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

Name:Paulo Franco Vonela Age: 23 Place of birth: Tessenei (Gash Barka) Family: Father is half cast - Italian and Eritrean, mother is Ethiopian. Father - Franco Vonela. Mother - Nigisti Gebremariam Hayelom. Education: 9th grade. He studied in the Sudan (Khartoum) speaks Arabic, Tigrigna, Italian. Unit: 381 Corps, 1st Division, 2nd Brigade, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Company, 1st platoon, team 3.

Has two brothers and two sisters. Parents are now in Asmara. Father has garage in Saudi Arabia. Mother is housewife "I have an Italian nationality. When I realized there was no chance to settle the problem peacefully. I asked to go home using the excuse of my nationality. I got disciplined." Ché tragedia! Il ragazzo povero è soltanto un quarto di Eritrean tuttavia è stato costretto a combattere in una guerra che non ha creduto dentro.

Are you a regular soldier or from the national service?

I am from the national service troops. I trained at Sawa about 3 years ago (1996). I registered my mother as Ethiopian my dad as Italian. I only have a quarter of Eritrean. I registered as Eritrean because I have always been with Eritreans. I lived in the Sudan from 1977-94 (G.C.) 18 years. I was born in Tessene but went to the Sudan when I was only one year old.

Were you with the army since 1996?

I trained in 1996, then I joined the army. I was sick (snake bite - I almost died, healed in 4 months. leg swollen for a long time) then I joined ordinance and repairs. But before that I joined the military academy and did repairs, stayed for over a year. I finished this assignment (national service) and went home.

What did you do after you finished national service?

I went to work as a mechanic that is my regular job at my uncle's garage in Tessene. My parent's home is in Asmara and I got called to the front line. I told my uncle that I did not want to go. But he did not agree. I told him I was going to Humera(Ethiopia) to avoid going to the front line. but he disagreed. I had a lot of problems while doing national service. I had smashed somebody's tooth etc. So my uncle said I should not get into trouble any more. The garage and a farm in Tessene is registered in my name. Therefore my uncle said that our business would be ruined if I did not go. So I did and was placed in Corps. 381,1,2,2,2,1,3.

When did you join the army again?

I came to the army on 28/4/98 and went to 381 which was my unit during national service from 28 till 12 May. I was at Lego Anseba doing roads, etc. On the 17th of May 1998, I went to Lalay Deda near Badme. We came from Asmara to Shambko, got armed and moved to Deda. We built trenches and bunkers the whole of the rainy season.

The program of the day would be as follows:

1. we got up at 6:00 a.m.
2. dug trenches till 10:00 a.m.
3. cut trees
4. break rocks
5. have breakfast at 10:00
6. rest till about 3 (place is hot and was also raining too much)
7. start working (same as morning) at 3 p.m.
8. work till 5:30-6:00
9. dinner at 6:00
10. got all our weapons and go into our trenches

Did people complain at this time? Too much work?

Things were fine till September 98, work was also not too much till then. But after the 9th month of 98 it got to be tough.

What happened after the 9th month ?

After September things changed because the land mines that we placed ourselves became a menace. There was an incident when a land mine exploded and hurt a lot of us. One lost his legs another got hurt on his spine. This would have been ok. Because it could happen but the land mines were every where and they created a great sense of insecurity. Nobody except the people who plant them knows where they are. Therefore the whole place was too dangerous. We got tense and worried that we would get hurt or killed.

There was also continues vigilance which is terrible. You get to watch every where and every one would be involved. You wake up at 4:00 a.m. just before dawn, and you get your spot and watch. This is routine but was worrisome all the same.

There was a lot of discord among us later I for one got into trouble a lot. I have an Italian nationality. When I realized there was no chance to settle the problem peacefully. I asked to go home using the excuse of my nationality. I got disciplined.

There was the case of Eden Fantahun and Rasu. Rasu wanted to have sex with Eden, who refused. One day while we were attending a cultural show in our corps he tried to kill not only her but also everyone with hand grandee. He was not successful. But later both died in battle at Gemahalo. She was an Ethiopian .

What was the battle of Gemahalo ( Badme Front) like?

This battle was most unusual with unexpected results. We were defeated because we looked down upon Ethiopia. We just did not understand the strength of the enemy. The battle of Gemahalo was just awful. The Ethiopian army which was supposed not to understand heavy weapons was actually an expert at it. There was the problem of the helicopters and jets. If you take Monday the day the battle started, your jet came and dropped one big bomb on our heads and killed 13 of our soldiers with just one bomb. This was different from what we were told the Ethiopian army was like.

What was the Ethiopian army supposed to be then?

1. The Ethiopian army moral is low (we were told)
2. Either too young or too old and primitive
3. They have no skills in heavy weapons
4. The Ethiopian air force is weak and badly organized

We did not believe what we were told about Ethiopian airforce. Because we know what Ethiopia has by way of airforce. We believed what we were told about heavy weapons. But we realized it was wrong to under estimate Ethiopia's knowledge of even heavy weapons. We realized our mistakes in the battle of Bademe.

Do you think you made tactical withdrawal at Bademe?

This is just nonsense. I for one know we were defeated. They (our leaders) are saying we made tactical withdrawal just to please our parents. Some day our parents will find out what happened. I know for example, the 2nd brigade of the 2nd Division of Corps 381 did flee, withdraw to Tekombia, then it realized things were really bad. But the commander re-organized it at Tekombia and made it go back to Bademe area where it was smashed. This brigade has many P.O.Ws here with me.

What do you wish? Make a wish.

I wish for peace and next to that I want my mother.

I want to say something , when we came to Bademe in May, we did think that it was Eritrean territory but we realized that this place was administered by Ethiopia because we found Ethiopian books, exercise books, receipts etc., The commanders realized there was this awareness and they gave an explanation that yes, there are Ethiopians schools etc. in Bademe area but that it was because the whole area was occupied by Ethiopia in 1997. Well the whole thing cooled off after this explanation was provided.

N.B. This young man is entitled to an Italian passport (he says). His family has acquired this status. He wants his family to be contacted through the Italian Embassy in Asmara.