Yes, it is good to have conferences for dialogue, but a critical pre-requisite for any inclusive conference is for the project to be initiated and facilitated by a neutral and well-respected body...As for the current EDA it would be wiser and effective if they prioritise holding conferences to assess and address their internal chronic problems, mistrusts, weaknesses, and cleanse their fragile “umbrella” entity of any individual or group that might have been hampering their effectiveness and progress for the last 10+ years.

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Editor’s note: Recently, Arkokabay/Shakat.com received a general announcement from an EDA “Conference Preparatory Committee” inviting advice and comments on their “National Conference for Democratic Change”. This article was motivated by this call.

Agents for change are needed

After the full Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan in early 1989 many Afghan resistance groups were summoned to a conference in  Pakistan to unite their efforts against the communist dictator: President Nejibullah. Once the dictator was removed from power, internal conflicts surfaced and the country was plunged into the worst civil war and destruction it has ever seen in its long history. The groups and their selfish leaders ignored all the good pledges made at the conference and embarked on the bloodiest war of all times that made Afghanistan among the most inhospitable places on earth. This happened because of lack of genuine commitment for democratic change in addition to unconstructive external influences.

Almost all the failed states of our time, including Somalia, have failed because they lacked constructive agents for democratic change. The warring groups were either unwilling to resolve their differences in a manner that made their common national interests above their partisan and personal interests and rivalries, or bent on outsmarting one another at any cost to their countries’ peace and stability.

The current Eritrean political landscape is heavily infected with selfish and narrow partisan rivalries whose survival seem to be tied up to inciting hate among the different segments of our society including our political and civic organizations. Cleansing this infected landscape by bringing together and strengthening the good and genuine is something we should not shy away from. The road ahead is a long one and in the end, those with the righteous intentions, commitments and deeds shall prevail. 

These days some are talking and arguing about an EDA conference, its timing and the composition of its organising committee or those delegated to lead on it. Although the proposed event may not be any different to any of the previous EDA conferences, it is critical that people are not misled by empty threats, promises and or rhetoric that emanate from those who wish to jump on to power overnight. Instead, uniting the democratic grassroots of likeminded individuals and groups to lead the struggle based on a transparent common agenda of their own, and not of others, is crucial at this junction of our country’s history.

Yes, it is good to have conferences for dialogue, but a critical pre-requisite for any inclusive conference is for the project to be initiated and facilitated by a neutral and well-respected body, and not by a conspiracy and conflict ridden groups and individuals. That is the only way an important national event can bring together antagonists to iron out their differences and move forward. Unfortunately, the EDA under its current leadership and composition is definitely not a neutral body nor an inclusive one for that matter to host inclusive national dialogue.

A strong political and civic movement is the best way to lead towards positive political change. Once the revolution for democratic change is won either by seeing the demise of the pfdj or their reform from within, an all inclusive national conference can be called, not to entertain self-serving groups and individuals, but to bring together genuine groups and individuals to help in the transition process. This Conference will have to be held inside Eritrea, produce a "transition charter" that would be used as a temporary constitution, enable the creation of a transitional government of national unity (not necessarily unity of so-called "political opposition" groups) representing and reflecting the diversity and desires of the Eritrean people.

During the first year of the transition period a Transitional Assembly (TA) would be elected. The TA together with the Transitional Government (TG) would appoint a constitution commission to produce a permanent constitution by drawing important lessons and articles from the 1952 and 1997 Constitutions as well as by consulting all Eritrean stakeholders. This permanent constitution would then be ratified and endorsed by a democratically elected transitional assembly. Once a permanent constitution is in place, the transitional institutions would come to an end of their tenure, hand over authority to an elected assembly and government in accordance with the newly adopted legitimate and permanent constitution of the nation.

In the meantime, civic and political groups can continue to work on putting pressure on the pfdj while still organising researches and conferences to raise public awareness on different issues of national concern away from trivial issues that are favoured only by unscrupulous groups and individuals in both the opposition and pfdj camps. 

As for the current EDA it would be wiser and effective if they prioritise holding conferences to assess and address their internal chronic problems, mistrusts, weaknesses, and cleanse their fragile “umbrella” entity of any individual or group that might have been hampering their effectiveness and progress for the last 10+ years.

Arkokabay/Shakat Team

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