By Elias Kifle
Previously, I have written about an Eritrean “adviser” to Ethiopian opposition groups named Col. Fitsum who has been arbitrarily arresting Ethiopians, blocking reform inside the opposition groups, sabotaging their activities so that they stay weak, turning their members against each other, and robbing funds that are being sent to EPPF from its supporters in the Diaspora. Several Ethiopians, including myself, tried to make the Eritrean government aware of Col. Fitsum’s misconducts, to no avail, leading to politically damaging speculations that he is not acting alone and that he is carrying out a government policy.
Things turned from bad to worse when recently Col. Fitsum arrested a prominent Ethiopian opposition figure, Col. Tadesse Muluneh, a founder and former leader of the Ethiopian People’s Patriotic Front (EPPF). Another prominent member of EPPF, Shambel Zewdu Ayalew, who was forced out of the organization by Col. Fitusm, had disappeared for over two weeks and I learned last Friday that he is back in his residence in Asmara. He now seems to be fine, although shaken up and is unwilling to speak to any one. Despite multiple requests for explanation, the Government of Eritrea (GOE) so far has chosen to remain silent about what happened to Col. Tadesse and other Ethiopians who disappeared.
Those of us who are expressing concern about Col. Tadesse’s arrest are now being targeted by Fitsum for propaganda attack. On Sunday, January 2, one of his prisoners named Mengistu, whom he installed as a spokesperson for EPPF, was interviewed by ECADF paltalk room where he said that those who ask about Col. Tadesse and other Ethiopians who have disappeared are trying to soil EPPF’s name. When pressed for an answer by the moderators and some in the audience, Mengistu, in a shivering voice, said that he and his colleagues are not in a position to get information and that he doesn’t think he should make an effort to find out what happened. Instead, he tried to explain that Col. Tadesse has left EPPF long time ago on his own will, and Shambel Zewdu also left because of health reasons. Mengistu’s answers have offended many in the audience who know about the circumstances under which both individuals left EPPF. They were forced out by Col. Fitsum. In Shambel Zewdu’s case, he had to literally run through the streets of Asmara to General Tekle Manjus’ office to seek protection. One of those who was ordered by Fitsum to arrest Shambel Zewdu was Mengistu himself.
It needs to be mentioned here that Gen. Tekle is a decent and humble person who is well-liked by every Ethiopian I met in Eritrea. It’s because of Eritreans like Gen. Tekle I still hesitate to conclude, despite mounting evidence, that what Col. Fitsum is a doing has not been sanctioned by Eritrean government. Unlike Col. Fitsum, many Eritrean officials such as Gen. Tekle, seem to be corruption-free and live a hermit-like life with little or no personal wealth. They also appear to be sincere in their desire to reach out to Ethiopians.
Cooperation between Ethiopians and Eritreans is a necessity for both people, but obstacles like Col. Fitsum, a corrupt and petty criminal who is knowingly and unknowingly serving Woyanne’s interest, must be removed. It is impossible to work with the Eritrean government in a mutually beneficial way while individuals like Fitsum are allowed to run amok.
Going back to Mengistu’s interview on ECADF, his answers have angered and disturbed many of the over 400 members of the audience. I, however, am not angry at him. I know Mengistu personally. I met him several times in Eritrea during the past two years. He is not a bad person. He is disillusioned by what is being done to EPPF and is desperate for a way out of the mess. I feel sorry for him because he is a prisoner and victim of Col. Fitsum. He was ordered to give an interview to try to misinform Ethiopians in the Diaspora, and discredit individuals who are exposing his crimes against Ethiopian opposition groups and their members. Truth and hard facts cannot explain away by cheap propaganda.
The fact is that EPPF is currently under the complete control of the rogue colonel who is too ignorant to understand that his actions, such as arresting prominent Ethiopian opposition figures, will damage the Ethiopia-Eritrea relation that many, including myself, have worked hard to build. I and many others were willing to tolerate his misconducts until EPPF is reformed and his interference is curtailed, if not completely stopped. When I realized that it was impossible to reform EPPF without a protracted effort that may take several years, I withdrew my support starting last August and took a different route completely separate from EPPF. Many others, including most of the fighters, have left the organization. The once promising EPPF has now dwindled down to less than 70 fighters, many of whom would not return if Fitsum allows them to leave Eritrea. Mengistu and most of the executive committee members would also not return if they leave Eritrea. That is why Col. Fitusm does not allow them to travel any where. Another executive committee member, Nurjeba, was arrested for over a year about 3 years ago for trying to escape to Sudan. As things stand now, EPPF fighters and leaders are Col. Fitsum’s hostages.
