Yes there were selfless Eritrean gallants who paid beyond the numbers so that I can tell them “I am an Eritrea”; with pride written all over my face every time they asked. I sure like to know and Eritrea you have got to tell me the history and the story of these “bigger than life” Eritrean children.

Tell me Eritrea, I like to know! Tell me about them bigger than life Eritrean children from the distant and recent past. Tell me more about them boys and girls of Sahel, those with guts and brain, who had and still have what it takes and who gave and still are giving what it demands, through thick and thin, to build a nation from ground up. Tell me about the common Eritrean children, with an uncommon valor and wisdom, who liberated their land by crushing the largest army in Africa in May 24, 1991 and still they are at it defending and building a nation one brick at time.

It is “Sirihit Fenkil” week, please tell Eritrea; I sure like to know the who, the where, the when, the what, and the why, of these Eritrean children. Who were (are) these Eritrean children to have done things, which are above and beyond me to comprehend? Individually and collectively, who were they? From every humble and down-to-earth Eritrean home, raised by mom and dad, them boys and girls of Sahel were from all walks of life. They were Moslems and Christians, highlanders and lowlanders, and from urban and rural upbringings. They were Eritrean farmers and nomads, young and old, men and women, teachers and students, and white colors and blue colors. As diverse as could be, they were from that decent HIDMO, that generous AGUDO, and that humble AGNET; from the country of Nine Beautiful Colors, Eritrea. Who were they? In all the Eritrean children there was (is) one common denominator written in their DNA that made them to be one, act one, and move as one towards one destination-to the “free and sovereign” Eritrea they call home; despite the presence of the steep mountains to climb and the deep valleys to cross. That cementing factor, which goes to centuries back, was their unadulterated and unabridged love of country and people.

Driven by this cementing factor; with an unyielding steadfastness, unending patience, and “Hatsin A’re” persistence, they headed to the only place they knew as their God/Allah given fortress-the Eritrean wilderness. With set dreams and aspirations, from there they shot their first shot; believing one day that single shot will be an erupting volcano that shall consume all those who mean harm to their people. From there, on the sand and dust, they mapped their journey to wage a double-edged revolution, a revolution to liberate Eritrea both from within and without. From there, from afar, they saw the free, prosperous, and peaceful nation of their own among the family of nations.

Who were these Eritrean children and where could they be now? Who are these common Eritrean children with uncommon valor and wisdom. Some, paid the ultimate price, are resting in peace. And some are here; still at it to take Eritrea to complete the journey of takine Eritrea to the Promised Land. They are my “flesh and blood” alright. Some are my older brothers and sisters whom I used to follow their footsteps. Some are my young brothers and sisters whom I used to play their “big brother”. Some were the kid from next door with whom I used to play soccer and “ASTI” from sun up to sun down. Some were friends from school with whom I used to plan about life and living. They are my “flesh and blood” and I know them all and I still remember faces, places, and moments about them. But do I truly know them? I confess; there are times I ask my self if I ever was one of them or could have I measured up to them?

Yes, I do see them every day. I do see them. Some are just a lone photo hanging on my wall. Some are walking by with enemy-bullet-riddled bodies. Some are on wheelchairs, some on crutches, and some are with no limbs or arms or eyes. And some are still at it-on a mission in a much bigger scale. But in each of them; in that lone photo hanging off my wall, in that bullet-riddled body, in that missing limb or arm or eye, and in that leg that is still on the march on there is a “history” to be written and a “story” to be told and to be recorded for generation to come. It is that history and that story I want you to tell me, Eritrea, especially today on “Operation Fenkil” day!

They were lofty dreamers alright! Oh boy, have they dreamt a dream which was dismissed as “suicidal” by the whole world! You bet, their dream was just a “dim light” at the end the tunnel; but they were confident, persistent, and optimistic to the fault that “dim light” at the end of the tunnel will one day explode into a bright shining African star; shining from the mountaintop for all to see. They knew that star shall shine all over Africa for all to see and learn from.

