Habtezion

The above statement is not only totally false, but it also denotes a crass ignorance and a complete lack of the knowledge of the basic elements of the Kunama cultural and traditional heritage. The Kunama people in general, and therefore not only those “of Eritrea,” have an identical system of identifying themselves as belonging to the same Kunama race or ethnic-group and are recognised as such, by their near and distant neighbours. Without going too far back into the Kunama history to state that, the very name “Kunama” is said to have originated from the “Queen-mother Kuname” (the wife of the King Bada/Baza, Baden/Bazen) of the ancient times, let us just inform Mr. Annashib (Akanjo), that, the Kunama is perhaps the only ethnic-group in Eritrea which has preserved a very clear and unique system of identifying and defining its own ethnicity and its own ethnic-group members, based on its matriarchal system, referring therefore back to that great lady who has given her own name “Kuname,” to her own “Kunama” offspring, in the first place. Having thus put our argument into the historical perspective, let us go ahead to inform, Mr. Annashib /Akanjo) once more that, faithful to its basic matriarchal ethnic identification, the Kunama similarly adopts the identical matriarchal system to organise itself internally, by recognising social sub-divisions and stratification, but based only on blood/family ties, always originating from the Kunama mother’s family line. “DUGULA or KEBESA,” therefore is a fundamentally deciding factor in the Kunama society, both as a Kunama ethnic identification as well as a distinction and recognition of its ethnic-group members divided into various kinship entities or family ties. Let this suffice, as a piece of a crash cultural orientation, on the Kunama matters, for Mr. Annashib (Akanjo), who, though claiming to have been a mere shepherd or a cowherd, before he joined ERKU, has yet remained totally behind, in the knowledge of his own Kunama cultural and traditional matters and values. A Kunama would not and should not try to impart lessons on the Kunama cultural matters to his/her own fellow-Kunama. From East to West and from North to South, the Kunama are well-into their ancestral ethnic, traditional and cultural matters and values and therefore, they do not need to be taught on the knowledge they have already got, but Mr. Annashib Akanjo’s is a unique case. He cannot have been a Kunama cowherd and yet fail to know that, the Kunama do not need either him or others to be their teachers on their own affairs. The Kunama can be masters of their culture only to others.

“DUGULA KUNAMALA AMBA,” (blood relation/family or kinship ties are a blasphemy in the Kunama society), says, Mr. Annashib (Akanjo), but this very statement of his is a blasphemy to the Kunama ethnic and blood related matters. The Kunama race is interwoven within its own name “Kunama” and within its social matriarchal line. Any other explanation of its societal and kinship make-up is false.

Kinship or blood related family ties are common in many societies.

Our direct question to Mr. Annashib (Akanjo) and to the ERKU’s present leadership is: how come that, blood and family ties in the Kunama society have turned into a blasphemy? Have you perhaps issued new laws on and changed the Kunama ethnic, traditional and cultural values?

In the Kunama society, divisions based on kinship ties, do not only exist but they also play a fundamental role in the unity of the blood related Kunama individuals as well as in the unity of their ethnicity. Kinship names like, Gurma, Kara, Serma, Shua, Abina, Agartakra, Jula, Nataka and so on are all family ties, well-known, well-respected and well-preserved in the Kunama traditional society.

Those families share their respective kinship values and perform their particular ceremonies called “Shomfa Ngada,” communal inter-kinship performances in which every member has the duty to participate. Mr. Annashib Akanjo’s statement, “Dugula Kunamala Amba,” is therefore not only false but really blasphemous to the Kunama cultural heritage. He either does not understand the meaning of the word “amba” (taboo/forbidden ) or he is being led astray by certain forces which are themselves distorted.

If you, Mr. Annashib Akanjo and you, the ERKU’s present leadership, were to change the century-old Kunama culture, it would mean a completely different matter, but to state that, blood ties do not either exist or are some kind of taboos in the Kunama society, then you are totally mistaken. You should therefore try to avoid being the wrong sources of information on the Kunama cultural matters and values. Keep your ignorance to your own selves. You are making yourselves the objects of ridicule, not only to your own fellow-Kunama, but also to others who have been interested in the Kunama cultural matters and know them well, perhaps even to the level of being your teachers.

