It was irrefutably established by independent
international investigators and peace mediators that Shaibya
invaded Ethiopian territories. The Eritrea-Ethiopia Claims
Commission concordantly found
Eritrea
liable for the loss, damage and injury as a result of the use of
armed force, and in direct violation of the rules of international
law regulating the resort to force, the jus ad bellum, in May 12,
1998. The Eritrean regime (Shaibya) had been urged several times
to withdraw its troops from the occupied Ethiopian territories and
settle any border issue or claim, if there is any, through
internationally accepted norms and laws of conflict resolutions.
Two years of tireless diplomacy and patience and appeasement
failed to induce Shaibya to admitting its gross blunder and
violation of the integrity of the boundaries of a sovereign
nation. Instead the Eritrean regime continued with its belligerent
saber rattling and confrontation. The theme of the day for the
Eritrean leader was not peace but
Eritreas
might, invincibility and it´s superiority over
Ethiopia
. It was trumpeted repeatedly that
Eritrea
was invincible whereas Ethiopia´s troops were demoralized and its
people fragmented into nationalities. The main issue for Shaibya
was the “selection” and “coronation” of some ethnicities
to the helm of power, “formal invitation” of Ethiopian troops
to the occupied territories by Shaibya for a duel, etc. The
“hidmo” or “Gojjo” versus “villa” or the “injera”
versus “spaghetti” and all the tenets of a civilized nation
against a primitive society, revealed clearly how irrational and
irresponsible the leaders of Shaibya were and still are.
Supported and cheered by his sycophantic supporters
and ardent cohorts and as avid he is for fame and personal
aggrandizement, Issaias staged on his profane and obscene words
with utter incivility against
Ethiopia
and Ethiopians. Those who were on mediation mission and made their
good offices indispensable, including Anthony Lake, Sussane Rice,
Hassan Gouled Aptidon, Blaise Campaoré and other African and
International diplomats, were humiliated, aspersed, ridiculed and
scorned.
Ethiopia
steadfast on avoiding a full-scale war and its disastrous
consequences on the brotherly people of
Ethiopia
and
Eritrea
circumspectly tried to elude any confrontation by all possible
means. Two years of Ethiopian patient waiting failed to bring the
Eritrean leadership into a new state of mind and to the
negotiation table. The aftermath need not be recounted. The whole
world knows how swiftly and gallantly the Ethiopian forces made a
clean sweep of the “skyline defenses and trenches” of the
Shaibya, leaving its dead behind and fleeing in humiliation and
disarray.
Shaibya’s leaders with no legal accountability and
without being arraigned before the international court for the
internecine war, mayhem, pillage, suffering and human loss during
1998-2000, continue their mission to destabilize and terrorize our
country and the Horn of Africa. Its dictatorial and miserable
domestic policies aside, the Eritrean leadership is sponsoring
and/or directly involving its military forces in the internal
affairs of the countries of the Horn. Its intention to become a
“kingmaker” and “superpower” of the region is claiming
innocent civilian lives both in the
Sudan
and
Somalia
. Shaibya’s earlier attempt through direct military
confrontations with
Yemen
,
Djibouti
,
Sudan
and
Ethiopia
to grab land by force has been a total flop. Therefore, its proxy
wars by arming puppets and mercenaries and dispatching them in
neighboring and non-neighboring (Somalia) countries have been
intensified since its humiliated defeat by Ethiopia. Groups and
remnants of the so-called Ethiopian opposition groups of CUD,
composed of the rightwing extremists, secessionists and terrorists
as well as the ragtag taliban-like Union of Islamic Courts (UIC)
are organized and trained in
Asmara
to launch war against
Ethiopia
. These groups according to Asmara are the “bulwarks of
democracy”, who besides logistics, training and special guidance
are supported by radio and TV, transmitted to Ethiopia. The irony
is that this venom spewing propaganda, call it “Radio Liberty of
Asmara” is disseminated by a regime, which is one of the most
human right violators and freedom abusers in the world.
Although the UN decided on arms embargo to the various
groupings and clans in
Somalia
, Shaibya has been providing arms to the extremists and religious
fanatics so that the country falls into the hands of the mullahs.
This violation of arms embargo is also a violation against the
internationally recognized Transitional Federal Government of
Somalia. Shaibyas intervention will create not only instability in
the neighboring countries but also another mass exodus of the long
suffering people of
Somalia
. However, the Ethiopian government should not tolerate the recent
declaration of jihad or holy war by the UIC against
Ethiopia
and the imminent perils of war it might cause along the border of
Ethiopia
.
Ethiopia
has full legal right to defend itself and its citizens and stave
off groups of terrorists and their backers, who have declared war
on the nation.
Shaibya has clearly showed that it has neither
governed by national law nor concurs to international
rules/agreements. The different turns of events and its relations
with the international community do not bode well for a normal
functioning state. Either Shaibya has totally misunderstood the
essence of an independent state standing on its own and on how to
behave with diplomatic norms and finesses or is still entangled in
its jungle law. The Eritrean regime is still behaving as if it was
in a guerilla warfare with incessant outbursts against the UN and
its Secretary General and the US: Intimidation, false allegations,
imprisonment, deportation of selected nationalities of the
peacekeeping forces (UNMEE), ban on helicopter flights in the
temporary security zone (TSZ) etc., personal attack on the
Secretary General, denial of entry visas, and refusal to meet with
honorable members of the US diplomatic core, are cases in the
public eye. In direct contravention to the
Algiers
agreement, which Shaibya after much dragging-foot finally accepted
and signed, its military presence in the security zone has been
confirmed and is thereby exacerbating the conflict to a dangerous
level.
Shaibya obsession with
Ethiopia
is neither new nor unforeseen. It has to have
Ethiopia
and Ethiopians as its enemy in order to divert attention from its
internal crisis and continue to rule with a dictator’s iron hand
with no democratic reforms, constitution, election, free press,
etc. Recently, a stage was arranged on a vehicle to dishonor the
Ethiopian Flag in front of the Eritrean leaders and some sham
dignitaries (including the treasonous groups of CUD, ex-derg, OLF,
ONLF, etc.) after 15 years of independence! Shaibya tries to make
bricks without straw. And the task is getting even tougher with
time as its credibility to peace and good neighborliness lacks the
basic elements of statesmanship and normal behavior of nations.
Peaceful settlement of the border issues have been completely
bedeviled by the regime’s refusal to negotiations and dialogue.
Therefore, it is true that
Ethiopia
has not got a responsible partner to negotiate peace with
Eritrea
. Lasting agreements on borders have to come and be concluded with
a reliable and responsible Eritrean government in order to ensure
peace and cooperation between both countries.
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