On the Forum For National Dialogue

On the Forum For National Dialogue has been launched officially. 

From a post in FB February 2013

Whether it is a new organisation or a reformulation of an old one or just a forum for dialogue it is to be welcomed to the opposition club. The leadership are some of the prominent leaders of the EPLF and former senior members of the Eritrean Government. They seem to have the resources as they are able to start with the launch of a satellite radio focusing on media as the regime does (same EPLF mentality). They are using their former contacts to campaign against the regime. If one listens to their radio commentaries there a lot of criticism to the current opposition (presenting the people as sandwiched between the regime and opposition). Whether they have a solid ground inside or not is yet to be seen. You also sense that they almost claim (my feeling) that they are the only ones capable of toppling the regime. One can only say ' Enehe golgol enehe feres', good luck: Below are some comments on their program. 
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 The rise of the current authoritarian dictatorship was born within the EPLF itself and not after independence that is to say within the liberation struggle. The current president consolidated his grip through the years by eliminating or marginalization of his opponents.

- It does not admit the whole process of ‘National Assembly’ and constitution making process was totally EPLF/PFD dominated and was exclusive. There was no free press or freedom of expression then. One of the biggest mistakes the EPLF committed was to exclude all political groups in the process (ELF) and others, thus any serious pro-democracy group needs to admit this to be taken seriously. 

- It hardly mentions the diversity of the Eritrean society (Eritrea is a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural, multi-religious) where large sections of the population feel they have been marginalised by the EPLF/PFDJ 

- It does not call that it strives to form a decentralized form of governance that insures a fair share and distribution of power and resources.

- It completely neglects the struggle of the various political opposition groups who were struggling against this dictatorship for long, irrespective of their weaknesses. A new pro-democratic change group cannot jump over that past history. In this regard it looks as if it is the same exclusionary mechanism of the EPLF/PFDJ.
- It fails to mention the rising role of the struggle of Eritrean youth against the dictatorship.

 it is unfair to hold the current President alone responsible for the existing dictatorship. Any regime cannot maintain itself without a social base and a security and military apparatus and thus higher military officials and higher party officials and those closely affiliated to them are also responsible. A lot of crimes and injustice have been committed and there is a need fair justice and for reconciliation as well.

- Fails to mention the importance of friendly relations with all our neighbouring countries

http://martinplaut.wordpress.com/2014/02/03/eritrea-london-launch-of-forum-for-national-dialogue/