Eritrean Nationals in UK, commemorate Martyrs Day!

Eritrean Nationals in UK, commemorate Martyrs Day!

Embassy Media, London 22 June 2017

Eritrean Nationals in London, Manchester, Sheffield, Birmingham, Coventry, Newcastle, Liverpool, Nottingham in UK, commemorate Martyrs Day!

London's, over 2700 Eritreans came together to participate in the Martyrs Day activities organised by the Sponsor a Martyr’s Family (SMF)

The activities included singing, poetry reading and speeches. Present at the London commemoration were H.E. Estifanos Habtemariam, Eritrea’s Ambassador to the United Kingdom and Ireland, Embassy staff, religious leaders, and invited guests.

The program began with a moment of silence in memory of all those who sacrificed their lives for Eritrea’s liberty and sovereignty.

Ambassador Estifanos Habtemariam, in his address to the gathered Londoners reminded all that it was the responsibility of each and every Eritrean to support the families of those that were martyred to liberate Eritrea, and also the families of those who were martyred defending Eritrea during the Ethiopian invasion of 1998- 2000.

He stated that the prevailing peace and stability in the country is the outcome of the heavy sacrifices paid, and stressed that every citizen is duty-bound to assist children and families of martyrs. Ambassador Estifanos Habtemariam also called on Eritreans to raise their participation and redouble their efforts in the development activities of Eritrea.

In his final remarks, he underlined that our task is to remember our martyrs not only by lighting candles and planting trees, and making pledges but, above all, by honouring their trust: that of rebuilding the country for whose freedom they paid with their lives, he further pointed out that the people and Government of Eritrea are doing their level best to honour the trust of martyrs, the contribution made by Eritrean citizens in the aforementioned countries and called on them to enhance it.

Mr. Yonathan Haile, chairman of Sponsor a Martyr’s Family (SMF) committee in his address to the participants also stated that Martyrs Day is an event in which the Eritrean people commemorate fallen heroes with pride and dignity, and that supporting martyrs’ families is not only the responsibility of the Government, but also that of the general public.

Following that Ambassador Estifanos Habtemariam, Eritrean embassy staff, and religious leaders all took part in lighting candles in memory of those that were martyred for the good of Eritrea’s future. A reflection of the hard times that Eritreans endured during the barbaric colonial period was portrayed in form of drama, music, and poetry readings. Amidst this the SMF took this opportunity to mobilize more Eritreans to “Sponsor a Martyr’s Family”. One of the participants, in her usual wisdom and energy, told Embassy Media, that the people of Eritrea who had foiled attempts by Haile Selassie and successive Ethiopian regimes to subjugate them were more than capable of taking care of the Martyrs’ families, and more.

She talked about the resilience, perseverance and most of all the unparalleled commitment of the Eritrean people in the development endeavour of their nation.

The performance by the Eritrean artists from London, who presented various national songs and songs from the liberation struggle era along side a musical drama which demonstrated the transfer of our values as a heritage to the new generation raised the emotion of participants.

The Children Choir Group also presented songs from the liberation struggle times. The participation of the youth in various activities of the event in general made Martyrs Day an even more memorable day. The day’s activities ended with the singing of the Eritrean National Anthem.

EmbassyMedia