Eritrea inherited approximately 534 schools at independence (in 1991) and today there are 1548 schools
throughout the country giving access to more school age children than in 1991.
Eritrea inherited only one technical school at independence (The Eritrean People's Liberation Front (EPLF) ran
the Winna technical School in Sahel) Today there are 7 technical and vocational schools, which offer free education,
room and board to students from all of Eritrea's nine nationalities. At the National Center for Vocational Education in
Sawa, thousands are taking courses in building technology, commerce and business management, hotel catering and management,
agricultural technology, machinery operations, ICT and more.
Eritrea's achievements in the health sector are exemplary even at the global level. Since independence in 1991, 13 new
hospitals, 19 new health centers and 112 new health stations have been constructed throughout Eritrea,
an increase by56%, 61%, and 156% respectively over what Eritrea inherited at independence. Doctor to population
ratios has increased by 100% from 1:37500 in 1991 to 1:15000 nurse to patient rations have also increased
from 1:9500 in 1991 to 1:3400today.
In 1984, the Eritrean People's Liberation Front established an underground (to hide it from aerial bombings)
pharmaceutical facility, which manufactured 44 items including tablets, capsules, IV fluids and ointments. These fulfilled
40% of local needs. Today, the Azel Pharmaceutical Company produces 32 products covering 12 therapeutic ranges. The Fred Hollows
Intraocular Lens (IOL) Laboratory established in 1994 produces high quality lens that meet local needs and are in compliance
with the highest European and International Standards for the manufacture of medical devices.
Eritrea has reduced incidents of malaria by 90% and has eradicated polio and tuberculosis. Eritrea is
also reversing and halting the spread of HIV/AIDS though its multi-pronged vertical programs (even though Frazer cut US-funding
to Eritrea in 2006). Given the Government of Eritrea's commitment to child and maternal health in Eritrea, Eritrea is
poised to not only achieve the stated UN targets, but also do much better.
Today, all Eritrean cities, towns and villages are accessible by road. Since independence, the Ministry of public
works has built and rehabilitated roads allover Eritrea. The over 8000 kilometers of new and rehabilitated major
highways and feeder roads are contributing to the fast economic development of the rural areas as new markets for products
open up and populations take advantage of the increase in transportation services throughout the country. Today there are over
160route destinations in Eritrea, which originate in Asmara with about 1460 buses providing inter-urban services.
Over 15 new bridges have been constructed to connect previously hard to access rural villages and the
Asmara-Massawa railway is expanding to Keren. Port expansions in Massawa and Assab are underway and in addition to the Asmara
International Airport, new airports have been constructed and refurbished in Assab, Massawa, Sawa, Tessenei and Nakfa.
Dams, wells and canals have been constructed throughout the country ensuing preservation of rainwater, and
for providing access to clean drinking water and water for agricultural irrigation. Housing projects are underway throughout
the country and nomadic populations are being encouraged to settle down and take advantage of the public services-such as
schools, healthcare centers etc. that are now available to them.
In the last 16 years, in addition to the introduction of mobile telephone services in 2004 with about 67000 customers
to date, digital switches have been installed for about 40,000 fixed line customers, and about 11 major towns and villages
have been connected by microwave links to Asmara, the Eritrean capital. 4 remote towns including Assab and Tessenei have been
linked through a domestic satellite system.
Internet service was first introduced to Eritrea in November 2000 and today there are about 6 Internet service
providers and 80-cyber cafe's in 5 major cities across the country. There are about 71 postal offices providing
services throughout the country and the Eritrean Postal Service has received three international awards for excellence
since its formation.
The Eritrean National War Disabled Veterans Association (ENWDVA) wants to implement a project of water
pump motors to its members in Zoba Gash-Barka (Shambuko sub-zone). The project will be implemented in areas with good potential
of water be it under dams are as or with good underground water or streams. 8 water pump motors will be purchased and provided
to potential war disabled veterans either in group or individually as situation may be favourable. If there are many beneficiaries
in a site they will be provided one water pump motor which they can use it turn by turn. This project is believed to improve
the food security of the beneficiaries. The project will cost 204,000 Nakfa which is equivalent to 10,200 EURO.
Whenever you speak to any Eritrean family, there is always a story
told, memories cherished. ......as an example...
1- "Our father chose the straw for the son to be educated
and was sent away and we lost touch with the two other uncles, one who chose a farmer straw and the second a priest straw"....
2- "We joining in during the struggle years the first thing we were asked to fill is the Ornich, so as to inform
our next of kin or village if anything is to happen to us"...
It would be great to find a way of
telling your family's story and connecting and networking with each other and your future. here is a site I came by
accident as I was searching for flow charts to do mine.... if you find it useful, it is free to use and for anyone who has
been dreaming of creating a website...this one tops the ease in which you can use it.
is the site...all you need is your email detail and have fun doing it.
If we don't do it at
family level, then all the Diaspora identity business and all your effort become pointless if you don't start at family
level.
Thank you!!!
I wander if the designers of the site thought of a relationship that
we hold with the families of Eritrean martyr's, heroes who died to make Eritrean Identity a reality!!!
An
institution called family. Blood is thicker than water!!! To know where you are going, you have to know where you came from!!!
Have we been too busy facing immediate family hardships and forgot to look back and also plan ahead where the family is heading?
Have we had rushed family get togethers? Not every one has had the same upbringing, nor had they the smooth ride when it comes
to sharing the care of the family. Please read on, If you feel deeply about this and similar issues.
With
a sample family tree and how every one can build a similar one and better tree to sustain its family connections. There is
A-Z of questions and tools that can be discussed to help us give weight to the activity of our family.
I
saw a credit card in Germany which had the following as a name: Mr. Fitsum Yohannes keshi Yared. Unlike Letebrhan calling herself Titi.This is what I would call keeping your culture!!!
I {Germany} am the 4th son of 4 children of Haleka Tewelde [Adi abeyto] Sheqa NguseKentibaghde [hiwet]. Mom
Lemlem Yihdego [awlie tsor] Tekle .
1-My siblings - are Almaz (3), Abraham (3), Grmay [1][RIP], Hiwinnet (me)
2-Almaz {UK/ Eritrea}[Yosief Teamrat / Adi qe]- had aster[Issak], Meron [tomas],
4-Grmay [RIP]{Milano-Italy}[Fotini
Franscesco] -- had Roberto/M
5-Aster Yosief [Issak] had – melen/M and Diamond/M
6-I can count up to 9 grand fathers….!!!
………. Amazing tree
A-The [ *****] is the wife or husband
B-The (**) number of children , until we get full name. As an example my sister Almaz had 3 children…shown
in (3)
C-Another entry should be the current place of residence…{******}
D-SheqaNguse….is just a name Nguse with the title [sheqa]
and should be included to make sure that we connect to what our parents tell us …but for convenience it should be italic to avoid it being taken as a name…
E-Which means all of the above have yet to include the husband’s
/ wife’s name, number of children followed by name and also place of residence.
F-At times there is a branch in the
tree that includes the grand mother’s siblings and her immediate cousins. And every one has to include that in adopted
/ respective version of tree.
G-Even though the reason behind asking “Abey Adi’kum” has been sensitive at some time in
the past, but the need to know it will need analysis. As the normal practice, it is the Father’s ADI [Village] that
all the children MEN/WOMEN adopt to be their Adi. If I have a sister her children [my nephews / nieces] will have their father’s
Adi for them.
H-Asking
a person only their name, father’s name and grand father’s name and also Adi will not reveal whether they are
a relation or not due to the fact that a close family born to a sister will adopt a grand father’s name of their father
and not the sister that is related to you. And like wise they will have the Adi of their father’s. Hence to identify
a person in the tree in a strange land it will require FULL NAME [Father / Grand Father] of both father’s and Mother’s
name and the ADI of both. And at times heavy involvement of elders who know of any half sister / half brothers and even very
close non blood relations which has been taken as family.
I-It becomes also necessary we specify what
gender the children are. This is due to the names at times being used for both male and female: like Hermon, Natna, and Haben.
J-And in the advance
way to really have the year the person is born to group similar aged family members. As my example I can say my birth year
is 1978 and every one should do the same.
