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)”
Response to Tedi
Subject: Secret Ballot Voting
Tedi,
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. No one has that knowledge. A little humility requires it.
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. A fair secret ballot voting avoids one to play the role of a God or a dictator. And that is what the Eritrean people are demanding.
Even in the USA one cannot ahead of the time of voting determine who the people like to be their leader by 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 the time of voting, say 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. Or if there were to be a fair election one should not be arrogant enough to assume that the people would automatically vote for him. And thus foolishly state why bother with the “theatrics of democratic elections.” The proof of the pudding is in the eating. The real choice of the people is determined through secret ballot voting. And no one is supposed to know the outcomes until the votes are counted.
At any rate on the surface this very 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. Or to put it bluntly, it recommends that the people should have no say since the leaders are all-knowing.
Thank you very much.
tedi
the answer would b Isias afewerki
and to ahmed
the views of Isaias Afewrki r the same as the eritrean people, so i dont now wat ur talking about.
except for a few people u r hungry for power, and who work 4 other agencies to serve there intrest b4 the people.
its not like there isnt other smart eritreans that can lead the country, its that there not hungry 4 for power, and all
eritreans hav one goal, so why would they want to change
an excellent leader.
the U.S.dont like him bcs he doesnt serve ther intrest
and is becoming an example for other african leaders to do the same.
and thats y theres this smear campaign thats going on against eritrea and then they would like to c elections held, bcs in there mind they think the eritreans will b fooled by there propoganda, and change there leader.
let me tell u Ahmed its a FANTACY in urs and there dreams
this was a great event, to say the least — waiting for the final or part 6. Elias, thank you.
Elias,when are you going to post the last interview.
thanks
I have a question for Ahmed #238 & Tedi #232 above.
I’m a young Ethiopian grown with some of my beloved friends playing football happily in Addis. I was 12 years old when Eritra separated from mama Ethiopia. And during the war (i mean border war), some of my dearest friends, who i never thought of their ethinic background, were expelled out of the country. I was shocked. Actually i was young and don’t know politics. Later i knew that there are also peoples who are expelled from Ertira too. This makes feel sick.
My question is:
1) Do you honestly believe that Eritra and/or Ethiopia has benefited from such separation in any way. I am asking you this question not as a politician but as a person who honestly want to know the fact.
2) Do you honestly beleive that, as an Ertirawi, Ertireans are discriminated more than the Oromo, Amhara, Gambela, Tigre and so on?
3) What do you think the relationship b/n Ethiopia and Ertira will be in the next future?
4) Do you support a federation (a real one, not fake like weyane) b/n Ethiopia and Ertira? led by a government elected democratically through ballot box.
Thank You ELIAS for posting this note.
Excellent job Mr. Sileshi and Mr. Elias. This interview is an eye opener to many of us.
This is a corner stone historical interview in ethiopians history Elias and Seleshi well done my brothers i am proud of you and i would like to say thank you to PIA and eritrean people.
Ahmed and Aden1
Eritrea will be Democratic
Ahmed’s comment that there is no constitution in Eritrea is wrong. The working Constitution is the 1993 Transitional Constitution of Eritrea. According to that constitution, the chairman of the Parliament is elected by members of the Parliament. That chairman is the head of state and the chief executive. or the president of the government. From this one concludes that there is a rule of law but, of course, different from that based on the 1997 yet-to-be-implemented Constitution.
The last session of the Parliament ended in 2002. That Parliament decided that the commander-in-chief lead the country during the no-war and no-peace situation or as long as there is a real outside threat to the nation. In times of war or semi-war military affairs come to the front and whatever the commander in chief commands all other citizens are legally bound to obey for the safety and security of the nation(territory, people, and government). In that sense there is very little difference between a dictator and a commander in chief. The commander in chief is a legal dictator.
The kind of democracy that Issaias is proposing does not sound like those suggested by tyrants. First of all Issaias supported and campaigned for the 1997 Eritrean constitution. In 2000, it seems, that he argued for its suspension because of the unended threat and the requirements for its implementation were not in place. The majority of members of Parliament supported his idea. In the EPP/ER interview #5, he provides a brief explanation of what he means by democracy and meaningful elections.He said that democracy is not just elections and has various aspects to it:
1. economic aspect of democracy = equitable distribution of resorces; 2. social aspect of democracy = equality and freedom of individuals and groups; 3. cultural aspect of democracy = education, cultivation, propagation of good citizenship and integrating citizens based on common interests and integrating their efforts to grow together; and 4. political aspect of democracy = how society is organized to build a free nation(not based on ethnicity, nationality, clan, or religion, but by individuals croosing such divisions). Then, elections would be truly meaningful, according to Issaias.
He says he had been thinking about this issue fo sometime and he does not seem Issaias has finalized his proposal. It seems to me that Issais and PFDJ, the ruling party are in the process of considering different options of democracy. I think this is true because there was a conference recently in Asmara on ‘Democracy in Africa…’ and how to apply democracy in Africa. The time for anyone to present her/his case and suggestions is now.
