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Manqa: The Internal Crisis
Guerrillas to Government. The Eritrean People's Liberation Front.
By: David Pool
The institional framework for attaining full unification provided a
forum for a root-andbranch criticism of the nascent political
organization. The major focus of the critics was the undemocratic nature
of the front, the lack of rights of fighters and the failings of the
leadership in a wide range of areas: administration, supply, health and
military. At the heart of the opposition were university and secondary
school educated who had joined the Ala group after a conscious
recruitment campaign aimed at them by the Ala leadership.(23). Much of
the criticism of the leadership was concentrated on Issayas Afeworki,
and pulled into the opposition orbit two of the original members of the
Ala group: Solomon Woldemariam and Tewolde Eyob.(24) It is a mark of the
sensitivity of this challenge to the leadership that the episode has
never been publicly acknowledged. While many have used the internal
challenge as a means of criticizing the EPLF, an account of it is
important because of its impact on the organizational development of the
front and, in particular, in enhancing the solidarity of the leadership.
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Menkae memory, Meharena Hadgu
The word Menka stirs interest in people. It has become a household word,
and yet, most have no clear understanding of it. For many years the EPLF
leadership of being a regionalist movement labelled it. It was a
forgotten issue of a sensitive part of the Eritrean guerrilla movement.
The recent repetition of this has made us want to know more of these
Menka martyrs. The Menkae were not even honoured as martyrs but hushed
away and their files closed, according to a video interview with the
president in 1996.Many went to meda after they graduated or little time
left to graduate. In the 60s and 70s it was a great honour for a family
when their child graduated from the
university. It was a big celebration with relatives and friends invited.
The future was bright for the graduated and became respected members in
their areas. When these students went to meda they knew how much they
were sacrificing in their personal lives.
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The PLF leadership crisis 1973
This incident was one small happening which led to a large one, fighters
purging each other thus the killings of the "Menkae" and possibly
the "Yemeen" branded fighters of the so called movements. I prefer
sending the persons interviews than analyzing it because the fighters I
interviewed told me of their personal experiences and were not in the
exact places when the happenings occurred.
Interview with ex ambassador Haile Menkerios 24.10.04
When did you join the struggle?
I went to meda early 1973.
Why did you go?
You have to understand there was a lot of idealism, student movement,
and it was not only I but many students. It
was a duty which we happily accepted. We knew that harsh life was
expecting us. We decided that we should be
examples to all Eritreans for such a commitment. I was in graduate
school then. We were the first ones going from
here. We were about 5 who started but only I and another friend went to
meda.
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SOME NAMES ASSOCIATED WITH MENKAE
The names and information collected are not certain. Several persons
have given specified knowledge.
Menkae killed named by Meharenna Hadgu (from his video narration):
1)Mussie Tesfankiel (Stina degle) 2)Yohannes Sebhatu (Gurae)
3) Russom pharmacist (? not known) 4) Afeworki Teklu (Atekelezan,
Anseba)
5) Tareke Yehedego (Himbirti) 6) Habteselasie Gebremedhin (?)
7) Aberash (?) 8) Dehab Tesfatsion (Gurae)
9) Tewelde Eyob, merihinet zenebere (?) 10) Berhe Mesih (possible
mendefera)
11) Gebreamlak Isak (Mai ChaEda) 12) Michael wedi haketay (HImbirti)
13) Goitom Berhe, SerE(Akeleguzay) 14) Alem Abraha, (Akele Guzai)
15) Habte (?) 16) Aba Samuel (?)
17) Teklemariam Rashaida (wedi keshi gebremeskel) (?)
18) Petros Kahsay, student from N. Ame 19) Girmay Bahri, Asmara
university student, (?)
20) Amare Tekumurach (Digsa) 21) Araya Semere, (?)
22) Abraha Seyoum, (StinA Degle) 23) Haile Ameso, wedi ameso (Ala)
24) Estifanos (?) 25) Debessai Gebremichael, Mendefera (university
student)
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