K-Then came a question which reflects “To know where you are heading, you have to know where you came
from”… in the years that went past, what regime? What king? What system of law? What historical events were active
and prevalent during the time of our particular grand father? What year were the ancestors alive?...at times it is all spoken
stories and non written account of things which are difficult to get hold of. But with every one understanding the gravity
of the need to document our history we can achieve a very powerful historical account.
L-Then came a question of relationships and marriages. The rule of thumb
is to have at least Seven (7) generation gaps. For example the children of any deki Samuel…our 4th grand father is a no go area for any marriages, hence it is necessary to know the
relatives in that way, and this is not an easy thing to keep up living abroad. That is why the family can arrange your future
partner and had to, and that way you are not marrying a relation.
M-Then
comes the long and descriptive way of telling how one is related to you. The very basic ones are Haftey / Hawey……>Aboy
/ Adey……>AboAhgoy/ Abayey….> wede-boy/ Wede-dey….>Akoy/ Amoy….> Hatiney/ Haweboy….>bokri
geza/ Hsas l’de? ……Zemai///…..> Hamatey/ Hamutey…> Eg…Ni wedi haweboy Gual
hatinu’s zema?
N-Will it be taboo to talk about the state of the family units? Should
it be compulsory to acceptable for every kind of a family unit to be Ok to not be ashamed regardless? As an example if a particular
family lost a family member either a mother or father, or any of the children or their grand children? To know those who have
a single parent family unit either a father or a mother alone raising children?
O-To actually understand and pass to every one as a family unit there is some rules and guidelines regarding the
space of every one in the family? To make sure there is at place a mechanism of conflict management. To make sure to do activities
that increases the harmony of the families. To hold a strong communication line of expressing and celebrating life u and downs.
And finance always plays great role in being the cause of many conflicts. There should be a family judiciary that decides
any misunderstandings, which can be to inheritance, business arrangements and at times plane common sense. To not include
the children or think of the children and the rest of family when reaching a settlement.
P-At the end of the day the family unit of Eritreans is so beautiful and is open heartedly open
to all good wishing people and at times those who have been on our side in thick or thin are at times appreciated much more
than what a family has done. Since we all pass through life once let’s do that good thing, act of kindness, act of reaching
out, NOW.
Q-So what leads to families to lose touch in such an extent? Is it the reality of no Peace no
war in our region? Is it the result of Diaspora [outside Eritrea] life that Eritreans embarked since the 1960s? Is it lack
of much organised follow up on the where about of the family members? As Eritrean people history goes, besides the natural
and illness induced deaths, there is a few who have died fighting during the liberation struggle!!! There is some who went
to the west, Middle East and similar far land and completely cut from the community, even if there is the occasional phone
calls and dehai / news of long lost loved ones it has lead to a breaking point to the family ties. Some of us have
tried to follow the parent’s religious guides and some have found peace by converting to the non confirmative religions.
Some of us have lost touch for so long and have so much catching up to do and the healing process and fixing and making up
for lost times is a challenge to be faced before it is too late.
R-So as a conclusion we the generation at the ages of 14-40+ have a sense of family life and have to overcome the
life pressures of being ever busy, and also the pressures of the cultures we have adopted in every place of residence, and
even have changed our languages beyond the comprehensive TIGRINGA our ancestors spoke. Some of us have adopted a modern or
civilized way of life and is in conflict to the way families supposed to act in keeping the love going. We shoulder the responsibility
of passing the customs and norms of Eritrean family to our immediate family and our children and their children, in spoken
written as well practically doing a get together and revive the Eritrean family.
S-As a practical step to make this hope a reality it will be up to those mature and elders of each family to involve
the highly active internet and computer literates to up keep the data base of the family. We find a point of contact and dates
in the calendar of Eritrea and the family in particular like Lidet [geeze Christmas] / bale mariam/ N’gdet to be our
target to have a get together and inform each other of upcoming events of weddings, graduations, christening and the attendance
of any funerals for the departed. The homes of the family head quarters should visit every time we go to Eritrea and similarly
family homes when visiting different countries.
T-So let’s
celebrate the achievements of an Eritrean family and its members. Who has done excellent in their education? Who has done
amazing things for Eritrea and Eritreans? Who has managed to overcome hardships? Who has shared never ending in time to help
fellow family? Let’s be role models for our children and their friends!!! Let by gone be by gone and start fresh and
not let such thing [losing contact, communication...etc] ever happen to this family unity.
U-The full name of a child in tig is such that he/ she will have a First name, father’s name and grand father’s
name. As it is, when an Eritrean [Tig.] child is asked “what is your name?” he / she will always say his father’s
and grand father’s name on top of the first name. In a western society a child is given first name and adopts the family
name or Sir name. Hence creating confusion when an Eritrean arrives in the west he/she is asked to give a sir name, it is
usually the father’s name and at times grand father’s name, which is not the same as the sir name. Because we
Eritreans do not use that system at all. The Eritrean generation of up to the great grand father is always in use, and usually
they are alive. But the west uses a sir name or family name by which every relation is named by. Some argue the best way to
trace relatives is the Eritrean name system. Now to bring the two cultures in a legal institution will create a conflict by
the way one chooses to name the family. In immigration issues a son who has given father’s name as a sir name would
be inviting a father whose sir name is the grand father’s name…and so on!!! Hence care to be taken and additional
notes to be made on the names of families.
V-To broaden
the family tree and related issue, in the Kunama the Mother is the head of the family…!!! To be explored more. As the
Eritrean families have of 9 tribal back ground and also two or more religious back ground that can influence the naming as
well as relationships. How much do you know about what your religion teach you? In Diaspora in particular is hard to keep
up with the orthodox practices.
W-Do you know why you would want
to know your family members?You can not choose your family, but you can choose your friends carefully.
Let’s say you needed a medical assistance that can save your life, hence it would help to know your family for that
alone. Your family will tell you things that correct you and your peers will go along with your wild ways and want to stay
in your good book. There are some members who do not need much from the family and other conflicts in the family that has
never had a chance to heal will split a family to extreme consequences.
X-What can a family teach us? What are the core values prevalent across all Eritrean families? The role model Eritrean
family has been a long time waiting to be around a family table! An extended family help out raise the children and every
child follows on the foot steps of the family traditions. And in the traditional sense of community life a child is raised
by the whole neighbourhood, by means of corrections from locals when a child steps out from the straight behaviours. As in
the non Eritrean cultures [abroad], our children grow adopting a foreign culture as well as being exposed to international
cultures.
Y-The financial, the health, the talent, the education and other stable
life, and continuity of a family is a cause for many strains and cause of stress if not managed properly and if available
un evenly. Hence the family has to provide for it self, and instil the values of good citizenship and encourage achievement
and healthy competition amongst siblings. Planning a family is crucial, as Eritrean families have been the source of energy,
wisdom and heroes in the past; hence are targeted and respected for future stability of Eritrea!!!
Z-So let’s start the work on building the family, re building lose connections, and healing
conflicts, re instilling the faith and culture that sustained our fore fathers/fore mothers. Take the good culture and discard
the negative ones and live as happy as ever possible, my God; we deserve it!!!
Zelealemawi Kibrin Zikrin ni kulom zhalefu!!
Awet N’hafash,
God bless you!!!
Hiwinnet haleka Tewelde
"Blood is thicker than water", but some people forget that blood is blood and no blood
is better than another blood.
Wat maak ons trots als wij anderen vertellen over onze land?
Om onze natie te herbouw, moesten we vanaf niets beginnen.Eritrea is een heel klein landje, maar hebeen unieke kracht,
en deze kracht is zijn mensen.Iedere Eritreaan heeft een prijs betaald om Eritrea
te bescherm tegen vijanden en om onze natie op te bouw en het een voorspoedige Eritrea te maken – gereed om met zij
of haar eigen leven te betalen.De moeders van Eritrea warenen is steeds heel speciaal, tijdens het strijden en nu nog is hun rol groot in de opbouw van onze eigen
geschiedenis.De prijs die zij heeft betaald maakt hun trots, en ons, de jonger
generatie, is trots op ons moeders en zusters, omdat zij op gelijke voet heeft gevochten, samen met hun strijders.(Eritrawit Ade wilada wefiya awet eya titsibe.
Nu
zijn Eritrea verenigd zoals vroeger na de strijd voor gelijkheid. De jongelui in Diaspora werken heel hard aan de eenheid
van de jongeren, en dat maakt hun trots. Zelfs de vrouwenwerken hard voor eenheid.