For this reason, I believe that Eritrea is going to be a democratic nation.
the final part is seriously surprising.President Isayas dis approved the present ethnic-based Federation boundaries created by Weyane. How is that to be taken by ethnic-based political parties in Ethiopia? For enhanced economic development and growth and for a solidly built democratic Ethiopia,redrawing the boundaries for economic feasibility and administrative proximity will be very advantageous if, and only if, we overcome the ethnicity problems hatched and aggravated by the Weyane mafia. Strong,democratic and prosperous Ethiopia can be only created if all of us accept unity in diversity.
It is great conclusion. An invitation for a discussion among people is perfect prescription for healing Woyane virus. An open invitation for Ethiopians to visit Eritrea is great too. I am thinking of taking PIA invitation. I will start inquire for a visa. Thanks, Elias and Selesh, you have advanced a path to peaceful coexistence.
WOW! Great job Ato Sileshi and Elias! Indeed this is a historical milestone where Ethiopians finally wake up and smell the coffee in Asmara! I am very proud of President Isaias Afewerki for not holding a grudge towards the Ethiopian people who at one time in the past were supporting the evil woyane’s cruel acts and policy towards innoncent Eritreans. He is extending his warm wishes to all peace loving Ethiopians who are wise enough to recognize it. This is the day Woyane’s evil design has completely derailed and will be left in disarray, all because Ethios reject Meles’ divide and rule, divide and torture,kill policy. We, Eritreans are peace loving people
and want to live in peace with our Ethiopian brothers and sisters. This is a win-win situation for both peoples. No more senseless war and killing of each other. We have our task cut out for us now, to expose and isolate this no good war mongerer who thrives in lies and arrogance and stomping of the poor repressed masses of the Ethiopian people. CHANGE IS COMING! ERITREA will be an ALLY you CAN BELIEVE IN!
Either this guy is the best actor ever or I have been the most mislead Ethiopian ever. His body language, his phrasing of the issues and my gut feeling tells me the second part is the case. It has been a revealing experience.
I have some doubts though about his analyze of democracy. It is true that people in developing country will tend to vote along their vertical divisions (ethnic, religion, etc), and it might be helpful to have a transitional period where the nation is forged together and political awareness of the population is elevated.
But how will the participation of the people be facilitated and guaranteed in the transitional period?
How will check and balance of the power be guaranteed ?
By what mechanism will such a government be formed?
How (and by who) will the end of the transition period be decided ?
Maybe these are interesting issues to be addressed by Ethiopian scholars. As for me I will be watching PIA closely and decide if he was sincere in his interview. Maybe taking his invitation and visit Eritrea is a starter.
I don’t know why but I had tears in my eyes after listening to the concluding remarks of the President of Eritrea. He has been unfairly judged and his name tarnished because Woyane wanted to create an enmey out of Eritrea for his own survival! The truth is finally coming out!
It was outstanding! I listned all interviews and answers except #6. Soon i will do that. May be listen all of them one more time. My impression about President Issaias has changed from bad to excellent now. He was sincere for all those questions. At a time it was enlghtening.There is no doubt it had surged a massive voltatage in the heart of the Weyanes.As for all of us we have to genuinely support EPPF.
Thanks Elias!
Ahmed what I want to tell to you is;you are simply norrowminded person.Even you know Nothing about Democracy.
Thanks to PIA and thanks to the journalists for starting the long overdue dialogue among both brotherly people. We must all take the initiative to arrange discussion forums to engage both communities.
To Anonymous : The president said he believed any ethnic based organization/struggle would be on a strictly temporary basis. So his views about redrawing boundaries is not inconsistent with his acceptance of ethnic based movements. Basically he would rather their we no ethnic based movements but recognizes them as historic artifacts that must be transitional.
Peace
Tesfa
I have to say the last question and the response he gave were very touchy. I wish he has known what he knows now many years ago.
Speaking of Eritreans listening to Amharic songs, it’s always been there.
we even have tigrigna song translated into amharic – this is one example of such “assimilation” of culture and music among the two people.
Here is Abraham Afewerki’s “Fishekta Ameley” of the album “Semai”
Ahmed…you don’t need to go further. It is evident you are not Eritrean and will never know the psyche of Eritreans. Ahhhh…as to your your punch lines – democracy, free election, dictator and others – you will not find an Eritrean buyer. Try elsewhere.
Response to Tedi and YAY,
Tedi.
You asked me a question as to who I thought would be a winner if a fair and a democratic elections were to take place in Eritrea. I gave you a detailed response that no one is supposed to know the answer until the votes are counted. Instead of rebutting my points you resorted to cheap and false shots. You try to deny me my Eritrean heritage and citizenship. How petty you are. Grow up.
____________________________________________
YAY,
Subject: the Rule by Law and the Rule of Law
YAY asserts that Eritrea is led by a dictator, though he qualifies it that it is ruled by a “legal” dictator. Once you have a dictatorship you cannot have the rule of law. They just do not go together.
Moreover, YAY confuses the rule by law with the rule of law, and thus misreads the illiberal order that exists in Eritrea. These are two qualitatively different concepts.
