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Crimes against the Eritrean People (1958-2008)
From Archive: Let history judge them
Prisoners death records  
 
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Brief information on some prisoners who executed unofficially in the 1970s by the EPLF's security forces

by Resoum Kidane

 


What is the meaning of silence?

 

The question of Martyrdom within the EPLF in the 1970s


The most criminal leader in the EPLF

Q. Was Mr. Isaias Afewerki a dictator during the independence struggle? Read the answer to the question
Facts
  • Erlich (1983), who was lecturer at the University of Addis Ababa, observed that the proportion of Eritreans at this University was higher than of Ethiopians in the early 1970s
  • The attitude of the E.P.L.F toward the educated fighters in the 1970s
  • Sherman( 1980:64) states that in 1976 perhaps as many as 200 young EPLF intellectuals were arrested. Many were executed for “radicalism” for following an alleged Maoist line or sometime known as Bitsay Menkiskas.
  • Solomon Woldemariam, who was in the EPLF leadership from 1971-1977, also suggested that the number of people killed was much larger. Solomon added that around one thousand fighters who participated in the Menka movement were rehabilitated after undergoing serious political indoctrination and self-criticism( Mengiseab,49:2005)
  • Megesteab (2005:64) wrote that Isaias was partially successful in brainwashing a large number of his political operatives that the opposition was an Akele Guzai undertaking despite Mussie and Yohannes were too internationalist in their outlook so as not to blindly fall into regionalist trappings. Using regionalism as a card against progressive fighters in 1973, 1976 and 1978, many progressive fighters were physically eliminated by the EPLF leaders between 1973-1980. Regarding this, Teklay Aden, an EPLF security chief who defected to the Ethiopian regime in 1981, revealed that three thousand fighters were physically liquidated by the Front between 1973 and the time of his defection 1980.
  • Crimes against youth and education
The Menka ringleaders were arrested on 31 -12-1973 and  executed in 1975. This was after a military court imposed the death penalty  for  Menka ringleader: Musie, Yohannes, Tareke, Afworki, Teklu and others.Mesfin Hagos was  among  the members of the military court responsible for the death of the Menka ringleaders in 1975 Regarding this Fitwi in his interview with Aida mentioned that,   the EPLF leadership spoke publicly told about Menka  ringleaders  executions before or after the time of the EPLF Congress 1977. [Read full story]Find more about Menka
  Musie T Mikel  
   
 


Musie T Mikel: He was small built, but daring and nice and humane. He joined AA University in 1965. Perhaps he studied education. Was one of the hijackers flying the plane to Libya. Was a teacher in Mendefera.
(T): he grew up with us in Kidane Mehret, was short and hot temper
Contributed by Aida Kidane

The Role of Hailesellasie University Progressive students:
Executed ca 1975

 
 
 
Yohannes Sebhatu
Yohannes Sebhatu joined AA U, Addis Abeba University in 1962-3. He was studying economics. He was a brilliant student and used to be suspended form the U because of politics. There used to be demonstrations twice a year in the university. It was an adventure and we were ill equipped with theoretical knowledge. Imprisoned was imprisoned a day or so at Kolfe and Sendafa prisons He was tall and medium built. Contributed by Aida Kidane. Yohannes was described by other source as the first students in Ethiopian education history to be expelled from Haile Sellasie University, for political agitation. He was the president and founder of a leftist political society at university. One of the best students to ever come out of any Ethiopian University (R.R Balsvik Haile Sellasies student: the intellectual and social background to revolution. Source. Petros Tesfagiorgis(2007) also states that Yohanes Sebhatu, a brilliant Marxist Guru. He was a reporter in an English daily paper in Addis Ababa during the two years of his suspension from the University. Yohanes Sebhatu and Mussie Tesfamicael were executed by EPLF as a member of the “Menka uprising”
Executed ca 1975. Mesfin Hagos was  among  the members of the military court responsible for the death of the Menka ringleaders in 1975

     
 
 
 
Tareke Yihdego
     
 
Tareke Yihdego: Was in high school in Asmera also in YMCA. He was not political and did not attend AA University. He had a strong personality.
(A): He was in very friendly term with Werku, seen hand in hand. She was to be banished to an Arab country but she refused and stayed on. She now lives in Eritrea. She must have recanted.
(T): He was one of the Yemen group who came to Denkalia 1970
Contributed by Aida Kidane

Executed ca 1975?
 
 
 
Tesfu Kidane
 
 

Tesfu Kidane was a bright student at AA U studying political science. He was one time editor of USUAA, University students union of AA, publishing “Struggle” magazine of Ethiopian students. He was a reserved person and was not in the Menka movement since he was in Kebessa at that time. He was very sick and weak but was sent to Kebessa with heavy weapons and was martyred in 1975 battle.
Contributed by Aida Kidane

The Role of Hailesellasie University Progressive students:
Executed ca 1979

 
                 
Debesai Gebreselassie

Debesai Gebreselassie, part in the hijacking. He was a student of AAU studying political science. He was sent to Kuwait for medication and was arrested after returning to meda.
Contributed by Aida Kidane

The Role of Hailesellasie University Progressive students:
Executed in 1979 at Arag

 
 
Habte-Selassie G/Medhin
   
   
 

Kab Mezgeb Tarich(Essayas Afeworki and CIA Connection’ story , 1970)

Menkae memory
Executed ca 1975
 
       
       
Afworki Teklu
   
 
 
Afworki Teklu went to AAU studying perhaps English literature. He was politically active and international revolutionary, and courageous. He was physically well built his Tigrina knowledge was not that good.
Contributed by Aida Kidane

The Role of Hailesellasie University Progressive students:
Executed ca 1975
 
Dehab Tesfatsion
   
 
 
 

Dehab Tesfatsion was an AAU student of social works. She was not a politically visible girl.
(S): She came to Dekmhare for the summer vacations and was kind of quiet. No body expected her to join meda. She and Werku were close friends, even at the University.
(B): She was one of the 4 not sentenced to death as Menka. She was not given martyr’s certificate.

