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> From owner-dehai@ftp1.primenet.com Sun Aug 31 00:55:54 1997
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> Date: Sun, 31 Aug 1997 14:45:20 +1000
> To: Dehai@primenet.com
> From: Berhan Ahmed <B.Ahmed@ffp.csiro.au>
> Subject: [DEHAI] RE: September the birth of Eritrean armed struggle
> Sender: owner-dehai@lists.primenet.com
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> Reply-To: Berhan Ahmed <B.Ahmed@ffp.csiro.au>
Selam, Selam, seb dehai....
First of all I want to say I was very happy and enlightened to read this
posting (good job Mr. Berhan Ahmed) because it put a lot of pieces together
truthfully and in a way that made sense. Furthermore, it did not try to create
nor intensify hate for certain groups (Ethiopians,EPLF,ELF,etc...) but instead
stated things as they happened at the time. Since this posting stated things
as they were and did not try to unite people with hate (using lies or twisting
the truth) it will help me rember the way to achieve happiness in terms of the
national level is through truth and peace ( all should reach out to each
other). I think history should always be recorded as it was so people know the
truth and don't have to waste time trying to figure it out.
I was getting tired and furious with the postings that twisted the
truth, I am refferring to the postings of ethnicity,religion, and language. We
all have to find a way to work together and find peace in our new nation
Eritrea and with our brothers Ethiopia,Yemen,Sudan,Djubiti,Somalia ( all our
neighbors). We are all connected in one way or another if one of us has
problems all of us will feel the efects.
Thank you,
Nerayo Habtezgi
>
> Selam Dehai
>
> Remembering History (Part I)
>
> September the birth of the Eritrean Armed Struggle?
>
> We make living by gaining
> We make life by giving "Winston Churchill"
>
> It is said that history does not repeat itself, well, it does but only for
> those who pay little or no attention to it the first time!! This historical
> flash back is for the new generation for those who wanted to know the
> truth, not for computerised minds and installed memories!!
>
> Why and how Moslem Eritreans initiated Armed struggle and defended the
> notion of independence ? why the Ethiopian army destroyed villages such as
> Ad Ibrihim, Ona, etc in the lowland region of Eritrea? Why the number of
> hospitals, schools and other government services were hardly available to
> the people of the targeted region? and why the Eritrean struggle fought in
> the lowland region for many years? etc.
>
> The Moslem Eritreans initiated and lead the national movement for
> independence of Eritrea twice: From 1946 - 1952 (Phase I) and 1961 -1981
> (Phase II).
>
> After World war II, all nations were trying to overcome the percussions and
> ramifications of the war. Eritrea became part of the regional and
> International conflict in the Horn of Africa. The majority of Moslems
> rejected and opposed the Ethiopian project (Unity of Eritea with Ethiopia)
> while the majority of Christians supported that unity. There were three main
> factors behind that anti-Ethiopia stance!!
> (1) Geo-political factors: Moslem Eritreans have had nothing in common with
> the Ethiopian empire the only thing they recall is the animosity and hostile
> relationship during pre-Italian occupation. Moslems in Eritrea were
> influenced by their Arab neighbours (Sudan, Yemen, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia).
> They had the feeling that they will be more safe if an independent Eritrea
> established and a working relationship with its cultural and historical
> background. They used to listen to radio Cairo, BBC-Arabic program, more
> over local news papers and magazines (1946-52) created political
> consciousness not only among the Moslem Elite but also among broad strata of
> the middle class.
> (2) Socio economic factors : Moslem Eritreans were following and watching
> the internal development in Ethiopia, millions of Ethiopians were living in
> poverty, and Moslems in Ethiopia have been denied basic human and religious
> rights -so uniting with Ethiopia was not an attractive and profitable deal!!!
> (3) Religious factors: Moslem Eritreans considered "Haile Sellasie" the head
> of the Orthodox church and a fanatic Christian leader that will make
> Eritrean Moslems a second class citizens. The values and slogans of the July
> revolution in Egypt (1952) and the Algerian revolution (1956) played and
> important role in raising the national spirit of the Moslems Eritreans to
> challenge the Emperor and his Empire.
