women that I have mentioned on my previous comments here in Assenna. I am ready to and I am willing to face anyone for the sake of the young Eritreans who are becoming the mockery of everyone out there. I have never supported the current Eritrean government from the day I met most of them back then when Eritrea became independent. Mind you here, I am no one but I had access to the leaders early in Independent days like any other young Eritrean. These people (leaders in Eritrea) including those few who are in jail (I wish and hope for their release) were not fit to lead a nation. Perhaps and surly fit however to bring Independence.
Why am I a bit harsh although my nature is completely opposite to the comments I read – well, first and for most except a few most of the people who come to assenna move all over the map rather than focusing on what to do. What they could help. What is it to do to unite all opposition groups. Those who were part of the regime come and tell us all their sin and mess the government did and others come and write books and state they have started writing another book, and few others share how bad it was drafting the constitution ….you know the drift…..Ow before I forget….and some of us (including myself – yes guilty I stand) just jump in to the euphoria when things seem to be crushing in Eritrea……
What to do:
1: Have a conference with viable leaders out in the western nations (Eritrean that is).
2: Bring group leaders that are in and around Ethiopia to join the conference or have some one on their behalf.
3: Definitely invite the tireless Eritrean women who are not just talking but walking the walk.
4: Address the key SMART points the unite us all and clear the way to all to work for Eritrea. Remember the “S” as here is “simple” and key to moving the movement forward quickly. What I mean by that is “we all should be able to sit and talk as human beings do” not as something like a unruly market place talk.
5: Once we have that , work with NGO, Doctors without borders, Governments, to have well aligned and well organized force. Right now, all efforts are being done in all angles with no coordination and the voice gets lost before it impacts every government who wants to help Eritreans.
6: That is a start, Dr. Vacaro started it God rest his soul….Who could take up his dream for Eritrea now? Waiting to see….
7: The most crucial to this is “RESPECT”! Gosh- we Eritreans could learn some of that – the post liberation era culture and value has eroded the nation of Eritrea from its valued and golden social fabric of respect. Respect all regardless of color, race, wealth, and status.
MightyEmbasoyra – I am just another Eritrean wishing the best for all – I hardly know anyone of you but I hear and rational the way I see it….. So go out there and make a difference in any form and shape and you will have made this world well. I am all over the map but I hope you get the drift…..
Assenna – I am with you all along! I am just nudging you on the side to get you to see a multitude. Well done. Peace to all.
assenna February 7, 2015
Mike,
Still you are not focusing on the topic of discussion. Your comment is too long and non-constructive. Unless you adhere to Assenna guidelines this is your last comment that is posted.
Cheers!!
Tesfit February 8, 2015
Oh Assenna…
I see nothing wrong in the above Mike’s comment for you to threaten banning him.
If you can’t tolerate diversified views, you may as well shut down the comment section.
selamawit2 February 7, 2015
Hi Mike,
as everybody has the possibility to write helpful articles or start some kind of Projects on this website, why don’t you start interviews or whatever with those great ladies you mentioned? I don’t think Assenna would hinder you as long as your agenda is constructive and the way you put it is respectful…I would appreciate that!
Yodit Yitbarek February 7, 2015
These days some in the opposition have become so arrogant that they are writing a new constitution for Eritrea from scratch. To such people the ratified constitution doesn’t exist. If things proceed as they seem to be then definitely such people are on a course to irrevocably burn the only bridge, the ratified constitution, which realistically connects them with the majority of the Eritrean people inside Eritrea. This is if not foolishness a display of a sort of dictatorship at its height.
The major stumbling block in Eritrea is the absence of the rule of law. If the ratified Eritrean constitution were to be implemented, Eritrea for the most part will be in harmony with the rule of law. Our significant problem is not that the ratified constitution is weak on concepts of the rule of law : rather it is that it is not implemented.
There is a dictatorship of the PFDJ variety that we are all aware of. However, oblivious to many there is another type of despotism that is lurking in the shadow. This is a kind of tyranny that eventually will come to fruition if not appropriately and timely checked. The group that ostensibly has arrogated to itself the power to write a new constitution for Eritrea is nothing but a dictatorship in the making in front of our own very eyes. The sad part is that these would be tyrants are wearing a mantle of the opposition.
Zufana A February 7, 2015
Yodit Yitbarek
I couldn’t agree more, well said sister Yodit. So far only your comment makes some sense but also some of worrying times ahead. I also believe the ratified constitution can help us bring the rule of law in Eritrea. It will help us to unite all Eritreans. It’ll give us a great leverage internationally and with foreign friends of Eritrea. The only requirement is only a little compromise and humility. If we concentrate on the positive aspects of the ratified constitution, and there are plenty for those who read it with open minds, then we can salvage it in order to enable us to have a common platform.
