The following are Part 1 to 6 of the Ethiopian Review and eppfOnline.org interview with Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki. The translation of the interview to Amharic will be posted as soon as it is ready.
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6
317 thoughts on “Interview with President Isaias Afwerki (Part 1 – 6)”
An army without a phylosophy and doctrine is not an army! since weyna army has no those qulaifications then it can not be called an army-I am impressed by issaise maturity and his approach to matters…I used to get intimidated by weyane army number and propoganda but now after listening to Eritrea’s president opinion on how to constitute a patriotic army, I concure with the president that weyanes dont have an army! Amen to that!
And, he also hinted that the recent uprising in the army is the tip of the ice berg…emmm wink wink , i think the guy knows something is brewqing!!
This is what we call modern Africa leader. Let us look our self and say it is time to fix Africa by Africans. It is over due. thank you ER & PA. let us move forward… one love Ethiopia and ERITREA.
I hope I am not naive. They say 2/3 of all communication takes place non-verbally and language contributes only to the rest. I have tried to understand him (PIA) from all directions and my common sense tells me that he speaks his heart. This is a paradgime shift in my stance towards this man and his ideology. It is only Meles and co’s who are the true enemies of Ethiopia and Ethiopiawinet. As PIA said it time and again, they (TPLF) are fool and have indeed a sick mind to believe that they can undo Ethiopia. They can’t sever the age old connection between Eritrea and Ethiopia. Rather,Woyane, by its own act is hastening the day where Ethiopians and Eritreans will be living together in peace and harmony. See how we live here in the west. Many of my best friends are Eritreans. We are the same people. We look alike and remain to be insperable. We enjoy dining Enjera togehter more than anything else. God bless our people.
What an eye opener, thanks Elias. I find President Issayas honest and likeable. It sure changed my mind about Eritrea.
The only group that is going to loose from this interview is the TPLF. The man makes a lot of sense..
Good job Elias, Just by doing this interview you created peace among many individuals. People start to talk about this with out second thought or fear of making people mad. We got the answer for all questions we had. Woyannes are getting crazy because they were laying to us, instead of trying to bring peace they were creating things that bring division among the people of Ethiopia and Eritrea. I wish president Issayas was our president, imaging if he had all this millions from all angles what he would have done to the region, he is not narrow minded. Woyanne divided Ethiopian people the last 18 years, Afeworki passed the hardship and still standing demanding the truth. Now, Meles’s last trick is giving back Eritrean property and tell them what to do after. He get used to i, as long as he gets money he will do anything. Well, this time not only Eritrean but the whole region knows what he is up to.
Eritrean president is a man of his words and I’m completely changed.
I support the Idea of PIA. An army without…”ALAMA YELELOW WETADER LEMAGEDO ENDKEREBE ENCHT YKOTERAL”. About the strength of “wayane” I have a Witness to testify that all x Ethiopian army members now it. Before 18 years the real fighting of Ethiopian army was only with EPLF not with “wayane” this was told by colonel Mengstu Hailemariam “GORF YAMETACHEW” He said I didn’t fight with “wayane”. so What I know is after the Ethiopian army graduated from military training center on their way to fight in Eritrea THEY PASSED THROUGH TIGRAY MAKING SMALL EXERCIS WITH WAYANE AND ALWAYS THEY WERE PASSED SUCCSESSFULY WITH OUT OBSTACL WITH IN TOW OR THEE DAYS BECOUTH THEY WHER RUNING OR THEY CANOT STAND.EXAMPLE “NEBELBAL,TERARAW,SPARTA” “MAN KUMNEGER BLOWACHEW” THEN THE WAR WAS ENDED IN ERITREA.
Ahmed,
Re: The way Issayas views Democracy
Most likely it is video #4, or #5: If possible, you may review it. The key is ECONOMICS ACCORDING TO HIM. My impression is that, he believes in Democracy very clearly, but realizes that, ONE SIZE DOES NOT FIT ALL. So, his “SUSTANIBLE DEMOCRACY” SEEMS TO BE A PROCESS APPLICABLE TO ERITREA AS HE SEES IT .He pointed out the untouchables of INDIA and how 150 million people vote; but has not made much difference in improving the condition of their lives.
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Martha,
Language wise, it all seemed to work out well for the official release. ER and EPPF represented the national language of Ethiopia. If I am correct, Issayas was a student at the then HaileSelassie University in the 60s. Some people say, he has a combination of Ethiopia’s ethnicity in his background. He is most likely fluent speaking in Amharic. For some Ethiopians and Eritrean whose communication language could be English and for the international community, it seems to have worked very well.
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Any books by him?
My view to Eritrean has changed after listening President Interview. I wish Mr. President was the leader of both countries. We both have got the natural resource and the material for the development. We just need a leader who stands for the whole people, not for some ethnic group. Mr. President understood it very well. Working together is the only way out from foreign aid. Meles is narrow minded. He does not see the future. He dose not care for his people. President Isaias is concerned for his people; he doesn’t want his people to be dependent on Western aid.
This is a political u turn. He mention confederation. That’s what Haileselassie started.
