Ethiopia’s Military Incursions on Eritrea are Illegal

Ethiopia took some punitive military actions on Eritrea on March 15 and 17, 2012.

Yes, in Eritrea there is no respect of the rule of law. The regime in Eritrea internally oppresses its own people and externally violates international law. This is obvious to all and thus there is no need to debate this point.

Despite the fact that Ethiopia has elections, a working parliament, a somewhat relaxed freedom of press and etc. it is still a nation that violates the rule of law. By any measure, Ethiopia is not a paragon of democracy.

Ethiopia also violates international law. A case in point, Ethiopia still occupies Badme, a village legally assigned to Eritrea by a court of law at The Hague. Both Eritrea and Ethiopia willingly and without duress went to this international court. Eritrea and Ethiopia accepted before hand to be bound by the legal decisions of the court. The verdicts are final and binding. Yet, Ethiopia reneged on its willingly entered upon international contract. This is a violation of international law and treaty. There is also no need to debate this point too.

What is good for the goose is also good for the gander. The standards have to be applied consistently and equally to both Eritrea and Ethiopia.

Sometimes wars start as small skirmishes and military incursions here and there. These seemingly small events may take their own lives towards uncontrollable ends. The results are bad with all unintended consequences. It is very easy to start a war but difficult to stop.  The USA is still bogged down in Iraq and Afghanistan. This is more than ten years. And the USA is a giant and a democratic nation and a sole super-power. Ethiopia and Eritrea are hardly at the political, economic and military developmental stage of that of the USA. Eritreans and Ethiopians have to learn some valuable lessons from this painful experience of the Americans, Iraqis, and Afghans. This is lest we forget our own hellish and brutal experience. Any war is damaging to Eritrea and Ethiopia.

The military incursions by Ethiopia into Eritrea have to be condemned without any condition.

Ethiopia can provide Eritreans with all kind of assistance to unseat the PFDJ regime from state power if it so desires, but it has no legal right to invade Eritrea and kill our innocent youth.