SEPTEMBER 1, 1961
It was in September 1, 1961. It was at Adal Mountains in the western lowlands of Eritrea. It was the indomitable hero Hamed Idris Awate that fired the first shots from the barrel of his gun that heralded and sparked the freedom of our nation, Eritrea. It was huge endeavor that no one had thought before. Awate did not have a trained army nor military hardware or financial capability to match and win the Imperialist Ethiopia who colonized and subjugated the Eritrean people with the help of international interventions. Above all Awate had a dream and vision for Eritrea. His vision was to see a united Eritrea regardless of religion, ethnicity, region, etc. His vision was to see a liberated Eritrea where all its citizens enjoy liberty equality and peruse of happiness. His vision was to see that every Eritrean is guaranteed his or her basic human rights. He dreamt that Eritrea would be an exemplary nation where constitution and constitutionality are dearly respected and power is peacefully transferred. In short he dreamt for a democratic Eritrea with all its democratic institutions where every Eritrean enjoys the fruits of democracy.
To accomplish this noble vision Awate started the armed straggle. He believed that all the peaceful means to regain Eritrea's freedom had been exhausted. The peaceful demonstration demanding for freedom conducted in the streets of Asmara by the Eritrean Students and the Workers Union was decimated by the Ethiopians forces with parallel calamity to that of May Day and many Eritrean demonstrators were massacred.
The Eritrean Liberation Front (ELF) was born to materialize the above vision. The first shots echoed from Adal rang the bells of liberty to all Eritreans. The Eritrean massed embraced this organization and many youth slowly but surely joined the army. The Ethiopian colonization slowly but surely ceased to exist and the Eritrean freedom became a reality in 1991. The road to freedom was not short and smooth but long and bumpy. Above all it was fueled by the lives of so many, but yet only halve of the job is done. The other halve is still a challenge to the Eritreans who believe in peace and democracy.
The road to freedom was not only bumpy but costly thanks to the splinter group lead by Issayas. From time in memorial EPLF (now PFDJ) has neither been in harmony with itself nor with other Eritrean organizations. It was singularly known for its harassment, persecution, and liquidations of democratic elements within its own organization and from outside. In early seventies when a group of democratic elements known as MenkaE criticized the leadership and demanded for ideological rectification of EPLF by introducing new organizational set up and the democratic election of the leadership, they were executed. To name a few, Mussie Tesfamichael, Yohannes Sebhatu, Debesai Gebresellasie, Dehab Tesfazion, TarekeYehdego, Afewerki Teclu, Aberash Melke, Michael Habtesselasie and Tewolde Eyob were amongst the many who were executed
From within the other organization the ELF, a number of senior cadres and leading fighters and members of mass organizations were kidnapped, ambushed and killed by its special security organ known as Halewa Sewra. The list of names of those fighters who fell victims of the blood thirst EPLF is beyond the scope of this writing. It is suffice to name those who were assassinated by EPLF assailants across from the border while they were in the Sudan. Among them are: Said Saleh, Woldedawit Temesgen, Idris Hangela, Mahmud Hasseb and Haile Garza
As if this is not enough PFDJ embarked against its own high government officials who advocated for transparency the rule of law and for the broader empowerment of the Eritrean people in matters of government affairs. Known by the G-15, Esayas who never compromises when his authority is questioned, were taken to custody in September 2001 and have never seen their day in court. Rumors has it that some of them have already passed away.
Had Awate been resurrected what would have said after learning the current state of Eritrea? He would have hoped to see all the revolutionary changes experienced by Rip Van Wrinkle when he awoke after twenty years of sleep. Unfortunately, it wouldn't take him a split of a second to feel that Eritrea is still under the colonialist yoke of Ethiopia. He would see untold number of political prisoners perhaps some of his own comrades in arm languishing in untold number of prisons. He would see members of mass organizations imprisoned or disappeared. He would see many Eritreans living in the refugee camps in the Sudan and thousands internally displaced. He would see fleeing Eritrean youths for fear of persecution, imprisonment and disappearance. He would learn about the university students mass imprisonment at the inhospitable places called WiA and GelaElo where so many Eritreans are being incarcerated and tortured. He would meet army divisions digging trenches. He would also see the Warsay Yikealo projects of labor slavery. He would soon learn about the home grown dictator Essayas and his henchmen Wuchu, Yemane Monkey, Zemhret,etc. but would ask the whereabouts of King Hailesselassie, Indarkachew Mesay, Tedla Okbit, Demetros (Melake Selam) etc and would conclude that the current regime's oppression is at its worst. He would confess that after forty-two years of straggle the Eritrean people are not yet liberated. Again he would do exactly what he did in September 1, 1961, to continue the struggle. But at this time he would ask, as Seyoum Tesfaye had indicated, "The Path is the Agenda: Armed Straggle or Peaceful Transition". Though I could not answer for him about which path to chose but he would definitely call all the opposition groups, civic associations, religious leaders, the Eritrean elite… to forge a meaningful opposition camp to pave the way for liberty as he had promised to deliver forty-two years ago. Happy trails.
The thirteen years of independence have been years of inhumane sufferings and sacrifices and seem never ending. Mass imprisonment of innocent citizens, persecution disappearance, is rituals of the tyranny. Under false pretext of war by neighboring countries many young boys and girls are conscripted to provide free labor only to fill the coffers of the regime.
The Eritrean people have no choice but to demand and instill democratic governance with a legitimate and an inclusive parliament. The Eritrean people have no choice but to say no more to dictatorship. Our martyrs would not sleep in peace unless the course for their martyrdom is fulfilled. We cannot legitimize dictatorship. September 1st is the projectile of our straggle to victory, and let us once again commit ourselves to join the bandwagon for liberty to dismantle dictatorship once and for all.
Glory to our Martyrs.
Glory to September 1St
Victory to our peace loving people.
Alem Y.