To all my Ethiopian Brothers and sisters! If this interview does not shook your core and opened up your eyes; I don’t know what it will. The things I like about this particular president is that he is visionary. Look how he handles his business. He avoided foreign aid; he avoided dependency. He the first African President to kick USAID from his country. He is the first African President to kick the UN peace keepers; he is the first African president not get corrupted. Mark my word; Eritrea with this kind of leader; the sky is the limit. The point is can we learn from this man? Can we? We cannot afford not too! Time to wake up and time to throw TPLF to the history bin.
Martha,
I think there is no books written by President Issais but you can find about his contribution in Eritrea struggle books in Eritrean community DC. He been asked by other people to write a book but he keep saying that I leave to other people to write history and I am just one Eritrean like others who fight for Eritrea.
I think the whole region will move forward only when there are strong leaders working for their people and the region at large. Cooperate with each other rather than the CIA and NGOs.
Eritreans and Ethiopians are brothers. I am Eritrean and it really hit me that all Eritreans view Ethiopians as brothers when a TV that was on at a family/friends gathering one Sunday had marathon with Ethiopian in lead and EVERYONE was excited and rooting for him and overjoyed when he won. This simple emotional reaction should guide us rather than endless propaganda and supposed conflicts of interest.
I have watched the first four parts interview with President Isayas. So far great.
This interview is life changing event for me. So far I have found the president genuine. I also watched the interview He gave to the swedish Journalist. I am very satisfied with that. The president is honest and truthful. I wish I could find any book written by him. I think president Isayas need to tell the Ethiopian people who he is and his government? Many of us do not know about him rather we have been misinformedand have negative feeling.
Thank you Selishi and Elias.
(Ahmed = Abebe) Nice try. Clearly PIA was only talking about current plans for Eritrea. Nowhere did he imply imposing anything on Ethiopia or ruling Ethiopia, just sharing his government’s ideology and his brotherly advice.
Btw, he could run elections in Eritrea today or at any time in the past and win overwhelmingly. What he is saying is right now is not the time for such theatrics. Nation building from ground up, in every corner of Eritrea, self sufficiency, the well being and educating of every Eritrean are the initial goals of the government. And Eritrea has made tremendous progress in achieving these goals without any aid money, without a single trade with Ethiopia, while at the same time fighting unwanted wars and being subjected to incessant psychological warfare. The average Eritrean understands the situation the country is in.
By contrast, woyane receives tons of aid money but has not much to show for it (except its personal bank accounts). It runs elections but only with the guarantee that it will be the only winner. When blackmailing the peasants into voting for it fails, no problem, just rig the votes and jail all the opposition. I guess meles could call that democratic elections but it is not.
Anyways, woyane won’t be around for long. Eritreans and Ethiopians need to start talking about the way forward. Woyane will soon be forgotten like a bad dream. As the Eritrean defense minister said, woyane is stretching beyond its capacity trying to control all of Ethiopia and it will soon break like a rubber band. Sort of like the frog trying to be as big as an elephant.
Mr. Afwerki is the most honest African leader ever.
In his interview with the Swedish reporter, he asked why the media is demanding democracy from Eritrea and not from Saudi Arabia. Think about the power of this counter question. The reporter looked like a fool — you could tell from his gesture that he also felt that way.
Since the end of the second world war (European, really), no African leader rejected the demeaning food aid so forcefully. Ethiopia has always relied on it, but it contributed to its poverty unfortunately.
In his interviews, Mr. Zenawi is less confident and pretentious. Mr. Afwerki, on the other hand, displays ingenuity and deep knowledge of the major problems and how to solve them permanently/comprehensively.
Mr. Afrweki suggested that freedom lovers come to Asmara and have conferences. Great suggestion.
It is not clear why the Ethiopian Review decided to ask the questions in Amharic. In the 1998 war, the TPLF truly hoodwinked Amhara-speaking Ethiopians. In 2007, it also successfully rallied them to destroy the AFD. While Mr. Kifle has demonstrated independent thinking with his journalism, it remains to be seen if his co-linguists can see beyond the historical pride.
Finally, Mr. Afwerki is wrong to suggest that the interests of nationalities will die when TPLF is no longer there. It will always be there. In fact, nationalities will last beyond Ethiopia if it comes to that. The sooner people manage it constructively, the better for Ethiopia.
Simba
After I listned to the whole interview I found out that this man seems to be open minded and have great respect for Ethiopians. He mentioned the word Ethiopia many more times than Meles did for the last 18 years. However, about the handling of the Ethiopian ethnic group fighters,I think it would have been better if they function under one command (in the name of one Ethiopia), instead of fighting the Wayane seperately. Otherwise, the so called transition theory might help the Wayane as a tool to plant sepection among Ethiopians.
Some people twisted the word Democracy in PIA’s interview. Democracy can only survive when there is a conducive environment for people to chose how they want to live their lives. These conducive environments are united Ethiopia (where every one will be recognized and be the beneficiary of its national resources), self reliance (food security) and vision and dreams for their own future and generation to come. He also elaborated, it dose not come over night. Eritreans and the Gov of PIA are on the same page and election would take place on their own pace or time. I have no problem with that as the same as most Eritreans. For Ethiopia, it needs peace, food, and visionary leaders. We will have these soon once the TPLF thugs are gone. It is time to create the exile government in Asmara. What a day that that would be!!!!!
