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By Kidane Eyob

If the recently applied sanctions against Eritrea which have been masterminded by the US, blessed by the UK and midwifed by Ugandan governments are meant to intimidate and force the Eritrea people and Government to submission, let me assure them that it's doomed to fail miserably. This methodology will fail and it has always failed in the history of Eritrea's struggle for independence when Eritrea was represented by EPLF, a liberation front let alone a government.

Sometimes I wonder, if the US and UK diplomats and policy makers responsible for Eritrea have read some of the books and articles that were published during the armed struggle for independence or if they really know the Eritrean people and government at all. If they did and tried to understand and apply the methods of constructive engagement that have worked in the past and would definitely work in the present, the Horn of Africa would have been a better place for the peoples of the region and that of the world at large.

In my opinion, the method that would work is constructive engagement with the Eritrean government as well as with the other governments in the region and the application of International Law without any double standards. This sounds simple and should be commonsense unfortunately it's not common in fact it's very rare within those responsible for crafting these irresponsible, illegal and shameful sanctions against a peaceful country in a volatile region.

Listed below are some of Eritrea's historical facts for the benefit of those who are responsible for conceiving such irresponsible and shameful sanctions when intimidation, bulling and undeclared sanctions against Eritrea failed to achieve the desired objectives of her enemies since the 1950s:-

. When Haileselassie's regime violated the federation and tried to intimidate Eritreans in 1950s, Eritreans refused to be silenced and revolted against the regime and in 1961 fired the first shots to mark the armed struggle that led to independence after 30 long and bitter years of battles.
.When the Mengustu's Derg regime came to power in mid 1970s and tried to use force to subjugate the Eritrean people, the Eritrean youth flocked to the mountains to join the liberation fronts (ELF and EPLF) strategically strengthening the resources of the liberation fronts and tilting the balance of power to Eritrea's favour.
. When the Soviet Union decided to intervene by supporting the Derg regime militarily creating the biggest army in Africa, the EPLF was forced to strategically withdraw in 1978 but intelligently foiled the strategies planned by Soviet Generals in the mountains of Sahel and Nakfa.
. When both the Western and Eastern blocks were militarily and financially supporting the Dreg to annihilate the Eritrean people, the EPLF came up with a principle of 'self reliance' and fought the enemy with their own weapons not to mention some were cleverly modified by EPLF to make them more superior than they were when captured from the enemy.
. When the Derg declared the sixth offensive or Red Terror in 1982, the Eritrean freedom fighters dug deeper trenches in the rugged mountains of Sahel and decided to fight till the last drop of blood. There was no option for more strategic withdrawal and the only choice was to fight till the enemy lost the battle or the last drop of blood. Such was the determination and sacrifice of the Eritrean freedom fighters running the country.
.When Numeri's regime in Sudan decided to collaborate with the Derg and denied the EPLF access to Port Sudan, the freedom fighters constructed the Challenge Road winding on the rocky mountains of Sahel with their bare hands so that badly needed supplies can reach the fighters and saved the EPLF from total strangulation.
.When the Soviets tried to intimidate the Eritrean freedom fighters, their Generals were either killed in battle or captured alive in Af-abet in 1988.
. When the Derg tried to use the US in the peace process that failed to recognise the Eritrean People's right to self determination in 1989/90, those responsible were disgraced, the Derg got weaker and the EPLF grew stronger and closer to Asmara.
. When the Derg regime made its last attempt to intimidate the Eritrean people and the EPLF, Mengustu fled to Zimbabwe and Eritrea achieved its hard earned independence and even assisted the Weyane regime gain power they never dreamt of.
. When the Weyane government tried to manipulate the Ethiopian currency, Birr to the disadvantage of Eritrea, the Eritrean government issued a new currency, the Nakfa.
.When the Weyane declared war on Eritrea in 1998, the freedom fighters that had been rehabilitated and the National Service men and women immediately joined the Eritrean Army to defend Eritrea's sovereignty and foiled the strategies planned by US generals aided by state of the art satellite and intelligence information.
. And the Eritrean people in Diaspora rallied behind the government and people of Eritrea and helped foil the plot to undo Eritrea's independence.
.When the Weyane's Air Force tried to bomb Asmara to intimidate the Eritrean people, the newly established Eritrean Air Force bombed Mekele.
. When the US tried to use Rwanda to make a quick fix peace deal to end the conflict with Ethiopia in 1998, the plot was uncovered and rejected by Eritrea and an alternative solution that upholds the rule of international law and can bring a lasting solution was sought and agreed upon as final and binding.
.When Ethiopia rejected the final and binding verdict and with the help of the US tried to force Eritrea to compromise the final and binding ruling of the EEBC under the pretext of 'Dialogue' for nearly ten years the Eritrean government consistently rejected this call and stood firm on its legal and principled position till the borders were virtually and legally demarcated on maps. Therefore Ethiopia is illegally occupying Eritrea's sovereign territory and it's only a matter of time before rule of law eventually prevails.
. When the US and its aid agencies tried to interfere in the internal affairs of Eritrea those responsible were kicked out of the country.
. When the US and its Western allies tried to force Eritrea to pursue their political and economic policies that have miserably failed in other African counties, the Eritrean government rejected these policies and sought alternative and pragmatic short and long term plans and policies that works for Eritrea and some of the current achievements comfortably exceed those targets of the millennium development goals.
. When the promised developmental aid failed to materialise the Eritrean government came up with a Marshall Plan famously know as the Warsay Yika'alo Plan to construct various pivotal infrastructures all over the country at an impressively rapid speed.
.When the food aid started to create a state of dependency amongst some Eritrean communities, the government swiftly halted this disabling and drug addiction and vowed to achieve food security by implementing modernised agriculture and fisheries.
. Following the recent sanctions, the Eritrean leadership confidently asserted the short and long term economic plans as well as for the year 2010 in order to pursue the planned developmental projects that will most certainly be achieved within budget and in time.
. And Eritreans both inside the country and abroad condemned the sanctions as illegal, shameful and irresponsible and continue to do so in unison.

