Shabait.com (Asmara)
16 January 2008
opinion
Asmara — Based on the agreement reached between Eritrea and Ethiopia in Algiers in 2000, the EEBC gave its final and binding decision in 2002 at The Hague. Now, after five years of revolving around the basic problem, the matter has finally been resolved through a virtual demarcation of the borders, symbolizing a moment of triumph for the present and coming generations of both the Eritrean and Ethiopian people.
Such kind of an ending is a historical confirmation not only to the law abiding Eritrean people but also to the lawless and power mongering TPLF regime. As is very well known, the Eritrean people have for centuries tried to avoid conflicts and live peacefully and lawfully. However, successive Ethiopian regimes and their supporters have continuously antagonized law abiding Eritreans in an attempt to forcibly suppress their freedom. When Emperor Haile Selassie dissolved the federation between Eritrea and Ethiopia, Eritreans had initially sought to resolve the matter legally and peacefully. Yet, guided by their ever-mistaken belief in power, Ethiopian rulers always resorted to the use of force in dealing with the Eritrean question. Having been left with no choice but to challenge brutal force with equal force, the Eritrean people secured their freedom and sovereignty through a resounding military victory after 30 years of bitter struggle. Unlike the Ethiopian rulers and their supporters, the Eritrean people have always had faith in the rule of law; hence, they opted to put a legal stamp on their rightful freedom and sovereignty even after a complete military victory.
The TPLF aggression had similarly proven the integrity and legality of the Eritrean people while uncovering the adventurism of the regime. Assuming power after the fall of the Derg regime, the TPLF failed to learn from the experience of the preceding regimes and sought to suppress the rule of law with the use of power. Unfortunately, it did not go well for the regime and, in the end, it was compelled to respect the rule of law. Even then, when the legal decision was given, the regime could not summon enough courage to accept justice and instead dallied for five years to avoid the implementation of the decision. It is to be recalled that the Government of Eritrea has all along maintained that attempting to evade a legal decision would only bring further humiliation and that the implementation of the EEBC's ruling, regardless of when and how, is inevitable. In the end, the EEBC ruling was applied, as it is, in a virtual demarcation. This virtual demarcation bears a strong significance and is much more essential than erecting pillars on the ground.
As can be recalled, the TPLF regime and their supporters had for the last five years plotted various dubious schemes to shift the course of the peace process towards a confusing mechanism. However, the people of Eritrea know from first hand experience that no matter how long it may take or how bitter it might be, the struggle for peace and justice, so long as it does not deviate from its right course, will always prevail. It is the history of resilience and fortitude that has enabled the Eritrean people to succeed over their enemies. It is not difficult to imagine what the fate of the Eritrean people would have been today had they not possessed immeasurable patience and instead chose the easy way out. It is only because the people and Government of Eritrea patiently and tirelessly pursued the right course that the EEBC ruling was finally implemented.
The Algiers Agreement having been implemented and the Eritrean-Ethiopian border clearly outlined, the only remaining task is the mandatory withdrawal of TPLF soldiers from sovereign Eritrean territories. The people and Government of Eritrea will once again tirelessly pursue the legal course to this end. However, if legal proceedings do not result in the appropriate outcome, then the Eritrean people have other internationally approved choices that can guarantee a tangible outcome. The enforcement of law has its own legal process.
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