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

Name: Fitsum GebreMichael Afle Age: 35 Place of birth: Adi Sheroka, Mai Dima-Seraye, near Kohaien Unit:Corps 161; Division 3; Brigade 2; Battalion 1; Company 2; Platoon 2; Team 3 Education: 5th grade

Family: His mother died when he was five. His father is alive and lives in Asmara. His father has no other children and he appealed to the authorities to let Fitsum go home since he is an only child, but he had no luck. Fitsum defected on March 27. He joined the EPLF in 1981 when he was only a child. He was a team leader.

Question: In which battles have you participated?

"I joined the 44th Brigade when I was a child of 13. This brigade was under Filipos; he is now the commander of Corps 161. I was in the 3rd battalion at this time. While in this brigade I fought at the Semenawi Mibrak Sahel front line. During Selahta Werar, I fought at Hal Hal (for two months). TPLF fighters were with us at this time (1983). I was also at Barentu (1985) where we made a strategic withdrawal. We went to Sahel according to the plan of tactical withdrawal. Then I joined the 96th division and engaged the enemy in the Bahre-Nega campaign at the end of 1985 (Hal Hal). Then I joined the security department to keep watch over prisoners of war (1988-1991). I was not involved in any fighting at this time. In 1991 I joined Corps 161 (Filipos' corps). I was platoon leader in July at Dichinama. I was then demoted to the level of team leader. I was demoted last summer because I didn't get along with my superiors. I have been with EPLF for 19 years of my life."

Question: Why didn't you get along with your superiors?

"I don't get along because over a long time I learned that we have no rights. I know there are many (secret) ways of destroying people. In 1973 there was an argument about these secret machinations. The leadership was challenged by Menka but it killed them all. Many of these Menka people were from Akele-Gujay and Seraye. They were educated people. Issaias was afraid of them. Musse was one of those who challenged our leaders and he paid with his life (he was executed). Old fighters like myself and many others say that Musse's blood will have its day of reckoning. All in all these people (Menka) were about 250. After independence, parents of these people inquired about these fighters; they wanted to know what happened to their kids. But they were either told they never joined the EPLF or that they fled to other countries. This is an issue that will come out in the open. "

"When I learned about these things while still in Sahel (before independence), I was not happy. Musse's sister who is now in Eritrea will one day raise the issue. While I really wanted to fight for my country, I was not happy about how we were treated. Our leaders favored urban people (fighters who came from towns, especially Asmara). They made us--the people from the countryside--do very heavy work. The leaders are from Hamasen and among the Hamasen it is the Asmara people who are most favored. I don't like this at all. The lowlanders are treated the worst. The government of Eritrea imposes its laws and regulations on the people of the lowlands, e.g., the lowlanders were told to let their daughters join Sawa. The Muslims (all lowlanders) protested, insisting that Sharia forbids women to be together in the same place with men (if they are not blood relations). I don't think any lowlanders accepted the idea of sending their daughters to Sawa. But they were forced to do that. As you know our Muslims are very strict about Sharia laws. Well this is going to create terrible situations in my country in the future. It has already begun. While working in the security department, I was jailed for one year and nine months.

After independence, I was jailed again in 1992-1995. I was jailed before the soldiers went on strike in 1993. Way before that there was trouble within the soldiers. But my case was different. It was personal (about marriage, etc.). The brigade commander who had a problem with those who were against me was the judge at the military court. So I was released after four years. There was also the massacre of the disabled who demanded their rights to lead a life worth living and asked for support. There was also a hunger strike by prisoners within the EPLF (about 300). There was the 1993 strike by the soldiers which I mentioned before. The case of the 300 is very interesting. They were jailed after independence for killing fighters who retreated from the battle line. This was the law then (i.e., you had to kill those who were scared in battle). Well a lot of people had done that--company, platoon, and team leaders had all killed a lot of people who retreated from the battle line. After independence these very people were jailed for applying the rules as directed by the leaders. They are still in jail today. Actually, six people out of this group were shot. Two of them died. This is a case no one talks about still today. It is too dangerous. The case of shooting the disabled came after this. I am one of those people in the Eritrean army who dislikes this situation...these hidden goings-on. But of course I believe in Eritrean freedom."

Question: What is the situation of the Eritrean army now?

