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Welde Mariam on Menkae  
 
I thank Weldemariam Abraham taking his time to tell me all his experiences of those times. 
He was reluctant to tell of his pre front life, but I insisted.  2004 
 
As my personal history, as a student we revolted and were put in Sembel prison. I was in the 
technical school – Point 4. I was one of the last to get out of jail  because I said my parents 
were dead.  
 
Then I started working in Wenji and was fired because they said I had Bilharzias, then went to 
Jima and soon after went to Asseb at the refinery and from there went to the technical school. 
I was forbidden 3-4 scholarships after being accepted. From my view  it was because I was an 
Eritrean as I passed the test first from all and yet was not  allowed to go. 
 
  There were 4 Eritrean men in Asseb, in house arrest and signing 4 times daily so they could 
not flee. They were accused of collaborating with the front. They gave me information about 
the front that I left my job in Assab and went to Addis and we star ted the Tihisha secret 
grouping. We held it secret from friends.  
 
  In Alem Bekagn prison in Addis, there were Eritrean fighter prisoners. They told us that ELF 
was splitting to a new front Shabia that we chose to the new front.  Mesih and I had contact 
with Rustom.  
 
Once Rustom was caught in Asmera and because I had a passport in hand, I bought a ticket to 
Italy and then thru Austria went to Czechoslovakia and then to Germany.  I took this long 
route because I had too little info. We knew something about Italy fr om the Catholicism at 
home.  
 
I did not know visa was not asked to Germany. I went to Check because there were students 
there and a General Congress was to be held in Munich. There the way to meda was opened to 
me and I joined the front, after 8 months stay in Germany. And in m eda I became against the 
leadership, even now. 
 
Welde Mariam Abraham about Gereger battle  
 
We entered meda (Field) through Yemen end of 1972. We had captured arms from ELF and 
carrying them in camels, Habte Selassie and I lead the came ls on foot. We all wore military 
outfits.  
 
Because the Sudanese ordered us back and because ELF was on the way ahead into Eritrea, 
the Sudanese escorted us back lest ELF ambushed us or prevented us from  getting water. 
Many fighters ELF under the Leadership of Abdella Idris were kill ed and the corpses were 
smelling when we left them that the Sudanese buried them with bulldoz ers.  
 
I was new to meda when the battle started in Gereger Sudan. The first day of battle some of us 
were away and nearing the Temporary Base of the Organizations E PLF, Selfi Nezanet and 
Obel there when it started we were through our from Aden, the Red Sea, under the Leadership 
of Solomon Weldemariam and others that were cautious not to be caught by  ELF.  
 

We brought arms with camels. Tsehaye Weldegabriel, Selomon Wel demariam, Kidane 
Junubi, Haji, others and I were bringing the arms and we were few  enough to be captured by 
ELF that we were very careful. As we were nearing Gerege r when the battle started and we 
were radioed of the battle. Else we would have been forced to flee  inwards into Sudan as we 
were very few, or caught by ELF.  
 
It was just then that I lost my way and carried the weapons towards the Sudanese direction as 
it was getting dark, ca 6.30pm. Camels were not used to climb mount ains and this camel 
refused to climb. I took another direction hoping to get in time to the road I wanted. When I 
neared the Sudanese I called to my comrades and they came to me. 
 
It was widely accepted that there was no force able to defeat ELF. Their soldiers were called 
“Aremrem” by some, being strong and many, also that they paved the ir way out of battles.  
As Gereger was inside Sudanese territory, ELF had chased us al l the way there. They were 
more numerous and stronger than us. They could have wiped us out if they ha d good planning 
before. We had just got kalashinkofs with 30 bullets and ELF had Siminofs  holding 10 bullets 
could have been advantageous.  
 
    From there we entered Eritrean territory, to GleE and the date was 4 March 1973. From 
there we passed through Arag to Gereger Asmera and held it as a  stronghold for a long time. 
There were two Geregers; one in Sudan called Gereger Sudan and the Eritrean side was called 
Gereger Asmera. From there we moved to Bliqat. 
 
 I do not have much recollection of moving there because I was wounded that time. I was 
wounded in battle with ELF at DeQsem village near Zager on 13 Oc tober 1974. Bliqat and 
Fah were strongholds until liberation.  
 
