Fetsum: The renaissance of Eritrean Intellectualism in relation to Eritrea Focus
MANTRA of the moment in singularity: ዘይሻራዊ
The ultimate MANTRA in complete form: ቴክኖክራታዊ (ዘይሻራዊ) ሃገራዊ
ሓድነታዊ መሰጋገሪ መንግስቲ
Gratitude: I thank Assenna for its relentless devotion in this resistance for freedom and democracy. It is very hard to express Assenna’s value in words and we are lucky to have it as the anchor of our media in the Diaspora and beyond. Thank you for doing more than your share and God bless you!
Reality: As you know the Civic Society and the political parties could have been resisting the dictatorship in many different ways. All of them could have claimed to be fighting for Democracy. We could have had different ideas and methods of struggle in the very long past to finally arrive at the common understanding that there is no other way of achieving the dream without going through a transitional government. Yet, we could not unify because we did not go beyond the generic meaning of the subject. We need to clearly identify the type of transition we want in our country because transitional government standing alone remains to be a mere expression without profile like trying to identify a person without name, gender and character.
There are few breeds of transitional government applicable to different socio-political conditions. Do we want Revolutionary, Incumbent, International or Power-Sharing transitional government in the next challenge and why? How do they differ from one another and what is common in all of them? Which one is the most applicable in and beneficial to our society? we cannot continue saying transitional government without identifying which one we want! This was in my opinion the biggest obstacle for our Conceptual Unity but NO MORE! Today, our family in Bayto (Awassa) has produced the ultimate solution in this regard that all of us must either accept or logically challenge based on universal merit. It is the Neutral Transitional Government we have been consistently fighting for the last decade at minimum. We cannot expect better than BAYTO’s ARTICLE 2. ዕማት ጊዜያዊ ስልጣን (መ) because neutrality is the pinnacle of justice. Everything that the society paid in this rugged resistance was to read the following manifestation and say it loud, meaning my search for solution ends at this ultimate expression developing the rest on this solid foundations remaining to be the main objective of my resistance from hereon.
“ኩሎም ፖለቲካዊ ሓይልታትን ምእንቲ ፍትሕን ዲሞክራስያዊ
ለውጥን ዝቃለሱ ህዝባዊ ምንቅስቓስን ብዝሳተፍሉ ሃገራዊ ዋዕላ
ቴክኖክራታዊ (ዘይሻራዊ) ሃገራዊ ሓድነታዊ መሰጋገሪ መንግስቲ የቕውም”
Ladies and gentlemen! There is no doubt Bayto has few problems concerning NEUTRALITY (legal relationship between the people and the political parties) that it is must purify through honest relationship with the Civic Society and at equal level of significance. But it is impossible to expect anything better than this fundamental democratic method of transition to scientific democracy because purity, righteousness, selflessness and love are functions of ዘይሻራዊነት or Neutrality. This is the best humankind can do in this regard because compassion, honesty and integrity are derivatives of ዘይሻራዊነት or Neutrality. You simply cannot impartially love the Eritrean people beyond Neutrality or ዘይሻራዊነት. Bring what you have in mind for us to discuss otherwise, but you cannot ignore this remedy vis-à-vis the Eritrean people’s urge for scientific democracy and their sacred connection with spirituality.
Folks, things have started to flow and we are packing for real, I mean for real this time. Events are taking place here and there and I feel something special will take place this year. As the Eritreans slowly move to structural unity through YiAKL et al. Eritrea Focus appears involved to deliver its essence in the conceptual dimension of the struggle. The potential of this group in taking the struggle to the next level is obvious but we will see the output in its second conference sometime this Summer.
