Cuban support continues for genocide plan
Socialist Press1978 1978-06-28Read it in the scan (PDF), scan page 3 →
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The number of Cuban troops in Asmara the beseiged capital of Eritrea has risen from 2,500 to 4,000 since February.
In spite of reports of a Cuban withdrawal from Ethiopian plans for the genocide of the Eritrean masses, Fidel Castro has continued to make statements which express his clear support for the Ethiopian military dictatorship and his opposition to the national rights of the Eritreans.
Why was the EPLF formed?
It came together in 1970 after the repression and physical liquidation of the demoThat was one of the points made by Amdemicael Kahasai, member of the Central Committee of the Eritrean People's Liberation Front (EPLF) at a press conference in London last week.
The EPLF, he said, had no evidence to confirm the recent statements about Cuban and South Yemeni withdrawals, which apparently emanated from the Eritrean Liberation Front (ELF).
Kahasai speculated that the ELF may be involved in some behind-the-scenes manoeuvres with the Cubans and that might explain their making unfounded statements-but he had no firm evidence of that.
In general, at present, he said, the EPLF and the ELF were each allowed to operate freely in the area controlled by the other. And recent joint military and propaganda agreements were, with some delay, being put into operation.
Kahasai warned that an all out Ethiopian attack was imminent.
Tens of thousands
troops were massing on the borders. And the bombing raids against the liberated areas had increased fourfold since the beginning of the year.
Cuban soldiers and engineers are now engaged in building new airfields.
The Derg, he stated, had received $1,200 million in military aid from the USSR in the last year.
60% of the Ethiopian state budget went on financing the war.
As part of the Eritrean war, Ethiopia was carrying out mass executions in Asmara and Ethiopia of Eritrean men between the ages of 16 and 40.
The Eritrean national struggle, he said, was receiving political and material support from a variety of sources.
Relations were good with the Palestine and Oman liberation movements.
Some Arab states were EPLF guerrillas assisting, including once again Libya which for a time supported the Derg when it claimed to be seeking a peaceful solution.
After the press conference, Amdemicael Kahasai gave an exclusive interview to our Socialist Press reporter which we reprint below
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EPLF Spokesman