The Eritrean struggle for independence experienced numerous challenges especially since the start of the armed struggle in September 1, 1961. Mr. Tekie Tesfaldet is one of the veteran fighters of the armed struggle. Shaebia.Org conducted an interview with him on the occasion of the 47^th anniversary of the beginning of the armed struggle. Excerpts:

 

Could you tell us your background?

 

I was born in Adi-Tekeliezan in 1945 and went to school up to grade 5 there. Then I came to Asmara to continue my education. After I completed grade 11, I took two years’ training in the Teachers’ Training Institute (TTI) in Asmara.

 

At that time, the Ethiopian regime was struggling to make Eritreans lose their identity by sending them far from their home land; and as a result they sent me to Bole province, south of Ethiopia. I stayed there for four years. Then I took matriculation exam on my own and passed. I joined the university in Addis-Ababa. I was a second year economics student at the time I joined the armed struggle.

 

Why did you join the armed struggle?

 

Freedom. Every Eritrean in the university was ready to fight for his/her freedom. The only thing needed was organization. We were organized by our own in the University. Our group was determined to risk education for freedom. The reason why we joined the struggle was very clear and precise: to fight for our independence.

 

The atrocities at that time, like the case of O`na, were the main reasons for our immediate joining. We didn’t compromise our principles at all. All we talked, all we thought, all we cared about was our country, our freedom. Every body was thinking about his/her country, not about him/herself at all. Education was secondary for our group at that time; we all gave priority to freedom, ever lasting freedom.

 

When and how did you join the armed struggle?

 

At the university, we established a study group of 12 members. The group was responsible for studying and discussing about Eritrean revolution and identity. We read books regarding politics which could help us know more about our identity and the need of the armed struggle. I do remember ten from the 11 members of the group who joined the struggle with me; Sibhat Efrem, Beraki Gebreslasie, Habtemichael Woldegiergis, Yemane Dawit, Brhane Gebrezgabihier, Adhanom Gebremariam, Tesfai Temnewo, Afwerki Teklu and Woldensie Berhe. Only two (Kahsay and Mengsteab) from the original group didn’t go with us.

 

Before leaving for the armed struggle, we made physical preparations. We run every day and we ate little and quit drinking milk at all. This was to make ourselves physically ready as we had some information about the hardships of the armed struggle.

 

Many people in Eritrea at that time were becoming aware of the armed struggle. There were many demonstrations at that time. We were well organized. We knew a lot about colonization and this helped direct our way.

 

As General Sibhat Efrem has previously mentioned in an interview he conducted with Teateq (a magazine issued by the Ministry of Defense), we left the link of the university with the freedom fighters smooth and as a result many university students joined the armed struggle in large scale since then.

 

We joined the struggle early 1972. Our group was the first group to join the armed struggle from the university. There were rumors about the armed struggle at that time that freedom fighters were fighting with each other and the like. But one day, we obtained ‘Nihnan Ilamanan,’ a sort of pamphlet that clearly tells what the aim of the freedom fighters is. We distributed it all over the university, and this influenced many.

 

We were studying how to join the freedom fighters. One day, we asked a friend in Asmara named Semere Bahta, who was released after four years in prison for his involvement with the Eritrean Liberation Front, as to whether he could help us contact the fighters. Semere advised us instead to complete our education first; but we insisted that we had made up our minds to join our brothers. He then told us to wait a little and promised to call us as soon as he got the chance. But it didn’t work out. He really searched for a way but couldn’t find one. He later joined the EPLF and was martyred.

 

We were hoping to join the freedom fighters before the examination period. But as the first attempt didn’t work out, examination period was due. We had to pass the exam as we were living in the university. If we fail we wouldn’t have a place and prepare for another attempt. Our hope was only on the few extremely clever students, to pass the examination and stay with them in the dormitory until we got chance to go to the armed struggle. Fortunately, we all passed the examination and stayed in the dormitory until we left for the armed struggle.

