ADDIS ABABA – Forefathers and foremothers have defended the sovereignty of Ethiopia fighting in difficult terrains, cliffs, forests and other trying conditions
have showered us with freedom. And as peace needs the effort of everyone and is the key for the whole thing, we should all work in unison towards this end.
The remark was made yesterday by the Ethiopian Patriotic Association President Lij Daniel Jote Mesfin at the 83rd Martyrs’ Day commemoration held at Yekatit 12 Martyrs Square in the capital.
The brutal incident was following an attempt on the life of Graziani by two young Ethiopians, Abraha Daboch and Mogas Asgadom and their comrades.
On the days starting from February 19, 1937, thousands of the residents of Addis and other parts of the country had been massacred and imprisoned by Fascist Italy.
Needless to say, as history dictates with official backing, the potential extremists of the Fascist went bonkers in the city and embarked on chopping off heads, burning down houses with their residents, disemboweling pregnant women and committing all manner of slaughters. Furthermore, the educated Ethiopians were for the most part targeted for liquidation, as recounted by Prof. Baharu Zewde in his a book A history of modern Ethiopia (1855-1991).
When this writer arrived at the square, every nook and cranny of the area was flooded with a great bunch of people adorning themselves with a wide spectrum of traditional Ethiopian clothes and other clothing types and styles. Some of them were wearing scarfs around their necks in different ways.
Above and beyond, the brass bands of Ethiopian National Defense Force and the Ethiopian Federal Police were entertaining the people making use of a range of inspirational motherland songs.
Likewise, there were a lot of students with their respective school uniforms carrying heterogeneous slogans putting the accent on Ethiopia and the heroic deeds of Ethiopians.
The other thing that attracted the audience’s attention was youngsters dressing in mourning clothes. They were singing patriotic songs. Above all, they were drawing attention to the following song:
My adorable motherland
My adorable motherland
My adorable motherland
I am respected because of you …
I would say, the song had inspired most of the participants. I was able to come across people tears rolling down their cheeks. Some of them were feeling remorse.
Following the order of the master of the ceremonies, all and sundry stood erect for a minute of silence in remembrance of Ethiopians who had lost their lives.
After some time, the Ethiopian Patriotic Association President Lij Daniel Jote Mesfin set in motion making remarks about the day.
“The youth should follow the footsteps of forefathers and foremothers to bring lasting peace in the country.”
Immediately after the national anthem of Ethiopia was sung, Ethiopian Patriots headed straight to the Holy Trinity Cathedral accompanied by quite a lot of people
The Ethiopian Herald February 21/2020
BY ADDISALEM MULAT
