One reason of delay national elections in Eritrea is the issue of Border with Ethiopia. The more Ethiopia presses about the border issue the longer is going to take the democratization process in Eritrea. Therefore, Ethiopia is contributing one way or the other in obscuring the process of democracy in Eritrea.

Today's topic is "Science Fiction About Badme"

When the armed struggle for independence of Eritrea started in 1961, nobody imagined that Badme is as important as today. But, let alone Badme, who was so sure that independence of Eritrea to be realized in our life time. From the beginning, the armed struggle was complex, due to selfish leadership. The frustration was at climax when the civil war was at the top agenda of Eritrean armed struggle. It was miracle that EPLF to calumniate the civil war and march alone for the independence of Eritrea. We thought that was history, when the EPLF paraded victoriously on May 24, 1991 in Asmara, the capital city of Eritrea.

It was only 7 years, in fact to be more precise 18 days less to be 7 years, the independence of Eritrea became under question on the name of Badme. The war that waged between Ethiopia and Eritrea during 1998 to 2000 have different excuses. The apparent excuses are; the ownership of Badme and the toppling of the government of President Isseyas in Asmara. Actually, if the main excuse of the war was the ownership of Badme, the war was not the means to settle it, because ownership of land, this time, is solved by internationally recognized legal means. More weight could be given to the excuse of the war, if it really it happened to remove the government of President Isseyas. If it did so, then definitely it failed. Then what was the real cause of the war? Maybe to reverse the independence of Eritrea? There could not be given a definite answers to the question that can be raised to know the causes of the war between Ethiopia and Eritrea. What it makes it complex to come to a conclusion to know the real cause of the war are as follows.

The interest of some Amharas, to reverse the independence of Eritrea and to some the interest of acquiring the port of Assab coincided with the interest of some Tigerians to acquire the fertile land of Badme and its environs and the interest of some Tigerians to see the removal of President Isseyas Afewrki. All these interests were amalgamated and pursued to fulfil their goal by one means only. And that was to wage war against Eritrea. Therefore, for some who were interested to acquire the Badme and its environs by force were to some extent successful but failed short of complete victory and finally they were completely crashed by the verdict of April 13, 2001. Those who were interested to acquire the port of Assab and reverse the independence of Eritrea were defeated both militarily and legally. Now the problem remains within those groups who their interest is on seeing President Isseyas removed.

From the above analysis, except to one agenda, that is the interest of some groups to see the removal of the president, to the other issues; the Eritrean people, like one body did resisted it and defeated it. When it comes to the question of removal of President Iseyas, to talk of one heart and one people will be merely illusion. There are opposition groups who welcomes the removal of the President. They are handful and weak. Yes, they are worthless as opposition to bring change. Who did not said about the opposition groups of Afghanistan and Iraq, before the fall of the Taliban and Saddam respectively. To add more examples, who didn't said the opposition groups were weak and handful before the removal of Idi Amin of Uganda. My point here is, I am not comparing President Iseyas with these fallen dictators. My point is, with the assistance of foreign forces even a handful and weak opposition forces can bring change. It is for this reason that I repeatedly reminded the Eritrean government to include the opposition groups in realm of its control. I don't want to see a trouble to come by neighbor countries by the disguise of supporting opposition groups. The Eritrean government can crush the ambition of the foe neighbor countries not by crushing the opposition groups but in contrary by pulling them out from the mechanism of subversive action of the foe neighbor countries plan to use the opposition groups name as a means of destabilizing factor to Eritrea. My believe is, the day the Eritrean government accepts the opposition groups, as part and parcel of its body, the dream of the foe neighbor countries will be crushed.