Go G7
Cheers!!!
What a great service Elias and his friends are doing to the two people.
There is no queston about it, from now on there will be peace among these brotherly people of Ethiopia and Eritrea.They will live side by side as brothers and sisters. The Weyane days are counted and their evil thinkng will be history.
Good bless both people.
Keep on with the good spririt.
GK
Martha,
There is a book recommended by PIA on one of his recent interviews. I believe that was with Reuters. The title of the book ‘Lords of Poverty’ by Graham Hancock.
Now I know that the enemy of the East African Region and the future generation of the region is TPLF. TPLF proved itself in practice that it is the enemy of Amharas, Oromos, Somalis, Gurages, Eritreans,and Agnuaks practically for the last 18 years. AS long as it remains in power it will continue its course to go to the rest of other peoples in the region.
Thank you all!
Well done and congratulation, Elias and Seleshi for your initiative. The interview of President Isaias Afewerki (PIA ) is an eye opener and hopefully delete the lie, fabrications, misconceptions and stereotypes the Woyanne minority Junta are feeding the Ethiopian people. Most Eritreans have a great respect for PIA and their other leaders for their selfless sacrifice, commitment and leadership. Eritrea (EPLF) has always a principled stand in support of United Ethiopia, United Somalia and United Sudan. PIA is absolutely right when he says ‘the sky is the limit’ if the two sisterly nations work together with trust and partnership.
It is good and timely that Ethiopians and Eritreans are communicating, feeling good and excited. But the Woyanne Minority Junta has to be forced to go. Committed Ethiopians have already started armed resistance and are paying the ultimate price- their life. Then, what is the role of Ethiopians in diaspora to assist in accelerating the demise of Woyanne Minority Junta to the dust bin of history. Get involved if you are not already.
Response to Aden 1 and Anonymous # 206
The journalists did a very impressive job. If nothing else, they opened up an open discussion between Ethiopians and Eritreans. This by itself is a big win-win for both the Ethiopian and Eritrean peoples. Dialogue narrows down differences. It is with that sprit I raised the issue of democracy as explained by president Isaias.
I give a lot of credit to president Isaias for bluntly giving his opinions about democracy and elections as they pertain to Ethiopia and Eritrea.
The opinion of Isaias as regards democracy is the so called democracy espoused by many leaders who in essence are anti democracy. The point is no single person is all-knowing to know precisely when the right economic and cultural conditions are conducive to start democracy and democratic elections. And no leader is wise enough to be almost God and arrogate to himself that he has more knowledge than the collective wisdom of the people. Otherwise it means that a self selected group decide policies for a nation without having any consultation and input from the people. More, such a self select group will run the country without due process of law, without an independent judiciary, without freedom of press, religion, movement and association. Such a select group will take the land from the peasants for so-called development without price compensation. The select group will impose their wishes on the people sometimes extremely erroneous policies, and there are no recourse for correcting these errors, since there is no mechanism of accountability, tools of democracy.
Let us call a spade a spade. Eritrea is a nation that is being ruled without a constitution Forget the constitution, the PFDJ, the ruling regime in Eritrea, is supposed to have a general congress every two years in order to plan new policies and elect new leaders, the last time it had its congress was in 1994, over ten years. Talk aboy democracy of a self selected group. The central committee of the PFDJ had its last meeting in 2000, when in reality it is supposed to have a meeting every six months. Instead a select group is running Eritrea without any consultation and input of the Eritrean people. Is this the kind of democracy that president Isaias is talking about. I honestly do not wish such a scenario to my Ethiopian brothers and sisters.
We have to be truthful and honest with the Ethiopian and Eritrean peoples. Still, I give a lot of credit to president Isaias for his visionary view on national service, the concept of the army, the widespread opening of educational and health facilities in the rural areas of Eritrea and the infrastructure development in particular roads. Ethiopians can learn from such wonderful achievements in Eritrea. And honestly when it comes to elections and democracy Eritreans can learn a lot from Ethiopians. The teacher, president Isaias himself can learn a lot about democracy and elections from the Ethiopian people. I thought dialogue and learning is supposed to be a two way street.
Finally, I give my thanks to ER, the journalists and the wonderful Ethiopian and Eritrea writers in this site. We should not be scared of criticisms and self criticism. That is the only we learn from each other and grow. Needles to state, I appreciate president Isaias’ exemplary contribution to the Eritrean nation.
Some observations
Historically speaking, Ethiopia is an internally fractured society. The zemene-mesafint concepts seem to weigh heavily on the thinking of many Ethiopians.Ethiopia is made up of various communities (language groups, nationalities, etc.)Each community wants to be left alone to run its own affairs.These communities unite in two circumstances: (a)to fight a common threat, and (b)when these different communities are united under a powerful force (domestic or foreign).
Each community has a name to identify itself with. If and when the elite of one community succeeds to forcefully combine some or all of the communities and establishes a state, that state is identified as Ethiopia. Power struggle has so far been violent, bloody, and deadly. Peaceful transition of power has yet to be a norm.That constant and violent struggle for power makes the competetors seek for help from outside and that action invites foreign forces to interfere and influence who comes to power or stays in power.