"I believe (and there are many who believe like me) that we don't have a right to know what is happening to us. We were never told about the war that is raging now. If you take the May 12 incident, everyone at the level of leadership (i.e., team, platoon, company and above) was informed that Ethiopia had occupied our land. I, as someone from Seraye, know that the Mereb River is our border. After we took Badme we were told to be careful not to cut trees, etc, but later on we were told to cut as much as we could (after world opinion, OAU, etc., went against us). At the beginning, the soldiers did believe that Badme was ours. Later on they came to understand the situation was complicated by listening to the radio. The OAU was against us. The soldiers worry about their families who don't have enough to eat."

Question: Could you evaluate the [second] battle of Badme? (when Eritrea attempted unsuccessfully to recapture Badme during fighting from March17-26)

"To start with, we were not told the truth. We were informed that a contingent of the Woyane force had sneaked into Hadish Adi and that we were going to clear the place. Well it was a real battle and we lost everything. We lost our depots, our tanks, trucks, logistic stores, etc. We lost our planes. We saw one of the planes (a MiG) come near where we could clearly see it and it burst into flames and crashed to the ground. We were never told anything about that plane, but that is how we knew it was ours. 271 Corps was destroyed and so was 381 Corps. 161 Corps also got really destroyed after the battle of Badme at Shambeko. Your forces are now hitting Tekombia, Adi Keshi between Barentu and Shambeko. 130 millimeters are pounding Adi Keshi. Our leaders may say whatever they like, but we were destroyed at Badme."

"The most important factor is the fact that the battle of Shambeko is taking too long. The old fighters perished at Shambeko. They are either wounded or dead. From my observation, the battle that took 11-14 days after the battle of Badme was worse than that of Badme. The death rate was indeed very high! That is why morale is low. I was not there at the end of the battle of Shambeko but I heard this from soldiers (Eritrean POWs) who were there. I am one of those who did not like what was going on."

Question: What is the mood of the soldiers now?

"After the battle of Badme the spirit of the soldiers (I know) was broken because they understood that Badme is not ours; that we were getting isolated (OAU, etc.). We lost the battle although we had strong bunkers and more than enough troops and arms. People are asking why Eritrea never raised the border issued during the referendum. When soldiers ask why we are in Ethiopian land they are told, 'we don't want to fight on Eritrean land.' This does not please the soldiers."

Question: Did you make a tactical withdrawal?

"Please understand that we the soldiers who fought at the Badme front were never told that we made a tactical withdrawal. No one can tell us that because we know that we did not make a tactical withdrawal. We lost the battle. We left our tanks, mortars, trucks, barrels of petroleum, supplies, AK-47s, M-14s, M-16s, Doschkos, etc. No one will dare tell us we withdrew. We did not even take our clothes. We even left the girls behind. Some commanders are very angry with these women. They say that these girls were nothing but trouble from beginning to end! That it was a great mistake to bring them to the frontline anyway. I was very sad about what was happening to the girls. When the doctor and commanders issue condoms, the girls refuse. I have seen many tell the doctor they don't need condoms. It is the men who want condoms.

Question: Did you have a meeting after Badme was lost?

"No meeting was held after the battle of Badme and this means the leaders had no agenda that was safe. The feelings of the soldiers were expressed by murmuring only. 161 lost one battalion at Gual Gemhelo. The problem was that when the Woyane soldiers penetrated our area we were told that we deliberately let them in. Later on we realized it was a lie. Our battalion commander was wounded (his name is Gezaee,of the 161 Corps, 3rd Division, 1st Brigade). I will never accept the explanation that we let the Woyane in. We know 271 and 381 [corps] were destroyed. It was tragic to see the women without anyone to help them."

Question: What are the Eritrean people saying at the moment?

"Though the government encourages people to come to safer territory or to move, they don't help them to flee the war zone. They don't help people go away because they think that the communities will give cover to fleeing soldiers or that the peasants will tell the truth to people in other areas. They are allowed to go to Tekor, Amboree and Mai Lam but not any further. They check the spread of bad news with this mechanism and are very effective. Those who are allowed to move further than the limited area are pregnant soldiers only. People complain about this all the time. They are scattered all over the place. We believe that you have better weapons and tanks with telescopes and other new and better weapons with infrared. Your tankers know from where we are firing because you have instruments that detect our tanks. You get them right after the first time we fire. Well, the whole thing is a big mistake. Now I don't think there is a chance for peace. I know Eritrean mothers--whose children are young men and women--who will mourn for the rest of their lives. There are parents whose only children died at Gemohlo, Shambeko, Selamo, Geze Tegaru, Geze Gerlasse, etc., etc."