# The G-15 Myth: Democracy Talk in the Shadow of Imperialist Siege Why the “millions jailed for democracy” narrative is a propaganda weapon against Eritrea A recent viral post tells a familiar story: In 2001, brave reformers called for the 1997 Constitution, free press, and elections. They were arrested. Then came silence, national service, exile. The implication: Eritrea jailed millions for demanding democracy. However, this history is a morality play written by imperialism. First, the facts are sloppy. The G-15 was a group of 15 senior officials. The viral post says eleven were arrested and calls them the G-15. That is a small error, but it reveals the standard of the whole narrative. Second, the context is erased. In 1998, Ethiopia invaded Eritrea. The 1998–2000 war killed tens of thousands. The US and its allies pressured Eritrea. The no-war-no-peace stalemate continued. In 2001, Eritrea was not a stable liberal democracy debating ideas in a coffee shop. Eritrea is a besieged country facing foreign aggression, proxy destabilization, and economic strangulation. Third, the G-15 letter was not and absolutely cannot be seen as a “neutral plea”. It was a factional challenge issued during wartime, amplified by foreign media and Western governments that wanted leverage over Asmara. In a country under siege, a free press can become a foreign intelligence pipeline. The government acted to protect national unity and sovereignty. You can disagree with the method. But do not pretend it was a simple case of democrats versus “dictators”. Fourth, the “millions jailed” claim is mathematically absurd. Eritrea’s population is roughly 3.5 million. Millions jailed would mean a majority of adults in prison. Even the most hostile human rights groups speak of thousands. The word “millions” is a propaganda multiplier designed to make Eritrea sound like a continent-sized gulag. This is obviously a lie. Fifth, the 1997 Constitution implementation was frozen by war. The same war that caused the G-15 crisis also caused national service, exile, and economic hardship. Imperialism created the siege. Then imperialism blames the besieged. What the narrative ignores, is that Eritrea has no IMF debt. It has built food security, expanded health and education, and defended its Red Sea sovereignty against foreign powers. It has resisted sanctions, proxy wars, and regime change. That is why the G-15 story is recycled every September, as a method of delegitimizing Eritrean sovereignty and the AES. The G-15 are used as a stick to beat Eritrea. The real question people must ask is “why does the West think it has the right to decide Eritrea’s political calendar?” Awet N Hafash! Victory to the Masses! https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZP83h686e/ https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/1466091653168103568/1547714270547021856/IMG_7952.png?ex=6aa46cbd&is=6aa31b3d&hm=696febb145dd3a5841cc03c646227bcde1c0b9342954f361315044e0d1a77f60& https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/1466091653168103568/1547714270907605083/IMG_7953.png?ex=6aa46cbd&is=6aa31b3d&hm=0853550dea7ce8ecc0b36bafbb1c8852157dab9b449b8cdb7a52ecd1c4ab6a5c& https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/1466091653168103568/1547714271268311130/IMG_7954.png?ex=6aa46cbd&is=6aa31b3d&hm=42fa9163ef96e2db926a74cbe71873a02fca8b15689fc125b6cb411a1b831cbd&