    It was Abdella who led the attack, telling that there was arms depo with about few members 
of Medada- reactionaries and brought many fighters with him. Becaus e we had free time, we 
had fortified our front by building stonewall chains 2-3 kilometres of about  a meter and half 
in length. One goes by bowing the body from the enemy in case of shooting . It also helps 
from the cold winds. There was abundance of food, and were inviting eac h other to tea. Sabbe 
gave us ample weapons. The situation was good except from the leader ship. 
 
We were always in tension not to be targeted by the ELF snipers. In that battle, about 20 of 
theirs were near us and we told them to surrender. They were surpr ised and most of them 
started getting their hands up. One out of their side got angry say ing they give up to Medada 
and started shooting and we too started shooting at them, and all 20 of t hem were killed.  
     
The corpses of the ELF were beginning to smell and we could not bury them as the ELF still 
surrounded us and held tension to shoot on our movements. The Sudanese after our leaving 
buried them in masses. It was my first and inhumane and cruel batt le where brothers killed 
each other. Hyenas eat on the dead ad did not let the corpses alone. O ur defence area was 
about 2-3 kms in diameter. 
 
The Sudanese were also concerned when we started using artillery; the “Haun” bomb and it 
disturbed their security. It surprised them that we used more wea pons than bullets and told us 
to leave their territory.  
     

This date was 2 March 1973. I remember the date because the next day  as we spent the night 
there, and Tewelde Eyob was wounded in the thigh, he was treated aga in and he wrote on the 
new bandage 3.3.73. The medic’s name was Zerezghi. Adhanom Gebremaria m was with us 
then.    
 
That day too, Naizgi Kiflu had a leather jacket and it was cut to cover the arms from rain and 
wind. Isayas called him “Feudal like Wedi Giorgio” and pulled it f rom the refusing Naizgi. 
We entered Eritrea then.  
    The initial battle of Gereger was only one morning. But distant shootings and holding 
tension was for about one week. It is difficult to tell exact date s and time of more events. All 
writings we had were taken away from us and then the beatings, impr isonment and the time 
lapse took its toll.  
    
     We hid for a while to see to send a right signal we are coming in so and so (the name of the 
Place) direction and joined our group at night and participated in the ongoing  battle. Later the 
Sudanese told both Organizations to leave Sudanese Land and to go to our si de in Eritrea. On 
the Way to Eritrea it took us to days and the Sudanese Army were patrolling us both. 
    
         Since all sides were in fighting position, they were easily m achine-gunned. It was 
saddening that 20 of our ELF brothers were killed uselessly. From our Selfi Nasnet side, we 
lost only one fighter, Gebresadik Guangul also known as Cuba because he ha d been in Cuba. 
He was looking into a loophole in the wall that a bullet hit him in the  forehead killing him 
instantly. Tewelde Eyob was wounded a bullet entering both thigh piercing  the other thigh. I 
do not recollect if anyone else from our side was injured.  
 
    We were not united yet with Shabia then and 6-7 (exact numbers is not known) were killed 
and I did not know their names. Though we were in the same position our le aderships and 
administrations were separate. We had a coordinating committee r egarding arms and food. 
Food and arms were given in numbers of fighters.  
     
   At end of may 1973 ELF came to Gereger Asmera and took away a fighter guarding a 
mountain while the others fought their way out. He was taken to ELF  strong hold Barka and 
later he left to Kenya I heard. I think his surname was Gebre M ikel. 
 
    Hilal a renowned brave and educated man from Dankalia was killed in the battle of Kebri 
Wu´ut. He was not in good terms with Isayas and Omaro.  
 
    Another fighter called Selomon Mengesha originally Tigrean brought up in Massawa who 
entered to Eritrea from Germany had spent all his bullets and was  killed. He had come with 
me from Germany and I was present when he asked Isayas if he coul d fight for Eritrea though 
only his mother was Eritrea and had no demands afterwards. He was allowed to fight and was 
that about two months later martyred an innocent and brave person.  
 
    Bliqat area had been in my unit for long time before the leadership moved there, to make 
sure it was safe from ELF. And then when fighting was intensifying to our fighters in Kebessa 
my unit went there. On September 1974 fighters like Wedi Fenkil wer e killed in battle in 
Filfil.  
 
    The Bliqat-Fah area had been an ELF front. We were about 2 kms away by air, separated 

by mountain and valley. It was difficult to pinpoint our and their positi ons. They could follow 
our movements standing in guard in the mountain with binoculars.  
 