Wij
moeten zorgen dat de jonge generatie trots is om Eritereaan te zijn en dat zij hun best zullen doen om de voetstappen van
hun gevallen broeders en zusters te volgen. Dat bewijs dan onze unieke identiteit.Wij
hebben mensen die zeggen dat zij jou willen vervangen en voor jou zullen sterven;jij
neem het volgende gevecht in de volgende fasen.In Diaspora wonen Eritreanen
wie doen wat wij kunnen beschrijven als een ongelooflijke daad van moedigheid.
We
hadden dappere vechters, met wie wij kunnen praten op dezelfde manier dat wij onze dagelijkse brood eten. De Eritreanen zijn
een ongelooflijke verenigde natie.Ongeacht het aantal etnische groepen en religieuze
elementen in Eritrea, zijn de gemeenschap sterk verenigd in het kader NATIE EERSTE.Het is ongelooflijk om een land als Eritrea te zien in een derde wereld continent.
De Eritreanen weten dat hun geschiedenis en de geschiedenis van hun strijd voor gelijke rechten voor eeuwig voort leven.Ze beseft dat we voor een korte periode op deze planeet leven, maar om je leven te
geven om geschiedenis in bloed te schrijven en de grenzen van Eritrea met hun botten te bouwen, is De eeuwigdurende trots.
En de beschrijvende waardes om trots te zijn als Eritreaan, is een niet eindigende Natie.
Wij
Eritereanen hebben een visie, en dat is om onze natie op te bouwen en om zodoende een betere en gemakkelijke aan ons mensen
te geven.
We
moeten onze mensen leren niet egoïstisch te worden.We moeten altijd respect
hebben voor dat wat voor ons betaald was om onze vrijheid en natie terug te krijgen.We moeten vechten tegen consumentisme, corruptie en egoïsme en hard werken om onze visie op de rechte pad te brengen.Omdat wij de volle controle van onze destinatie hebben, hoef Eritrea niet te wachten
op permissie om ons noodlot te bepalen, politieke of economisch.De natie moeten
zijn eigen lot bepalen.Wij zijn heel erg trots op onze cultuur die onze houding
beschrijven door (Mislitatt).Zoals de bekende gezegde gaan:als je de gedane gunst niet kunnen teruggeven, vertel dan tenminste de goede daden.We moeten altijd alert wees en op de uit kijk wees voor onze natie.
Wij
Eritereanen hebben veel naties gezien, veel landen of wij weten van vele maar we zijn niet slechter dan anderen en kunnen
ook beter dan anderen doen.We hebben vele uitdagingen overkomt die we tijdens de strijd voor onafhankelijkheid en de opbouw
van naties, tegen is gekomen.
De
identiteit van de Eritreanen is door bloed ontstaan, en het leven van onze martelaars. Dat ten spijten, dit alleen maakt ons
zo trots.Het is uniek en wij zijn nooit gemigreerd voor voedsel, maar om ons
mensen te bevrijden en dat helpt ons om onze eigen identiteit te waarderen.Dankzij
onze gevallen helden, heeft ons nu een groot verantwoordelijkheid.Nooit hebben
wij anderen gezien die zo omkijken naar hun familie, wij Eritreanen, al de genoemde deed en dat maakt de simpelweg en trots!!!
Translated
by Hadinet
Now we reminded ourselves what should and does make us proud…
What is there that we can do to be proud Eritrean!!!
1- Being born to an Eritrean parent is not enough!!! Enjoying Eritrean music is not enough!!! Eating and enjoying
delicious Zighni is not enough!!!
2- Steadfastness against environmental influence in Diasporas… with constructive engagement with the intention
of integration!!! Do you make effort to relate to other Eritreans to have role models and be one your self to others!!! As
you get no respect if you don’t respect your origin and love where come from.
3- Do you even look after the families of the fallen heroes?
In every city that you are, there is a scheme to augment the funds
for the martyr’s families.
Adopt families of the fallen heroes, some are so old now and would
love to know their children did not die in vein.
4- Do you contribute towards the nation building? Do you pay your taxes? Do you take part in your country’s
political system? Do you make effort to read about your country? Do you fight any enemy of your country, by any means?
Join organised movements like YPFDJ, NUEW, NUEYS….for collective
effort to take your nation to a higher level.
5- Do you appreciate the sacrifices given by others so that you can call Eritrea your home, country? Do you try
to be the best you can be, and also the best Eritrean you can be?
Do you help all Eritreans you come across to better themselves?
6- Do you say my country first in every decision you take?
Do you uphold and respect the laws and regulations of you country?
Do you act against all who try to encourage all illegal activities..
Do you stop and fight corruption when ever you encounter it?
7- Do you correct all that are trying to do harm to Eritrea,
her unity, her peace, her people, her leadership, and her existence?
8- Do you up keep your Eritrean-ness? Your languages, cultures, customs, traditions, your food?
Respecting elders…
Visiting family and friends...
Do you carry your self humbly when visiting Eritrean..
Cultural ceremonies
9- It is not about what Eritrea can do for you but, what
you can do for Eritrea!!!
All graduates to make it their mission to visit Eritrea before embarking into a career to help the country you adopted as yours, so that you
keep dreaming of running such in your real country, Eritrea.
10- Do you ask yourself why am I here as a second class citizen in the west?
Economic reasons?
Hidden agenda of suffocating Eritrea of the educated and dynamic youth?
Never ending interference of the west in our region, since slavery,
and till now.
11- Why is that no matter how much success you score, it is never fulfilling until you connect with your country
and people?
And on and on….
….then we have a common ground, Eritrea!!!
And keep building
As
Eritreans, what are the qualities that make us proud? It is about reaching out to all
young Eritreans in Diasporas everY where we live!!!
WriteN
POINT BY POINT WHY WE are PROUD TO BE ERITREANS
Tell the youth
about what makes us proud...and they should be proud!!!
ENTAY EYU HABEN
ERITRAWUNET NIKA/NIAKI
I am proud to be Eritrean...despite all the wrong that was done against my people, I still forgive and go beyond that
to re build my nation peaceful coexistence!!!
I am so proud for our women over come double oppression by the colonizers, and also a culture that put women down to
fight for double freedom and be a ray of light to the women of Africa and world over.
I am proud Eritrean ...because....I have very patriotic parents that kept me grounded!!!
I am proud Eritrean...because...we live by our
sweat!!! I am proud to be Eritrea...because....I
have over 60,000 precious sons and daughters who died for me!!!!
I am proud to be Eritrean because we have children from the day they are born, saying ERITREA!!! Asking for Segum tunes before they go to school, and switching to ERI
TV in every home!!!
I am proud Eritrean...because...I can tolerate all cultures where ever I have been for over 47 years and come out winner!!!
I am proud Eritrean...because I have 4million more ready to do the Mekete and defend the Promised Land for ever!!!!
I am proud Eritrean...because I have 9 more original languages that I can talk in!!!!...westerners can only speak English,
but we can speak 10 more than them...!!!!
I am proud Eritrean...because......I can just pick the mic and find 44 brothers and sisters in one night...all ERITREANS!!!...in
pal talk
The fact that we always talk about our country so proudly!!!
It is a mysterious feeling...I find difficult to explain.
We were so into each other...and we looked out for each other even in school in foreign land!!!
....memories of unity where ever we are...is a great powerful thing, unexplainable
I am so proud because....I am so lucky to be Eritrean...and also Eritrea
is lucky to have me as Eritrean.
We fought so hard to fight back the enemies who tried to make us disappear...our identity was fighting against all
odds...and that makes light so proud.
We fought the whole world to overcome all our challenges.....it is beyond imagination.....!!!
Proud to be Eritrean....for ancestors [weledi] and previous generation who were very patriotic and wise.....who started
all the movements.
So proud to even do a wise long lasting solid referendum to cement legal, which are the most advanced people in the
whole world..!!!
having had all the nation building.......by sweat and sweat of blood....makes me so proud to be Eritrean, and be hopeful
Proud to have skills and decisive heroes who built Eritrea,
opposed to what took ethio 14 years to build.
....proud...to have ingenious and clever and loving people who build ERITREA........lovingly!!!
I am so proud to have Eritreans who fight all enemies...foreign and/or domestic.
Proud to be Eritrean as Eritrea is the beam of Africa…we
had to fight the decaying western mentality, the egoism, the selfish cultures, and the religious division of western fundamentalism!!!
