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

Remembering that, a failed promise on election 2001, understanding as well the difficulties Eritrea is by passing, hope on future election, accepting that exclusion won against inclusion on Eritrean politics, a blink of hardships Eritrea is going to face against international isolation, the excluded to revolt, the exclusionary to suppress, with all the coming confusions, I fear violence to shadow the coming unjustified election. I say, unjustified, because I don’t expect it to be fair and free election. But, I will appreciate it for it is going to be the first election of an independent Eritrea. Based on that appreciation, I will participate in the coming election to be successful and henceforth, I declare my support for the Eritrean government for the declaration of the electoral law.

Why Eritreans chosen exclusion method than inclusion method? I will try to analyse this sad event of Eritrean politics. My analysis is based on admitting that by now it has became crystal clear that it is exclusion method both the Eritrean government and the opposition groups are following.

Let me begin, why the Eritrean government decided to take actions that exclude the opposing groups from future Eritrean politics. The Eritrean government by conducting its, 14th national assembly session, passed resolutions that blocks out the opposition groups from participating, for the time being, as they said it, from the future say of the country. The Eritrean government, excluded now, completely, certain groups not to participate in Eritrean politics. These excluded groups are unwelcome and hostile to the government. They created uncertainty and fear for the security and future existence of the government. The Eritrean government considers them as troublemakers and felt that these opposition groups have excluded the interest and existence of the Eritrean government on their agenda. And it is true that, the opposition groups harassed and disturbed the Eritrean government from fulfilling its duty. The Eritrean government realized that it became impossible to be included on the opposition group’s agenda. As long as the opposition groups excluded the Eritrean government from their agenda, it is natural the Eritrean government to act the way it handled now.

There is still chance, the opposition groups the asses their agenda and work for future inclusion, the fate of the Eritrean government in their agenda. If there is wisdom, it could be said, let us close the past chapter and work with the Eritrean government for better future that includes all. I believe, still there is chance, because the Eritrean government, didn’t closed all gates (saving apart for CIA and Weyane). It said, let us postpone for the time being. This is good sign for the opposition groups to revise their agenda. If the opposition groups managed to give room, in their future agenda, to work with the Eritrean government, there is possibility to rectify the damage done now and come back to the right track of inclusion method.

The Eritrean government by using exclusion method, maybe, it could secure the existence of its futurity, but I tell you innovation, creativity and happiness will be undermined. Especially, the mode of living will be inharmonious and will destabilize the mentality of solidarity, brotherhood and communal well being of our people. The exclusion method that galvanized by the government will reflect in the daily life of the population. I say that exclusion method is not good sign.

Now, the question will be what to be done to rectify this dangerous method, the exclusion method? I say, let us accept the existing situation calmly and let us help the Eritrean government to come out from the hangover of the uncertainty and let the government perform its duty as a government and let us respect its decisions. Let us side with the government against the international isolation it faces, in case they decide to do so. Let us prove that we are not divided people and show our solidarity at this crucial time with our government. And I believe that after certain months, calm period, the Eritrean government is going to come again to debate the now postponed draft of forming political parties. The sign we give to the Eritrean government that, we include it in our agenda and it is part of our future, for sure the Eritrean government is going to reciprocate likewise. The Eritrean government, by taking the action of exclusion method, tried to test the nerves of the opposition groups. It is likely that, the action of the government is meant to disappoint the opposition groups, as a revenge, to their unfair and hasty handling to harass the government to fall apart so that they to replace it at the expense of the government. The opposition groups acted unwisely by excluding the government and the Eritrean government acted unwisely to exclude the opposition groups and in between it is the Eritrean people that is taking the burden.

The present situation, that dumped us to confusion and saddens is due to the our failure not to transform ourselves from personality politics to system politics. I tried to raise this issue before and except some who responded by my private email none took the issue and tried to discuses it publicly. Again, my point is, it is not too late to raise this issue and make it public debate. We have to be able to find a solution, how we Eritreans, be able transform from personality politics to system politics.

There is one important thing that we became certain now. And that is the law for election is ratified and the election commissioner, veteran fighter, a highly respected figure, tegadalia Ramadan Mohamed Nur is going to be the chairperson. I congratulate him and he deserves it. I wish him success.

Congratulation Mr. Hirue Tedla.

Over all, the winner, after the ratification of the electoral law and banning for the time being multiparty politics in Eritrea is Mr. Hirue Tedla. Irrespective of all the negative images we had about him, now he is the hero of the proposal he forwarded for election of independents to the coming election in Eritrea. The resolution that passed by the 14th session of the national congress is not new but a replica of Mr Hirue’s proposal. The coming election in Eritrea is an election for the representatives of the people to the Eritrean parliament. The election is for independent candidates not organised by parties. To have an idea about the proposal of Mr Hirue Tedla, I recommend you, to look for the article presented by Mr Hirue Tedla by the heading “DEMOCRACY IN ERITREA: A PROGRAMMATIC PROPOSAL By Herui T. Bairu, STOCKHOLM August 8, 2000” in Asamrino.com. My following articles, Focus on Eritrean Election are going to be based on the above mentioned article and I am going to try to digest the points of Mr Hirue Tedla, to full utilisation to understand the advantage of having election of independents this time in Eritrea. I congratulate, Mr Hirue Tedla for his intelligent presentation, finally materialised, in Eritrean politics.

Conclusion, after the uncertain period that elapsed between the failed promise of election 2001 and the promising future of the ratification of the election law this time, I see gradual move to democratisation in Eritrea. But as usual, except the good wish I had for success of Eritrea, I don’t take it for granted that all will go smooth according to the book. I believe that, all the time, there is hope, at the end, good to happen to Eritrea. Second part of this article follows.