For example, in China there is a constitution and that the country is governed by laws. Those laws in China are the law of the land. However some of these laws violate human rights and do not respect individual liberties, like freedom of religion, freedom of press etc. Because of that there is the rule by law in China, and not the rule of law.
What this means is that the rulers in China do not rule China based on edicts and arbitrary orders, but rather they mechanically follow their written laws, immaterial whether those laws violate human rights or not. For that reason the law of the land in china is called the rule by law, as opposed to the rule of law (more on this latter.) This means the rulers in China have a legal cover for everything they do, irrespective of how despotic some of the laws may be. Still, this is much more advanced than a nation that is not governed by any laws at all like Eritrea.
In Eritrea the leader rules through edicts and arbitrary orders; there is no legal cover for anything he does, there is no constraint of any sort at all. At least in a country that is ruled by the rule by law an individual has a relatively better chance to fight against unjust practices as compared in a nation that is ruled through edicts and orders.
What is the rule of law? Human history has evolved over three stages when it comes to legal liberty. First, no law of any kind just arbitrary edicts by the ruler. Second, the ruler has to follow certain rules, this is rule by law. Third is the rule of law, where the leader is prohibited from infringing certain rights that are purely reserved for individuals.
For example, the USA for the most part is governed by the rule of law. The rule of law is nothing but individual liberties. These are nothing but rules that are contained as amendments in the American constitution. These are : freedom of religion, association, press, religion and movement; the right to own private property; the right to privacy; the respect of the due process of law; the right to be considered innocent until proven guilty etc. There are rights that the state cannot interfere with, sometimes called negative liberties. These rights are included in the united nations declaration of human rights. A nation that follows these rules follows the rule of law. Now, all these rules are contained in the ratified Eritrean constitution. If Eritrea implements the ratified Eritrean constitution and live by the sprit and letter of that document then we can state that there is the rule of law in Eritrea. Until then there is no rule of law in Eritrea.
I believe what we have right now in Eritrea is a rule that does not have any rules at all. We do not have elementary rules like china that is the rule by law, nor do we have advanced rules like the rule of law like that of the USA.
Finally like you YAY, I believe Eritrea will be a liberal democratic state once we implement and strictly follow the ratified constitution.
Waw
It is really heart touching conclusion. I used to hate Issias for some of his arrogance and stubbornnes, but now i can see his real intention, and vision. He gave a real answer for tough questions.
I know Issias have not done what he has to but still he has a positive vision, and keeep going on inspite of all the odds.
I was there in Asmara, why they ban amahari music because of the intention of the gov but the music dominated every bars, minibuses, snacks so some people are not happy becuause some people are not happy even when you speak amahric, that is sentiment and they were not happy, and the sale of tigrigan music declined then it was announced that bars not to paly the music but still the music openly plays in offices, and some times bars, and people are very curios to attend the amharic prgogram most of them for the music.
But i love the last question, TPLF are very divisive and narrow, and their intention is evil and what they did is just for short period does not include any intention.
How can you administer Debrahn while the amhara region is found in different location, the reason for boundary is basically administration i.e for education, health, and developoment because of the proximity, and similarity of climate, and other factors, as poor country ethiopia should optimized its resources to maximize development, that is policy maker , impelementation, based on the need of ther administrative districts, —-
What is the benefit dividing the regions except for tigray, which used other resources like the somalia, the afar even the amhara, to develop one region, and steal resources from the south and oromia,
These people are also robbing the gold mines, by selling to the sheiki almudi and then share the resources for their benefit and robbing the country, and creating hatred which is not beneficial for the country and citized,
Issias interview really shocked the woyane as it is eye opening for the people of ethiopia and eritrea and as it opens the way for ethiopian opposition to cordinate their effort in combating the TPLF narrow regime,
I have never seen a leadership that hates his country, Issias might not be liked by all eritreans but he is nationalistic and work for his country what ever tenacious his rule.
Long live the people of ethiopia and eritrea
Truth always succeed
Selam yihun lehulum Etipiawyan wondimochena ehitoche!
I would like to thank the editor of Ethiopian Review, Ato Elias Kifle, and the organizational affairs director of the Ethiopian People’s Patriotic Front (EPPF), Ato Sileshi Tilahun, for a job well done with this ground-breaking interview with His Excellency Ato Isaias Afwerki, the President of the State of Eritrea. It’s been a long time coming, but it’s better late than never, as they say. I hope that it will open the floodgates of dialogue between the fraternal peoples of Eritrea and Ethiopia to build bridges, demolish misconceptions and mistrust between the long-term interest of our two peoples and the peoples of the Horn of Africa at large.
I must say, though I am modestly well informed about Eritrean politics and the EPLF’s political history and culture, some of what President Isaias said in this very candid interview came to me as very revealing as to the character and broad vision and leadership of the man. As many readers here have commented, he came out with a very clear message as to the way forward. He is a very forward looking visionary leader, not choosing to dwell too much and be held hostage to history.