Proud to be Eritrean.....because it is a never ending heroism and gallantry...
Eritrea...can never have enough INK in a paper to record the heroism of it's people!!!!
To be called Eritrean....makes me proud with so much pride. It is beyond the food, the flag and the music!!!
It is a deep pride .knowing how we achieved our identity makes me proud to be Eritreans!!!
To talk about the process and time it took to bring the freedom...makes me proud!!!
7 years of nation building....and that entire never ending uplifting story makes him proud.
Eritrea makes every one proud...as Eritrea
fought against all......odds
I am so proud about Eritrea and
Eritrean people who can direct each other...who can teach each other to a higher level of solemnity.
Proud to be Eritrean...whether small or big always dedicates his/her life for the sake of the nation first...ERITREA
FIRST!!!
Proud to be Eritrean….as we put the country first...and is unique.
we are always ready to give our last bread, sweat and breath to Eritrea!!!
The fact that all Eritreans are so united and beyond religion and tribal division...put Eritrea first and as the richest country in the world.
The development of the nation from zero and below zero at some time...makes me so proud.
I am so proud because I understand the unity in diversity...
Regardless of the number of tribes...we are all as one!!! Proud Eritreans.
Eritrean people have higher patience than any other people in world. That is why even when we
are down we just stay focus!!!
we are not poor, but we are rich in our culture
Rich and developed unique culture that tolerates others ….Meibul bahli
Sle’zelena.
I am so proud...because we show our strength in the rich culture we have!!!
I am proud of our brothers and sisters who instil Eritrawinet since
birth!!!
We have over come all the conspiracies against us!!! It is started in the 50s.......and for that I am proud and double
pride!!!
The heroes of Eritrea who made
possible never again the enemy will think about coming near us/.....
60s alata...and so on, who in our ever polite but sharp language, proverbs is to be proud of!!!
proud to tell where you are from....I can’t wait for people to ask me that question.
Kind, hard working people...never bad doers...!!!
Our nationalism, our patriotism...makes me proud.
His love of ERITREA makes him proud.
equal love of his people and the wish for all 5million to love him...is what makes him proud
Eritrean identity came through blood....and life of our beloved martyrs....hence that alone make us so proud
The 60,000+ came from every home, from every gender and tribe…that makes you so deep thinking, that helps us
appreciate...
We never immigrated, or abandon our people ...to find food...but to free our people.
We are the only country who gives their one child for the cause of the revolution and freedom.
We are so proud the beautiful peace we are bringing to our horn of Africa..
We are proud because we have leadership that inspire al of Eritreans to be leaders, ambassadors where ever they are!!!
There are never other people who look after their family like we Eritreans do.
There is no other country whose people look after the families of the heroes who gave their life for the country!!!
Eritrea: 9 tribes, one country, one love, one heart
on beat
Eritrea Aynfalale Room
We are proud because of our leader:-
1* A leader who is fiercely committed and devoted
to the betterment of his people;
2* A visionary leader who espouses a practical, sensible
and non-bankrupting approach to nation building --
3* Fairly balanced and universal sharing of work and
responsibility, 4* prudent management of resources,
5* Minimum resort to borrowed assistance (prevents
mortgaging the country's future to creditors),
6* The exercise of appropriate frugality in all areas
of endeavour;
7* a leader who is a true 'people's leader' ---
8* One who is not affected by any elitist aspirations
or leanings (Just a plain, honest-to-God, 'President of the people', who can actually see, feel and sense the people's pains,
troubles and aches -- sounds exactly like what the good 'doctor' ordered for Eritrea's hard-done-by masses!);
9* A leader who is bold, decisive and honest --- honest
enough to call a spade a spade to anyone's face (some people attempt to pontificate and attach all sorts of imagined stigmas
to possessing this rare virtue.
10* A leader who is untouched by corruption and who
works hard, even at the risk of being accused of subverting justice, to banish this ruinous scourge from government and society;
11* A leader, who, above all, has a tremendous self-confidence
-- one who is neither intimidated by the enormous challenges and sacrifices that face our nation, nor distracted by the various,
sinister saboteurs and obstructionists, from doggedly pursuing his ultimate national call as Eritrea's leader, of putting
Eritrea on the right track of progress and better future;
12* A leader who, by setting the right example, inspires
confidence and trust in his people, barring a few misguided promoters of defeatism and negativity, who lead relatively comfortable
lives in their cocooned existence in the Diaspora and know nothing better than to attempt to sabotage and obstruct our government's
genuine efforts to ameliorate the conditions of our people.
And on, and on……AWeT Nhafash [VICTORY
TO OUR MASSES, OUR PEOPLE]
ERITREAN HISTORY
Meaning of “Eritrea”:
From the Greek word “erithreum”
meaning red, ref to the Red Sea
Pre-Historic Times : 8000BC – 400BC
Archaeological finds in Tigray and BarkaValley indicate Stone Age habitation
Animals such as cattle were reared
People were of the pygmoid type and were nomadic and semi-nomadic
Sabean Period:1000BC-400BC
Most concentrated migrations to the area from the Arabian
Peninsula
Migrants loyal to Kings of Saba
Local negasi (princes) collected taxes for the kings
Decline of the kings power meant the negasi became real rulers
Rectangular roofed walls were built
AxumiteKingdom:From the 3rd century
United under one king
Expeditions to South Arabia
5th and 6th centuries: Syrian missionaries came, Christianity was
adopted
Bible translated into Ge’ez
Zagwe and the Solomonic Kings
By the 9th century, Axum kingdom was no more.
Replaced by the Agaws who established the Zagwe dynasty
Claimed descent from Moses
Ruled for 135 years to 1270
Solomonic Kings
Yikuno Amlak defeated the last Zagwe king
Claimed descent from Solomon and Sheba
Had varying levels of control over Eritrea,
depending on the strength of the king
Turkish Period
By 16th century, Turks had trading posts at Massawaand some islands
Made various attempts to expand inland, only to checked by the Portuguese and the Abyssinian kings
17th Century:
More migrations from Arabia, Tigray (northern Abyssinia), Somalia, otherAfricans
18th Century:
Abyssinian emperors were usually weak, hence had only patchy influence over Eritrea.
Egypt
Threat in the 19th C came from Egypt.
1820 Ali Pasha invaded Sudan
By 1840 had occupied certain parts of Abyssinia and
built a fort
1846 had a lease on Massawa
1849 Ali Pasha died and Turks reposed port
of Massawa
1850 Ali Pasha’s successor occupied western lowlands of Eritrea
Other Powers
British open consulate at Massawa in 1849
Italians arrived in the form of Catholic missionaries
The French were in Djibouti
Meanwhile in Abyssinia:
Emperor Tewodross has succeeded in uniting the former Abyssinian Empire
But his ruthlessness in achieving unity turned the people against him
Rebellions followed in which Ras Kassa, with British support was crowned Yohannes IV
in 1872
He defeated Egyptians in 2 battles, the last one in 1875 at Gura.
End of Egyptian interference
The Italians
1860’s bought land at Assab
Madhist rebellion against Egypt in
Sudan gave chance to Italy
to expand inland, encouraged by the British-give reasons for British support
Yohannes opposed Italians but was killed in battle in 1889
Succeeded by Menelik
Treaties followed and 1st
January 1890, Eritrea was established a colony of Italy
1894: Italian attempts to expand ended in defeat at the hands of the Abyssinians at ADUA.Called on of the biggest battles in African history: 73,000 African troops v. 27,000
Italian
The Colony and the Facist years
Aims of the colonial admin:
secure power
develop colony with Italian immigrants
dev. natural resources for Italy
equip it as a base for further expansion if the opportunity arose
The Facist Years (1934-1941)
1.Enormous expansion
in the economy
2.Massawa became
largest port in East Africa
3.Roads and railways
4.Aerial tramway
from Massawa to Asmara, longest of its kind in the world,
over 44 miles
5.2 modern airports
6.Export-based industrial
sector
7.National identity
and Conciousness developed this time
Socially
and politically, Eritreans were merely a source of cheap labour
No say in the affairs of their nation
1935: Defeat of Ethiopia
Declaration of Italian East Africa comprising: Eritrea, Ethiopia and
Somalia.
Selassi fled into exile
9.British Rule
Took over admin of Eritrea
as an Occupying Force.
