Neg 320, A Letter to Brezidenti Isaias: A Cry for Justice and National Healing
Kbur Brezidenti,
How I longed to defend you, to be proud of you, and, through you, to see a promotion of civil discourse and a stable, peaceful nation—one at peace with itself and its neighbors. Despite the ups and downs, there was pride in what was achieved through a united struggle. Ironically, the lopsided allocation of rewards for these achievements is haphazard. But the nation has paid its dues through tribulations and painful sacrifices.
I envisioned Eritrea in better shape under your leadership—unlike my childhood era, which was clouded by terror, trauma, and bitter memories of suppressed natural rights. All the suffering was for a noble cause.
I witnessed the jubilation of 1991, and at the time, despite the pitfalls, I believed things would improve. I saw terrible things but convinced myself they were part of the process—more costs the nation must bear. Still, it was uplifting. But once the euphoria faded, the nation didn’t march forward with confidence; injustices imposed by the occupiers were not rectified. Citizens had no say in how they would be ruled, governed by the rule of law, institutions, and an established ombudsman. Now, it seems, that vision was unrealistic—an illusion, I wish.
I observe how Americans extol George Washington as a liberator, how Italians revere Garibaldi, how the French respect de Gaulle, and how Tanzanians honor Nyerere. The names of great leaders are abundant: Lumumba, Ben Bella, Gandhi, and many more. I hoped you would be remembered as one of these exemplary leaders. However, you let me down. You let the nation down. But there is a counterargument, though weak and untenable.
Still, you remain relatively popular; some individuals even love you more than their parents. Some elevate you to the level of a deity, printing your face on their shirts and dresses. Understandably, in 1991 you earned that admiration despite your antagonists. But remember, populist sentiments are fleeting, driven by emotion, not rationality, and they fade away as circumstances shift.
Imagine some individuals who adore you today distancing themselves even from their close friends simply because they didn’t praise your name. Tomorrow, they will be denounced for having praised you. Is that far-fetched? Not really; it’s history repeating itself. That is the fate of strongmen. And you have squandered all the trust people once placed in you, all the love they showered on you, and all the dedication they put behind your leadership.
Did you live up to the expectations of the nation? I won’t answer that for you; you must reflect on it yourself and whisper your answer to your conscience. I hope you will find the wisdom and honesty to assess your rule and evaluate it rationally.
Kbur Brezidenti,
Under your rule, Eritreans have fled the country in their hundreds of thousands. The nation lives in fear due to your arbitrary, cruel prison system and your overtly partisan rhetoric. People have been watching you closely; those who disagree with you have long since given up on you.
But not all is bleak; the nation doesn’t have to remain on this destructive path that leads to nowhere. If you listen to voices outside your populist crowds—voices of people driven by their narrow self-interest and fleeting moments of satisfaction—only then can you steer the country toward stability. You need to be wary of trusting those crowds; they act like they have surrendered their thinking agency to you, and they have no deep understanding of what is truly at stake.
I am not here to challenge your authority; neither do I have the power nor the will to do that. My only aim is to challenge you to pay attention to the negative image that Eritrea has come to embody—the lack of the rule of law, the chaos, and the disarray.
Your supporters suggest one solution: silence anyone who doesn’t follow your party’s line. And that would be a tragic way to end the successful Eritrean struggle. I hope Eritrea can avoid that outcome by creating a peaceful, civilized transition of power. Those who would rather expose the nation to more turmoil care less.
Would it be too much to ask you to form a truly national, non-partisan transitional body—one that represents the much-repeated rhetoric of nine ethnic groups equitably, ensuring that every community feels their wisdom and voices are included in the process?
But there are immediate tasks:
- Lift the despicable precondition of forcing citizens to fill out regret forms before they return to their country.
- Take small, incremental decisions—overdue steps like releasing political (and random) prisoners—that would hasten closure for those who died in your custody.
- Initiate a realistic plan to normalize relations with our neighbors by introducing a plan for the use of Assab. Don’t you think the Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s demands are partly motivated by the need for a face-saving step? A gesture on your part could ease tensions and promote peace between Ethiopia and Eritrea. As complicated as they are, finding solutions should not take generations.
- Knowing the perpetual provocations by Ethiopia and your rigid policies, a peaceful, workable, realistic solution must be found. Currently, Abiy’s not-so-hidden threat is dangerous for the region. It would be wise to launch a peaceful campaign for a solution; military solutions do not work—the region has lived through them for centuries.
- Instruct your mouthpieces to slow down their foolish rhetoric: “Our government is always silent!” That is not a quality anyone should be proud of. There are no national interests that can be safeguarded with silence, and there is no diplomacy that can be conducted in silence.
Kbur Brezidenti,
I do not expect a response from you; it’s not in your nature. But I felt compelled to share my views with my audience. I am confident that anyone with basic intellect can understand and agree with what I have suggested. It’s my attempt to condense the reality as I see it, warn about the risks involved, and express my good wishes for the Eritrean people—including you, Kbur Brezidenti.
Awate Forum