DRAFT PARTY PROGRAM

DRAFT PARTY PROGRAM

 

Introduction:

 

The people of Eritrea were able to achieve their national sovereignty by waging political and armed liberation struggle for fifty years beginning in the 1940s. However, after national sovereignty was achieved, political power shifted to the hands of a dictatorial group because there was no full-fledged political entity to lead the people in a new direction. Consequently, the people’s misery and suffering deteriorated forcing them to engage in a unique struggle to deal with a new political and social crisis that brought a daily decline in the standard of living, crushing all hopes for the future and hampering national development. Covert and overt political activities are being waged in order to foster basic political and human rights in opposition to the lawless dictatorial Eritrean regime. In the meantime, in a bid to suppress the opposition, tyrannical authorities are committing crimes against the people. Although their criminal action against the popular democratic struggle has caused more suffering, they will not be able to contain the struggle against despotism. Our people are moving forward intensifying their fight without being deterred by the on-going repression.

 

However, this mushrooming democratic revolution will provide no assurance to the present and future struggle of the Eritrean people unless the people’s efforts are organized under one Democratic Party. Therefore, democratic individuals and groups sharing similar convictions and positions ought to disregard their small differences and should form a broad based political party. The purpose of this draft political platform is to invite and encourage debate and open the door for deeper examination and research and also to serve as working document to assist in the formation of a national democratic party program based on general consensus.

 

Since removal of the current system in Eritrea will not by itself solve all political and social problems in our country, the Eritrean people should see beyond their current struggle and be ready for the aftermath of the dictatorship. Above all, it is imperative to create a solid political foundation free from rivalry and hostile recriminations, and instead enter into peaceful and mutual understanding as the correct way towards national reconciliation. Thus, in order not to repeat past mistakes, the following points need to be underscored:

 

1. Due attention should be given to the question of  mistrust stemming from past internal frictions originating from the time of our liberation struggle and still happen to be overshadowing our present political struggle because our democratic forces and other entities have not yet managed to remove the problem entirely. On the other hand, we notice that there are many possibilities of overcoming our usual distrustful approaches to each other because the nature and scope of our current political platform is different.  For example, the fact that some of those organizations and individuals who appeared to have had intractable historical differences have found a common ground enabling them to fight together against dictatorship. In this new political atmosphere, it is possible to build a durable and reliable foundation.

 

Emanating from this reassuring state of affairs, our aim is to diligently and sacrificially go beyond those difficult political hurdles existing among democratic forces and other organizations and to learn from those past negative political differences which weakened our growth; therefore, guided by a mature political awareness and conviction, we begin the construction of our political party by working together, building our economy and intensifying our struggle to meet the demands of our people.

 

2.  The new party will serve as a bridge between the old and the new generations. In order to build this party on a solid foundation in a certain and reliable manner, our experienced democratic forces, who have been fighting long and hard to reach to the present level of our struggle, also have the responsibility to play their role in preparing the youth as inheritors and defenders of Eritrea’s future. The most important objective of the present democratic leaders is to find the most promising successors. In order to successfully achieve that goal, it is imperative to go through personal change first. It is necessary to be free from backward and reactionary ideas and beliefs in order to be effective in enlisting the young in a renewed spirit.

 

3. We are called upon to develop and manage a democratic platform and mobilization as we campaign to establish a new party which will not only consolidate the gains of our on-going struggle but will also secure our future with full recognition of the existing Eritrean social structures and upholding Eritrea’s unity and diversity. The dictatorial regime is trying all it can to remove confidence and trust among the people – a virtue achieved through long and bitter struggle – and is instead spreading terror, self-doubt and political conspiracy, thereby plunging our people into grave disaster. On the other hand, a party which starts by fighting for political and human rights of the Eritrean people should be ready to shoulder the biggest burden of rooting out the negative climate hovering over the country as well as lead our people into the highest democratic level.

 

4. The political climate in our region and in the world is getting more and more complex. As we entered a new world order following the end of the Cold War era, extremist behaviors and actions have shaken international relations. Religious or political extremism does not contribute to meaningful political change; nor does it help in ensuring peace and security. However, the dictatorial system in Eritrea is engaged in subversive measures endangering the political future of our country and the region. In view of the deliberate destabilizing actions of the despotic regime, a forward looking party which brings national interest first is needed in order to survive successfully the dangerous political turmoil besetting our region and the rest of the world. In order to grow hand in hand with the peoples of our neighbors in an atmosphere of respectful and cordial friendship and cooperation and in order to become part of the community of nations fully enjoying the benefits of interdependence guided by correct and strategically flexible modes of conduct, it has clearly become a historic necessity to form a new democratic part.

