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“There are some people who are not allowed to attend this meeting” – By Tesfagabir Berhe – South Africa

This was what one of the cronies of the Eritrean embassy in South Africa has to shout as we were trying to make our way to the venue (Hellenics Conference Centre/Johannesburg/South Africa) where top officials

This was what one of the cronies of the Eritrean embassy in South Africa has to shout as we were trying to make our way to the venue (Hellenics Conference Centre/Johannesburg/South Africa) where top officials of the Eritrean regime: Yemane Gebreab and Osman Salih were scheduled to deliver a speech yesterday, 11 January 2012.

We could not believe that there are Eritreans who are not allowed to attend an Eritrean meeting:

What is your name the guy by the door asked: Tesfagabir Berhe (George) I responded

“Your name is on the list” shouted the guy who is known by Fish (Saudi Arabia)

“Who are you to prevent me from attending this meeting” I shouted again

Another so called Eritrean by the name Dawit Yohannes came to the scene and asked me to move away from the gate. I insisted that I was not going to move anywhere and he sent me three huge Congolese securities and they pushed me aside.

I was not the only victim of this ordeal; many comrades who mostly belong to the Eritrean Movement for Democracy and Human Rights (EMDHR) have been refused entry from attending the meeting which was held in Johannesburg by the above mentioned officials (their names will be mentioned at the end of this article).

Some of us had to travel 1000 – 2000 kilometers to attend the meeting and of course if we were allowed entry to the meeting we were going to ask some critical questions to the officials and I think that is the very reason why we were not allowed entry into the venue.

Some of our prominent figures of EMDHR and of course future leaders of Eritrea like: Bereket Gezae, Henok Haile and Kuluberhan Abrham were also refused to attend the meeting. However, we were not willing to just go away, without voicing our disgust at how irrational are those who still support the dictatorial regime of Eritrea.

The giant Congolese security guards were pushing all of us aside, even though we told them that we are not terrorists, we are Eritreans who just want to attend an Eritrean meeting. As they were pushing us aside, one of our comrades managed to grab a video as well as pictures of the entire event, especially the role of Dawit Yohannes in preventing us from attending the meeting (the footage is in our collection for anyone interested).

Dawit Yohnnes did not like the idea of taking pictures and videos and he informed the security guards to delete the photos but we were not willing to allow them to delete any footage at all, as History will be asking people like Dawit when Eritrea gets its freedom from dictatorship.

Amanuel Yohannes (Johannesburg) and Samsom Tikabo (Pretoria) were also playing a significant role to prevent us from attending the meeting as well (this is just for the record)

At this juncture, Osman Salih and Yemane Gebreab were making their way to the venue, “jeganu asirka, jigna zkonka mesiluka msh?!” shouted comrade Henok Haile, he was referring to the fact that scores of our top officials, along with our journalists, have been languishing in jail without due course of law for ages and ages…

Dawit Yohannes called the South African police for intervention and as soon as they came he was asking them to detain us all and he was insisting his pictures must be deleted but when we got our chance to talk we told the police that we are not criminals, we are Eritreans with different opinion and to Dawit’s disappointment neither did they detain us nor did they delete the pictures and the videos.

Ten minutes after the meeting was started, two of our comrades were pushed out from the venue. Apparently they were not on the “list” as the people were making their way to the venue. Their names are:  Meron Andemichael and Medhane Negasi. They were pushed out because apparently Meron questioned the officials if they have anything new to say because, according to the information I got from both of them, the top officials were busy talking about the eradication of polio and malaria while the Eritrean people are craving to know the end of dictatorship in the country.

Unfortunately I am not the right person to give a report on what the officials said in the meeting but I heard that even though most of our comrades were not allowed to make it into the venue, those who attended the meeting managed to interrogate the officials that Eritrea needs change now! It is reported that one of the participants reminded the officials that even Gadafi has gone and threatened that the Eritrean regime may also face the same fate.