 

All of us were looking for a way to join the struggle. Finally, we found the contact line with the fighters through Habtemichael Woldeghiorghis, one of our group’s members. He in turn referred us to a freedom fighter called Ristom, who had come to Addis Ababa for a mission.

 

He was from the commando group of the then freedom fighters. All the 11 members of the group thus joined the struggle with the help of Ristom. While we were going to the struggle, the commando freedom fighter took as to a hotel owned by a security agent of the Haileselassie Regime. When we asked him why he took us there, he sarcastically said that “the security agents did not have the capacity to observe things in front of their eyes.” I always remember that phrase.

 

Then he took us to the freedom fighters in the Filfil Selemuna area.

 

When you joined the armed struggle in 1972, what impressions did you have about the situation that existed in its start in 1961?

 

As I mentioned above, we joined the armed struggle with the help of the freedom fighters. But the freedom fighters in 1961 went to the field on their own; they left everything behind and went to search their freedom. I am always amazed of that.

 

The camaraderie they showed us helped us to stand on our objective more than ever. I have never seen such camaraderie. That is how the armed struggle succeeded. They always tried to protect us from the hardships of the struggle; it was more than father and son relationship. I can’t explain my feelings of the hardship of the struggle the senior freedom fighters experienced. 

 

How was the condition of the armed struggle at the time you joined it?

 

At the time we joined the Hizbawi Hayltat 2^nd Group (which later developed into the Eritrean Peoples Liberation Front (EPLF)); there were only around 50 freedom fighters. We took military training with other 10 people who joined from the Semienawi Bahri area and other parts of Eritrea.

 

I remember we first met a freedom fighter and he was younger than us but very sharp. I was really amazed by the young fighter and wondered if the struggle helped him to gain more intelligence and tolerance. He told us of the hardship of struggle and their aim. This brave man, called Isaias Tewoldeberhan, was martyred in the Selahta Offensive.

 

They had shortage of logistics and they had one gun for four freedom fighters. This was the time we joined the armed struggle.

 

They later gave us guns which they took it from the enemy. The commando took these guns from Asmara at the time Haileslasie was visiting the town. They studied the mission well and they come out of the town with the guns with out any harm. Asmara at that time was full of police and soldiers of the Haileslasie regime. For us, this was the first and biggest lesson of sacrifice and brilliant success.

 

Then the conflict with ELF came up. The ELF was trying to eliminate us; as a result there was bloody conflict.

 

Did you participate in the conflict?

 

We thought that we were going to Sahel to take additional military training. But the ELF opened fire and the conflict stayed till 1975. We didn’t want the conflict but we had to defend ourselves. I can say I took my military training during the conflict with the ELF.

 

Tell us the most challenging condition you experienced in the struggle?

 

There was nothing good in the struggle. Everything is challenging; all the hardship, hanger, weather, ragged mountains and all the ups and downs. But it was not too hard for men who had clear objective.

 

Going to Sahel, we chose the longer way through the coastal areas, because we could not fight against any enemy as we did not have enough guns. At that time we walked day and night with out food and water in the desert.

 

It was extremely tough and challenging. On our way, we missed the water place and the veteran fighters were sent in search of it while we waited behind. I remember one senior fighter, Teklu Sherif, was distributing the little water we had at first. But he didn’t drink from the water and gave us his share. And I asked him why, “I don’t get thirsty at all” he replied. I always remember the man because he taught what camaraderie really is. In the long journey in the desert, we were really tempted by hunger and thirst.

 

Generally speaking, Eritrean armed struggle experienced numerous challenges and paid precious lives to bring ever lasting freedom.  

 

Do you have any thing to say?

 

Eritrean people have faced many challenges to achieve independence. Many brave nationals sacrificed their precious lives. We Eritreans succeeded in achieving our freedom and we have to work hard also to alleviate poverty. Today’s infrastructural works will undoubtedly ensure our bright future and all nationals inside as well as out side the country have to play their role in the development campaign. It is our home land, we brought everlasting freedom and we are determined to bring everlasting prosperity and development as well.