Dear Awate Team,

I believe you know that in its entire history, the ELF has cultivated cadres, leaders and members who are fully dedicated to the unity of the Eritrean people, including the political organizations. For the sake of genuine unity, the organization has committed and endangered even its own survival in the past. We always wished that unity should be  real and genuine unity so that it would not cause harm to the nation in the long future. The ELF-RC that I belong to is an organization that is committed to forge a genuine unity of the Eritrean people that guarantees real success at the current struggle against the dictatorship and paves the way for social harmony in the future. That is what I and for sure other ELF-RC members struggle for. Forging a correct path for unity of our people through a broad national alliance that includes everybody is our common task. Therefore, I cannot be against ENA, as the Awate Team wrote, but I am one who will continue the struggle for a higher level of unity that guarantees the creation of a harmonious and democratic Eritrea.  For your information, I had, already in 1992, suggested the idea of an alliance of all opposition parties, including Jahad.

At this point, I must say that I have always been an admirer of the great effort you at the Awate.com have been exerting in the struggle against the dictatorship. Your site was one of the strong voices for a change in Eritrea. I also understand that since a year ago you more clearly started to be supportive of the alliance opposed to the regime. But  it is also my strong feeling that what you have written yesterday was very damaging to the opposition as such.  I used to assume that you make some kind of research and responsible review of all sides before writing on important matters like the current crisis within the ELF RC. In short, the article "RC & Its Spinning Bottle" appears to be one meant to play a very negative role at least by confusing readers and leading them to conclude that the ELF RC is against resuming its rightful place as a strong member of the ENA. I don’t want to go into the information that you have given about individuals although I know some of it is very far from the truth and could even seem to be material deliberately tuned to give an impression that the writer wanted to pass to his/her readers. As I see it, the very serious mistake you (Awate Team) have committed is that you have categorized me  and the majority of the RC members to be opposed to rejoining the ENA. You should have checked against that source of your information.  It feels as if you are taking side and attacking not only individuals but the entire ELF-RC. Whatever your knowledge and information, you cannot know better what I believe and want and tell your readers: "Tekle opposes rejoining the ENA"; it was a wrong and serious allegation. It is glimps of a very ugly side that I thought never existed around your team.  The gross allegation against me and against other RC members also shows that you don’t have the slightest idea of the people you are writing about except putting down in good English pieces of information given to you by someone with the aim of discrediting the ELF- RC.One would write many points to correct your article, but I wish to reply it in a short paragraph:At our recent RC meeting everyone was for rejoining ENA and I was one of them. The common stand taken that once we have been suspended by a wrong and irresponsible decision of the ENA Secretariat, it will be the opportune time to help the ENA to clear its own house by taking out sensitive additions included in the Charter last October. In addition, the ENA was required to commit itself to a process of restructuring its organ so that a serious review would be started to introduce proportional representation. These requirements are meant to further solidify and strengthen the ENA and cannot be considered as “excuses” of rejecting being a member in it. Otherwise, on what basis do you, Awate Team, reach the conclusion that I and the rest of my colleagues oppose rejoining ENA? Is it a premis or effort meant to marginalize the ELF RC and to build a wall between the two?   For me this is a defamation and blasphemy of everything I paid for the sake of the Eritrean people (maybe you don’t understand what!). I, therefore, am asking you to correct the erroneous information you have disseminated through your web site. Please let me keep the same respect I have had for your web site and your team.

 I understand that once a person is involved in politics, especially at leadership level, one becomes a public figure accountable to all his/her deeds and misdeeds. But to feed the public with something that did not happen (like your allegation that I am opposed to the unity of the Eritrean opposition) is a serious crime. To say it again, please correct your information 

[Editor: Our response is available at the "RC & Its Spinning Bottle" article which will be updated as we receive current information.]