Month: May 2013
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Adam Malakin: His Non-militant, Non-public Other Side
Adam Malakin, a prominent figure in the struggle for Eritrean statehood, passed away in May 2013 in Melbourne, Australia. Up until his sudden death following brief hospitalisation, Adam Malakin appeared healthy and sound. Adam Malakin, or simply A’m[1] Adam as he came to be endearingly known, was octogenarian. The purpose of this note is to…
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A Matter of Perspective: Nationalism
I, as a devoted Awate reader, most times scan the pages of this site in the hope that I will find there something informative and educational, something uplifting and inspiring, something original and sometimes something controversial where we all can have an input of our dimes worth. True, time constraints don’t always allow one to…
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The Politics Of Betrayal
Summary: The risk of colluding with Ethiopia to oust the Eritrean Government An illustration of Ethiopian deception Follies of many Eritrean opposition groups Tesfay Temnewo’s lack of credibility Many of us have speculated as to what kind of contributions the ‘Ethiopian intervention’ is bringing to the struggle Eritreans are pursuing against the present dictatorship in…
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Appraising Eritrea’s Social Media ( Part 1)
There now exists a ‘’different’’ Eritrea in the cyberspace, what can be called a ‘’virtual diasporic nation’’ of the free, populated mostly by the young and recent émigrés. This community of activists, working across the transnational space and without fear of retribution, has the potential to inject new vigor and a sense of direction to…
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Mr. Yemane Gebreab: Hands off the Eritrean Orthodox Church!
Mr. Yemane Gebreab, a high official of the ruling party in Eritrea and who often speaks on the government’s behalf, is touring three US cities – Seattle, Atlanta and Washington DC. As was seen in the meeting he held for party members in Seattle on Saturday, May 18, 2013, his main target again is none…
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Archdiocese of the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahdo Church Appeals to the UN
The Archdiocese of the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahdo Church in Diaspora sent a letter of appeal on May 24 to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon calling for “the immediate release of His Holiness Patriarch Antonios from prison” and that he be provided “with the necessary medical care.” The news was first reported by www.tewahdo.org, a US-based website.…
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Eritrea, Africa: The Last Big Man Standing
[As I write this, I haven’t heard Isaias Afwerki’s speech. If history is a guide, he will blame his predecessor for the mess who, in turn, will blame his predecessor all the way back to whoever has been presiding over Eritrea since 1991. Oh, wait, he is his own predecessor. Never mind: did you enjoy…
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Eritrean conditions: Reflections On Independence Day
May 24, 1991. Independence Day! The memory may have faded but few will forget the joy they felt when they first witnessed or heard about the triumphant march of battle-weary EPLF soldiers into the streets of Asmara. Across the board, Eritreans were ecstatically happy and the dancing and celebration would continue for several days. Even…
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Eritrea’s Independence: Celebrate Or Commiserate?
Overview: – There are two parts to this article. First, brief description of two battles heroically fought during the Eritrean armed struggle for national liberation. The purpose of doing so is to commemorate those brave Eritreans who paid the ultimate sacrifice for Eritrea’s full sovereignty. Second, how the hard-gained and long-awaited independence and the dream…
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MP Adam Bandt Presents Eritreans Peitition to Australian House
On May 15, Mr. Adam Bandt, an Australian Member of Parliament (MP), addressed a petition that was presented to the Australian house of representatives by the Eritrean National Council for Democratic Change (ENCDC.) By addressing the petition, the MP brought to the attention of the Australian House “the human rights violations, including forced labour, arbitrary…
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Adem Melekin: Eulogy To A Patriot
About eight years ago, I interviewed a man many, including myself, consider a giant in the struggle for Eritrean independence. This is what I wrote in the introduction to the interview that was published on April 11, 2005:[i] Some people find themselves in a storm and struggle to get out; others search for a storm…
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Seyoum Haregot’s New Book: A Critique
The Bureaucratic Empire Serving Emperor Haile Selassie Red Sea Press For over a century, successive regimes in the Horn of Africa, have served their respective populace the Tantalus cup of freedom and prosperity. It has become a vicious cycle; a never-ending season of conflicts which has rendered many much worse off than they were a…
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When You Are Down…
To the unaware, the horrible stories about life in Eritrea would seem mere exaggerations; those who have no idea about the cruelty of the PFDJ rule would be tempted to brush it off. But the stories are just the tip of a huge pile of more harrowing tales. A man I know had a relative…
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AI: Twenty Years of Independence but still No Freedom
Twenty years after its independence, Eritrea’s prisons are filled with thousands of political prisoners, locked up without ever being charged with a crime, many of whom are never heard from again, Amnesty International said in a report released today. Twenty years of independence but still no freedom details how throughout the past two decades government…