Ethiopian elites, once in power, tend to stay in power for decades and in the process alienate other communities. They become obstacles to building a modern Ethiopian nation because they continue ethnic/nationality differences by seemingly serving the interests of a single ethnic group( and buy off individuals from other groups) rather than pursuing the interests of Ethiopia as a whole.
Territorially, modern Ethiopia took its current shape during the reign of Emperor Menilik II. Ethio-Eritrea federation was the primary reason for the introduction of parliamentary elections to Ethiopia. Ethiopian political development has been in constant influx eversince. All those who ruled Ethiopia since then depended heavily on the backing of foreign powers. Emperor Haile Selassie depended on U.S. and Israeli alliance.Israel has foiled six coups (including the one that was led by Mengistu Neway and Girmame Neway) and trained anti-Eritrea commandoes to protect the emperor’s regime. Colonel Mengistu heavily depended on the U.S.S.R. and its sattelites as well as the non-antagonistic attitudes of the U.S. and Israel. And now, Prime Minister Melless and the Tigrai People’s Liberation Front almost totally rely on the assistance of the U.S. and Israel.This became obvious after the 2005 elections when the U.S. sided with Melless instead of the victims(i.e. the murdered peaceful demonstrators, detained elected officials, and the Constitution). Without foreign help the current regime would be hard-pressed to stay in power any longer.
Therefore, building a united modern nation in Ethiopia is a right objective. The issue is nation-building, and needs to be done by the willful cooperation of the various Ethiopian communities. They have to want to build a nation. How is that going to be done? Generally, negotiations. Simple democratic elections are not going to be the answer. It is more than elections. But different options need to be considered. Another important factor is the role of opposition parties as change agents.
The most glaring weakness of the Ethiopian opposition parties is their zemene-mesafint mentality. Their greatest common factor has so far been their failure to cooperate and form genuine working coalitions. Each wants others to work only according to its proposals. They renege on their agreements. Party leaders could not overcome the temptations of giving primacy to their immediate personal or group intersts, instead of the nation’s interests. There is often lack of democracy inside each party in electing leaders or making important decisions. There is also no mechanism of resolving internal conflicts if they arise. The result is infighting, pitched power struggles, splits, divisions, and further disintegration.That is a big cause for setbacks.
Some solutions: have political study groups, train party members in areas of political education, mobilizing and organizing people, leadership, anger management, conflict resolution and negotiations to achieve common goals. These are not all natural qualities. They could be learned. And above all there must be a desire to solve the problems of your community. Remember, democracy cannot be imposed from outside. Democracy is a means of organizing people make decisions and work separately or together for making their lives better. Keep you focus on making the lives of the Ethiopian people better.
It is amzing to see all these comments and interrest this interview created. Who in their right mind would be sitting down for 4 hours to listen to a polititian. Even Obama becomes boring after the first 1/2 hour… Just a thought
This much revealing interview should have been conducted long ago, nevertheless, it is an important step forward in re-establishing the tattered relationship between the two brotherly people of Ethiopia and Eritrea. I applaud Elias Kifle for making what would have been a not- so- popular decision(amongst misinformed Ethiopians and Woyane beneficiaries) to travel to Asmara to interview President Isaias Afwerki who sorts out the chaff from the wheat for all to see –exposing the lies and shedding light on the facts vs. fiction regarding Eritrea/Ethio matters past and present.
This interview has opened our eyes and helped us realize that what we knew all along has been true, but because of our misplaced hatred for Isaias and his people, we haven’t been able to focus on dealing with the real enemy of Ethiopian people as well as Eritreans. It is now clear to see who the common enemy is to both people and has been an obstacle to advancing peace and prosperity in the region. We all better be smart now and work together, Ethiopians and Eritreans,if we are to once and for all get rid of this saddist leadership in Ethiopia that has caused so much misery to both people.
Unity is Power!
Ahmed,
The closest suggestion from Issayas to complement the issue you raised in the third paragraph (your comment) seems to be the implementation of Democratic institutions and organizations. You have made it clearer why you viewed him as as a tyrant, as no one person can not know the right time for election. If his people accept it and it works, it might be a model to some extent. Consistently periodic election is much more purposeful, advantageous and the right path for Ethiopia. I agree with him that economy is the key. Still, you have more information on the inner workings of Eritrea, which helps contribute a better insight beyond the effect of this interview.
It is good you are standing your ground because all is not totally roses. For all the history that Eritrea was a part of Ethiopia as early as 7th century and the result of occupation and colonial attempt dictated what took place over the last century.
-The interview on Assab and his response may not be the most acceptable view for most Ethiopians, especially those who believe Assab belongs to Ethiopia.
– The response on the border conflict is not quite clear, to me at least. I might have to tune in again
I can’t beleive you did this interview. The interviewers don’t even know this man.
Ahmed, please don’t talk about things you don’t know. I’m referring to what you said: “Eritrea without any consultation and input of the Eritrean people”.
I don’t now any other government in africa or the world that treats its citizen equally, and let me remind you that isaias rents a house just like everybody else. He is like a normal citizen, and that’s one of the reason why the people love him.
Ahmed
I don’t hear a difference in explanation of democracy between President of Eritrea in this interview and President Obama speech in Cairo, Egypt on May 3 2009. When you have a chance listens to Obama speech in Cairo.
