The Afar Quest of Self-determination and the Denial of the Eritrean Politicians

By: Muhammad Shamsaddin Megalommatis
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[ Posted On: 2008-09-17 ]

Truly speaking, I did not expect my previous article "Red Sea Afars deserve Respect as Eritrean Citizens – Call for an Afar University at Asab" to be met with so great interest; I have received a wonderful criticism from the part of a reader to whom I will reply in a forthcoming article, analyzing my vision of an Afar University in Asab.

In this article, I want to re-publish an excellent Afar criticism of the present day Eritrean politics. Written by Amin H. Yassin, an astute Afar commentator, this criticism should be read widely in Asmara – particularly by those who search ways to strengthen and empower the new country on its path for development, democracy and prosperity. As Mr. Yassin’ title is explicit and evocative, I adopt it here as well.

The Afar Quest of Self-determination and the Denial of the Eritrean Politicians
By Amin H. Yassin
http://www.baden-kunama.com/ARTICLE/ARTICLE09.htm

The Unification of Eritrea and demarcation of its present boundaries were achieved only in 1890 by the Italians.

Prior to the arrival of Italy the present day Eritrea was divided into many decentralized administrative units with each one having their own institutions and laws.

The Afar people had an independent traditional political system which possessed clearly defined geographic boundaries. They also had an overall control of trade activities and imposed tax on caravans carrying goods across the Afar land, to and from the Read Sea.

Because of its geo-political position, the Afar people and their land became the victim of repetitive aggressions from the part of both, regional and international, forces that desired to impose their supremacy and rule in the region.

These aggressions took place due to the scramble of Africa, a conspiracy that left the Afar people in disarray as it divided their nation into different colonial spheres of influence.

In historical terms, the Afar land was divided and became subject to the French, Italian, and Abyssinian empire builders.

Historically, relations between Afar and Eritrea have been characterized by a strange duality of probabilities. At on time, both the Afar and Eritrea appeared to be at peace; at another time they seemed to be on the verge of explosion. This is because of the Afar demand for the right of self-determination and the Eritrea’s denial for this right.

However, the Afar quest for self-determination is not a new phenomenon, as it is traced back to the times of the Italian occupation of Eritrea. Upon the withdrawal of colonial power, the Eritrean question was brought again to the political arena of the region; then the issue was whether Eritrea should be independent or reunited with Ethiopia. At that time, the Afar people also raised their demand for self-determination.

My question to the dear Eritrean opposition parities’ leaders is this:

Why don’t you recognize our Right to Self-determination?

The aim of the Shaebia is to create a unified and unitary nation state through nation-building procedures that do not involve the recognition of the right of ethnicity. The nation-building thesis of Eritrea is based or focuses on the imposition of the cultural, linguistic and religious values of the dominant sub- national group.

What Afars are demanding is a simple and logical thing. Since the establishment of Eritrea as a state, their role in the socio-economic development remained insignificant; in addition, they are not being sufficiently represented; they do not have a truly authentic presence in the Eritrean politics.

Moreover, demanding the right of Self-determination is not a mere invention of the Afar people, as the right of a nation to Self-determination is recognized internationally. It is the right of nations to preserve their identity, to have their identity respected, and to promote and preserve their heritage, traditional artifact and history; it is the right of nations to use and develop their own language and culture.

It is the right of nations to administer their own affairs within their own defined territory, to exercise self-rule and with freedom, effectively participate in the activities of their own government, and elect their impartial, appropriate and fair representation.

Every nation can exercise their right of self-administration and establish their own governmental organizations in order to establish self-rule in any dimension, geographical, ethnic or linguistic. It is nothing more than this.

Because of its dictatorial behavior, E.PL.F. is marginalized from the multi-ethnic perspectives. This party is following the old life style of assimilating nations into the dominating society’s culture.

As the same token, the opposition parties, which call themselves advocators of democracy and justice, seem to also refuse the right of self-Determination to nations and nationalities.

The Eritrean opposition parties should know that if they don’t recognize the right of Self-determination for the Afar people, there might soon be a political organization which will claim to secede from Eritrea. This will happen because everything, especially a political solution in a very young country, has to be achieved by mutual consent of the nations of that very country.

If there is no mutual consent between the peoples of the very country, it is difficult to achieve stability. It is also obvious that every nation has right to choose its alternative.

We can see what is happening in Somalia. In spite of their homogeneity, the Somali people couldn’t achieve stability. It is due to the lack of mutual consent among the Somali people that it is difficult to solve their disputes. You can imagine what the consequences will be in Eritrea for the Eritrean people have different socio-economic and political values. Especially, those who call themselves as advocators of democracy and justice fail to recognize the same right to all. In addition, it is down-to-earth reality that those who pay no heed for the rights, the origin, the belief and the culture of the others, will be met with a reciprocal attitude from the part of the others.

The Afar people who inhabit in Read Sea (Dankalia) do not expect anything good to come from the incumbent government of Eritrea, which turned the country into a prison of the oppressed nationalities and classes.

In Eritrean politics, History repeats itself. Prior to Assab regional administration, the Afar land was dispersed among Eritrea, Wollo province, Tigray province, Hararge province, and Showa province.

In today’s Eritrea too, the Afar people have been dispersed amongst different administrative units. This is coding Ethiopia’s past regime’s style, which couldn’t achieve any development and progress for Ethiopia, except conflict, hostility among the nations of the country, war and devastation. Toppling E.P.L.F. wouldn’t bring any sustainability for the entire Eritrean people and particularly for Dankalia people who are anxious to have access to self-rule within the Eritrean framework. In a sense, the Red Sea Afar people believe in a Democratic Eritrea strong enough to recognize the right of Self-determination.

The fundamental point which the Eritrean opposition should investigate is ethnic rights. Because History tells us that prior to the colonial arrival, present day Eritrea was divided into many decentralized administrative units with each one having their own institutions and laws.

Article Source: http://www.afroarticles.com/article-dashboard

About The Author: Dr. Muhammad Shamsaddin Megalommatis - is Orientalist, Assyriologist, Egyptologist, Iranologist, Islamologist, Historian and Political Scientist. Dr. Megalommatis, 51, is the author of 12 books, dozens of scholarly articles, hundreds of encyclopedia entries, and thousands of articles. He speaks, reads and writes more than 15, modern and ancient, languages.

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