 

The details underlined below are presented to help in the formulation of the party program and in shaping the format of the political debate. After this, we expect the full participation of each interested Eritrean in debates and inquisitive arguments aimed at enhancing and deepening the party platform.

 

CHAPTER ONE

Name:

 

CHAPTER TWO

Party Banner

 

CHAPTER THREE

Objective:

 

The objective of the party is to build a prosperous country which upholds the unity, integrity and sovereignty of the people and the nation where peace and justice prevail under a democratic constitution in a country which fully respects international treaties and agreements. 

 

CHAPTER FOUR

Political Program

 

Committed to the objective of protecting and fostering the principles of human and democratic rights, the party aims to establish a democratic government based on shared political power and national wealth – a constitutional government ruled by the constitution and is accountable to the people who elected it on their free will.

 

1.   Ensuring the Democratic Rights of the Eritrean People

 

1.1  Since the dictatorial regime in Eritrea is opposed to all human and democratic rights, without first removing it, our party’s goals and the wish of the people will not be realized, at this stage the focus of our struggle is to bring about the downfall of the dictatorship and replace it with a multi-party democratic system of government that respects the rights of all the people.

1.2  We will respect the right to organize, to free speech, free press and the right to peaceful demonstration.

1.3  Respect for religious freedom, and eliminate any discrimination or pressure imposed because of religion.

1.4  Respect the equality of all citizens and remove discrimination or pressure because of regional, ethnic, tribal of national background.

1.5  Respect women’s rights and equality and abolish all forms of discriminations and pressures based on gender.

1.6  Respect children’s rights and provide special legal, political and social care for children.

1.7  Encourage the formation and free operation of Civic organizations and professional entities in advocating and protecting human rights.

1.8  Ensure the right to form political organizations and parties.

1.9  Endeavor o ensure the right of independent individuals not affiliated to any political parties or organizations to be candidates for government positions.

1.10    A constitution created by the people may be abolished or replaced by the people.

 

    2. Struggle form a Diversity Government that Ensures Balance of Power

 

2.1 The party will work to ensure the ratification and implementation of a constitution prepared with the free participation and volition of the Eritrean people and their organizations and parties.

2.2 The central government is to be divided into the Executive and the Legislative branches and a free Judicial System.

1.3 The Central Government represents all the Eritrean society

2.4 The power of the government will be structured from top to bottom constitutionally guaranteeing the people’s right to self-administration, thus instituting a decentralized system of government. The distribution of administrative authority will reflect the historical formation of our provincial (Awraja) system of administration. 

2.5 Ascending to power or coming down from power will be conducted by legally sanctioned democratic popular vote in accordance with the relevant rules and principles stipulated in the constitution.

2.6 The government to be formed will be secular government.

2.7 While Tigrinia and Arabic will be the official languages, other

Eritrean languages will have the right guaranteeing their development and growth.

 

3.  The formation of a military that obeys and serves the constitution.

 

3.1 The Eritrean military shall serve under the Eritrean constitution without special party affiliations and will serve the interests of the Eritrean people and shall protect the popularly elected government and shall constitute the national military establishment.

3.2 The commander-in-chief will be the civilian administration democratically voted into office by the people.

3.3 The military will reflect the entire Eritrean society.

3.4 The party will strive for a healthy relationship between the Eritrean people and the military that will be bound together by mutual trust.

3.5 The Eritrean military will be participating in economic activities as a productive force.

3.6 Since military service is a profession, membership will be based on the choice and desire of citizens.

3.7 Military service will not be compulsory; Eritrean citizens will have the choice to provide civilian services. 

3.8 The Eritrean military will not intervene with other countries’ internal affairs unless it is obligated under international laws and resolutions.

3.9 The party will work for the legal guarantee that it is responsibility of the Eritrean parliament to declare war. 

 

CHAPTER FIVE

Economic Plan

 

Our country finds itself in an excruciating and fast declining economic situation because of past oppressive, occupation governments, and because of the long independence struggle. This has been aggravated by the current misguided tyrannical system of government. To change this state of affairs, as soon as the downfall of the dictatorship is realized, it will be our party’s priority to provide not only emergency assistance to those severely affected but will also launch recovery and rehabilitation programs.

 

Our objective is to lift up the devastated Eritrean economy, rearrange the economy to ensure economic justice and fairness and to struggle in the building of prosperous nation based on a solid and promising economic program. To achieve this goal, we have to prepare and create the condition first and foremost relieve the suffering of the impoverished and exploited by increasing their capacity to produce and by making them the benefactors of their own sweat and struggle, while at the same time formulating special plans to end the acute hardships faced by the hardest hit victims because of the prevailing unjust economic and social system. 