It was this kind of mess that we were trying to fix after being given assurances from President Isaias Afwerki that if there is any intervention at all from the Eritrean government it will be by Eritrean advisers who have genuine interest in working with us on the basis of mutual interest. There are indeed several Eritreans inside the government who have such interest.
I’m told by Eritreans that the GOE moves slowly and that the problems will be addressed soon. In the mean time, as I have been advocating cooperation with Eritrea in a very open manner while others sneak around in the dark, I will also point out difficulties we are facing in an open manner, especially when it comes to such a flagrant violation of the trust that we were trying to build between Ethiopians and Eritreans.
88 thoughts on “A Col. Fitsum hostage gives an interview”
Elias, first free yourself from the delusion you immersed yourself in, Change of regime in once nation doesnt come because of pety conspiracy here and there, You are in huge state of illusion and put other, fellow like yourself in utter illusion.
where is the interview?
Elias, Eritrea doesn’t have a government in the real sens of the word. It is governed by a group of cannibalistic bandits who eat their own brothers and sisters let alone Ethiopians. I know you are a capable person and a good organizer. I also understand what you are trying to do through Eritrea. Let me give you a brotherly advise. I’m Eritrean and I speak from experience. Don’t waste your time with Shabia. Cut your losses and try some thing else if you wish to bring change in Ethiopia.
please weakup shaebia is anti ethiopa
I listened to the interview with Mengistu and another guy… I think his name is Tilahun Gashaw. Mengistu sounded nervous and unsure of what he is talking about. Tilahun tried to justify Colonel Tadesse’s arrest by saying that he is no longer EPPF. That set me off real bad. I felt like taking the mic and curse him out. What a fool! This is the kind of person Eritreans like to call Adgih (kebt). Elias still holds some hope about working with Shabia. I hope he is right but I am done!! Shabias are turning out to be worse savages than Woyannes. At least Woyanne allows family to visit prisoners.
Ahyawn Ferto Dawlawn Memtat Qum neger Ayametam. Col. Ftsum is a simple messenger of the big fish Issayas. If you think you are brave go after Issayas otherwise, it makes you a coward man going after the poor Col. Ftsum.
If you have only 70 EPPF members in Eritrea, why bother you guys are already dead.
Hey Elias
Embarass those who believe that you are a shabia sell out. U r clearly demonestating that your case is similar to that of Ethiopian Patriots. You stand for truth. True, some times your attitude towards issues is a bit wierd but principled and full of integrity. That doesn’t mean you don’t some times make me sick.
Elias it is good you’r learning from your mistakes. It is not Col.Fistum who is doing this It Is the one and only wedi Afewerki (Tembenay) what you don’t know is wedi Afewerki is the one that is working with weyane not Col.Fistum the colonel is just a tool that gets used by wedi Afewerki. You see there is no life time friend in politics it is just moment of infatuation. You don’t have any lever against wedi afewerki so you are like sitting duck who get kicked right left and centre. Welcome to real Politics.
Elias it is true. Isayas himself is known to be too slow to make decisions. Trust me if you are reporting about the colonel is true, and I have no reason to doubt you knowing your track record, this guy will be toast. My advise to you is to keep communicating with the GOE. Happy New Year!
Alaf megedi,
At least Elias is expressing his opinion openly, regardless whether it is thoughtful opinion or not. He is not like you who bark like an old dog with a penname. People like you, those who criticize others for cowardice act, are those who terrified themselves to come out openly for fair of exposing their dirty laundry out.
Your recent comments against the gov’t of eritrea changed my previous assumption about your identity. Any way,I appreciate your devotion to your country but I also want to assure you that your struggle will not bear fruit. I believe you know the eritrean officials better than the rest of us because of your recent visit to asmara and the interview you had with Isaias the devil. My man I appreciate you because you are one of the few talent Ethiopian who devote their energy, time and knowledge for their beloved country.You should also deserve respect for your struggle to bring equality and democracy to your country. I also want to give you credit for your struggle against some bad policy of the current Ethiopian gov’t.The fact of the matter my friend the Ethiopian gov’t is much much better than shabia. I believe our struggle to bring equality and democracy to our country should happen inside Ethiopia with no gun and tanks. From the bio of isaias the devil, it will not be hard to know he is a man with snake mind. The only thing that entertain him is biting and poioning. Isaias is waiting for the opportunity to bite and poison our country until patriotic Ethiopian chop up his snake head.
Elias, when are you going to face the simple reality, nothing happens in Eritrea unless it is the will of Isaias.
Hey Elias
Now you know you can not trust Shabia at any time. Isayas knows everything that is happening to EPPF–in fact he is the one who is giving the order to dismantle the true Ethiopians struggle.