Cheers to all Eritrean and Ethiopian
Michael
My great appreciation to President Isaias on his recent interview with Ethiopian Review regarding the political, cultural and economic analysis of the horn. I am really impressed about his forecast of relations about the people of Ethiopia and his country. I am completely convinced that he is a man of change and real Habesha character who doesn’t scum to conditions without ground and illogical to the very make of the people in the horn who share same history and bloodline. I am really enthusiastic to see when such a wise leader prevail peace and prosperity in the horn in general and the two brothers in particular. I am really impressed by his Excellencies depth of understanding and future hopes of the region. I cherish his idea of institutionalizing our relation amongst the people as this is the golden standard road for our development and the time we start thinking at a higher level of consciousness.
Regards
It is a very important Interview
mostlly for those Ethiopians which they had no idia
about Eritrea and PIA
its great work for Seleshi and Elias
Thak you
Berlin/germany
Response to Aden1, Negash and Michael,
Aden1.
Thanks for your kind and encouraging words.
__________________________________________
Negash,
The issue was the view of president Isaias as it relates to democracy and elections as asked by the journalists. I am indebted to these journalist for asking those questions, since we, Eritreans, are denied to ask even these simple questions. If an Eritrean dare to ask those kind of questions his fate will be the dungeon. How does this square with “effective democracy and elections.”
Talk about the dungeon and secret prisons. The whole world knows that president Isaias put in prison some very prominent members of the Eritrean parliament, ministers, generals and journalists in prison in 2001. No one knows the fate of these patriots. No one knows their “sins” or “crimes.” They were put in prison without due process of law. They were never presented to a court of law. The Eritreans know them as G-15. These patriots played very significant roles in the liberation struggle. Some of them were leaders in all decisive battles. Sadly, they were also colleagues and comrades of president Isaias. Mind you these are very important people in Eritrea, you can imagine what the fate of a very simple Eritrean is under the hands of the Eritrean government, which is sill operating without a constitution, an independent judiciary and no checks and balances. Now, how dose this square with effective elections and effective democracy that president Isaias is talking about.
The Eritreans conducted a bitter liberation struggle in order to live under a government that is run by “the rule of law and not the rule of men.” We do not have a constitution. We do not have the rule of law. We are governed by cruel men. This is a fact that president Isaias’ “effective elections and effective democracy” can not hide.
The point is president Isaias has a vested self interest to denigrate democracy and elections.
________________________________________
Michael,
The salient feature about democracy that Obama stated is as follows: “… all people yearn for certain things: the ability to speak your mind and have a say in how you are governed; confidence in the rule of law and the equal administration of justice; government that is transparent and doesn’t steal from the people; the freedom to live as you choose. Those are not just American ideas, they are human rights, and that is why we will support them everywhere.”
First and foremost president Obama won an election fair and square in the most competitive political arena, while president Isaias did not even win an election, the Eritrean people did not vote for him. This is a fact, the only people who voted for him was the PFDJ in its congress in 1994. The legitimacy of that election is now defunct since there should have been other general congress every two years to elect a new leader even if we assume the PFDJ can play a proxy for the Eritrean people.
Second, Obama endorses freedom of speech, there is no freedom of speech in Eritrea.
Third, Obama endorses that the people have a say in how they are governed. There is no such thing in Eritrea. The fake Eritrean parliament last met in 2001. How do people express their consent if the token parliament is never in session.
Lastly, Obama endorses the rule of law , while there is no rule of law in Eritrea. There is not even a constitution. Just see the fate of G-15 who are rooting in prison as mentioned above.
Thus, Michel come back to planet Earth. When it comes to democracy, the difference between Obama and Isaias is similar as the difference between an angel and a devil, and you take a pick as to who is the angel and who is the devil.
________________________________________
Thank you very much.
WOW! Woyane gudu weta adel ende!
ye woyane army waga yelelew, “an army without a doctrine is not an army” Indeed! ye “kefafleh bechikona giza” doctrine
of woyane cannot produce a patriotic united army. and woyane is not capable of building such an army as the President clearly puts it.
I think the next step should be clear for all peace loving people of ethiopia and eritrea, is to isolate the asmesay ena leba regime sitting in addis ababa and purging all kinds of lies and pretentions inorder to extend it’s expired life in power.
thank you ato elias kifle and ato sileshi telahun for such
important interview! job well done! we await the 6th and final? part eagerly.
It amazing how people can be so naïve and gulibul. Reading Ahmed’s response one wonders how people process information. What Isaias said is no difference what Obama said. The only difference is the position both oresidents they are in and they have explained things in refference of their enviroment and sitaution.
Obama he could careless about economical stabilty and wealth distribution. His country is on the top of the world and well over 200 years old of refined democracy; still not prefect.
On the other hand you have Isaias; who is a president of a young nation not even 20 years old nation with no history of demopcracy or economical wealth. The man is trying to build a nation from skrach.
He is trying to teach his people the pride of self reliance; which is not on the vocbulary of any African nations. The man is trying to treach his young people the most unknown thing in Africa; work ethic; the man is trying to undo the known cancer of Africa; the gap between the have’s and the have-not.
In what measuring stick does one would compare what was said by Obama and Isaias?
