BACKGROUND: as we all know Awate.com and it’s dedicated team over the years have become a credible media & source of information, not only for the Eritrean public but also, for non-Eritreans and diplomat alike.  Saleh Gadi founder of awate.com has become instrumental in exposing the atrocities and crimes committed by PFDJ as well as undermining PFDJ’s propagandas.

The superb job Saleh and his team are doing at www.awate.com apparently has become PFDJ’s nightmare. As result recently Mr. Seleh Gadi has become a prime target of personal defamations by some irresponsible representatives/servant of the PFDJ most notably by Sophia Tesfamariam.  In light of these developments “Eritrea Discussion Room 13” had invited Saleh Gadi to Paltalk to address the public on current issues, activities and especially about Awate Defense Fund. http://www.awate.com/portal/component/option,com_wrapper/Itemid,25/

Following welcome & brief remarks by the room moderators, Saleh opened the session and made a short introduction about Awate Defense Fund in Arabic & Tigrinya. Furthermore he explained the rational & the need to pursue legal action against Sophia Tesfamariam. Thereafter, the room was open for Q&A.

Over 75 questions were asked, one question per person was allowed. In summary, the questions were focused on the following issues.

1. why legal lawsuit against Sophia Tesfamariam, why now? What is the rational behind it?
2. Status of Awate Defense Fund and what is the expectation from public & what can we do to help.
3. Awate’s editorial board rights & discretion as well as awate.com credibility.
4. Saleh Gadi personal background.
5. Civic organization & political organization.
6. HGDF culture and the state of HGDF.
7.  What mode of struggle, Violence vs. Peaceful means?
8. Senait Mehari book and related issues
9. Other questions…

    

This event was conducted in Tigrinya & Arabic language. For more information please listen to the audio recording of this event at www.asmarino.com.

Right after Q & A session was completed, paltalk attendees were given a chance to comment, suggestions or criticisms.  Many people gave comments and the comments can be generalized & summarized as follows.

Many member of the paltalk have expressed their support for awate.com and Saleh and encouraged him not to be intimidated by the PFDJ character assassination Many paltalkers also said Sophia Tesfamariam has gone out of line beyond any boundaries, norms & standards. Her egregious behavior should not be taken lightly and legal action against Sophia is the right course of action. They said that everyone should do his/her part to stop such bad behavior and dangerous precedent from becoming a norm in our Eritrean society and culture.

Many of the attendees acknowledged that the PFDJ smearing campaigns against Saleh and other well respected Eritreans are not just intended at Saleh rather they were indirectly an attack at all member of opposition. They said the smearing campaigns were orchestrated to silence Saleh, awate.com and all others voices of voiceless. 

Almost everyone affirmed that they will stand behind saleh on the pursuit of justice against Sophia. Many also added that awate, asmarino and others are indispensable and that those concerned Eritreans should extend their hand and support them.

Many women have participated and expressed their solidarity with Saleh, awate.com and all voice of voiceless.  In addition, our surprise guest Ahmed Abdurrahman a young artist joined us from Australia, he played a few songs live which added energy to the event.

Many Eritreans who opted not to use the mic due to fear of retaliation by PFDJ expressed their support to Saleh via text.

The turnout for this event was a record in Eritrean paltalk history. People flocked from different part of the globe at the virtual paltalk room, Eritrean Discussion Room13 and the room was immediately full to its maximum capacity of 250 and in fact the total number of visitors exceeded the 1000 mark.

In conclusion, the event with Mr. Saleh at paltalk was a success by all account. If you miss this event, you can catch Saleh Gadi in person in the up coming public seminar in Atlanta. http://cs.asmarino.com/?itemid=773

The rule of law will prevail over the law of Isaias!