Mereja.Forum

[Dama]

??????

[Dark Energy]

ELF was pro the Arab World. Mr. Isayas does not discriminate. He strictly believes, in what have you done for me lately. I suspect, he is pro Israel in his heart. But he knows his bread and bu.tter is with the Arab World.

[Zmeselo]

Ali Said Abdella (1978)

The relationship between Palestinians and Eritreans goes back to 1969. That’s when Palestinians trained a special Eritrean commando unit, set up by the late Osman Saleh Sabbe, called “Al Iqab” (Punishment) whose members included, among others, Eritrea’s former foreign minister, the late Ali Said Abdella.

The main target of Al Iqab was Ethiopian Airlines, then as now, in the bad habit of being in the service of the Ethiopian National Defense Forces. The Eritrean rebels hijacked a plane and burned it in Pakistan. This is what would be called “an act of terror” and Pakistan sentenced the unit to decades of prison, but they were saved by the pro-bono service of the Pakistan Lawyers Association who described their act not as terroristic but freedom fighting with Ethiopian Airlines (then Air Lines) a legitimate military target.

A few years later, the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) threw its loyalty to fellow socialist Comrade Mengistu Hailemariam, then president of Ethiopia. A decade later: PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat accused Isaias Afwerki of refusing to join the Arab League because his “masters” (USA, Israel) ordered him not to. Isaias was furious.

PLO is no longer our ally, if it ever was.

Fast forward to 1993 and the Oslo Accords:

So,

says Isaias,

Whatever happened to not dealing with the masters?

Yasser Arafat kisses Isaias on the forehead as if to say: you got me there!

Isaias considers the “two-state solution” a Trojan Horse which is all about slowly diluting the demands of Palestinians by pushing “Arab-Israel” normalization. All true. Arab countries were approached one-by-one: Egypt, Jordan, UAE, Bahrain, Morocco, even Sudan (at the point of a gun) to normalize relations with Israel, and they did. Saudi Arabia was heading there, when October 7 happened.

President Isaias Afwerki has said:

Their [USA] strategy was to suppress the issue of freedom and independence of the Palestinian people. But the just struggle of the Palestinian people did not relax or tire. Not only did they amaze the world with their perseverance, but they also created a broad public global partnership, taking center stage and in the process exposing the violent, hypocritical and sly character of the TDM School.

[Odie]

??????

መልስ ከሻቢያ ዋናው መዝገብ ቤት ተስጥቶሃል!

[Dama]

Ali Said Abdella (1978)

The relationship between Palestinians and Eritreans goes back to 1969. That’s when Palestinians trained a special Eritrean commando unit, set up by the late Osman Saleh Sabbe, called “Al Iqab” (Punishment) whose members included, among others, Eritrea’s former foreign minister, the late Ali Said Abdella.

The main target of Al Iqab was Ethiopian Airlines, then as now, in the bad habit of being in the service of the Ethiopian National Defense Forces. The Eritrean rebels hijacked a plane and burned it in Pakistan. This is what would be called “an act of terror” and Pakistan sentenced the unit to decades of prison, but they were saved by the pro-bono service of the Pakistan Lawyers Association who described their act not as terroristic but freedom fighting with Ethiopian Airlines (then Air Lines) a legitimate military target.

A few years later, the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) threw its loyalty to fellow socialist Comrade Mengistu Hailemariam, then president of Ethiopia. A decade later: PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat accused Isaias Afwerki of refusing to join the Arab League because his “masters” (USA, Israel) ordered him not to. Isaias was furious.

PLO is no longer our ally, if it ever was.

Fast forward to 1993 and the Oslo Accords:

So,

says Isaias,

Whatever happened to not dealing with the masters?

Yasser Arafat kisses Isaias on the forehead as if to say: you got me there!

Isaias considers the “two-state solution” a Trojan Horse which is all about slowly diluting the demands of Palestinians by pushing “Arab-Israel” normalization. All true. Arab countries were approached one-by-one: Egypt, Jordan, UAE, Bahrain, Morocco, even Sudan (at the point of a gun) to normalize relations with Israel, and they did. Saudi Arabia was heading there, when October 7 happened.

President Isaias Afwerki has said:

Their [USA] strategy was to suppress the issue of freedom and independence of the Palestinian people. But the just struggle of the Palestinian people did not relax or tire. Not only did they amaze the world with their perseverance, but they also created a broad public global partnership, taking center stage and in the process exposing the violent, hypocritical and sly character of the TDM School.

What do you know about CIA's "Seed Planting Project" of 1969? Kidane Kinfu recruitment mission at AAU inb1969? Richard Copleland of CIA meeting with Isayas Afewerqi?

[Abere]

??????

Because Shabia/Isaias/ knows very well Israel will blow his head if he wants play monkey business with PLO. Stayed away from playing with fire. The most relevant question should have been why has the U.S.A. ignored Isaias. Is it because as many alleged Shabia is among the three kids (OLF, Shabia and TPLF) raised by the West and Arab, never wanted the total demise of Shabia even if it means the total destruction of Eritrea to look like a hurricane/tornedo stricken field or block of villages .

[Zmeselo]

Ali Said Abdella (1978)

The relationship between Palestinians and Eritreans goes back to 1969. That’s when Palestinians trained a special Eritrean commando unit, set up by the late Osman Saleh Sabbe, called “Al Iqab” (Punishment) whose members included, among others, Eritrea’s former foreign minister, the late Ali Said Abdella.

The main target of Al Iqab was Ethiopian Airlines, then as now, in the bad habit of being in the service of the Ethiopian National Defense Forces. The Eritrean rebels hijacked a plane and burned it in Pakistan. This is what would be called “an act of terror” and Pakistan sentenced the unit to decades of prison, but they were saved by the pro-bono service of the Pakistan Lawyers Association who described their act not as terroristic but freedom fighting with Ethiopian Airlines (then Air Lines) a legitimate military target.

A few years later, the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) threw its loyalty to fellow socialist Comrade Mengistu Hailemariam, then president of Ethiopia. A decade later: PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat accused Isaias Afwerki of refusing to join the Arab League because his “masters” (USA, Israel) ordered him not to. Isaias was furious.

PLO is no longer our ally, if it ever was.

Fast forward to 1993 and the Oslo Accords:

So,

says Isaias,

Whatever happened to not dealing with the masters?

Yasser Arafat kisses Isaias on the forehead as if to say: you got me there!

Isaias considers the “two-state solution” a Trojan Horse which is all about slowly diluting the demands of Palestinians by pushing “Arab-Israel” normalization. All true. Arab countries were approached one-by-one: Egypt, Jordan, UAE, Bahrain, Morocco, even Sudan (at the point of a gun) to normalize relations with Israel, and they did. Saudi Arabia was heading there, when October 7 happened.

President Isaias Afwerki has said:

Their [USA] strategy was to suppress the issue of freedom and independence of the Palestinian people. But the just struggle of the Palestinian people did not relax or tire. Not only did they amaze the world with their perseverance, but they also created a broad public global partnership, taking center stage and in the process exposing the violent, hypocritical and sly character of the TDM School.