Finally those who were refused entry went to a certain coffee shop by Bedford view and did some debriefing on how our resistance went. We affirmed that even though we were not allowed to make it to the meeting we have made history; we assured the officials that wherever they go the resistance of Eritreans is gaining momentum and of course we can see a big light at the end of the tunnel!

The comrades who were refused entry are:

  1. Bereket Gezae
  2. Kuluberhan Abrham
  3. Henok Haile
  4. Tesfu Misgna (Uncle)
  5. Solomon Druy (Wedi Druy)
  6. Meron Andemichael
  7. Tesfagabir Berhe (George)
  8. Medhane Negasi
  9. Iyasu Andemariam
  10. Binyam Gebreab
  11. Hailemichael

This article is not meant to boast about what we did but to tell the global Eritrean solidarity that we are with you, all along. “The struggle continues…”

aseye.asena@gmail.com

Review overview
59 COMMENTS
  • john January 12, 2012

    I am proud of you guys.

  • seb haki January 12, 2012

    That is good job we can realy see the solidarity worldwide. The sun for freedom and peace is to shine soon!!

  • Kozami January 12, 2012

    “we are not criminals”…excuse me, I think you are! a fat one at that. Despite the GoE sending you to SA to better yourselves and your people, using $450million borrowed money, you guys were recruited by Dan Connell and Paulos Tesfagiorgis with a promise of ill gotten money. The money, $30,000 in all, funded by NED (National Endowment for Democracy, based in Boston) were supposed to be paid for ‘translation’ work of ‘non-violent revolution’ manual. You decided to abandon your country, stealing its meager resources, for a quick buck! Then came EMHDR with a big bang, presenting Cartoon exhibition of phantom story and everything went pear shaped after that. It has been a decade since, and most of you became late middle age hooligans and fly by night revolutionaries. Thanks to Awassa, Your are now EXPOSED beyond redemption. Sir, YOU ARE A CRIMINAL, A FAT ONE AT THAT.

    • daniel January 13, 2012

      You’re so pathetic. Damn. Qurub’ke aytHafrin dikha?

      • gerimuna January 13, 2012

        Kutmi and indeed Kozami as you named yourself. Riff Raff from your capo indeed made you to bite each person who demanded justice. But you know what? Any movement against injustice will finally swallow your master but first losers like you. History has taught us repeatedly Ya wedi Deregena do kibleka wala kebti?

    • Umaro January 13, 2012

      Dear Kozami,
      It seems you work in the president’s office to know all the details about the fund. I don’t buy your argument that “… the GoE sending you to SA to better yourselves and your people…” since the GoE had never worked for the interest of the Eritrean people; all it works is how to stay in power at all cost. That is why the GoE disintegrated the only university Eritrea had. So they must have sent us for other sinister reasons.
      Besides, we have the moral obligation to lead the Eritrean people in the fight to stand for their basic human rights. Simply said, we are saying the GoE have given the Eritrean people enough misery for the last 20 years. Enough is enough! Go NOW!!!
      thank you,

      One of the students

      • Tesfagabir Berhe Tesfu (George) January 13, 2012

        Thanks Comrades!!!
        No Thanks PFDJites/YPFDJites

        @ Kozami – please kindly use your name.

        I don’t wanna dignify your comment with an answer until you disclose your name.

        @ Abdi – labelling critical Eritreans as Woyane is a very old fashion but if you still enjoy wearing it, do it at your own risk.

        • kozami January 13, 2012

          Mr George

          Firstly, I don’t give a hoot whether you grace me with this or that. Anyways, it is your progative to write your full name or not. IMO, I am of the view that it makes no contribution to the topic at hand. We are not discussing people but Acts and Consequences. What credentials do you assume to request of my personal details. If I meet you in person, I would still tell you the same thing. So, what happen to the $30,000, answer it before crying “we are not criminals”

          • gerimuna January 14, 2012

            Kozami- drop out low consciousness politically element like almost all present sadistic IA’s followers. To come to my point, “progative” what is that? HGDFites new word for prerogative you dubbed from Yemane Monkey.

