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ELF-RC Chairman and Vice Chairman
Conduct Lively Public Meeting in Stockholm
By
Nharnet Stringer (Europe)
Leadership members of the ELF-RC on Sunday, 8 October 2006, held a
highly appreciated public meeting in Stockholm which was attended by
many members of the Eritrean opposition organizations, among them
veterans of the Eritrean liberation struggle that ended with success 15
years ago.
The meeting was opened at 2pm with a welcoming note by the ELF-RC Sweden
Branch chairman, Ghebre Nashih, who introduced to the audience the
ELF-RC leadership members at the podium that included the organization’s
chairman, Woldeyesus Ammar; the vice-chairman, Tesfai Woldemichael (Degiga),
and two other leadership members Gherghis Negash and Antonio Tesfai.
The ELF-RC chairman opened his address by stressing on the need of a new
political culture of tolerance and compromise and spoke on the current
situation in Eritrea, including the plight of its youth; prospects of
change in the Eritrean opposition alliance, and the outcome of the 6th
National Congress of the organization, with particular emphasis on the
importance of the resolutions on decentralization and the question of
land. In his turn, Vice Chairman Tesfai Degiga dwelt on great length on
the 6th Congress resolutions regarding the formation of an
all-inclusive mass party and the meaning of market economy appropriately
adjusted to the Eritrean situation.
During the discussions, the public showed great interest in the ELF-RC
Congress resolutions as well as its call for serious consideration of
tolerance and compromise among Eritreans in the opposition camp. Many
speakers from the floor expressed their strong feeling that the ELF-RC
Congress has already given birth to a possible paradigm shift in the
opposition camp and recommended that bold actions be pursued by all
opposition leaders to realize victory against the dictatorship within a
short time.
Participants at the public meeting included many young Eritreans who
until recently knew little about the opposition. Important personalities
at the meeting were veterans of the Eritrean liberation struggle
including known names like Khalifa Osman, Mohammed Birhan Blatta, Ahmed
Ibrahim (‘Secreter’), Rezene Tesfazion (‘Keshi’), Dr Tesfai Berinji,
Arhe Hamednaka and many others. Also attending were several members of
the ELF, ENSF, EDP, EFDM, Alnahda party, EPC (Islah), non-EDA member
organizations like ECP and EPM (led by Adhanom Ghebremariam) and civil
organizations like the Eritreans for Democracy and Human Rights.
The ELF-RC delegation in visit to Sweden on Saturday held an intensive
meeting for representatives of its members coming from many parts of
Sweden and discussed the work ahead for the organization in Scandinavia
in general. The leadership members are scheduled to hold meetings with
important Eritrean personalities in Sweden, with government, party and
non-governmental organizations in Stockholm and conduct TV interviews
during the coming week.
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