Don't underestimate, neglect or try to crush opposition groups, even though you know that they are handful and desperate. Instead accept that, they exist because there is some disappointment. Respect that disappointment to exist, even it comes from one person. The remedy is to try to bring change or show the wiliness to change to cure the disappointment. I am fairly sure that nobody wants the existing government not to exist. The only opposition comes from the very fact that, the existing government undermines the opinions of others. I am sure that, everybody wants to work with the existing government, if it changes its attitude to listening what the others are saying. My pray is, the Eritrean government to accept humiliation for the sake of unity and to be an example for the next generation that Eritreans can solve their problem by dialogue without interference from outside forces. I am afraid that, the military wing that is proclaimed by the general secretary of the alliances, Mr. Hirue Tedla, is merely a cover for Woyane soldieries to intrude Eritrea for subversive actions. For sure, the Woyane soldieries are going to commit crimes inside Eritrea on the name of the alliances military wing. That is why I don't want to see opposition groups to operate in foreign countries. If Meles of Ethiopia and Bashir of Sudan have contacted the leaders of the Eritrean opposition groups why not President Isseyas contact them. Don't forget that, Mengistu was not willing to talk with the leaders of Eritrea and the then opposition groups of Ethiopia.

I am concerned, because I want the Existing government to perform its job without diverting its attention to crush opposition groups. I am concerned, because I don't want to see opposition groups to be a means of subversive action for foreign power. I am concerned, generally that, I don't want to hear that there is military conflict among Eritreans because they cannot solve their problem by dialogue. I want to see that Eritreans are brave people to confront internal conflicts by dialogue. We Eritrean have to be known that we are masters of dialogue and not of conflict. In my understanding, it is only humiliation for the sake of Eritrean brotherhood the solution. I can appreciate the strength of our army, we Eritreans have, to confront foreign aggression. On the contrary, I despise the force to be used against its opposition Because, the solution is only dialogue when it comes to internal problems. Think about the following notion. If the Eritrean government believes and uses to crush its brothers and sisters using force, even if they committed grave mistakes. If our government is not merciful for its people who comities mistakes, then today for them tomorrow for me. I need to know that our government is merciful and not conduct punishments as only means of correcting mistakes. Now saying so, I would like to come about the Badme issue.

As we all know the pretext for the 1998-2000 war between Ethiopia and Eritrea was the issue of Badme. In April 13 the border commission confirmed Badme was in Eritrea. It was the famous straight line that connects the coordinates of Mai Ambessa and Mereb in one point to Tomsa on the other point that delineates Badme to remain in Eritrea. To bring Badme to the interior of Ethiopia this straight line must be broken, wind or curved by some means such that the straight line to pass around Badme and encompass it within Ethiopia. Because, as Professor Bahru of Ethiopia said it, "All the maps show this straight line, however capricious it might be, there is no way the line could bend". In reality that is correct. But, now if Ethiopia insists, unless the line bends and bring Badme to Ethiopia or go the way to war here fellows the solution. And that is a science fiction.

My lay man knowledge of scientific knowledge helps me to suggest a theory that brings a change to appease Ethiopia. I assume that when the border of Eritrea and Ethiopia demarcates on the western region, since it is delimited to be a straight line, they are going to use a LASER to beam a light from one coordinate of the Mai Ambesa and Mereb to the another receiver of the beam light on the other coordinate point of Tomsa . To bend this beam of light, somebody can create a strong electromagnetic field in Badme and its environs. In the presence of strong electromagnetic field a light can be bend (who cares, I don't mind it). So that the demarcation can be curved that leaves Badme to be in Ethiopia. But, now imagine that Badme and its environs will be under strong electromagnetic field and to remain for ever as it is it will be costly and it is not going to be beneficial for Ethiopia. On the other hand, it will be difficult for human beings, animals or for that matter plants to survive and exist in a strong electromagnetic field. It means it is going to be futile and worthless effort. The best solution is to be realistic and forget to dream about science fiction to ask for variation to bend the famous straight line that connects Mai Ambesa and Mereb in one point to the other point of Tomsa. Let that famous straight line remain for ever straight. I know that Ethiopians are asking to sway the straight line by some degrees towards the west.

Finally, is Badme going to be the market town of the brothers and sisters, the Eritrean and Tigerian people or a place of fight of Badme with a tail n.

Tesfamicael Yohannes

The following note is, from the book "ROGUE STATE", by William Blum.

quotation from "Perverting Elections".

"It shall be unlawful for a foreign national directly or through any other person to make any contribution of money or other thing of value, or to promise expressly or impliedly to make any such contribution, in connection with an election to any political office or in connection with any primary election.