Know this, Isayas is full of shame that his fantasy and day dream didn’t come to true. He couldn’t deliver what he promised by brain washing the Eritrean people. Hahahaha, it has been so long now since the Erit found out—after they lost their family, livelihood etc.
Isayas would never wish any good for Ethiopia. But he will make sure to destroy Ethiopia if he can and when he can.
Are you catching up now
Dear Elias,
I think your unfair criticism against the poor Colonel is still intended to portrait the blood sucker,crule and evil Issaias as a lame duck or a democrat.For the record,he is neither but just a child killer and tenaciously in contol of the state who wouldn’t let anything happen without his approval or awareness.Leave alone a high profile like this,he is even well informed about the mother who was cought smuggling dough into Asmara.(Taking dough into Asmara and other cities are considered a crime and hence punishable under his rule).So Elias,please stop pounding this poor Colonels’s head because trading off accusations and counter accusations are not going to help the victims but probably worsen and tangles their situation.REMEMBER,vindictiveness is the trademark of the regime in general and Issaias in particular.Speaking of the Colonel,he is one of his many trusted dogs who is willing to carry out his dirty job without questions asked.The one thing Issaias is good at is about forcing these once innocent freedom fighters to implicate in public sin and crime designed to instill shame and guilt in them leading to fear,loss of confidence and mistrust.These sinful officers have committed all kinds of atrocities such as rape,torture,muder,imprisonment and extortion against our people with impunity in the last 20 years.With corruption in full swing and rampant in Eritrea today,the senior officers rampaged through the nation to extort money from our poor people in a broad day light in one way of the other.Jailed parents of conscripts who left their units are forced to pay $5000 dollars to buy their freedom.So neither General Tekle,General Philipos nor any other illitrate officers are innocent.As far as We Eritreans are concerned, senior military officers,rubber stamp parlamenterians,senior security officers and so called diplomats are all criminals and too much blood has been spilled by these blood suckers and we will never rest until these bastards and their mastermind are brought to justice.So one would ask,if these people are capable of killing disabled veterans and making their comreds in arms disappear in thin air,what makes one to think that they wouldn’t treat the Ethiopians the same even if you try to overlook the plight Eritreans have been going through.
Elias talking about Shabia is like beating a dead horse. It is a regime that is not responsive even to its own people.
Elias,
I had a lot of respect for you, but I am sorry to discover that your political maturity is extremely shallow, to expose yourself in your latest emotional driven accusations in such manner !. Let me explain. Division in opposition groups is bound to suffer all the time. A lot of people that come to the opposition groups come with a lot of baggage. Some are sent by the weyanes themselves. Back in the days, the Derg used to send many agents to join Eritrean liberation fronts, , unfortunately, some have caused a great many deal of havoc for the struggle. EPPF is not an exception. I assume the Eritrean government has to take a side that reflects its interest as well as the broader Ethiopian people interest. These actions do not necessarily result in negative relationships provided that the weyanes get evacuated from the minilik palace in due time. I do not know political interest you hold with these individuals, but your emotional reaction is totally juvenile to say the least.
Peace
# 3 abebe,
i have Eritrean friend that what they told me years ago but i didn’t want to believe them because i was so eager to get ride off woyane!!! but as they say i was expecting pigeon from rattle snake egg….”Yehuna alu gra-azmach yetekemuten bate eyayu..”
Time for plan B!!!
Time for plan B!!!
Time for plan B!!!
With out Eritrea help…!!!!!! Eghaw be-ghaw!! that what our fathers did..thats what we should do!!