So, what is to be done now, 18 years after the fact? That is a question for all of us Eritreans and Ethiopians to answer. For starters, the Woyane regime must be brought down BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY. I think that is one message from the honorable president of Eritrea that has come through in this interview loud and clear.
Secondly, the president has also come out very clearly that he is for a united, strong and stable Ethiopia. Furthermore, the president clearly articulated that his government and the people of Eritrea will be supportive of Ethiopian unity not in words only but with credible substantive deeds also. He has put the modest resources of Eritrea at the disposal of all those Ethiopian forces who struggle for a stable and united Ethiopia that is at peace with itself and its neighbors.
Last, but not least, President Isaias has also shown himself to be a visionary leader who sees beyond the nationalism in the Horn of Africa, towards a future of a vibrant, integrated and economically developed region. In this regard, he could be thought of as the Simon Bolivar of the Horn of Africa. I only hope that, unlike Bolivar in Latin America, President Isaias will live to see his vision come to fruition.
What remains now is for all of us, Eritreans and Ethiopians (as well as other peoples of the region — Sudanese, Somalis, Djiboutians), to come together to forge and broader alliance for change in the positive direction. In this regard, we must first remove the most dangerous impediment towards a broader regional peace and stability — the Woyane regime. As President Isaias has clearly shown in his analysis, it is wishful-thinking now at this point, 18 years after Woyane’s misrule, to think about peaceful change in Ethiopia. All those forces who preach that the path of peaceful elections in Ethiopia as the only path to change are in fact hoodwinking the Ethiopian people. That option is an impossibility. Broad popular resistance through armed struggle is the only option left to the Ethiopian people at this historical juncture. Eritrea has put on the table a strategic friendship for the Ethiopian people. It is up to the Ethiopian people and their leading opposition forces to avail themselves of this opportunity and take up Eritrea’s offer.
I hope the day is not far off when we shall see in our life time that dream and vision that President Isaias articulated in this historic interview — the vision of peace, long-lasting friendship and cooperation, and yes, even broader UNITY (beyond narrow nationalist objectives), between our two countries.
Thank you very much, indeed, my Ethiopian brothers, Elias Kifle and Sileshi Tilahun.
I never thought of President Isayas like this. I really had bad opinion of him. He clarified lots of things and he makes sense. I commend him. There are still some things I don’t agree with him. I guess I just have to agree to disagree.
Overall he gave a good interview to answer most of the questions that have been floating among Ethiopians. One last thing, I think the right to separate should be in the constitution because it guarantees peoples existence as united nations and independent nation. If you take it away from the constitution, it becomes peoples question WHY?
Ahmed #252
You remind me of the group of Eritreans in North America in 1978. There was a patriotic group of Eritreans in North America named Eritreans for Independence in North America. When the EPLF announced it was withdrawing to the mountains of Northern Eritrea to contiune the struggle for indepence because of the huge offensive the Dergh was conducting with the full participation of the then Soviet block, in most cases they commanded the artillery, armoured, air borne, naval and air forces of Ethiopia.
The leadership of EPLF made an objective assessment of the situation in Eritrea and made a wise decision to conserve the fighting strength and fight a defensive battle in the unpassable mountains of Sahel, leaving all the liberated cities and town of Eritrea.
At that time the Eritreans for Independence in North America severely criticized the EPLF decision and called them all kinds of names and even questioned the fitness of the EPLF to lead the struggle for the independence of the Eritrean people. They pretty much assumed that because they are educated in the west they knew what was best for the Eritrean people. The EPLF patiently ignored them and went about leading the struggle for independence. When in 1985 the EPLF scored impressive victories over the vaunted Dergh army in northern Sahel and Gash-Barka, the overwhelming majority of those who criticized the EPLF changed their tune and every last one of them supported the EPLF leadership ever since.
They learned the hard way that you can’t lead real people from your ivory towers in the west. Ahmed, you may think you know something about democracy and the rule of law in the western tradition, but I guarantee you that you have no idea of the cultural values that the Ethiopian and Eritrean people possess. People in Ethiopia and Eritrea don’t need to be lectured by people who have never been in their shoes. You have a lot to learn, parsing words is one thing but knowing your society, their cultural values, their economic livelyhood, the customs is entirely something else.
I’m very surprised to know that most people who commented here (Ethiopians) didn’t know any thing about PIA to the extent that they had to hate him. Fortunately Eritreans knew and know all along that what an African country, like Eritrea, need is a leader like PIA and Eritrean government. They doesn’t believe a quick solutions and handouts, however in hardwork and dedication. I’m proud to know that Eritrean government is for its people and our region’s peace and stability.
I hope peace will come in the horn!
Very enlightening interview indeed!
ER and Shileshi I Thank you both for doing this.
Please watch this video
Eritrea – Eritrea President Isaias Afewerki in 1970 (Raising ideological level).
