Eritrea ‘rejects Ethiopia provocation’
Eritrea has said it will not be "entrapped" into retaliating after Ethiopia launched a cross-border border raid on three military bases. Eritrea has said it will not be "entrapped" into retaliating after Ethiopia launched a cross-border
Eritrea has said it will not be “entrapped” into retaliating after Ethiopia launched a cross-border border raid on three military bases.
Eritrea has said it will not be “entrapped” into retaliating after Ethiopia launched a cross-border border raid on three military bases.
“It is those who do not know the price of war who are hungry to go to war,” Eritrean Information Minister Ali Abdu told the AFP news agency.
Ethiopia said it attacked three military bases where rebel groups were being trained.
The two countries fought a border war from 1998 to 2000.
The United States has called on both countries to “exercise restraint and to avoid any further military action”.
The attack had raised fears that the bitter rivals could resume full-scale hostilities but Eritrea moved to quell such speculation.
“We fought enough for 30 years, and we will never be dragged into war through such hostile provocations as this,” Mr Ali told AFP.
“The people and government of Eritrea shall not entertain, and will not be entrapped by, such deceitful ploys,” a foreign ministry statement said.
It said the attack was mean to divert attention from Ethiopia’s “illegal occupation” of Eritrean territory, as well as its internal problems
Eritrea accuses Ethiopia of refusing to withdraw from the village of Badme, where the border war began, despite The Hague-based Boundary Commission 2002 ruling that it belonged to Eritrea.
A number of people were killed and others captured when three camps were attacked up to 18km (11 miles) inside Eritrean territory, an Ethiopian defence official said but further details have not been released.
‘Hit-and-run terrorists’
In recent weeks Addis Ababa has accused Eritrea of backing Ethiopian rebels who staged a January raid in the northern Afar region that killed five Western tourists.
Two German nationals were taken hostage during that attack – there has been no official word of their condition since.
Ethiopian government spokesman Shimeles Kemal said the army units involved had returned to camp after “successfully completing” their mission.
He said Eritrea was harbouring “hit-and-run terrorists”, and he warned of further possible operations.
“As long as Eritrea remains a launching pad for attacks against Ethiopia, similar measures will continue to be taken,” he said.
Ethiopia is also engaged in military operations in neighbouring Somalia, where it is fighting the Islamist al-Shabab group.
Eritrea denies accusations that it backs al-Shabab.
Eritrea was annexed by Ethiopia in 1952 but gained independence in 1993 after a 30-year guerrilla war.
Source: BBC
Eritrea first March 16, 2012
The One man regime is exposed, and they know they have no the power and means to retaliate, now Isaias has no option other than to meet Ethiopian demands. He is concened about his internal power, he knows the Ethiopians could finish him with in few days.
With such an attack the Ethiopian gov. is also testing the reaction of the international communitya and the diaspora Eritrean community, based on that they may be eager to take further action sooner.
Especially Meles will not give up power in Ethiopia while Isaias is still sitting in power.
Senai March 16, 2012
“… He is concened about his internal power, he knows the Ethiopians could finish him with in few days.”
Enshalah !
sara March 16, 2012
and i tell you al gussettte, if you know , what it means…
b’ezen allah!
jgna March 16, 2012
Eritreans and their opposition shall stand strong to avaid Esayas, so that Eritrea and Ethiopia will have a sisterly relationship. Esayas is the real obstacle. The people on both sides want to see a peaceful and friendly relationship, like it was before the agression of towns like Badme.
A Iyasu March 16, 2012
Level headedness is what is required. It is a wise move that Eritrea chose restraints, which should be commended.
It should however be stated that “peace is not merely the absence of war, and it is not limited to maintaining a balance of powers between adversaries. Peace cannot be attained on earth without safeguarding the goods of persons, free communication among men, respect for the dignity of persons and peoples, and the assiduous practice of fraternity.”
It would be much more commendable and wiser if the GoE releases that Eritrea would be much safer if power is returned to its rightful owners – the people.
Dani March 16, 2012
OMG! We Eritreans are humiliated, embarrassed. Thanks to Isayas. WE would rather die than see this embarrassment happening. OMG!!
Dawit March 16, 2012
Eritrea first.