What do you know about CIA's "Seed Planting Project" of 1969? Kidane Kinfu recruitment mission at AAU inb1969? Richard Copleland of CIA meeting with Isayas Afewerqi?

Not more, than what you probably know. Tesfamikael Giorgio, said it. True or not, I don't know.

Circumstantial evidence tells me though, if that really happened, it wasn't a successful recruitment because I can't come up with even one instance where Isaias Afwerki has in anyway helped the USA. The US had ample opportunity to go all in with the EPLF during the Mengistu era, considering he was kissy kissy with the soviets. But, even that didn't happen.

If Miles Copeland had attempted any contact with the EPLF, it must've been to counteract the ELF and not Ethiopia per se. Even then, nothing visible or tangible can be mentioned concerning US help to the EPLF.

[Dama]

As told by Tesfa Michael Giorgio
Publisher: Senai Magazine, 1993(1985 E.C.), Addis Abeba.
The story establishes Isayas as a CIA agent and the secession of Eritrea was encouraged, financed and armed by the USA.


Before delving into the subject matter, we would like to say a few words about the CIA. Established in 1947, the CIA is the American spying agency in foreign lands with the objective of advancing the national interests of the United States. Similar to its rival the Soviet KGB, the CIA has been deeply engaged and has to a large extent met the responsibility entrusted to it.
This spy agency has been engaged since its establishment in 1947, in three principal areas it has been particularly successful in secret political infiltration and psychological warfare in foreign lands through the use of force and secret plots.
Given American focus on fighting socialism , the CIA has been particularly active in infiltrating and plotting to overthrow socialist regimes, and designating in its place a puppet regime which it can manipulate as desired. Where it has not succeeded to overthrow a given regime through infiltration and secret plotting, America does not hesitate to intervene militarily and designate a puppet regime. All this is carried out in the name of
“democracy and human rights”
It was thus that (in 1969) the CIA had launched a secret operation known by the code name of “seed planting project” (nursery), at Qagnew military base (near Asmara).
At that date the United States had completely lost faith in Haile Selassie’s government.
This CIA project was therefore intended to prepare an alternative means to defend American interests in the Red Sea and the Horn of Africa. And this alternative was plotting against and sabotaging Ethiopian unity, in collaboration with Ato Issays Afework. This account may not be trusted by our readers. And yet this account is the truth as told by no other than Tesfa Mikael Giorgio, then a governor of a district in Eritrea, who had participated in the negotiations at Qagnew between the CIA and Issayas Afework.

America was alerted that her position in the Red Sea and the Horn of Africa was facing danger when she realised that a guerrilla organisation called Jebha ( ELF, Eritrean Liberation Front) supported by closely allied Arab countries was gaining fame through its military campaigns in the Eritrean low lands, while the Government of Haile Selassie battered from various angles was shaking unable to stand on its feet. The United States Government was worried that if the situation continued in this way, Eritrea and the Red
Sea will fall under the control of extremist Arab countries (allied to the Soviet Union), while
Haile Selassie’s government will be overthrown and replaced by a socialist regime. ( Our
Note: More importantly, due to PLO training and advice (and also due to the provision of arms and finances by Libya, the Sudan, South Yemen, and others …the establishment of the PLF marked an important turning point. Until then, for instance, Eritrea fighters had rarely used mines and explosives…By 1969 the number of Eritrea’s who had received training abroad (including Cuba , China) in advanced guerrilla tactics had increased considerably. With their new method and weapons the Eritreans began executing spectacular acts of sabotage and terrorism, including hijacking of planes, kidnapping of foreign diplomats, blowing up of bridges in front of cameras and ambushing and assassinating Ethiopian functionaries and collaborators Hagai Erlich, “The struggle over Eritrea”, 1983 p.28).

That is the background to the CIA secret operation known by the secret code of “seed planting project .” And indeed the CIA has been able to anticipate and avoid a planned attack by the Palestinian organisation known as “Black September ”against the American bases in Asmara and Gura.
Once the project was launched the CIA and top officials of Qagnew were busy recruiting intellectuals and young Eritreans coming to relax at the “Top Five” and Golf Club in Asmara. Their spying infiltration activities convinced the CIA more and more that Haile Selassie’s government, faced with both civilian and military opposition, could not last long, while on the other hand, the Eritrean guerrilla organisation – the ELF – active in the Eritrean deserts, faced equally strong (mainly Christian) opposition whom it hunted down and eliminated physically(see note below). Among the Eritrean groups opposed to the ELF was Issayas Afework’s “Selfi Netsanet”


(Our Note: Kidane Kinfu had been sent as of 1965 by the ELF to recruit Addis Ababa University students for the ELF and sow the seed of student revolt against the government of Haile Selassie Government. “Eritreans at Addis Ababa university distinguished themselves by their politicl activism, and their immersion in the radical ideological currents that were beginning to surge in Ethiopian student student circles in the mid 1960’s (Markakis, “National and Class Conflict in the Horn” –1985, p119). By coincidence or by design, the Ethiopian student revolt had also started in 1965: And that is where the future leaders of the EPLF, including perhaps Issayas, were recruited. It is difficult to imagine that Kidane Kiflu entered Ethiopia and carried out his mission of recruitment and inciting revolt without attracting the attention of the Ethiopian security. We could imagine on the other hand , that he too was a CIA agent inside the ELF. Indeed given CIA expertise in destroying unwanted opposition parties through infiltration, and through the creation of parallel organisations, it has, either directly or indirectly, through Saudi Arabia and conservative Iraq, infiltrated the ELF Muslim leadership of the western Muslim lowlands, with its well-known divide and rule objective on religious and linguistic lines (Arab versus Tigregna ). Although strongly resented by the Christian highlanders, Arabic was the official language of the ELF. Its literature was written in that language, and Arab nomenclature was adopted within the front, such as Jebha, and Shaabia. All that contributed to the Muslim-Christian contradictions. It is to such contradictions and divide and rule methods that the continuous massacre of Christian members within the ELF has been attributed.. The creation of religious and linguistic zones similar to our “kilel” of to-day enforced by the conservative elements within the ELF and which had incited strong opposition among particularly the Christian highlanders, may also be attributed to such “divide and rule” antiunity external infiltration. So also Ethiopia, certainly in collaboration with the CIA appears to have been engaged in secret contacts with the ELF: Indeed about September 1969, that is a few weeks before the CIA story we are recounting here, “the leaders of the western regions were in constant touch with Idris (Mohamed) Adam (one time ELF Chairman and conservative element) were negotiating a deal with the Ethiopians in which the ELF would stop disturbing communications with the ports of Massawa and Assab in exchange for a free hand in the west (along the Sudan border. Mohamed (Ahmed )Abduh (member of the General command formed by the Adobha congress of August 1969) was accused of negotiating to this effect with the U.S consul in Asmara , Murray Jackson. The chief advisors of Eritrea’s Ethiopian Governor, Ras Asrate Kassa – namely , Tesfa Yohannes Berhe, Hamid Faraj, and Muhammad Umar Qadi – were to be in contact with members of the General command. In fact, some time in early 1970, (1969?) the Ethiopian Ras clandestinely to a remote town near the Sudanese border to discuss the matter with Idris Adam” (Hagai Erlich , “The Struggle over Eritrea : 1962-1978 (Hoover Institution publication , 1983). Issayas Afework was born in 1944 (Hagai says 1946, op.cit. p.29) in the Christian highlands of Hamassein, and is of Tigrai origin on the side of his mother who was a native of ancient and historic Yeha in the Adowa region. Dejach Solomon, one time Assistant Minister of
Interior, and later Governor of Wollo was his uncle. Issayas had joined the ELF in 1967 (Markakis,, op.cit p.286, says 1966) after dropping out from the Engineering college in Addis Ababa university. Indeed In 1967, the Supreme Council of the ELF had sent him to Maoist China where he received a six-month military training, a strange opportunity for a newly recruited Christian element in the largely conservative Muslim leadership drawn from the Western lowlands and conservative ELF.