Yet, when it rains it pours, this time for the Dictatorship! If Eritrea Focus was to be considered an uppercut the next story should be taken as a devastating body jab to the enemy; the mass movement (YiAKL et al) under eventual Global Leadership being the final knockout punch that will trash it at the end of the extraordinary drama. I am talking about The 2020 Manifesto of Eritrean Scholars and Professionals in the Diaspora that came to existence after the Corona Virus crisis. It currently comprises about 112 PhDs in different academic and professional backgrounds worldwide. The number is expected to increase towards embracing all Eritrean Doctors on planet earth. Bless the bliss and I accept it with gratitude but you must have PhD to be a member, at least for now. Even my honorary PhD (awarded by only 3 or 4 Eritreans who refused to accept me as I am)) would not help me sneak into this cream of the society, nor would it allow me to peep through the window unnoticed. The latest information says the group will start including non-PhD Eritreans soon. Kool, very good but I am enjoying the show from the periphery with extreme humility and joy, and I wish you the same.
We will chat about this extremely important topic in the next show. For now, here is Eritrea Focus’s latest release in part.
“In April 2019, Eritrea Focus in collaboration with the Institute of Commonwealth Studies, University of London, held a successful two-day conference on Building Democracy in Eritrea. The conference record can be found on our website: www.eritrea-focus.org. Since then, 24 experts nominated by the conference have been undertaking an extensive and detailed study into six strands that are envisaged to form the cornerstone to a transition plan from dictatorship to rule of law in Eritrea. The six strands, in no particular order, are:
Strand 1: Foreign policy. Regional and international relations;
Strand 2: Rule of law and justice. This strand is led by the Eritrean Law Society;
Strand 3: Economy and regional integration. The Eritrean economy is on its knees and the country quite literary is “bankrupt” with exceptionally low foreign currency reserves. How can it be salvaged?
Strand 4: Work together to build a new Eritrea that is at peace with itself and its neighbors. Formulate a framework of unity that is inclusive of all faiths, regions, gender and age of the Eritrean people both inside the country and in diaspora;
Strand 5: Engage with international democracies. What needs to be done to ensure more effective international advocacy and lobbying? What lessons can be learnt from the UK All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Eritrea?
Strand 6: Lessons from other countries that transitioned from dictatorship to rule of law. What are the lessons for Eritrea and how best can they be replicated?”
Comment: This is beautiful and thank you brothers and sisters for showing up at the right time; at a moment when the people are desperately waiting for intellectual interference. Apparently, human beings must rely on clarity of thought, purity of motive and integrity of action to produce the best result in everything, says my Master Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj. The question is how the wisdom may apply to Eritrea Focus’s ongoing effort and please enjoy my input with settled state of mind.
In terms of clarity of thought, I believe the six strands focus on the most important subjects of the society. Confining the topics as such and studying them using qualified citizens can only produce a sustainable result. Eritrea Focus appears clear of the immediate challenges of the people namely, justice and rule of law, foreign policy, unity, alignment with international democracies and most importantly, backing up our journey to democracy with lessons learned from other experiences in the third world.
In my opinion, success in this regard will mainly depend on the quality of the cumulative research. Then follows the capacity to contact relevant Institutions such as the Sudanese Transitional government and other African scholars and democratic elements with confidence. The Sudanese factorial is important here because the transitional government is about to change the current military leader to a civilian for the remaining half of its mandate after few months ahead. Among others, this transition should be exploited towards constructive relationship between the opposition and the Sudanese government based on genuine democratic values. Eritrea Focus should initiate the contact and I hope this will be the case soon.
“Purity of motive is when we do something for God, humanity, the sick, the poor, a friend – not for ourselves. That being said, it is also important for us to know that pure-hearted service and worship do have a benefit on our souls and are the very means to their upliftment in this world and the next.” I think purity of motive necessarily involves fairness for the most part because politicians motivated by self-interest such as ethnicity, religion, power, fame, wealth etc. cannot satisfy the Eritrean people’s ultimate democratic upshot; it requires absolute NEUTRALITY based on universal merit. There is no doubt the group has more than capacity to academically complete the Strands and I am optimistic it will deliver with pure motive for genuine democracy to help the people by the book. The fact remains, strands 5 and 6 are the ultimate litmus taste for purity of motive that determine our future in general and democratic dream in particular. Because the collective success in Strands 1-4 depends on the quality of research and impartial conclusion taken on Strands 5 and 6.