I agree with you. Ethiopia has just tested the waters. It is like working on a prototype first before venturing into a bigger project. That’s what Ethiopia has done. As to the PFDJ, the tyrants including Issayas may have now begun to go to sleep every night with too much of a concern about their very survival.
Today skirmishes at the border, tomorrow targeted assassinations of key personnel inside towns and cities of Eritrea may ensue. We will perhaps see what military posture PFDJ will adopt to respond to a similar attacks from a well fed, armed, and organized Ethiopian military with moral high ground. As I write this comment, PFJD, I have heard, have started unusual “shebedbed”.
PFDJ not only should fear Ethiopian army at the momen but also many many Eritreans it has alienated, ignored, and abused in the past not to mention foreign forces like CIAs…
sara March 16, 2012
ya dawit, this is not the first time the ethiopians are doing this, yes they did not announce it this way, but we quite often read it here in assena the so called opposition release a military report … that they have taken action in the border area of senafe…etc…against the EDF, and this time the ethipians are saying they did what they do always. therefore there is nothing new for the eritrean government to act differently.
you may be right to say there is shebedbed…. when you know your opponent is saying and acting ABEDBED.
Eritrawi March 16, 2012
The Response of Eritrean spoks person and its foreign ministry shows Eritrea has now powerless to quill the threat from Ethiopia. This autocratic regime ruled by a mad man Issayas regime should be exposed. It took him 20 years to learen that 30 years struggle for Independence should be a big lesson that war is not an option. It is the regime which was/is disturbing its neighbors by triggering war. Issayas doesn’t believe in peacfule confilict resolution both internally and externally. He has arrested countless Eritreans who have different views. Many innocent people are behind bars for their peacefully articulating their views towards the desasterous Issayas policy. we should notice that the Eritrean reply to the attack reflects its inability to protect its territory even in the future. Those blind supporters of the regime, who are staying in diaspora, will be exposed soon. Hope the regime will perish along his narrow minded supporters soon so that peace loving eritreans will start to test free life and liberty after the dictotor.
Senai March 16, 2012
Correction !
“… abused in the past not to mention foreign forces like CIAs…”
should be
“… abused in the past not to mention internal forces like CIAs…
Thank you!
henok March 16, 2012
“We fought enough for 30 years, and we will never be dragged into war through such hostile provocations as this,”
I would have believed this if it was before during Badme war. But now..I can tell Isias is weak and looking for an excuse.
Dawit March 16, 2012
Henock.
You are right. PFDJ has responded by using lame excuses of which you have mentioned one. PFDJ will now beat the drum of war using its state controlled media to justify the indefinite conscription of young men and women of Eritrea.
Ethiopia have begun its campaign of removing what it calls terrorists allegedly sponsored by Eritrea but will further incursion be supported by foreign powers who are concerned about the appalling human right abuses in Eritrea….. We will see…What will the oppositions role be in these adventures….
Yemane March 16, 2012
ኽብርን መጉስን ንኩሎም ስለ’ዛ ሓላል መሬት ክብሉ ሂወቶም ዝሰወኡ።
ሕጂውን መጉስ ነቲ ጅግና ሓይልታት ምኽልኻል ኤርትራ።
thomi March 16, 2012
First – Assenna when do you delete someone’s posting? I have posted two or three comments with no foul language or that sort, I cannot see them anywhere on your site.
Hoping this posting will be safe, I will try to write one below:
In regarding to Eritrea’s response to the Ethiopia’s attack, I think EPDJ and the government knows that we (Eritreans) are feed up with their game and we know we have nothing to lose, anymore! They have taken our country and our dignity let us to beg and pray for good things to come to us. They know that we are heart broken by their betrayal and abuses, they let us down and made to lose our feeling of importance. They know we don’t care anymore. In any action by the ethiopians would hurt them than hurting us. I don’t know about you guys, but I cannot trust what Issays, Monkey and Ali Abdu. I would never support these killers as they don’t seem to care for our Eritrea or for Eritreans (us). So, I am here waiting for a change by the Ethiopians or by anyone who is against this regime.
thomi March 16, 2012
I take my complaint on assenna back. It is funny that I did not check the next page to the older posting. It goes to the next page really fast as such I was confused or I was just stupid not to check or I have no excuses for this:)