   We used to spread writings for them to move and receive, that we came to the field to fight 
against Ethiopia, not against each other. We even used loudspeaker once  as they were nearby 
and we had about 10 of them in a small old Italian fortified place we  could surround them 
easily if it was necessary. We could have killed them but it w as not our aim. We said we 
should all struggle against the common enemy.  
 
      Soon, there was a battle with Ethiopian soldiers and Isayas, Mehari Debesai and Omaro 
collected the loud speakers and writings of Zena - news section.  
 
   We had written articles what democracy means between fighters, with civilians, between 
fighters and civilians, among fighters and the leadership. We al so had written a national 
anthem, song about discarding regional and religious differences.  
 
   The leadership said they were burying the articles. But when digging the sand, reddish 
under soil was visible and the Ethiopian soldiers took them. Isayas a nd Omaro started 
propagating that the Menkae let Ethiopians take our property. To the Musl ims they said we 
were communists and would forbid them from praying and reading the Koran. 
 
   We new naïve fighters joined into the traps of Isayas EPLF and Abdella of ELF. I am lucky 
to be alive as I was protesting against Isayas. I had even s aid once, and also wrote that we 
should kill him.   
 
The rise of the Menkae situation 
   When Isayas saw that the situation was not going to his favour, he feared that he would lose 
in election. He then used Asmerom G Zghier, Tewelde Eyob and Tseg ai Keshi. (Keshi died 
from DDT poisoning. He had washed his cloths with DDT so as to kill lice. He put on his 
cloths when it dried, but he did not shake it well. The poison slowly was  absorbed into his 
body and killed him.)  
 
   At that time, Adhanom was with him, also Wedi Fenkil in one group. They expanded to 11 
persons meeting. If they killed Selomon at that time it would be know n the leadership did it. 
So they wanted to add all from the leadership and veteran fighters.  They had planned to kill 
him accusing him of being regionalism etc, but did not manage so. He  confided in Mebrahtu 
Weldu crying on his shoulder. 
 
    The reason of the conflict in the force was power struggle only. When they realized that the 
situation was getting out of hand and that many fighters were heari ng of it, the veterans 
concluded that they should come to agreement among themselves otherwise the educated ones 
would overpower them. It spread to the 65 fighters meeting and then to common fighters 
knowing about it. Isayas, Selomon and Omaro made an oath not to oppose each other. This 
made the conflict different and the name Menkae was started. 
 
     I have told you earlier what the word Menkae meant. In 1970 Naizgi Kiflu had used this 
word on the ELF. He had come from the US and being with the Selfi N atsnet, he had to 
reconcile them and ELF at Wina. He was later asked what his opi nion was, and he answered 
that this front the ELF was like Menkae – bat.  
 

He had returned to Europe and when he was joining the front to be a fighter, we went together 
through Aden. His character is not good and I had written about him earl ier.  He had earlier 
studied at Lubumba University in USSR and had supposedly contacts with t heir security 
apparatus.   
 
   We had 3 haili in Sahel and 2 hailis went to Kebessa to bring new comers. Because they had 
missed their area, they went onward inside Kebessa. But there t hey were met with difficult 
battles. Naizgi did not want to be killed that he was firing to t he sky while hiding and one 
comrade noticed him. It was Abraha Chaalo. Yemanu Y and Girmai…  
 
    Those such as Yohannes Sebhatu, Dehab, and Werku etc disliked Naizgi. In fact one day 
Werku said how he got his MA degree. That was because he was repe atedly observed saying 
foolish and ignorant meanings.  
 
    The educated fighters were against Isayas and Naizgi sided with him. He was asked of his 
opinion on this movement and he answered that it was a Menkae movement,  just like what he 
said to the ELF. The name Menkae stuck onwards.  Some of us were t rying to encourage 
members saying Menkae meant leftist, progressives, and they should not be bothered with that 
name.  
 
  The female fighters used to be scolded that they came to Sahel looking for men, as 
prostitutes, washing in beauty salons etc. They were not beaten whi le free and we others 
would not have sat idly if it was tried. But in prison anything can ha ppen. 
 
    The men had asked to marry them and the girls refused saying they wanted to fight for 
liberation and there were many men in towns if they had wanted to. Whe n they went to wash 
their hair, the Isayas, Asmerom group etc said if the girls were in beauty salons. We always 
had muddy hair and slept in mud and the girls had to wash their hair thought they had cut their 
hair short.   It is expected that they were beaten while impris oned.  
 