It is rather bewildering how, the ERKU’s present leadership keeps preaching the non-existence of “Dugula” factor in the Kunama society, particularly within its organisation, but yet itself is closely surrounded by its own blood related members. Are they not the close relatives of the two-top-leadership members all those who are today occupying the highest positions within the ERKU’s circle? Does the leadership really believe that, all those Kunama near it are so blinded not to see and notice who is who and who is doing what and for whom, within the ERKU’s organisational structure? Those Kunama will be the very witnesses.

Every Kunama knows that, within his/her own society, there are no divisions of the kinds, Mr. Annashib Akanjo and his top leaders are alluding to. If a Kunama recognises as, talks of and refers to other fellow-Kunama as, Kunama Aimasa, Kunama Barka, Kunama Ilita, Kunama Marda (Itana), Kunama Tika and so on, he/she is simply and solely meaning in terms of the geographical areas they occupy, the Kunama dialects they are bestowed of and of the variations in customs and traditions of those Kunama settles in those different regions, but never either in negative or in depreciatory terms. The Kunama is always very conscious of his/her egalitarian societal values and therefore he/she sees him/herself, as equal, not only to all and each of his/her fellow-Kunama but to all human beings. If there have been or there are negative divisions, conflicts and hatred among the Kunama, based on their geographical and dialectal differences, these have always been caused by those Kunama individuals who, because of their political prominence or other factors promoting them to a position, have lost their Kunama egalitarian values and started to consider themselves above their own fellow-Kunama, titling themselves as “Kokkolata Manne,” (chairmen/leaders) or other kinds of “manne” (chiefs), thus playing arrogant roles within, otherwise a very humble, peaceful and innocent Kunama society. Based on his traditional social system of not having either a formally established hierarchy to be subjected to or an authority, dictating norms on his/her conducts and behaviour, the Kunama is very prone to reacting strongly whenever he/she is either hurt in his/her personal dignity or whenever his/her personal and human rights are usurped. Not having the knowledge of the basic elements of the Kunama socio-cultural values, people like Mr. Annashib (Akanjo) and his “chiefs,” cannot and will never understand the reasons why the Kunama is not prepared to be subjugated to and pressured into accepting and abiding by their new sets of values which are any way self-oriented and self-centred and totally contradictory to the Kunama sense of justice and social equality. The Kunama solve their conflicts through peaceful dialogues and not through violent means, leading to killings. The ERKU’s present leadership has prevaricated those Kunama societal thresholds by killing its own ethnic members.

THE SHABIA REGIME.

Mr. Annashib (Akanjo) argues and warns the Kunama that, the Shabia regime is persecuting them, not based on their kinship, religious and geographical divisions but based only and simply on ethnic grounds. In other words, an attempted and an attempting ethnic cleansing. This is not only true, but also well-known to the Kunama people themselves and therefore they do not need to be reminded of by Mr. Annashib (Akanjo) or by any other person, for that matter. The good man should be directing his arguments against the Shabia regime itself, rather than trying to show only his sympathy to the Kunama people. If you really mean, Sir, do please use words and deeds to tell the Shabia regime and force it to stop persecuting the Kunama people. Who does not know that today, not only the Kunama but other Eritrean ethnic-groups too are suffering because of the devilish Shabia regime, but is what the ERKU’s present leadership has done and is doing any different from that of the Shabia regime? The regime is known to be detaining, jailing, torturing, hanging and executing all those who object to its political principles, but so does the ERKU’s leadership too. The Shabia regime’s top-leadership is notorious for its money mongering activities; the ERKU’s two top-leaders too are known to have been diverting money to their own personal bank accounts for years. Where and what is therefore the basic difference in conduct and behaviour between the two leaderships? If you, as you do claim in your article, Mr. Annashib (Akanjo), believe that, (nna Kunama haida memena dea afura Erku kishima), “it was this bitter suffering of the Kunama which gave birth to the saviour ERKU,” then, by now, you and the ERKU’s leadership should have done something concrete and positive against the Shabia regime and on behalf of our Kunama people, instead of simply crying over its plights. You are however and surprisingly very decisive and determined against your own kinds, detaining, jailing, torturing, hanging and executing them, in order to save, as you say, ERKU’s life. Is ERKU to the service of the Kunama people or are these to serve it? You cannot sacrifice the subject for the object, if this is understandable and valid an argument for you. The ERKU’s present leadership would not be so adamantly defending its leadership position if the constant flow of finance into its private accounts were not a guarantee and the major aim. Those fellow-Kunama who have known the present ERKU’s “Kokkolata Manna,” are stating that, he would not stay up one day, as its leader, if his own personal interests were not at the very centre of his struggle. The very fact of comfortably living in the Ethiopian capital is being brought up as a vivid proof of his whole aim of leading a self-servicing politics and strugle.

