Eritrean refugees and opposition parties in exile in Ethiopia celebrated the anniversary of “the start of the struggle for independence” from Ethiopia. Eritrea won its independence in 1994 through a referendum.
The Eritrean struggle for independence is said to have started 54 years ago on September 1, 1961 after Emperor Haileselasei dissolved the federation established by the United Nations.
The celebration was attended by more than 3000 members of the diaspora including scholars and singers.
Ethiopia harbors about 180,000 Eritrean refugees in generous conditions providing them scholarship and special work permits.
The organizers has stated that the Eritrean dictator Isayas Afewerki has hijacked what was a struggle for freedom and democracy and created a pariah state where its citizens flee in masses. Ethiopia is treating us with utmost friendliness despite the propaganda of the regime in Eritrea claiming Ethiopia to be the enemy, they said.
The participants also pledged to remove the dictatorship and build a country that lives in harmony with its neighbors.
Close to 5,000 Eritreans flee the Horn of Africa nation every month trying to reach refugee camps in neighboring countries like Ethiopia while many others try to make it to Europe through deadly boat travels across the Mediterranean sea.
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Rather than celebrating the doomed struggle, Eritreans all over the world should come together and reconcile with their eternal mother, Ethiopia. Our heart bleeds when we hear and see our brothers and sisters die in high seas due to power hungry politicians deceiving them. So, let us unite and reunify so that you can come home again. Defy Isaias, who is servant of foreign forces .
The political elites who worked tirelessly to break the natural bond between Ethiopia and Eritrea. They were not good enough to understand what the lunatic Gemal A. Nasser had in store for them . They were servants of Nasser and other anti-Ethiopian forces in the region. Now there is no reason to shelter these sons and daughters of the ex-bands who willingly left the warm affection of the Ethiopian people. At a time when our compatriots are being killed wherever they go, there is no rationale to host those who hated us. Many of them could also be potential secret EPLF agents purposefully sent to spy on Ethiopia. Better to watch them carefully.
“Eritrea won its independence in 1994 through a referendum.” … a referendum that lasts 30 years, right? LOL