Eritrean War Of Independence - Helen Haile

Intro

The Eritrean War of Independence was the longest struggle in African history, lasting from 1961 to 1991 (Cousin Web). The war for independence by Eritrea was the result of its long history of colonization (Cousin Web). Since its beginnings, Eritrea has been a region of colonization (Cousin Web).

Interview #1: Dr. Ghirmai Haile Sequar, Pharm.Dr

1.) You were born before Eritrea was independent. Before the war, did you consider yourself Eritrean or Ethiopian? Why?
Eritrean. Eritrea already had its own ethnic people in it, each with their own land and territory. Then, Eritrea was conquered by Ethiopia but the UN decided on a federation between the Eritrea and Ethiopia. But Ethiopia broke this federation and forced us into their state. I am Eritrean, not Ethiopian. I was never Ethiopian.

2.) What were you doing before the war? (schooling, working etc) Why did you join? Did your parents approve of you joining the war?
I was a student in Addis-Ababa at Addis-Ababa University. I joined because I felt that Eritrea was being annexed by Ethiopia, and it’s rights violated. No, they didn’t approve. Because I went to the forest, and there was the possibility of me dying. They didn’t want to die but I felt like I had to go and fight for my country and for them to.
3.) Why do you think the Eritreans suddenly wanted independence in 1961?
That was when it started because the UN decided to give Eritrea to Ethiopia for 10 years, and then, at the end, by referendum, they’d vote whether it’s be an independent state or not. In 1961, we were annexed by Ethiopia, breaking the federation. See, inside Eritrea, there was already a government. It had its own education system, it’s own security, it’s own police, it’s own everything. Just technically under a federation with Ethiopia. When that federation as broken, we were angered. We’d basically had our independence, and now he comes and takes it away? No. That wouldn’t be allowed.

4.) Anything else you’d like to add about your experience?
It was tough, over 120,000 people died over thirty years. This was for freedom. In my opinion, we should have lived in Ethiopia in mutual peace. The war was…I cannot say “non-sense” war, but we could have lived with Ethiopia with a mutual agreement. In America, the North and the South only fought for four years before they settled on an agreement. All the 50 states live in peace with each other with respect and agreement. But the Ethiopian government discriminated against the Eritreans, so I we had no choice.

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Interview #2: Letebirhan Okbazgi

1.) Before the war, did you consider yourself Eritrean or Ethiopian? Why?
Ethiopian. My mother and father said I was from Ethiopia, so I was from Ethiopia. As I was growing up, people always told me that Ethiopia and Eritrea weren’t different countries. I was living in Ethiopia so I was Ethiopian. Under the colony of Italy, Eritrea and Ethiopia were separated. During WW2, England won control and took over again for ten years. The British government gave it to Haile Selassie to make it one country. In 1961, the Eritreans went to fight against him because they weren’t happy as one country. They needed freedom. (Why then and not earlier or later?) Some people were doing better under Ethiopia, some better under the Italians, some better under the English. They thought it would be better to be ruled under one Eritrea and there would be equality for all.

2.) What were you doing before the war? (schooling, working etc etc) When did you join? Why? Did your parents approve?
I was going to school. I was in the 12th grade in 1974. I joined when I was seventeen years old in the military hospital. I wanted to go to medical school, so this was like experience. How to get shots, first aid, how to get IV, deal with trauma. They didn’t approve at all, because I was their child. The hospital was in the forest in the mountains, too much snakes, too much tigers, too much hyenas. I ran away from my family because they wouldn’t let me go.

3.) As a woman, how was your experience? Did all the fighters get treated equally? Or were women discriminated against?
No, everyone was equal. Even in the discussions, everyone was equal. The military commissioner was a woman. (How about in the war in general?) Even the hospital was dangerous; soon I left the hospital and joined the actual fighting. Everyone carried a gun, and we walked so far every day, fifty miles, with no food or drink in the sun. It was hard life, but we were all hopeful for our country.

4.) What do you think of post-war Eritrea? What were the goals of the war to start with?
It’s bad. The government is evil and corrupt. They don’t take care of the family; the children are learning not to respect their parents, everyone is starving. They’re fascist and lock up people for no reason; anyone who they don’t like goes missing. This is not what my friends died for, this is not our Eritrea. Our Eritrea is locked up and being imprisoned with the other people the government doesn’t like, we are waiting until the day she is free and glorious.

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1.) How was life like before the war in Ethiopia?
It was very good. We always had crops, our animals were alive and well. It was safe under Haile Selassie, and everyone was happy. (If everyone was happy, why did the war start?) I don’t know. There are some young people who call for a revolution after being colonized so long. They don’t understand they can be Ethiopian and Eritrean at the same time. (So you’re saying you’re both? What do you mean?) I live in Ethiopia but I am an Eritrean by birth. Therefore, I’m Eritrean-Ethiopian, right? They’re the same thing anyways. It doesn’t matter which you call yourself by. Right now, I’d rather be called an Ethiopian than be associated with this Eritrea we have now.

2.) How as life like during the war?
It was the beginning of hell. Civilians were dying; soldiers from both sides were dying. So much dying and blood. Sometimes, the Ethiopian government came around and killed people in large groups; the whole towns. In a town near the village I lived, all the men were killed by Ethiopian soldiers. They’re necks were slit right in front of their children and wives, almost 250, I think, of them were slaughtered. Children ran away to join the fight, my daughter did. She went and became a nurse in the forests, taking care of soldiers. I was so worried for her life, I prayed and prayed someone would not come and tell me she has passed. Just the thought of her and my other relatives fighting out there, perhaps dying, was probably worse than living after being shot in the chest.

3.) How was life like after?
My children that had fought came back alive. I thank God everyday for that. Some of my children went to the US, some to Sudan. I stayed in Eritrea and lived under the new government, thinking it would be better now after the war. But it was only worse, the new “president” only continues the war expect against his own people. Everyone is starving, everyone is sick; no one can afford schooling like before. The government takes, kills, and oppresses the people. Everywhere there is propaganda, trying to hide what we experience from us like we’re idiots. They’re morons. But I don’t have time to think about them when I have to deal with all the problems they’re causing me.

4.) Do you have hope for the future of Eritrea then?
In life, all we can do is hope and pray to God that he’ll save us. Maybe one day, when the “president” dies and a new, pure one takes his place, Eritrea will bloom. I don’t care about a rich country, I care about a country I can be proud to say I live in, one that doesn’t make people think of as poor and dumb, like what the government makes Eritrea look like.