Although the Eritrean government is not keen to publicize the loss the TPLF regime sustained in its small-scale attack against sovereign Eritrean territory on December 25, it was nonetheless compelled to interview some of the captured soldiers of the regime so as to expose its well-known habit of lies

Asmara, 29 December 2007 – It is to be recalled that in continuation of its on-going acts of provocation against Eritrea’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, the TPLF regime had unleashed a small-scale attack at exactly 03:00 a.m. local time on December 25 in the southern Tsorona area, Southern region, against Eritrean militia and security forces deployed to patrol the Security Zone. However, the attack ended up in utter failure.

This was disclosed by the Eritrean Commission for Coordination with the UN Peacekeeping Mission in Eritrea and Ethiopia.

As usual, the TPLF regime has surprisingly denied this indisputable fact.

In connection with this development, the regime’s foreign minister said in a statement:

“The latest accusation made by the Shaebia government should be taken as a baseless and fabricated act.”

More astonishing, the officials of the regime, well-known for their resort to lie after lie, have been unashamedly explaining to the international media that the incident never took place.

PM’s Advisor, Bereket Simon’s remarks:

“The attack Eritrea is talking about is totally untrue. We are people of democracy, economic development and efficient management. The said attack has to do with Eritrea’s confrontation with internal opposition elements. As far as we are concerned, let alone to engage in such an attack, we had never thought about it.”

Now, let’s have a look at what the captured TPLF soldiers had to say:

“My name is Nebiyu Mammo Habtemichael. I am from Army Division 20, Regiment 206, Unit 1. Before we began the attack, an officer of the regime with the rank of Sergeant told us on December 15, Geez calendar, to get ready for an attack. By 3 a.m. at dawn, we crossed into Eritrean territory. Thereafter, Captain Rizqe, our Force commander, placed those assigned to give us cover behind and ordered them to open fire. Subsequently, they started firing and gave us cover, and then we began the attack. Placing those newly recruited soldiers in the front, the veterans lined behind us. Generally speaking, the units that engaged in the confrontation comprised of two Forces and a spy team – we were about 200 soldiers all in all. Soon after we launched the attack, the surrounding around me witnessed a huge explosion. Upon a glimpse, I saw the dead, the wounded and others fleeing for their lives. I was then captured. Although it was in the night hours, I came to learn that over 10 soldiers from a single team were killed. As I had sustained head injury, members of the Eritrean Defense Force washed my blood-stained head and provided me with medical treatment. They also gave me food. On the whole, I was accorded friendly care. Before I was captured, my superiors used to indoctrinate me with the notion that ‘Shaebia is a killer.’ But, the kind treatment extended to me proved to be the contrary. Indeed, close attention and care was given to me.”

---