The last is Integrity of action: “Integrity is the practice of being honest and showing a consistent and uncompromising adherence to strong moral and ethical principles and values.” Integrity is reducing what was said to practice. It “implies a refusal to lie, steal, or deceive in any way. Honor suggests an active or anxious regard for the standards of one’s profession, calling, or position.”. Still, this also depends on Neutrality or ዘይሻራዊነት and the final product will tell the story in this aspect but so far so good!!
Eritrea Focus will have a second conference soon and here is that portion of the Press Release:
“Building Democracy in Eritrea – Second Conference
The purpose of the second conference is to receive reports from each of the expert group noted above and to formulate a draft transition blueprint for public consultation. To this end, Eritrea Focus secured the necessary funding in September 2019 and its Board of Directors have agreed the following:
- A physical conference in London – this conference will be held in early June 2020 and we expect approximately 80 invited delegates to take part; and
- A virtual conference – this will be a one-day supplementary conference to the second and will be held in late June 2020. We expect up to 200 invited delegates to take part from around half a dozen countries. Delegates to this virtual conference will be sent an updated version of the draft blueprint beforehand so it can be refined further before the commencement of a public consultation.
A Conference Organizing Committee has been constituted, and they can be reached by email (info@eritrea-focus.org) for anyone who wishes to make constructive suggestion on the forthcoming event. Habte Hagos Chairman” END
In conclusion, nationalism is very important in the struggle of our society for freedom. But it can be dangerous if it doesn’t blend with neutrality as we have witnessed the damage from many nationalists without universal cause since the onset of the Independence struggle. Many of them were doing their thing from localized points of view and never cared about studying democracy from universal school of thought. I hope Eritrea Focus will deliver otherwise! The fact remains that ኤርትራዊነት alone is not enough to change the situation ብዘይ ዘይሻራዊነት and the medias specially our anchor ASSENNA should from now on persistently teach for ቴክኖክራታዊ (ዘይሻራዊ) ሃገራዊ ሓድነታዊ መሰጋገሪ መንግስቲ or ዘይሻራዊ ሃገራዊ ሓድነታዊ መሰጋገሪ መንግስቲ instead of for ሃገራዊ ሓድነታዊ መሰጋገሪ መንግስቲ without identification. Assenna should as usual serve the people at the front line of the Media focusing on upgrading the anarchic understanding of the concept. Assenna can help the many emotional media sources to exit from the cycle of ignorance and redundancy through the power of ዘይሻራዊነት into the deal because you will be surprised about the qualitative difference between the two expressions and their overall effect on our society. The best example for us is the confusion in the Ethiopian democratic process because of the “government’s tendency to abuse the essence of NEUTRALITY” in the country’s upcoming election. We don’t want Eritrea to face such problems in the transition stage around the corner. Please stay tuned for my opinion on The 2020 Manifesto of Eritrean Scholars and Professionals in the Diaspora and relax!
[…] Source: Assena […]
Dear Brother Fitsum,
Firstly, I hope you are keeping well and safe in these difficult and worrying times.
Secondly, thank you for the above insightful and thought-provoking article. The time and effort expended on it is much appreciated and it is an unequivocal demonstration of your patriotism. Eritrea needs people like you, my brother, if we are going to build a new country with the interest of our people at heart and a peaceful co-existence with its neighbours. That time is not far.
As to the important points you make pertaining to Eritrea Focus, I have drawn your article to the attention of my colleagues and we shall publish our considered response to your helpful and constructive comments within a week if not sooner. In the meantime, feel free to contact us on the email address shown at the end of the court case press release last week: Eritrea Focus v UK Government.
Thank you and best wishes.
Ayte H.Hagosuwa,
Sadly and unfortunately, you are NOT in touch with ordinary citizens back in Eritrea.
All you talk about is Not with reality on ground in Eritrea, please be practical for a change!