   There are persons here who know even the timing of the executions. One who was with 
them is in Frankfurt who was a prisoner, now member of civics society. Two are here with me 
and one was a prison guard.  
 
  There is one called Abraham Antonio whom we captured from ELF in a battle near 
Dekemhare, Keren road. He was a political cadre of ELF from S enhit to Asmera area and 
took him to Sahel. Mesih and I stopped his execution by forbidding it. He wa s a schoolmate 
of Isayas, Musie etc and he was a prisoner the day the Menkae me mbers were executed. 
 
    
    This correction centre had multiple purposes. One purpose is when a prisoner is released, 
that fighter is unable to walk because of the bad beatings and if put w ith fighters, he would 
tell of his experiences. This person is made to stay in this cor rection centre until the wounds 
are healed. This fighter is threatened not to reveal any informa tion of how the beating was or 
tell of any prisoner’s name.  
 
    At the time I was a fighter these centres were in Sahel and when the areas under us were 
getting more, there were more centres in many places.   Dr Bereket was put in one of these 
centres when we captured him.  
 

    There was a martyred fighter of early 70s called Mesih Rusom, also known as Mesih Berhe 
who was my friend and we were together in Tihisha.  He was chie f of a department in the 
Commercial Bank of Addis, and had studied at the Commercial School.  
   
The Menkae uprising  
   For gathering note on the Menkae, this movement was not a movement who tried to oust 
Isayas. They were five with Isayas, being Tsegai Keshi, Wedi Fenkil, Isayas, Tewelde Eyob 
and Asmerom Gherezghiher held a meeting. And later on another meeti ng there Adhanom G 
Mariam was present saying how they could defend themselves from thes e oppositions within. 
 
   The five in the leadership of Selfi Nasenet (PLF 2) were Isayas Afwerki, Tewelde Eyob, 
Asmerom Gherezghiher, Mesfin Hagos and Selomon Weldemariam. In de cision-makings the 
first three had majority when voting.  Selomon was with Mesfin w hereas Isayas, Asmerom 
and Tewelde voted together which gave Isayas majority vote in de cision-making.  
 
    Isayas did not want this to continue as he and Selomon were against each other.  He could 
not remove or kill Selomon as he was in the leadership too and he had to come up with a good 
reason.   
 
   These 11 against Selomon then became more to 35 and held a meeting where the 3 other 
fighters selected from the hailis. These held discussion and accus ed Selomon of regionalism. 
When the situation was now more serious, they added more persons becoming  65, 30 being 
Moslem and 35 Christians.  
 
   There were constant new comers and Selomon was allied with them because he was chief of 
security, it was easy for him to make friends with the new ones . Because they knew him 
more, they would vote for him as a good person. And Isayas did not want S elomon to be 
leader because they were at odds form long time.  
 
   Planning how to get rid of Selomon, Isayas conferred with the 4 with him and then grew to 
11 in number Adhanom with them, accused Selomon and Mesfin Hagos over reg ionalism. 
That was the time we were uniting with the Shabia, in august 73. 
 
    To make the matter wider support, the Isayas group were moving. Asmerom went to all 
hailis saying they were concerned of this new friendship because Sel omon was getting close 
with the Shabia leaders.  
 
     It was in the 35 fighters that Tsegai Keshi hit Musie Tesfa Mikel. Because then Isayas' 
supporters were making much noise, Musie said to Isayas 'can you si lence your dogs we 
cannot understand each other'.  
 
   Before hitting Musie with his rifle butt, Tsegai Keshi said 'have we not said earlier that 
before hitting the ELF, we should get rid of these students'. And the n Tsegai hit Musie. They 
had plans of getting rid of ELF, even though our number was less, new comers were 
constantly flowing in and had good chance. 
 
    And when Selomon was accused of regionalism in the 35 men meeting, he started talking 
around that they would kill him. Selomon said that to Mebrahtu Weldu from Anseba, who 
was one of the first accused of being Menkae, crying on his soldiers . Mebrahtu answered 
saying let alone kill you, they cannot demote you from the leadership.   

