I hope it was not your intention to specify and attribute parts of our armed
struggle to Moslems or Christians. Your message gives the impression that
Moslems did start the struggle and did not manage to finish it while the
"Christians" did finish the job, which is absolutely not the case. You agree
with me that Moslem and Christian blood was equally shed to liberate the
country. Amanueel, in his posting, did a good job in highlighting the
importance of our common achievements in the struggle.
Some ill minded people try to find out who did the most job in the struggle. I
remember one stupid person was saying, after the announcement of the names of
martyrs, that in the place where he lives (aKria), the Moslems have not lost
many fighters, according to him they were all in Saudi Arabia while the
Christians were fighting. This guy doesn't know much about the Eritrean
struggle at all, I hope you do know better, Berhan, that we suffered and
fought equally.
Regarding the history you tried to summarize, allow me to say this. Though you
have done a good job in presenting it in a simplified way, some of the stories
you chose are too difficult to verify or confirm, which makes the story hard
to believe. Details which are not generally known to the public give the
impression that the story may not be the real one.
Also the text below is not accurate and needs correction. The third point can
not be a reason for the loss of liberated areas in 1978 as the major EPLF
offensive was started in 1980, two years after we lost the liberated areas to
the Ethiopians. .
> 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.
> 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
>
>