Here we go again!!! Another round of accusations and counter accusations, he did this he said this, shabia this shabia that, asazinal ale sewyew. Guys, I just don’t understand how some people don’t see this, especially people such as Eliase, whom I expect to have a much deeper understanding of the political enviornment of the HORN region, to expect goodness and kindness to come from President Issays Afewerki to help any group to topel his life time friend Priminster Melese. I am not sure those of you that expect this what you are smoking, but if you want to smoke a dose of reality, READ MY LIPS and history will be my judge, MELESE zenawi will never ever leave office, becuase of ISSAYS, and ISSAYS will never ever leave office becuase of MELESE, PERIOD… if any thing, this two TUGS are going to continue to help each other and make sure any treat that challenges their grip in power is dealt with appropriately and cooperatively. With that understanding, the sooner we recognise this, the sooner real strugle against this two tugs who have over stayed their post, can come to life. While I know for fact, issays is working with melese, what I don’t understand is, people such as Eliase and any other people that is currently hoping and working with the Eritrean governement to over throw melse, i have a problem with that. Let us assume for a moment, that I am wrong and that Issays is truly an enemy of melese, and let us suppose assume for a minute, Issays truly wants this So called opositions of various factions organize and fight against melese, now, as people who want true democracy to come to ETHIOPIA, as group of people who are talking day in and day out about the wrong doings of MELESE, becuase we see what he is doing to Ethiopia, How then can we with good concious work with Issays, who is no less crule much worse dictator to his citizen, who has practiclly made Eritrea in to highest human concentration camp on africa, would want to work with him just becuase we want our objectives met. Our actions should be guided by princples and not just by desire to achive our goal met by what ever means avialible. I say this becuase, if we care for true democracy, then we shouldn’t even think to work, with people that have no respect for democracy. Eliase has gone and met issays and wants to tell us, working with Issays is a good thing, he even wants to convince us as if this is a work between Ethiopians and Eritreans, as if ERitreans have any say on this at all. I think if I was an Eritrean, this would be very dishartening to say the list, to see my fellow negibhours whom I thought would understand my propblem, becuase they are going through the same problem, would salivate over this dectator and using the banner of ” ye telate telat woedaje new” be friended issays. I think this is a shame truely is a shame becuase, we don’t like it when we see any one be friend to melese, why becuase we consider him, to be a child killer, becuase we consider him to be a thief, undemocratic, becuase he has no respect to the rule of law and democratic practice, but we want to be a friend to a man (issays) who is just as bad as melse in his own country, and ignore the plight and suffering of poor Eritreans. Issays should never be given any forum or any place where he is recognizee as any decent human, just as we don’t want melese to be recognized. And the first order of our strugle , truly if we are commited for greatness and true change is to do to others, as we want done for us, and We should have absloutely 100% nothing to do, with a person like ISSAYS, any help that comes from him, should not be accepted for he has no respect for human life. He is a criminal that needs to face justice in the international court some day. It is truly sad, to see a man such as ELIASE whom I think has a great caliper and wit, to realize the true color of issays, especially after vistin asmara and seeing first hand the suffering of this poor people, to not mention about that at all, ELIASE you have a jornalistic Obligation to speak the truth!!!!!! if you want to be credited as a professional speak the truth, you must speak the truth, of the suffering of ERitreans, you run your mouth 100 mile per second, when any one is against to your liking, but ignore the plights of others. Jornalisim is about reporting the truth even if it means having many enemies, I admire you as what you are doing in speaking the truth about Woyane every day, for that truly i give you credit, but you fall short from being this credible and honest jornalist when you compeltely ignore, what ERitreans are going through, but YET, you go to asmara and expect help from the same man that has turned this place in to human concentration camp. And GOD is my wittness, the day, you realize, ISSAYS NOT col fistum is doing all this change in EPPF, you are going to fill your website with haterate articles about issays, and try to tell us about all his bad manners, please be a man, and a true honest man at that, and speak the truth NOW and be a voice for the voiceless, be it for Ethiopians or Eritreans. our desire for freedom is the same, our objective is the same, we both want, MELESE and ISSAYS gone for they are the true cancers of our peaceful and harmonious coexistance as peace loving people. I appeal to all who read this, Know the fact, ISSAYS and MELESE are working together, these two men are like the same coin of different face. Let us not put any hope in beliving to the futile cause Mr. Eliase is trying to do, to get help from issays to topel melse, it will never ever happen. 10 years has passed, and no oppostion has made a dent on woyan’s postions, the sooner we realize this, and we the people of Ethiopia and ERitrea must coperate and remove this absolutely good for nothings tugs out of OFFICE.
The reason behind why Eritrean col. is not respecting EPPF is because of the low number and unable to increase with new recruits. We have to be honest here, we are only good complainers when it comes to fighting Woyanne we are weak. Woyannes did not come to power with poor morale, they came to power because they were willing to duke it out with well equippted Derg soldiers. If we mean business we have to show Woyannes we are willing to die fro our cause, just like they proved it to Derg.
TPDM has strong 50,000 gun carrying fiesty warriors, and they gather these from a pool of 3.5 million people. EPPF has only 70 people from a pool of 25 million people? I think our people are not as serious for the struggle as the Tigryans are. Eritreans are very familiar with guerilla warfare. They know whether or not this will work. The way I see things, I am not sure it will work. EPPF should pack up and leave. If they have genuine interest to fight, they should join TPDM, if they want to leave wait for the best moment and make a run for it. If Eritreans managed to run to Sudan, I do not see any reason why it would be hard for EPPF to do the same.
Ato Elias,
“..70 eppf fighters remaining..”, what an insider public reveleations to the whole world!!
It is beyond me to understand the motive!