The list is endless and all the historical facts clearly depict that intimidation, intrigues, plots, double standards and sanctions do not work on Eritrea.
The Eritrean people and government will neither be intimidated nor forced to submission. I therefore strongly recommend that Susan Rice and her counterparts reconsider their methodology when it comes to Eritrea because it's doomed to fail and like your predecessors you will all end up humiliated and disgraced by the Eritrean people.

It would take more courage for Susan Rice to be the first American diplomat to learn through her mistakes and choose to constructively engage with the Government of Eritrea and learn from Eritrea's efforts to construct a country that is united, peaceful, and economically, socially and politically viable in this volatile region.

Eritreans recognise that heavy sacrifices were paid in achieving our independence and protecting Eritrea's sovereignty. We also recognise that sanctions do cause devastating humanitarian harm to the ordinary people, especially to the most venerable people of our communities such as women and children.

Having famously made the following statement in 1952 what would be the advice of John Foster Dulles to Susan Rice had he still been alive?

'' "From the point of view of justice, the opinions of the Eritrean people must receive consideration. Nevertheless, the strategic interests of the United States in the Red Sea Basin and considerations of security and world peace make it necessary that the country (Eritrea) has to be linked with our ally, Ethiopia",
John Foster Dulles in 1952.

Previous article regarding sanctions by this writer include; -
UK and US Sabotaging Eritrea's Effort to Economic Emancipation http://www.meadna.com/meadnanews/comnews/UK%20AND%20US%20SABOttaging.htm

