June 24, 2002

BOWING TO PUBLIC PRESSURE

 

M. Filli A.

 

Only 4 days later, under the pressure of an avalanche of protest e-mails from Eritreans of the diaspora and after eye-witnessing it for himself, the BBC reporter Martin Plaut has now publicly bowed to our demands and redressed his egregious claim about our Martyrs day from Eritreans boycott war dead ceremonies June 20, 2002 (BCC)” to Eritreans remember war dead, BBC, Monday, 24 June, 2002”. We didn’t ask for more. The rest is history and rhetoric, for matching the ceremony at a different location does not constitute a boycott but an option because the same ceremony was held but at a different location. Mr. Plaut, it is not an obligation but mere courtesy to attend ceremonies organized by our embassies!

 

Having said that, I thank Mr. Plaut not only for rectifying the situation but also for disclosing the source of his second –hand misinformation.

 

Once again Eritrea has prevailed and the power of our concerted effort challenging the wrong was felt all over the world. This is a manifesto to the world that we Eritreans stand united when it comes to the interests of our people and country in the true, not the implied, sense of “Hade Hzbi, Hade Lbi” beyond any trace of doubt. I congratulate and thank you all for this action. Job very well done. There is no substitute for a united action and this one has elicited the required response promptly.

 

United we stand, divided we fall

Viva Eritrea

 

Eternal glory to our Martyrs

Long live our veterans

Dr. M. Filli A.