I can assure you that what Eritreans are doing is smoething remarkeble. I can only observe with great envy for some one like Isaias to lead my country.
Above all president Isaias’s confidence and courage will take Eritrea a long way. The only point is will we learn and try to catch up with Eritrea.
That is all!
Ahmed:
FYI…I’m Eritrean. I don’t want to go into details arguing with you about your “Obama endorses the rule of law” and others like “angel and a devil” statements. I will leave those simply as your perspective. But, the US history in general, if you happen to venture, the Iraq war, Guantanamo bay and the renditions speak otherwise.
Leaving those aside, I just wanted to ask you a quick question: if, a “fair and democratic election”, an election to your satisfaction, were conducted in Eritrea today, who do you think the people would elect?
Please, if you don’t mind just answer the question.
Thanks,
Tedi
Wow I see some comments are very touching and I am very happy to see Eritrean and Ethiopian begin discussing about their future concern. However there are few who doesn’t have peace in their mind and they don’t like to see a successful leader in Africa, who can liberate us out of western hand outs. This interview is very inspiring not only to horn Africa but to the whole of Africa. I think PIA, Elias and Silesh deserve a lot of credit for the new direction.
Ahmed,
I think you forget to post the following quote from Obama Speech.
By the way, I never compare Pr. Obama with Pr. Issais. You just twist the story and you sound like some people I know from Woyane. (Distort topic and misliding people by sugar coated words)
Part of Obama Speech from Cairo.
“This last point is important because there are some who advocate for democracy only when they are out of power; once in power, they are ruthless in suppressing the rights of others. No matter where it takes hold, government of the people and by the people sets a single standard for all who hold power: you must maintain your power through consent, not coercion; you must respect the rights of minorities, and participate with a spirit of tolerance and compromise; you must place the interests of your people and the legitimate workings of the political process above your party. Without these ingredients, elections alone do not make true democracy.”
Negash Michael
Obama is a creation of madson square. PIA is real. Obama is a puppet of those who put him in the office. If you belive obama is real then u might as well belive in st.clause. What free media are you talking about? Listen to what PIA says about free media. USA IS NOT A NATION BUT A CO-OPREATION. Even the DOLLAR IS PRINTED AND OWNED BY FEDRAL RESERVE BANK, WHICH AS U KNOW IS A PRIVATE BANK THINK ABOUT IT FOR A MIN. WHO OWNS THE BANK?
CHEERS
I thought cultural,geographical bridge that connected the great peoples of Ethiopia and Eritrea have been broken beyond repair,in 1998 when the criminal junta weyane of tigray,led by top leaders Ato Sebhat Nega,hate mongerer old fashioned tribalist and psycopath Meles Zenawi declared on unsuspecting Eritreans and took twenty thousand young lives in the sensless border war.Weyane expelled thousands of Eritreans and Ethiopians of Eritrean origin for no reason except for pure hatrate and ignorance.The war was never about border and is not about border until today.It is about waeyane dangerous and absurd dream of toppling Eritrean government and implementing with a puppet group that serves the previous washington administration and fullfill its dream of becoming superpower in the horn.Glory for the thousands of Eritrean martyrs for crushing the backbone of this evil mercenary group it never happened.
from 1998 for the reasons I mentioned on top I hated everything Ethiopian of course not individuals.I was bitter and disappointed,But recently thanks to Ato Elias Kifle of Ethiopian Review on line services,who seems to be a free thinker and visionary true patriot my understanding and differentiating between evil weyane and broad ethiopians .It gave me hope thinking that there are Ethiopians who understand what the Eritreans go through and what the real intentions of President Essayas and E.P.L.F is when it comes to living in peace with our neighbors.We never had and will have a hidden agenda period.
Weyane and its leaders are indeed blood thirsty vampires.Through their last 18 years of power they have claimed more than twenty thousand Eritrea lives,more than 65 innocent Somalis(I hope for war crimes indictment), thousands of Ethiopians for voting in 2005 (pending kaliti jail).
Life is precious.Wars claim so many lives.As a parent when I see my kids innocent eyes as Eritreans and neighborly Ethiopian kids again innocent eyes my heart aches why wars.I hate wars.Unfortunately Ethiopia is led by Sebhat nega and Meles Zenawi who fantasize about wars all the wars they declared and implemented they think always they won,but refuse to take responsibility for all the blood they shed.They are living in the time when the sultans,atzes,negestas were fighting for land and camels or herds.The sad part is that all the wars that they declare is not to benefit Ethipians,but to please and satisfy their masters like George Bush and his mission.On the other hand Ethiopia became the country that is the puppet of neo-colonialists.It is time to heal and erase the ugly crimes commited by weyanes.We as people of horn Somalis,Ethiopians,Eritreans,Sudanese let us not please serve outsiders and see each other eyes and talk and prosper.
Ahmed! Stay focused. You’re turning this forum into your personal play ground. Make your point and move on. You don’t have to have an answer for everything.
This interview marks the beginning of our new chapter. I’m sure we’ll get a chance to debate it further. Don’t chock the the chance for a healthy debate.
We’re grateful for ER, FPPF and PIA.
Here is a real chance for a real peace.
to Ahmed,
President Obama indeed insists to stop being bounded by the past, and keep march forward and in order to meet our current challenges.
