DATE=2/15/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-245548
TITLE=ETHIOPIA / ERITREA FRONT (L)
BYLINE=SCOTT STEARNS
DATELINE=AYAY, ETHIOPIA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: ETHIOPIA IS REINFORCING POSITIONS ALONG ITS NORTHERN
BORDER AFTER MORE THAN ONE-WEEK OF FIGHTING WITH NEIGHBORING
ERITREA. CORRESPONDENT SCOTT STEARNS VISITED THE FRONT, AND
FILED THIS REPORT.
TEXT: FROM A LINE OF TRENCHES CUT INTO THE ROCK ABOVE THE BADAME
PLAIN, ETHIOPIAN TROOPS STOCKPILE MORTARS AND ROCKET-PROPELLED
GRENADES FOR POSSIBLE USE AGAINST ERITREAN ADVERSARIES IN
TRENCHES LESS THAN 300-METERS AWAY.
ETHIOPIA REGAINED THIS GROUND AFTER PUSHING NORTH FROM THE
VILLAGE OF AYAY, DRIVING ERITREANS BACK OVER A DUSTY RIDGE AND
INTO THE VILLAGE OF GEZASHARIF.
WHILE ETHIOPIA CLAIMS CONTROL OF THE LOW GROUND ON THE
GEZAGELASSE FRONT, ERITREANS FIELD GUNS STILL COMMAND THE
STRATEGIC RIDGE PROTECTING THE ERITREAN-HELD TOWN OF BADAME.
ERITREAN TROOPS CAPTURED THIS PLAIN LAST MAY, AT THE START OF THE
BORDER WAR, CLAIMING THE LAND IS RIGHTFULLY ERITREAN.
THOUSANDS OF ETHIOPIANS FLED. A FARMER, BERHANE ASFAHA GEBRE
MICHAEL, STAYED BEHIND.
/// BERHANE ACT - FADE UNDER ///
WHEN THE ERITREANS FIRST CAME, MR. BERHANE SAYS THEY PROMISED TO
NOT ATTACK LOCAL CIVILIANS, SAYING THEY WERE OUT TO DESTROY ONLY
THE ETHIOPIAN GOVERNMENT. THEN, ABOUT ONE-MONTH AGO, MR. BERHANE
SAYS THE FIRST ERITREAN SOLDIERS WERE WITHDRAWN AND OTHER TROOPS
CAME WHO STOLE FROM THE PEOPLE AND THREATENED THEM.
MANY CIVILIANS SAY THEY WERE NOT WILLING TO LEAVE LAND THEY HAD
PLANTED FOR GENERATIONS. AND THEY SAY HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO
COOPERATE WITH ERITREAN OCCUPATION.
/// TESFU ACT - FADE UNDER ///
ANOTHER FARMER, TESFU GEBREZEGIHER ABRAHA, SAYS IT WAS THE RAINY
SEASON, SO WE HAD TO STAY AND TEND OUR CROPS. THE WOMEN LEFT,
MR. TESFU SAYS, BUT THE MEN STAYED BEHIND UNDER ERITREAN RULE
BECAUSE IT IS OUR LAND.
WITH ETHIOPIAN TROOPS REGAINING CONTROL OF THE GEZAGELASSE PLAIN,
FARMER YEMANE GIDEY SILE PSION SAYS HE HOPES HIS CHILDREN CAN GO
BACK TO SCHOOL NOW AND HIS FAMILY CAN RETURN TO THEIR HOME.
/// YEMANE ACT - FADE UNDER ///
MR. YEMANE SAYS NOW THAT THE AREA IS AGAIN UNDER ETHIOPIAN
CONTROL, HE HOPES PEOPLE HERE CAN RE-ESTABLISH THEIR LOCAL
GOVERNMENT.
ETHIOPIA WANTS ITS AUTHORITY IN ALL DISPUTED AREAS REINSTATED AND
ERITREAN TROOPS THERE WITHDRAWN BEFORE THE START OF ANY PEACE
TALKS. ERITREA SAYS THERE MUST BE INTERNATIONAL MONITORS IN
THESE HILLS BEFORE IT WILL PULL OUT ITS TROOPS AND PUT ITS BORDER
CLAIMS TO ARBITRATION. (SIGNED)
NEB/SKS/JWH/RAE
15-Feb-99 9:39 AM EST (1439 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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