Where is the Middle Ground?
By Berhane Eyasu
August 07 2009
The EECC determined that loss of nationality and expulsions of individuals identified through Ethiopia’s security review procedures were lawful “even if harsh for the individuals affected.” However, deprivation of nationality and expulsion for any other reasons were deemed illegal.
May I agonizingly draw the public that the unsightly manifestation of the senseless war between the two peoples? It is not to remember the agony may be, but to look in to perspective if it can fetch us hope and light to see at the end of the tunnel through a learned lesson?
We have spilled blood, sacrificed untold loses on record and paid tantamountly indistinguishable price thinking we can get sort messy things to get back in to normalcy. However, we are still there on a zero sum game at square one.
We have still got unresolved case over the drama of Independence, the fate of Ethiopians in Eritrea, to my astounding bewilderment and to the disclosure of many the Government of Eritrea has even officially curtailed the involvement of IRC’s impartial involvement in helping Ethiopian Citizens quest for repatriation even at this very moment and, the issue of our Afar people, the case of Asab and of course, un established boundary.
Above all we deported these people because they were not peaceful ones. They have been asked to denounce the actions of their government, namely the unjust invasion of Shabia over us for no justifiable reason what’s so ever. They denied their government’s involvement and declined to denounce a call on shabia despite many efforts to the contrary by then. Some of them where even claimed to have been red-handed contributing money and intelligence resources from the heart land. Were not they? Surprisingly enough, Now the same government who has tried justifying for their eviction is telling us quite objectionably by self conflicting endorsement that their eviction was wide of the mark and hence should get a return right away back to resume business as usual.
Do not get me wrong. Such a decision evades Public confidence and strikes many unanswered questions than it readily, normally, provides. I am not here to depict any bluff against their return nor got any intention to flout the normal relations intended being real or perceived, if any, between these historically one and the same people.
Let me also leave aside safely, fair and square, for those able historians and social anthropologists to name a few why was such appalling cause of paragon of death and demise rushed.
Likewise, the writer’s fear and a morsel concerned is that the political moves and its maundering whereby the government is talking something in a vague, rambling, or incoherent ways has been a pattern to glossing over the real issue by blaming and counter blaming which always paves the way for a cloistered excuse to leave the main plot under the carpet.
We have seen an experimental countless surprising decisions taken over by the government many of which returning the evictees without consulting the public for its good cause. Why is this porous approach repeated? Who is it serving for? By denying such a vital interference, we are prolonging the misery and the plight of our people which has significantly a telling effect on our strategic development to bring forth a tangible achievement. The writer strongly believes that development is not just only building prestigious universities, or building RR road complexes or hosing designs nor running for elections.
Said that Development aspect in its real sense has to be supported by the very ideas and ideals of the people it has to take in. These universal approaches are a guarantee for its use and advocate its philosophy. The public has to feel and honour any decision made by the government. The converse is also true that the Government is expected to take an accountability and responsibility for its actions in a transparent and responsible way.
Coming back in to making such a decision, what significance role does it really play? What lessons where learned from the war? What guarantees have we got in place that similar gang ho were not to be relapsed? Before doing such a decision have we sorted out similar effect internally apriority? Have we sorted out and compensate own people who were deported from opposite side bare handed? Have we asked for lost business around billions which were wasted on the port? Do we give such an emphases to internally displaced people due to the ugly nature of the war? Have we supported to these business people of our own who struggled to pay their bank loans? Have not we still got people living in caves nearly after a decade? The most glaringly question that may strike on any ones mind is at what cost are we returning them now? What boundaries have we established?
If the government has not got answers for it, I am afraid any striding move remains to be more of a political and it does not bring about a real change.
Above all a false move will perniciously keep us in a vicious trap and could cost us dearly for now and could even more so for generations to come. Hence, the righter believes that any such budge has to be corrected at least with reciprocity urgently if there is a real hope for progress is sought for.
Any one on the Government side may ask why these all fuss again? We know that the government is for governing…..But I can not see any reason or aspect of governing on this sweltering case. The government should have handled it with a better approach after all these days in a more peculiar than this loathsome way. It seemed, though, that it’s over actions are rather for ruling. We have been caught by so many surprise of a sudden and rush actions of this government than any by the enemy Government of shabia
However, this decision will remain as one of the controversial, flagrant and most insensitive decision made by any government in office towards its people.
I may recall back that the government defends its action by mentioning rights of individuals. To me it sounds shameful injustices we have done to our people.
The respect of private property is a fundamental rights .Yes .But Rights are not to be applied selectively to communities or individuals to suffice a political purpose. You apply those across the board. All those who are complaining are certainly having their own property or investing money in the west without any problem.
Let us pose for a second and buy the government’s assertion to be for a True reconciliation and let us assume that squaring off starts from measure like this. It will play a corner stone to the future relation of the two countries. Let’s assume again to appreciate such measure because it is humanitarian action which responded to the cry of masses? I think it is a political gain to the government of Ethiopia to win back Eritreans for greater Ethiopia? The worst thing is that at the moment, non of these assumptions are true
Let us see the flip side of it devoid of jumping to a conclusion. Trust me, there is a catch. The catch is to win the heart and minds of Eritreans have heard Prime Minister Meles talking with regards to the Government of Eritrea that there was no change of heart as yet. So the actions of his Government are to by pass by the Shabian as a Government to serve and reconcile with the people of it? How is that so possible Sir? To me it is just lofty and impracticable. Will they fall for it? I really doubt it. Sorry for being a doubter! In both countries, the stark reality, though, is that the innocent civilians have been the direct victims of the bloody and senseless war. Do not forget that we have been at a bitter war coupled with very excessive hatred filled with propaganda against all odds one another particularly from the side of the government of Eritrea. The people of Eritrea were subjects and victims of their own make ups. Unfortunately, they were made to believe that they have been a victim of Woyane and foregoing Ethiopian Governments for centuries for being Eritreans period. The problem is deep rooted. They were colonized? Is it by Ethiopia! That is the bizarre of the century. It is not that easy as some in the government want us to believe. Further more, I do not buy the idea that after the fall of Shabia be as it might be that things will get rosy in Eritrea. How can we climb such a huge mountain of problems turning a blind eye and can still claim passing shabia is the solution. We need to think big, your Excellency the prime minister. Part of the problem is that TPLF’s machining of these people that they were the victims of Ethiopian rules. How can we then believe without a precaution, declaring change of heart from one government side only will solve the problem instantly? That is really fictitious to say the least! You just can not solve a huge problem, a magnitude of such nature by declaration of intent. Sorry for being pessimist.
If so then, stop using the innocent people to play your dirty politics then. When they were expelled, it was a meticulous attack on their aggressive government. The ETHIOPIAN government attached a string for suitability of their actions. I think we are trying TO INVERSE ON IT the other way now by pretending to be good to the Eritreans. This is a dirty game; and is ambivalence at most. Above all it is infamy bound to fail. It does not work at all. In both Ethiopia and Eritrea, we know that very cruel things happened to people of both.
It is very uncustomary to expect to think that people will easily forget what happened to them in the past and give their trust to live a normal life as before.
The cure for it is that a change of heart has to come equally from the two people.
If not, I am afraid; Eritrea and Eritreans are still the best playing cards for both EPRDF and other opposition parties. That is why we do not have a good and peaceful relation with the people of Eritrea. Now, more than any time before, both the people of Ethiopia and Eritrea comprehend very well that they need each other; and the best preference is to put down the ground of cooperation and even unity for the next generations
TO BE CONTINUED
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