Currently, we observe that the opposition is going in all kind of directions squabbling among itself and not debating the core of unifying issue, and each creating its own programs and charters. These programs and charters though necessary for the organizations may become big hindrance towards the creation of a united loyal opposition, if they are not rooted in a one unifying factor.
Similarly, I believe we need one unifying factor, and that could be the implementation of the ratified constitution with all its imperfections. For the sake of discussion I characterize this as the common political platform. Unity of ideas is crucial. In this respect kudos to all Eritreans who are in the forefront of the struggle since there is unity among all Eritreans of all political persuasion of the need to establish the rule of law in Eritrea.
Mike February 7, 2015
Assenna – I apologize for making my comments a bit long and I wish you all the best on your struggle to bring the plight of Eritreans to the world. I will hold off from any comments going forward. Anyone out there offended – was not mean o. Mike
MightyEmbasoyra February 7, 2015
Dr. Mike,
Don’t tell me you give up that easily? This is my interpretation of Assenna’s comment.
1. Make your comments “relatively” short – means you can easily divide them…Do you see anything wrong with that? Actually, this helps for the readers to understand your comments. It will also help you to focus (at least it does for me).
2. Focus on the subject. If you think you are focussed on the subject, make a case of it and convince Assenna and the forum. As you state it yourself, Assenna would understand. I truly believe that.
I believe you are commenting here because you Care too much for your beloved Eritrea. You are also frustrated by the lack or slow progress against the dictator (including at yourself). As smart as you are, we want you (sometimes I consider myself as plural) to focus on solutions. We have heard/talked about problems, over and over. Now is time for a plan to solve those problems. As you have stated few points on what to do, let’s work on some or all of them.
Don’t ask me what I have done so far? Absolutely nothing, except complaining about problems. However, I am coming up with a plan to at least help Assenna financially (shhh, don’t tell Assenna yet).
We need you here to balance us out.
Mike February 7, 2015
MightyE and Selamawit2 – stay at it. Taking a time off is good many times. In fact, it is Healthy. Do not quit but keep pressing forward with your pace. Remember, diversity and questioning authority is the basic ingredients to achieving peace and freedom.
As to the discussion I heard in the panel – it is the same story over and over again. From the fence we have all spoken. As to the draft of 1997 – I have some serious doubt that is my point. Lastly, my points 1 to 7 above is where I would start if I were in place…..
Peace to you all…will check on you in few months…..
Ghebrehans T. February 7, 2015
The constitution of 1997 is devised to suite the then EPLF organization in mind, the PFDJ regime or political party. Those who participated in drafting the constitution about two third were EPLF cadres, some opportunist ELF leaders, others were Diaspora Eritrean so-called intellectuals who were feeling guilt of not participating in the war of armed struggle ; and remember these so-called educated Eritreans were only donating few hours of their time. All these framers were handpicked by the dictator Isaias Afewerki, and were instructed to serve the vision of EPLF. This constitution PFDJ says is ratified by illegitimate parliament or assembly what ever they call it. I say illegitimate because none of them is elected by the people of Eritrea.
Political power is either delegated or usurped. A representative authority is a delegated power through the consent of the people. Different groups at times pervert the term democracy. Yet the aim of the majority of Eritreans is to establish a representative government that could enforce constitutional rules on behalf of the people. Thus, the Eritrean people are the sovereign and must own the political platform. The platform should reinforce basic human dignity and guide to bring about two contending forces – a Government-in-office and a Government-in-waiting, and a peaceful transfer of power. It is also for the majority of the Eritrean people ; it should try to satisfy their wishes while respecting the rights of minorities. It must be the least common denominator that unites the people and it should not deviate from this fundamental principle.
There is a possibility that the majority of the Eritrean people may have only formal and not effective association with the major political organizations. Simple membership in the PFDJ, for example, can’t be equated with endorsement of all the PFDJ policies. One can assume that the majority members of the PFDJ may not earnestly believe in all its politics and principles.
Likewise, the fact that many Eritreans reject the PFDJ’s policies and principles does not by any stretch of the imagination mean that such Eritreans have endorsed the oppositions’ policies. In other words, rejection of the PFDJ does not necessarily automatically translate into support for the oppositions. To think otherwise is delusions ; the opposition has to realize its capability and its limitations.
Until there is free and secret ballot election, we can’t conclusively affirm which organization has the majority (or pluralistic) backing of the Eritrean people. Even in highly developed societies, support for any organization can’t be conclusively determined and decided through opinion polls. Only free elections decide that. And there has not been a real test in a competitive political arena in Eritrea to date. Thus, it is very presumptuous for any organization to assume that it represents the Eritrean people, just because it has appropriated the state appartus for the sole use of its organization, or that some have come together as political organizations. Only the Eritrean people through the exercise of their democratic right can decide who represent them.
