BooK: Words that Govern and Other Essays in Law and Politics Author: Bereket Habte Selassie Price: $24.95 Pages: 256 Year: 2018 Publisher: Red Sea Press WORDS That GOVERN is written to the budding young democratic prince—a citizen who has to govern him/herself under the revolutionary and yet old …
Read More »Book Review: ELF: Its Struggle for Freedom and Social Justice 1961-1982
Authors: Dirar Mantai, Fessehaye Hagos and Ngusse Tsegai Title: Eritrean Liberation Front (ELF): Its Struggle for Freedom and Social Justice 1961-1982 Language: Tigrinya Publisher: Homib Publishing, homibpublishing@gmail.com Year: May 2016 Pages: 369 Price: $30.00 To some extent, any organization reflects its founder’s comportment, and the Eritrean Liberation Front was no …
Read More »Deliverance: A Tale of Colliding passions and the Muse of Forgiveness
Book Review Title: Deliverance: A Tale of Colliding passions and the Muse of Forgiveness Author: Dr. Bereket Habte Selassie Genre: Historical Novel Pages: 330 Publisher: RSP (Red Sea Press) ISBN: 9781569025178 (HB) and 9781569025185 (PB) A new novel by Dr. Bereket: Deliverance, a Tale of Colliding passions and the Muse …
Read More »Review: Herui Tedla Bairu’s Book
Title: Eritrea and Ethiopia: A front row look at issues of conflict and the potential for a peaceful resolution. Author: Herui Tedla Bairu Publisher: RSP: The Red Sea Press: www.redseapress.com Year: 2016 ISBN: 978-1-5690243-0-0 Pages: 308 A lucky encounter got me to talk to Mrs. Mehret Bairu. Not entirely sure …
Read More »Remembering Abraham Ghebreghiorgis (MIT)
There is a famous quote attributed to Sigmund Freud that, “The voice of the intellect is a soft one, but it does not rest until it has gained a hearing.” Abraham MIT’s voice was indeed as soft as silk, and as someone, who has the privilege to read his many …
Read More »A Conversation with Mr. Mohamed Moussa Tourtour, Djibouti’s Presidential Candidate
Mr. Kidane Alemayehu, an Ethiopian and the Founder and former President of the Horn of Africa Peace and Development Center (www.hafrica.org) and I, had the opportunity to sit with Mr. Mohamed Moussa Tourtour and his wife, Mrs. Safia Ismael, in Lewisville, Texas, and what follows is the result of our …
Read More »EYSC’s Bologna Forum Recognizes Dr. Bereket Habteselassie
Oakland, California: On Saturday, August 30, 2015, the Eritrean Youth Solidarity for change’s (EYSC) Bologna Forum recognized Dr. Bereket Habteselassie for his long service to the cause of Eritrea, freedom, democracy and the rule of law. On behalf of the organization, Mr. Saleh Gadi Johar, the founder and publisher of …
Read More »Paulos Natnael’s “The Fighter’s Letter”: A Book Review
Book Title: The Fighter’s Letter Author: Paulos Natnael Publisher: Red Sea Press & African World Press ISBN: 978-1-56902-410-2 (HB), 978-1-56902-411-9 (PB) Pages: 289 The Fighter’s Letter will mark Paulos Natnael’s debut as a serious writer with a knack for story-telling. For over two decades, Paulos has written countless articles on …
Read More »The Opposition We Have, Not The Opposition We Wish To Have
This archived article by Semere T. Habtermariam first appeared on January, 2005. We are republishing it here to help reflect on what was current ten-years ago. In a seemingly nonchalant fashion, some of us are in the habit of pointing the faults of the opposition. A friend argues that it …
Read More »Eritreans in Tri-State honor Swedish MP Arhe Hamednaca
In an unprecedented spirit of fraternity, a group of Eritreans from the Tri-state area, Pennsylvania and Delaware met to honor one of their own—the Eritrean-Swedish Member of Parliament, Mr. Arhe Hamednaca. They came together to celebrate his story; their story, for it reaffirms the potent power that lies in all …
Read More »Eritrean Tewahdo Church Excommunicates Two Persons
Introduction by the translator (Semere T Habtemariam): In the absence of civic associations, communitarian and religious organizations usually fill the gap; and that is the case in Eritrea. The recent pastoral letter of the Catholic Church of Eritrea, the Solidarity letter of the North American Diocese of the Tewahdo Church …
Read More »Andebrhan Welde Giorgis’ Book: A Commentary
Title: Eritrea At A Crossroads: A Narrative of Triumph, Betrayal and Hope Author: Andebrhan Welde Giorgis Publisher: Strategic Book Publishing and Rights Co. ISBN: 978-1-62857-331-2 Pages: 661 Price: $36.50 Website: http://sbprabooks.com/AndebrhanWeldeGiorgis Eritrea At a Crossroads is a compelling story of people who had waged an epic struggle for self-determination and …
Read More »Eritrean Orthodox Diocese Supports Catholic Bishops’ Letter
The Eritrean Orthodox Church’s Statement (Translated into English by Semere T Habtemariam) In a statement issued on the occasion of Eritrea’s Martyrs’ Memorial Day, June 20th, the Arch Diocese of North America of the Eritrean Orthodox Church expressed its unequivocal support for the Year-of-Faith’s Pastoral Letter of the four bishops …
Read More »Pastoral Letter: A complete and Literal Translation
I was moved and inspired by the courage of the four Eritrean Catholic Bishops and felt obliged to do something, or at least, shout out the proverbial expression of solidarity, “I am an Eritrean Catholic too.” Compelled by an irresistible urge to help and promote their cause, which is Eritrea’s …
Read More »Kiros Yohannes: Poet Extraordinaire
My late brother Dawit had asserted that his favorite singer, Bereket Menghisteab, is irreplaceable. Occasionally and upon the insistence of younger siblings who ganged-up on him, he had conceded grudgingly: if there is anyone who might have succeeded in attaining that same level of vocal talent and excellence, then it …
Read More »We, The People, Own It!
My 13 year old nephew once told me that all democratically elected presidents should convene a plenary session to pass a resolution that will forbid all dictators from calling themselves presidents. Oftentimes, it takes a child to let us know that “the emperor” is naked. Perhaps it is this recognition …
Read More »Hope From Pretoria
In a culture that is not strong on expressing gratitude the word “yeqenyeley” has evolved to mean, “Thank you,” but its initial use seems to be more selfish and self-serving. It is simply used to express a wish of re-using an item again and again. The more accurate, refined and …
Read More »Tesfay W. Degiga’s Eulogy for Ahmed Nasser
Tesfay W. Degiga’s Eulogy for Ahmed Nasser In Memorial Service held in Oakland, California, on April 6, 2014 (Translated from Tigrinya by Semere T Habtemariam) When the news of the martyrdom of Tegadalay Ahmed Nasser was heard, Eritreans, from all the corners of the world, have found the news utterly …
Read More »He Doesn’t Hate you; He despises You
My mother was in her late teens when she came to our village as a young bride. She has an incredible memory and recalls events with great details. Over the years, that has given me the opportunity to develop intimate portraits of all the giants and dwarfs who made our …
Read More »Fight Like A Liberation Front; Think Like An Opposition
Isaias Afwerki’s twenty- two years of misrule reaffirms the old adage that revolutions, quite often, are not caused by vision-inspired or ideology-intoxicated revolutionaries but by the sheer stupidity and brutality of governments. Eritrea’s PFDJ has climbed the Everest of stupidity and brutality and won the envy of North Korea and …
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