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June 20th, the bonfire of freedom - Boycotting PFJD organized celebrations |
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By By Semere Habtemariam, June 24, 2002 -
Jun 24, 2002
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June 20th is a day we commemorate our fallen heroes by celebrating the causes for which they died for. It is a day we light candles literally and metaphorically. It is a day we rekindle the torch of freedom by enshrining the values of the revolution in the constitution of our morality and by inculcating and bequeathing the same values to the next generation who would inherit the baton in the marathon for freedom. June 20th is the bonfire of freedom, or supposedly so. The whole saga of the Eritrean revolution was a promise of a sort of El Dorado of freedom. I admit the Eritrean revolution is an unfinished revolution, but the nobility of the goals of the revolution must be preserved and protected. The recent detours and setbacks must not detract us from truly appreciating the true meaning of June 20th. It is a day we appreciate our independence and reaffirm our commitment to freedom. That was the promise made and this is what must be kept. Eritrea without free Eritreans is not free Eritrea. We must end the EPJD politics of exclusion, reconcile our differences and work towards the establishment of a truly free Eritrea where all Eritreans are treated with respect and dignity that they so richly deserve and are entitled to. This year's Memorial Day celebration particularly compels one to engage in some sort of soul-searching introspection. It is incumbent on all of us to ask ourselves why in the course of about five decades we have sacrificed so many loved ones, and how we can immortalize the nobility of the causes they died for. It is a day we closely and carefully examine the tale of the two tenets of our revolution: independence and freedom. One can hardly escape the uneasy feeling of jubilation and melancholy. We are jubilant and eternally grateful to the heroic sacrifices of our martyrs. Eritrea is independent and the enemy has been defeated, and that is reason enough to celebrate. But what makes it sad is the realization that we've unfinished revolution. We've a country that is ruled by the whims of a dictator and not the rule of law, we have a country that treats its heroes and elders as common criminals and thugs, where people with different views are branded as "weyane" and traitors, where journalism is the most dangerous profession and where prostitution, nigh-clubs, prisons and refugee smuggling or human trafficking are the most profitable business enterprises. BBC News has reported that "Many Eritreans will boycott official ceremonies organised by their embassies around the world" and Dallas, TX was certainly one of them. It was not an easy decision for June 20th is supposed to be a unifying event and not a divisive one. Our loved ones have given their lives not to ELF or EPLF or any other organization. They gave their lives for all of us regardless of who we are or what sort of political affiliation we might have. They died for independent and free Eritrea. The celebration of June 20th can not and should not be separated from the celebrations of independence and freedom. There was not a scintilla of doubt that the EPJD orchestrated celebrations were not going to be true and respectful to the wishes and aspirations of our fallen heroes. The EPJD has violated every acceptable norms of decency. The EPJD has not yet told families the death of their loved one, although, common sense dictates that those who have not come to visit their families in the last two years should be presumed dead. Parents are hopelessly optimistic and even against all odds of mounting evidence, they would still pray for the return of their loved child. They would hope that their child was among the ones captured and taken POW. They pray for a miracle for the comeback of their child. It is a height of immorality to give up on a child. That is the nature of parenthood. Unfortunately, the regime in Asmara is utterly insensitive to the needs and concerns of the people. It has completely lost its sense of shame. Parents deserve closure and the weeks prior to June 20th should have been ideal. The waiting is too long and too cruel and is tantamount to a psychological warfare against the people. The regime does not have the moral authority to organize the commemorative celebrations of June 20th. Participating in the EPJD orchestrated celebrations is irresponsible of those of us who have condemned the endless list of atrocities the regime has committed against the people and the country. Thanks to the initiative and leadership of some of the members of the Eritrean Public Forum of Dallas, we were able to celebrate June 20th in a manner that is suitable to our conscientiousness and true to the wishes and aspirations of our fallen heroes. Candles were lit, speeches were read, poems were recited and prayers said. Some of the participants who were "Tegadelti" provided us a glimpse of what it means to lose a comrade in combat. Many of the participants shared their thoughts and feeling about June 20th. It was a great Memorial day with people who care. Eternal glory to our martyrs |
