Today’s topic is based on the article posted in asmarino.com by the heading “Elections in 2001, by Zacharias Demsas October 24, 2001”

My motto: Exclusion ends in violence. Inclusion ends in justified election.

I thank you Zacharias for paying attention to election 2001 and you managed to share us your opinion about it.

You said, “There are many Eritreans who genuinely believe that President Isayas and his government are leading our country on the right road.”

I believe so and I would like to share you my reason why I believe so. But, first look at the following comment I found in a book I read recently. The book’s title is “From Voting to Violence. Democratisation and Nationalist conflict, by Jack Snyder” in page 273 he says “Moreover, civic nationalism in developing countries may sometimes unite domestic ethnic groups in order to fight outsiders. In a recent case of this type, the Eritrean People’s Liberation Front forged an enduring civic identity to unite eight ethnolingustic groups that included equal numbers of Christian and Muslims, and to win independence from the Ethiopian Marxist-Leninist regime. The Eritrean civic nationalism helped dampen rivalries within Eritrea...”

I believe that, to unite eight ethnolingustic groups and forge an enduring civic identity that we are proud now to call our selves “ I am an Eritrean” is not an easy task. We have to give credit to the existing government.

You said, “ But they are truly removed from Eritrean realities if they believe that we can stage an election by December of 2001...”

I don’t think we can totally rule out the possibility of having an election in December 2001. We have to wait and see, who knows the may surprise us. When I say they to surprise us. I mean they can use the experience of 1993 referendum to their advantage. That is, if they stick to do it as scheduled, otherwise postponing is also welcome by my side.

You mentioned about the logistical hurdles that have to be crossed before we can get to the elections: You said,
“1. Ratify the Election and Party Laws –
2. Election Commission - An election commission and commissioner have to be chosen. The commission has to, then, set up an office around Eritrea and abroad. Does anyone have an idea of how long it takes to set up and furnish an office in Asmara, let alone in the country side?”

Your observations are excellent and I would like to focus on the suggestions you mentioned from a to q below. As for the election commission I will comment at last. You said.

”The following are just some of the issues that the Election Commission has to tackle: -
a) Demarcate the voting districts
b) Choose voting stations
c) Construct voting booths”

I don’t think that the above-mentioned points will be problems. The reason is Eritrea had waged referendum in 1993. There are a lot of experiences from that outcome and that could be used to expedite even for election 2001.

You said, ”d) Approve eligibility of parties and candidates that are running for office”

If it is persisted that election 2001 should be proceed, then the election will not be necessary for forming political parties. Simply individuals could be registered as candidates for the parliament. Since this is a first election, for its kind, in Eritrea, there may be some advantage to do it without party formation. Saying so, in the mean time, the members of the parliament could organize according to their affiliation to form political parties. To my wonder, the election of individuals in contrast to party formation for this first election was eloquently, genuinely outlined and described in detail by the distinguished veteran politician Mr. Hirue Tedla about a year ago, I don’t remember the exact date, in asmrino.com. What I was critical against his idea of “Adi” was it seemed to me very conservative. But later on I figured out that, according to my perception he meant community when he referred “Adi”. Therefore, if the Eritrean government decides the election 2001 to be on individual basis, then there is possibility of a success on waging the election with some unpleasant results. I mentioned before that, personally I will welcome it.

You said.
”e) Organize election observers
f) Conduct a voter education campaign
g) Figure out voter registration system to avoid duplicate and fraudulent votes
i) Figure out voting locations for Internally Displaced Eritreans
j) Figure out voting locations for Refugees returning from Sudan.
k) Figure out, if possible, voting locations for all the Eritreans stranded in Ethiopia
l) Figure out how Eritreans in the DMZ will vote.
m) Ensure that all Eritreans who reached the age of 18 since the referendum have access to an Eritrean ID.
n) Choose an election day.
o) Secure government funding for implementing all the above work.
p) Ensure that all voting locations and booths are secured by Eritrean police and/or army so that no voting irregularities, vandalism or disruption occurs.”

I don’t think your points from e to p will be of great concern, especially if they were under way already without to our knowledge. Since the points you mentioned are of technical issues there is possibility that they can be under control by the government experts.

You said, “ q) Ensure equal access to all election candidates to the national media “

In my opinion, the above-mentioned point, at this time, is unrealistic. Because Eritrea cannot afford economically to do so. With time, may be there comes development and financially basic ground to afford for such campaign. But your point has worth mention use of independent press. I am critical to the professionalism of the journalists in Eritrea. My worry is I don’t think they have developed a talent not to exacerbate differences to rise to conflicts. Though I am for free press, but at the same time I am cautious not to give free hand for amateur journalists to worsen and create confusion in our society. Therefore, by allowing free press and at the same time watching for the professionalism of the individual journalist it is possible to us the mass media for campaign.

The most significant and crucial point is the selection of the independent election committee. Eritrea won’t get, this time, an independent election committee. The reason is the Eritrean people for the past forty years are oriented either as Shabia or Jebha. If there are not Shabia or Jebha then they must be the Ignorant and an ignorant cannot be an election commission. Here the remedy is to rectify the election committee to be of an all-inclusive committee. And for that I don’t think the Eritrean government will be keen to include from the opposition groups. Even against the odds the Eritrean government will invite the opposition groups to the election committee, they want accept it. Their rejection will be based on the usual logic they use against the Eritrean government. As long as the opposition government labels the existing government as a dictator they will not adamant to work with it. My suggestion is to overcome all these hurdles first to accept inclusion method as the guiding principle by all concerned groups and to admit that reconciliation should first be accomplished. For reconciliation to work the Eritrean government should include the opposition groups in shaping the country’s future and the opposition groups should accept and abide by the governing law of the government. Respect for each other will bring the desired result.

Conclusion, I again thank you Zecharies for injecting a positive synergy to the discussion for election 2001. The tragedy is that we still lack information. What is going to happen, to be or not to be an election in 2001? Who is going to inform us? Still we don’t know. On this occasion I would like to thank Woldezghi Alem (Italy) for his article in asmarino.com by the title
“The Role of Civic Education THE MEANING OF CIVIC
EDUCATION IS HUMAN LIBERTY
By Woldezghi Alem (Italy) October 26, 2001”