Eritrean community demonstrates at Free Press
About 100 protestors from the Eritrean community demonstrated outside the offices of the Winnipeg Free Press today, upset about stories they believe portray them as having links to terrorist groups. Lambros Kyriakakos, a board member with
About 100 protestors from the Eritrean community demonstrated outside the offices of the Winnipeg Free Press today, upset about stories they believe portray them as having links to terrorist groups.
Lambros Kyriakakos, a board member with the Eritrean Community in Winnipeg Inc., said he wants to see an apology in the Free Press.
“We want to see action,” Kyriakakos said.
“Our children are being called terrorists… this causes damage… We are now Canadians. The actions of two or three people can’t stigmatize the whole community.”
Several people waved signs saying “We are victims of terrorists” and “Don’t victimize the victim.”
At one point, six Winnipeg police cruisers were at the Free Press and a police officer helped Free Press security close one of the gates to prevent protestors from coming onto the property after a vehicle with four members of an opposing group drove into the parking lot.
One of the people in that vehicle, Ghezae Hagos, said there are more Eritreans in Winnipeg who disagree with the protesters, but they are afraid of repercussions against them or their family if they speak out.
“It is a privilege to come to Canada,” Hagos said.
“These people are perpetuating the problems in Eritrea. This protest is a reflection of what is going on back home.
“They have just come to demonstrate and silence us.”
Free Press editor Margo Goodhand met the protesters at the gate and waded into the middle of the crowd to explain the newspaper’s side and hear from the protestors.
Afterwards, Goodhand said “this is a free and democratic society, and we welcome opinions of all kinds.
“I’m glad these people came out to express their perspective, and we will continue to investigate the issue. We will not be intimidated by protests or petitions or threats on either side.
“We stand by our reporters and the work they have done on this story.”
Winnipeg Free Press
No matter the legitimacy of their demands, the PFDJ regime supporters have been listened to; but will they ever listen?
Dawit December 15, 2011
Take a closer look at the yellow banner. The banner says ” Stop misinformation of the dissent Eritrean community”. For a casual observer, the protesters are dissenters. Apparently, “adalawti protesters” don’t see the difference between decent and dissent. The always badly written press release we are all accustomed to see at http://www.shabait.com is now being reflected at banners and signs HGDFites hold during their feeble protests.
sam December 15, 2011
Dawit
Wow, is that all you can come up with?….what a pinhead!
Mr. T December 16, 2011
Dawit,
You may have a point on the spelling error, but to use that error to advance your laughable ego is another thing. If you were truly a goal-oriented and working hard to achieve democracy in Eritrea, you would have taken these 100 individuals protesting against the Winnipeg Free Press seriously and learn a great deal from their courage and determination. tsimblali’esi m’akora zeikedentsi golgol tkedn yibhal bTigrigna. There was only the loner Ghezae Hagos whom I give a credit for showing up. However, his explanation that many Eritreans did not come out to protest against the protesters because of repercussion back home is a lame excuse to say the least. The truth is that the notorious opposition groupings don’t have enough supporters. It is time those who support the opposition within the EDA admit that the majority of Eritreans don’t support their filthy politics. For starters, her is what you need to do: Reject religious and ethnic politics and condemn the barbaric woyane’s occupation of Eritrea’s territories to have some credibility an alternative choice to the Eritrean people.
jemal December 15, 2011
Heyyyyyy ! Guys instade of shouting on the country who gave you sanctuary ; peace and freedom why don’t you protest against your Boss shifta unelected murderer in Asmara ; Who is prosecute ; Killing and put inocent people in jail .Actually i want ask you if you have this freedom back in Eritrea .If you even considreing have one i beat you you will be Issias diner you will be a histry .So atleast you shoul apperciat Canada or else go back home if you really think you ‘re mistreated .
Huluf December 15, 2011
Fellow Eritreans in Winnipeg….well done…we are all produ of you.
sem December 15, 2011
Jemal,
My friend first of all when you say our boss did you mean Meles or Isaias because when i see your name i thought it might be from Tgray because we have a lot of Jemal from Tgray but if you meant Isaias i go back home every 2 year and i didn’t see any of what you said so there is no reason to demonstrate there. I don’t know how you saw it if didn’t go back home. please go visit your family and while you there you can prove it yourself . don’t worry about the 2% that you don’t want to pay they will not ask you. plus they will not care who you are , what you do or why you came for they are too busy making the country stronger than ever.
Semhar December 16, 2011
Sam,
Why did you come to Canada? Why did you apply for political asylum?
Why many Eritreans are leaving Eritrea risking their life, going through the desert?
Sam,
Eritrea is made, what remains is making Eritreans.
