Many people tend to perceive the word, non-violence, as the complete lack of militant or civic force. Although, in principle, this form of struggle opposes the use of violence to bring political or social justice, its practical meaning has been continuously redefined by both the oppressed and the oppressor. As a result, some people believe that attacking [enemy] assets is still a form of non-violent struggle while others decline the use of force at any scale. Below are brief descriptions of the techniques used, the applications and the advantages of non-violent struggle.

Non-violence

 According to the Wikipedia, non-violent struggle fights the enemy directly by placing the theme that ‘authorities can only rule following the approval of the people’ as its focal point (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nonviolence). Failure of the authorities to abide by and properly address public needs could therefore initiate this form of struggle. Although a number of techniques can be mobilized to foster non-violent struggle, the most effective campaigns include peaceful rallies, formulating civic awareness projects, inducing non-cooperation in the form of stay-at-home (decline to go to school or work), go-slow (at work), stopping to sponsor government initiated projects, raising money for a good cause against the will of the oppressor, and inviting imprisonment in order to attract the attention of the world community (Mandela, 1995).

A number of countries have brought political and social justice using this form of struggle. For example, the United States of America civil rights movement under the leadership of Martin Luther King Jr., South Africa under the leaderships of Chief Albert Luthuli, Oliver Tambo and Nelson Mandela, and India under Mahatma Gandhi’s leadership. Below is a brief description of some of the potentially effective techniques used in non-violent struggles and their relevance to the current struggle against the regime in Eritrea.

 
Civil Disobedience

 This form of struggle has been found to be increasingly effective in the South African struggle against apartheid. Originally discussed by Walter Sisulu with his comrades, the African National Congress (ANC) has organized a number of defiance campaigns against the white supremacy for over 40 years (Mandela, 1995). These campaigns included volunteer imprisonment by undermining discriminatory laws, rallies, strikes, stay-at-home and sabotage activities. Although at times the ANC had to revert to violence through its underground military force, Umkhonto we sizwe, most of the ground-breaking successes were achieved through non-violence.

From the history of South Africa, we can learn that the core aim of non-violent struggle may not be to directly conquer the enemy but to win the international community by drawing their attention to the injustices practiced by an oppressor or a state. As a result, the state might suffer tremendous economic and military sanctions, isolation from the world community, lack of financial aid, discouraging foreign investment etc. These restrictions could well suffocate the oppressor and catalyze the rapid disintegration of the system in power. For example, in the apartheid South Africa, the white government (the National Party) was still strong and fully armed internally; but the external pressure accumulated through the non-violent struggle was catastrophic enough to dismantle apartheid. Therefore, contrary to the perception of many people, non-violent struggle is far more efficient than passive opposition.

In the context of Eritrea, there are a number of techniques which could be applied to fight the PFDJ regime. Continuing the demonstrations and petitions that are firing up across the world, expanding civic awareness projects such as the one initiated by the EMDHR, refusing to pay the so called ‘surtax’, declining to attend meetings called by the regime, to stop sponsoring government initiated projects such as buying houses built by the enslaved soldiers, restricting the flow of hard currency to the country etc. All these techniques should be persistently practiced by the Eritrean diaspora in order to effectively cripple the regime.

Deliberately or due to lack of adequate knowledge, a number of Eritreans residing outside tend to violate some or all of the aforementioned defiance campaigns. They tend to forget that paying ‘surtax’ or attending embassy meetings organized for propaganda purposes are rewarding to the pride of dictatorship. Even worse are the crimes that are being committed by many diaspora Eritreans preparing to return home or deciding to buy houses for their families in Eritrea. Many of such citizens are continuing to buy houses built by the forced labor of the military (needles to say, because these houses are cheaper than the private owned). This action is not only encouraging the government to continue to enslave our fellow citizens to build more and more houses, because there is a market, but also allowing ourselves to cooperate with the system to tease the military and their families. Under various pretexts and using some selfish individuals, the government is continuing and will try to continue to find ways of gaining hard currency in the face of loosing its debtors. Therefore, we need to urgently disassociate ourselves from the government as our ‘little’ actions could be exponentially multiplied when striking our fellow citizens.

Advantages of Non-violent Struggle

Several non-violent struggles’ have projected a number of iconic leaders across the world. These leaders have accelerated the momentum of struggle in their respective countries and led their people to a lasting victory. Once again, these activists and fighters have made it clear that without the need for war and without possessing artillery, it is indeed possible to bring political and social justice irrespective of the logistical and military status of the enemy. They have practically revealed the remarkable advantages, without further financial and humanitarian loss, and peaceful transitions that are at stake if one persistently contributes to non-violent struggle. For example, Howard Zinn in his introduction in “The Power of Nonviolence” asserted that the power of nonviolent struggle is “…greater than the power of guns and bombs.” (Zinn, 2002). Furthermore, Mohandas K. Gandhi in his “My Faith in Nonviolence” essay wrote that “Nonviolence is a weapon of the strong”. However, he emphasized the need to integrate and exercise non-violent struggle in ones life and not merely to accept it in principle (Gandhi, 2002). Moreover, the author Barthelemy de Ligt also accounted for the tremendous ability of non-violent struggle in overthrowing injustice and oppression in different parts of the globe (de Ligt, 1963).

Concluding Remarks

It is becoming increasingly obvious that the PFDJ regime is decaying to its demise. This is manifested both internally and externally. Internally, the population in general and the youth in particular are either outspokenly expressing their dissatisfaction or defying the system in waves. Externally, the diaspora Eritreans are explicitly demonstrating their rage and joining hands with the non-violent struggle that is metastasizing rapidly.

Nowadays, there are more demonstrations, better public awareness, greater contributions of money for the advancement of public relations and maximizing various non-cooperation activities than any other time before in the history of post-independence Eritrea. For those of us who are already committed in nonviolent struggle “there is a light at the end of the tunnel” but those of us who are still supporting the regime, history is going to judge us tomorrow.

Let us not undermine the spirit of nonviolence as it is a tactical and strategic battle that has a staggering effect to the collapse of unjust rule as has been proven in the different corners of the world.

References:

• Mandela N. Birth of a freedom Fighter In Long Walk to Freedom. Abacus. Time Warner Books UK. 2005; pp. 107-161.
• Zinn H. Introduction: Retaliation In The Power of Nonviolence. Writings by advocates of peace. Beacon Press Boston. 2002; pp. vii-x.
• Gandhi MK. My Faith in Nonviolence In The Power of Nonviolence. Writings by advocates of peace. Beacon Press Boston. 2002; pp. 45-46.
• De Ligt B. Effectiveness of Non-violent Struggle In The Quiet Battle. Quadrangle Books Chicago. 1963; pp. 88-107.

[Dr. Yohannes T Ghebremariam is an active member of an independent civic movement Eritrean Movement for Democracy and Human Rights (EMDHR) based in South Africa with members around the world. He can be contacted via email This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it ]