 
     That is when the 'Menkae' situation arose. They said one cannot be charged of regionalism 
and there should be a counter part to it. Who are these in the opposition? said Musie, and he 
meant Isayas, Tewelde Eyob and Asmerom. Isayas a Hamassien,  Tewelde an Akele Guzai 
and Asmerom Serae, which region are they inclining to? That is w hen Tsegai could not 
control himself and hit Musie. At this meeting, I was in sickbay  and in a haili in the 65 
meeting.  
 
    Since the sick bay was near the leadership's station, Musie came to us. There was Afwerki 
Amharai from the news section friend to Musie, and because they were saying so much, I said 
why don't you cool down and consider this as a comrade’s mistake. He sa id, “Weldemariam, 
this is not the case”, and told me the whole story. 
 
    I said to him, “here are only 3 civilian families around this large area and you will not win 
telling them this, and the leadership may crush you in the meantime . Wait until we move to 
Kebessa and spread it to our people and keep it secret until then”. He  agreed saying he did not 
think of it earlier. 
 
     Afwerki Tekle was called Amharay and used to use Amhric when he first joined us.  
  As Isayas had plan in the 35 meeting, the outcome was spread out t o the hailis. We all were 
understandably interested in it. The rising of the Menkae was that we said the truth should 
come to Isayas and Selomon's dislikes to each other. We did not rise  against the leadership or 
the front.  
 
    When they realized the wave was going against them, Isayas gathered the veterans saying 
these students are exploiting us and let us forgive and forget amongs t us. This way, Isayas, 
Selomon and Omaro made an oath. In no circumstances shall one rise ag ainst the others or 
oppose or give out secret on any one of them, and they vowed on blood. This w as the start of 
turning against the students. 
 
    To clarify earlier, they used to say "Than 100 pens, 10 cheguar danga" cheguar danga 
meaning the peasant who having worked most of their lives would not tir e climbing up a 
mountain. If he dies in battle, he's history and if not, he does not as k questions. He dies not 
know his rights and follows all orders. But a student is aware of hi s rights and asks many 
questions and harasses Isayas as they used to do so.  
     
     In EPLF songs cassette nr 23, on side B,"lomi zi dekese..." which I have, is a song that 
Isayas is from adi guana - foreigner, and was distributed, without the leaders awareness and 
many still do not know it. Ibrahim Afa was head of Kifle Haileta t and is one of the reasons he 
was killed.  
 
   On the Menkae, the first imprisoning happened in 1st February 1974, exactly the date when 
Derg rose against Haile Selassie. Was it a coincidence or not. At 5:30 pm at Arag Musie Tesfa 
Mikel and Mebrahtu Weldu were imprisoned.  
 
   These were cast out of haili and were sitting. They were surrounded like guerrilla warfare. 
We were over them in a mountain near by and saw it all, we told this to our haili at night 
while standing guard and asked for a haili meeting.  
 

   3 gantas then were one haili consisting of 35-45 members. 2 gantas  were ordered to move 
and they obeyed, but I wrote them that in my ganta nobody budges. I sai d that they made all 
Eritrea Alem Bekagn because they forbade all from movement, we  did not come here for it. 
There was a fighter we called Ali Geder, because he worked the re, we are from same area.  
 
   Habte Kidane "Gorilla" and I said no body will move from here and sat all day. You 
imprison us today and tomorrow will come execution and we will not stop unti l this is 
resolved and we demand to meet the leadership.  
 
We were told to leave our weapons to meet the leadership, and we did so. We talked from 
11am to 1:30- 2 pm and challenged them in all facts. The leadership we re Isayas, Selomon 
and Romadan. He (Isayas) told us to return to our ganta or be put in ja il, and we refused to 
return to our ganta, and 6 members of that ganta were imprisoned, thi s was in Arag. 
 
 This was 2 February 1974, the next day after Musie and Mebrahtu. Then a guard who was 
not in the movement for months was brought like a prisoner amongst us to spy on us. After a 
day and a half, he was taken away and gave all accounts of what we talked about. He was then 
sent to Iraq to learn about heavy armaments.  
 
Habte Gorilla and I were released because they needed fighters to battles. Isayas wedi Flansa 
was not imprisoned with us. He was kept in a correction camp (me-a rem Tebay) as we had 
one and he too was released. 
 