“GOE moves slowly ”
Elias, that is so funny. How long is slowly ?
Does it even matter how slow shabia is to such deliberate crimes and fraud?
Ato Mengistu has clearly put it that there is no party called EPPF in eritrea anymore. All of them are in prisons or on house arrest. They are being kept hostage for a reason not different from the Somalian pirates,money. EPPF is only there as a source of income for shabia from the Ethiopian diaspora. If this wasn’t the reason, mengistu should have nothing to hide from it’s supporters and financers.
Shabia has already started harvesting what he has missed from meles, Ethiopian money. And you are expecting him to tell you what ?
Elias, It is a no-brainer excuse to allow such idiots use the fighters as farmers, laborers and piracy hostages in the name of “slow”, and get away with it. No way! You should really try to intervene and save anymore human loses. And you
should withdraw your support for the dictator too.
to no. 15. Peace says
Are you colonel Fitsum? you sound like him. If Elias was looking for your respect, for that matter our respect, he would write stuff to appease you or us. He tells it as it is and he doesn’t sugar coat it. Some times he makes us sick but don’t expect to baby sit you. You said that like derg, woyane sends spies to join the movement. Do you know how many Amches(ethio raised eritrean rebels) were murdered by ISAYAS in the same way you are trying to claim. Many were sloughtered by Isayas. Gilay(nick named in bealu girmas book) was head of the military of shabia and he told me that Isayas killed many Addis Ababan eritreans during the struggle. RIP Gilay! Rest his soul, I met him in Amsterdam before he died. Don’t try to cheat us because we know. You are a die hard idiot.
TO NO. 17 Dr. Bekagn Alegezam says:
Please summarize your ideas in shorter sentences because you will be wasting your time and reader’s time. Good, short and summerized ideas will do it. I like your ideas but too long to read.
TO no. 18. Almazzea says:
Are you a Col. Fitsum’s agent or what? You talk about TPDM having 50,000 rebels and EPPF 70. Have you ever seen or heard any thing about the battle field engagement or TPDM with woyane? were they allowed to go fight? the answer is no because Isayas would never try that sh** because he is either negotiating with woyane behind the scene, which is the more likely stuff or he is worried that TPLF will run after TPDM deep inside eritrea and may unsit Isayas. Isayas is a coward actor and womanizer who is happy with the status quo. He is using them as a negotiation pawns. In the mean time he is also keeping the uper hand of the Tigrayans as he himself is a tigrayan. Ask any honest eritrean and they will tell you he is a tigrayan but they pretend otherwise. All his key intelligence people are Tigrayans or married to tigrayans. The defence ministers wife is the sister of Sibhat NEGA. Don’t talk about garbage you have no clue about. Ask learn. Most of you are better off learning than spewing ignorance. Don’t take this as insult but learn from it.
I HAVE written a letter to the embassy that the colonel should be arrested
Elias – I am not sure whether you do it intentionally or unknowingly but nowadays you are providing a very useful and joyful information to the Woyanne. Was it part of the promise to the Woyanne’s that they may return back your father’s premises?
Surprisingly, all your recent publications on this subject have damaging news to Ethiopians who saw some hope by positive movements that EPPF, Ginbot 7 and OLF have been made. But, telling to the whole world that EPPF have only 70 members in Eritrea is a million dollar news to the Woyannes.
Anyways, there are million of Ethiopians who do not support armed struggle in our much suffered land therefore the collapse of such movement, before they cause huge damage to the land and its people, make us happier as well
God bless Ethiopia
Kewle
Elias Keep up the good work and the faith in working together with Eritreans. The questions you raise are good not only for the liberation efforts of Ethiopians, but, also for Eritreans. We believe these questions are important for the Eritrean government to answer effectively.
Peace
In 10 Years 70 fighters!! What is the reason? Is that because
of Eritrean Government? Com on guys. Let’s be serious. What
level is the Ethiopian unity and mood of fighting against woyane
in Diaspora and who is liable for this very poor organizational system? Where is Kinigit? What happened to the massive Ethiopian movement previous of 2005 election?
We should not loose objectivity in our assessment regarding the Horn of Africa. We should not accuse any external power in our internal decision making process.
If we accuse and blame Col. Fusum for what is evolving in EPPF,why is the TPDM is destroying the woyane army? Let’s stop pointing fingers to institutions and individuals to cover up our fault.
Ethiopia have an immense and conducive place to have the fighting base.
We should depend only a transit facility from Shaebia. The Ethiopian human and natural resource is more than enough to galvanize the entire society for a rapid revolutionary movement.
Forget what Shabia is doing or not doing regarding the EPPF
Elias – U R political “yekolo temari”.
