We are a group of interested individuals in Oslo, Norway who support the Awate Defence Fund. We have collected contributions amounting to Norwegian Kroner 13, 600 which is equivalent to USD 2 430 which we have already sent you. We appreciate and applaud the role Awate.com continues to play to expose the dictatorial regime in Eritrea by providing reliable news and analysis and its efforts to nurture a culture of tolerance, mutual respect and honesty and the role it plays to promote democratic governance and human rights.

We do not see this libel lawsuit as just between a supporter of the regime and Awate. It is between the regime with all it represents in terms of injustice and a degraded culture of lies, defamation, misinformation and dishonesty on one side and a dedicated opposition that struggles to expose it and lies the foundation for the role of a free media in Eritrea in the future. It is time that Awate.com takes the forefront to challenge and defeat the regime and its supporters legally.

We also appreciate the role of other Eritrean websites, particularly Asmarino, and other opposition organisations and dedicated individuals in exposing and challenging the regime.

Truth will prevail.

On behalf of the group,
Mohammed Berhan Fitwi