    What Romadan said that day, though he became corrupt like them later, said we cannot 
solve the situation by imprisoning fighters, but the two told him to s hut up. When the 
discussion was in height, Selomon said to a manjus, Aradom, " jis, z ero". Aradom answered 
"If I was zero, I would not have left my property and study to liberate my country". Isayas and 
Selomon started arguing among themselves and at last told us to obe y military order and we 
refused.  
 
    One by one were freed and Habte Gorilla and I were left in prison. We had demanded that 
imprisoning does not solve crisis and they should be freed.  
 
  Interrogation and beatings are at nights. A prisoner is let out to relieve himself at 5 am 
before the others got up, no going out allowed other times, so that no body s ees there were 
prisoners. The prison was not underground then but an old half demolished Itali an house. We 
were made to sit by the walls. This is the first imprisonment , and in Arag. Then Vinac of Adi 
Nefas and then Afwerki Amharay and then Yohannes were brought in, then H abte Selassie.  
 
    Earlier, around Christmas of 1973 we had fought with Ethiopia. Musie had written that the 
enemy was controlling our logistic route, and we will invariably retreat after finishing bullets 
and medicine, it is better not to fatigue ourselves and better to retreat. Because of this, it was 
said that the Menkae were afraid of battles and ran away.  
 
    Since beating and interrogation is at night, they come at 1am and without wakening the 
others, one is taken out carried. The prisoner is still groggy fr om sleep and 3 or 4 flashlights 
are lighted on his face. 
 
 Of the interrogators, Welde Mikel Haile was head, the others being Ash-al wedi Zere, Naizgi 
Kiflu and Haile Jebha, 4 men. After long interrogation other prisoner s were added, namely 

'Dottore' Mikel Pharmacist, Dr Rusom also a pharmacist, and the  girls Werku, Dehab and 
Aberash, also in Arag. Others like Ammanuel came from Bahri and started opposing and were 
brought to us.  
 
     As Welde Mikel Haile was head of interrogation, he said that these people have military 
discipline mistakes but they have not committed crimes and decided t o close the case. Isayas 
was not there but Selomon. Because they did not want to accept this de cision, Mesfin Hagos 
and Selomon and Ali Said said they did not need the present interrogator and put up a new 
committee.  
 
    Saleh Tetew then said that the leadership makes a committee to use it and put in action the 
decision of the committee. But if does not suit them, the leadershi p should not change 
committees every time like they are doing and this is not right  and workable.  
 
    Because Saleh said that, Ali Said got up and hit Saleh Tetew, they were both in the 
leadership, and both being Muslim was a relief it was not on relig ious basis. Saleh was named 
Tetew because he fought standing and had many wounds and Ali who his from bat tles felt he 
was stronger to hit him. Saleh was then sent to Zager and was m artyred there.  
 
     Welde Mikel was degraded from head of 'TseTeta' now called 'Halewa Sewra' and made 
haili leader and sent to Zager battle too so he may be martyred. I have already written on these 
in details earlier. But my format was in Yada and later a v irus destroyed my computer that all 
is erased. It was published in Messelna, Eritrea intay iyu haT yata. I wrote it completely.  
   
    Asrate Kassa had wanted to get rid of Haile Selassie and wanted a military wing of his 
own. He did not trust the Ethiopian military and wanted his own secret  army started by Isayas 
who was entrusted by the Americans and Israel, to Eritrean front.  And in the other hand bring 
chaos in the Eritrean struggle, bringing animosity between Christians and Muslims, and in 
regionalism.  
 
    The female Menkae fighters were beaten naturally like the men. Werku is alive and will not 
talk until the right time comes. I do not believe she turned agains t her comrades. There was a 
situation what led to her saving. Her menstrual flow would not stop.  
 
   Fearing for her life, she was sent to Aden and received medication. Since her passport was 
with them, she had nowhere to go. The others were executed while she was in Aden and the 
thing was left to be. 
 
    In Kuwait, Romadan held a meeting for all women workers and Ghirmai Bahre challenged 
him in front of all. He was wounded in battle. On returning back to Er itrea by boat, now 
imprisoned Berhane Gherezghiher and others killed and cast him into the Red Sea.  
 
    From Beirut, two wounded fighters Habte Gorilla and Habte Ab Seyum were taken away to 
Sahel and killed. We wanted to get away from the field and expose t hem to our people. 
  