Eritrea and the United Nations
British aimed to breakup Eritrea
as follows:
West & North to Sudan
Rest to Ethiopia
Other Italian colonies:
Libya-
immediate independence
Somalia-
10 yrs trusteeship and independence after
So, why treat Eritrea differently?
United Commission
of enquiry:
Aim: To ascertain the wishes of the Eritrean people and the means of promoting their
future welfare
Burma &
S. Africa: close association with Ethiopia
under the sovereignty of Emperor Haille Selasi
Norway:
unconditional union with Ethiopia
Pakistan
& Guatemala: Ten year trusteeship,
followed by independence
Partition was rejected
11:Federation with Ethiopia:
1950-1962
By Resolution 390A, Eritrea federated
with Ethiopia on 2 December, 1950, as an autonomous unit
Flaws in the resolution: No means of external arbitration
12:Annexation
Interferences from Addis Ababa:
1955: Chief Exec. Of Eritrean govt forced to resign
1959: Tigrinya and Arabic banned as means of comm. in education and replaced by Amharic
Response:Student boycotts, protests from
officials at work, etc, al met increased police brutality, jails and exile
Industries closed and transferred to Ethiopia
in order to undermine the econ. Independence of the nation
1958:General strike.Was brutally suppressed leaving many dead and wounded
The world paid
no attention.Could not gain access to the UN.
Hence resort to
armed struggle
1st September, 1961:First act of armed resistance.Hamid Idris Awate fought the
policeat Amba Adal
Late 1962, Eritrean
Assembly was intimidated into dissolving itself even though it has no power to do so
14 November, 1962:Ethiopia formally annexed Eritrea as her 14th province.
13: Struggle
for Independence
Eritrean Liberation Movement (ELM):First
movement, 1960.Started in Port Sudan
Eritrean Liberation Front (ELF): Formed in Cairo
by the old guards of the pro-independenceparties of the 1940’s and 50’s.
Syria and
Saudi Arabia were the early supporters
of the ELF
Split from ELF formed the People’s Liberation Front (PLF) and the Eritrean Liberation
Force (ELF)
1974: Selassi overthrow by Mengistu
1975 ELP-PLF merged to become ELPF
1978: Russian intervention prevented victory
1981:ELPF defeated ELF
February 1990 Massawa captured
22 May 1991 Mengistu fled Ethiopia.140,000 Ethiopian troops started to flee Asmara
24 May 1991 ELPF troops entered Asmara
25 May 1991 Assab fell to the ELPF
Over 30% of fighters were women, hence the women of Eritrea have equality with men
23-25 April 1993, referendum.99.81% voted
for independence
24th May 1993:Eritrea
formally declared independent
Important Events in the Eritrean History Recorded per Month
January
1The
first Broadcasting of Dimsth Hafash (1979)
-The Declaration of Italian Colony (1890)
2The
Liberation of Omahajer (1977)
4Election for
the Assembly of Zoba Debub (1997)
5The attack of Northern
East of Sahel (5- 10 Jan. 1980)
7The Liberation of
Qarura (1977)
9The formation of Union Association (1947)
-The
declaration of Land Dominale (1893)
102nd
Congress of National Union of Eritrean Workers (10- 16 1983)
12The starting Dergue´s
3rd invasion
132nd operation of commando at Sembel airport (1986)
15The second liberation of Tesenei(1984)
163rd Congress of NUEW (16- 23 1988)
- 3rd Congress of National Union of Workers of Eritrea
(16 -25 1988)
172ndCongress of NUEW (17-20 1983)
231stCongress of EPLF (23 -31 Jan. 1977
at Fah)
28The
first publication of ´One Eritrea` newspaper
(1950)
-The first battalion of Erireans dispatched to Tripoli (1912) (They were about 1112 soldiers)
February
1The
starting of battle in the environs of Asmara (1975)
-The mass killing of WEKIDUBA (1975)
2The
Battle at Keren between Italy
and British (1941)
4Eritrea´s First National Association of Workers formed (1952)
5The Capture of Massawa by Italy
(1885)
-The declaration of British Administration of Eritrea (1941)
6The
control of Keren by Kafl Gofar (1889)
9The
UN´s Commission for Eritrea arrived in Eritrea (1950)
10The liberation of Massawa through the Fenkil Operation (8-10 1990)
-The Third Congress of EPLF (Nakfa 10-16 1994)
11The massacre at Adi Ibrahim and Environs (1967)
15 The starting of
6th invasion of Dergue Red star operation (15 Feb. -20 June
1982)
-Election
for regional Assembly of Zoba Southern Red Sea (1997)
16 The opening of French consulate in Massawa (1841)
17 The battle of Gerger (1973)
-The
operation of commando at Dabti (1989)
-The
Railway reached at Agordet (1928)
18Selfi
Natsnet (Freedom Party) or Eritrea for
Eritreans formed (1947)
-The inauguration of farm (plantation) of Tesenei (1928)
-Election for Regional Assembly of Zoba Northern Red
Sea (1997)
25The establishment of AsmaraMunicipality(1935)
March
1Election
For The Assembly of Zoba Maekel (1997)
-The Battle of Adwa(1896)
3Commission for Constitution was formed (1994)
8International
Women’s Day (1910)
9The Black
Sunday of Agordet(1975)
10The strike
of Workers and students(10-13 1958)
121st
Congress of National Union of Eritrean Farmers (12 -17 1978)
-The 2nd congressof EPLF and The Unity Congress of EPLF and
ELF/CL (Saghem)
15The
battle of Togorba, which was the first confrontationbetween ELF and Ethiopian
Soldiers (1964)
17The
defeat of Nadow -Ezi division and the liberation of Afeabet (17-19 1988)
18The inauguration of Teleferica line or The Massawa-Asmara cableway (1937)
19The dismantle of Northern east Sahel and the crush of ´ Wuqaw EZI` (19
-21 1984)
23The
Liberation of Nakfa (1977)
25The 1st
Eritreans dispatched To Somalia (1907)
26The Election of
Eritrean Assembly (1952)
-The 7th invasion or Dergue´s silent invasion (26 March -15 Augustus 1983)
29The
release of 3 Russian prisoners of war (1991)
30The
starting of the 4th invasion (30 March-11 April 1979)
-The Extension of Teleferica from Massawa to Asseb (island Prim 1887)
April
1The
British captured Asmara(1941)
-The starting of the campaign of illiteracy (1983)
2The
withdrawal of Dergue from Agordet (1988)
4The
1st bombardment of Ethiopian planes at Massawa (1990)
6The
Liberation of Afeabet (1977)
7The
establishment of Commission for Referendum (1992)
10The release
of two Ethiopian prisoners of war for the 1st time (Getachew Abebe and Girma Mengistu 1975)
15The declaration
of the formation of six Zoba’s Administration (1996)
-The signing of the 1st border agreement between Eritrea
and Sudan (Rome
1891)
17The massacre
of 235 innocent civilians at Hirgigo (1975)
18The
massacre 36 innocent civilians at Naro (Geresele and Aqbitay 1984)
19The
offensive of Naval Force and Commando at Aseb(1988)
21The
mass massacre at Shebah 1988
23Referendum
Eritrea held (23-25 1993)
27The
result of the referendum was announced 99.805 for independence (1993)
-The declaration of Eritrean Sovereignty (1993)
May
1May
day -international workers day (1889)
2The
Italians controlled Keren and they captured Belemberas Kafl Gofar (1889)
4The killing
of 50 prisoners of war fighters and political prisoners at Mariam Gimbi and Sembel (1988)
5The Liberation
of Tesenei (1977)
-The formation of ´Mahber Fiqri Hager` by Eritreans intelecuals 1941
8The
1stcongress National Union of Eritrean Students (8-11 1978)
12The mass massacre
by Ethiopian soldiers at Shieb (1988)
14Ato Woldeab Woldemariam
passed away (1995)
15The border
agreement between Eritrean and Ethiopia
(Setit 1902)
17The transfer
of Massawa from Turkey to Egypt
(1866)
21The 1st
operation of EPLF commandos at SembelAirport
(1984)
22The signature
of the Wuchale Agreement (1889)
24The liberation
of Eritrean (Eritrean Independence Day) (1991)
26The liberation
of Aseb (1991)
28The martyrdom of
Hamid Idris Awate (1962)
31The British sold
ships from Massawa (1941)
The 1st offensive of Commando (by the sea) at Massawa shore (1988)
June
8The Capture of DahlakIsland
by Italy (1885)
9The Massacre