Dear fellow-Kunama and dear Eritrean compatriots, we cannot keep on accusing and blaming the Shabia regime and others, before putting our own houses in order. Since some of our own fellow Kunama and fellow-Eritreans, who have been either promoted or self-appointed to the leadership levels, have become our worst enemies, our battle has to be restricted first within our own circles and defeat those elements who appear to be working for our safety but they are instead our deadliest foes, eliminating and menacing to eliminate us. Their slogan runs: “whoever does not abide by our organisations’ principles, (translate it into the principles of organisations’ leaderships), will face a heavy decision,” (koma gerbeba koitena). This is a clearly established and self-explanatory dictatorship, ready to sacrifice every body and everything, in order to save and safeguard their own personal and group interests.

ERKUKODISU/DMLEK.

Which Kunama does not, by now, know how and why, this organisation had begun and developed itself was that, its prime founders were their Kunama people oriented, whereas the present ERKU’s leadership is solely self-interest-oriented. Besides the late Mr. Alexander Matuk Addalla and the late Mr. Chachu W/sellasie, the two brave Kunama who had started that movement, there were and are also other Kunama, among whom, the late Mr. Hussen Yusuf himself and other individuals, whose names are being deliberately withheld, as they are still living at home. Those very respectable personalities, had started that noble movement with the only aim of struggling for their Kunama ethnic, cultural and territorial rights, as they had clearly laid down in their first manifesto, made known to the Shabia regime itself. The distortion of that basic aim followed their death and the consequent assumption of the ERKU’s leadership by the present leaders who are a totally new breed with new needs. Financial interests have completely replaced the ethnic interests. The Democratic Movement for the Liberation of the Eritrean Kunama has been today reduced to struggling and serving its leadership’s interests. Unlike the past, the present ERKU’s leadership has been, from its very initial stages, characterised by divisions into groups and conflicts based on power struggle and leadership ambitions. The present leadership in fact, is still unable to distance itself from the constant obsession of “Hussen Yousuf’s groups, of Adolay/Twolde’s groups” and so on. Though the late Mr. Hussen Yusuf had fallen victim of that leadership struggle, the present ERKU’s leader himself seems to be still afraid of, even taunted and somehow feeling followed by the spirit of that deceased person, for, he keeps mentioning his name uninterruptedly. Let the dead soul rest in peace. The organisation has anyway been given a new direction whereby its present leadership can make only its personal profits, even eliminating whomever obstructs it

The present ERKU’s leadership should therefore and has to assume the whole responsibility that, because of its obsession to preserving the supreme command of the top leadership, has not only created open conflicts but it has also lowered itself to the point of committing atrocious acts of homicide upon those from whom it obsessively feels threatened. Such thoughtless act and clear miscalculation of the consequences, has today created the biggest problem and scissions, non only within ERKUKODISU itself but also among those Kunama who have so far been wholeheartedly and innocently supporting it.

UPON THE ISSUE OF the www.eritrean-kunama.com

Mr. Anashib (Akanjo) is bringing three reasons to suggest that, this web-site should be forced to close down. He claims to have read, understood, analysed and evaluated the latest articles and their contents, particularly regarding the accusations of the acts of homicide and, presumably, also the revelation on the financial corruption the two ERKU’s top-leadership members have been and are being involved in. First of all, let the VKP’s team congratulate you and express its wonder about your intelligence and the speed with which, you, Mr. Annashib (Akanjo), a former cowherd, who have been engaged in the ERKU’s activities, only during the last four years, have learnt and developed your knowledge of the English language, (as VKP’s articles are written only in English), so well and so perfectly that, you are even able to analyse, comment and pass on the suggestions that, the www.eritrean-kunama.com should be shut down as you see

1.- “no fruits deriving from it” and suggested that,

2.- “those fellow-Kunama who, moved by the plights of their own Kunama people, are financially supporting so that the web-site continued, should immediately stop doing so” and finally argued and concluded that,

3.- “failing that financial support, the web-site will not be able to continue to operate, but should it, then I believe there is Shabia’s financial support behind it, as division based of blood and family ties, lies and smear campaigns are typically Shabia’s strategies.”