Why don’t you just drive your cab?
It is absurd to entertain the notion of mutually benicial relationship with Eritrea’s tyrant Isaias in the first place. ER’s Editor must appologize for misleading the Ethiopian people and retrogressing their Struggle.
Why is it that some of you from the outside are calling that colonel Fitsum being a fool and being used. Fitsum newur yimesilal negeru! :)
Being used by whom? By his dear and near motherland and its dear and near leader? OF COURSE! Here, I am talking about the internal logic and rational of his behavior, not about our external logic and assessment of his behavior in view of our needs and interests.
In reality the colonel is educated in his task as tough military commander in a tough country under a tough government and reached the tough position of a tough colonel to serve his mother country and its leader with absolute loyalty and unbending obedience, be it rainy, sunny or in between.Araat Nettib!
If he deviates from the pattern he becomes an outlaw and a brigand rather than being a brigadier. He knows this more than any one of us. hmm…
And then again I like Elias’s proactive and daring behavior as well as making things happen and leaving his foot prints on the planet earth because we only live once. I also like his face saving and diplomatic method of communication because there will be that tomorrow day whether that tomorrow is rainy, sunny or in between.
I am waiting also for the day when he will start building unity with diversity or alliances with ALL other people’s traditionally and currently disadvantaged.
Dear Elias,
I am grateful to your concern and admire your engagement (over engagement at times) in this and related issues. You must, however, be either naive or ignorant if you really think that these people are different personalities and work independently from each other. Nothing, I repeat nothing at all, happens in Eritrea without the knowledge and approval of the man himself; President Esaias Afwerki.
The root cause of the problem with EPPF has been and continues to be combination of a weak and corrupt leadership on one hand and Shabia’s determination to have a strict control over the organization on the other.
You must also realize that Shabia currently is facing serious survival challenges of its own which in turn have implications for Ethiopian opposition groups in Eritrea. Shabia’s power base is simply shaking.
What I am trying to say is that you and other opposition leaders, including Ginbot 7, will have to do a serious re-assessment as to how to face this serious challenge. I am again referring to and requesting to address the fundamental challenge not its symptoms such as arrest of this or that leadership. The major problem will still remain around if Col. Tadesse Muluneh is freed tomorrow.
Regards,
Ahmed Hussein
I support Elias’s approach to this problem. He is exposing the injustice against Ethiopian patriots and the sabotage against Ethiopian opposition groups while at the same time leaving the door open for Shabia to fix the problem.
the only solution for eppf is to join with tpdm, period
the Eritrean Government is ready to help Ethiopians, Somalians, Sudanese if they work hard.
One thing I got out of this mess is Elias is a true Ethiopian. Thanks for letting us know.
Elias, at the beginning when you advocate working with Isayas I thought u were deliberatelly sabotaging the struggle. Now I can see you were doing it out of ignorance and sadly still now you can’t wake up from ur ignorance. How much dose of betryal you need from Esayas to wake up?
ISAYAS IS NOT SOME ONE YOU CAN TRUST. Why you don’t listen? It is truet The enemy of my enemy is my friend. But the enemity between Meles and Isayas is not a common one. It is like a fight between a husband and a wife or a mother and a son. You can’t befriend the son to permanently damage his mother, no way!! MELES IS MUCH BETTER FROM ISAYAS INTEREST POINT OF VIEW. ISAYAS WILL NEVER ALLOW YOU TO ESTABLISH A STONG, UNITED, DEMOCRATIC ETHIOPIA. SUCH A NEIGHBOUR IS A TREAT TO HIS POWER. LOOK FOR ANOTHER OPTION PLZ.
It is amazing that so many cyber warriors are having a field day displaying their true color every time Elias posts his diatribes about the fate of EPPF. The sad part is that so many Ethiopians who cry zeraf zeraf on the internet are not willing to go to Ethiopia, fight Woyanne and face the hardships or even die and get wounded to free their people from Woyanne’s nightmarish rule.
It is so easy to spew hate and cry I told you so yet I haven’t seen one diaspora Ethiopian living in the west leave their relatively comfortable life and join EPPF to fight on the ground. Talk is cheap so I say to those cyber warriors you are better off playing video games where you pretend to destroy an armada with the click of a mouse.
One revealing statement I read in this article is Elias’ assertion that he decided to distance himself from EPPF in August 2010 shows the typical Ethiopian diaspora mentality of wanting to eat your cake and have it too. No desire to persevere and work to improve the lot of EPPF, instead leave the organization soon after you joined it, to make matters worse he was also elected to a leadership position, this is the main problem with Ethiopians in the diaspora, no desire to sacrifice comfort for hardship to accomplish a goal. The only hope the people of Ethiopia is from the people who live inside Ethiopia, not from those who make a lot of noise from the cities of the west.