of 30 youth at Asmara (Kidane Mihret, Hadish Adi, Shuq 1990)
16The meeting of third
and fifth of groups at Aredayb (1968)
18The 1st
congress of Eritrean for Freedom in North America (1971)
19The formation
of the Italian rehabilitation office (1890)
20Martyrs
Day
24The formation of
the 1st part of EPLF at Sudhaela (1970)
July
2The capture of Keren
by Egyptians (1874)
-The
Mass killing at Oma Hajer(1974)
5The declaration
of Italian administration of Aseb (1882)
6The liberation
of Dekemhare(1977)
-The
Liberation of Barentu1985
7The retreat of soldiers of ELFfrom Northern east Sahel
and
the break out of civil war (1980)
8The liberation of Keren(1977)
9The 1st summer development programbystudents (1994)
10Constitution ofFederation by Eritrean
Assembly(1952)
-The agreement of border between Eritrea
and Ethiopia (1900)
11The
massacre at Aylet and Ghemhot (1967)
13The 5th
invasion of Dergue (13-26 1979)
14The starting of
National Service and SAWA training centre was setup (1994)
15The release
of 800 prisoners by the operation Sembel 1977
22The `Bridge`
at river Gash was completed (1926)
26The opening
of 1st meeting for research and development of Eritrea
(Wina, Sahel 26 28 1988)
August
2The capture
of Asmara by Italiaans (1889)
3The liberation
of Segeneyti (1977)
4The 1st
Festival Eitrea in Bologns Italy (1984-1991)
5The Liberation
of Digsa (1977)
6The looting
by Ras Alula at Habab (1886)
10 The Congress of Adobha (10-25 1969)
-The
formation of monetary system in Eritrea
(1890)
11 The control of Akeleguzay and Seraye by Italy (1889)
12The meeting of the
2nd party of EPLF at Tekhli (1971)
-The
Liberation of Adi Quala (1977)
14Earth quack in Massawa (1921)
16The killing of 40 nationals by Sudanese who was British soldiers (1946)
24The liberation of Mendefera (1977)
25The retreat of EPLF
from Barentu (1985)
31The 1st
issue of Eritrean weekly newspaper (1942))
-The
Liberation of Agordet (1977)
-The
invasion Ras Alula for Begos (1879)
September
1The armed struggle for Liberation
started at Adal (1961)
-Shekh Ibrahim Sultan passed away (1987)
10The EPLF announced a strategic withdrawal
(1978)
-The imprisonment of Ra-esi WoldeMichael by Ra-esi Alula (1879)
11Federation of Eritrea and
Ethiopia started (1952)
19A united Force was formed at congress of Anseba (1968)
21The First issue of news paper “Dehai Eritrea” (1952)
23The 2nd Congress National Union
of Eritrean Student (23-28 1979)
25The ‘week of women’ (25 Sept. -5 Oct. 1971)
28The 3rd Congress of National Union
of Eritrean Students (26 Sept. -1 Oct. 1981)
October
130,000 residents of Weki-Zager and environs gathered and urged
to end the civil war (1974)
2The bombardment of Ethiopian plane at Molqi (1984)
7Kentiba Hamid signed an agreement for the custody of Habab
under Italy (1885)
10the 8th invasion (which was baptized as Bahri Negash) (October 10-December 10
1985)
14The 1st Congress of ELF(October 14 –November 12 at Aar 1971)
19The Massacre of 39 nationals from Nara
ethnic at Megorayb (1985)
24The 11th Bombardment by Ethiopian planes at Massawa (1990),
26The Addis Ababa agreement was signed between Menelik and Italy (i.e. the replacement of Wuchale Agreement)
(1896)
28The inauguration of the Massawa-Dekemhare Road (1935)
November
2The
Eritrean Movement for Liberation was formed (Mahber Shewate) (1958)
6The declaration
of National Service (1991)
8The Nakfa-
the official currency of Eritrea was introduced
(1997)
12 A Commission of
investigation formed of four superpowers entered Eritrea
(12 Nov.1947-3 Jan. 1948)
14Ethiopia officially abolished the federation (1962)
15Priest Sapeto bought a land from Sultan Hassen and Sultan
Ibrahim (1869)
17The defeat of Egypt by Hatsey Yohannes (Gundet 1875)
21The 1st Congress National Union
of Eritrean Workers (21-25 Nov. 1979)
22The EPLF announced to held Referendum (1980)
24The railway of Massawa- Menkulu (1887)
25The meeting of Bete-Gergis by concerned nationalists (1946)
- The 1st congress NUEW
(25-28 1979)
December
1The Rabita El Islamia party formed in Keren (1946)
-The Masacare at Basigdira (1970)
2The 1st Anti-offensive of EPLF at the Nakfa front
(2-16 1979)
-The UN approved Eritrea to be federated with Ethiopia (1950)
- The Massacre at Una (1970)
6The railway reached Asmara
(1911)
8Universal Children’s Day(1954)
14Degiyat Bahta Hagos announced to revolt against Italians (1894)
16The state of emergency was announced in Eritrea (1970)
18Degiyat Bahta Hagos passed away (1894)
24The Eritrea
flag was lowered down(1958)
-The battle of Elaberd (197)
28The formation of Democratic Party of Eritrea
(1950)
31The release of 10,000 Ethiopian prisoners of war (1989)
This was prepared by Media Group of YPFDJ Holland. This is not a complete one; therefore
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Her faith My
strength Her talks My melody Her fragrance My ecstasy
Her eyes My light Her lips My contact Her
thoughts My excitement
Her touches My bliss Her love My drive
Her hugs My passion Her heart My
heaven
Her kisses My breathing Her soul
MY EVERYTHING
Aklilu H.
BY SOPHIA TESFAMARIAM
Every country has its own “Quisling League” and Eritrea
is no different. As a matter of fact, members of Eritrea’s
Quisling League (EQL), like most other quislings, are motivated by fame and fortune.
The most senior member of the group is Bereket Habte Selassie. The EQL is an unlikely alliance of arrogant, condescending,
opportunist, pompous, and self-righteous individuals who live off the suffering of others. They have formed a smorgasbord
of alphabet groups made up of dubious individuals with sordid records and pasts. They first made their appearances in cyberspace
at about the time the Eritrea Ethiopia ceasefire agreement was signed. At that time I labeled them the Ds-as in defeatists,
distracters, detractors and disgruntled diplomats and Uncle Tomists. Since then, their futile attempts to disassociate themselves
from the agendas of the minority regime in Ethiopia
and its handlers have proved to be an unsustainable political joke.
While some, like the Eritrean National Alliance (ENA) led by Herui Tedla openly associated with the minority regime
in Ethiopia, groups led by Paulos Tesfagiorgis
and Bereket Habte Selassie operated clandestinely. The latest meeting in Addis Ababa,
led by Meles Zenawi , exposed the quislings for what they are-enemies of the State of Eritrea, its government and its people.
The EQL is seasonal and predictable; they make their appearances when their handlers (the mercenary minority regime in Ethiopia and its handlers) are cornered-or find them selves
in a self-made political quagmire. Eritreans in the Diaspora are therefore not surprised by the re-emergence of the two elite
members of the EQL, Paulos Tesfagiorgis and Bereket Habte Selassie, into the Eritrean political arena after giving us a brief
respite.
Both Paulos Tesfagiorgis, who felt the urge to tell us about his travels to Ethiopia[1], and Bereket Habte Selassie’s
with his “Urgent Appeal” to Jendayi E. Frazier, the Secretary of State for African Affairs[2], are back again,
sullying the Eritrean cyberspace with more of their self aggrandizing ramblings. Somehow the Eritrean Diaspora knew they were
coming, the ominous stench of their perfidy was once again polluting the Eritrean cyberspace. Today, with his diversionary
“Urgent Appeal” to Jendayi E. Frazier, this senile opportunist and repeat offender, is once again attempting to
undermine Eritrean officials that he once praised and hailed as the “Maradona and Pele of politics”. Dr. Bereket
feigns concern by shedding crocodile tears for the people of Eritrea
he has long abandoned and whose right to development, a human right, he has worked so hard to thwart. A senile exercise in
futility if you ask me!
