Ethiopia frees Eritrean war prisoners
File photo – Eritrean soldiers captured during a battle near the disputed territory along the Eritrean-Ethiopian border are guarded June 15 after arriving in a camp for prisoners of war.
October 9, 2012 (AFP) – Ethiopia has released 75 Eritrean prisoners of war captured in March during a cross border attack on a military base, officials said on Tuesday.
“The government of Ethiopia believes it is proper to release these captive soldiers of Eritrea and let them go where they want,” government spokesman Bereket Simon told AFP.
Addis Ababa attacked the Eritrean base in retaliation for the killing of five tourists in Ethiopia’s Afar region it blamed on its arch-rival, although an Ethiopian rebel group claimed responsibility and Asmara rejected the claim.
The soldiers were handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on Sunday, Bereket said.
“Ethiopia doesn’t have any interest to keep them here,” he said, but added the move does not signal a change in the icy relationship between the two long-time foes.
“The Eritrean government is adamant and has refused to discuss issues of common concern and there are no actual discussions taking place,” he said.
Eritrea won independence from Ethiopia in 1993 after a 30-year struggle, but they returned to war in a bloody 1998-2000 border conflict which left at least 70 000 dead.
The two countries remain at odds over the flashpoint town of Badme, awarded to Eritrea by a UN-backed boundary commission but still controlled by Addis Ababa.
Seven of the released prisoners applied for political asylum in Ethiopia, Bereket said, adding that they were free to stay if they wanted.
Tensions flared in January when two Germans, two Austrians and one Hungarian were killed in the attack on the slopes of Ethiopia’s famed Erta Ale volcano in the desolate Afar border region.
Eritrea denied involvement in the incident and did not retaliate after Ethiopia attacked their military base.
The Ethiopian-based Afar Revolutionary Democratic Unity Front (ARDUF) rebels, fighting a low-level insurgency against “political marginalisation” by Addis Ababa, claimed responsibility. They said they have no ties to Asmara.
– AFP
Of course, Berect Simon must release them. They are his Eritrean brothers. He is an eritrean who represents shaby Shabiya’s war of genocide in Oromiya. now, Isayas’s Shabiya can do buisnesses as they please through Bereket Simon and Hailemriam Desalegn’s wife who is an Eritrean(Tigrean)origin born in southern region, could in Walayita Sodo. They released 75 Eritreans means that they vacated a place for 700 Oromos to imprison. Isayas was the real enemy of the Oromo people behind Meles and now with Beret and Desalegn’s wife.
Bereket released his brothers and capture hundreds of Oromos for torture. But the funny thing is to see OLF and others in Asmera as rebels. Shabiya destroyed OLF in side Oromia 1993 and destroying inside Asmera since they joined them. Is Asmera an ally or enemy for OLF?
Is Asmera an ally or enemy for OLF?
this is very easy question, and I suggest you better ask a 3 month old baby.
The above seen are Eritrean civilians abducted by TPLF from around the border of Eritrea and Ethiopia.They were conditioned to sign that they were soldiers or to face deaths in detentions.
The TPLF continuesly abducs Eritreans and looting cattles from villages bordering with ethiopia as well as destroying farmasmit appears that the target is civilians not Eritrean defence forces.Simply coz TPLF cannot face Eritrean defense forces rather than to terrorise unarmed civilians.
Raayyaa Iggu and wahima,
Both of you are liers and agents of TPLF.you have never worked for oromia as Eritreans did against dergue and TPLF.Why dono’t you blame Dima aga’o who proposed taking the OLA into the camp and to disarm them.
Eritrea did everything it could to help oromia in the past and it will in hencing freedom and liberty to let the people of Horn of Africa experience peace.
Isin lamaan teechanii nam HUNDA KOMATTU HIN HOJJATAN,HIN HIDHATTAN HIN HIDHACHIIFTAN
KOMATOONNII FI SOBDOOTA ARGINEERRA KANA DURA,FAKKAATANII oROMOOTA YAADA ADDA FACAAS HIRMAATTU,YAA HATTOOTA.KAN AKKA KEESSANII KAN HOJJATUU FI HOJJACHIISU MIILA JALAA DHAWUU YAALTU,KAN OROMIA QARQAARU MOONAA DIINAA GALCHUU FI UMMATA OROMIA FIRA QABSOON HORATE GARGAR FAGEESSUU YAALTU,GARA BIRAA NAFXANYAA FI TPLF WALIIN NYAATTU,ISIN BEEKNA TOOFTAA MOOFAA KEESSAN KUNI AWWAALAMEERA,ATIS AKKUMA NAMA AWWAALAMEERUU OF LALTU MISHA.
Aadaa,har’a 2012 1993 hin jirru.Amma tana qarqaarsa gara hundaa argachuun barbaachisa,wanni tare tareera,kan amma hojjachuu fi burqisiisuu barbaachisu yoo yaadame mishaadha.