All we need is to unite our people and fight our #1 enemy the tyrant dictator in ERITREA and his followers the PFDJ. We must destroy them just like the Libyans did to Gadaffi.
SHAME ON you! To let one tyrant mercenary, one dictator destroy our land, our people and our culture.
Shame ON you! To let one mercenary dissolve our heroic national liberation fronts ELF 1982, EPLF 1993.
SHAME ON you! To let one mercenary, dictator turn us against one another and against all our neighbors (Ethiopia, Sudan, Djibouti, Somalia, Yemen and now Kenya).
SHAME ON you! To let the dictator kill our heroes, our disable veterans, jail our parents and our religion leaders and members.
This tyrant dictator must go!
We must apply Libyan style!
This is the moment we must come together to save our land and our people.
Let’s learn from Canadians and liberate our land and our people.
Let freedom ring in Eritrea!
Fetawihaki December 16, 2011
Jemal,
i don’t care if your origin is from Tigray or eritrea, stick to the main point. Only to mention some eritrea problems: What do you think why about 200000 eritreans left their beloved eritrea in the last few years?? what do you think why this is still continuing?? what do you think why our neibours (Jibuti, Somalia, Kenia Uganda …) hostil to the PFDJ?? I go to eritrea almost once a year to visit my family and friends, they are going well, but my friends don’t want to stay there, one of their problems is the unlimited military service (some of them are serving since 6 years), so they want to go abroad and to live free like you and me. Do you think now PFDJ is doing the right thing regarding this issue?? I am not saying you should hate the government, but why are you not protesting against the government in this case? by simply supporting the PFDJ, you’re asking for more trouble and harming the eritrean ppl specially at home.
Peace and freedom to eritreans
Fetawihaki
ahmed saleh December 16, 2011
Jemal and Fetawhaki
It is the nature of HGDF political behaviour to minimize Eritreans national pride. They used to exercise these tactics called ADESKELO means freeze him. So whatever names they call you, do not frustrate, focus on the main issues we care most. As they said” ignore the ignorants”.
ahmed saleh December 16, 2011
Sem
Instead you question some else’s identity, why do not check your own first. We know Gemal in this forum engaging in discussions in civil way as proud Eritrean not as Tigrayian. You are a newcomer, I wellcome you as a brother but have a respect to others to get respect. If you intend to corrupt this forum, I advise you no to.
jemal December 16, 2011
Respond to Sem
First of all i am sorry Sem . i meant to say your master Shifta; and Second if i was a Tigray i would ‘ve proud who i am. and third jemal was the first freedom fighter And made you home that you callEritrea today ; with out me you would have Saying Eshee; Eshee goytay Eshee Gotay now. Mr . Sem i never kneel down i have been saying always independent Eritrea (Eritrea for Eritreans) and also i never said kab tigray theyweled eyechewan. So you better ask ask your Father when did you or which day did you arrive from Mekele on the top of the truck ied with Chiken.
One most important if you go to Eritrea every two years ; Because you bend over for the gangs and you don’t have a moral to say no while the are killing thier people.
regarding the 2% i am not going to pay to train al-shebab.
Abnet Tesfai December 15, 2011
THE STUPID AND MINDLESS ISSYAS WORSHIPERS ARE ENJOYING DEMOCRACY TO DEMONSTRATE IN FOREIGN COUNTRY. WHY DON’T THEY GO HOME AND DEMONSTRATE THERE?
THE DICTATOR NEVER ALLOWS THEM EVEN IN FAVOR OF HIM.
TwoWayStreet December 16, 2011
Well said, but don’t use words like stupid, mindless…don’t go down to their level, stick to the issues. You are on the better side of the issues. They start calling names because they can’t convice us with the issues.
Life is a Two Way Street, look both ways.
Abdi December 16, 2011
Well done deki Adey stand for any lair who tries to defam our nation,and shame on those kehadti woyane puppets.
gerimuna December 16, 2011
This is exactly why our people suffering is prolonged. Hodge bodge Eritreans to prove themselves they are more than others. How could the blind supporters of the heinous regime would dare to challenge what the Eritreans are opposing. Some times Fictions are more than truth. This is why a funny “Eritrean name” Lambrose Kyriakakas, WOW” is lecturing us when our people are dead against the regime. Please, Lambrose, leave us alone. when there is a night, a day is inevitable and you will be ashamed to defend bare clothed sins of the regime.
dawnwith higdwf December 16, 2011
MY fellow Eritreans….. Do you know that, when you support the Hgdef regime …. you are committing a grieve mistake … and grievously will history judge you for not doing what you as a fellow human being were expected to do.
You are aware that
– Eritrea is the only country that doesn’t have a constitution… therefore no election, no parliament, no accountability
– people are kept behind bars for years without the due process of law… no justice, no mercy.