      • Abdi January 13, 2012

        @umaro
        don’t mind you opposing but for once be truthful and thank what the gov’t did,zekholesetka eid aytnyes,nseabtkha wn tsbuq abnet aykonen.

    • simon haile January 13, 2012

      Well siad.

    • Ephrem January 13, 2012

      Get your facts right first. It was 52 m donation and not 450m and not borrowed. Out of that no body knows of the destination of the 21m dollars. It has been accounted to UNDP that all the money has been used up. the other fact is that EMDHR did not attend Awasa conference as an organization, because of the stand it has against the Ethiopian involvement. Nobody recruited EMDHR but it started as DIA tries illegal means to deport Eritreans from SA and that created the need to be organized. The South african students questioned the Adi-Abeto Massacre where many of our loved one were shot dead and the imprisonment of officials and journalists. While you were sitting and saying amen to all authorities. Isaias mentioned that he would not change his stand and would be happy to see them try not to come back instead. I hope that helps.

      • kozami January 13, 2012

        Please don’t make a fool of yourself, everything is well documented and you are not there yet to re-write your false historical account. Massacre is what happens in places like TPLF’s Ethiopia, we don’t do it, thank goodness. I challenge you to prove that Dan Connell and Paulos Tesfagiorgis were not responsible for the formation of EHMDR. Wedi Baatay got a fat cheque out of it, I am not sure about Dan though. I know Dan connell was extremely helpful with all his media connections and NGO work.

        • kozami January 13, 2012

          pt 2

          When did you go to SA? When did U of A reorganized? When did the ‘Exhibition’ in at the SA unversity where both Dan and Paulos were present took place? Give us dates and show us you arguments hold water. Eritrea, makes far more now days from its mineral resources and would have paide to you travel anywhere again and again, but you low life have chosen to live like this. I know one of you who were sent to study MSc in Curriculum development and now works as a night guard in a Canadian morgue!

          • Kibrom T. January 14, 2012

            kozami,

            Listen, you idiot bastard. From the garbage you dispense, you are in Isaias’ payroll. You know too much, garbage brain. If your boss is making money from gold mining, how come there is one family one loaf of bread a day in Asmara? You are rotten to the core man! Just go hang yourself.

      • Haqqi Nezareb January 13, 2012

        Hi Ephreme,

        Thanks you for the information regarding ” Kozamim’s $450 million borrowed money”. This Kozami guy has the habit of putting fabricated data in many of his comments. It was a good catch.

        • kozami January 13, 2012

          Haqqi N
          Please correct the 450 to the number absconded and $50 million BORROWED FROM IMF for human resource devt. Happy now! Here is the source for the $30,000:
          Grantor: NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR DEMOCRACY (NED)
          Grantee: Eritrean Movement for Democracy and Human Rights (EMDHR)
          Country (ies): Eritrea
          Region: Africa
          Subject(s): Conflict Resolution; Human Rights
          Grant Awarded: 2005
          Amount: $30,000* [supplemented by the US State Department]
          Program Summary: To promote social healing and reconciliation in Eritrea by increasing civic awareness and tolerance of divergent views. EMDHR will produce and distribute 2,000 copies of an educational manual on human rights, democratic principles, and methods of nonviolent protest to Eritreans residing in East and Southern Africa, Europe, and North America. The manual will be supplemented by the distribution of 2,000 newsletters per month.

    • Mr. T January 13, 2012

      Kozami,

      When I saw the above photo of the “middle aged kids”, I felt my blood boiling over and then and evaporating out of my system. These hooligans had used the poor Eritrean farmers money to better themselves in South Africa, and here they are dancing with the barbaric regime which has displaced half a million Eritrean farmers from their villages along the border. You know I am not a fan of the PFDJ regime, but I will have no problem if it hunts these criminals down to the gates of hell. Anyone who has chosen to become a mercenary for the barbaric woyane regime should be taken very seriously.