I am happy to see an Ethiopian journalist travel to Eritrea to conduct an interview. I wish Elias and Sileshi could tell us what they excepted when they decide to travel and what they found in Eritrea. Did they get a chance to see other Eritrean city besides Asmara? I would love to hear those who went and gives us an eye witness account. “un-edited, just raw”. I beg for it! I want to hear their views because most of our problem starts with being ignorant about our neighbors and we rely mostly on hearsay and stereo type thinking. I just want to see how close or how far they were from their expectation.
Talk to me Elias and Sileshi.
Wow. thank you Jonathan! this is amazing! 35-40 years later, Nebiyu Isaias reads like he does today! I have a great respect for this genuine, diciplined and brilliant man.
Thanks Ethiopian Review for this historic interview. I am very move by the last interview and very good conclusion. I cannot wait to have one and most important convention with all Ethiopian and Eritrean together soon.
God Bless Ethiopia not Wayne!
God Bless Eritrea with peace loving people!
Michael
Elias and seleshi
For your bold and visionary moves that will one day be remembered as a basis for peace, development, democracy (with justice) in the region and beyond.
yonathan
What a fantastic piece of information you posted (isaias’ interview in the 1970s on youtube ) Everything he said then is what exactly what he is saying now. 30 years and same position. No wonder he is being vilified.
all the people who posted their reaction here has been very educational. It was a joy reading it all.
There is one thing that really don’t add up….how come an malelit brand of albanian communist turn 80 degrees into a fully blooded far right racist imperialist’s slave. i doubt if that stirs their bamboozled maggot heads.
ER, it’s been fantastic marathon interview.
keep up the hard work.
Warsai
Elias, Silleshi
I hope you will be remembered in history for being the turning point in Ethiopian history. This is truly a huge milestone in the history of Ethiopia and our relationship with Eritrea.
The interview has more than answered many of my questions and truly enlightened and opened my mind. You have exploded the propaganda balloon that was holding the brotherly people hostage for many years
A genuine Thank you and job well done from me.
After watching the entire interview, I asked myself which leader loves Ethiopia and Ethiopians better- Meles Zenawi or Prseident Issayas?
To my surprise, my instinct says President Issayas. I am pretty sure that Meles hates Ethiopia more than any one else on this planet!
Thanks Elias and Sileshi.
One piece of advice for Selishi is try to ask short and precise questions for the future as Elias did. Also avoid long introductory statements and do not sadle your gust with so many questions at once.
Overall, it is an excellent interview!
This the a positive start for our peoples.Eritrea and Ethiopia come a very long way to end in stupid third parties pawn still the changes is when the majority people of both sides start to love and live with harmony and peace cuz we got a long way to go together enlightened evolution.
Violent means will give violent freedom.
I have to say even I am surprised at some of the things the President has said, but pleasantly!!
Jonathan thank you for the videos you posted, fills me with pride to see the jeganu eritreans!
one thing that really struck with the first video is what Isais said about one of the reasons for self-reliance ”to stop us being POLITICALLY reliant on someone else”, this is very important i think especially in Africa where aid now is being used as a political tool by the donor countries to keep a hold on Africa and its resources.
How many africa countries have actually really benefited from aid in the long run? i actually can’t think of any, matter of fact it has made them corrupt.
Isaias is different in that he has stood by his values right from the start and hasn’t allowed anyone to change it. The sad thing is westerners don’t understand or want a country that refuses aid, so they label eritrea a terrorist/oppressive state!
Anyways I hope that we will finally see some positive changes in the Ethio/Eri saga. Woyane your end is nigh, you can’t hide behind the ‘its Eritrea’s fault’ card anymore
This interview totally changed my outlook on Isaias Afewerki. I found him very dynamic, genuine and visionary. I was comparing his genuine interview with that of Melles and Sebhat’s arogant, childish, greedy,shrewed and narrow-minded interview. I wish him long life and hoping that one day he will be the leader of a united Ethiopia and Eritrea and bring these innocent people to prosperity and sustainable develepment.
Excellent interview which gives an opportunity to discover the thoughts of PIA.I am an Eritrean and I am not a fun of PIA but after watching the interview I understand better PIA and I am changing my opinion on him .I think he is misunderstood by many Eritreans as no Eritrean journalist has a gut to ask direct and real questions like Seleshi and Elias did.Thanks to this interview many Eritrean are changing their opinions and we are convinced his outlook to the Ethiopian issue and regional issue are correct.If he can explain more in details how he see democracy in Eritrea may be much more Eritreans will be convinced.At the end I think he has a brilliant out look for Eritrea and Etiopia and this is the wish of our both people and we should support him.Stop to talk only about port or Asab and think the way to work together and go further including economic integration,port,security etc.The door is open,the sky is the limit, we have just to rush to work together and I am convinced the majority of the Eritrean people will support the idea and work hard to reach the goal including shortning of the woyane reign.
Thanks Seleshi and Elias for your extraordinary work.
Thank you Wedi Afeworki ambesa ….we love you!!!!Also thanks you to the journalist who brought this……
Elias and Silleshi,
Job well done!! You brought the two sisterly people together. Ethiopia the great nation with all the resources never been blessed with leaders.As for the president History will remember him as one of the greatest men of our era.
