From the Gov't Spokesperson website. Follow link for more interviews with Eritrean POWs.

Name:Ephrem Shumendi Berhe Age: 23 Place of birth: Asmara (Himbirti-Hamasen) Education: 9th grade student (no job till May) Unit: 271 Corps, 2nd Division, 1st Brigade, 1st Battalion, 3rd Company, 1st Platoon, 3rd Team.

Family: Father is a mechanic at a flourmill; two sisters and four brothers He was captured by the Ethiopian army on the evening of March 29 near Shelalo "We did not see them (our airforce). We were told that our airforce downed Ethiopian planes, but we never saw this happening. Also, we were told that Ethiopia does not have heavy weapons, but we got really thrashed. The soldiers say, 'maybe our planes are in the museums.'" [Interviewer's note: He laughed while saying this.]"

"The battle yesterday started at 6:00 am."

Question: What happened before the battle started?

"We had received our directives from the leader of our battalion, Wodi Keshi, on the evening of March 28. Wodi Keshi said, 'We will start fighting against the Ethiopians just before 6:00 am tomorrow morning. Don't worry about the artillery because we have enough.' He said this because our artillery did not do well during the battle of Badme. The directive by Wodi Keshi took place for only 10 minutes."

Question: What was the goal of this battle?

"They tell the goals only to the platoon commanders. But Wodi Keshi said that we would remove the enemy. We had fought at Shambeko for 11 days after we were pushed out from Badme."

Question: What did you know about the battle of Badme?

"I was at Tsorona as a reserve and we were told that we were supposed to be on alert all the time. I came to Badme to help those who were defeated. Then we moved to Shambeko, fought there 11 days and then we again started a battle on March 29."

Question: How did the Eritrean soldiers feel after the battle of Badme?

"There are a lot of people who feel terrible because we felt the president accepted the peace proposal after so many of our soldiers died. We were very angry and sad. There is no one who came back from the hospital. There were eight wounded from my team. Two returned and one died yesterday. Six are still in the hospital. I know there is a strict security check at the hospital. The Eritrean government said only 2 tanks were burned and 2 destroyed at the battle of Badme. We came when the battle was almost over. I know 381Corps was destroyed. The wounded have been moved even to Asmara. Soldiers have told me that even blankets were left behind. All our weapons etc. were either destroyed or captured. I heard this from soldiers who escaped. They are still in Corps 381 which was really destroyed!"

Question: How do commanders make sure soldiers don't run away?

"There is no way we can run because the government has people in every village to pick up those who flee. We are told that there is no place to hide. Our unit commander also said, 'If you so much try to flee we will kill you ourselves.'"

Question: How were you captured?

"I used to hear that Woyane does not capture, that it kills instead. I was fighting along with my unit when it was totally destroyed. One of my comrades was seriously wounded. I tried to help him but I could not. Then I decided to hide. I gave myself up in the evening. I believe that though my platoon leader fled with some of our men, they went straight into a place that was being shelled. I think everyone perished. The comrade who was wounded is here with me."

Question: The Eritrean government is saying there was no battle on March 29. What do you think about this?

"The commanders know there was a battle yesterday. I know there was a battle yesterday because I was there."

Question: Who won the battle yesterday?

"We took the initiative but you took our bunkers. I know that at least 7 of our tanks were destroyed. I saw them smoking. I know where the tanks were and I saw black smoke going up."

Question: Do your soldiers understand you were defeated?

"We know we are being defeated. We had moral before the battle started. But after the battle of Badme and then the 11-day war at Shambeko, things were made worse. This last battle where I was captured (i.e., 2 days or so ago), which we were told was going to be waged to take back Badme, was even worse."

Question: What does tactical withdrawal mean in your opinion?

"We learned before the battle of Badme about tactical withdrawal as part of our training (i.e., a long time ago). [It means] that you get cover, take all your wounded, your property, etc. and withdraw when the situation is not favourable, but the battle of Badme was different. People who came back from that battle said there was no 'proclamation' within the fighting force at the front line to withdraw: no cover, no organized retreat, nothing. Also, where I was captured there was nothing like that. I think we should just admit the war is bad for us. Maybe bad luck! Yesterday [March 29] we started the battle at 6:00 am and fought until about 4:00 in the afternoon, and we were defeated. There is a valley beyond the place where I was hiding with my wounded friend and it was full of our dead comrades."

Question: When the Eritrean government said it accepted the peace proposal, did you believe it?

"I don't believe it because it has refused the OAU proposal because it is very arrogant. It also said that there was no battle yesterday. I know our government is lying because here I am and I was captured in that battle. They tell us that Woyane is nothing and that Shabia trained it, etc. I don't know what to think, but I know our soldiers will die. The soldiers are not interested in fighting. They just go into the fighting with the hope of peace in their hearts."

Question: How did you go into combat yesterday?

"I had two thoughts. First, I thought about my life and wished that I would be lucky and survive. Second, that maybe it would be just as well if I died and got it over with."

Question: What do you think about the Eritrean airforce?

"We did not see them (our airforce). We were told that our airforce downed Ethiopian planes, but we never saw this happening. Also, we were told that Ethiopia does not have heavy weapons, but we got really thrashed. The soldiers say, 'maybe our planes are in the museums.'" [Interviewer's note: He laughed while saying this.]

Question: Where would you like to go if you had a choice?

"I would like to go home but then they will get me. So I don't know where I want to go. Certainly I don't want to go to the Sudan."

Question: What is your wish?

"My wish and prayers have been answered. My wish was that death would pass me by yesterday and it did. I am lucky. Yesterday was the 14th day since we started fighting and I am still alive."