-No press freedom
-No freedom of assembly
-No Human rights
-the country is at odds with all its neighbours and at war with many…
-Modern time slavery is undergoing in this century…. young men are held in military service for unlimited period of time … and forced to work for free
.
-One man with no intention to relinquish power to the people, has been the ruling for 20 years.
How come you let this go and dare to demonstrate in support of such regime… How blind can you be?
Old EPLF hard liner who have been brainwashed since childhood held Hgdefism not as politics but as religion…you still dream that Eritrea will rise up against US, UN , EU, EGAD etc and lead Africa out of NEOCOLONI.
You believe the world is against Eritrea because its growing independently , if its left unchecked it will be a bad example for the rest of Africa bla bla … this is crazy! I know you meat well but you are wrong.
My fellow country men wake up and save your country…. its falling down!!!
Kokhob December 16, 2011
don’t think of those opportunists they are uselss for us. we don’t need them. we will do better without them. those who support PFDJ and were innocent are now with us. the remaining are just garbage once.
Freeprisoners December 16, 2011
we are so tired of pretenders. however they should now know and understand very much that, Eritrea will be a democratic country! what are they going to say then!!?
there could be lots of change and they will try to lie as usually and pretend that, they had not in that action or so…
it is very much documented by some brave Erirean in diaspora that, pretenders will not repeat that again. Everyone should think what they are doing at this diffiuclt time.
ahmed saleh December 16, 2011
Freeprisoners
We are in the second phase of struggle after independence. Our stuggle is the
continuation of the first, for political reform, liberty, justice and equality. Now as you
see the force who held you back not to step forward to progress your goal is within
our own people. It is the fight among progressive nationalists and opportunists. But
forsure at the end the righteous is the winner.
Kokhob December 16, 2011
The few PFDJ supporters are opportuinsts. even the regim don’t trust them. the are living in democratic contries and they are living with their children in peace. those cowards will not face the mass inside Eritrea when we will start destroing PFDJ by force. leave alone those cowards even Libyan Gaddafi supporters who stand with him inside the country couldn’t change the reality. see the link bellow and enjoy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sW9VfIQpXvI
Zenga Zenga is forgotten history. Gaddafi is underground no more talking. PIA should know supporters are useless people and come down.
Abdi December 16, 2011
Anti gaddafi were real nationalists who fought for their freedom not like the dirty Eritrean oppositions who cowardly collaborating with woyane to put them on power,NO NO Eritrean would like to see the change through woyanes,hence we prefer to live wothout constitution nor democracy instead,if you really want change and support of Eritreans ,stay independent and free of woyanes directives otherwise WE ARE NOT GONNA FIGHT OUR BROTHER,always remember Woyanes are our enemies regardless thier coopration with you and PIA is our brother regardless the faults,,as the say in Tigrinya goes “temeliska ntredos hadigkayo ayteto”,so we stick with our brother and seek the change within ourselves without any evil interference.period
gerimuna December 17, 2011
Now I know how much an imbecil you are. Are you telling us the fighters that decimated your masters master(Gaddaffi) defense were Libyans? what a waste for Eritrea to bred morons like Abdi that can not distinguish right from wrong or black from white. IA is a criminal and should come to justice. He may think this, as a bluff and hence untouchable. But in the heart of all Eritreans, he is excessively guilt and hence despised and he should be condemned in the earth and hell, the sooner the better along with Abdi .
Abdi December 17, 2011
Insulting me doesn’t change my view towards you guys,so condemning the collaboration with woyane would ease the way to convince the majority supporters, not by calling them morons nor by denying them the right to support who ever they think good for Eritrea.
gerimuna December 18, 2011
Abdi, I am sorry if I am sometimes overwhelmed by the crime a single man is causing to our people and hence ill mannered. I find it incomprehensible for any human being to support inhuman leader as IA is now ranked the 2nd brutal of our times, What can I add. If you are really convinced he is good, I strongly advice you you are wrong and time will not be far before you will regret because I was there for long time. Wish you good luck and become enlightened.
TwoWayStreet December 16, 2011
This are people with two souls trapped in one body. They enjoy freedom of speech and every available human right out of Eritrea and yet they support the suppression of freedom of speech and every available human right in Eritrea.
Any way this conversations are good, not that these blind PFDJ supporters will learn, but people going through this with unbiased opinion will have the chance to compare both sides and give them a clear contrast between PFDJ and its supporters on one hand and the fight for democracy on the other hand.
Life is a Two Way Street, look both ways.
TwoWayStreet December 16, 2011
Correction
These are people (not this are people)
jemal December 17, 2011
Respond to
Twowaystreet
Thanks for correcting with the spelling english man. waw………….I think you should focus on the concept body.