Hagai Erlich’s story regarding the early days of Issayas in relation withthe Italian half-cast Dr. Biasolo is false in some ways. Hagai writes, (“The struggle over Eritrea” ,1983, p.29) of the school teacher Issayas who “as a youngster had been influenced by a Marxist-oriented economist from Asmara, Dr. Biasolo, a half-caste businessman”. I have known Dr. Biasolo in Rome where he lived in exile under the Derg. He was not a Marxist. On the contrary he was very close to the Etrhiopian leadership of the EPDA organised and financed by the CIA. One may therefore conclude that he might have been in those days in Asmara in the 1960’s and early 1970’s among ther CIA collaborators , all, including Issayas – posing under the cover and cloak of Marxism. With the rise to power of Issayas , Dr. Biasolo who has been promised to regain the property of his house, has returned to Asmara.

In 1969 Kidane Kinfu would be assasinated in Kassala, at the height of an anti-Christian hysteria, among the Western Eritrea ELF Muslim leaders , apparently on suspicion of being a spy of the Addis Ababa Government. Several hundred Christians were thus executed accused of being spies of the imperial government. see John Markakis, op.cit p.120, 126. 127 For the Christian Eritreans then concentrated in the former “fifth” Christian zone reserved for fighters from the highlands of Serae, Hamasein and Akle Guzai, and “particularly for the radical former (Addis Ababa university) student contingent, this was the last straw. Some abandoned the movement entirely.; others fled to the Sudan. Others in the former “fifth zone” split and headed for a place called Ala on the eastern edge of the escarpment in Akle Guzai to join Abrham Tewolde, the former commander of the “fifth Christian zone”. Among them was Issayas Afework the former political commissar of this zone.”
( Markakis,, Nartional and Class conflict p.127). It appears that Issayas group was initially (about this date) was no more than eleven.(Tesfa Tsion Medhanie, op. cit p. 35)

One other important point that has to be raised in relation with Issayas’ membrship of the ELF is that, as we now discover, justifying ELF suspicion, Issayas was indeed one of the spies in the service of the Ethiopian government paid to infiltrate the ELF and inform Addis Ababa. In fact, in an interview with the magazine “Menelik” (March 2001), General Daniel Menghistu, head of External intelligence Service at the Emperor’s cabinet. As the General himself tells us their job was different from the internal security organisation. Their job was to spy on anti Ethiopian and anti-Government activities on the part of our Arab neighbours inside Eritrea and Somalia , as well as to spy on Soviet Communist activities in Ethiopia, and protect the person of the Emperor while travelling abroad.. The General tells us that the Foreign Intelligence Service was working in close co-operation with the “our allies”, and particularly , the CIA who helped them in the fights of what was considered the “principal enemy”, ie. the Soviet Union and Soviet Communism.: “Paul Henze was our advisor for 27 months (1969-1972)” the general tells us. Paul Henze was “advising” So Ethiopia while Issays was plotting with Richard Copeland in Asmara to break Eritrea and dismember Ethiopia! It is no secret that the Ethiopian security was organised by the CIA and Mossad , and may indeed be considered , under Haile Selassie , like the the Savak of the Shah of Iran, an international branch of the CIA. General Daniel tells us that although the Eritrean secessionist movement led by the ELF was infinitely small and did not mobilise more that 2000 followers they kept close watch on its movements, through spies that had infiltrated the organisation..
“And one of these was Issayas Afework whom they had recruited to follow the Eritrean situation and report to them. It was precisely for that purpose that he was sent to join the ELF ” Issayas was financed and equipped with all that he needed by _Ras Asrate kassa ( (the Emperor’s Enderasse – Governor – 1964-1970.) Our agent in the Sudan was also co-ordinating the activities of our spies in the infiltration of the ELF. Our spies were largely Christians as they Christian highlanders in Eritrea were afraid of being overwhelmed by the Muslims . “.

There could be no doubt that both the CIA and the Mossad must have known this. The Israelis were since 1965 engaged in the formation of the Nebelbal commando para-military counter-insurgency units to tackle the ELF. in close collaboration with Ras Asrat, must have known this And this might support the suspicion that Issayas was already in contact with the CIA before leaving Addis permanently, and perhaps even as a student at the Engineering College about which certain ELF leaders seem to be convinced. )

Once the Americans had discovered and identified the persecution suffered by
“selfi netsanet” they were convinced that they could use it to fight back against the Muslim
ELF and its ally the Palestinian “Black September” which threatened their bases at Asmara and Gura. It was thus that Richard Copeland (we believe the true name is the famous CIA agent at this time Miles Copeland who reruited Abdel Nasser)of the CIA launched the “seed planting project” and began hunting for members of that organisation. Whether Eritrea will break away from Ethiopia , and whether human rights will be respected or not, does not bother American foreign policy. As long as American interests were served they were ready to ally themselves with the devil. And in order not to attract the opposition of the Ethiopian government, Richard Copeland had suggested what he called “Peace Conference” between the Ethiopian government and apparently, the ELF leadership.(Our Note: Whether the invitation letter was really sent to the ELF leadership or it was just another CIA ploy of announcing names without actually inviting the person concerned, as would seem most likely in this case, is for the survivors of ELF to tell us) .A separate letter inviting “Selfi Netsanet” to attend the conference has been written by Dejazmach Gebre Yohannes Tesfa Maryam.. Upon receipt of Selfi Netsanet’s favourable response signed by Abrham Tewolde (leader of the Ala’ Christian group at that date.) and Solomon Wolde Maryam addressed to the Ethiopian Government, the date and place of the conference has been fixed. Accordingly a government negotiating committee made up of three representatives, - Lieutenant Colonel Gebre Egzi Abher Mehari, vice commissioner of the Eritrean Police force, and the author of this account , Tesfa Mikael Giorgio, governor of
Deqe Mehari , with Dejazmach Gebre Kidan Tessema – judge at the supreme court, as Chairman, was established on Hedar 28, 1962 (November 1969). On 5 Tahsas , the negotiating committee had proceeded to the Ala desert but upon arrival the ELF leaders have not turned up because of the conflitct between the two. Waiting for us were only .the “Selfi Netsanet” faction of the ELF. Selfi Netsanet had therefore a good opportunity to discuss alone and freely with the Government delegation and meet the American officials at Qagnew. Several suggestions were forwarded by both parties. in the negotiations. The Selfi Netsanet group had requested for arms and material assistance to fight the Muslim ELF, but the government side having declined to meet that request saying they did not want to fuel a religious war among citizens.; they had suggested instead to Selfi Netsanet to give their hands to the government and stop fighting. To this Selfi Netsanet having requested to talk to its members for their reaction , requested another appointment and the meeting was adjourned at that. Following this Richard Copeland had asked the author of this story, Tesfa Mikaell Giorgio, to arrange a separate meeting between him and the Selfi Netsanet leadership. It was thus that a meeting between Richard Copeland and Habte Selassie Gebre Medhin at Qagnew military base.

