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The Culture of June 20
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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 6th offensive, which took place for more than three months. June 20 marks the end of the 6th 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 19th 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.
YPFDJ Italy Gathering
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On May 1st, 2010 YPFDJ Italy held its quarterly meeting in Milan.
The gathering was attended by several members from six different Italian cities: Catania, Bologna, Milan, Parma, Rome and Turin.
The meeting aimed to assess the progress achieved in the last few months, exchanging ideas on the 6th YPFDJ Conference and discuss a joint action plan to harmonize the linkage with other YPFDJ chapters across Europe.
The meeting was opened by b/Russom Ghebreghiorghis, Eritrean Consul in Milan, who welcomed all guests and wished us all the best for our work.
In her speech she also underlined the key role played by the Eritreans living in Italy during the Independence struggle and in the post-independence period. She outlined that Italy is a milestone in the history of Eritrean Diaspora. Our aim today is to revive the same strong movement as in the past for the future generations.
An organisational restructure is needed to move forward.
Bitzay Ataklti Arefaine, chairperson of YPFDJ Italy, after introducing the meeting agenda and underlining the objectives, passed the word to the participants at the 6th YPFDJ Conference held in Berlin, which have exposed to those who could not attend, the program contents and personal impressions of the event.
Representatives from different chapters analysed the achievements and the challenges they faced in the recent time.
Participants were divided in three groups where several debates were held focusing on selected points and addressed based on the workshop of Berlin Conference:
• Create a strong organisational structure in Italy and around the world, to face the different challenges of ourtime.
We sincerely thank Hamadee Women for their support for the preparation andof lunch and all refreshments throughout the day.
YPFDJ - Italy
Call For Papers
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CALL FOR PAPERS
Will you be at the 4th Eri-Youth Festival this summer? Do you want your voice heard? Then why not attend as an ACTIVE member rather than just a spectator!!!
You are invited to submit your research paper for presentation during the Festival!
This year’s festival is pivotal to the current worldwide MEKETE movement and it has a special theme:
Youth: Directors of the Future
As always, it is a festival driven by youth, for youth – you should also be a part of this magic!
Research paper topics can range from Politics to Development, Economics to Philosophy, Sciences to Arts, and any other area that is relevant to Eritrea’s social, political and economic reality.You will need to indicate your intention to submit your full paper by email to the reviewing board’s focal person at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it with the title of the paper, full name, and abstract by May 7, 2010.
Your paper will be screened for quality as well as relevance and specific authoring guidelines will be mailed to you after we receive your note of intent.
The full manuscript, as PDF file, must be sent by June 7, 2010. IMPORTANT DATES:
Intent to Submit: May 7
Full Version: June 7
Decision Date: June 21
Presentation Date: During Sawa Festival, July 16-19
Dilution of the Sanction (bitsia Temesgen Tesfamariam Asmara, Eritrea)
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Many statesmen of western civilization have bisected the world along good and evil. And they always think as if the west is the harvester of the good and the rest of the world as cultivators of evil. If we turn over the pages in history, the war between the Spartans and Persian is depicted as the war between reason and justice against mysticism and slavery. During the Roman Empire, it was between the Romans and Barbarians, and now the west portrays itself as the preserver of ultimate truth and any state pro-national interest has categorized in the evil list.
These days, the world is thirsty of equal footing global system than any time in the civilization of human being. In the history of human being, many kingdoms and empires had tried to install one peaceful global system. But as we are experiencing right now in the world, most of these forward moves were curtailed by the unjust application of power. Alexander the Great had tried to establish secured empire by calling for Cosmos Polis. Throughout the empire, the problem was, the Greeks undermined the values and interests of the subjects. The same was in the Roman Empire. It demonized the subject people as Barbarians-inferior to the Roman people. And during the Middle Ages, the Christian world, ignored the religious beliefs of other people that led to destructive wars.
In 17th century, sovereign state structure appeared and so egalitarian global system got a reputation as the sole principle of survival. Since then, numerous treaties and conventions were signed among the sovereign states. Then, organizations have begun to evolve as guardians of the signed treaties and conventions, especially, in the twentieth century, such organizations used to apply sanction as the means of punishment over violent states. Sanction, however, since the mid twentieth century has been diluted its original meaning, literally, has been applied for interest of powerful states.
If we see the recent history of the world, after the end of Cold War, the two blocks- East & West were disrupted and automatically the third category of Non-Allied was also ended. The Western world, under the leadership of the United States had gotten a chance of leading the world without any major challenge. The challenge was whether it would choose the right way of leading the world or the opposite. But in the last twenty years, it has indecently consumed. The eagle of capitalist ideology has crippled and the effect of physical power dimensioned. Apparently, many popular revolts, local and global, have been brew against the western domination.
It is in this context that Eritrea is branded as unbridled horse in the desert, of its self skill of national interest. Unofficial sanction, has applied over it since 1998. Now, the point is, they make it uncovered which indirectly indicates the nation’s place in the international structure. Misunderstoodly, some citizen fear the western nations are responding for bad behaves of Eritrea. According to the international laws, Eritrea is on the right footing. Otherwise, once a nation looks after its national interest, and somehow doesn’t bow down to the west, according the general consensus of the western nations it has to be punished at least by sanction.
Temesgen Tesfamariam
YPFDJ Dallas YOUTH & HEZBAWI MEKETE
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YPFDJ Dallas YOUTH & HEZBAWI MEKETE
PRESS RELEASE
There is no greater strength than our unity, and true to "Hade Hizbi, Hade Libi", the Dallas/Fort Worth and surrounding area Eritreans came out in mass for Saturday's Mekete from midday until well beyond sundown. The day was a great success as Eritreans, young and old, arrived with concern for their country and left armed with knowledge and ready to petition and demonstrate on behalf of Eritrea "adena."