Contributed by Aida Kidane
The Role of Hailesellasie University Progressive students:
Executed in 1979 at Gerger (Belekat)

Let's remember the first EPLF women fighters
 
    Find more about them          
Aberash Melke:
?
     
 
Aberash Melke: Was in a picture in a film I saw in 1975. Grew up in Tigrai and studied at AAU.
Contributed by Aida Kidane
Executed ca 1978
 
Let's remember the first EPLF women fighters  
Alem Abraha
He was arrested in 1977 Excerpt from The case of Alem Abraha
 
Executed in 1980 at Arag
Goitom Berhe(Bitsay)
Executed in 1980 at Arag
Bitsay Menkiskas was one of these democratization movements which led by Goitom Berhe (bitsay), a law graduate of Addis Ababa. Goitom and his groups tried to form an underground movement called 'the Eritrean Revolutionary Party' in 1975/1976 during this period the party translated a number of Marxist works to Tigrigna (eg Dialectical Materialism, Four Essays of Philosophy, About the Proletariat Party) . All the literature was then collected and burnt. The suspected ring-leaders of the anti-Essayas movement of progressives were arrested and, later butchered. 1975/1976 the author of this paper was in the Information department and I remember that when Haile Menkorias translated a number of Marxist works to tigringna (eg, State and Revoltion , The Communist Manifesto, two step backward and one step forward and some of Mao works, the titles of which I cannot remember. We carried out the process of printing and packaging of the publications but we were not allowed to read them because we were ordinary members If someone tried to read Marx works they could be targeted in those day Excerpt from The mysterious death of Ibrahim Afa
Solomon Wolde-Mariam
   
Executed in 1988 at Hishkeb
Key EPLF leader between 1970-1977

According to Mengisteab (50, 2005) that Teklay Aden, an EPLF security chief who defected to the Ethiopian regime in 1981, revealed that three thousand fighters were physically liquidated by the Front between the start of the The number of fighters physically eliminated by the Front between 1973 and the liberation of Eritrea in 1991, could range between three thousand and five thousand, if those fighters who disappeared under mysterious circumstances are included. However, Solomon Woldemariam, who was in the EPLF leadership from 1971-1977, suggested that the number was much larger. Solomon added that around one thousand fighters who participated in the Menka movement were rehabilitated after undergoing serious political indoctrination and self-criticism( Mengiseab, 49: 2005)Source
Excerpt from The case of Solomon
  Imprisoned at Geuet , Hishkeb and other places in Shale area between 1979-1988
Tewolde Eyob
 
EPLF leader between 1970-1977
Imprisoned at Gerger, Arag and other places in Shale area between 1976-1980
Executed in 1980 at Arag
       
                   
Mesih Russom
Bereket Haile
 
 
He was arrested in 1975
Executed in 1980 at Arag Executed in 1980 at Arag
 
Teclai Ghebre-Kristos
Memhir Tecle Habte-Tsion
He was arrested in 1976?
Executed in 1980 at Arag
Executed in 1980 at Arag
 
Michael Bereketeab
Mehari Ghirma-Tsion
Mehari Ghirma-Tsion, educated in the USSR
Executed in 1980 at Arag He was arrested in 1978
       
  Executed in 1980 at Arag    
       
Samuel Ghebre-Dingil
   
Samuel Ghebre-Dingil
   
Executed in 1980 at Arag Executed in 1980 at Arag
 
Araya Semere
   
Girmay Berhe
 
He was arrested in 1977 ? Executed in 1980 at Arag
Executed in 1980 at Arag    
 
Mehari Kidane
   
Kidane Abeto
         
Executed in 1980 at Arag He was arrested in 1977
Executed in 1980 at Arag
G/Michael(Wedi Arbate)
Ghebre-Michael Meharizghi; Addis Abeba university graduate  
Michael Wedi Aketai)
   
He was arrested in 1977 Executed in 1980 at Arag
Executed in 1980 at Arag
Dr. Iyob G/Lul
Haile Jebha
Haile Jebha, former EPLF interrogation section chief
Dr Eyob Ghebre-leul, educated in the USSR
He was arrested in 1977
He was arrested in 1977
Executed in 1980 at Arag
Executed in 1980 at Arag
Meles G/mariam,   Tewolde Tesfamariam

The first victim from such group was Meles Ghebermariam, before the bell tolled for many.
Executed in 1973?

Tewdros Hadgebes
Executed in 1980 at Arag   ኣብ'ቲ መስርሕ ዕደና ኣልማዝ ኮንጎ ዛየር ካብ ዝተረሸኑ ዝርዝር ኣስማት ተጋደልቲ፦
 
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