Eritrea’s choice of Governance
By: Berhane Woldu
https://shidamedia.com/eritreas-choice-of-governance/
May 18, 2021
Eritrean men, when getting together, the subject that arises for discussion is always politics. Get two or more Eritreans together and you will find yourself in deep discussion on political issues, which leads to arguments. These discussions are never about economic growth, industrial policy, fiscal policy, inflation, unemployment and social justice but always about DEMOCRACY. Those pretentious Eritrean "opposition", claim that there is no democracy in Eritrea and desire change. They want to "dethrone" the present regime and themselves sit on "the throne", having little understanding of the Eritrean people’s thought, political development and wishes. All I can say, to these poor souls is: may God bring sanity to you.
In May 2014 President Isaias said, amongst other things:
We are going to compose the constitution.
The People’s Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ), needs to modernize and become a more effective political organisation.
Time has arrived for PFDJ to concentrate on the political and economic development of Eritrea now that the ill-wishers, destabilisers, and defeatists have all crumbled.
The nation has ascertained its existence as a strong state, and is not to be trifled with. Not since the days of the Kings, has it been so peaceful, strong and influential. Sabotage, ill will of nations and challenges put forth by its enemies have been defeated it. It is now high time to move forward, to attain its political destiny. Eritreans want none of the rubbish, fake democracy. Eritrea’s governance is based on equality, justice, unity in diversity and prosperous quality of life. Good governance include; more substantive principle, than sham democracy. What we need is Governance with legal constraints, tailored to local realities and a government that is devoted to its people and that increases economic opportunity. Eritrea does have institutions and an effective, efficient and genuine leadership. At this juncture Eritrea doesn’t need phony democracy, but a strong centralised governance that will bring rapid economic and political development.
In his book
The coming Anarchy,
Kaplan states;
Democracy or free elections should come, after the free market had produced enough economic and social development to make democracy sustainable. Middle class and civil institutions are preconditions for a stable democracy, and are a bi-product of the free market.
He goes on to say, contrasting
Lee Kuan Yew’s prosperous authoritarian Singapore with the
killings & bloodletting in "democratic" states like Columbia and Rwanda.
Kaplan strongly criticises America’s post-Cold War undertaking to export democracy abroad,
to places where it can’t succeed.
Why then, are we Eritreans always arguing about Democracy?
Eritrea is a country that came to be, with shared sacrifices. Family value is supreme and the individual exists in the context of the family, rather than the western value of
individualism which their version democracy is based upon. As a nation, Eritrea doesn't have a minority, that dominate the economy,. Equality, is the motto. Eritrea, immediately after independence, started rebuilding its economy & attained remarkable progress and was working on a political transition, to a constitutional governance. These advances were interrupted in 1998, by the Weyane regime and their handlers through wars of aggression. Ideals of self-reliance became a cause for Western nations to gang up on Eritrea, inorder to divert the nation from its economic and political development. Nevertheless, Eritrea did not blink; it diverted its resources to generate growth. Socioeconomic reforms were put in place, “
leveling the playing field’. Social justice and educational opportunities were expanded to the rural areas, to bring the impoverished majority to compete successfully with the urban rich. Wealth balances through intervention on behalf of an economically disadvantage group was placed, owing to progressive taxation and subsides. The sum of all begets a wealthy nation, fulfilling the prerequisite for a politically stable country. Transforming the nation into middle income country, with a large majority of middle class.
Today, we are witnessing voter suppression in the USA. Georgia, Texas and Arizona are introducing laws that will discourage minority voters from participating in the election system. In Libya, only 1.5m people in a population of 6m have registered to vote. Turnout was only 630,000, according to state officials. Democracy is practiced by minority of the population, for the benefit of the elite. Still democracy is being forced upon developing nations, without consideration to their readiness.
One man one vote, may not be the best system or that parliamentarian proportional representation may not fit Eritrea. Bottom-up local village elections with majority participation, may be the best way to govern. Eritrea’s Political reforms, are gaining ground. In Eritrea there are open local elections for administrators, judges and district officials to run the local governance. The election offers a vital measure of political participation and more significantly, legitimate competitive election as an important part of the political process. There have been many improvements (rightly so); in granting citizens far more economic and personal freedoms, that Eritreans have enjoyed since independence.
Eritrea is marching to urbanisation, economic modernisation and to attain a middle class society and has no hindrance in implementing representative governance. From inception, the EPLF's ideals were to
first; free the nation from its colonisers,
second; to develop the country economically and
third; to attain a classless democratic nation. This is the mission and vision, of all Eritreans.
Diaspora men should stop bickering about democracy and start a positive discussion on subjects of concern the likes of recovery tax, economic and investment opportunities, Institutional governance and expanding social justice.
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