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Readers Comments
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Hi there,
This is in response to your post on what to do with shabia. Currently the government of Ethiopia seems to follow a containment policy. This has been working to certain extent, as long as the threat is only from shabia and only shabia itself. However, as Shabia tends to forget its limits and ventures to expand its scope of destabilization from the north part of the country to east, west and other corners of the country and create, organize, train and arm anti-peace elements of Ethiopian origin or external forces the containment policy would prove to be dangerous. Shabia and its cohort's ultimate goal is to destroy EPRDF and see a disintegrated Ethiopia (if it remains to exist). The government of Ethiopia said time and again, its number one enemy is poverty. To fight poverty the role of peaceful and stable environment is of paramount importance. However, to secure peace and bring growth you need also to eliminate any source of insecurity. The major insecurity to the region in general and Ethiopia in particular is the threat from Shabia and its surrogates. Even though, one could buy some time to do some developmental activities, ultimately unless you decisively deal with it, the fight on poverty will not take a root and bear a fruit. The other thing is one has to look at the source of the problem instead of keep trying to put out the fire here and there. As it is becoming obvious, Shabia is backing all the internal and external forces trying to destabilize the country. The government of Ethiopia should solve this problem once and for all, otherwise it going to be back to square one. As the tigrigna saying goes "Kindi M'gu-yay, kisad Mi-haz".
Peace out,
GT.

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The Ultimate antidote for Shaibya

Dear Aigaforum,
Ethiopia has been on the defensive so far in terms of fending off the proxies of Eritrea. The UIC trojan horse that was harboring the ultimate dreams of the Eritrean regime in the form of ONLF and OLF has been successfuly crushed. So far EPRDF's policy toward Shaibya seems to be one of a defensive posture. This needs to change to an offensive mode. Why and what should this offensive mode mean? Truth to be told; next time, Ethiopia may not be so lucky. Issayas has deployed so many different proxies against Ethiopia to achieve his goal of disintegrating the country into many tiny ethnic droplets that will pave the way for Eritrea's emergence as a regional power. In the long run, he has slim to good chance of success as long as he is in power and continues to promote ethnic hatred among Ethiopians which he is doing a good job of so far. He needs to be stopped. How?

The Afar Factor:

Truly the Afar people are the key to Ethiopia's emergence as a true dominant power in the Horn of Africa. The Afar factor applies both to Eritrea and Djibouti. In Eritrea they are close to 10% of the population and inhabit what is currently dubbed as southen red sea region while in Djibouti they comprise close to 40% of the population. In both countries, the Afar people are oppressed and not well represented in the political, business and social spheres. My friends, there is a real sense of disenfranchisement and disillusionment among the afar people that can be tapped and exploited by Ethiopia in a huge way. Ethiopia can emerge as a protectorate of the Afar people and help them form an Afar liberation movement in Eritrea. The Afars in Eritrea can be lured by this especially if Ethiopia promises to use Assab as a major port if they decide to become an independent state. Also, ethiopia has to help set-up an afar liberation radio station that is solely devoted for this purpose. An intensive media blitz to win or steal the hearts and minds of Eritrean Afars and a guerilla compaign to go with it needs to be launched ASAP. Ethiopian afars will come in handy in a big way here by serving as a cultural and logistical bridge. The main point here is to provoke the Eritrean regime to crackdown on Eritrean Afars that they suspect are sympathizers and in turn using the crackdown as an example of the oppression and inhumane treatment of Ertirean Afars in the hands of shaibya to fan the ire of afars against shabiya. This will have a snowball effect and more and more afars will join the liberation camp, if not physically at least in their thoughts. This startegy will have a big destabilizing effect inside Eritrea and the regime will resort to what it knows best:heavy handed crackdown. Shabiya's strong reaction will only further fuel the liberation struggle by giving the liberation media a chance to expose the atrocities committed by shabiya. If EPRDF pursues this strategy, Shabyia will soon have on its hand a real menace that can engulf it and go down the drain. Today there may be only two afars in Eritrea that might support secession from Eritrea; if this strategy is pursued however, i tell you in less than two years you will have thousands of ertirean Afars actively seeking independence. It's guaranteed, all the right ingredients are present for a liberation movement, ethiopia just needs to exploit it. I just don't understand how the EPRDF regime has been sleeping at the wheel and just defending whatever shabiya throws its way. Shabiya agree to end its support for proxies only if ethiopia has leverage against it. The Eritrean afars are that leverage!!!! Also, I have also a very well thought out strategy to change Djibouti into a compliant client state.
A Gemeda