Mr. Annashib (Akanjo), let us inform you in the first place that, before you, and that was in 1999, exactly the year you were either still a cowherd, had already joined or were just about to join ERKU, the Shabia regime itself, had tried to use its “long arm” to stop and shut down this web-site but, up to now, has not yet been able to do so and therefore your good suggestions too might be falling into a very barren soil. No matter how you may think and believe, there are only a couple of generous fellow-Kunama, financially contributing to this web-site and therefore, the team is not terribly afraid of being affected by such eventuality. By the way, why would you not plead to the two ERKU’s top leadership members whether they would be generous enough to write two little cheques, out of their, by now surely consistent respective banks accounts, as a little support to the site the VKP’s team is running? We thank you should you care doing it, but never mind. Do remain however ascertained that, this web-site is giving its fruits and on a very large scale. Neither you nor your chiefs can ever understand, accept and appreciate it, though once, the ERKU’s “kokkala Manna” himself did personally admit and thanked the VKP’s team for, not only advancing the Kunama cause, but also for making ERKUKODISU’s name known to many fellow-Eritreans and their organisations. Please, ask him about this.

What kinds of problems therefore do you think this web-site is now causing to you and to your boss? You talked a lot on democracy and you seem to believe in the democratic principles, but why can you not then see and accept our web-site in its free-press and democratic approaches on the Eritrean matters in general and on the Kunama ethno-cultural and territorial matters in particular? Would that not be within the democratic realms, to tolerate the difference of opinion, or is it not your kind of democracy? If you are suggesting to close down the web-site simply because it tackles issues differently from the way you see them, you are not abiding by the democratic but by typically very dictatorial principles, very much similar, if not very like to those of the Shabia regime.

Mr. Annashib (Akanjo), instead of unnecessarily busying yourself in the affairs of our web-site, which are very harmless matters, why do you not advise your own leadership that, it should neither shed the blood of its own ethnic-group members, nor steal money from the budget of the organisation? These are the chronic illnesses the ERKU’s present leadership should be cured from. Do please, try to clean up and put your own house in order, before seeing the dirt and disorder in someone else’s house. Do please, try to carry out a self-criticism before accusing and condemning others of less serious crimes than your own ones.

Mr. Annashib, (Akanjo), whom the VKP’s team has no difficulty in identifying as being Mr. Kornelios Adolay Osman himself, fooling his own self, by trying to fool others, has been imparting us his lessons on our own Kunama matters. The guy is not even smart enough to reason that, an ex-cowherd like Mr. Annashib Akanjo, can never be able to reach such linguistic as well as political maturity in a four-year learning period and write such kinds of sophisticated articles, containing very detailed material. Let alone a cowherd, an author, in the like of George Orwell, can make even pigs and other animals speak his own mind.

Though very aware of the author’s identity and of his usual arrogant style, the VKP’s team has however deliberately commented on certain points of his article in order to clarify those points and tell Mr. Kornelios Adolay Osman that, in the Kunama cultural matters he is not to teach and not even to compete with many other Kunama; even neither with the web-master nor with the co-writer. Besides, the two gentlemen have now nothing to do with an arrogant fellow-Kunama, totally gone astray and to the point of turning into a murder and murdering four of our own fellow-ethnic group members. If you sustain the Kunama society not being internally structured on blood related ties, you are sending clear signs of the deficiency of your own knowledge of the Kunama cultural heritage. On the other hand, you being motivated by totally different than struggling for the Kunama cause, you have never cared to deepen the knowledge of the cultural values of your own ancestry. Let us also tell you, that lately, your whole struggle has been reduced to defending only yourself, but unfortunately, your acts of homicide and your engagement in financial corruption and scandal have revealed you to be a very cunning, untrustworthy and a very greedy person, ready to sacrifice your own people for money’s sake. You would therefore do a great favour to the entire Kunama people and society, if you resigned and retired into solely enjoying the money you have been amassing over the years.

The VKP ( January 30, 2004).

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