ADDIS ABABA – Present day generation needs to fight against people who instigate havoc in the country by propagating ethnic politics, Members of Ethiopian Patriots Association urged.
At a symposium jointly organized by The Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Ethiopian Broadcast Corporation in commemoration of the 78th anniversary of victory of Ethiopian patriots against fascist Italy.
Approached by The Ethiopian Herald Ato Lij Daniel Jote Mesfin, the President of Ethiopian Patriots Association, stressed that the current generation should recall the history of those patriots since it has greater association with the history of Ethiopia. The patriots had had a solid stand in fighting against enemy of their country.
Lij Daniel underscored that this generation also needs to stand firm in fighting against internal and external enemy of our country in order to rebuild a stronger Ethiopia. The people of Ethiopia are renowned by hospitality and tolerance.
Some of the veteran patriots and family of patriots stressed that these heroic patriots need to be remembered by Ethiopians throughout history. There are some patriots who have played a vital role in the fight, but forgotten are not being cited as patriots. A lot should be narrated about these patriots, as to them.
Workineh Aklilu, Advisor at the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, appreciated the bravery of the patriots to block the ambition of Italy to colonize Ethiopia and control East Africa through her. They have paid whatever it costs to keep the sovereignty of this great nation, he said.
The councilor explained that Italian troops waged war for the second time after about forty years to avenge of the defeat at the battle of Adwa. The strategic modern Italian troop embarked into our country from four corners. However, these brave Ethiopian patriots have stood against the advancement of the troop. They have been fighting against the fascist strategically, as to him.
Vice-professor Abebaw Ayalew, Director at Authority for Research and Conservation of Cultural Heritage, explained the course of the war between the patriot and the colonial power in the year 1936 to 1941. Besides the strong confrontation from the patriots, the land feature of the country, dense population settlement have played their part in puzzling the ambition of Italy to easily penetrate into the center of the country, he added.
Abebayehu further elaborated that the Italians waged war for the second time after about forty years to take revenge of the defeat at the battle of Adwa. The strategic modern Italian troop embarked into our country from four corners. However, these brave Ethiopian patriots have stood against the advancement of the troop, as to him.
The Ethiopian Herald May 04/ 2011
BY GETAHUN LEGESSE
