Two Ethiopian army captains defect to Eritrea

Aug 16 2006 (ASMARA) — Ten Ethiopian army soldiers including two captains and middle rank commanders recently have arrived in Eritrea.

The Ethiopian soldiers, who arrived in the past four days, and led by Captains Bededa Regassa and Negesso Watyo said that “the unrest is spreading to different parts of the country”, the Eritrean media reported.

The two officers are Oromo.

The rebel Oromo Liberation Front last week called upon Ethiopian officers to join the ranks of the armed opposition by following the example of General Kamal Gelchu.

Brig. Gen. Kemal Geltu, who was the commander of the 18th army division, defected to Eritrea on 10 August with some 150 Ethiopian soldiers.

In an interview with the Eritrean TV General Kemal said that although the “TPLF regime” is working to ensure its superiority over the entire population of Ethiopia, taking into account the population advantage and natural resource it possesses, the regime considers the Oromo people as a major threat.

He further added that the “TPLF regime” has been torturing and suppressing Oromo members of the military who raise questions as regards the rights of the Oromo people.

(ST)