      • Haqqi Nezareb January 13, 2012

        Hi Mr. T (Tsehaye)

        You said, “You know I am not a fan of the PFDJ regime”. Really? I told you before you are one one the bootlickers of Issais and other Wonies in Eritrea. There is middle ground here: either you are with Issais or againist him. You can’t be a hybride of both.

        • Mr. T January 13, 2012

          Haqqi N.

          Welcome back. How was the vacation? You have suggested that I cannot follow my own political opinion because, according to your line of thinking, “there is middle ground”… probably you meant there is no middle ground. You said that I “cannot be a hybrid of both.” What I think of you is a person who has not evolved yet from the opposition’s degenerative ideology of either BLACK or WHITE. Politics is as varied as the wavelengths on the spectrum: it covers all the way from the infrared on one end to the ultraviolet on the other end. A hybrid could be a modification of two methods, and if we think in terms of politics, a political hybrid is a centrist. He/she is more tolerant, more realistic and “promotes ideas that lie different from the standard political left and political right”. Someone who opposes PFDJ’s current governance does not have to ignore the barbaric woyane’s threat to Eritrea. Someone who opposes PFDJ’s polices does not have to support ethnic secessionists and religious extremists within the opposition movements. To sum it up, a political hybrid is someone whose political vision is far superior to the current and archaic mentality of the Awassa merchants.

          • Haqqi Nezareb January 13, 2012

            Hi Mr. T,

            You mean the holiday/day offs ? I did not go to Awassa but supported the conference despite some problems here and there. It is hispric to see about 600 Eritreans from all walks of live to discuss the issues pertinent to Eritreans. I don’t care where the conference took place as far I am concerned. Many years ago the EPLF/TPLF gangs collaborated to spill the blood of thousands of Eritreans in order to make EPLF the only organization to operate in Eritrea. Now time has changed and TPLF is trying to topple their cousins in Eritrea because PFDG is wrecking havoc in the region.
            As per me, I don’t belong to any political organization,
            but I support any group that ready to save Eritrea from Issais and his cohorts. PFDJ is destroying Eritrea
            as any Eritrean with clear mind can attest it.

            Regarding Mr. T, your might not be a member of the PFDG group that terrorizing Eritrea, but you seem staunch supporter of the group from all your writing in this forum. Your hatred of Woyanie is pushing to be more on the side of PFDJ. Your line of argument is similar to the Zombies of Issais. In my hybrid analogy, I would put you as 75% PFDG/25% antiPFDJ hybride. I am trying to be generous here.

    • Haqqi Nezareb January 13, 2012

      Hi Kozami,

      The fund to send the kids to SA was donated by UNDP not borrowed money if my recollection is right. You have the tendency of putting figures that are not supported by evidence. Where did Issais borrow the $450 million at that time when the war just finished? Why Issais was in hurry to send the kids in a very short given time frame? The other part of your comments is as usual nonsense.

      • kozami January 13, 2012

        Haqqi N
        Hope I answered your Q. above. By the way, how are you, long time hibernating eh… Now that we know the sanction is dead, as you wished it, do you have a closing statement to make. It is hunting season for me…wish you were here!

        • Haqqi Nezareb January 13, 2012

          Hi Kozami,

          The sanction is not dead. Sanctions are never become dead once they are imposed. I don’t buy the propaganda part of your Non-Eritrean boss. Read the 13-pages letter sent the UNSC from your foreign Minster on Dec. 19, 2011 regarding the resolutions and monitoring group. All I see in this letter is panic on in the PFDJ land. Please cut out your crab.

