Let’s Not Give Room

To ‘Warlordism’ in Eritrea

From the Experiences of the ELA  (Part V)

The Nharnet Team (October 21, 2004)

The Need for Credible and Acceptable Coalition of the Opposition

18.10.2004

At  33^rd Anniversary  of

The 1971 Congress, ELF-RC

Described as ‘Dynamic Democracy’

Nharnet Team, 14 October 2004

Forging a United Patriotic Opposition

Nharnet Team, October 10, 2004

Three Years Ago Today

Nharnet Editorial (19/9/2004)

From the Experiences of the ELA (Part II)

(12/9/2004)

September 1^st Puts Public Trust to the Test

(1/9/2004)

الوحدة الوطنية الارترية ...... بين الأمس واليوم

بقلم / ابراهيم محمد علي

RC Speaker Urges Libya’s Colonel Gadafy

(30/8/2004)

لجنة الحوار الوطني

CONCLUDING STATEMENT:

ARABIC  ENGLISH       TIGRINIA

For ELF-RC Members

And Supporters,  1^st of December Is

Eritrean Martyrs’ Day

Nharnet Team (December 1st, 2004)

The ELF-RC annually marks 1^st December as Eritrean Martyrs’ Day, and it will continue to do so until a popularly elected Eritrean parliament designated a national day for such occasion of commemorating all the martyrs of our liberation struggle. Eighteen years ago, the  Revolutionary Council designated the day of the Ona massacre to honour the martyrdom of Eritrean civilians in all walks of life and the liberation fighters who were giving their lives for the sake of their victimized people.

The massacre at Ona which claimed over 700 lives in a single day took place on 1 December 1970 following the killing on the Asmara-Keren road at Habrom-Gaqa on 19 November 1970 of General Teshome Ergetu, the Commander in Chief of the Ethiopian army in Eritrea. In the days preceding the  massacre of Ona, many villages in the region were burned. On 30 November, about 120 persons were massacred inside the mosque at Basik-Dira. The next day, it was the turn of Ona, a cluster of residents of five villages that came together on the basis of Ethiopia’s “villagization” policy, a measure taken with the aim of containing the liberation movement. On that fateful day, Ona, only 2 km from Keren, was full of people from different places because other villagers and people from neary Keren were there invited for two memorial events (“tezkars”) honouring two previous deaths.

On today’s occasion, therefore:

we salute the martyrs of the Eritrean Liberation Army, the martyrs of the Eritrean People’s Liberation Army, and many other heroes who fell fighting for the same cause under different banners and organizations. Indeed, it is the right day to salute all martyrs of our people for national independence as well as our ongoing struggle for full liberation, equality and justice – from Martyr-Leader Abdulkader Kebire of the 1940s to the latest young Martyrs of Adi Abeito who fell while trying to fight a home-grown tyrant by his own weapons.

Among others, we commemorate and salute our civilian martyrs of the early days under the old imperial regime.

In particular, wetoday recall:

• The 1965 cold-blooded murder of 67 selected men at Merara, Hamassien province, and 46 men at Medeka, Keren province.

• The February-March 1967 martyrs at the villages of  Ad-Ebrihim, Ad-Kukui, Ad-Jemil, Ad-Omer, Ad-Saydna Hamid, Ad-Gherbet, Ad-Fedl, Ad-Habab, Emtrub, Mogoraib and others in Barka  who were killed after the burning of 62 thriving villages and the machine-gunning of over 60,000 of their livestock. Renewed burning campaigns of that year killed many and displaced thousands after burning the villages of Halhal, Bab-Jengeren, Hamelmalo, Melebso,Felhit, Enchinaq,  Hashishai, Fana, Wazintet, Qamchewa, Azreqet, Habero and many others put at 173 villages by some field researchers.

• The August 1967 wanton killings and burning of the villages of Ailet, Asus, Weqiro, Figret, ShebaH, Gedged, Gemhot, Metkel-Abet and many others. 

• The summer-autumn 1967 killings and burning in highland Eritrea and destroying wiping out whole villages and property in the Hazemo-Hazo valleys and plains, at Fishey-Merara,  Deg’A, Arebet, Diyat, Timza’e, Mai Chada, Endazmach-Ogbit and other localities.  These were followed by grisly massacres like the one at Misyam where the over 40 men were slit on the neck in front of their children and wives.

• The December 1970 massacre of 78 men in Wara, Hamassien and many other atrocities committed under the imperial regime of Haile Selassie.

We also recall today, 1^st of December:

• The 10 July 1974 massacre of well over 170 civilians in Om Hager.

• The  garroting to death by steel wires and knifing down in the streets of the capital of a very large number of our youth during 975 and after.

• The 1 February 1975 massacre of nearly 80 civilians in Waki-Diba and the vicinity.

• The 9 March 1975 (Black Sunday) massacre of over 200  civilians in Agordat.

• The 17 April 1975 massacre of 235 civilians in Hirgigo.

• The 19 October 1985 massacre of 39 Nara youth at Mogoraib.

• The 4 May 1988 massacre at Shebah.

• The 12 May 1988 massacre in Sheeb.

• And among others, the well over ’19,000’ youth martyrs, who were massacred in senseless wars of the PFDJ dictator.

Eternal Memory and Glory to Eritrean Martyrs, both civilian and armed, of all ages :1941 to 2004.

The Struggle Ahead for Unity, Change, Democracy, Peace, Justice and Prosperity Shall Triumph!!

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