 

On the other hand, on the basis of a fair and just economic plan, national and foreign investors should be encouraged and given the necessary opportunities to play their role in the economic growth of the country. Moreover, there will be a trade policy that will make our country to be fully fit to participate in beneficial regional and international trade.

 

1. To ensure a continuous and swift national economic progress

 

1.1  In order to achieve a speedy and continuous national economic progress, we should fight for full mobilization of our country’s domestic capacity. There is also the necessity for the elimination of cultural and social impediments which frustrate administrative measures regarding enhancement of the country’s internal capacity.  

1.2  We should create a favorable situation leading to the removal of backward rules and regulations which have prevented us from developing our economy on the basis of free trade with our neighbors and the rest of the world.

1.3  Improve and expand our infrastructure as a means of speeding up our economic growth. To this end, special attention should be paid to water and electric power and modernized communication systems in order to reach the desired level of progress. 

1.4  Land is to be owned by the people; all productions activities carried out on any piece of land will benefit local residents. The government may obtain land to meet strategic national needs after an agreement reached with the concerned land administration agency and after paying the required compensation to ensure the interests of local residents are honored.

1.5  Introduce short and long term plans to expand vocational and technical education and through this to fight for the enhancement of the production capabilities of the workers.

1.6  In order to be free from traditional and backward means of production and move towards a modern economic system, we should establish an innovative research center supported by a budget and scientific and technological know-how.

1.7   Fight for the establishment of agro-industrial productions based on balanced and dynamic light, medium and heavy industries. This applies to those involved in animal husbandry, fishing and weaving and trade.

1.8  Support and encourage the formation of small collective and private enterprises in urban areas and cooperative enterprises in rural areas.

1.9  Strive for the establishment of favorable conditions where good management and labor relations flourish. To fix minimum wages for workers by law and ensure wages are adjusted to reflect cost of living.

1.10   Work for the elimination of unemployment and establish ways of supporting the unemployed until they find jobs.

1.11   Ensure the existence of a dynamic, modern and efficient market; make the necessary effort to ensure that the free market becomes the source of wealth and growth for the people as the main base for the economy. 

1.12     Encourage free market competition and take legal measures to curb obstacles to free competition. Control and regulate market monopoly.   

1.13    Create favorable conditions to promote private enterprises.

 

 2. To change the distorted economic growth in Administrative Provinces (Awragjas) and find ways of making them self-sufficient economic zones.

  

  2.1 The party will provide special support to Provinces lagging behind in their economic performance.

  2.1 Ensure that each District develops its own economic development plans consistent with the country’s general economic programs.

  2.3 Enhance uniform economic development and cooperation between administrative regions.

  2.4 Use the funds collected through taxation or tariffs for public services as needed.

  

  3. Environmental Protection

  

  3.1 The party will make efforts to protect and preserve our environment by eliminating economic production that create excess waste and by reducing air pollution caused by use of petroleum products. 

  3.2 Keep our air, rivers, wells, dams, lakes and our coastal waters clean.

  3.3 Enforce by law the use of high tech methods to protect our environment. Moreover, we will strive to protect the environment not only at the national level but also at the global level to extent that our capacity allows us.

  3.4. Plan that our efforts to protect the environment is not only for the benefit of the present generation but also for posterity. We will ensure that no biological or nuclear waste plants are built in our country.

  3.4 Prevent any foreign nation from dumping industrial waste on our land or in our waters. 

  

 

CHAPTER SIX

Social Program

 

The party’s social program aims to: legislate and execute plans to establish a modern system of education which gives importance to professional skills for speedy economic growth; develop medical institutions which provide comprehensive health care to all citizens; establish social programs to secure and guarantee social benefits to the weak and the disabled; encourage the members of the different sectors of our society to protect their interests by forming and belonging to different social or professional mass organizations; and finally to strive for the success of social programs that promote justice, democracy and confidence in view of the country’s special social structures.

  

  1. Developing a Modern Educational System that focuses on Professionalism and Promotes Economic Growth

  

  1.1  Develop an educational system that serves national unity and progress and supports speedy economic growth.

  1.2   Establish programs which bond together professional knowledge and academic education.

  1.3  Make education free for all citizens.

  1.4  Ensure that students do not stay out of school because of shortage of money; as needed, make education available to students in their local areas where they can get material support.

  1.5  Make education up to 8th grade compulsory.

  1.6  Ensure that university and higher education levels meet recognizable international standard.

  1.7  Encourage establishment of privately owned schools. Introduce rules and regulations which guide private schools to follow national curriculums.