> PHASE I: Peaceful Struggle (1946 - 52)
>
> The USA supplied Ethiopia with arms, financial aid and political support in
> the UN. Internally, the Ethiopian government spared no effort, wasted no
> time to prevent the independence of Eritrea. In that direction, the
> Ethiopians tried to play on the religious factor by persuading Christian
> Eritreans to support the unity with their "Mother" Ethiopia. The Ethiopian
> government recruited the majority of Eritrean priest (being of the same
> Orthodox faith as the Ethiopians) who began to intimidate all Christians who
> were anti -Ethiopia. Christian nationalists have being subjected to daily
> threatening and were deprived of church services (marriage, death, baptism,
> etc.).
>
> Observing the internal and regional competition on Eritrea, the British
> tried on their side to "shuffle the cards" to get as much benefit as they
> could. They opened schools and training centres to create and educated
> stratum linked with their policy. Later on they established "political
> parties" and freedom of press! the real aim of British was to divide Eritrea
> into two parts:
>
> (i) The highlands with Christian majority to be annexed to Ethiopia.
> (ii) The lowlands with Moslem majority to be part of the Sudan (British
> colony by then).
>
> As a result of that policy, three political parties emerged by 1946:
>
> (A) The independence Block: This was a coalition of different parties (of
> Moslem majority) headed by Sheik "Ibrahim Sultan 'and' Weldeab Waldemariam"
> as vice-chairman. This block was struggling for the independence of Eritrea.
>
> (B) The unionist Party, headed by "Tedla Bairu", of Christian majority and
> striving for unity with Ethiopia. It had being supported and monitored by
> the Ethiopian government.
> (C) The party created and supported and monitored by the British authority,
> calling for dividing Ertitrea into two parts.
>
> Although the Eritrean national movement failed to achieve its main goal ie
> independence, yet we can record a quite remarkable successes scored by the
> different pro-independence parties. Taking into consideration the short
> period (6 years), the external factors (USA and Britain) and the internal
> factor (Ethiopia), the following achievements are to be appreciated and
> registered in the history of the Eritrean people on religious basis.
>
> (1) The national movement foiled all Ethiopian attempts to divide the
> Eritrean people on religious basis. (2) The concept of one nation and one
> land had being deeply rooted in the conscious of the Eritreans. Later on it
> became a fixed slogan in the revolution era. (3) The national movement
> succeeded in giving the Eritrean issue an international dimension, through
> memos and delegates to the UN: ( - - Although the country, Eritrea, was
> occupied by different powers for centuries, yet it had never been part of
> Ethiopia. The annexation, of Eritrea to Ethiopia will be against the
> principles and charter of the UN). (4) In their confrontation, the national
> leaders paid high price. Some were imprisoned, others were physically
> liquidated, the most prominent being "ABDULKADIR KABIRE" who was
> assassinated by the Ethiopian agents. After 1952, some of the leaders left
> the country and were granted political asylum in Egypt. (5) There were
> independent figures, social leaders and eminent intellectuals who supported
> the trend of independence. They played undeniable role in rising the
> national conscious and defending the just cause of the Eritrean people.
>
> After the annexation of Eritrea (1962), the Ethiopian government started to
> retaliate from those who opposed the unity of Eritrea and Ethiopia. On the
> other hand, it rewarded those who defended that policy.
>
> PHASE II: The Armed Struggle:
>
> The Ethiopians were not contended by the UN resolution, so they decided from
> the very beginning to violate it. They knew that the USA will back them, so
> they started to change the federal Act step by step until at last they
> cancelled the Eritrea autonomy status (parliament, flag, police force,
> language, etc.). On 14 November 1962 Emperor Haile Sellasie declared the
> annexation of Eritrea to Ethiopia. That final step had been expected, that
> is why we notice the start of armed struggle was one year before the date of
> annexation.