At this meeting Copeland had learnt from Habte Selassie many major facts pertinent to his secret plot. He had concluded that it was important to ally himself with his new friends and attack both the Arab supported ELF and Haile Selassie’s government from the back by surprise. He did not mind to see Eritrea disintegrating as long as America’s interests in the Red Sea and Horn of Africa were served.
Habte Selassie briefed Abrham Tewolde and Issayas on his talks with Richard Copeland. He was then sent back to Deqe Mehari to arrange the agenda for the next meeting with Richard Copeland. At the fixed date , Richard Copeland and his friend Richard Siwelen had come up with a an arms catalogue in order to further sharpen the desire of Selfi Netsanet leaders, and induce them to accept to serve as American war proxies. At this meeting Richard Copeland appeared most interested to know the contradiction between Selfi Netsanet and the ELF. Richard Copeland was not worried by the secession of Eritrea from Ethiopia but by the influence Islamic fundamentalist with the ELF and the risk of losing the Red Sea to a rival power. Finally Richard Copeland asked Habte Selassie to bring a letter from the Selfi Netsanet leadership officially requesting for military assistance.
Accordingly a letter signed by Issayas Afework was addressed to the head of Qagnew base Colonel Mamuzer with the following requests.

1.Given that the Christian fighters at Ala are daily massacred and slaughtered by the Muslim ELF which obtains massive political and military aid from Arab as well as , indirectly, socialist countries,
2.Given that the ELF policy reflects above all Arab policy and is targeted mainly against
American and Israeli interests
3. Given that the political objective of Selfi Netsanet is fundamentally different aiming towards the establishment of a progressist democratic movement. To that end they requested American military assistance.-

Selfi Nertsanet addressed such letters not only to the United States but to all Western countries stressing always the fact of Arab and socialist assistance to the Muslim ELF. It was clear that the leaders of Selfi Netsanet saw only their rival the ELF whom they wanted to destroy. They did not however consider the danger of allying with imperialist Western powers who at any time could change their position to if they find other more profitable ways for advancing their interests.
After receiving the letter from Ato Issayas the Americans were happy to see that their “seed planting operation “ was advancing successfully. They fixed a budget and started financing the movement. However , as they had to finalise the agreement with Ato Afrework, an appointment date was fixed. (it is instructive that the letter to the CIA was signed by Issayas Afework, and that the CIA specifically ask to talk to Afework and not to the Selfi Netsanet Chairman Abrham Tewolde . In fact Abrham Tewolde would die in what has been described “mysterious circumstances” in reality poisoned by Issayas – prior to the 1st ELF
Congress October-November 1971. Issayas will become the top figure –see Tesfa Tsion Medhanie, “Eritrea – Dynamics of a National Question,” p.37)


On the appointment date, Ato Tesfa Mikael drove to Ala to accompany Ato Afework to Qagnew. The Americans having decided that , for security reasons, it would be better to hold the talks outside Qagnew, the group drove to the house of a security colleague near the Cathedral of St. Francesco at the Residence called Bowling. Richard Copeland had come in company of several American officials for the negotiations with Issayas Afework. Ato Issayas repeated the request that he had already enumerated in his letter and concluded by asking American assistance. The Americans wanted to hear a clear commitment on the part of Ato Issayas that they will protect all American bases and citizens in Eritrea from terrorist attacks. Ato Issays promised that he will do everything to protect American interests, but that he did not yet have the force to defend the American bases in Asmara and Gura. The Americans told him indirectly that as they are worried that following the fall of the weakened government of Haile Selassie’s, there might come a military government, unfriendly to the United States, they were ready to ally themselves even with anti-unity secessionist forces . Indeed they stressed the point that they desired to ally themselves with an anti-socialist force committed to defend the Qagnew base as well as similar other American bases in the Red Sea., and committed to the establishment of a democratic government in Eritrea…
Ato Issayas Afework, not having appreciated the American indirect reference regarding their disinterest for Ethiopian unity, stressed that they wanted full independence and that they will not accept a federal solution that may be proposed by the new government after Haile Selassie. In reply Richard Copeland had assured Issayas that as long American interests were safeguarded., they care less about Ethiopian unity. “ If you satisfy our conditions, and you want independence in return you shall have your independence” Issayas was told. Richard Copeland went indeed further to advise Issayas not to accept the federal solution from a new government. Ato Issayas was further assured that if Selfi Netsanet could succeed in bringing the Red Sea coast under its control, they promised to supply unlimited quantity of arms by sea.
Ato Issayas wanted to know if the Americans were talking serious and asked what guarantee do they have that the Americans will offer what they promise. Richard Copeland
Laughingly replied: “Politics is gambling. You want independence . We want our Red Sea position secured and stregthened. That is your guarantee and our guarantee.” And with that the meeting had come to an end. They had then gone to the house of Richard Copeland to drink to the success of the new plot. And there were festivities.

From now on Issayas avoided appearing in company of Richard Copeland and the Qagnew officials in order not to arouse the suspicion of Ethiopian security officials. So in the morning Richard Copeland arrived with an embassy Cadillac flying the American flag, curtained all over, so that no one could see who was inside, and drove out of Qagnew with Richard Copeland in the seat of the driver..

Following this Richard Copeland was busy putting into action his project of alliance with Selfi Netsanet. He had cheated Ras Asrate telling him that his agreement with Selfi Netsanet was only to safeguard American interests from the threats of the palestinian
“Black September”. He had then started bringing in lorries full of arms given to Selfi Netsanet.which will soon be a powerful organisation challenging the very existence of the ELF, and the unity of Ethiopia and Eritrea.