Government of Eritrea moves slowly? I am sorry but I am laughing so hard. Isn’t it true that, Eritrea’s constitution is in the making for the last 20 years? Shabia is bored and not motivated in doing anything. They don’t allow EPPF to fight, nor are they willing to fight. I think it can safely be said that the government of Eritrea is in a coma; or as it is known in the dimplomatic world ” in a zombi state”
I don’t have words to describe how I felt when I first heard the disintegration of our only hope the ‘EPPF’. At first, I thought it was a temporary obstacle and things will get better with time. But now, I am convinced that in the current situation the EPPF has no future, and I have no idea how it will come out of this mess and become a formidable force. Elias, there is no need to make the number of the fighters public, it doesn’t serve any purpose except to please the weyane thugs. I have no doubt this is the work of weyane. Using western donated money, weyane can buy anybody and anything. Well, the Ethiopian people inside the country are left on their own, they have no vanguard to rely on, and their nightmare will continue for quite sometime.
Man Elaise Elaise..You never cease to amze me! How come Ginbot -7 refuted your claim that Andargachew Tzeigie was being hunted by Colonel Fetsum? How come General Kemal is still free to move around Eritrea? How come new EPPF is formed by getting riding of non-perfomring EPPF mebers? How come TPDM is getting stronger as each day passes?
individual like you wasted their golden and many poor young ethiopians age by doing things with no specific goal.Ethiopian young generation is no more interested in such kind of nonsense politics. I have a feeling that my generation and your generation is two separate phases ( oil and water). keep on wasting your time.
Elias,
I respect you reporting every event regarding the current dilemma facing EPPF.That being said, you need to remain anchored in your principle. You need not vacillate for revealing the disappearance of EPPF personel.There is no supporting evidence to suggest that events taking place in Asmara, that is the disappearance of Col Tadesse Muluneh, Shambel Zewde Ayalew, is out side the knowledge of Col Fisum’s superiors.
I assume col.Fisum is placed as Eritrean advisor over EPPF by his superiors, so he is not a loose nut running amok on his own accord, as you like to assert. He must report events to his superiors, it is impossible to say that his boss is oblivion to these developments.
Beside, Fisum is not in a position to normalize relation ship between the two groups rather defending his position through the loyalists he put in place.
Remember you are swimming in a deep water and tangled wave of Ethnic blood line politics. You escaped out of it once, if you attempt to resurrect any hope from this hopeless situation again, there is no one to share your vision this time around. Please stay focused, don’t regress to the past, and hold your will firm.
Ato Elias, you and your ilks are only harvesting what you have saw for years. You folks are traitors like Shabia’s cousins Woyanes. I would have liked if the government of Eritrea managed to keep you all in one of their notorious prisons. Obviously, you are still living in a world of denial thinking Shabia, unlike his dedicated foot solider Colonel Fitsum, has the best intention for Ethiopia. WOW!
Your intellectual limitation to foresee a possible outcome based on the available information is quite understandable, hence a lot of Ethiopians have tolerated and even cooperated with you to launch laughably project liberating Ethiopia from Eritrea. Sadly though, you are still struggling to understand the motives of Shabia even after all of the evidences, which you have been telling to Isayas in the past two or so weeks ridiculously thinking they must be hidden from his sights. In Eritrea, nothing happens without the authorization of Shabia’s top man Ato Isayas A/Worki. Colonel Fitsum is just his messenger boy, and he does represent everything Shabia. If that wasn’t true, he would have been languishing in one of the prisons for mismanaging his important responsibilities.
You have been asking a face saving favor from Isayas to fire a colonel whom you characterized as a “mid ranking rogue solider running amok”, even if we know that he is only doing his assigned job which is keeping you fools divided and useless, so that you can continue to fool yourself and Ethiopians instead of admitting your treasonous mistakes, renounce Shabia and beg forgiveness from Ethiopians. Unfortunately for you, it seems that he no longer interested in your stupid stories and services. Perhaps, you should have named him person of the year once more instead of your own father.