As a person who grew up in Ethiopia I feel the agony of my brothers and sisters. One day the horn will live in harmony as the President’s wish.
When Wedi Afewerki as we all like to call him, came to the US to give speech to Eritreans in diaspora there were few Ethiopians demonstrating outside the hall. After he gave a speech and answered some questions on current situation on the war, he said “Let the Ethiopians, who demonstrating out side, come in if they have a question I will answer to them”. Of course by then the demonstrators were gone. I am glad that this interview show how open minded he is. The west despises him because he speaks the truth and look out for his country & people interest. Hopefully we all learned from this interview and work on to live in peace. Long live Wedi Afewerki!!!!
Weldone Ethiopian Review and eppfOnline.org,
The problem with the answers from DIA/PIA, they are always good when it comes to the politics of the neighbouring countries or the world at large but he doesn’t implement those ideas when it comes to Eritrea and Eritreans. While he is causing exactly the same problems that he mentions toward Eritreans. Democracy is not like Chicken hatching that can be done hidden from reality when being exersised but it is a process that would show people how to do the voting and in the long run it will transform into a geniune voting. At this verytime, while EPRDF is increasing the number of Ethiopian Educated population by huge numbers EPLF is doing the opposite to Eritrean Smart Students. Any country will always needs intelectuals who can go to the Academic Stream of life. You increase this environment byt adding more Universities not by closing the one and only one University Eritreans had for long time. What he calls colleges at this time are technical schools, which are very good for most students but not for those exceptional students. In the first place I don’t have a problem with National Service but to make them take Matirc exams in the bushes away from family I don’t think it will do any good for the students trying to pass a general exam. So, in humble opinnion, for the good of Eritreans and Ethiopians we need a combination of the two ideolgies until we develop the non-ethnic political excersises. Moreover, we need two independent strong neighbours those can cooperate on all terms of life make our people successful and would contribute for the stability of the ever volatile Horn of Africa. I hope we will have more of these kind of dialogues among Eritreans and Ethiopians to remove the barriers we have. Remember we as a group are one of the most ancient civilized people in the world so we need to bring those idologies of our fore fathers and start to live up to their expectations. We really are failing them!!
To: peace loving Eritean:
You sound more woyane than Eritrean. Please do not disseminate lies. What it is happening in Eritrea today should be done in all Africa to free the people from hunger, misery, corruption and dipendency. Democracy can be sold and bought every where in the world but not in Eritrea. We are devoloping a democracy that can suite our people not the one thought and fed by the west for their interest.
Go and read how Eritrea is rated in the millenium goals projects and have an idea what you are talking about, instead telling nonsense comments.
Since the war broke in 1997, i have alwasy said that WOyane are the most ignorant and narrow minded leaders on earth to start war with Erirea. By representing the tigiray people, they have put them in a very bad postion and chapter in histroy. The Eritren leadership had a great vission not only between Eritrea and Ethiopia which share a lot in common, but for the who horn Africa and was determind to work for peace and development from the get go. The Eritren leadership and people have commited to work hard and be self reliant because they know that is the only way they can realize their potential and dignity in the world we live today. Histroty has shown us aid has not changed if not distroyed the potentials of people in Africa for the last 100 years. The Ethiopian and the horn people have also the potential and resources to be self reliant and dignified. Hope we all work toward that kind of mind set and see this vision realized. Peace and progress to the horn of Africa!!!!!!
Peace:)
To Peace loving Eritrean #289
I advice you to stick with your conclusion, which is positive and constructive and stay away of explaining Eritrean reality. I don’t know how much of your time you spend to know about what goes on in Eritrea and what Eritreans in general and the Eritrean government in particular plans and does for Eritreans and people of the horn in general and I don’t mean to be negative but it seems like you are taking your ideas from the oppositions who are bent to deceive people siding with the minority junta in Addis. I don’t want to go into details and I don’t expect you to give me answers you if I ask you about the reality in Eritrea but clearly you are far from Eritria and its reality physically and realistically. “They closed the only University” was and still is one of the famous songs of the oppositions. You clearly don’t know anything about the university itself, the new technical and academic colleges, educational institutions around the country in general, the level of consciense and unity of the Eritrean peopole which is the main engine for development. Remember Struggle and war for victory are not sweet. It is a process for people in a rigion to have a good life. You always have hurdles to corss to preserve peace and harmony of people whether they are big or small. There is always differences of opinions. You can not make everybody happy. It is understandable for some to be unhappy given the circumstances of not being where we expected to be. It takes patience and commitment which Eritreans are known for and there is no question that we will get there. My ponit is the thirty year long war waged by the Eritrean people has a longterm plan of peace and prosperity for the people of the horn and Africa in general and the people of the horn are starting to know it and join the purpose. Contributing positively would be better and being proud to be Eritrean is also good just from where you are the way you are because you have people to be poud of. It is better if we leave preaching and explaining to those who know the reality and know how to explain it. When I say this I am trying to avoid the spoiling of the good intentions of Ethiopian and Eritrean brotherly people who have been hungry for each other for the last 10 years who have every thing in common except for the animosity created by the corrupt and ethnic junta in Addis for their own ethnic purpose.
