An object gone and a shadow remains. A stubborn fighter moves on leaving a legacy behind. Unexpected. No introduction- fatigue, illness, hospitalization. Just a sudden collapse. No one was prepared for it. We were not.

Sad. Devastating. A big loss. The peasant, the farmer, Seyoum Harestay has left. The story of Harestay will never die. The farmer will never die. The land will be toiled. Bounties of the generous earth will continue to be harvested. With each harvest, Seyoum will be remembered. His shadow will always be there.

Eritrean patriots have invested a big investment. This investment must have a guaranteed return. The crossing over is not in vain. Lifelong struggle, sacrifice, selflessness paid the capital of such a big investment. Eritreans should claim the return on such investment. Letters of condolences, words of endearment will be all in vain if not followed by the support of the cause for which Seyoum invested his whole life in.

Seyoum was stubborn, yet understanding. He was tough, yet humorous. Above all, he was optimistic. As in all politics, in pursuit for justice, unity, democracy and stability for Eritrea, he created many friends and admirers. He also created rivals, yet his rivals were forced to keep their respect for him. After all, his friends outnumbered his enemies by far.

It is customary of the anti-peace and anti democracy folks to celebrate the death of Seyoum; he was one of their ardent rivals. We commemorate the death of Seyoum for he left us an example of steadfastness, resilience and dedication.  Now all should reap the returns of his investment. How?

We need to focus on the cause that Seyoum, and many like him invested their lives in- the establishment of a free Eritrea built on justice and democracy. That objective is being hindered by the PFDJ. We need to focus our entire struggle against the oppressive PFDJ.

Seyoum, and many like him, could not even be able to be buried in their country because of the inhuman and unjust regime ruling Eritrea unabated. We need to focus our entire struggle against the oppressive PFDJ.

Many of our energies, including much of Seyoum's, were unnecessarily wasted on internal bickering. We should reject bickering and postpone it for a time we can carry it on institutionally under the roof of an assembly of elected parliamentarians. We should focus on directing our energies to fight the oppressive PFDJ regime.

That way, we would have paid Seyoum a respect that he deserves; if not, golden words of condolences and eulogies are just self-serving exercises.

Lets all go to work.

Many are aware that Seyoum�s e-mail address began with demoselam: democracy and peace. That, in two words, is the whole description of our struggle. The e-mail address on its own depicts what Seyoum�s stood for and what his agenda was.

We forward our condolences to Seyoum�s family, may the Almighty God give them support.

We forward our condolences to the ELF-RC and we encourage them to be true to Seyoum�s strengths, aspirations and agenda. 

We bring to the attention of all patriots, especially those in the active opposition, that no one has a guarantee of unlimited life lease on this world. The enemy of the Eritrean people, the PFDJ, is playing a waiting game thinking that all patriots would finally die and the oppressive regime will remain forever. We all need to work as if we have an appointment with death tomorrow. We should be aware of the time factor and that our struggle is a struggle akin to a call for an ambulance- each day counts. We need to work extra hard to save Eritrea before it is too late. That is how we would like to remember Seyoum and the many patriots he has now joined.

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