According to Mengisteab (50, 2005) that Teklay Aden, an EPLF security chief who defected to the Ethiopian regime in 1981, revealed that three thousand fighters were physically liquidated by the Front between the start of the internal power struggle(1973) and the time of his defection(1980). Mengisteab added that one source said that the number of fighters physically eliminated by the Front between 1973 and the liberation of Eritrea in 1991, could range between three thousand and five thousand, if those fighters who disappeared under mysterious circumstances are included. However, Solomon Woldemariam, who was in the EPLF leadership from 1971-1977, suggested that the number was much larger. Solomon added that around one thousand fighters who participated in the Menka movement were rehabilitated after undergoing serious political indoctrination and self-criticism( Mengiseab, 49: 2005) Furthermore Sherman(64) mentioned that in 1976 perhaps as many as 200 young EPLF intellectuals were arrested. Many were executed for “radicalism” for following an alleged Maoist line. This was when Goitom Berhe and his groups tried to form an underground movement called 'the Eritrean Revolutionary Party' in 1975/1976. During this period the party translated a number of Marxist works to Tigrigna (eg Dialectical Materialism, Four Essays of Philosophy, About the Proletariat Party) . All the literature was then collected and burnt. The suspected ring-leaders of the anti-Essayas movement of progressives were arrested and, later executed. Source An Entire Generation Denied Higher Education? Are we going to stay silent?
To conclude , Tesfamariam Assefaw in his narration in 2000 still remembers what Issays said 36 years ago: " Struggle is honey covering Ire" (sour). (Kidane, Aida 2004)
He did not understand at that time, but one could interpret this to mean the intrigue and conspiracy that followed Issayas' application of the lessons learnt in Great Proletrain Cultral Revolution in China[15] and accomplished through 35 years . Some of his victims during those years, listed by Alem Tesfay 2003 List 1-30 List 31-67 List 68-106 should be remembered on this Martyrs Day.
According to my personal experience, the sentiments expressed by EPLF leaders have fostered an anti-democratic culture in out liberation struggle and psychologically intimidated and damaged the fighters. Below are phrases used by the EPLF leaders to repress our freedom of expression:
Mister Akib= Keep secret
Mister Ketfelet Herdig Aeytebel= Don't attempt to find out secrets
Kunentat Aefkiden Iyu = Circumstance is not convenient
NeyHeluf Aetzeker or Herfan Halafinet Aleka,=Do not remember what happen in the past
Ne Muhur HemamAleka, =Sickness of Intellectualism
Neus Bourgia tebai Aleka =Petty bourgeois thinking/behaviour
Nay Halefinet Himam Aleka= Ambition /sickness /looking for leadership
Nebsu Zienekif Nbisthu Zenekif=First criticise yourself(confess) then criticise others
Muhur Tebelasi=Opportunistic intelligetsia Media
Gbuika Fetsm Kedmi Meselka Mehetat= Do your duty first then you have a right to ask questions
Derbika Ketel=Class suicide
Anenet=Egoism etc
The impact of the above phrase can be seen in our loss of confidence to tell the truth to the public of what we knew or suspected during the liberation struggle .
In conclusion, he author appeals to all former members of the EPLF who survived the war, especially those who were in the Central Committee between 1977-1987 (Abdella Adem, Haile Menkerios and Mesfin Hagos) and other senior post holders, to tell the public the truth about the EPLF leaderships' crimes against fighters who sacrificed themselves for the liberation of our people from colonial oppression
Glory to our Martyrs