Eritrean opposition meets in Addis Ababa

Feb 15, 2007 (ADDIS ABABA) — The opposition Eritrean Democratic Alliance (EDA) started a six-day meeting in Addis Ababa to adopt a joint vision for the post-PFDJ in the country.

The opposition meeting was summoned to map out a strategy, which should lead to dismantle the Eritrean regime, he noted. He said efforts would be consolidated by the alliance to “extricate the people of Eritrea from tyrannical rule and tribulations”.

EDA is a heteroclite coalition composed of 13 political organizations from Islamist, secular, ethnic, autonomists, and federalist groups.

The meeting is expected to endorse a political charter for the demise of the Eritrean government. It will also elect new leaders.

In his opening address, EDA Chairman Berhane Yemane said this first general congress will dwell at length on the political and economic tribulations in Eritrea, and pass resolutions on how to salvage Eritreans from their ordeals. These political and economic plights have continued to cause exodus and dispersion of young Eritreans, the Ethiopian ENA reported.

“A one-man government has continued to rule Eritrea,” he said, and indicated that the member organizations of the alliance will be firming up, “under their covenant, to put an end to the dictatorship.” To this end, he said, the alliance will be intensifying their peaceful struggle in and outside of Eritrea.
Berhane further said that the opposition alliance will intensify its diplomatic and peaceful struggle to root out the government in Asmara.

He said, EDA, joining voices with the AU and the UN, strongly opposes to the Eritrean government’s recent act of aggression behind the now crushed fundamentalist leadership in Somalia.

(ST)