Toilet roll garbage nonsense from this miserable lonely USA ghetto convicted criminal bullshit writer.
Shut up Tsehaye toilet, this article is for inteligent readers and folowers, Ok!
Kibur maere nebsu yekbreka and thank you kibur hawey Habte. I appreciate your response and taking the subject seriously at this critical time in our experience. You have the opportunity to change it upside down brother and I wish you health and success. This July or August can produce the determining factor in our struggle for freedom. You are leading and we are following believing that you will represent and protect us as the mouth piece of the voiceless people. We will support, give you whatever you want with full energy and we know u will deliver with assertive communication and confidence. We cannot fail with leaders like u in the front line and we will make it without a doubt. Your response will be very important to keep the Eritrea Focus’s momentum rolling and I am waiting with great interest and God bless u.
What is Freedom, Mr. Fitsum? You talk about popular participation and democracy and freedom. But these concepts are only viable in a society with considerable capital accumulation where human and individual rights can be supported because of stable economic foundations. Go to Eritrea and ask a farmer to vote and he will be baffled? First he will be scared due to years of indctrination and second, the very idea of voting is an exercize that requires amongst others things considerable insight. Why am I voting? Why is it necesary to vote? Why is popular participation necessary? Do I believe in liberal democracies that is in direct contradiction to my communal way of life which emphasizes amongst other things mediation and social compromise as a way to organize society (not voting, not choice). If you want to change your Eritrea, get a grip on how most of the population, traditional rural agriculturalists, think, act and aspire. If not, we are in Helmi dorho territory, which unfortunetly is where your writing falls (no offense).
Let me narrate a little story
It happened in a Cinema Hall in Asmara that still retains an Italian name to remind us of the good(!!!) old times under colonial rule for a period of fifty years. Anyway, let us got to the story.
There was a gathering to hear about the NEW DRAFT CONSTITUTION FOR ERITREA
The speaker was none other the famous Eritrean schollar and expert, second to none, on Constitution
After speaking about the NEW DRAFT CONSTITUTION he invited the Audience to ask or express their opinion on the subject
A gentleman, dignified, well attired with the old sariani, raised his hand to speak. He was granted the floor. The following is what he said in cool and dignified manner in the following remarks in Tigrigna
“Respected Sir, You asked us for our opinion on the subject. Sir, what do we know about the subject matter? You are, Sir, the expert on the subject. May I suggest, Sir, that you finish it and give us the Document at your convenience. “ stand to be corrected as to the exact translation.
The Scholar smiled broadly and said that it is important that the people scrutinize the document, as it is for them that this draft is prepared. With that diplomatic nicety he invited the audience to give their comments/opinion. He waited, and waited for few minutes which felt like hours. No hand was raised. And that was the END of the meeting. And as it happened, It was the end of the draft document without getting approval from the self-appointed president Issayas Afewerki Abraha Miratch
who, Eritreans realized later on, that the skilful smart-aleck never had the intention to have written constitution for the people of Eritrea, by the people of Eritrea. In a single one cruel word — but civilized word — the entire Eritrean society of about five million people were DOPED by a single mortal for a period of thirty (30) years!!!That says a volume about Eritreans.
If we did not learn from the past cruel experience — do not worry — another one is on its final stage while we are busy creating multitude of parties for, presumably, the same objective!!! It is hard to believe. In any case, we also add insulting each other on the Internet from our respective comfortable and safe dwellings — far away from our dear Eritrea of the gone-by era.
THE END
Dear Amanuel Iyassu u know how much effert that Fetsum Abraham made and still making to understand and participate the eritrean people in this democratic struggle,therefore it’s essential to have more readers so I’m begging u to translate the main idea of Fetsum articles atleast in Tigrigna &Arabic if possible I also urge u to interview fetsum via sattelite if itsnot in person. Thanks
Dear Fetsum,
I loved the three pillars that you subscribe to: clarity of thoughts, purity of motive and integrity of action.