The day started with a Youth Mekete hosted by YPFDJ Dallas. The participants were immensely impressed with guest speaker Dr. Ghidewon Abay-Asmerom's presentation, which enthralled and educated the youth of Dallas. Thirsty for more, the Youth Mekete ran into overtime as a spirited question and answer session followed concluding that the security of our nation comes first and foremost. With this understanding, a letter and petition to President Barack Obama was read and signed. Not satisfied with this alone, many expressed interest in joining the YPFDJ global movement and the E-SMART campaign. There truly is no unity like the Eritrean one!
As a testimony to his tireless resolve, Dr. Ghidewon ensued with a Hezbawi Mekete, public seminar for all, immediately after with more attendees than chairs! Parents and community members stood before everyone and reaffirmed their loyalty and love for their country. The children assisted with passing out brochures informing the public of the sanction and Dr. Ghidewon wrapped up yet another eloquent presentation outlining Eritrea's history and the importance of ensuring our voices are heard by joining the E-SMART campaign and petitioning to our representatives. All the participants stood to pledge support to their country and sign the petitions that were prepared for the event. Witnessing the dedication and determination of the Eritrean people was inspiring and motivating for the participants.
The day ended with a community appreciation dinner catered by Hamade and musical entertainment by DJ Mak. In addition to the tasty buffet style meal provided, DFW Eritreans were treated to a wonderful and heart-warming dance performance by the Dallas Eritrean Community School. For many of us, the image of the children of Dallas dancing in traditional Eritrean clothes, as one proud little boy spun in the center holding the Eritrean flag high will bring a smile for years to come. Choreographed by the volunteers teachers of the Eritrean Community School, the dance routine caused the hall to stand in joyous applause as the dancers showered them with popcorn.
As the night ended and people left with copies of the petition and their copies of Merih newsletter, a worldwide newsletter by the youth, YPFDJ Dallas couldn't help but be overwhelmed with the bond that unites us all. One thing is clear; the Eritrean spirit can never be sanctioned! YPFDJ Dallas would like to thank Dr. Ghidewon Abay-Asmerom, for his continued dedication to Eritrea and his tireless efforts to raise awareness of the public. We would also like to thank and commend the PFDJ and the Shemagele mekete committee, the Dallas Eritrean Community School, and the Eritrean Community members of the DFW area for their guidance, unconditional support, and words of encouragement and wisdom.
To See Pictures from the event click the below link:
http://www.slide.com/r/JEDHmTFf0T-_kejlXNoc5D9HXioGbaBS?previous_view=lt_embedded_url
Call For Papers
Tweet me!
CALL FOR PAPERS
Will you be at the 4th Eri-Youth Festival this summer? Do you want your voice heard? Then why not attend as an ACTIVE member rather than just a spectator!!!
You are invited to submit your research paper for presentation during the Festival!
This year’s festival is pivotal to the current worldwide MEKETE movement and it has a special theme:
Youth: Directors of the Future
As always, it is a festival driven by youth, for youth – you should also be a part of this magic!
Research paper topics can range from Politics to Development, Economics to Philosophy, Sciences to Arts, and any other area that is relevant to Eritrea’s social, political and economic reality.You will need to indicate your intention to submit your full paper by email to the reviewing board’s focal person at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it with the title of the paper, full name, and abstract by May 7, 2010.
Your paper will be screened for quality as well as relevance and specific authoring guidelines will be mailed to you after we receive your note of intent.
The full manuscript, as PDF file, must be sent by June 7, 2010. IMPORTANT DATES:
Intent to Submit: May 7
Full Version: June 7
Decision Date: June 21
Presentation Date: During Sawa Festival, July 16-19
Action Day (YPFDJ-NY)
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Wetru Wefri Warsai Yikealo
Awet N’Hafash
Bordoli Kiflai
YPFDJ-NY
My Impressions on Young-PFDJ (YPFDJ)
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My very first impression: wow they are serious. The clearly stated expectations of its members are sophisticated and high. Respectfully, the expectations set are realistic and still allow for the professional, educational and personal growth of its members. This I love.The meeting began with a very "chewable" presentation by Mr. Araia Ephrem. Mr. Ephrem touched upon the challenges Eritrea faced/faces/will face, how we must continue to defend Eritrea's national security in order to secure her future, maintaining Eritrea's good standing in the world, amongst other notable points. How we move forward in specifically executing these visions was also discussed. For as many years as I have dedicated to our community and the countless organizations I have been a part of, I can sincerely say this organization and movement is different. Eritreans have always been eager when it comes to community activism but what is different with YPFDJ is this: I see longevity and sustainability, activism and progress. The missions/visions alone tell me we are working for now as well as for the future- keeping always in mind our history. It is critical to "look back to our history as a basis for creating the kind of unity we need to go forward with knowledge and strength into the future." (ritesofpassage.org) Sankofa: looking back to go forward (from the Ghanian proverb). This movement is equipping its members with the necessary leadership skills and education to foster the conscious minds that will serve as Eritrea's future leaders.
The duration of the meeting included: a follow-up and critique of the February 22nd demonstration, a quick assessment of the regional conference, future events, along with a few other items.
I gave in. My infatuation with actively being a part of Eritrea's progress led to my decision to join Y-PFDJ. I am ready to volunteer my skills and areas of specialization for the betterment of my people and country. As always, Eritrea has won my heart over.
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