Date: Fri, 7 Mar 2014 16:48:14 -0500
When the demise of Nadew Izz, on March 1988, is remembered the famous
saying of Maj. General Gebregziabher Andemariam (a.k.a. Wuchu), Chief of
Staff of the Eritrean Armed Forces, resonates in every Eritrean mind.
"Comrades: we are here to attend the funeral of Nadew Iz". When Maj.
General Gebregziabher Andemariam said this he was received by his army with
ululation and applause. They did not seem they were going to war and some
of them to pay their lives.
Nadew Command was considered one of the strongest army of the Ethiopian
regime believed to defend and push the Eritrean liberation fighters from
their strong holds in Nakfa and end the Eritrean struggle for independence.
And when Maj. General Gebregziabher talked with such simple terms to tell
his troops about the mission they have been heading for and thinking of
what kind of an enemy army they were to confront and destroy we could only
learn on how he was bold in his commitment and the strong belief he had on
his troops to execute the meticulously planned operation. He knew the
capacity of his troops and they had strong belief in his leadership. It has
been a great and unbelievable combination.
The battle for the demise of Nadew Command was very decisive that would
change the entire gravity ofthe military balance in favor of the Eritrean
liberation fighters once and for all. The Nadew Command as tough as it has
been considered could not resist the advance of the Eritrean liberation
fighters even for days. In three days time it was liquidated; many of its
members killed and captured and few fled to save their lives. The veteran
British historian, Basil Davidson, who had the chance to follow the
operation, described it as "Second Diem Bien Phu".
Comparing to how Maj. General Gebregziabher described the operation and how
the veteran historian looked at it we could conclude that the operation had
been concluded before it was conducted. And that attests to the operation
capacity and war planning of the EPLF leadership.
Maj. General Gebregziabher Andemariam as a soldier has been bold, adamant,
decisive and never ready to accept defeat. He as a commander has been well
respected by every one who closely knows him. He has been participatory and
always ready to listen to his fellow comrades under his command. He as
human has been very humane. Many under his command I discussed with
describe him as a father always ready to solve personal problems. He has
been open to every body and with every body without discrimination of rank
and file and gives due response, always setting his mind to solve problems
be it personal or otherwise.
Today we have lost this hero of Eritrea of all time. His lose will be felt
by every Eritrean. His history and heroic feast he demonstrated during the
struggle for Eritrean independence and for safeguarding the Eritrean
sovereignty will be remembered for eternity. "Comrades: we are here invited
to attend the funeral of Nadew", in my belief, would be his trade mark in
the minds of the Eritrean people.
wuchu.m4v<https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B5q0u3IhN65PUHdGREdMSTBmYnc/edit?usp=drive_web>
May God rest his sole in peace!
Written: by Yishak Yared
(image/jpeg attachment: Major_General_Geregiher_Andemariam__Wuchu__5.jpg)