I am Eritrean by the way.
to=”peacelovingweyane”
“At this verytime, while EPRDF is increasing the number of Ethiopian Educated population by huge numbers EPLF is doing the opposite to Eritrean Smart Students”
first of all no eritrean, meaning real eritreans with the reality on the ground, would never try to big up “EPRDF” sorry i mean “weyane”, bcs there is no united ethiopia bcs of them.
and second wat about all the colleges that r in eritrea, i dont think there is any other government in africa that cares for the education for its people, bcs with out education there is no future, especially for the poor countries, and theres equal opportunitys to all eritrean citizens, and no1 is treated differently bcs of ethnicity
but wat about weyane, its mainly the tigray people which really get the better educations or the better jobs, this
is wat every1 nows and is a known fact, which has been clearly wittnessd saw please stop talking nonsense with ur propoganda.
if students do not pass there exams the go national servise
in different part of the nation.
there are eritreans that r on the front line bcs of the no
peace no war situation, and this was part of the weyanes agenda, to try and fustrate the eritrean soldiers into leaving there country or to try cause hatred b/wen them and there government, but infact its quite the opossite,
yes they r times of depressesion bcs of the situation and the fact they dont even get paid or now wen they will b
going home now that is normal as a human being to think about ur situation and if this was happening to any other peoples/country they would hav crumbled long time ago , but they now exactly why this is happening and why is there government chosen this way, and they r just waitng for one mistake by the scared,desprate weyane to try
and start a war and that would be the end of there days, and
it would also make it easier for the ethiopian oppositions
to come together and unite ethiopia and build there country
but i doubt that they would start a war bcs of the growing
stregth of the oppositions of the weyane, bcs one wrong move
they would b crumbeling down.
the reson why i say that they might start a war is bcs of
wat that drunken guy said”WE NEED ASEB” meaning”WE WANT WAR”
Thank you for the insightful interview. For me personaly it’s dream come true because the truth finaly came out. I always felt that the agenda of EPLF and PIA was misunderstood by all Ethiopians. EPLF always believed in one united Ethiopia and they fought and sacrfised so much to that end they even shed blood for that. It use to hurt me a lot when I use to hear Ethiopians calling the president names like he is crazy, he is ignorant, he is a murderer. Because I know for a fact that he is Briliant and visionary and cares for the benefit of our region. I am Glad Ellias and Silleshi opened the window of oppurtunity for peace. If there is any thing history should teach the two brotherly people of Ethiopia and Eritrea, it is that war and distruction brings missery and poverty to both sides. With mutual respect and understanding we can share our resources and prosper. We Eritreans and Ethiopians can live in harmony as neighborly brothers if we both have the caurage to fight for peace. We Eritreans are peace loving people, ask any Eritrean what they wish for even the poorest one, they will tell you PEACE. PEACE before food, PEACE before anything!! The war was in our soil, we understand the effect of it more than anyone. Each Eritrean household paid dearly with their daughters and sons, so we value Independence more than anything else. We have an old sying that translates something like this: ” In order for you to sleep well, your neighbor must sleep well” So we always understood for us to enjoy peace our neighbors must have peace. I hope this opens the door for peacefull coexistantce and like PIA said the sky is the limit what could be achived. Both of our people deserve that!
Excellent interview which gives an opportunity to discover the thoughts of PIA. I am an Eritrean and I am not a fan of PIA but after watching the interview I understand better PIA and I am changing my opinion on him. I think he is misunderstood by many Eritreans as no Eritrean journalist ask direct and real questions like Seleshi and Elias did. Thanks to this interview many Eritrean are changing their opinions and we are convinced his outlook to the Ethiopian issue and regional issue are correct. If he can explain more in details how he see democracy in Eritrea may be much more Eritreans will be convinced. At the end I think he has a brilliant out look for Eritrea and Ethiopia and this is the wish of our both people and we should support him. Stop talking only about port or Assab and think the way to work together and go further including economic integration,port,security etc.The door is open, the sky is the limit, we have just to rush to work together and I am convinced the majority of the Eritrean people will support the idea and work hard to reach the goal including shortening of the woyane reign.
Thanks Seleshi and Elias for your extraordinary work.
Great African leader our Brother Isaias is the reincarnation of Malcolm x n Patrice Lumumba, He stand for political indopendance not only for Eritrea also for all African Nations. We Need More intellectual indpendent leadrs like him n Africa will be the better place.
Issaias vs. Ahmed on Democracy
Ahmed said that the views of Issaias on democracy are opposed to democracy; thus, implying that Ethiopians or Eritreans should not trust Issaias of what he says in these interviews. This is a response to Ahmed.
Ahmed stated, among other things, the following:
1. “Once you have dictatorship you cannot have the rule
of law. They do not go together.”
2. “YAY confuses the rule by law with the rule of law,
and thus misreads the illiberal order that exists in
Eritrea. These are two qualitatively different
concepts.”
Are these statements true? I will discuss them.
