20^th Round

In his graduation ceremony address, President Isaias Afwerki referred to the 20^th round as the best since the campaign began in 1995.  But the compliment is not reciprocated by the 17 and 18 year old graduates, particularly the girls, who refer to the administrators as “eziatom sebat!” (these people!)

After their return from Sawa, the young boys and girls have been telling their parents harrowing stories.  The Sawa regiment, which is designed to build what the army calls texawarnetn miximamn (endurance and stamina), includes long gu’ezo egri  (walks), idleness and a starvation diet.  The students wake up at 4:30 AM and are given their first meal at noon.     

Their most bitter complaint is about the state of healthcare at Sawa. They report that no one is referred to the hospital even if his or her situation is very critical. Any one who is suffering from falciparum and plasmodium (malaria), pneumonia or a spasm is given a pain killer. Some report of avoidable deaths and delirium that occurred due to negligence and last-minute referrals to Keren hospital.  

Of the graduating batch, the girls have been told to report to Kifli Serawit (army) in Barentu in Western Eritrea within 20 days.

As reported earlier by Gedab News, there was scarcity in the number of parents attending their children’s graduation ceremony.  Those who did attend were surprised to find that there was, for the first time ever, a 200 nakfa fee to attend the ceremony.

Kobleleti

Those accused of being absent without leave, the so-called koblelti, have been stationed in the remote and arid Me’iter.  Due to its remoteness and the difficulty of escape, Me’iter has been designated as the new training camp to replace Sawa, which is considered too close to the Sudan border.

The 21^st Round

The 21^st round were sent from Asmara today to Sawa. Following the government’s decision to centralize the location of the 12^th grade at Sawa, all students who completed the 11^th grade are sent, willingly or unwillingly, to Sawa. In keeping with previous categorizations, the new generation of student/warriors has been nicknamed “Ye’germenalo” ("we are amazed"), the namesake of a popular song by Yohannes Tkabo.