(Our note: So while Richard Copeland was recruiting Issayas as a surrogate to fight
Ethiopia and break away Eritrea , Paul Henze was “advising” the Emperor’s external intelligence
Service, as we have seen above. Further this new agreement being signed between the CIA and
Afework to start a new secessionist movement against the ELF was arranged together with Ras
Asrat who had attended the meeting. But the fact that Issayas was now being organised also as a Christian secessionist movement to fight Ethiopia must have been opposed by Ras Asrate or it becomes an intriguing issue. Indeed the Emperor will remove Ras Asrate from his post as Governor of Eritrea , the next year , 1970, on account of what some observers attribute to an alleged suspicion that the ambitious Ras was plotting to overthrow him in collaboration with the secessionists, and perhaps also in collaboration with the CIA and Mossad. “The Ras’ – political non-military- approach (as opposed to the military approaxh of Prime Minister Aklilou) was dictated by his interest in turning Eritrea into a power base for himself. Ras Asrate concentrated on divisive tactics and on secret efforts to work out a “political solution” with various groups in the Eritrean movement. It seems he had the co-operation of Israeli and American military personnel in Eritrea in this endeavour” (Tesfa Tsion Medhanie, op. cit p.41) What does General Daniel know about this? With this background you can imagine the lives of so many progressist intellectuals lost unable to unmask the true nature of Issays who will decimate them one after another ( notably the Menkai who were opposed to the regional divide and rule and infighting within the Christian movement –among the Serae, Hamassein and Akle Guzai – once again a CIA ploy of divide and rule used by Issayas and Solomon Wolde Maryam -Tesfa Tsion Medhanie ,op. cit. p. ). You can also imagine all the energy lost in ELF’s attempt to build a united secessionist front with Issayas, until he was strong enough to destroy them completely, and all the Ink lost by so many Western writers who year after year “brandished” the Marxist, “anti-imperialsit” Issayas. We are not talking only of paid disinformation agents, but writers and parties who claimed to be Marxists of all colours.


Various sources indicate that Information regarding the above secret agreement between Richard Copeland and Issayas had soon reached the ELF leadership in its generalities. Tesfa Tsion Medhenie ( Eritrea –Dynamics of a National Question ,p. 41-42) who is not aware of Tesfa Tsion’s story when he published his book in 1986, talks about “Isayas Afeworki’s secret talks with Ethiopia and U.S authorities in the Eritrean capital,
Asmara in 1970 (sic)” Tesfa Tsion, in general, a very deep and critical analyst of EthioEritrean affairs, attributes the CIA-Issayas secret agreement to the internal power struggle in Ethiopian politics between Ras Asrate Kassa and Prime Minister Aklilou. He attributes the secret negotiations to Asrat’s attempt to bring the Eritrean faction as well as Israeli and American support on his side, in order to wipe out the ELF. The author therefore draws the wrong conclusion. We have seen that the CIA had in fact avoided the presence of Ras Asrat or his representatives in the Government of Eritrea in the secret negotiations with Issayas. No wonder therefore missing that last crucial stage , he considers the negotiations a failure. ”The project was not implemented” he writes. And yet he himself shows in detail chapter by chapter , step by step, the ever growing power of the EPLF thanks to American military assistance, until the complete destruction of the ELF. The story regarding the ELF-CIA agreement had also been referred to in Africa Confidential, November 1970, and by the ELF, with their usual sluggishness regarding propaganda literature, in December 1979, when they were about to disappear, in The Eritrean News letter, ELF Foreign Information Center, Beirut.
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The Name: Selfi Netsanet of Issayas will change gradually with the development of alliances and counter-alliances..



with the objective of advancing the national interests of the United States. Similar to its rival the Soviet KGB, the CIA has been deeply engaged and has to a large extent met the responsibility entrusted to it.
This spy agency has been engaged since its establishment in 1947, in three principal areas it has been particularly successful in secret political infiltration and psychological warfare in foreign lands through the use of force and secret plots.
Given American focus on fighting socialism , the CIA has been particularly active in infiltrating and plotting to overthrow socialist regimes, and designating in its place a puppet regime which it can manipulate as desired. Where it has not succeeded to overthrow a given regime through infiltration and secret plotting, America does not hesitate to intervene militarily and designate a puppet regime. All this is carried out in the name of
“democracy and human rights”
It was thus that (in 1969) the CIA had launched a secret operation known by the code name of “seed planting project” (nursery), at Qagnew military base (near Asmara).
At that date the United States had completely lost faith in Haile Selassie’s government.
This CIA project was therefore intended to prepare an alternative means to defend American interests in the Red Sea and the Horn of Africa. And this alternative was plotting against and sabotaging Ethiopian unity, in collaboration with Ato Issays Afework. This account may not be trusted by our readers. And yet this account is the truth as told by no other than Tesfa Mikael Giorgio, then a governor of a district in Eritrea, who had participated in the negotiations at Qagnew between the CIA and Issayas Afework.

America was alerted that her position in the Red Sea and the Horn of Africa was facing danger when she realised that a guerrilla organisation called Jebha ( ELF, Eritrean Liberation Front) supported by closely allied Arab countries was gaining fame through its military campaigns in the Eritrean low lands, while the Government of Haile Selassie battered from various angles was shaking unable to stand on its feet. The United States Government was worried that if the situation continued in this way, Eritrea and the Red
Sea will fall under the control of extremist Arab countries (allied to the Soviet Union), while
Haile Selassie’s government will be overthrown and replaced by a socialist regime. ( Our
Note: More importantly, due to PLO training and advice (and also due to the provision of arms and finances by Libya, the Sudan, South Yemen, and others …the establishment of the PLF marked an important turning point. Until then, for instance, Eritrea fighters had rarely used mines and explosives…By 1969 the number of Eritrea’s who had received training abroad (including Cuba , China) in advanced guerrilla tactics had increased considerably. With their new method and weapons the Eritreans began executing spectacular acts of sabotage and terrorism, including hijacking of planes, kidnapping of foreign diplomats, blowing up of bridges in front of cameras and ambushing and assassinating Ethiopian functionaries and collaborators Hagai Erlich, “The struggle over Eritrea”, 1983 p.28).

