![[AIM] Asmarino Independent Media](/images/logo/ailogo.png){kind=logo}
Eritreans say “No” to Tyranny
{autoremote linkfromdisplay="false" shuffle="false" autostart="true" width="270" height="220"}http://blip.tv/file/get/Asmarino-TheBeginningOfTheEnd335.flv{/autoremote}
Hundreds of Eritrean nationals residing in North America and Europe came together in Washington D.C. over the weekend for protest marches, martyrs’ candle light vigil and a symposium in solidarity with the country’s long suffering population. The events were organized by the Eritrean Global Solidarity under the leadership of Seyoum Tesfaye along with his EGS colleagues Fowzia Hassen, Petros Haile, Yonas Mehari, Teklai Abraha and other civic and political activists. Organizers and participants put the number of demonstrators at between 800 and 1,000. Hundreds of them gathered in front of the Eritrean Embassy chanting slogans: “NO TO TYRANNY, ENOUGH IS ENOUGH, THE DICTATOR MUST GO.”
After nearly 30 minutes outside the embassy, the procession headed to the State Department shouting and urging swift action against the Asmara regime in support of the cause of the voiceless Eritrean people who have been deprived of liberty and food.
As the peaceful protests continued, a five-member delegation, representing the protestors, held talks with pertinent State Department officials who welcomed the events. The officials expressed willingness for further contacts with all peace and freedom loving Eritrean forces. There are unconfirmed reports that the US is considering imposing more stringent sanctions with the aim of taming the despotic, pariah regime in Asmara.
The key note speaker at the Saturday symposium was Dr. Bereket Habteselassie, the acclaimed scholar and outspoken social activist. He spoke of the urgent need to go beyond factional and confessional divisions and called for a common plan of action to effect regime change thus ending Eritrea’s long night of tyranny.