  1.8  And introduce practical programs that encourage and ensure increased educational participation in areas that are economically less advanced in view of the economic disparities among Eritrean provinces.

  

  2. Develop Health Care Institutions to Provide Nation-wide Services

  

   2.1 Install free health care providing institutions to protect the health of citizens in urban and rural centers.

  2.2 Disseminate essential information to prevent diseases.

  2.3 Establish a health information center supported by mobile clinics to prevent contagious diseases.

  2.4 Set up small clinics in all vicinities relative to the number of residents and type of common diseases.

  2.5 Allow private entities to provide medical services of acceptable standard. 

  2.6 Make efforts to establish nurseries for lonely aging citizens.

  2.7 Strive to ensure that traditional medicine is supported by modern medical research; and stop traditional medical practices that are dangerous to human life.

  2.8 Prepare training programs and set up centers to train professionals ranging from basic health care givers to medical doctors.

  2.9 Make our health policies geared toward prevention of diseases.

  

  3. Social Justice and Social Security

  

  3.1 Ensure that all are equal before the law.

  3.2 Every citizen has equal employment opportunity and right according to his ability and profession.

  3.3 guarantee that workers’ rights are enforced by law. Encourage formation of trade unions to defend workers’ rights

  3.4 Workers’ wages will be determined by contractual agreements and will take cost of living into account. Minimum wage will be decided by law.

  3.5 Make efforts to create jobs as a means of curbing unemployment. Support the unemployed until they are hired again.

  3.6 Protect unjust exploitation of women and children.

  3.7 Make sure women’s rights and equality are protected in all walks of life. Encourage women to organize themselves to protect their rights.

  3.8 Strive to ensure that women do not lose their employment because of parental leave before and after child birth and fight to make it a paid leave.

  3.9 Create favorable conditions which enable farmers to benefit by selling their produce at reasonable prices and encourage them to form associations to protect their interests. Develop programs for modern agricultural training for farmers to boost agricultural inputs.

  3.10 Encourage human rights activists, journalists, the youth and other members of society to form workers and professional associations.

  3.11 Set up programs which protect the interests of children and the elderly.

  3.12 Institute programs which provide special benefits and treatment for victims of war and natural causes. Introduce appropriate employment programs for their benefit. Encourage formation of associations for the disabled.

  3.13 Struggle to provide respect and support to families of our martyrs.

  3.14 Fight for the rights of Eritrean refugees abroad; work out plans for their return and successful rehabilitation. Encourage the formation of an organization to defend refugee rights.

3.15 Encourage the formation of free civic organizations of Eritrean nationals inside and outside the country based on common understanding and respect to face common social problems together without losing sight of the unity and diversity of the people.

3.16 Fight against backward traditions while upholding the useful ones. Respect our social oriented (communal) culture and eliminate discrimination on grounds of religion or ethnic background.

 

CHAPTER SEVEN

Foreign Policy Program

  

Our relationship with other countries is aimed at promoting common interest. Relations with our neighbors play an important role in promoting our common development interests. To this end, we should work jointly together for the promotion of peace and economic growth through respect for each other’s national sovereignty and non-interference in each other’s domestic affairs. Our party will use all its abilities in the fight to abolish the hostile and misguided policies of the current system in Eritrea and foster understanding with the people of our neighbors to enhance our common interests.

 

Our relationship with the rest of the world will also serve common interests. We will specially do our best to cooperate with global efforts to control and defeat ignorance, diseases and other programs to help the underprivileged as these programs are tied to our own basic objectives. The misguided policies of the dictatorial regime will be eliminated since these have only isolated the country to the detriment of national interests.         

 

1.    Our foreign relations are to foster common interests and will be based on mutual respect for each other’s national sovereignty.

2.    Promote and establish closer friendly relations with regional and international organizations whose programs are similar to ours.

3.    Make efforts to promote cooperation as a means of securing regional peace and security and developing common economic growth.

4.    Strive to see that all international treaties are honored.

5.    Our key method of resolving conflicts will be through peaceful and diplomatic means and procedures.

6.    To make efforts to ensure that trade agreements with other countries are fair and constructive.

7.    Fight against any form of ethnic discrimination and oppression.

8.    Provide our support and encouragement for the success of global programs against poverty, diseases and ignorance.                       

 

CONCLUSION

It should be emphasized that the foregoing draft party program is meant to initiate debate and discussion. It is clear that those who have accepted the basic objectives of the party have the right to improve or modify the draft. The fully debated draft will not become a working legal instrument for the party before endorsement by the first party congress.

 

Party Formation Commission