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Dear Aiga,
“UNITY IN DIVERCITY” is your page motto. It is the base for the survival of our mother land. Unless otherwise we live together in UNITY IN DIVERCITY, we can not live separately. Whatever our past history is or how good or bad it is we are at a point of no return. To live in UNITY IN DIVERCITY, we have to solve our internal problem. Our internal problem is undeniable. I am very happy that the threat from Somalia mainly from the Union of Islamic Courts is subdued, but I am afraid to say that no more threat. As far as our historical far and near enemies are there, there is always threat. The best solution is that solving our internal problem. Our Government should try to solve our internal problem positively. The biggest threat for our country is our internal problem. If it is solved, neither Shaibya’s nor other historical enemies’s threat affects our Ethiopia as far as our unity is our strength and our external enemies have no means to interfere in our internal matters. UNITY IN DIVERCITY!
Niway Zergie Aynalem

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I think by dealing with the UIC we washed off the make up,the real problem still exists inside the skin .We could have dealt with it, but I don't think our leaders have the willingness to get rid off the real problem.As a result,we keep up bleeding. Thank you
Azeb

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Dear Aiga,
This is just my opinion about the balance on the news front, that readers get from you. Your site have kept the off balance news being thrown at us from some sites, in balance.
Some of those , like the " fallen Helicopter" or all other "show and bet" pictures that we open with expectations and be disappointed, to read unrelated stories.
Who has the time to investigate all these craps? Me and my colleagues appreciate your great work, and helped us to learn about our beloved country fairly. On the Somalia front, I would like to comment that, I never thought Ethiopia would be capable of doing such a noble work at this point of its level, I think it has grown very mature in all aspects.
I believe there is no different between the Somali peasant and the Ethiopian peasant. You have to wish for your neighbors what you wish for your self, to do that at least you have to be in synch with some fundamental ideas. I believe this is the basis for the Ethiopian government for stepping up to the challenges. It is working now and hope It will continue to work.
What a great mission. I will quote the foreign Minster, talking to African diplomats at the start of the conflict, " We will make Africa proud". They just did that.
On Eritrea front, there are some emotional individuals among us. It may be due to past experience or other, who want to declare war on Isayas.
I understand. But, please don't just look at his craziness. Try to look the bigger picture of what the war will cause to the Eritrean and Ethiopian family. There should be no war any where, specially in that region. The war should be on poverty.
As the Ethiopian prime Minster once said" those who are for evil activities, will fall down by the heavy weights of their own actions".
That is happening in all fronts. Ethiopia is fortunate with the right and very responsible government in place. I am convinced that, this region will be a place that every one live in harmony, and be an example to all human races. Let's learn how to appreciate and admire the good work. Keep up the good work.
Cheers,
TW, Toronto

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Dear Aigaforum,
EPRDF has made a blunder and a huge historical mistake in collaborating with and assisting Shaebia. Also EPRDF should never let Ethiopia become land-locked and history will deal the leaders of EPRDF harshly.
I strongly believe and urge Ethiopia to get rid of Isaias Afeworki and here are the reasons:
1. The actions, behavior and attitudes of Isaias Afeworki and his gang towards Ethiopia is completely unacceptable to any fair minded Ethiopian at all. We are above 77 million people with proud and long history and it is not acceptable to be ridiculed and blackmailed almost daily and at every opportunity by a Shaebia who is governing less than four million people who were part of Ethiopia until 1993. In short, it is damaging the peace, development and security of our people and this cannot go for ever. Isaias is not creating "irritation here and there" as PMMZ appears to accept, but instead Isaias is working against Ethiopia undermining its survival.
2. Asmara is the major force behind the UIC and a source of all anti-Ethiopian dissidents including OLF, ONLF, EPPF, CUD (the faction lead by the racist, opportunist and power thirsty Andargachew Tsige), etc.
3. Isaias is a messenger boy to all historical enemies of Ethiopia such as Egypt and others who are keen to see Ethiopians busy doing their homeworks and fight each other.
4. Isaias Afeworki and his supporters have been working hard persistently for a long time to isolate the Tigraians from other ethnic groups in Ethiopia and create havoc and ethnic conflict between ethnic and religious groups.
I understand Isaias will do everything to stay in power, but I argue the risk of allowing him to undermine Ethiopian interests without consequences is far greater than dealing with him now when it is clear to the world that the madman in Eritrea even collaborates with terrorists if it fits his mission of damaging Ethiopia.
Thank you.
Gasha Adi

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