The 19th Eritrean Anniversary of Independence in the UK Celebrated with Patriotic Zeal

The 19th Eritrean Anniversary of Independence in the UK Celebrated with Patriotic Zeal

The Eritrean Independence Day reflects the glaring successes and the bright future of Eritrea in national development and furthermore demonstrates the determination to surmount challenges through work in order to achieve continuous progress.

The celebrations marking the 19th anniversary of Eritrean Independence Day was colorfully conducted at the Troxy Hall, London in the presence of Embassy staff, various community organizations, religious leaders and more than 2000 citizens and friends of Eritrea. The Eritrean community of London converged with the attendees displaying a whole host of cultural dressing giving the event much color and unique grace that strongly promotes the revival of the Eritrean culture.

The 19th independence anniversary celebrations came after the UNjust sanctions led by the US has been imposed on Eritrea, and reflected the resolute rebuff and resilience of the Eritrean people to strength national capacity in. The events of the sanctions resolution 1907 that were imposed on Eritrea did not hinder people’s enjoyment and celebration of this momentous day as they spent the celebrations with a patriotic zeal.

The Ambassador in his speech outlined the importance of the Day and the historic events surrounding May 24, 1991 and asserted that each year and each celebration there after carried a special banner that reflects the durable peace and stability, the progress in national development and the various challenges and achievements of transformation in Eritrea.

In specific terms the Ambassador cited important defining moments of the last 19 years and their bearing the nation building. Among the important landmarks were the referendum conducted to politically and legally conclude the Eritrean case in 1993, the new macro level development orientation to reconstruct the nation and the resolve to take the upbringing of the youth generations through summer work programmes and the national service in 1994, the emergence of Nakfa currency as a symbol of the victorious economic campaign of the previous three years, the Ethiopian invasion in 1998 and the heroic defense for the motherland by the new generation of Warsay Yikealo until 2000, the delimitation of the Eritrea-Ethiopia boundary through an international arbitration in 2002, the launching of the Warsay-Yikealo development campaign in 2003, the virtual demarcation of the boundary in 2003 and successive post-war development and achievements in all areas and especially in the social sector strategies and food security, the resilience shown to foil all conspiracies and hostilities against Eritrea in the last 11 years and finally the resolute rebuff against the recent sanctions imposed against Eritrea.

The Ambassador in his speech finally asserted that today as was yesterday, and as has been demonstrated in the last 19 years of independence, the reality that through work we surmount the challenge, we progress has truly been reflected in the country.

On the occasion the Eritreans in the celebrations jointly conveyed their congratulations to the Eritrean people, the Government and the Defense Forces.

The celebration was opened by Dr Tewolde W/kidane chairman of the Shemagle Mekhete by a one minute silence of remembering the Eritrean Martyrs. The opening of the event also included a cake ceremony where crowds gathered to officially begin the celebrations. This year’s cake ceremony was also special as it involved youngsters who were born here in the UK at around the time Eritrea became independent. The youngsters obtained their Eritrean identity cards this year.

Following that, a cultural show including a drama play depicted the struggle of the Eritrean people to freedom was performed live on stage with performers from all age groups wearing cultural dresses that represent all the ethnic groups in Eritrea. In the midst of the programme the Shimagle Mekhete (Eritrean Public Campaign Committee) gave highlights on the forthcoming activities including the Martyr’s Day commemoration and the Eritrean Cultural Festival which takes place on July 2 – 4, 2010 in London, Furthermore, the resolution made in the 6th Hzbawi Mekehete (Public Meeting) in which Eritreans resolved to establish a Food Security Project and Fund was announced on the occasion. Musicians also took to the stage starting the long awaited celebrations, where excitement filled crowds swamped the entire hall, and continuing nonstop till dawn.

Similar celebrations also took place in various cities of the UK with a strong patriotic zeal. Accordingly the 19th Independence Anniversary was celebrated on the 21st of May by about 180 Eritreans and friends of Eritrea (about 80 of them friends of Eritrea), about 200 Eritreans in Leeds and more than 350 Eritreans in Manchester on the 22nd of May, about 100 Eritreans in Birmingham on the 23 of May. Celebrations will continue on the 30th of May in Sheffield and on the 31st of May in Glasgow, Scotland.

Eritrean Public Campaign Committee

Information and Communication

May 24, 2010

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