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ELF-RC Germany Marks 45th
Anniversary of Eritrean
Struggle
Nharnet Stringer (Europe)
3 September, 2006
Members of the ELF-RC and other compatriots
in Germany on 2 September 2006 colourfully marked the 45th
anniversary of the start of the armed phase of the Eritrean struggle for
national liberation that lasted for 30 years of ‘sweat and blood’ before
it could establish an independent Eritrea 15 years ago.
Organized by Branch No. 2 of the ELF-RC zonal
administration in Germany, the event
was held at the Eritrea Center in
Frankfurt and attended a large gathering of representatives of ELF-RC
branches in various German cities as well as supporters and invited
guests.
The celebration was opened by an introductory
speech by Mr. Yonas Bahta, member of the administration of Branch No.2
in which he highlighted the importance of the occasion and expressed
wish that the young generation (his generation) would push ahead the
work in fulfilling the package of objectives for which the struggle was
started 45 years ago. He then invited to the podium the ELF-RC
chairman, Mr. Woldeyesus Ammar, to present the organization’s key note
address on behalf of the leadership.
The ELF-RC chairman warmly welcomed meeting
participants, and after presenting valuable notes on the stages of our
people’s political struggle in the past 45 years, he gave a picture of
the ongoing suffering of the Eritrean people under the PFDJ
dictatorship. He also spoke about the latest developments within the
ELF-RC, and the prospects of change in Eritrea with the active
participation of the entire political opposition.
In briefly recounting the past, Mr.
Woldeyesus Ammar underlined the historical fact that there would not
have been an independent Eritrea without the ELF of Hamid Idris Awate
with all its factions, past and present. He also pointed out how
important the role of each and every genuine nationalist Eritrean
citizen was in the achievement of the liberation struggle. However, he
expressed regret over the fact that a revisionist “history” of the
ruling clique in Asmara (or is it in Massawa?) so far denied others any
positive role in the past, and is still trying ‘to possess for itself’
the post-independence Eritrea.
Talking about the present situation in the
country, the ELF-RC chairman stated that the suffering of our people
under the PFDJ dictatorship is beyond description. He said the people,
and especially the youth in Eritrea, are not seeing any future for
themselves and the country and that nothing can be devastatingly worse
than this sad reality.
He mentioned about the lies daily spread out
by the regime over its mass media, including by the deceptive and
misinformative Eri-TV, but noted that these lies are fast losing
listeners and that, today, well over 90 percent of Eritreans are opposed
to the regime and that the days of PFDJ in Eritrea are nothing but
counted. In this regard, he called on members of the young generation,
who constituted a vast majority in the meeting, to take up the
leadership of the struggle for change and democratization and that they
do not have much time to procrastinate any longer.
Speaking about the situation in the ELF-RC,
Mr. Ammar said the organization is now in good shape to play a more
effective role in the tasks ahead. He recounted about the outcome of the
6th Congress of ELF-RC which he said was described by
veterans of the organization, like Ibrahim Mohammed Ali, as “the best
ever congress in the Eritrean arena” in form and content. The presence
of observers and the participation of a relatively large number of youth
and women were among the factors that made the 6th ELF-RC
Congress unique of its kind in Eritrea, thus establishing precedents for
future Eritrean congresses not to ignore the need of transparency and
the need of guaranteeing the participation in congresses and leadership
ranks of essential components of the society like youth and women.
The ELF-RC chairman also spoke in length
about the need of re-shaping the umbrella organization of the various
Eritrean political parties and hoped that the forthcoming congress of
the Eritrean Democratic Alliance (EDA) would be held successfully before
the end of this year.
The meeting continued for several minutes on
question-and-answer session that was moderated by Mr. Berhane G/Tatios,
head of organizational matters for ‘Zoba Germany’. Answers were provided
by the chairman and his colleagues in the leadership. He was flanked at
the meeting by newly elected RC members, Mr. Neguse Tsegai and Ms.
Tserha Solomon. Following a read of a moving poem in Tigrinia on the
significance of Bahti Meskerem (Revolution Day) by Mr. Afeworki Abai,
musicians took over the stage and dancing and singing lasted till 7am
Sunday. |