So as the saying goes “nothing happens until something happens”. In other simple words, the PFDJ, ELF, and the opposition’s 1997 constitution or the improved constitution does not mean a thing until the real people of Eritrea that is all the people especially the minorities are involved in it and are the owners of it. In other simple tigrigna saying goes as “merAwi keyHazas Arki Haza”. So far no one represents or represented the Eritrean people at large and no opportunists are going to claim as such representative of Eritrean people when none what so ever were elected or delegated by the Eritrean people. If the so-called oppositions want to represent other Eritrean people from Mars then they should go ahead otherwise the oppositions or PFDJs do not represent the people of Eritrea. Period.
assenna February 7, 2015
Ghebrehans T.
Your comment is too long. Kindly make it short next time.
Thank you
AHMED SALEH !!! February 7, 2015
The issue of our constitution doesn’t differ from others in current
sociopolitical reality . And the sole responsibities held are directed
to only one person . The solution has no alternative except to concentrate
on finding a way to get rid from that person .
Any institution run by corrupted management always face difficulties to
succeed including the probability to file for bankruptcy , the same goes
with any crooked politician who failed his country .
MightyEmbasoyra February 8, 2015
You won’t believe what happened to me few hours ago. I met this guy who works in one of the hottest Bay Area tech companies, Tesla Motors. We start chatting about trivial things and somehow start talking about Eritrea. One guy mentioned about Eritrea’s poet society and I mentioned a guy named Mesinas. One person asked who is Mesinas? I replied the famous poet person at Assenna. To my surprised, he asked me again who is Assenna? Without realizing, I replied him, “you don’t know Assenna?” He said nope. I was mad and surprised, at the same time. My emotion took over and I asked the guy with don’t you read? Another guy replied me, easy man, he have a PhD in Mechanical engineering and he works at Tesla. I was tempted to reply him who is Tesla. Can you blame me?
rezen February 8, 2015
Greetings MightyEmbasoyra,
What a beautiful day here. It changes the mood of a person – hence, to send an open letter to you, having lost two consecutive commentaries in two weeks! I have no grudge, absolutely. I have a minuscule level of knowledge about Life. By the way, I hope your commendable “financial scheme “ for demo.archive.assenna.com would work.
With that long-winded introduction, let me go to your interesting, amusing, hilarious conversation you had with some friends. I enjoyed it immensely with a muffled laughter (being in a public library). I remember a related story — if not quite exactly. I can only narrate it to you Mighty because (by now I know) you can handle the humourous aspect of Life >>> without taking everything seriously. So, take the following story in that frame of mind.
An elderly Eritrean gentleman travelled, for the first time in his Life, to the only famous and glamorous country on Planet Earth: The ONLY and ONLY THE UNITED STATES of AMERICA THE GREAT. He stayed a few months travelling from State to State. Thanks to the legendary migration of Eritreans around the Globe,kin and kith are located everywhere. He went back Home fully mesmerized. Returning back Home, naturally friends asked him about his experience, over elongated coffee-session, or Melotti Beer!!! He chose to narrate what was important and dear to his heart. With his head down, dejected by reality and sadness he revealed to his eager friends, with exclamation: “ነዛ ኤርትራ፡ ኤርትራ ንብላ ሃገር፥ ሰብ ዝፈልጣ ዘየለ !!!!!” There was more sadness to his story. But I choose NOT to twist the knife (if you know what I mean!) – unless you say: “ደርጓሓዮ! ድሓን፡ ንጾሮ ኢና።” Until then, I STOP here.
MightyEmbasoyra February 8, 2015
rezen the great,
As usual, it is good to hear from you! Did you just say what a beautiful day? It was rainy day here, in the great Bay Area and it was a pleasant day for me, since I love rain. However, I can sense you live in a different time zone (assuming a sunny day???).
Back to the planet earth, I hope we didn’t lose our brother, Dr. Mike. He will be back. Did we lose another one (my memory is starting to betraying me)? No offense to Dr. Mike but he needs to toughen up. Why? Let’s assume he present a technical paper to the adamia and peers criticizing him, is he going to stop publishing? No, sir. So, Dr. Mike, if you reading, get from your lazy chair and join the great Assenna forum.
reszen the great, I like your story. All I can say is, we are adults and “ንጾሮ ኢና, ድሓን ደርጓሓዮ!”
Alem K. February 8, 2015
“Today, 23 May 1997, on this historic date, after active popular participation, approve and solemnly ratify, through the Constituent Assembly, this Constitution as the fundamental law of our Sovereign and Independent State of Eritrea.”
We shouldn’t allow a criminal murderer, drug addict, ruthless dictator ISAYAS AFEWORKI and his criminal prostitutes like Yemane monkey, Hagos kasha and the rest of gutless thieves and criminals, draft ,amend or change our constitution.
Putting aside our minor differences we should focus on our priority that is eliminating the criminal regime and implementing our ratified constitution.
Awetn selamn nhzbi Eritrea.
Genet-orginal February 10, 2015
Alem
Amen!!!!!!
Genet-O