>
> The Eritrean Libration Front (ELF)
>
> The man who lead the freedom-fighters was a social hero named "HAMID IDRIS
> AWATE", while the political and organisational activities were generated and
> monitored by the ELF. Things by 1961 were not easy or smooth; regional and
> international conditions were not favourable to wage armed struggle and
> international conditions were not favourable to wage armed struggle. People
> everywhere were fed up of wars and conflicts, each country was trying to
> overcome its internal difficulties, to rebuild its economy and social
> stability. To summarise the preparatory steps of establishing ELF we
> mention the following :
>
> (A) The Eritrean students in Egypt universities and high schools, in
> addition to the political leaders who took refuge in Cairo, all were
> influenced by the slogans of July Revolution of Egypt (1952) and later by
> the Algerian revolution. That group was the first circle in the series of
> events that followed. (B) The Eritrean soldier in Sudanese army were closely
> watching what was happening in their country. Finally they reached a
> conclusion starting that their efforts and experience should be preserved
> for their people. (C) The third circle was the internal factors: Inside
> Eritrea the people were looking for a "hero" to guide freedom. At a certain
> historical moment, the three circles united to form the ELF with the slogan
> of "armed struggle". At the beginning, the veterans started with old rifles
> (Abu Ashera), while the Eritrea communities abroad began to feed the
> movement financially. The organisational structure of the ELF was as follows:
>
> (1) High Council (H.C.) This was a self-appointed leadership; living most of
> the time abroad, trying to collect material, political and military support
> from friendly states and circles. The H.C. had being chaired by Idris
> Mohamed Adem".
> (2) The libration Army lead by "Hamid Idris Awate", but after his death in
> 1962, other experienced military leaders who got their training in the
> Sudanese army took over the responsibility.
>
> On the first September 1961, the libration army launched the first attack
> against the Ethiopians in "ADAL-HIGER". All above three battles were in the
> western province of Eritrea. This phase had being characterised by
> mobilisation of people and attacking the enemy at its weak wings. The major
> military operations recorded were: (A) AGORDAT operation on 12 July 1962,
> more than 38 people have being killed including ministers and high
> officials of the Ethiopian government. (B) HAICOTA: operations on 1963
> against the Ethiopian garrison. The Freedom fighters won more than fifty
> pieces of arms (small and medium). (C) SHAIB battle-in 1963 and the
> libration army won arms and ammunitions. (D) TAGORBA battle on 15 March
> 1963, the most famous and unique, because it was the first time that the
> libration army came into direct confrontation with the Ethiopian army. The
> local Ethiopian police force used to organise and generate all military
> operations against the freedom fighters, but due to their failure, the
> Ethiopian army decided to take over full responsibility. Togorba was a
> turning point in the tactics and morals of the libration army. The immediate
> outcome was the flow of hundreds of Eritrean Youth in the revolution machine.
>
> Despite the fact that all members of leadership, cadres and fighters were
> Moslems, yet the program of ELF was a national one. Two languages (Arabic
> and Tigrygna) were considered as official languages of the organisation and
> future independent Eritrea. National Unity was key and central issue. Moslem
> Eritreans took the burden of preparing, supplying and waging the armed
> struggle from 1961 -1971 (with the presence of small minority of
> Christians). By that time any Christian who joined the revolution was
> treated in an exceptional way that is how we can understand why "Tedlla
> Bairu" was appointed as deputy chairperson of the high council of ELF in
> 1968. On the same ground "Heroi Bairu" was chosen as vice chairman of the
> revolutionary council in 1971. That the two sectors of the nation should
> participate in the revolution was a deep rooted nation in the conscious of
> Moslems. Their easily sacrifices and daring challenge to the Ethiopian
> Empire was a historic initiative. They have always asked for and are still
> looking for mutual coexistence, equal and genuine partnership.
>
> In 1974 when emperor Haile Sellasie was overthrown by the military junta
> (Derge) the political phenomenon in Ethiopia and Eritrea was changed
> dramatically. The years following the coup (1975 - 77) witnessed great
> military victories, in addition thousands of Christian youth joined ELF
> which became in its compositions, structure and image (internally and
> internationally) a strong national organisation.
>
> By 1978, however, the Ethiopian army succeeded in taking back the liberated
> towns due to the following reason: (1) Ethiopia by 1978 was receiving 80% of
> all the military aid the ex-USSR used to give to Africa. (Beneficiaries of
> the cold war). (2) Things inside ELF-Power struggle escalated and the
> leadership (executive body) was paralysed. (3) International conspiracies
> (USSR & USA) and regional animosity to EPLF-the rival organisation launched
> a military attacked on ELF army supported by its allies (TPLF of Ethiopia).
> The army of ELF withdrew from all its bases and crossed the Sudanese border
> on 24 August 1981. (4) The fatal short came when EPLF- the rival
> organisation launched a military attack on ELF army supported by its allies
> (TPLF of Ethiopia). The Army of ELF withdrew from all its bases and crossed
> the Sudanese border on 24 August 1981.
