"Look, we were asked to help because the police could not deal with the level of crime and draft dodging. Right now, I have about 4000 or 5000 prisoners in my custody!"

General Gerezghiher Andemariam (Wuchu) responding, in the PFDJ Expo seminar of 12-13 April in Asmara, to queries about the heavy-handed tactics of his forces in Asmara.

"Ms zei mezanuna akkibkum Adfirkumna" ["You made us meet with our juniors and subjected us to their disrespect."]

An annoyed General Gerezghiher Andemariam ("Wuchu") addressing Mr. Yemane Ghebreab, the PFDJ’s Political Director, in a follow-up meeting of PFDJ senior officials convened to assess the EXPO seminar.

"Netom Halewa ‘mmo men yu kHlwom? (And who is going to watch over the watchdog?). As you can see, we have reached a stage where those entrusted with patrolling the border are, themselves, in need of patrolling".

One of Brig. General Tekhle Manjus’ assistants [name withheld] baffled by escalating numbers of border guards fleeing to Sudan. [A major part of the 1^st Command Zone, under General Manjus, is ‘Halewa Dob’ – in charge of patrolling the Eritrea/Sudan border, with the main task of preventing Eritrean youngsters from crossing the border to Sudan].

"Every boat we send out for some errand ends up on the Saudi coast. Even those we send to pursue them follow suit. ‘knserrH ayka’lnan’ (we are unable to do our job)"

[… …] A top official in the Eritrean Navy, on the increasing number of Eritrean Navy servicemen seeking refuge across the Red Sea. They normally flee on navy boats or using fishing boats operated by the Navy.

"Temeharai yhadm, serahtenya yhadm, agelglot yhadm … entai yu eti tsegem?" [Students flee, workers flee, national service participants flee, what is the issue?]"

Minister of Health, Mr. Saleh Meki, addressing the public in a seminar in Adi Keih.

"These coupons remind me of the time when the Derg ruled,"

An Eritrean woman, resident of Asmara, on the new ration cards introduced by the Eritrean government.

"This week I went to the shop at 5:00 a.m. and there were 300 people queuing in front of me. Some people come even during the night and sleep there, waiting for the shop to open."

A shopper in Asmara talking to AFP reporter.

"I admit there are queues,"

Eritrean [acting] Information Minister Ali Abdu, to AFP - adding quickly that the country's only political party, which is running the shops, would soon more than double the number of outlets to ease congestion.

"The government will really have to compensate for vehicles confiscated and broken contracts. … Since we are donors, we can always deduct from other programmes."

A Western diplomat in Asmara, as reported by Reuters.

"Therefore the Ethiopian peoples have legitimate right of wrenching their democratic rights if the regime is not abiding by the rules of the democratic game. Also the opposition parties in Ethiopia have to bear their historical and moral responsibilities to defend the Ethiopian peoples and in compelling the regime to succumb to the rule of law and respect of the voters will." [Emphasis mine]