However, to achieve their dreams, did they know what lays ahead and what the future holds? Did they know the mountains to be climbed, the valleys to be crossed, and the plains to be traversed? Did they know about the hunger, the heat of the days, and the cold of the nights they were to endure? Were they able to foresee, if they are to achieve their dream, they are to do it all alone and on their own? Did they ever knew or expected it will NOT be the expansionist from south of the border ONLY but the two world superpowers, in tandem or concurrently, will also be there to abort their mission? Did they know they are to trash the war games and battle plans of some of the best military science experts from across the oceans? Did they know, after every thing is said and done, they will prove to the world that they were brilliant Military Science Academy graduates and experts on their own right and in the process they were to rewrite the textbooks of Military Science, as we know it? Last but not least, did they know they would be the one who will teach the “Africa” how to build a peaceful and harmonious nation brick by brick? In short, did they know the struggle, the SEWRA or GEDLI as they call it, will be lonely, long, arduous, and bloody that might require marshaling three generations at the some point in time? No, I do not think they knew what the future holds; but one thing they knew and believed was one day that dim light at the end of the tunnel will explode into bright light. To that end, from that God/Allah given fortress, from the mountains and valleys of Sahel, they proclaimed: “Qalsina Newih E’u, Awet’Na Gin NayGidin E’u”.

To achieve their dreams they were ready to give it all, all what it demands, through thick and thin. And they gave and much more. They gave their youth, their limbs, their arms, their eyes, and they paid the ultimate price to have a home they call theirs, a people to belong to, and the root to hold on to in a free, peaceful, prosperous, and a secular nation of their own among the family of nations. After 30 plus some years of untold hardships and sacrifices and after years of tears, sweat, and blood, against all odds, “Eritrea was born in defiance” at last! Thank God/Allah; Eritrea was (is) blessed by such selfless children! Eritrea, it is that story and that history I want you to tell me; for there is lesson to learn form, especially today on “Operation Fenkil” day!

What I am not quite sure where to put it or how put it is how and why they were ready and willing to sacrifice every thing they got, up to and including their life, for the thing or things they might not be there the beneficiary! How generous and selfless could a human being be to give it all; knowing full well they might not be the beneficiaries of their struggle? To the contrary; let alone those who sacrificed their life, at this very moment, those who are still living are still at it to complete the other half of the revolution-the revolution to build and rebuild their home from ground up one brick at time. You bet, let alone those who sacrificed their life, at this very moment, those who are still living are still at it to complete the other half of the revolution-the revolution to build and rebuild their home from ground up one brick at time. To them, the other half of the journey, the journey to take Eritrea to the Promised Land, is not finished yet. They sacrificed and still they are sacrificing beyond the numbers yet they have not benefited a penny! I mean, not a penny! But here I am; I am the beneficiary of their sacrifices. Here I am; I am a free Eritrean who goes up and down with my shoulders straight and my head up. With a country I call mine, with people to belong to, and with roots to hold on to; here I am telling every one “I am an Eritrea” with pride written all over my face! Thanks to the bigger than life Eritrean children, I am a human being with dignity.

It is “Operation Fenkil” week, tell me Eritrea. Tell me more about the Eritrean children from the distance and the recent past. Tell me the history of Ibrahim Sultan, Wel-Wel, and Awate. Tell me the life and the journey of the Ibrahim Afa, Wedi Sheqa, Wedi Bashai, Wedi Haile, Ali Said Abdela, and many more. How about the story of the 14-years long triumphant and glorious journey that started at Nacfa, to Afabet, to Massawa, and through the backdoor (Adi Keyih and Dekamare) to the final destination-the Majestic Asmara. Oh I forgot, how about the story of the Eritrean who opened the doors of Menelik Palace, letting Meles Zenawi to sleep in the bed of his former masters?

That is not all Eritrea. Coming to the recent past (1998-2006), can you tell me the story of Warsai-THE TEQEBAL HIDRI. Please tell me Eritrea, “KEMAI NEBERE WU’ELO” WARSAI-YIKE’ALO at Badime, Meda Mechel, Burie, Adi Begi’O, and Zalambessa. How about the WU'ELO of a 22-years old Eritrean “JohnTra” who busted 7 enemy tanks single-handedly in a matter of one REFAD at Meda Mechel (Tserona)? Can you say some thing about another Eritrean gallant who busted 6 more tanks in another frontline? How about the story of the Eritreans who captured an Ethiopian gunship helicopter? Shooting down enemy planes has been done before but to capture an enemy plane and used it against the owner got to be the first in the history books of Military Science. Eritrea, you got to talk and you got to tell the why, the what, the when, and the where of the Eritrean gallants and giants from the distant and recent past; for there is a lesson to be learned. Eritrea, it is high time to tell it all, to write it all, and to show it all for me and for the generations to come; for there is a lesson in there I should know and study.