That is the background to the CIA secret operation known by the secret code of “seed planting project .” And indeed the CIA has been able to anticipate and avoid a planned attack by the Palestinian organisation known as “Black September ”against the American bases in Asmara and Gura.
Once the project was launched the CIA and top officials of Qagnew were busy recruiting intellectuals and young Eritreans coming to relax at the “Top Five” and Golf Club in Asmara. Their spying infiltration activities convinced the CIA more and more that Haile Selassie’s government, faced with both civilian and military opposition, could not last long, while on the other hand, the Eritrean guerrilla organisation – the ELF – active in the Eritrean deserts, faced equally strong (mainly Christian) opposition whom it hunted down and eliminated physically(see note below). Among the Eritrean groups opposed to the ELF was Issayas Afework’s “Selfi Netsanet”


(Our Note: Kidane Kinfu had been sent as of 1965 by the ELF to recruit Addis Ababa University students for the ELF and sow the seed of student revolt against the government of Haile Selassie Government. “Eritreans at Addis Ababa university distinguished themselves by their politicl activism, and their immersion in the radical ideological currents that were beginning to surge in Ethiopian student student circles in the mid 1960’s (Markakis, “National and Class Conflict in the Horn” –1985, p119). By coincidence or by design, the Ethiopian student revolt had also started in 1965: And that is where the future leaders of the EPLF, including perhaps Issayas, were recruited. It is difficult to imagine that Kidane Kiflu entered Ethiopia and carried out his mission of recruitment and inciting revolt without attracting the attention of the Ethiopian security. We could imagine on the other hand , that he too was a CIA agent inside the ELF. Indeed given CIA expertise in destroying unwanted opposition parties through infiltration, and through the creation of parallel organisations, it has, either directly or indirectly, through Saudi Arabia and conservative Iraq, infiltrated the ELF Muslim leadership of the western Muslim lowlands, with its well-known divide and rule objective on religious and linguistic lines (Arab versus Tigregna ). Although strongly resented by the Christian highlanders, Arabic was the official language of the ELF. Its literature was written in that language, and Arab nomenclature was adopted within the front, such as Jebha, and Shaabia. All that contributed to the Muslim-Christian contradictions. It is to such contradictions and divide and rule methods that the continuous massacre of Christian members within the ELF has been attributed.. The creation of religious and linguistic zones similar to our “kilel” of to-day enforced by the conservative elements within the ELF and which had incited strong opposition among particularly the Christian highlanders, may also be attributed to such “divide and rule” antiunity external infiltration. So also Ethiopia, certainly in collaboration with the CIA appears to have been engaged in secret contacts with the ELF: Indeed about September 1969, that is a few weeks before the CIA story we are recounting here, “the leaders of the western regions were in constant touch with Idris (Mohamed) Adam (one time ELF Chairman and conservative element) were negotiating a deal with the Ethiopians in which the ELF would stop disturbing communications with the ports of Massawa and Assab in exchange for a free hand in the west (along the Sudan border. Mohamed (Ahmed )Abduh (member of the General command formed by the Adobha congress of August 1969) was accused of negotiating to this effect with the U.S consul in Asmara , Murray Jackson. The chief advisors of Eritrea’s Ethiopian Governor, Ras Asrate Kassa – namely , Tesfa Yohannes Berhe, Hamid Faraj, and Muhammad Umar Qadi – were to be in contact with members of the General command. In fact, some time in early 1970, (1969?) the Ethiopian Ras clandestinely to a remote town near the Sudanese border to discuss the matter with Idris Adam” (Hagai Erlich , “The Struggle over Eritrea : 1962-1978 (Hoover Institution publication , 1983). Issayas Afework was born in 1944 (Hagai says 1946, op.cit. p.29) in the Christian highlands of Hamassein, and is of Tigrai origin on the side of his mother who was a native of ancient and historic Yeha in the Adowa region. Dejach Solomon, one time Assistant Minister of
Interior, and later Governor of Wollo was his uncle. Issayas had joined the ELF in 1967 (Markakis,, op.cit p.286, says 1966) after dropping out from the Engineering college in Addis Ababa university. Indeed In 1967, the Supreme Council of the ELF had sent him to Maoist China where he received a six-month military training, a strange opportunity for a newly recruited Christian element in the largely conservative Muslim leadership drawn from the Western lowlands and conservative ELF.
Hagai Erlich’s story regarding the early days of Issayas in relation withthe Italian half-cast Dr. Biasolo is false in some ways. Hagai writes, (“The struggle over Eritrea” ,1983, p.29) of the school teacher Issayas who “as a youngster had been influenced by a Marxist-oriented economist from Asmara, Dr. Biasolo, a half-caste businessman”. I have known Dr. Biasolo in Rome where he lived in exile under the Derg. He was not a Marxist. On the contrary he was very close to the Etrhiopian leadership of the EPDA organised and financed by the CIA. One may therefore conclude that he might have been in those days in Asmara in the 1960’s and early 1970’s among ther CIA collaborators , all, including Issayas – posing under the cover and cloak of Marxism. With the rise to power of Issayas , Dr. Biasolo who has been promised to regain the property of his house, has returned to Asmara.

In 1969 Kidane Kinfu would be assasinated in Kassala, at the height of an anti-Christian hysteria, among the Western Eritrea ELF Muslim leaders , apparently on suspicion of being a spy of the Addis Ababa Government. Several hundred Christians were thus executed accused of being spies of the imperial government. see John Markakis, op.cit p.120, 126. 127 For the Christian Eritreans then concentrated in the former “fifth” Christian zone reserved for fighters from the highlands of Serae, Hamasein and Akle Guzai, and “particularly for the radical former (Addis Ababa university) student contingent, this was the last straw. Some abandoned the movement entirely.; others fled to the Sudan. Others in the former “fifth zone” split and headed for a place called Ala on the eastern edge of the escarpment in Akle Guzai to join Abrham Tewolde, the former commander of the “fifth Christian zone”. Among them was Issayas Afework the former political commissar of this zone.”
( Markakis,, Nartional and Class conflict p.127). It appears that Issayas group was initially (about this date) was no more than eleven.(Tesfa Tsion Medhanie, op. cit p. 35)

One other important point that has to be raised in relation with Issayas’ membrship of the ELF is that, as we now discover, justifying ELF suspicion, Issayas was indeed one of the spies in the service of the Ethiopian government paid to infiltrate the ELF and inform Addis Ababa. In fact, in an interview with the magazine “Menelik” (March 2001), General Daniel Menghistu, head of External intelligence Service at the Emperor’s cabinet. As the General himself tells us their job was different from the internal security organisation. Their job was to spy on anti Ethiopian and anti-Government activities on the part of our Arab neighbours inside Eritrea and Somalia , as well as to spy on Soviet Communist activities in Ethiopia, and protect the person of the Emperor while travelling abroad.. The General tells us that the Foreign Intelligence Service was working in close co-operation with the “our allies”, and particularly , the CIA who helped them in the fights of what was considered the “principal enemy”, ie. the Soviet Union and Soviet Communism.: “Paul Henze was our advisor for 27 months (1969-1972)” the general tells us. Paul Henze was “advising” So Ethiopia while Issays was plotting with Richard Copeland in Asmara to break Eritrea and dismember Ethiopia! It is no secret that the Ethiopian security was organised by the CIA and Mossad , and may indeed be considered , under Haile Selassie , like the the Savak of the Shah of Iran, an international branch of the CIA. General Daniel tells us that although the Eritrean secessionist movement led by the ELF was infinitely small and did not mobilise more that 2000 followers they kept close watch on its movements, through spies that had infiltrated the organisation..
“And one of these was Issayas Afework whom they had recruited to follow the Eritrean situation and report to them. It was precisely for that purpose that he was sent to join the ELF ” Issayas was financed and equipped with all that he needed by _Ras Asrate kassa ( (the Emperor’s Enderasse – Governor – 1964-1970.) Our agent in the Sudan was also co-ordinating the activities of our spies in the infiltration of the ELF. Our spies were largely Christians as they Christian highlanders in Eritrea were afraid of being overwhelmed by the Muslims . “.

