DATE=5/16/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=ETHIOPIA / ERITREA (L)
NUMBER=2-262435
BYLINE=SCOTT STEARNS
DATELINE=NORTHERN ETHIOPIA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Ethiopia says it has captured more than a
thousand Eritrean prisoners of war in renewed fighting
on the two countries' western front. V-O-A's Scott
Stearns went to see some of the captives at a camp in
northern Ethiopia, near the Eritrean border.
TEXT: In makeshift tents of sheets flapping in the
wind, Eritrean prisoners of war crowd for shade from
the blistering mid-day sun of northern Ethiopia. They
were captured Saturday when Ethiopian troops regained
ground held by Eritrea for the past two years.
Ethiopian commander Esrem says his men broke through
the Eritrean lines here quickly, then circled around
from the right and left, capturing hundreds of
prisoners.
/// ESREM ACT ///
Within a short period of time, within an hour we
already occupied a long place so it [the battle]
was very short. They tried to defeat us but
they couldn't. Already our soldiers rushed, our
army rushed them. They went behind [the
Eritreans] and came from behind.
/// END ACT ///
It appears Ethiopia broke the trench line so easily
because Eritrean units lacked heavy firepower.
Prisoners say most of their tanks and heavy artillery
were moved to the central front over the last few
weeks, as Ethiopia and Eritrea moved closer to war.
Instead of attacking the heart of Eritrea's army
there, Ethiopia went around them on this western
front, driving further north into the country.
Eritrean conscript Asmeron Habte said his unit was
stationed farther east on the Tsorona front when they
were called to reinforce positions around the Mareb
River Saturday morning. By the time they got here,
the Eritrean troops they joined were already
surrounded.
/// HABTE ACT ///
When we entered the place, the fight was taking
place. It was already under the control of the
Ethiopian army on both sides, and we entered in
the middle.
/// END ACT ///
Mr. Asmeron, a draftsman by trade, is one of nearly
500 prisoners at this camp in northern Tigray
Province. He says conditions here are not great but
the prisoners do eat the same tinned corned beef and
dry bread as their Ethiopian guards. Water is trucked
in, and there is medical care on-site. Ethiopia says
it has already transferred more than 70 of the most
seriously wounded prisoners to a local hospital.
Officials say they intend to move these prisoners
farther from the fighting, grouping them in a larger
P-O-W camp with other Eritreans captured across this
front. (Signed)
NEB/ST/ENE-T/WTW
16-May-2000 17:14 PM EDT (16-May-2000 2114 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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