QUOTE: ባርነት ዘይጸግብ ህዝቢ
Who does not remember yesterday will not Know about tomorrow even though he/she thinks today a hero. ……………………
.እቲ ኩርዓት ጽንዓት – ናይ ትማሊ ክብሪ
እቲ ተወፋይነት – ሕውነትን ፍቕሪ
መለልይ ኤርትራዊነት – ዝነበረ ሕብሪ
ኣበይ ተሸጉጡ – ናይ ስውኣትና ሕድሪ
ባርነት ተመሪጹ – ተሳኢኑ መኻሪ
ምፍፍልላይ ኮይኑ – ቀንዲ ኣማሓዳሪ
ውልቀ መላኺ ክጥዕሞ – ተዘሪኡ ከምዘይፍሪ
ኤርትራ ብኸይይ – ዓው ኢልኪ ነድሪ
ሞትኮ ናይ ኣዳምዩ – የሎን ዘለኣለም ነባሪ
ባርነት ዘይጸግብ ህዝቢ – ሃብዮ ንፈጣሪ
ንሱ ይፍረደና – በብናትና ግብሪ።
ሰለሞን ብርሃነ ሠንጋል
“ሕልና – 09 – 29 – 2018 UNQUOTE
Indeed, it is worth repeating:
“ኤርትራ ብኸይይ – ዓው ኢልኪ ነድሪ
ሞትኮ ናይ ኣዳምዩ – የሎን ዘለኣለም ነባሪ
ባርነት ዘይጸግብ ህዝቢ – ሃብዮ ንፈጣሪ
ንሱ ይፍረደና – በብናትና ግብሪ።”
Amen – Inshallah <<<<< only in alphabetical order, please !!!
[…] posted an article on Assenna website with the above title which can be found by clicking here: https://asenatv.com/fetsum-the-renaissance-of-eritrean-intellectualism-in-relation-to-eritrea-focus/ Fetsum’s article and carried by Assenna is very constructive and much appreciated. And it raises […]
ርሑስ መበል 29 በዓል ናጽነት ኤርትራ ንመላእ ሕዝቢ ኤርትራ ኣብ ዉሽጥን ወጻእን። ዘላኣለማዊ ዝክሪ ንስዉኣትና ዓወት ንሓፋሽ።
እቲ ግሩህን አፍቓሪ ህዝቡን ሀገሩን አብ አሰና ዝነበሮን ዝጸንሖን አኽብሮትን ተስፉን ገዚፍን ሰፊሕን እዩ ዝነበረ ፤ እንተኾነ ንሕና ብናይ 1972 ናይ አስመራ ካልአይ ደረጃ ቤት ትምህርትታ ቀዳማዊ ኃይለስላሴን ( ቀሀስ ) ልኡል መኾነነን ንፍልጥ ነዊሕ ጊዜ ወሲዱ አሰና ፈላላይትን ንዓወት ቃልሲ ኤርትራ ዕንቕፉት ምኳና አጽኒዕናን ተገንዚብናን ንትድልዮም ( መዓቐኒኡ ብዘይፍለጥ) አብ ፓሮግራማ ዓዲማ ተዘራርብ ነቶም ካልኦት ብፍላይ ሕጂ ዓቢ ስራሕ ንዝሰርሑ አብ ኩለን መራኸብታትት ተዓዲሞም ፓሮግራሞም እንዳአፉለጡ ስኒት ግን አየቕረበቶምን። ስለምንታይ ? መልሲ የለን ። አማኒኤል ተሐታታይን ዕንቅፉትን እዩ። አሰና ናይ ህዝቢ ድያ ናይ አማኒኤል ? አማኒኤል ጋዜጠኛ ድዩ ፓሎቲከኛ ?.
ይቕጽል።
[…] posted an article on Assenna website with the above title which can be found by clicking here: https://asenatv.com/fetsum-the-renaissance-of-eritrean-intellectualism-in-relation-to-eritrea-focus/ Fetsum’s article and carried by Assenna is very constructive and much appreciated. And it raises […]