My article for today will focus on Bereket Habte Selassie, as Paulos Tesfagiorgis’ betrayals and crimes against
the people of Eritrea are too long and
will require its own sitting. When I heard about the letter written by Dr. Bereket, I was hoping against all hopes, that the
senile Professor was writing to Jendayi E. Frazier to protest her attempt to violate the Constitutional rights of Eritrean
Americans, but not surprisingly, it turns out that he was writing to her to extend the violations to include ALL Eritreans,
inside the country and in the Diaspora. This pliant quisling was pleading with her to violate, not just Eritrea’s sovereign rights, but also to violate the people of Eritrea’s right to development. Taking his cue from his payors, this mercenary
was persuaded to write, not in defense of the Eritrean people, but rather to advance the narrow interests of certain quarters.
So much from a “Distinguished Professor” and a constitutional scholar at that!
To Eritreans, Bereket Habte Selassie is not just a greedy mercenary but also an opportunist, known more for his “service”
in Ethiopia than anything he has done in Eritrea, despite what he professes in his many writings. All who are familiar with
his past know of his penchant for fame and fortune. While his history is replete with betrayals and denials, this article
will attempt to show how this selfish individual took advantage of the magnanimity of the Eritrean people. But Dr. Bereket’s
betrayals are not limited to the people of Eritrea;
he has also betrayed the trust of his Ethiopian compatriots. This cyber dictator and his imaginary cyber party have harassed
and intimidated Eritreans in the Diaspora for far too long to be left unchallenged. Let us go back and take a glimpse into
his dark past.
Although Bereket Habte Selassie has held several high-level positions within the Ethiopian government, including
Federal Supreme Court Judge, Vice Minister of Interior and the Mayor of Harar during the reign of Emperor Haile Selassie,
he is mostly remembered for his role as Co-Chairman of the Inquiry Commission established during Menghistu Hailmariam’s
brutal “Derg” regime (preceded the current regime led by Meles Zenawi). While serving as Attorney General in Ethiopia during the Emperor’s reign, he was also responsible for drafting the clause
that enabled Ethiopia’s annexation of Eritrea,
that triggered the 30-year long armed struggle for Eritrea’s
independence.
In the early 70s, when Eritrean students in North America and around the world were leaving the comforts of their
homes to join their comrades in arms in Eritrea, who were struggling for
Eritrea’s independence, Bereket Habte Selassie went instead to Ethiopia. He said then that he was responding to “yenat
ager tiri”-the call of the motherland. He left his job at the World Bank and returned to Ethiopia where he served as Co-Chairman of the Inquiry Commission. The purpose
of the Commission was to investigate alleged corruption and breach of responsibilities by officials in Emperor Haile Selassie’s
regime in the aftermath of the Ethiopian famines. While the record shows that he was appointed by the Ethiopian parliament,
in absentia, to serve in the newly established Inquiry Commission, he says the late General Aman Andom prodded him to return
to Ethiopia and serve the Derg regime.
We will never know the truth.
On 23 November 1974, Aman Andom, a distinguished military officer of Eritrean descent, was killed in a gunfight in
his home for refusing to sign on to a decision to deploy massive forces to crush the Eritrean struggle for independence and
also for not approving the extra judicial killings of the individuals being investigated by the Inquiry Commission headed
by Dr. Bereket. That same night, 60 members of the Emperor’s regime were taken from the wine cellar at the Palace to
Akaki prison and machine gunned to death, and their bodies were tossed in freshly dug shallow graves.
Amongst the dead were prominent Ethiopian Ministers, civil servants, and decorated Army officers including Aklilu
Habte Wolde who served as Ethiopia’s
Prime Minister and Rear Admiral Eskindir Desta, the Emperors grandson. They were all killed extra judicially. Right after
the massacres of Aman Andom and the 60 prominent members of the Emperor’s government, Bereket Habte Selassie escaped
to Eritrea. Unlike the Eritrean Constitution
Commission that he has written about ad nauseum, he has remained conspicuously mum about the Inquiry Commission in Ethiopia he was appointed to lead.
Menghistu Hailemeriam in his book implicates Bereket Habte Selassie as being the person who told him to “clear
the deck” and remove the former members of the Emperors government. According to the former Ethiopian leader, Dr. Bereket
told him that it would advance the new revolution in Ethiopia.
Why hasn’t the good professor revealed his part in that sad episode in Ethiopia’s
history? This person who fancies himself as a “human rights” advocate has yet to utter a single word about the
extra-judicial executions of the 60 individuals he was investigating for corruption and crimes against Ethiopia. Why is that?
When the entire world is condemning Meles Zenawi’s minority regime for the genocides in Gambela, Sidama and
Ogaden, when students and unarmed civilians are gunned down in broad day light on the streets of Addis
Ababa, and when over 40,000 people are detained in Ethiopia
for voting him out of office, this “human rights” advocate remained silent. When Meles Zenawi’s forces invaded
Somalia and displaced over 500000 people, pulverized village and killed
hundreds creating an unparalleled humanitarian disaster in Somalia,
this “human rights” advocate remained silent. But for the last 8 years, he has campaigned incessantly to blemish
the government and people of Eritrea’s record on human rights in
Eritrea.
His versions of events in Eritrea
during his stay contradict known historical facts. His attempts to present himself as the peacemaker during the 1974 popular
mediation between the Eritrean Liberation Front (ELF) and the Eritrean People’s Liberation Front (EPLF) in Eritrea are self-serving, dishonest and grossly exaggerated.
Truth be told, his brief stay in Eritrea
is riddled with even more intrigues and behaviors bordering on the criminal. The details will have to wait for another day,
suffice it to mention that they involve the Eritrean Relief Association (ERA), “embezzlement of funds” and Paulos
Tesfagiorgis. Oh! What tangled webs these two weave, when they practice to deceive!
After independence, the magnanimous Government and people of Eritrea
gave Dr. Bereket another opportunity to serve his country of origin and redeem himself. He was appointed as the Chairman of
the Constitution Commission. Exposing his deceptive nature, in an interview conducted by an enemy website, while discussing
appointments in the Eritrean government, the senile professor said:
“…My energies from 1991 onwards were focused on being with my family and on rebuilding my income…I
didn’t expect it [an appointment] and I wouldn’t have accepted it. I have no ambition whatsoever in that regards:
that’s what I want to make clear to your readers. As a matter of fact, at heart, I am a professional with poetic bent;
I hate politics. You just join the fray when the fate of your country is at risk. Seeking public office, etc, no thank you.
I am very happy in my professional life. Why would I leave a comfortable life for the misery of being somebody’s underling…”
If Dr. Bereket hates politics what is his cyber EDP supposed to be? Is it not a political party? At first, believing
it could ride on the coattails of the Eritrean People’s Liberation Front (EPLF), this group of disgruntled diplomats
and defectors including the runaway reporters sans couth, chose the name EPLF-DP. At some point they changed the name to EDP.
We were relieved. The name EPLF cannot be associated with traitors and turncoats. These quislings who could not live up to
the ideals and principles of the EPLF, which include self-respect, sacrifice, humility, and service to others, have no business
using the name in their cyber smearing campaigns.
When the President of Eritrea appointed him to serve as the Chairman of the Constitution Commission, it must have
surprised the good Dr. for he must have known that he did not deserve the honor of being involved in such a historical national
endeavor. Acknowledging the President’s magnanimity, Dr. Bereket said “Igzi yekbiro, neai zekbereni”, meaning
“God respect him for giving me this respect”. But the opportunist that he was, he did not want to pass up the
once in a lifetime chance to advance his stagnant career and pad both his credentials and his wallet, so he shamelessly accepted.
This unconscionable man was not about to pass up the opportunity to fleece the Eritrean people who were re-building their
country from scratch after 30 years of war. More on that later…
After 4 years of public debate both inside Eritrea and in the
Diaspora, the people of Eritrea produced
the Eritrean Constitution. The Eritrean Constitution was ratified in 1997 and since then, much work has been done in its implementation.
While he has been harping about the “implementation of the Eritrean Constitution” from his hideaway in North Carolina for the last 10 years, this “Constitutional scholar”
has done absolutely nothing to help with the process. I am inclined to believe that he probably has no clue as to what it
entails.