I confess, for six months after May 24, 1991, I danced on the streets as if that was it and freedom and liberty are here to stay. Do you know, not before too long, I was acting and talking as if this freedom was something that was given to me because the expansionist from south of the border thought it was morally and politically the right thing to do? Do not get angry with me, but it did not take me long to take as if the Eritrean freedom was something that was handed out or dolled out like “TITIQO HARASAT” like the rest of Africa. My sad story, without taking the time to thank the gallants for all their sacrifices, I went straight to complain about anything and everything; including the things I wanted Shaebia to deliver on a silver platter. What an arrogance and what an ignorance on my part; I did not only asked “Shaebia” to deliver “MANA KAB SEMAI” but I demanded it to be delivered to my doorsteps!

How naïve and innocently unassuming and gullible could I have been to take this freedom for granted; only to be awakened by a rude awakening in May 1998! It was a rude awakening alright! But after that rude awakening, which I call “blessing in disguise”, I began to go back in time, all the way to the 50s and 40s, to trace the journey toward freedom. I traced it back and I studies and now I know this priceless freedom, the freedom that was brought by tears, sweat, and blood, could be lost in a blink of an eye unless you and I are watching for Eritrea with an eagle eye. Now I know, Eritrea got to be prepared for any unhealthy wind that might blow from south of the border. Never forget, blinded by “greed”, “inferiority complex”, and “Red Sea Lust” they are still weaving evil to destroy Eritrea as a country and people. At the service of those who are still dreaming to destroy Eritrea as country and people, there are handful Eritrean KIRDAD who are barking like a rabid dog from across south of the border and from the streets of the West singing “doom and gloom” about Eritrea. Therefore Eritrea, to cherish and to pass what you have for generations to come; it is a must that you and I should be ready for any eventualities. The first step to that end is for you and I to know the price tag paid by Eritrea so far. Therefore Eritrea, talk about it , tell it , and show it all-the history and the story of the bigger than life Eritrean children for in there is a lesson to be learned for generation to come!

Never forget Eritrea, out of the four-pronged wars (military, economic, diplomatic, and psychological warfare) that were unleashed against you by Weyane, the only one left to make Eritreans kneel down, by making the Eritreans first to give up on them selves and then on their government, is the “psychological warfare”. That is all that is left. To that end, Weyane is spending over $1,000,000 a month to dispatch “soldiers of fortune” or mercenaries in the form of journalists, human rights watch, NGOs, and spies from Western countries. To these, add the handful HASUS of Eritrean origin which has been dispatched as “mercenary” to help win this psychological warfare. Thus Eritrea, you have no choice but to face these external and internal enemies on their terms and on their turf. But don’t worry Eritrea, as your children are putting it, “HIDRI ALONA QISENI ALENLAKI”.. This is not the 40s and 50s era-an era when Eritrean mouth was muzzled and Eritrean voice was muffled. In the 40s and 50s Eritrea was sentenced to a slow and silent death by suffocation. But now Eritrea, you have the means to speak and to speak loud and clear. Thanks to the “equalizer” (the information super highway), the suffocation days, the days when Western media giants and mercenaries, used to break nations and societies at whim are over. With Dimtsi Hafash, ERI-TV, Radio Sawa, the Internet, and newspapers at her disposal; Eritrea have now the means and the ability to talk and talk loud and clear. In defense of the Motherland, Eritrea and Eritreans are speaking with intellect, finesse, and gusto. So Eritrea, speak to tell the history and the story of the bigger than life Eritrean children.

