Eritrea’s president says no fear of unrest after army mutiny
By Aaron Maasho (Reuters) - Eritrea's President Isaias Afewerki sought on Monday to calm fears of unrest, and in his first reaction to the storming of the information ministry ago by dissident troops three weeks,
By Aaron Maasho
(Reuters) – Eritrea’s President Isaias Afewerki sought on Monday to calm fears of unrest, and in his first reaction to the storming of the information ministry ago by dissident troops three weeks, blamed “bankrupt enemies” for being behind the attack.
Eritrean soldiers, backed by tanks, took over the ministry on January 21 and obliged the director general of state television to appeal for all political prisoners to be freed.
Calm soon returned in the capital, but Eritrean opposition activists in neighbouring Ethiopia say there is growing dissent within the army, Africa’s second biggest, over economic hardship.
The incident sparked protests by exiled Eritreans in Europe, who briefly occupied embassies in London, Rome and other cities last month to express support for the mutinous soldiers.
Isaias said his administration had chosen to remain silent to avoid “serving the ploys of bankrupt enemy quarters”.
“Entertain no worry at all, as there was, and does not exist, any reason for being apprehensive,” the information ministry website quoted him as saying on Monday.
Isaias did not disclose who was behind the plot, but said details would be provided “at an appropriate time”.
Eritrea has been led by Isaias, 66, for two decades. Although the renegade soldiers did not go as far as to demand his overthrow, the protest was a rare glimpse of public discontent in one of Africa’s most secretive states.
The fate of the dissident soldiers is not known and statements about the political situation inside Eritrea are hard to corroborate. But dissent inside the one-party state is typically dealt with harshly.
Between 5,000 and 10,000 political prisoners are held in the country of 6 million people, the United Nations human rights chief said last year, accusing Eritrea of torture and summary executions.
More than 1,000 Eritreans cross over to Ethiopia and a similar number go to Sudan each month to escape conscription and unlimited service in the army, according to figures from the U.N. refugee agency.
On a strategic strip of mountainous land along the Red Sea, Eritrea has more soldiers per person than any country except North Korea.
(Editing by James Macharia and Jon Hemming)
Amazed February 12, 2013
This president is realy realy sick. Any thing that happened in that country. He blames on outside conspiracy, He is telling us that there is no eritrean In the country who is capable of thinking or executing any thing in that level.
mokkta February 12, 2013
Sources from massawa said he is sleeping in different houses and hotels every night since the Jan 21 army uprising.No more tranquillity DIA till we capture you over the tunnels .
rafael February 12, 2013
kulu fake(hasot) eyu denaqur eretrawyan,eseyas baelu zimehazo drama yu.
rafael February 12, 2013
kem amelu kiqetlom zideleyom halefti mknayat kikono elu zimehazo eyu.eretrawyan kisab meas ekum b eseyas kititalelu tinebru.
Berhane Habte February 12, 2013
We mast kill him ASAP
Murad Ali February 12, 2013
I agree with you Gotan.
Ali Abdu ran away when he realised that his boss and protector has become so weak that he himself was in need of protection.
Isaias is now battling on numerous fronts. One of them is a serious clinical depression worsening by the day and which is – according to some – because of a guilty conscience that has been haunting him for refusing his friend, Naizgee- a dignified burial in Eritrea.
The other and main issue is that he has lost the loyalty of his top generals. It now appears that Isaias has only one ally namely Tekhle Manjos who is known to be on a collision course with the other top Generals (Sebhat, Taweel, Filipos etc.)
Isaias and his loyalists feel so unsecure these days that in the past few months soldiers guarding top Hegedf officials (PIA, Alameen Yemane..etc) have all been replaced suddenly by new ones handpicked by Manjos himself.
These days PIA is lost. He is unable to tell those on his and those against. His days are numbered and will soon be gone.
When that happens we in Keren Zaada will be singing…Assenai Assenai Seneit Reeina and head towards Asmara.
The Asmarinos will repeat Asseie Assena and head towards Keren
The two groups will meet half-way in SARJAKA where the Forto tanks are believed to have originated…
The word Sarajaka is a Blein word which roughly means (Saree=get dressed , Jee= drink, Kee=eat)..
Hegdef’s demise will mean that our people will be well dressed and with plenty to eat and drink…
Mohammad Tariq February 12, 2013
Saree= Indian dress
Murad Ali February 13, 2013
Well in that case the Indians must have migrated out of Sarajaka and with a link to Blein which explains why they are so smart!!
tsorona February 12, 2013
it took the president 3 lousy weeks to come up with 2 line statement how pathetic.
jonah February 12, 2013
The strangest part of this article is not the statistics:
1. 1000 eritreans cross to ethiopia or sudan per month.
2. It has more solider per person any other country except north korea
3. 5000 to 10,000 political prisoners country of 6 million
but that government will say what happened? Government has chosen to remain silent to avoid to serve ploy of enemy quarters? It is more like asserting your 5th amendment to protect yourself from self-incrimination. How does stating the fact help enemy quarters?
dr. tedros February 12, 2013
Yonas’ why dont you focus on what is correct? You people are really amazingly ferahatt
belay nega February 12, 2013
ERITREANS UNTIL YOU FIND OUT THE REAL PROBLEM YOU SUFFERING FROM YOU WILL KEEP ON POINTING FINGERS FOR NOTHING.
Gotan zar February 12, 2013
Things have certainly have changed. It is obvious there is some sort of split. It may have been stewing just now comming in the open. I suppose the defection of Ali Abdu is related to all this. So how ever calm hard he tries to project calm and normalcy he is in a serious bond. He has been forced to scall the usual speech he gives in every February. May 24th is not far behind, will he survive till then. The last interview he gave was a very arrogant and disrespectful to tens of thousands who are doing open ended military service. He will face an even more organized rebellion next time around. Deranged dictators never learn when to call it quits.
Kabbo Zar February 12, 2013
Gotan Zar baal 44
Ali Abdo might have not been defected unless he realized that the regime is vague and lifeless.I don’t think Issayas will stay in peace untill 24th May. He should be removed right away so we can pack our luggage to celebrate the indpendence day in Asmara.
Gotan Zar February 12, 2013
You regiolanist narrow minded glib. It is 45 demons not 44. What have you against odd number demons. They exist and they demand equal rights accorded to the 44 and et al… We demand respect damn it….
eritrawi February 12, 2013
First for most, this is not real Reuters news. Those who follow news understand what I mean. That being said, of course the dictator will deny the event of Forto. This is not the first time he either flatly deny or resort to will explain later. He had denied the jailing of joshu, charismatic and talented Eritrean, the escaping a group of football player, just to mention a few. The dictator thinks as time goes people will forget or new events will arise that overrides the past event. But this time is different. Time running against him and so does the Eritrean people and the army.