There could be no doubt that both the CIA and the Mossad must have known this. The Israelis were since 1965 engaged in the formation of the Nebelbal commando para-military counter-insurgency units to tackle the ELF. in close collaboration with Ras Asrat, must have known this And this might support the suspicion that Issayas was already in contact with the CIA before leaving Addis permanently, and perhaps even as a student at the Engineering College about which certain ELF leaders seem to be convinced. )

Once the Americans had discovered and identified the persecution suffered by
“selfi netsanet” they were convinced that they could use it to fight back against the Muslim
ELF and its ally the Palestinian “Black September” which threatened their bases at Asmara and Gura. It was thus that Richard Copeland (we believe the true name is the famous CIA agent at this time Miles Copeland who reruited Abdel Nasser)of the CIA launched the “seed planting project” and began hunting for members of that organisation. Whether Eritrea will break away from Ethiopia , and whether human rights will be respected or not, does not bother American foreign policy. As long as American interests were served they were ready to ally themselves with the devil. And in order not to attract the opposition of the Ethiopian government, Richard Copeland had suggested what he called “Peace Conference” between the Ethiopian government and apparently, the ELF leadership.(Our Note: Whether the invitation letter was really sent to the ELF leadership or it was just another CIA ploy of announcing names without actually inviting the person concerned, as would seem most likely in this case, is for the survivors of ELF to tell us) .A separate letter inviting “Selfi Netsanet” to attend the conference has been written by Dejazmach Gebre Yohannes Tesfa Maryam.. Upon receipt of Selfi Netsanet’s favourable response signed by Abrham Tewolde (leader of the Ala’ Christian group at that date.) and Solomon Wolde Maryam addressed to the Ethiopian Government, the date and place of the conference has been fixed. Accordingly a government negotiating committee made up of three representatives, - Lieutenant Colonel Gebre Egzi Abher Mehari, vice commissioner of the Eritrean Police force, and the author of this account , Tesfa Mikael Giorgio, governor of
Deqe Mehari , with Dejazmach Gebre Kidan Tessema – judge at the supreme court, as Chairman, was established on Hedar 28, 1962 (November 1969). On 5 Tahsas , the negotiating committee had proceeded to the Ala desert but upon arrival the ELF leaders have not turned up because of the conflitct between the two. Waiting for us were only .the “Selfi Netsanet” faction of the ELF. Selfi Netsanet had therefore a good opportunity to discuss alone and freely with the Government delegation and meet the American officials at Qagnew. Several suggestions were forwarded by both parties. in the negotiations. The Selfi Netsanet group had requested for arms and material assistance to fight the Muslim ELF, but the government side having declined to meet that request saying they did not want to fuel a religious war among citizens.; they had suggested instead to Selfi Netsanet to give their hands to the government and stop fighting. To this Selfi Netsanet having requested to talk to its members for their reaction , requested another appointment and the meeting was adjourned at that. Following this Richard Copeland had asked the author of this story, Tesfa Mikaell Giorgio, to arrange a separate meeting between him and the Selfi Netsanet leadership. It was thus that a meeting between Richard Copeland and Habte Selassie Gebre Medhin at Qagnew military base.

At this meeting Copeland had learnt from Habte Selassie many major facts pertinent to his secret plot. He had concluded that it was important to ally himself with his new friends and attack both the Arab supported ELF and Haile Selassie’s government from the back by surprise. He did not mind to see Eritrea disintegrating as long as America’s interests in the Red Sea and Horn of Africa were served.
Habte Selassie briefed Abrham Tewolde and Issayas on his talks with Richard Copeland. He was then sent back to Deqe Mehari to arrange the agenda for the next meeting with Richard Copeland. At the fixed date , Richard Copeland and his friend Richard Siwelen had come up with a an arms catalogue in order to further sharpen the desire of Selfi Netsanet leaders, and induce them to accept to serve as American war proxies. At this meeting Richard Copeland appeared most interested to know the contradiction between Selfi Netsanet and the ELF. Richard Copeland was not worried by the secession of Eritrea from Ethiopia but by the influence Islamic fundamentalist with the ELF and the risk of losing the Red Sea to a rival power. Finally Richard Copeland asked Habte Selassie to bring a letter from the Selfi Netsanet leadership officially requesting for military assistance.
Accordingly a letter signed by Issayas Afework was addressed to the head of Qagnew base Colonel Mamuzer with the following requests.

1.Given that the Christian fighters at Ala are daily massacred and slaughtered by the Muslim ELF which obtains massive political and military aid from Arab as well as , indirectly, socialist countries,
2.Given that the ELF policy reflects above all Arab policy and is targeted mainly against
American and Israeli interests
3. Given that the political objective of Selfi Netsanet is fundamentally different aiming towards the establishment of a progressist democratic movement. To that end they requested American military assistance.-

Selfi Nertsanet addressed such letters not only to the United States but to all Western countries stressing always the fact of Arab and socialist assistance to the Muslim ELF. It was clear that the leaders of Selfi Netsanet saw only their rival the ELF whom they wanted to destroy. They did not however consider the danger of allying with imperialist Western powers who at any time could change their position to if they find other more profitable ways for advancing their interests.
After receiving the letter from Ato Issayas the Americans were happy to see that their “seed planting operation “ was advancing successfully. They fixed a budget and started financing the movement. However , as they had to finalise the agreement with Ato Afrework, an appointment date was fixed. (it is instructive that the letter to the CIA was signed by Issayas Afework, and that the CIA specifically ask to talk to Afework and not to the Selfi Netsanet Chairman Abrham Tewolde . In fact Abrham Tewolde would die in what has been described “mysterious circumstances” in reality poisoned by Issayas – prior to the 1st ELF
Congress October-November 1971. Issayas will become the top figure –see Tesfa Tsion Medhanie, “Eritrea – Dynamics of a National Question,” p.37)


