ACCEPTING ERITREAN ASSEMBLY
DECISION
FOR ADMINISTRATIVE UNION
When the name of Ethiopia first appeared
in the pages of history, Eritrea formed an integral part of Our nation. Our
ties do not consist merely in having lived together as one country. Ethiopia
and Eritrea shared a common heritage of territorial contiguity, race and
language, and Eritrea has served as one of the main fountains of Ethiopian
civilization and culture.
In the latter part
of the 19th Century, when the colonial powers separated Eritrea from the rest
of Ethiopia and established in Eritrea a rule which lasted for about 60 years,
it was their aim to establish a separate Eritrean identity and to dissociate
Eritrea from the motherland. In this, the colonialists failed completely. There
is no greater evidence of the bankruptcy of this cruel policy than the fact
that not only those elderly Eritreans who had happily experienced the value of
freedom in unity, but even those who were born during colonialist occupation of
their country, voluntarily separated themselves from their parents and relative
and, emigrating to the motherland, shed their blood for the cause of reunion of
Eritrea with Ethiopia and, during the Fascist invasion for the liberation of
the entire nation.
Fruit of Sacrifice
Those Eritreans who so gallantly
sacrificed themselves on the battlefield did not die in vain. Their children
stand today as living reminders of the determination of the people of Eritrea
to maintain the unity of Ethiopia in freedom. When the invader was driven from
Our nation by the combined efforts of Eritreans and Ethiopians alike, the
international political situation was such that, unfortunately, no measure of
Eritrean unity with Ethiopia could be immediately attained. Thus We were
compelled to continue Our struggle for an additional decade before Eritrea was
returned to its motherland. With the blessing of Almighty God, Our just efforts
and struggles came to fruition, just 10 years ago, in Eritrea’s federation with
the rest of Ethiopia – although this particular form of association was not
that for which We had struggled, and it had been requested by no one.
Nonetheless, because of the world
political situation then prevailing, the people of Eritrea, through their
elected representatives, acceded to the Federation, and upon Our approval the
federal system was put into operation and has continued to this day.
Alien-Imposed Federation
In the last decade, the people of Eritrea have increasingly
come to realize that the Federation, alien to their tradition and experience,
was superfluous and unnecessary among people whose unity had stood the test of
time. Moreover, the operation of this system was necessarily beset by serious
difficulties which, among other consequences, tended to retard the pace of
economic and social development. As the years passed, the people of Eritrea
repeatedly requested Us to abolish the federal system and to re-establish the
age-old integrity of Eritrea with the rest of Ethiopia. We are aware that many
modern nations, including a number of major powers, do not accept the concept
of federalism for their own people and prefer instead a unitary form of
government. We also know that among those nations which have subscribed to the
principle of federalism, many have been compelled by the demands of the
fast-moving modern age to adopt measures designed to mitigate the adverse
effects of this system upon the rate of progress of their people. But,
nonetheless, We have, in good faith, allowed this system, foreign to our
history and experience, to function without let or hindrance.
Slowed Progress
The consequences of the past decade are known to all.
The Federation instituted between the people of Eritrea and the rest of
Ethiopia has tended to slow the speed of the economic and social progress of
the entire nation, including Eritrea.
The Federation has increasingly been manipulated as a
ready-made tool through which the enemies of Ethiopian and Eritrean progress
and solidarity have endeavoured to further their evil designs.
The Federation contains the inherent danger of creating
misunderstandings among people who have, for centuries past, experienced no
problems in living together.
The Federation, by duplicating administrative apparatuses,
has occasioned waste of both human and material resources which could have been
otherwise utilized for development purposes. One is accordingly fully justified
in concluding that the unfortunate consequences of this particular form of
federation and the needs of the age, and not any conscious effort on the part
of the people concerned, have brought about its demise.
Any responsible person who has deliberated upon and
examined carefully the unfortunate consequences flowing from the federal system
under consideration will feel no surprise that the people of Eritrea, who have
had the misfortune of being directly subjected to its adverse consequences,
have urged and pleaded that it be eliminated and replaced by a unitary form of
administration. The steps We are now about to take, therefore, merely confirm
and implement the result which the natural solidarity of the Ethiopian people
and their wise desire for closer collaboration has already brought about.
The people of Eritrea, through their representatives
gathered together in the Eritrean Assembly, recognizing the harmful
consequences of the operation of the federal system through the experience of
the past decade, desirous of living together with their other Ethiopian brothers
without hindrance or obstacle, have formally requested, by their resolution
voluntarily and unanimously adopted on November 14, 1962, that the federation
be dissolved. In its place, they have asked for the complete administrative
integration of Eritrea with the rest of Ethiopia in order to facilitate and
speed the economic growth and development of the nation. We have accepted this
resolution and have consented to its being placed into effect.
The human rights and fundamental freedoms contained in
the former Constitutions of Eritrea are, equally, important provisions existing
in the Constitution which We promulgated for Ethiopia in 1955. The people of
Ethiopia have enjoyed and will continue to enjoy these basic freedoms, and they
shall continue to be protected zealously. All rights, privileges, concessions
and exemptions of what-ever nature granted to persons or companies within
Eritrea, whether foreign or national, are sacred obligations which will not be
impaired or affected in any manner.
Delegated Autonomy
In Our Throne Speech of November 2, 1962, We spoke of
measures under consideration whereby administrative authority will be delegated
to local administrations to direct their own activities in such designated
fields as education, health, transport, communications and so on. Until such
time as these measures have entered into force and are fully implemented and
until the laws and regulations now in force in Eritrea are revised and
replaced, existing Eritrean legislation will remain valid.
Throughout Our nation’s history, the Ethiopian people
have spared no sacrifice to maintain their unity and independence. Today,
closer and more united than ever, they stand ready to guard, jealously and
gallantly, this unity and independence in their peaceful and determined march
toward progress and prosperity. We thank Our people of Eritrea who, guided by a
deep sense of patriotism and unity, have laboured without cease to bring about
this advancement. We vow before God that, as We have repeatedly stated, We
shall spare no effort to secure the happiness and advancement of Our people.
We are thankful to Almighty God Who, through His
Grace, has spared Us to see this day.
Nov. 16, 1962.
Selected Speeches of His Imperial Majesty Haile
Selassie - page 472 -
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