Ethiopians have wasted too much time on issues surrounding little Eritrea inpart because of the obssesion or maybe a hidden agenda and an above normal respect to Eritreans by a TPLF government. When only a department or an agency at a commission level would have been enough to deal with the Eritrean issue, The PM, The Foreign Minstry, The Information Minstry, The Defense Minstry etc, has been talking on issues of Eritrea for more than 12 years on a daily bases. Ever since Melese gave an inappropriate and anti Ethiopian speech at the stadium of Asmara (at the early 90`s) calling the Eritrean people invincible and victorious, he continued to do so until the war broke out between the 2 nations in 1998. If you ask me today in 2004 we are back to square one.
Today Eritrea is in a very bad economical situation fighting for its survival. In current situation, it would be a surprise if Eritrea exist in the coming 2 or 3 decades leave alone develop and prosper. Because if it has to develop and has a meaningful existence then it needs Ethiopia. As simple as that.
Ethiopia, despite TPLF`s empty and illogical propaganda, it needs to get back possesion of its natural sea outlet. This will be done now or in 2 or 3 -- decades by peacful means or force. As our population grows fast and our enemies multply, with out a sea outlet there will be no meaningful existence. If it is not resolved now then it means it has to be in the future. If you will you can call it a time bomb.
So logically there will be no peace with out Ethiopia having its natural sea out let and Eritrea having access to its natural market. Period.
If Eritrea gets access to its natural market with out giving back Assab through back door by using TPLF then that means future conflict.
If the TPLF government get an assurance from the west to stay in power for a couple of years in return for letting Eritrea have access to its natural market then that means furture conflict.
Peace proposal:
Ethiopia to hand over the town of Badme to Eritrea.
Eritrea to hand over the port of Assab to Ethiopia.
The right of the people of Irob, Afar and Kunama to remain Ethiopian to be respected.
Before the above is realised both Melese and Issias has to be removed from power.
Why the Shire people sucrify for Assab? If the Eriteans give Assab to Ethiopia as part of the deal for Bademe then Assab will be part of the Amhara region. What the Shire(Tigrai) people will get in return? No Badme to Shaubea. Take the whole Abay-Tigrai once for all. All the deal or compromise they are attempting is going to be for the interest of Amhara and Shaubea, for Tigrai there is nothing at all. Tigreans you have to understand one thing, this war is not for only to protect your ancistors land but to protect your own pride and to preserve your ancistors promise and pride. We should not accept any deal what so ever with our own land and people. The whole region upto Ras Kassa to Keboo from Adolise to Sokota and selemti (welkaite) are ours.
Are you people thinking right!The implications of giving Bademe to Eirrea, far out weigh giving them,the whole south Tigrayor Gaint or Menz.
Here Shaebia is not talking land.They and their global accomplice are ill bent to demoralize us, forever.We can never be proud after Bademe,no more pride about Ethiopians fighting only for the legal and the right cause.We always stood on the correct side ,no more.And they will quickly tell us we are only wrong if little or big aggressor comes to attack us in the future.
And why will Ethiopians respond to agovernment mobilization in the future?why will they fight and die if martyrdom is so easily desicrated?.Our common glorious history is being deconstructed,by the myopic leaders in Ethiopia.I am feeling shame that I supported these people, fo 17yrs.I am mad with Meles. Why is he so mean to us?Why did he offer Issayas, this fig,at a time when he is so unpopular,and about to fall to his grave.
The Ad-Abieto massacre,that was reverberating througout Eritrea,was not a joke. However, it was quashed by Meles`5ppp,a magic stroke,of a never forgetting last minute savior.This and only this benefit,i.e., of detracting the Eritreans,is worth millions of dollars for Issayas and lots of harm to Ethiopia,for that matter even Meles` party.
.Meles is prolonging Eritrean peoples Suffering....he,If the people knew well,would stand to be their enemy,no less than Issayas.
If any Ethiopian exchanges land with eritrea,it should be Tesenai ...for Eitrea,Assab ....for Ethiopia.Bademe is at least,80km east, of the border.We are not Talking about a godforsake village here,it`s a section of a country,and avery fetile one.Don`t allow your self be duped by the consistent, Wester-Meles-Issayas deceitful propoganda that the land is useless.This is the big Irony; Why are they all blind folding Ethiopians not to defend it?.....could it be the coveted mineral wealth?What ever the merit or demerit of the ecinomic argument is,ours,lash fertile or arid desert, is our sacred land,worth spilling our blood even twice.....like in the Ogaden.
However,Bademe and its whole evirons,at the minimum ,should remain with us,for we fought and liberated it.We also had it forever and,to begin with,we should even never have gone to court, if we had honest leaders,alas!
I think you got the seriousness of the matter spot-on.
The game is called in Tigrinya MAI-DO-TSEBA, and Meles is close to throwing the towel.
Ethiopia is already check-mated, and Meles is doing trivial moves hoping for a draw. That is why he and those who understand his position and sympathise with Ethiopia, are calling for a dialogue. And Issais is not co-operating. You see if he (issias) gives in now he could win a round of aplause and a few million AID money and Eritrea will smile. But that is a short lived victory, similar to your TOTAL VICTORY DANCE AT MESQEL SQUARE. It is not in Eritrea's advantage to win a pawn now when it can win the game as a whole.