DAY TWO FESTIVAL OF ELF-RC REPORT

 By Nharnet Stringer

August 4,2007

 

PART 1

The second day of the 22nd ELF-RC Festival at Kalbach, Germany started around 14:00 pm under the banner `` Let Justice Blossom Over the Ashes of Dictatorship“ with an Eritrean cultural dance wearing their traditional dresses and  music played by the famous artist Eyob Haile. Festival attendees enjoyed the cultural dance and music with cultural attire so much and demanded for a second round dance.

Mr.Tesfamariam Kibreab, the Chairman of the Festival Organization Committee, delivered his welcoming speech to all those who came form near and afar to the 22^nd Festival. He used a candle as an example that wins darkness he asked the attendees to remember our fallen heroes who paid their lives to break the yolks of colonialism and librated our homeland.   Next Mr. Teclesenbet Teklay addressed the audience in German.  He said in reality Eritrea gained its independence in 1991 and legally in 1993. To guarantee its sovereignty 99% of the Eritrean people voted for referendum that underlined the Eritrean independence through its people’s struggle.

 Even though the Eritrean people gained their freedom through hard struggle PFDJ, the current regime in Eritrea, has implemented dictatorial governance in Eritrea.  The regime ignited wars against all of our neighbors and by its own admission 19,000 young Eritreans died during the war with Ethiopia. He called for Eritrean people to join hands and dismantle dictatorship in Eritrean and instill democratic Eritrea that guarantees freedom, justice and liberty to its people.

Mr. Mesfin Hagos, The Chairman of the Eritrean Democratic Party (EDP) participated at the festival and he delivered the following solidarity speech. He said allow me to salute you on behalf of EDP and I am here to show our solidarity and I wish you a successful festival. We have been advocates of solidarity between forces that fight against dictatorship. Here in Germany our party is working diligently to cooperate with the Eritrean refugees and it’s a joint effort of all political forces.  I hope that this convention would be a venue for understanding between the Eritrean people in general and the opposition organizations in particular. The standing blocks that must be overcome is the rough relationship and their way of conducting business of the opposition organizations and this must be changed for better understanding and cooperation between sister organizations. Finally he expressed his wishes for a successful and productive festival.

 Solidarity speech by the chairwoman of the Women’s Association in Germany

Alganesh Gebre, the Chairwoman of the Eritrean Women Association in Germany said that the association has been recently formed as an independently entity and expressed her gratitude to the festival organizers for the opportunity to convey the Eritrean Woman’s issue. She invited all Eritrean women to actively participate and support the association and called help from those who advocate for women’s emancipation in Eritrea in particular and in the world in general.

            Solidarity speech by the chairman of the Youth Association in Germany

Teklezgi Tesfai, chairperson of the Youth Association after thanking the Festival organization committee he saluted the attendees. He acknowledged the assistance provided by this organization and he said likewise his Association is willing to cooperate and he underlined that the situation of the Eritrean youth is of great concern of all. Mr. Teklezgi called all Eritrean Youth to get organized and fight consciously and actively so that they will be ready to lead the next generation.