On the appointment date, Ato Tesfa Mikael drove to Ala to accompany Ato Afework to Qagnew. The Americans having decided that , for security reasons, it would be better to hold the talks outside Qagnew, the group drove to the house of a security colleague near the Cathedral of St. Francesco at the Residence called Bowling. Richard Copeland had come in company of several American officials for the negotiations with Issayas Afework. Ato Issayas repeated the request that he had already enumerated in his letter and concluded by asking American assistance. The Americans wanted to hear a clear commitment on the part of Ato Issayas that they will protect all American bases and citizens in Eritrea from terrorist attacks. Ato Issays promised that he will do everything to protect American interests, but that he did not yet have the force to defend the American bases in Asmara and Gura. The Americans told him indirectly that as they are worried that following the fall of the weakened government of Haile Selassie’s, there might come a military government, unfriendly to the United States, they were ready to ally themselves even with anti-unity secessionist forces . Indeed they stressed the point that they desired to ally themselves with an anti-socialist force committed to defend the Qagnew base as well as similar other American bases in the Red Sea., and committed to the establishment of a democratic government in Eritrea…
Ato Issayas Afework, not having appreciated the American indirect reference regarding their disinterest for Ethiopian unity, stressed that they wanted full independence and that they will not accept a federal solution that may be proposed by the new government after Haile Selassie. In reply Richard Copeland had assured Issayas that as long American interests were safeguarded., they care less about Ethiopian unity. “ If you satisfy our conditions, and you want independence in return you shall have your independence” Issayas was told. Richard Copeland went indeed further to advise Issayas not to accept the federal solution from a new government. Ato Issayas was further assured that if Selfi Netsanet could succeed in bringing the Red Sea coast under its control, they promised to supply unlimited quantity of arms by sea.
Ato Issayas wanted to know if the Americans were talking serious and asked what guarantee do they have that the Americans will offer what they promise. Richard Copeland
Laughingly replied: “Politics is gambling. You want independence . We want our Red Sea position secured and stregthened. That is your guarantee and our guarantee.” And with that the meeting had come to an end. They had then gone to the house of Richard Copeland to drink to the success of the new plot. And there were festivities.

From now on Issayas avoided appearing in company of Richard Copeland and the Qagnew officials in order not to arouse the suspicion of Ethiopian security officials. So in the morning Richard Copeland arrived with an embassy Cadillac flying the American flag, curtained all over, so that no one could see who was inside, and drove out of Qagnew with Richard Copeland in the seat of the driver..

Following this Richard Copeland was busy putting into action his project of alliance with Selfi Netsanet. He had cheated Ras Asrate telling him that his agreement with Selfi Netsanet was only to safeguard American interests from the threats of the palestinian
“Black September”. He had then started bringing in lorries full of arms given to Selfi Netsanet.which will soon be a powerful organisation challenging the very existence of the ELF, and the unity of Ethiopia and Eritrea.


(Our note: So while Richard Copeland was recruiting Issayas as a surrogate to fight
Ethiopia and break away Eritrea , Paul Henze was “advising” the Emperor’s external intelligence
Service, as we have seen above. Further this new agreement being signed between the CIA and
Afework to start a new secessionist movement against the ELF was arranged together with Ras
Asrat who had attended the meeting. But the fact that Issayas was now being organised also as a Christian secessionist movement to fight Ethiopia must have been opposed by Ras Asrate or it becomes an intriguing issue. Indeed the Emperor will remove Ras Asrate from his post as Governor of Eritrea , the next year , 1970, on account of what some observers attribute to an alleged suspicion that the ambitious Ras was plotting to overthrow him in collaboration with the secessionists, and perhaps also in collaboration with the CIA and Mossad. “The Ras’ – political non-military- approach (as opposed to the military approaxh of Prime Minister Aklilou) was dictated by his interest in turning Eritrea into a power base for himself. Ras Asrate concentrated on divisive tactics and on secret efforts to work out a “political solution” with various groups in the Eritrean movement. It seems he had the co-operation of Israeli and American military personnel in Eritrea in this endeavour” (Tesfa Tsion Medhanie, op. cit p.41) What does General Daniel know about this? With this background you can imagine the lives of so many progressist intellectuals lost unable to unmask the true nature of Issays who will decimate them one after another ( notably the Menkai who were opposed to the regional divide and rule and infighting within the Christian movement –among the Serae, Hamassein and Akle Guzai – once again a CIA ploy of divide and rule used by Issayas and Solomon Wolde Maryam -Tesfa Tsion Medhanie ,op. cit. p. ). You can also imagine all the energy lost in ELF’s attempt to build a united secessionist front with Issayas, until he was strong enough to destroy them completely, and all the Ink lost by so many Western writers who year after year “brandished” the Marxist, “anti-imperialsit” Issayas. We are not talking only of paid disinformation agents, but writers and parties who claimed to be Marxists of all colours. End of note)

Various sources indicate that Information regarding the above secret agreement between Richard Copeland and Issayas had soon reached the ELF leadership in its generalities. Tesfa Tsion Medhenie ( Eritrea –Dynamics of a National Question ,p. 41-42) who is not aware of Tesfa Tsion’s story when he published his book in 1986, talks about “Isayas Afeworki’s secret talks with Ethiopia and U.S authorities in the Eritrean capital,
Asmara in 1970 (sic)” Tesfa Tsion, in general, a very deep and critical analyst of EthioEritrean affairs, attributes the CIA-Issayas secret agreement to the internal power struggle in Ethiopian politics between Ras Asrate Kassa and Prime Minister Aklilou. He attributes the secret negotiations to Asrat’s attempt to bring the Eritrean faction as well as Israeli and American support on his side, in order to wipe out the ELF. The author therefore draws the wrong conclusion. We have seen that the CIA had in fact avoided the presence of Ras Asrat or his representatives in the Government of Eritrea in the secret negotiations with Issayas. No wonder therefore missing that last crucial stage , he considers the negotiations a failure. ”The project was not implemented” he writes. And yet he himself shows in detail chapter by chapter , step by step, the ever growing power of the EPLF thanks to American military assistance, until the complete destruction of the ELF. The story regarding the ELF-CIA agreement had also been referred to in Africa Confidential, November 1970, and by the ELF, with their usual sluggishness regarding propaganda literature, in December 1979, when they were about to disappear, in The Eritrean News letter, ELF Foreign Information Center, Beirut.
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The Name: Selfi Netsanet of Issayas will change gradually with the development of alliances and counter-alliances.....


The articles continues..

[Dama]

Very surprising to learn that Ethiopia/CIA recruited Isayas as their spy against ELF from within the campus of HSI University now AAU.

[Zmeselo]

Our Independence didn't come through the US but through our sweat, blood and a referendum.

Secondly, the US position on the Eritrean Red Sea was not secured as Copeland hoped.

So, either Tesfamichael Giorgio is fantasizing or the "recruitment" of Isaias Afwerki was a total failure.

Besides all that, the ELF failed not because of external conspiracies but because Eritreans saw through its outdated policy based on region & religion.

The US intelligence community, sent Dan Connell to the EPLF and Gayle Smith to the TPLF to co-opt them. Gayle Smith succeeded in her endeavour, but Connell failed miserably.

Hence, his never ending animosity towards Eritrea.

Very surprising to learn that Ethiopia/CIA recruited Isayas as their spy against ELF from within the campus of HSI University now AAU.

[Dama]

I am just finding out now how Isayas the CIA spy snaked his way up to the top through what it looked to us deadly routes but all his safey well taken care of by CIA protection while taking chances.

Otherwise, surviving the odds, bandits appointing themselves as emperors, a small Shewa kingdom defeating and subjugating much larger and older kingdoms of the south with the arms and guidance of the West, I am very familiar about.