  Gebreamlak Isak was a petro-chemical engineer from Kiev, and one of the outstanding in 
literature in the front. He was known while in the USSR and used to be called Pushkin, even 
in Russian language. I heard Haile Selassie gave him a medal .  
 

    He wrote in long sheets the Eritrean Sem ina Werk in 900 page s. I do not know where the 
writing has gone. Since he, Habte Gorilla and I, Wedi Flansa (Isayas Tewelde Birhan) were in 
the same ganta, I used to read it. We do not know what happened to his w ritings after he was 
taken to prison. I know he is from somewhere near Adi Quala, I do not know  exactly which 
village.  
 
     The first of the Menkae executed were six. Here in Germany lives a head guard stationed 
in the execution.  We have talked of telling all we know, but he works very much now. He has 
agreed to it and we plan to write it all.  He and two others, one  residing in Frankfurt were 
present in the execution. The six are Musie, Yohannes, Afwerki, Tar eke, Habte Selassie and 
Rusom. 
 
    In the national congress, Isayas took out a small and dirty paper from his pocket and said 
they have taken the proper measure on these persons. It is understood as  secret what it meant 
and militarily it means execution.  
 
    When a person was to participate in the congress, the person must be in the struggle 2 to 4 
years. This was in the congress preparation 3 months prior. One must  be free from Menkae, 
Yemin or the ‘Hub-aan’ the unknown opposers, or any kind of dissidence. 
 
    Those they feared to be challenging were sent away on courses in meda. A haili sends a 
delegate and those already in courses could not be sent. They are wi thout teachers in the 
congress days or are given some books to read in the meantime. This means these in the 
course cannot be nominated for ranks. One man, Alem Abraha somehow slippe d them, and 
you can read how Mesfin Hagos returned him back.  
 
    Those like Vinac are still alive who were beaten or made to change their minds and still 
serve them.  
 
  About beatings, they used to beat Habte Selassie the most because he knew that Isayas was a 
spy of Asrate Kassa and the Americans, and they wanted to get r id of him. There are written 
articles on H Selassie. In the early days, Isayas was sai d to have told Ethiopian commandoes 
and left the fighters in tight spots and fled. You may not have foll owed the writings, but they 
were written earlier – like ‘Janda Higdef’ etc and I will s earch for them.  
 
    There are narrations of how Isayas fled from a truck, even its colour and how he crossed to 
Tigrai and how he disappeared there from fighters for 6 months. And thos e who were with 
him are all dead and the questions are not answered. Some have writ ten and I will tell them to 
fill more.  
      
  If one makes noise with weapon at night, they were told if a person dies we can get someone 
else but not a weapon, be careful with weapons. These feelings wer e happening earlier.  
 
  New comers were beaten on the way to join meda and there many names we do not know of 
who died on the way. We who were in the Hailetat were not given t heir names and those who 
knew them should tell. One time while we were in Sahel, there w as a fighter called Mebrahtu 
- Dayan, because he was one eyed and was a haili leader. Because  2 hailis were in Kebessa 
and while coming to us, there was a battle and one new fighter got exhausted, having been a 
city boy.  
 

   A fighter called Shalu-balu a nickname, thought it meant kill hi m and did so. This we know 
well of. We were not told of his name but how he was killed. Ammanue l T Mikel should 
know of it if he was not wounded because they were in the same haili.  There were others too.  
 
    Remind him about after Abraha Chaalo was martyred. Abraha was wounded and his 
intestines coming out but still fought. Naizgi Kiflu was shooting upwa rds so he would not be 
asked why he did not fight and Abraha Chaalo said take this man away f rom my side until he 
Abraha would die. 
   
    As Isayas had planned in the 35 meeting, the outcome was spread out to the hailis. We all 
were naturally drawn into it. The rising of the “Menkae” was tha t we wanted to defend the 
truth from Isayas accusing Selomon. We did not rise against the le adership or start the 
movement.  
   
Names 
Musie Tesfamikael 
Mebrahtu Weldu 
Yohannes Sebhatu 
Weldemariam Abraham 
Afworki Tekhlu 
Gebresadik Isaak 
Habte Kidane – Gorilla 
Habteselassie 
Tareke Yihdego 
Dehab Tesfatsion 
Aberash Melke 
Werku Zere 
Mikael pharmacist – Dottore 
Dr Rusom pharmacist 
Amanuel Tesfamikael 
Girmai Bahre 
Ekubeab Seyum 
Vinac