There are several articles in the Eritrean Constitution, whose implementations require laws to be written, or have
to be regulated by law. The people of Eritrea
have been working hard in the writing and promulgating of these laws and more. Instead of helping in the process or giving
advise on how to do certain tasks, Bereket Habte Selassie did everything to undermine the Eritrean Constitution and the solemn
principles contained therein. Since it is the people’s document, he has long forfeited his right to speak about the
Eritrean Constitution- the people’s document.
Remaining true to his nature, he once again betrayed the trust of the Eritrean people and his peers. In pursuit of
his own narrow agendas, and presenting himself as the “Father of Eritrea’s
Constitution”, this Father of the EQL set out to elevate his own stature by undermining others, especially the Government
and people of Eritrea. He continues to
this day to receive funds for activities related to the Eritrean Constitution- book sales, seminars, workshops, travels, speaking
engagements etc. etc. but has never given as much as a penny to the other members of the Commission that did the bulk of the
work associated with the writing and producing of the Eritrean Constitution.
In 2001, at the height of his cyber smearing campaign against the people of Eritrea, distinguished former members
of the Executive Committee of the Constitutional Commission of Eritrea, wrote him an open letter concerning his antics in
the Diaspora and to expose his deceptive and opportunist tenure as the Chairman of the Eritrean Constitution. They asked him
three questions that he has evaded to date. I will remind the senile professor the three questions and ask that he take this
opportunity to answer the questions posed to him by his peers. Dr. Amare Tekle, Mrs. Amna Hassen Naib, Mr. Musa Hassen Naib,
Dr. Seyoum Haregot, Mrs. Zahra Omar Jabir and Mr. Zemehret Yohannes signed the letter. Here is the eloquent letter in its
entirety:
“…We, the former members of the Executive Committee of the Constitutional Commission, have taken note
of the several self-serving claims made in your recent articles and interviews relative to drafting of the Constitution of
Eritrea and its "implementation" , as well as certain issues that were discussed during the drafting process.
We had, individually and in discussion with each other, hitherto concluded that it would serve no useful purpose
to publicly take exception, either individually or collectively, to your disregard for historical facts and the truth, to
respect a hallowed Eritrean imperative that constraints responsible members of society from rash actions or reactions and
to keep dignified silence in the face of impropriety by an errant colleague; in the conviction that history would be a better
judge of our deeds and misdeeds and in the belief that truth will sooner or later triumph.
We have, however, been left with no option, in view of your continued molestation of the truth than to speak out
for the record and in the interest of the truth. We speak, not in recrimination, but in the hope that, in your future "contribution"
to the "democratization" and "well-being" of our country, you will pay heed to the noble tradition of Eritrea. We shall not go into details about what transpired
during the long drafting process. At present, we shall refer to three of your egregious pretensions.
1. Authorship of the Draft Constitution
You have repeatedly claimed, directly and indirectly, that you were the sole author of the Draft Constitution, often
playing on the word "writing". The word "writing" is defined, inter alia, as (a) the faithful recording on paper of any decisions
made, or ideas agreed upon, by a group (i.e. committee, commission, etc.) and (b) drawing up (composition) of a draft text
based solely on one's value and belief systems. The first denotes collective authorship and the second individual effort.
We then wish to ask you one simple question for posterity. Will you inform Eritreans, in clear unequivocal terms, which one
of the above two tasks did you perform? As a corollary, you may also wish to inform the Eritrean public and our foreign friends:
- What was taking place in the meetings of the Executive Committee;
- What was the Eritrean population, at home and abroad discussing during the constitution- making process, preceding
the first draft;
- What discussion took place in the Executive Committee concerning the preparation of the first draft;
- What draft was communicated to the 50 member Constitutional Council; and
- What was the role of the Constitutional Commission Council and the foreign and local Board of Advisors?
In short, we ask you to recall the whole constitution- making process and, with the clear conscience, repeat your
claim for sole authorship of the Draft Constitution.
A propos, you have declared that the original Draft of the Constitution was in English. We are aware only of the
Tigrigna text. It was in fact for this reason that we requested one of our colleagues to translate it into English. If you
had an English text why was it necessary to have the Tigrigna text translated?
2. The Issue of the Special Court
In an essay entitled PFDJ's War on Democracy and Justice (Awate.com, August 13, 2001), you wax indignant and fulminate
in connection with the creation by the Government of Eritrea (contrary to what you say, the PFDJ does not have law-making
powers) of the Special Court. Let us be honest. As
a leading academic, the Chairman of the Constitutional Commission and a constitutional scholar at that, should you not have
had the courage of your conviction to be among the first to protest as vehemently and as loudly then as you are doing now,
five years after the enactment of the Special Court Proclamation? Or was there an incentive involved?
Let us be more direct. We hope you will recall ¬as we all do ¬that we had serious discussion on the matter both in
official capacity and in private. You will recall that, during one of these meetings, one member raised the need to harmonize
or bring into line some provisions of the law establishing the Special Court
with the provisions of the Constitution, once it was ratified and becomes effective. Surely, that person was not you. We will
be emphatic that, on the other hand, you supported the Government's action and the necessity of such special court with such
extraordinary powers in developing countries to combat corruption. We do not mind your present change of heart, if it is rooted
in honesty. On the other hand, we take special exception to your present fulmination and pretentious declarations as if you
had been criticizing the Proclamation on Special Court
all along for the last five years. Your first moral transgression and intellectual dishonesty maybe forgivable; your present
immorality can never be. So what were your motives then, and what are your motives now? Surely, it cannot be the national
or public interest.
3. A Pro Bono Service?
You have claimed on several occasions that, as Chairman of the Commission, you were rendering a pro bono service
¬ i.e. service without any remuneration. Yet, AsmaraUniversity
records reveal that by arrangements with the University of North
Carolina, at Chapel Hill, the University of Asmara
was paying you 50 per cent of your salary while you still continued to receive the other 50 per cent from the University of North Carolina. In effect, you
were getting your full UNC salary. Moreover, that, upon your persistent supplication to settle your mortgage of USD 28,000
in America in its entirety, as a lump
sum, the Government of Eritrea had to arrange for an additional salary of USD 2,500 per month from the Constitutional Commission
for three years you served as Chairman of the Commission. This special salary was partly utilized to repay the money the Commission
advanced to settle your mortgage in America.
Part of this special salary was paid retroactively.
Finally, as you recall, the Constitutional Commission was required to submit a final Report on activities it accomplished
and its financial condition in Tigrigna, Arabic and English. The Commission was expected to distribute this Report to the
public at large and the donor community, who contributed funds for the operations of the Commission. Some members of the Executive
Committee prepared the Tigrigna and Arabic versions. These versions of the final Report were made available to the public
at large. You were requested to prepare the English version for distribution to the donor community. To-date, despite repeated
pleas, you did not submit the English version. The Commission thus finds itself derelict in its responsibility towards the
donor community in Eritrea.
We restrain ourselves from further comments on other equally weighty matters in the public interest. We still believe
that each one of us should be ¬and will be ¬judged by history and the future generations of Eritrea…”
So there you have it. I hope the good professor will respond to these serious questions soon instead of engaging
in cyber smearing a people and a government who gave him a moment of respect, a moment greater than any he will ever get in
his entire lifetime.
Eritreans know that Bereket Habte Selassie is a true blue traitor who suffers from an overdose of ambition and failed
expectations, and as an evil individual who has turned his “worship” of Eritrea’s leadership and the Eritrean People’s Liberation Front (EPLF)
into hatred and vengeful betrayals. His fanatical ambitions and expectations and deep-seethed frustrations are reflected by
his sordid past. Simply put, Bereket Habte Selassie and Paulos Tesfagiorgis are frustrated individuals who have no qualms
about destroying Eritrea, or selling their
mothers to get what they want-fame and fortune.
The folks at North CarolinaUniversity
ought to investigate this man’s past and prevent him from poisoning the minds of young students with his distorted version
of history and the truth. The State Department and the many policy-making institutions in the United States risk their own credibility and integrity by associating themselves
with such notorious quislings, political blackmailers and extortionists.
More on Bereket Habte Selassie, Paulos Tesfagiorgis, and the Berlin
13-a group of self appointed “academicians and professionals next time…
The rule of law must prevail over the law of the jungle!
If you have anything to contribute that is educational and effective please feel free to forward your suggestions
and HIWINNET will accommodate your ideas and contributions at every level possible.
Watch the space for people based constructive ideas and possible dictionary for effective communication!