          • kozami January 13, 2012

            Haqqi N

            Bisha is alive and well with a pile of $347 million cash at the end of 2011 (actual figures — go to mining review) Sundrige bought by Shanghai Construction LTD group for staggering $100 million (add to that all expenses to see it to production) and Eritrea recieves 38% in tax out of the deal. South Boulder poised to take off to production withn 36 months… We still paying 2% of our diaspora tax and making further contributions. So, I hope you agree, dead is an understatement.

        • Haqqi Nezareb January 13, 2012

          Hi Kozami,
          This is what it says in one of the recent article by Tesfaye Seyoum” It is obvious that the Monitoring Group has not been deterred neither by the New York flag waving North America Broadway Show, the President’s effusive tantrum nor the so-called E-smart campaign to intimidate the UNSC. By interference what is obvious is the Monitoring Group is digging deep into the nerve center of the regime’s mafia style security apparatus and the regime is panicking.”

          • kozami January 13, 2012

            Haqqi N

            “Oy Seyoum Tesfaye dea’ zey’melhas kalie n’nebsu zekhewn zeyblu….seb rekhibka’si nezi betki ezi…toba dehri degim”

          • Haqqi Nezareb January 13, 2012

            Hi Kozami,

            You hate the guy. Tesfaye is exposing the evil regime of yours. He is some one who can’t be pushed around easly: strong in his firm stand against Issais and his devotion/contribution in the opposition groups. We are blessed to have such Eritrean unlike you zombies who playing his fair share in saving Eritrea from total collapse.

            On a different not, how much Issais is getting from Nevsum’s net profit for the year 2011? You seem to be good with figure (not a fabricated one). According to the recent UN sanction on Eritrea, the government of Canada (not Nevsum) has the obligation is trace the money raised by Nevsum. UN has to make sure this money is not used for terrorist activities against countries in the horn as well as used to buy weapons.

  • Mike January 12, 2012

    Dear Eritreans in south Africa, you did an Excellent job !
    At the END, we will come out victorious ! and HIGDEF will be defeated if all of us work together.
    keep up the great work !

  • yasin January 12, 2012

    Job well done. Lets teach the crazy pfdj’s a lesson that they won’t forget.

  • Abdi January 12, 2012

    your truth is exposed you loosers,yet boasting as if you did bravery,keep licking woyanes shoes until the turn comes to you and get kicked.

    • Haqqi Nezareb January 13, 2012

      Hi Abdi,

      How about you? You are licking the boots of the Woyanie in Eritrea like Issais, Yemane monkey, and many others. You are one of the worst zombies in this forum?

      • kozami January 13, 2012

        Haqqi N

        I wish the world was full of roses, if only for the sake of your infantile incredulity. “OPTIONAL” is a diplo code word for “FORGET ABOUT IT” Canada would only look at the “optional” doomed “guide line if it enhances its revenue and overall fiscal health to prod a $1 billion company within its own industry. You are kidding…right. The writing is on the wall “The Evil Woyane Plan To Cripple Eritrea Was Still Born”

        • Haqqi Nezareb January 13, 2012

          Hi Kozami,
          P.1
          Unless you a fabricate UN resolution by PFDJ, the real resolution with pertinent provision are:
          12. Expresses concern at the potential use of the Eritrean mining sector as a financial source to destabilize the Horn of Africa region, as outlined in the Final Report of the Monitoring Group (S/2011/433), and calls on Eritrea to show transparency in its public finances, including through cooperation with the Monitoring Group, in order to demonstrate that the proceeds of these mining activities are not being used to violate relevant resolutions, including 1844 (2008), 1862 (2009), 1907 (2009) and this resolution;

          13. Decides that States, in order to prevent funds derived from the mining sector of Eritrea contributing to violations of resolutions 1844 (2008), 1862 (2009), 1907 (2009) or this resolution, shall undertake appropriate measures to promote the exercise of vigilance by their nationals, persons subject to their jurisdiction and firms incorporated in their territory or subject to their jurisdiction that are doing business in this sector in Eritrea including through the issuance of due diligence guidelines, and requests in this regard the Committee, with the assistance of the Monitoring Group, to draft guidelines for the optional use of Member States;

