Eritrean rebels kill 12 government troops
By Tesfa-alem Tekle
June 4, 2008 (MEKELLE) — Eritrean rebel group, The Red sea Afar Democratic Organization (RSADO), a member of the opposition Eritrean Democratic Alliance (EDA), on Wednesday said it has killed 12 Eritrean soldiers in two separate attacks in the red sea’s remote Afar region.
“on June 1, in a night assault at 3 o’clock in the morning, our combatant fighters have opened massive attacks on two military camps of sub-regiment 12, based at Bada-Mitswa line of specific area Gobo-Ado, killed 8 Eritrean soldiers and seriously wounded 6 others” Executive committee member and head of communication and information of the group, Yasin Mohamed told Sudan Tribune.
“Following the one-hour long fire exchanges, a mass of Eritrean soldiers who earlier were asleep inside the two camps have fled away and the two camps are completely burnt down” he said.
“In a separate incident on Monday June 2, in a dawn raid at 5 o’clock in the morning at a specific place known as ‘Romod’, our inside fighters have opened an attack at a military convoy which was heading from ‘Gelaelo’ to ‘Romot’ sub-rural areas leaving 4 Eritrean military officials including head of a platoon killed and heavily wounded 10 others” Yasin said adding “we have seized a big amount of weapons, monthly military and burnt down their military vehicle.”
“RSADO along with other Eritrean forces will keep on fighting for the freedom, independence and liberty of the oppressed and divided people of Afar until the force-full and Issayas-led government falls down for once and for all” the group added.
The group has called on all other Eritrean opposition forces to jointly unite against “the dictatorial region in Asmara” and in place a democratic rule in the young Eritrean nation.
The Red Sea Afar Democratic Organization (RSADO) is one wing of the 13 Eritrean opposition groups which created an alliance, the Eritrean Democratic Alliance (EDA) in May, 2008.
In November, RSADO fighters have claimed killing 23 and wounding 15 Eritrean soldiers in a raid at Asbolo of Bada region.
Following the 1998-2000 border war which claimed some 70,000 people, Addis Ababa and Asmara have routinely trade accusation of encouraging instability by supporting each other’s rebels.
OPPOSITION UNITY IS A BIG BLOW TO ISSAYAS.
The leader of Democratic Movement for the Liberation of Eritrean Kunama(DMLEK) another wing of EDA says that the recent unity among Eritrean political organizations is a big blow to Eritrean government.
“The Recent formation of 13 Eritrean opposition coalition along with the latest attacks being taken in different corners are a big blow to Issayas government who bluffs as if no functional Eritrean opposition group exists” Quernolious Osman Agar said.
“We are one of the many EDA member groups who have taken military measures as the last options to topple Eritrean tyrant government and fighters of DMLEK are regularly (once in every two weeks) taking military measures inside Eritrea.”Quernoliuos said.
According to Quernolious, DMLEK has the most powerful military make up among the 13 umbrella groups Of EDA.
“Last week our fighters have attacked a police station at ‘Gonya’ some 35 kilometers from Barantu town and killed 2 and wounded 3 police officers” he said adding “the police station is also completely destroyed.”
(ST)