EMAIL FROM ASMARA (verbatim)

Loss of Human Life: Tragedy in Adi Abeito

I have read, in utter dismay, what the government’s minister of information said to AFP about the latest assault on the Eritrean people. I’ve also seen a suspicious e-mail to Asmarino (purporting to be from Asmara) where the writer shamelessly boasts about the alleged benefits of this tragedy. (Actually, I am even disheartened by the luck of sensitivity and inaccuracy of some of the words that our websites have used in reporting the incident. I am referring to phrases such as ‘rounding up draft-dodgers’. There is no draft dodger in Eritrea. Eritrea’s youth have made more than their share of sacrifices. For years, they have only known to give – without anything in return and no hope in sight. Can you call someone who has spent seven, eight, ten years of his/her prime age in the trenches, and has finally, out of utter frustration, opted to stay away, a draft-dodger? And, in any case, the thousands rounded up on that fateful Thursday are people with so-called valid papers).

So here is the acting minister of information so carelessly talking about ‘regulatory measures’ against those that need to be reminded of their obligations! And some heartless impostor telling us about 'Eritreans embracing gffa’. I can’t understand how people can be so cruel! Do they realise what they are saying? … Asmara, these days, is shrouded in a dark garb of sadness. Once again human life has been lost in a reckless, heartbreaking and utterly senseless government action. Some 20 young lives have perished and dozens more maimed by callous government machine guns and hand grenades. The white sands of Adi Abeito are soaked in the innocent blood of the children of this wretched land.

And to add insult to injury, the government has hastily buried the bodies of the dead youngsters denying their loved ones to at least have the dignity of receiving and burying the dead bodies of their children. Thousands of mothers and family have been waiting for days on the approaches to Adi Abeito, near the gas station on the main Asmara-Keren road, to learn about the fate of their children.

These are sad days for Eritrea.

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