          • Haqqi Nezareb January 13, 2012

            Hi Kozami,
            P.1
            14. Urges all States to introduce due diligence guidelines to prevent the provision of financial services, including insurance or re-insurance, or the transfer to, through, or from their territory, or to or by their nationals or entities organized under their laws (including branches abroad), or persons or financial institutions in their territory, of any financial or other assets or resources if such services, assets or resources, including new investment in the extractives sector, would contribute to Eritrea’s violation of relevant resolutions, including 1844 (2008), 1862 (2009), 1907 (2009) and this resolution;

            That is why both resolutions created so much panic in the Zombie Land. Those of us who read the two recent letters send to UNSC are clear signals of the panic-mode the Issais regime has.
            How much is going to the coffers of Issais from Nevsum, after paying the $253 million debt to Nevsum? Need answer here, a real figure not a fabricated one.

      • Abdi January 13, 2012

        First of you don’t have any right to talk about Eritrea and Eritreans, if you remember your posts before they were all about igniting clashes between eritrean Muslims and Christians,kumna and afar against the other Eritreans,you talked about jeberti and many nonsenses,even you talked about tewelde to create a gap b/n the oppositions theselves, in my entire life i haven’t heard about any Eritrean who creates gaps to disintegrate the unity we Eritreans have,but you was hopelessly attempting to disintegrate us, for this reason i believe you are not Eritrean so stop pretending and get lost to your tigray
        online.and always remember whether we are pro or anti govt our unity comes first and we do our best to keep it strong forever.weyal

      • Abdi January 13, 2012

        @h.Nzareb
        First of you don’t have any right to talk about Eritrea and Eritreans, if you remember your posts before they were all about igniting clashes between eeritrean Muslims and Christians,kumna and afar against the other Eritreans,you talked about jeberti and many nonsenses,even you talked about tewelde to create a gap b/n the oppositions theselves, in my entire life i haven’t heard about any Eritrean who creates gaps to disintegrate the unity we Eritreans have,but you was hopelessly attempting to disintegrate us, for this reason i believe you are not Eritrean so stop pretending and get lost to your tigray
        online.and always remember whether we are pro or anti govt our unity comes first and we do our best to keep it strong forever.weyal

  • Popular Front for Dictatorship nad Jailing(PFDJ) January 12, 2012

    Abdi!
    you still there using the old fashion…
    you look like you will die if you don’t mention the world Woyane.
    keep on licking the ass of Isayas… untill we will kick you your ass!
    sooner or later the victory is with our people… not with you tyrant regime

  • Haqqi Nezareb January 13, 2012

    What a frustrated Zombi of the PFDJ land? Take your pill and calm your self. Blame the the Wonanies in Eritrea such Issais, Yemane monkey and many others not real Eritreans like Amanuel.

  • kozami January 13, 2012

    Dear Eritrean

    I fully understand and appreciate the fact that betreyal does leave the betrayed with utter sense of outrage. There my friend, one needs to guard against his/her emotions taking the better of them. “Anatsu’ refers to animals, with the express intention of dehumanizing. We should not indulge in that my friend, we reject their collaboration with the sadistic woyane (in letter and sprit) but without their dangerouse views, they are fellow Eritreans. I have no problem calling woyane ‘anatsu’ or or anything worse, but lets avoid using it to the sellout opposition, who are Eritreans albeit in the wrong side of history.

  • TwoWayStreet January 13, 2012

    Hey guys, well done on the dialogue. But what if we were in the same room and, and looking at each other face to face. Would you have taken the same stance that you took hiden behind your nick name, or would you have changed your arguement, or would you just kept quite.
    Who do you think would have changed his argument and who wouldn’t. And of course the venue matters, what if the meeting was in Eritrea, and what if it was outside of Eritrea?

    Life is a Two Way Street, Look Both Ways.

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