Leave all your personal blame and THINK BIG for the prosperity and peace of the horn of Africa.
Response to Tedi
Subject: Secret Ballot Voting
Tedi,
In the first place thank you very much for your politeness. You ask if fair democratic elections were to be held in Eritrea who would win? To be blunt, I am very surprised that such a question is asked. There seems to be a confusion about the whole essence of democratic elections using the method of secret ballot voting. The short answer is no body is supposed to know.
Again, my honest answer is I simply do not know who the winner of the secret ballot voting will be. The whole point is people get a chance to vote for the person who they believe has their interest at heart. I am not God to conclusively know ahead of a time who the winner will be, nor does Tedi have that knowledge. We need a little humility.
No one can delve into the deep hearts and minds of Eritreans and figure out their choice of a leader. Given the chance, only the Eritrean people collectively know by casting their secret ballot votes. Otherwise, we will be playing either the role of a God or that the role of a dictator. In the final analysis, this comes to the same thing because dictators believe that they are God and that they are all-knowing and that they are wiser than the collective people put together. A fair secret ballot voting avoids one to play the role of a God or a dictator. And that is what the Eritrean peoples are demanding.
Even in the USA one cannot ahead of time determine who the people like to be their leader just using surveys and pooling. The conclusive and affirmative outcome can only be determined when the people give their secret ballot votes. If one is to believe surveys and pooling and determine the outcome ahead of time based on that, Obama would have had no chance to be the nominee of the democratic party. Hillary Clinton was the leader in all pooling and surveys taken until the first real votes took place in Iowa. So much so the majority of African-Americans were supporters of Hillary Clinton until the South Carolina voting took place. (The order of the voting by states was as follows: Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina.) It was in Iowa that Obama came out of the blue to be a real contender when the people gave their verdicts through their votes.
The point is one cannot play the role of a God and substitute his own choice without really knowing what the people want. And thus foolishly state why bother with the “theatrics of democratic elections.” That is the implication of Tedi’s question. The proof of the pudding is in the eating. The real choice of the people is determined through secret ballot voting.
At any rate this question appears to dismiss the valid demands of the Eritrean people that a liberal democratic order and the rule of law including democratic elections be established in Eritrea.
Thank you very much.
Thanks to ethioreview for this very interesting interview.I think this helps for mutual understaning of our two people.The bad thing was taking position without knowing directly the concerned person and his thoughts this was the reality with PIA so in future we have to avoid such things no matter who he is.Today I watched on video the interview of PIA of VOA in tigrigna and I learned a lot of things on our region,it is very interesting and I wished that if it was in English or Amharic everybody could follow it.I think PIA has an extensive knowledge of our region and he seems open to discuss it so Ethioreview and other can you please find other oportunities to interview him on different subjects concerning our region and else. In watching his interview we become more close with our brothers Ethiopians and all the people of the horn.At the end thanks to Elias & Seleshi for your great contribution,it is maybe the start of new thinking ,positve thinking in our region .
ውድ ኢትዮጵያውያን
ከልጅ እስከ አዛውንት የኢትዮጵያ ክፉ ማየት የሚፈልግ አርትራዊ የለም::
ጎረበቶች ብቻ አይደለንም ተዋልደናል ተዛምደናል በወያነ ፕሮፖጋንዳ ተቃቅረን እንደነበር እናቃለን አሁን ግን እጅ ለእጅ ተያይዘን ተከባብረን ከኖርንና ከሰራን ለለሎች አፍሪካ አገሮች አርአያ መሆን አንችላለን::
Democracy & Elections: Ahmed vs. Issaias
Ahmed thinks that Issaias’s views about elections is one that is espoused by dictators. He does not trust Issaias about democratization because of how Issaias handled the dissidents in Eritrea after 2001. Ahmed further states that “we,Eritreans” do not have a Constitution and the last time the national parliament was in session was in 2001, and there is no rule of law,etc.
Either Ahmed has completely missed what Issaias was discusing related to democracy and elctions or is trying to misrepresent the general context of Issaias’s actions in maintaining stability in Eritrea after 2000.
It is true that Eritrea has to establish a people’s (or democratic) republic in Eritrea based on a constitution. We have seen some elections at the regional level but not at the national level. It is also true that some dissidents were detained and some individual liberties were scaled down, like freedom of movement, press, association, etc. It the general context under which these steps were taken that Ahmed seems to willfully forget. Ahmed should note that the general situation in Eritrea is afected by the 1998-2000 border war and its after-effects. Ethio-Eritrea hostilities have stopped but the war has not ended. There is no hot war and there is no stable peace. In such general a situation military matters gain importance more than normal civilian matters. Issaias has also to make policies and operational determinations based on these considerations, if he is to protect his nation (people, gevernment, and territory).
You think that there is no constitution in Eritrea but that is wrong. Eritrea is now run under the 1993 transitional constitution, where a parliament(75 PFDJ Central Committee members and 75 others) elects a chairman of the parliament, and that chairman is also the head of state and chief executive of the government and the commander-in-chief. One of the main jobs of the transitional government was to write a Constitution and form a state where political parties would compete in peaceful elections to hold office and run the government and administer the nation. Issaias believed in it and campaigned for it. Before this project was finished, the border war erupted and still festers. In 2000 a question arose: which way forward, now?
