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The Truth Behind the Past Nine Years of Complication

Shabait.com (Asmara)
EDITORIAL
5 May 2007
Posted to the web 6 May 2007
Asmara
Nine years ago, on the first week of 1998, the TPLF regime after suddenly
opening fire on some members of the Eritrean Defense Forces stationed around
Badme and causing damage, contrary to this opted to yell loudly saying "Eritrea
Invaded us" as everyone can remember. And since this fabricated prosecution was
a prologue to a bigger agenda ahead, while meetings were conducted to mitigate
the conflict, the TPLF regime by setting up a quick drama, was not late to
declare war on Eritrea officially.
The sudden declaration of war made on 13 th May 1998 by the TPLF regime was a
tragic misfortune to the peoples of Eritrea and Ethiopia, who after a long and
bitter war, have began to feel the blessing of peace, brotherhood, cooperation
and good-neighborliness, though for a brief period. Amid such developments the
Government of Eritrea, never opted to respond to the declaration of war by the
TPLF regime with a similar declaration. In a demonstration of supreme
responsibility, the Government of Eritrea chose not to jeopardize the
apparently evolving novel and optimistic peaceful relations between the two
peoples, and this despite the immature, sentimental declaration and provocative
statements of the TPLF regime. Instead, on 14 th May 1998 in a calm and
tolerant manner, the Eritrean government put forth the following promising
proposals:
1. The border issue can't be resolved through military engagement but through
peaceful and legal means. Hence, by avoiding force and the argument of force, a
dialogue that includes a third party must be conducted promptly;
2. In order to avoid unnecessary conflict, the border area of both countries
must be free of military occupation and be replaced by observers; and
3. The Cartography Unit of the UN must conduct border demarcation based on
colonial boundaries.
Had the TPLF regime accepted these clear, peaceful, legal and mutually
beneficial proposals at that time, the huge material and human loss that was
sustained by the two peoples would not have happened. Moreover, the march of
development of both peoples as well as the peace and stability of the Horn of
Africa wouldn't have been disrupted. However, for the TPLF regime the border
issue was not its priority; rather it launched the open aggression for other
sinister agendas and was more than reluctant to follow such a peaceful path.
The invasion which made the border issue serve as an excuse was attempted
although the extensive military adventurism of the TPLF regime was crushed
resulting in a shameful defeat, the issue was brought to court and was given a
final and binding verdict. Yet, the people of Eritrea and Ethiopia are not able
to achieve the peace they aspire to have and the complexity of the matter is
getting worse everyday. And if anything, this denotes one major truth: the
Eritrean-Ethiopian border conflict was not only caused by pure dream and
adventurism of the TPLF regime. From the outset, the party that pushed and
encouraged the TPLF regime to commit aggression, parallel with the military
adventures masquerading as negotiator and peace mediator disrupted peaceful
efforts and complicated it so as to deny it a solution, and at last when the
verdict was given the party that is openly standing against the implementation
of the verdict is no one else but the US Administration. And the last nine
years have ascertained this.
It is not to be missed that the prime cause for the damage that befell on the
peace and stability of our region is due to the Eritrean-Ethiopian border
conflict of the opportunities and time lost and the destruction sustained by
the peoples of Eritrea and Ethiopia falls primarily on the hands of the US
Administration. However, this strategy of domination and plunder and the
mercenary TPLF regime, whatever destruction and crisis it brings about on the
Horn of Africa, there is no doubt at all that it will face defeat at the hands
of the just struggle of the peoples of Eritrea and Ethiopia. There has never
been a force that managed to survive by obstructing justice. The TPLF regime
which is abhorred and despised by its people and the people of the region as a
whole is on the verge of collapse and can't revive through the utmost care of
the US Administration. In the final analysis, the EEBC ruling will be
implemented and the people of Eritrea and Ethiopia will once again enjoy the
peace and stability that they have longed for. The truth remains as ever that
the argument of force cannot succeed!

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