I blieve that most people think that there are the laws of God, natural laws, and national laws. I will limit my discussion on national laws.National laws,or constitutions, could be drafted by anyone, but are issued by the sovereign power, or others authorized by the sovereign to do so. The primary purpose of national laws is to control or rstrain the behaviors or actions of citizens and maintain order, stability, and peace.For that reason such laws are published so that all citizens know what to expect from the State and what is expected of them. In cases of conflict, courts of law determine who was right or wrong according to the law. Generally speaking, any national law is applicable equally to all citizens, except those that, due to their positions in government, may have more power and authority. If such government officials are stripped of their duties in government, their rights would be reduced to that of a regular citizen. With that brief introduction, let us see the statements Ahmed made.
I will try to show that Ahmed displays three weaknesses: 1. his view of dictatorship is narrow; 2. he fails to distinguish between the nature of a State in times of peace and one in times of war; and 3. he thinks that there is only one acceptable model of democratic order(liberal democracy) in the world. These three weeknesses lead Ahmed draw wrong conclusions.
Ahmed seems to think that dictatorship is nothing else but authoritarianism(i.e. somebody who emphasizes on authority and rule a nation). He forgets that democracy is also one form of dictatorship–i.e. the dictatorship of the many over the fewer. The majority rules. The majority dictates what the laws of the nation should be.Once the majority (of the people or their representative, or party members, etc.) gives its dictates, the chief executive(president, king, queen, emperor, prime minister, etc.)rules, commands, guides, manages, directs, etc. State affairs in the name of the majority.
In other words, in any society the most powerful(i.e. in number of votes, public support or acquiescence, military might, economic power, power of influence, etc.) or a delegated authority makes laws, applies laws, and enforces national laws. If we recognize that democracy is also one type of dictatorship, then, we can conclude that dictatorship and the rule of law could go together. Hence, Ahmed’s narrow view on dictaorship makes his conclusion wrong.
Ahmed suggests that I am confused between the concepts of the rule by law and the rule of law. I admit that I am not a student at law, and I would welcome Ahmed to educate me and help me clear my confusion, if there are any. I am familiar with the phrases: rule of law, rule strictly by the law, rule according to the law, rule based on the law, etc. I see them being used inter-changeablly. But the “rule by law” as described by Ahmed (that a national law that disregards to uphold universal human rights is rule by law and not rule of law) is new to me. So I did a quick search on the subject to learn more.
I found out that there is no clear definition for any of these phrases. The “rule of law” has both legal and political meanings. Its legal definition is “a determination of the applicable rule as distinguished from a finding of fact.” One of its political definitions is that it is “the principle of the equal application of the law to all [citizens] without discrimination.” according to [Charles G. Fenwick.(1920).Political Systems in Transition: War-time and After, NY,The Century Co., p.26]. Fenwick also believes that this principle originated from the Massachussetts Constitution of 1780 which states “that the object to be attained was *a government of laws not men*.” [Fenwick,p.20]. Here, great emphasis is put on the supremacy and neutrality of law and not on the whims and personal biases of powerful men.
Human history indicates to us that respecting the supremacy of the law is related to the integrity and justness of the sovereign power and does not necessarily depend on the political regime of a country. There are corrupt officials in any political system. Nevertheless, I failed to find a legal meaning for the “rule by law.” I am aware that there arose a movement of trying to inject the universal human rights into international law after what occured in WWII. Powerful nations in Europe and America have since tried to breach the sovereignty of a nation and allow themselves to interfere in any country “to defend” universal human rights. But I was not aware of any material teaching the “rule by law.”
I discovered that a book: [Tom Ginsberg and Tamir Moustafa. ed.(2008).RULE BY LAW: The Politics of Courts in Authoritarian Regimes, Cambridge University Press} that addresses the subject matter. The best that this book could give us is the political aspect of “rule by law.” This phrase seems to be a clever twist of the terms rule and law used to classify laws and courts in countries where the so-called “authoritarians” are in power.
The editors admit that many people assumed that “courts in authoritarian States are pawns of their regimes, upholding the interests of the governing elites and frustrating the efforts of their opponents.” Ahmed seems to believe in that assumption. But what they found was not necessarily so. They found that RULES MATTER, even if they are under authoritarian regimes. Courts could “serve as critical sites of contention both among the ruling elites and between regimes and their citizens.” That is an additional clue that there could be “rule of law” in any political system. …to be continued….
The sonic barrier has been broken!
Let the good times roll! It’s about time. We the people deserve it. Indeed, as has been said multiple times before, “only the sky is the limit”.
When the cloud of mistrust starts to evaporate we can show the world that we can use our effort and brain to build and nurture the bridge that could lead us to the promised land.
Let’s turn the page of more than 50years of agony and make it history that we can finally tell our children about full of shame.
The olive branch has been offered to the other side. Let’s seize it and let us embark on a new trail. On a chapter that will resemble the deeds of our great and wise ancestors. Let’s make them proud for once!
We can get there. Were there is a will there is way.
And so many people seem to be willing.
Your brother Hannibal, the Eritrean, the African!