The Eritrean leadership split into two: the G-15 who criticized Issaias and the majority who sided with Issaias and Alamin, the Secretary General of PFDJ, the ruling party, who chose to stay on course, finish the border issue and pursue democratization later. The main point is that the implementation of the new Constitution was halted due to circumstances largely beyond Issaias and company’s control. That does not mean Issaias is against democratization and elections. He is for democracy and elections.[Check EPP/ER interview #5]. You may not trust him even if he said so. If that is the case, the problem is yours, not his.
Issaias specificall states that the main question is not so-called elections, voting, or ballot box. These things have to be meaningful. He says, the core question is a question of democracy, how to make applicable in Eritrea and make it also sustainable. Issaias briefly explains what democracy means to him: 1. economic aspect of democracy = equitable distribution of resources; 2. social aspect of democracy = equality and freedom and non-discrimination of individuals and groups; 3. cultural aspect of democracy = cultivating the culture of cooperation and integration of individuals and groups for common interests and unity; 4. political aspect of democracy = how to organize society based on cross-ethnic/nationality/reliogion,etc. individual or group interests. The aim must be to cultivate these basic requirements in society so that democracy can have a better chance to be sustainable. If there is a general doctrine such as this about the operational tenets of democracy, then elections would be meaningful. That how I summarized what Issaias said about democracy and elections.
He said he has been thinking about this issue for a long time, and it seems he has not finalized his thinking, and it is on the process. A good indicator is te fact that there was a conference on “Democracy in Africa” in May 2009 in Asmara. PFDJ seems to be considering options and formulate a model for Eritrea. The time to chip in is now. Issaias in these interviews has openly invited people for suggestions and discussions, but “you have to convince us,” he says. He seems to be very receptive, now.
Ahmed, you remind me of someone my mom used to call mininoo– a person who likes to complain(justified or not so justified)and misses the oportunity to do something worthwile. Tell us how you understand democracy and elections(meaningful and sustainable) as applied to Eritrea or Ethiopia;s situations. You are invited by Issaias to do so.
Ahmed, following your comments on the concept of democracy & quotes from Obama’s speech in Cairo this week, I’d like to hear your reply to the rebuff by #234.
Hopefully both of you continue the discusion respectfully without trading insults at each other.
when are you going to show part 6,, we are eagerly waiting for it..
thanks
Yonas
Good job Elias! Weyannee is loosing sleep
Beat weyanne were it hurts.Keep it up.
To Ahmed,
First I would like to thank Elias of ER and Seleshi of EPPF creating a medium of dialogue between sisterly people of Ethiopia and eritrea.
Now I would like to get the facts right with Ahmed’s distortion of facts. Ahmed said that “Eritrea hasn’t got a constitution.” This is an insult to our intelligence. Eritrea not only have a constitution but also Eritrea is the only country in the world (to my knowledge) that has a popularly drafted constitution that is at work now. Perhaps you assume that we have no constitution because of some of the articles you pick and choose in chapter III under Fundamental Rights, Freedoms, and Duties are suspended or not implemented
(http://www.shaebia.org/constitution.html#ART20_)
The US had constitution for over 250 years but not have they said that they have no constitution when the blacks in the 60’s and were denied of their rights to cast their vote nor did they say that they had no constitution when the blacks were slaved before that against the letter and spirit of the constitution. Even now in the 21st century, when Bush acted several times unconstitutionally, Americans didn’t say that they have no constitution but they might have said Bush acted against this chapter that of the constitution.
Please get your facts right and don’t consider us as damn as ……
You can say that some of the articles in the constitution are not yet implemented for known reasons. It took over 3 years(1994-1997) to draft the Eritrean constitution and every Eritrean at home and diaspora participated in the drafting of the constitution and you know this fact. Unlike the other African, Asian, Latin American and even European countries where their constitutions are drafted by political elites and imposed on their people, Eritrea stands head over shoulder in teaching the world on how to involve the people in the laws of the land that they are are governed by.
In the meantime, I would like to ram this simple fact down your throat…..Do you know the only two countries that are governed without any constitution of any kind?…..
Answer: Britain and Israel.
Another fact to ram up your head …. do you know the only country to have a popular constitution…..
Answer: Eritrea.
Another fact…. Eritrea had constitution free press and parlaimentary democracy in the 1940’s and 50’s but that didn’t do any good to help save its very existance as a nation, when Haileselassie dissolved the parliament and abolished the federation to annex it. The rest was history.
Another distortion of facts is when you claimed that there is no free press in Eritrea. Eritrea had free press for over 6years until they were suspended following their distructive activities in 2001. They didn’t only have freedom but a license to distort, lie and instigate friction amongst Eritreans of different regions, ethnic and religion. The people of Eritrea couldn’t tolerate it and pleaded with the government to curb such distructive acts before it is too late. In fact the government took too long before it acted decisively.
Ahmed, You can’t dispute the above facts, can you?
Wedi Sawa
“One hour of talking with President Isayas Afwerki is equivalent to one year’s university education” Said Meles Zienawi in one of his rare truth moment. Listen and learn to all of you who are blinded with western propaganda