The writer can be contacted using the email address below:-

kidaneyob@yahoo.co.uk






	WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH ERITREA GETS GOING
	By Kidane Eyob If the recently applied sanctions against Eritrea which have been masterminded by the US, blessed by the UK and midwifed by Ugandan governments are meant to intimidate and force the Eritrea people and Government to submission, let me assure them that it's doomed to fail miserably. This methodology will fail and it has always failed in the history of Eritrea's struggle for independence when Eritrea was represented by EPLF, a liberation front let alone a government. Sometimes I wonder, if the US and UK diplomats and policy makers responsible for Eritrea have read some of the books and articles that were published during the armed struggle for independence or if they really know the Eritrean people and government at all. If they did and tried to understand and apply the methods of constructive engagement that have worked in the past and would definitely work in the present, the Horn of Africa would have been a better place for the peoples of the region and that of the world at large. In my opinion, the method that would work is constructive engagement with the Eritrean government as well as with the other governments in the region and the application of International Law without any double standards. This sounds simple and should be commonsense unfortunately it's not common in fact it's very rare within those responsible for crafting these irresponsible, illegal and shameful sanctions against a peaceful country in a volatile region. Listed below are some of Eritrea's historical facts for the benefit of those who are responsible for conceiving such irresponsible and shameful sanctions when intimidation, bulling and undeclared sanctions against Eritrea failed to achieve the desired objectives of her enemies since the 1950s:- . When Haileselassie's regime violated the federation and tried to intimidate Eritreans in 1950s, Eritreans refused to be silenced and revolted against the regime and in 1961 fired the first shots to mark the armed struggle that led to independence after 30 long and bitter years of battles. .When the Mengustu's Derg regime came to power in mid 1970s and tried to use force to subjugate the Eritrean people, the Eritrean youth flocked to the mountains to join the liberation fronts (ELF and EPLF) strategically strengthening the resources of the liberation fronts and tilting the balance of power to Eritrea's favour. . When the Soviet Union decided to intervene by supporting the Derg regime militarily creating the biggest army in Africa, the EPLF was forced to strategically withdraw in 1978 but intelligently foiled the strategies planned by Soviet Generals in the mountains of Sahel and Nakfa. . When both the Western and Eastern blocks were militarily and financially supporting the Dreg to annihilate the Eritrean people, the EPLF came up with a principle of 'self reliance' and fought the enemy with their own weapons not to mention some were cleverly modified by EPLF to make them more superior than they were when captured from the enemy. . When the Derg declared the sixth offensive or Red Terror in 1982, the Eritrean freedom fighters dug deeper trenches in the rugged mountains of Sahel and decided to fight till the last drop of blood. There was no option for more strategic withdrawal and the only choice was to fight till the enemy lost the battle or the last drop of blood. Such was the determination and sacrifice of the Eritrean freedom fighters running the country. .When Numeri's regime in Sudan decided to collaborate with the Derg and denied the EPLF access to Port Sudan, the freedom fighters constructed the Challenge Road winding on the rocky mountains of Sahel with their bare hands so that badly needed supplies can reach the fighters and saved the EPLF from total strangulation. .When the Soviets tried to intimidate the Eritrean freedom fighters, their Generals were either killed in battle or captured alive in Af-abet in 1988. . When the Derg tried to use the US in the peace process that failed to recognise the Eritrean People's right to self determination in 1989/90, those responsible were disgraced, the Derg got weaker and the EPLF grew stronger and closer to Asmara. . When the Derg regime made its last attempt to intimidate the Eritrean people and the EPLF, Mengustu fled to Zimbabwe and Eritrea achieved its hard earned independence and even assisted the Weyane regime gain power they never dreamt of. . When the Weyane government tried to manipulate the Ethiopian currency, Birr to the disadvantage of Eritrea, the Eritrean government issued a new currency, the Nakfa. .When the Weyane declared war on Eritrea in 1998, the freedom fighters that had been rehabilitated and the National Service men and women immediately joined the Eritrean Army to defend Eritrea's sovereignty and foiled the strategies planned by US generals aided by state of the art satellite and intelligence information. . And the Eritrean people in Diaspora rallied behind the government and people of Eritrea and helped foil the plot to undo Eritrea's independence. .When the Weyane's Air Force tried to bomb Asmara to intimidate the Eritrean people, the newly established Eritrean Air Force bombed Mekele. . When the US tried to use Rwanda to make a quick fix peace deal to end the conflict with Ethiopia in 1998, the plot was uncovered and rejected by Eritrea and an alternative solution that upholds the rule of international law and can bring a lasting solution was sought and agreed upon as final and binding. .When Ethiopia rejected the final and binding verdict and with the help of the US tried to force Eritrea to compromise the final and binding ruling of the EEBC under the pretext of 'Dialogue' for nearly ten years the Eritrean government consistently rejected this call and stood firm on its legal and principled position till the borders were virtually and legally demarcated on maps. Therefore Ethiopia is illegally occupying Eritrea's sovereign territory and it's only a matter of time before rule of law eventually prevails. . When the US and its aid agencies tried to interfere in the internal affairs of Eritrea those responsible were kicked out of the country. . When the US and its Western allies tried to force Eritrea to pursue their political and economic policies that have miserably failed in other African counties, the Eritrean government rejected these policies and sought alternative and pragmatic short and long term plans and policies that works for Eritrea and some of the current achievements comfortably exceed those targets of the millennium development goals. . When the promised developmental aid failed to materialise the Eritrean government came up with a Marshall Plan famously know as the Warsay Yika'alo Plan to construct various pivotal infrastructures all over the country at an impressively rapid speed. .When the food aid started to create a state of dependency amongst some Eritrean communities, the government swiftly halted this disabling and drug addiction and vowed to achieve food security by implementing modernised agriculture and fisheries. . Following the recent sanctions, the Eritrean leadership confidently asserted the short and long term economic plans as well as for the year 2010 in order to pursue the planned developmental projects that will most certainly be achieved within budget and in time. . And Eritreans both inside the country and abroad condemned the sanctions as illegal, shameful and irresponsible and continue to do so in unison. The list is endless and all the historical facts clearly depict that intimidation, intrigues, plots, double standards and sanctions do not work on Eritrea. The Eritrean people and government will neither be intimidated nor forced to submission. I therefore strongly recommend that Susan Rice and her counterparts reconsider their methodology when it comes to Eritrea because it's doomed to fail and like your predecessors you will all end up humiliated and disgraced by the Eritrean people. It would take more courage for Susan Rice to be the first American diplomat to learn through her mistakes and choose to constructively engage with the Government of Eritrea and learn from Eritrea's efforts to construct a country that is united, peaceful, and economically, socially and politically viable in this volatile region. Eritreans recognise that heavy sacrifices were paid in achieving our independence and protecting Eritrea's sovereignty. We also recognise that sanctions do cause devastating humanitarian harm to the ordinary people, especially to the most venerable people of our communities such as women and children. Having famously made the following statement in 1952 what would be the advice of John Foster Dulles to Susan Rice had he still been alive? '' "From the point of view of justice, the opinions of the Eritrean people must receive consideration. Nevertheless, the strategic interests of the United States in the Red Sea Basin and considerations of security and world peace make it necessary that the country (Eritrea) has to be linked with our ally, Ethiopia", John Foster Dulles in 1952. Previous article regarding sanctions by this writer include; - UK and US Sabotaging Eritrea's Effort to Economic Emancipation http://www.meadna.com/meadnanews/comnews/UK%20AND%20US%20SABOttaging.htm The writer can be contacted using the email address below:- kidaneyob@yahoo.co.uk