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Washington DC
Demonstration demonstrated that the torch has been passed on to the
youth. It manifested that the long struggle has paid off for the
traditional opposition personalities and the youth has accepted the
torch of march towards democracy and is ready to work hand in hand with
their older brothers and sisters. In every aspect, the demonstration
organized by the Eritrean Solidarity concluded with success. The
measure is not only the size of the crowd which demonstrated but in the
composition and the coherence between the seasoned opposition and the
youth who have decided to work hand in hand with them and shape the
destiny of their country. The following short first part account is
compiled by Nharnet Representative from the demonstration.
The demonstration
participants started gathering Sunday evening at about 6:00 p.m.
Demonstrators came from several cities of the USA such as Houston,
Boston, Indianapolis, Columbus, New York, Winchester, Philadelphia,
Atlanta, Sandiego, Oakland, Minneapolis and many others. There was one
significant difference with the past halls where opposition events are
held. It was full of women and the youth. The youth came through
differing experiences and they have various stories to tell. Some were
in the Sawa camps and they have seen all the oppression and rape
committed by the PFDJ cronies. Some were in Wia, where some of their
friends died from the heat of the desert. Some were in the fronts
conscripted by PFDJ in the idea of defending their country and so have
seen what the army is going through first hand. The cruelty of PFDJ
compounded by the lack of hope has forced them out of the country they
love.
The means by which
they migrated to the United
States have different paths and
experiences to share. Some made it through South Africa after they were
threatened when they voiced against the regime. Some had to go through
the deserts of Sub-Saharan of the Sudan Libya and risk their life to
make it to Europe and then to the
USA.
They have first hand account of every difficulty being encountered by
the Eritrean youth caused by the oppression of PFDJ. Their motive for
demonstration is to expose the regime on behalf of those who can’t and
who did not make the journey alive.
The slogans
displayed heavily concentrated on human right abuses in Eritrea and the
lawlessness in the country. In general terms the slogans can be
categorized as the following:
The demonstration
route was almost a replica of the 2002 demonstration. The only
difference was the gathering was behind the State Department instead of
the front because the number was considered too large to fit in the
space. The demonstration was guided by police authorities and the side
roads were blocked. Our representative estimates that there over five
hundred demonstrators. The meeting point for the demonstrators was
Faragut East Park. The demo went south ward crossing Pennsylvania
Avenue and turn west towards the State Department. The organization of
the demo was unique in that it was executed by Eritrean solidarity which
is collaboration among political organizations, independents, Eritrean
websites, Human Right Advocates and other entities. A letter of the
protest address Secretary Condoleezza Rice was submitted to the United
States Officials. With this summary, we present you the pictures on the
following link.
Washington Demonstration
Pictures
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