Preparations are in full swing to colorfully conduct Eritrea Festival 2010 at the national level, according to Mr. Gideon Fisehaye, head of the office of the National Holidays Coordinating Committee.

A total of 45 prisoners of law at Hazhaz Rehabilitation and Correctional Center received academic and vocational training courses.

Three years ago at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Mombasa, Zersenay Tadese was able to force  Kenenisa Bekele out of gear and stop his dream to win a sixth consecutive title. On July 26 a similar phenomenon occurred in Castelbuono.....

Foreign Minister Osman Saleh said that Eritrea is registering encouraging progress in diverse domains on the basis of internal resource. He made the remarks at the 15th ordinary session of the African Union Assembly focusing on maternal, infant and child health and development in Africa.

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Foreign Minister Osman Saleh said that Eritrea is registering encouraging progress in diverse domains on the basis of internal resource. He made the remarks at the 15th ordinary session of the African Union Assembly focusing on maternal, infant and child health and development in Africa.

Three years ago at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Mombasa, Zersenay Tadese was able to force  Kenenisa Bekele out of gear and stop his dream to win a sixth consecutive title. On July 26 a similar phenomenon occurred in Castelbuono.....

In a meeting he conducted with the peoples’ representative of Habero sub-zone, the Administrator of the sub-zone, Mr. Hussein MohammedNur, stressed on the need for reinforced efforts for further development of the sub-zone.

As part of the endeavors to maintain the environmental sanitation of the port city of Massawa and the sea coast, protective walls have been constructed along the Tiwalet strip.

The Anseba regional Administration is implementing a number of development projects this year at an expenditure of over 326 million Nakfa aimed at achieving food security and reinforcing the development drive.

The National Health Laboratory has managed to provide proper medication to killer diseases through identifying their causes, stated Mr. Samuel Sahle, coordinator of the Laboratory.

The Culture of June 20 

Temesgen Tesfamariam
Asmara, Eritrea

June 20 is Eritrea’s Martyrs Day, which has been celebrated since 1991. The date was selected because of its historic significance during the thirty years of bitter-armed struggle. In 1982, the EPLF paid a heavy price during the 6^th offensive, which took place for more than three months. June 20 marks the end of the 6^th offensive attack, and the beginning of a shift in the balance of power.

Every year official and informal memorial events have been accommodated all over the nation. For the last 19 years of independence, Eritrean people have continued to commemorate Martyr’s Day privately and publicly. In the day surrounding June 20, friends and neighbors of the martyrs visit the families of those who sacrificed their lives for Eritrea’s freedom. They keep them company and offer them gifts as symbol of respect and dedication to their promise to uphold the freedom bestowed upon them by the martyrs’ bravery.

In the year 2004, Eritreans in the Diaspora took the initiative to sponsor Martyrs’ families. They gave financial and material assistance, providing them with educational materials, dresses, and toys for the children. They donate various amounts of money every month of the year. These contributions continue without ceasing for two years, and for many, they continue on after the two years for many more. Since the inception of the Martyrs Fund, many Eritreans both outside and within Eritrea; have actively participated in sponsoring Martyr’s families.

On the evening of 19^th June, there is a candle vigil across Eritrea. People go into the streets holding candles to remember the Martyrs. In Asmera, all shops are closed and the main street lights on Harnet & Semaetat Avenues are put out until the candle vigil ceremony is over.  After the vigil, teenagers often sit on the streets around a map of Eritrea that’s made of the burning candles.

On the eve of June 20, people of all ages assist in planting trees around their compounds and neighborhoods. Dwellers of the Capital Asmera go to the National Martyrs Park in groups, along with their relatives, friends, colleagues, classmates, to plant tree. The symbolic nature of planting the tree and naming it after the Martyrs- whether it was a son, daughter, mother, father, relative, or friend– is a powerful moment, allowing for those present to remember the sacrifice and immortalize the heroic actions of our martyrs. In other parts of Eritrea, people collect the remains of fallen heroes, who died fighting in different battlefields throughout the country, for proper burial in the Martyrs Cemetery.

The June 20 memorial events continue on throughout the day in Asmara. Early in the morning, churches and mosques carry out memorial services and people walk en masse to the Martyr’s cemetery where the official Martyr’s Day ceremony takes place. At the event, fallen heroes are glorified through songs and plays, presented by a cultural troupe. Right at 1300 universal time, the national radio (Dimtsi Hafash) announces a moment of silence. Every citizen in the nation stops whatever work they are doing and stands up to remember the Martyrs. Vehicles on the street come to stand still and all have their heads bowed in silence. It is at that moment everyone renews the promise to guard the principles that the heroes fell for.

President Isaias Afwerki said that a meeting aimed at further enhancing Eritrean-Egyptian relations would be held in Asmara shortly, in continuation of the bilateral discussion conducted in Cairo.  He made the remarks in an interview he conducted today here in the capital with the Egyptian daily, Al-Ahram.

Eritrea would host this year’s under 20 youth soccer match championship of the Confederation of East and Central Africa Football Association (CECAFA).

In a meeting he conducted with the inhabitants of Mai-Mine, the Administrator of the Southern region, Mr. Mustafa Nurhusein, said that the relentless efforts of the inhabitants are playing decisive role in the conservation of soil and water as well as expanding modern agricultural methods, including irrigation towards achieving food security.