Professor Lionel Cliffe staunch supporter of Eritrean struggle had died
Professor Lionel Cliffe staunch supporter of Eritrean struggle had died: By Petros Tesfagioragis During the long years of struggle Eritrea was blessed with internationalist support, political parties, film makers, researchers, academicians, trade and student unions, anti-colonial and
Professor Lionel Cliffe staunch supporter of Eritrean struggle had died:
By Petros Tesfagioragis
During the long years of struggle Eritrea was blessed with internationalist support, political parties, film makers, researchers, academicians, trade and student unions, anti-colonial and human rights activists etc. One of the many supporters was Professor Lionel Cliffe.
Lionel Cliffe’s contribution to Eritrean was outstanding. For several years he made several visits to the liberated area of Eritrea studying emergency aid and development needs/projects. Such assessments were essential for funding from International NGOs. It has to be remembered that Eritrean Relief Association had the reputation of being the darling of humanitarian organisation for its extensive network all over the world and its efficiency as the donor agencies see the aids are implemented to the full.
Lionel Cliffe and Basil Davidson edited a book “The long struggle of Eritrea for independence and constructive peace” published in 1988. I quote from the back cover of the book. “This book looks at the history of the Eritrean struggle, placing it in the wider history of north-eastern Africa. It scrutinizes the legal standing of Eritrea’s claim for independence; it analyses the character of the liberation movement, looks at the tasks it has set itself and evaluates its achievements.”
Lionel Cliffe together with his ex-wife Doris was also founding members of the “Review of African Political Economy” a review which highlights and debates issues on African including that of Eritrea. It is in this review that Lionel wrote an obituary a tribute of Basil Davidson a fellow activist on Africa and a close friend, on his death. A section of the tribute is titled “Basil and Eritrea”. It described Basil’s engagement with Eritrea. I quote “Basil did eventually made the arduous trip into what the Eritreans called the “Field” in 1988 and was able to witness the decisive battle of the liberation of Afabet, where the EPLF forces broke out of their 10 years of encirclement. He even broadcasted from the battlefield just after the victory direct to British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) World Service in London on a line the EPLF had managed to set up, announcing ‘the most significant conventional battle in the Third World since the Vietnamese liberation forces defeated the French at Dien Bien Phu”.
Lionel in his Sheffield home and at Leads University used to host some EPLF visitors. One of them was Alemseged Tesfai, the author of Tigrinya book “Aynefelale” and 2 weeks in a trench –. Alemseged is also a play writer. The beauty of his play writing was transpired in the popular drama “The other war”. Lionel invited Alemseged, a fellow writer, to promote his works and share the wealth of knowledge and documents in his possession.
Lionel was fond of Ermias Debesai (Papaya) member of the Central Committee of EPLF and head of European Desk for his amazing sense of humour and humility. I have enjoyed such revolutionary love and laughter in his house in the present of Doris and his step daughters of course the invitation was in honour of Papaya. Unfortunately Papaya is languishing in PFDJ prisons symbolizing a profound moving sad story of most of EPLF leaders’ the G-15 ended in jail representing an inhuman dividend for serving all their life to liberate Eritrea. The only crime they did was to ask the implementation of the constitution and election to take place which the people of Eritrea were waiting for.
Sadly after 1991 independence EPLF has suffered from many significant failings. One of the failing is to ignore those internationalists who carried out their own brand of struggle as international obligation and contributed a lot to win diplomatic, political and substantial financial and material support for Eritrea. Those are Eritrean treasures which the people of Eritrea have to know about and appreciate.
He also served and participated in LUCAS (Leads University Centre for African Studies)
By now it has become crystal clear that it is essential to compile a data-base of all the names of friends of Eritrea because they are part of the history of the revolution.
Lionel Cliffe will be remembered as a treasure in the long years of the struggle for the right of self-determination of the people of Eritrea.
My condolence to his partner Margerita his family and his colleague at LUCAS.
Amanuel Mehreteab Gebremedhin November 2, 2013
Lionel has a noble human heart and was always keen to support any one who wants to excel in education. Lionel stood for the cause of Eritrea from the time he knew the situation in Eritrea. He had visited the frontline and has witnessed the development activities and wrote and advocated for the cause of Eritrea. Even during the strategic retreat when every one believed the Eritrean struggle is dead and only history he stood for our cause with few individuals. Lionel was instrumental in changing me from freedom fighter to scholar and had left his footprints in my life. I had lost a mentor, a friend and indeed it is a great lose for Eritrea. As my supervisor I had learned a great deal during our numerous sessions and is helping me in my day-to-day activity. During the armed struggle era he was always saying “he sees light at the end of the tunnel and Eritrea will gain its independence irrespective the time it takes.” He had seen the independence of Eritrea but was not fortunate enough to see the liberation of Eritrean people.
Eritrea has lost real friend who always speaks his mind and never shy away from telling you the bitter reality. Lionel has always a soft spot for the people of Eritrea and always stood up with the cause of Eritrea. After 2001 he was disillusioned like every body when things started going wrong. In the few occasions we meet his first question is “what had we missed during the armed struggle? What went wrong? Why is Eritrea sliding back-words? What happened to the noble idea you fought? The people of Eritrea deserve better”. A true friend is like a mirror and reflects on what is not working and boldly tells you what you do not want to listen. To date I fail to grasp why we are in the predicament we are in. For fact one thing is sure “With out good governance any post-conflict transition period goes terribly wrong and Eritrean case is not different. During the dark era Lionel was always optimistic and used to argue that Eritrea is still young and sun will one more rise again. Do not give-up. Thus for all of us it is a wake up call and time to reflect critically to understand the crisis we are in and find solution for solution can come from the people.
Lionel may you rest in peace and eternal life. Lionel life in promoting the cause of forgotten and marginalized groups has been exemplary, your knowledge legacy and friendship will never fade from our hearts and minds. May the Almighty bless your soul and my deepest condolence to those families who are closest to you and all the friends who are shedding great tears. I also pray that God console your wife Margaret and I want to tell her that the whole peace loving people of Eritrea stand by your side and grief for our lose because we had lost a lion who stood for our noble cause and still was advocating for the well-being of the Eritrean people. Lionel will always remain with us for he is our sense of inspiration.
Amanuel Mehreteab
Senior peace building advisor
amanuel.mehreteab@gmail.com
Abdi November 6, 2013
Nobody denied that EPLF had many friends who helped our struggle.
RIP LIONEL
” It has to be remembered that Eritrean Relief Association had the reputation of being the darling of humanitarian organisation”
The above quote sounds a bit agamitized.
Stop exaggerating EPLF is not isayas but the whole Eritrean ppl.
Jan Burgess November 18, 2013
Thank you Petros for your kind words. It’s me, Doris [aka Jan] writing from Sheffield where I’ve lived since Lionel & I moved here in 1976. For us, Eritrea began in Rome and then Bologna and progressed to many visits to the ‘field’ to witness for ourselves the most amazing EPLF. You gave us unique access to see for ourselves what a truly progressive society could be. The People’s Assembly’s, the research projects typed on the most bizarre machine I had ever seen, your wonderful medical unit where I was co-opted to take photo’s of various operations so that you could use them to teach others, the schools where there was such respect for all. But above all it was the women I met who were so strong and committed to the struggle. In his heart, Lionel was always optimistic about the future, always hopeful. We were with Babu & Amrit on his last visit to Asmara and we all agreed that yours was a unique model and one which should succeed one day. Heartfelt thanks to you all. Jan