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Second ELF-RC
Festival in the USA Took a Leap
“It’s not enough to be in the right place at the right
time.
You have to be the right person in the right place at
the right time.”
T. Harv Eker
The Eritrean Democratic Association sponsored ELF-RC 2nd
annual Festival in Seattle took a leap. The number and variety of
participants was about four folds to last year. The quality of
presentation was exceptional.
The city of Seattle witnessed the flock of ELF-RC members and their
families starting Friday June 24th through Saturday morning
June 25th 2005. Saturday afternoon about 3:00 p.m. the
participants and their American guests started gathering at the Eagle
Hall in the heart of Seattle. Program started at about 4:00 p.m. with
children singing the song well known to all ELFiets “nwegonom kulu
zechekunu”. This gave the standing and clapping audience a boost of
high energy that didn’t stop for two days. The opening was followed by
a dance by men and women dressed in traditional Kebesa and Tigre
attires. This gave the American guests our rich and diverse cultures.
They join the audience in clapping and mingling. The children came back
twice and demonstrate both Tigryna and Tigre dances with respective
cultural attires that moved the audience. This was a moment to
remember. I felt the torch has been transferred to the new generation
well.
The host of the Festival opened the stage for key note speakers.
Speakers supported the cause of Eritean Democratic Association and the
struggle that is waging by RC to bring end to the misery of our people.
The following were the speakers in order:
ü
Tom Rassmussen Seattle city council
ü
Mike McKinnon Mayor of the city of
Lynnwood
ü
Congressman Jim Mcdormott US House Representative
ü
Kiniko Korabawa Snohomish County
Human Right Coalition
ü
Mr. Tim & Neph Amnesty
International UW Branch
ü
Greg Nicholas Letter of support
- Mayor of Seattle
ü
Jay Inslee Letter of
support - US Congressman
ü
Mengisteab Tsegai EPM representative –
Seattle Branch
At the end of the pack the chairman of ELF-RC Mr. Seyoum O. took the
stage. He addressed the audience in Tigryna, English, and Arabic
eloquently. He communicated well the objective of RC and the relentless
fight it is waging to achieve those objectives hand in hand with the
Eritrean people. He also elaborated the recent umbrella formation of
sixteen organizations under The Eritrean Democratic Alliance. He pin
pointed to rally behind the broad organization for it is good for the
Eritrean people and poison killer to the dictator sitting in Asmara. He
left an impression among the American friends by his leadership skills,
intelligence, and competency. Questions and answers followed where it
was given ample time to satisfy concerns and misperception of
nationals. Dance till you drop took place right after the closure of
Q&A and the festival came to an end officially at 1:00 a.m. On Sunday
June 26 members meeting continued the whole day.
The preparation committee has done an excellent job in planning a high
quality of event. First the format of the display wasn’t only a
political one but it was a cultural display as well. Many Kebesa and
Senhit traditional hand craft and attires were displayed. A beautiful
woman with a tradition Kebesa attire displayed traditional coffee serve
and its components. After the keynote speakers program was completed
more than fifteen American gathered around her to learn about the coffee
serve culture. She baked row coffee and served everyone the traditional
way and they loved it. Pictures of different events from Australia,
America, Canada, Europe, and Sudan were displayed to show the guests and
they learned about our uncompromising struggle for justice. Pictures of
jailed heroes like Weldemariam Bahlebi and Teklebrahan Wedi Bashai and
other nationals who languishing in the jails of the dictator without due
process were displayed there to remind the guests that only injustice is
ruling in Eritrea. I felt the display looked a museum of the great
Eritrean tradition which makes one proud of his/her roots at one point
and in another point it summarized the endless misery of our people
under the iron chains of one man rule.
The Second, the quantity and quality of participants was exceptional.
The American friends who participated were not only supporters but are
in key positions in local and federal government. One can see and feel
how all the guests enjoyed there presence that night. One couple who
met one time the Emperor of Ethiopia told me not to give up our fight
they will support us hundred percent. Mayor Mike McKinnon and his
family stayed until closed time. I saw him taking dancing lessons from
the teens who were part of the cultural dancing team. US Congressman
Jim McDormott told the audience that he supported their democratic fight
and loved Eritrean food. He is known for his unwavering opposition of
the Iraq war and he is well respected among his peers. He had to leave
early for another public meeting and took food to go. Many of them
donated to the cause of the Eritean Democratic Association (EDA) and vow
to support more until the cause reached its final destination. Mayor
Mike McKinnon promised to let access to place for next year’s festival.
The second festival USA took a leap to the next challenge. It is a
challenge that will bring the justice struggle of the Eritean people on
the door steps of the American political spectrum. This giant step is a
success to all opposition groups who aspire to eradicate dictatorship
and build peace and democratic governance in Eritrea. A friend told me
why does RC convene its own festival why not all opposition together
since there is a unity at this time? I let my friend know that the pack
sixteen only agreed to a minimum points and each individual organization
has the freedom to conduct its own events and political movements the
same way is done in multi party society. We have many other
opportunities to work together in toppling the dictator. Whatever
events we all do on our own to expose the injustices in Eritrea to the
world is a victory to all oppositions no matter by who it is done and
that will bring us closer to toppling the dictator. So, the success of
the second festival USA in Seattle was a success to all opposition
Eritreans.
In conclusion the second festival USA has achieved success beyond
expectation only in its second year. Participants were vigilant in
making third festival USA a huge success by all measurements. This
year’s success wouldn’t be possible without the commitment and
relentless dedication of the preparatory committee and the Seattle
branch. Kudus to the group for a job well done and to be an
instrumental for making that leap! I think we witnessed a history in
making in Seattle last weekend. Participants were not just in the right
place at the right time, in fact they were the right people in the right
place at the right time.
LET THE PEOPLE HAVE A VOICE!
DICTATORSHIP DOESN’T HAVE PLACE!
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