>
> About fifteen thousand of the fighters surrendered to the Sudanese
> authority. The next step was the confiscation of 37 tons of arms and
> ammunitions (heavy and middle). That was the beginning of the diaspore that
> marked the future of more than thirty thousands of fighters, cadres, leaders
> and supporters who are now living in every corner of the world. Some of the
> leaders and cadres joined EPLF, others insisted to start from the beginning,
> and some more became fed-up of all the story.
>
> A very rich and pioneer experience came to an end because of fossilised,
> short sighted leadership on one hand, and on the other due to the
> retaliation spirit of EPLF. In addition to those local and subjective
> factors, there were external and objective factors that accused ELF of being
> a Marxist movement, of Islamic back ground and of Arab inclination!!! It is
> worth-mentioning to recall an incident that reflects the attitude, not only
> of the foreigners, but also of some of the Christian Eritreans towards ELF
> from 1961 - 1975.
>
> In 1968 a group of Eritrean fighters returned from China after receiving a
> military and political training. Among them was "ISAYAS AF WORKI" the
> present president of Eritrea, and he was one of the early Christian youth
> who joined the revolution. In Damascus, members of H.C. leadership of ELF by
> then-held a meeting with the fighters who returned from China. A member of
> the H.C. addressed the meeting, encouraged and wished them success in their
> new mission. Observing the presence of Christians among the fighters, he
> expressed his happiness and said " I am glad to see the Christians sharing
> their Moslem brothers the burden of the revolution. The then unknown fighter
> (Isayas) stood-up and said " For Moslems to join the revolution, it is
> natural and understandable fact. They lost every thing and have nothing to
> lose more, their only option being the revolution. As for the Christians,
> joining the revolution will cost them a lot, they will pay a high price. A
> single Christian joining the revolution in such circumstances will balance
> hundred Moslems". Although it was a shocking, unexpected remark yet it
> reflected the mood, social relations and the stereotype attitude towards ELF
> by that time.
>
> Another incident-this time external - reflects how the Europeans and the USA
> were evaluating ELF. In 1988 the ex-president of USA (Jemmy Carter) was
> monitoring negotiation between EPLF and the Ethiopian government. On his way
> to Kenya, Mr Carter made a stop in Khartoum - Sudan where he met some
> leaders of ELF factions. The ELF leaders wanted to send a message to the USA
> saying that EPLF cannot be the sole representative of Eritrean people in
> any future negotiation with the Ethiopian government. The ex-present,
> without hearing a single word from the leaders of ELF, asked them
> consecutive questions, without waiting for an answer.
>
> What Mr Carter said was: "Are you the people of Moslem origin?, do you teach
> your children Arabic language? You do not have any effective military role,
> this is not your time. We are preparing for NAIROBI meeting. We will see
> what can be done about you in future".
>
> At the end of the day, we can say that ELF was the vanguard and national
> mass movement of the Eritrean people for over twenty years. Its values,
> ideas and principles are deeply rooted in the hearts and minds of the
> majority of the Eritrean people. Its experience was a decisive factors in
> the evolution of the national Eritrean struggle for independence and freedom.
>
> If it is ever happened that Eritrea experiences a multi-party system in the
> future, the history of ELF will be revived. The new generation will feel
> proud of the uncountable achievements of the ELF. The famous military record
> of ELF is manifested in the libration of big towns (MENDAFARA-- AGORDAT -
> TESSENEI) and tens of smaller towns and villages. The experience of ELF in
> inside-town operations was successful in liquidating Ethiopian agents, in
> addition to the famous well-planned attack of the prisons when hundreds of
> militants were set free.
>
> The history of ELF is part of the history of the Eritrean people, and can
> never be abolished neither by time nor by the rulers.
>
> I wish to thank my colleague Mr Omer Jabir (an Independent Eritrean
> Journalist in Australia) for his endless efforts in search the important
> documents of the Eritrean history. Without Omer and some of the prominent
> Eritrean Community members this historical facts would have been hard to
> find. I think we in Australia are very luck to have the very famous members
> of our Struggle from Mahber Shewate, Cairo students union members of the
> 50th & 60th and members of the ELF leadership etc. all in one place!!!!
>
> Berhan
> Ber-han
>
>