The most important question for you is now, what would you do if Isayas meets your demands of firing colonel Fitsum? That is something Shabians must do if they want your treasonous services to advance their long term plan of disintegrating Ethiopia. Would you go back to Asmera and embrace him as a friend of Ethiopia? I bet you would! After all, that is what you are asking for. God save Ethiopia form idiots like you!
answer to #19 Tezbit
Listen man, the facts are laid out for everyone to see. We have 25 million angry Amhara, hence we should be able to supply a million strong avengers to oust Woyannes. Meles told us striaght to our face in 2005, if we want power we should die for it. Instead, you are telling me Shabia did that Woyanne did this, as Dr. Bekagn Alegezam noted above Shabia and Woyanne are the two faces of the same coin. So quit blaming Col. Fitsum or Pres Isayas, and fight for your freedom, and do it anywhere that suites you. We came to Shabia because she made Woyanne, and we hope she will help make us as strong as Woyanne. If you think its better to go back to Ethiopia and do it there, then by all means try it and see how long you will last. Shabia is not going to die for us and hand us power, no one does that, even your blood brother cannot do it for you, he can only support you. I understand Isayas is not a human rights champion, and he is just as vicious to his people as Meles is as far as human rights is concerned. But do we have a choice? Where should we go to organize our forces at? In my opinion its better to organize in Eritrea and start our locomotive there, then by all means bring new recruits, not just 70 or a 100, but bring 200,000. If you want freedom fight for it, no freedom is delivered on a silver platter, every freedom in history is gained after a fierce battle of making your oppressor die to own you. If you think democracy works without a sword shaking you are dreaming. Now stop whining and be a man or keep on whining and remain a slave. THE CHOICE IS YOURS, YOURS ALONE!!!
I understand that Shabia is not a stuupid they are going to use Ethiopian soldiers to take the sword in case Woyanne attacks. This is a legitimate tactic in the science of war. Soviets used German POWs for hard labor in Siberia, which is the coldest place on Earth. A well-fed German officer nabbed in the battle would last two years in hard labor in Siberia, a wounded German lasts few weeks to a couple months. Germany’s main intention of invading the Soviet Union was to gain free land and the Slavic race to work on it to supply the Germanic empire with the bread, milk and the honey needed to sustain a superior Germanic nation.
Throughout history the conqueror exploited the vanquished for labor. The difference now is the Eritreans are using the dissatisfied Ethiopians to their advantage and when Woyanne invades make him pay for his mistakes using his own people. Then the Tigryans will have the power remain in their hand. If you want Amhara to benefit from the situation, there are 25 million Amhara population and we should be able to draw out more than a million to defend the honors of our people or else quit crying and get loaded on like a mule, you will be told to unload when we get to our destination. :)
Dear Elias,
I did notice the change when I saw your link in some website listed again, also it is not clear when you say another route, do you mean another group with different ideas?
You said, “I withdrew my support starting last August and took a different route completely separate from EPPF.” Anyway,I know you are true Ethiopian and open-minded.
President Esayas, our cooperation is a political imperative to both Ethiopians and Eritreans’ future relationship! When Meles is trying to kill you and dismantle the prospect of a strong alliance against woyane, I don’t know what the Eritrean government is thinking! I don’t see the sense of urgency to collaborate in the Eritrean side! I hope the president takes decisive actions to fix this before both Ethiopia and Eritrea losses and Woyane wins AGAIN!
Hi Elias you are a brave warrior in every aspect ,in these article you let too many woyannes to praise the most criminal of our time woyanne P.M who has killed so many Ethiopians systematically which we will find out after we topple these bututo illitrates who are financed by Ethiopian enemies like britain and C.I.A. one thing they dont know is no matter the world money wont make them (or dirty gen) cured from what they are suffering .and as for you Elias Ethiopia needs your struggle participation now more than before keep up the good work and we are with you
Dear Elias, you are now in the right direction that the Dictator in Eritrea is the one who is working with Meles not the Colonel. The colonel is a messenger and makes money on his way but nothing moves with out the Dictator’s order. He knows every move…they can’t even sleep with their wife’s with out his order (pushing this a little too far). You have to point out that the Dictator is the problem. But in the first place, how could you work with a dictator though? How could you trust the evil? What goes around comes around.
Elias pls put the interviws Audio here, let us hear what he said.
i say as eritrean Col. Fitsum’s should be investigated. we eritrean know that are some in eritrea that work for weyane. please elias, complain to all top eritreans what he is doing. he should be investigate like oliver north of Iran contra. oliver north made weapon transaction without american government knowelege. weyane/tplf, we, eritrean and they ethiopian will get you soon. be sure. long live ethiopian-eritrean cooperation
I am sure almost all of you are Woyanne supporters in person, but pretending oppositions in cyber. There is easy way out to your problem in Eritrea. Since you only have 70 EPPF soldiers in Eritrea, you don’t have must to lose, so start your struggle from somewhere inside Ethiopia or other courtiers. By the way why aren’t guys protesting about the thousands of innocent Ethiopians, and many former military leaders, are languishing in woyanne’s prison comp?