Eritrea; never forget, in the middle of your colorful history and gallantry, there were, there are, and there will be a few what you call the “black sheep of the family” or the “KIRDAD” of Eritrea. Who is to say there shall no more “KAB BUSSUL MIGHE”. In addition to selling their soul to the devil in the streets of Mekele and the West for a daily ration that comes in the form of “donated wheat” and “donated cooking oil”; do you know these QEBITSE-TESAFA are NOT ONLY trying to undo what has been achieved so far but they are also trying to deny, to bury, or to rewrite your colorful history and unparalleled gallantry by disclaiming or negating the existence of your proud history and heritage. Let me give you a case in point to make my point as to why and how the DESPERADO are to try to deny the existence of Eritrea as a people and country by disclaiming or negating the existence of your proud history and heritage. After the passing away of the bigger than life Eritrean son, Ali Said Abdela, every Eritrean, including my self, was glued to ERI-TV to study the history and the journey of the Eritrean giant. At the time when the history and journey of Ali Said Abdela was being told; here comes a desperately desperate Eritrean DESPERADO from the streets of the West to do what he does best: Abuse him self in broad daylight. In his bid to deny, to bury, or to rewrite the colorful history and gallantry of Eritreans in general and the likes of Ali Said Abdela in particular; this TEFASH has the nerve to say Eritreans are “irrational people’, and Eritrean patriotism and gallantry is an “irrational one”; for no apparent reason but he neither could swallow the existence of Eritrea as people and country nor could he accept what Eritrea had to pay for her unalienable right to exist. The Eritreans are “irrational people’ and Eritrean patriotism, nationalism, and gallantry is an “irrational one” is what this TEFASH (bankrupt) said from the streets of North America! He must be the first person in the history of mankind to take patriotism, gallantry, and love of a country and people as an “irrational one” and the people who practice it as an “irrational people”. In short, what this “bankrupt” said is the Eritrean revolution was wrong and Eritreans should not have gone to the field to liberate their land and people; period! Although such words are not expected from an Eritrean; but who to say being born to Eritrea makes one to be an Eritrean. “Eritreanism” is more than being born to Eritrea for it is a belief written in the DNA of each Eritrean. Be it as it may, such disgraceful words coming from a man who is suffering from a paralyzing hatred of Shaebia and chest-arresting vendetta against Wedi Afom Beri was no shocker to the next Eritrean. Then again what can you expect for desperados who have squandered half of their life in the streets of Kessela drinking “Ghawa” and “Shahi Me’Amer”. In short, comparing such TEFASH Eritreans with the journey of Eritrean giants and gallants such as Ali Said Abdela; it must be true and it got to be true when they say great and honorable men have the wisdom and the fortitude to live up to their name till the last minute whereas the final destination of “rats” is down the sewers. Now you know why Eritrea has to speak loud and clear and now you know why Eritrea has to tell and to record her colorful and noble history; for there is a lesson to be learned.

Come to think about it, the same men and women with unparalleled gallantry, heroism, and the steadfastness are still here. Still building a nation brick by brick. To yours and mine surprise, being men and women of small words, them boys and girls of Sahel do not like to talk about them selves or about their typical day at SEWRA. We know Shaebia do not believe in self-aggrandizement. They are decent, humble, and down-to-earth who let their action speak for its self and not their words. It is OK to be a country of “small words”, but there are times when these men and women with guts and brain to tell their story. In their story there is a lesson to be learned. So talk Eritrea. If not; your colorful history and story will remain buried in the Eritrean mountains, valleys, and plains. Or worst yet, a bankrupts and Hasus, suffering from unfulfilled personal journey through life from the streets of the West, will come along to deny, or bury, or to rewrite your colorful history, gallantry, and proud heritage. Therefore, in defense of Eritrea, Eritrea must talk, Eritrea must write, and Eritrea must show her colorful history and heritage. It is “Operation Fenkil” and it that moment it write to tell it all!

ERITREA, HERE IS TO COLORFUL HISTORY!
Wetru Awet N’Hafash!
Hiji Win Hade Hizbi Hade Libi!
Eternal Glory to the Dead and the Living Heroes/Heroines
It is a Must “Wefri Warsai-YekeAlo” Should Succeed!

Dr. Michael Fessehaye

In Pictures - Symbols of Operation Fenkil

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