As the time for the implementation of the decision of the Boundary Commission approaches, many familiar activities are taking place in the border area between Ethiopia and Eritrea. Eritreans are trying to grab land ahead of the official transfer of land by UNMEE. In so doing, they are crossing to the Ethiopian side of the border and abducting innocent villagers and rustling their cantles and run away back to Eritrea. Of course, the new abductees will join their brothers and sisters who were herded into Eritrean concentration camps during the war. Some of our sisters were taken to the Eritrean Military basis to be used as Comfort Girls for Eritrean Generals, some were taken to dig the Eritrean trenches or military defense lines, which turned out to be the burial grounds for Eritrean soldiers, and up to the present, we do not know their where about. Now, they are doing it again, and this time with the full knowledge and assistance of the UNMEE peacekeepers in the area.

In the mean time, the UN Cartographic unit is accelerating its activities and almost completing its survey. The next task is to place the posts that mark the border of the two unfortunate countries. We say unfortunate because this "official" demarcation will not bring them the desired peace; the Ethiopian people will never accept the decisions of the Boundary Commission in its entirety. It will make our beloved country a permanent slave of Eritrea. We say this, unless it’s natural outlet to the sea and its current border are maintained, Ethiopians will never accept it. No force will subjugate our country to surrender to the force of evil, be it local or international. The end result of this one sided decision is more blood shade and the intensification of violence like that of Kashmir. Fascist Italy had tried to demark the border and our people stood up and stopped it.

To comeback to the Eritrean abducting and cattle rustling, Eritreans are increasingly becoming impatient and taking the law in to their hands. They are trying to grab the land that they never dreamt of.They have been asking almost half the population of Irob to be removed from their ancestral land. This act of provocations violates also the rules of the Security Council. The Security Council has been asking the parties not to move the population before the official demarcation of the border takes place. Therefore, UNMEE is becoming a facilitator to the schemes of the Eritrean government and not a peacekeeping force anymore. Some of us also suspect that the Ethiopian Prime Minister might instigate this. He is known for creating tensions so that the international community exerts pressure on Ethiopia, so as to accelerate the land transfer to Eritrea. This might sound a bizarre logic for those who are not familiar with the behavior of Meles, but the history of this man is anything but bizarre.

Many Ethiopians at home and in the Diaspora are asking why is UNMEE behaving this way? It is true that the guiding principles of the peacekeepers is to remain impartial, but they are also human beings and therefore, vulnerable to make mistakes.

Words are coming from Asmara that the Eritrean government is deliberately infecting UNMEE officials with anti Ethiopia propaganda. As the UNMEE Headquarters is located in Asmara, many of its high- ranking officials reside in the City. Many UNMEE officials are seen entertaining with Eritrean Generals and officials in Hotels, restaurants, and nightclubs. As the matter of fact, Eritrean secret agents frequently present young Eritrean Girls, some of them Shaebia cadres to UNMEE officials.

Further more, over 30 percent of the UNMEE personnel are Eritreans who work as local/national staff. Most of the jokes in various UNMEE offices are about Ethiopians mainly about Agames (Tigreans.) This anti-Ethiopian propaganda is not limited to higher officials but it goes down to Military observers, otherwise known as MILOBS including contingency officers.

UNMEE also sees an Eritrean agent Prime Minister in Ethiopia who covers up for Eritrean crimes, advocates for Eritrean interest and condones Eritrean aggression.You remember the departure of Major General Patrick as a result of Meles’s insistence as his supporters would like us to believe. The fact is all Force Commanders in Peacekeeping Missions are assigned for two-year terms. It is very rare that a Force Commander serves more than a two-year term in any UN Mission. Major General Patrick Cammaert completed his two-year term and left the Mission. Therefore, the departure of that General would not solve the problem. It is deeper and symptomatic than most of us would to think.

The other bizarre story is the embarrassment of the Ethiopian government. It is embarrassed not because its citizens are being humiliated by UNMEE and brutalized by the Eritrean government, but by the revelation of the Eritrean aggression to the media. As always, the Shameful regime wanted the story to be kept secret. By its Press Statement of 15 October 2002, the Ministry of foreign affairs of Ethiopia accused UNMEE officials of leaking the self-defense action of our people to BBC. In fact, it’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Dr.Tekeda characterized the October 4, 2002 incident as “ anti-Ethiopia” and promised to investigate. We are not shocked. To many Ethiopians, Dr. Tekeda is a well-respected Ethiopian, but he might have said that under pressure. As it is customary character of the Prime Minster, he wanted the suffering our people to remain secret. Especially since the beginning of the border fiasco, it became crystal clear to many Ethiopians that Meles is not only a traitor but an out right liar, street smart and comedian. He tries to rule the country by deceit, lie and secrecy. However, this is not possible in the era of Internet.

On its part, the Ethiopian government is paving the way for the “ smooth” transfer of land and population in the border area. First, most of the high-ranking military officers who broke the backbone of our enemy are being transferred from the border area to other parts of Ethiopia. They are being replaced by other officers who are less familiar with the geography and the emotion of the people of the area. Second, many people who are considered as” trouble makers” on this particular issues are taken from their homes by Meles’ agents at gunpoint and nobody knows where they are being taken. In fact, many people in Tigrai are suspecting that Meles’ boys might have opened the gates of the infamous prison known in Tigrina as Bado Shoudishte or Zero Six. For those who are not familiar with this infamous prison, Bado Shoudishte is a hell on earth, an under ground cell with no fresh air and light. Many people who resisted Meles’ agenda were kept in this prison indefinitely in the 1980s.

As the border debacle is slowly unraveling, we will keep you posted of our investigations.

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