Ghere Tewelde,
319 Lamarsh Cove, Saskatoon SK Canada S7W 1B8                          Tel. 306-373 6417
Date: February 29, 2008
Our Reference: 01/02/08

Dear Somali Brothers and Sisters,

I have the pleasure and honour to submit this solidarity message on behalf of the ELF-RC members in Canada as well as its leadership.

We in the ELF-RC fully sympathize with your principled goals and values of preserving territorial integrity and national unity, ongoing support for the Federal Transitional Government, ongoing support for National Reconciliation Congress, campaigning for respect of human rights, the formation of transparent governance structures, political parties and free elections. We are exerting our efforts to implement the same goals and values in our country of origin, Eritrea where our people are deprived of their human and political rights under the authoritarian rule of Isaias Afewerqi.

Dear Sisters and Brothers, the first Foreign Office of the Eritrean Liberation Front was opened in Mogadishu, Somalia in the beginning of the 1960s. Many cadres and leaders of the ELF as well as other Eritrean liberation organizations were able to conduct their political activities thanks to the support of Somali people and governments. Yes many of us who were assigned to represent the fronts abroad were carrying Somali passports. The writer of this message is one of the beneficiaries and a living witness to that priceless support. Thus, please accept my heartfelt gratitude for that invaluable support.

The current dictatorial regime in Eritrea has been trying to fish in the troubled waters of Somalia. The Eritrean government instead of helping the Transitional Somali Government which has the support of UN and other regional forces is bent on destabilizing and overthrowing it. We condemn this unprincipled interference of the Eritrean government in the internal affairs of Somalia. The Somali people deserve more than that, but a government like that of Eritrea whose sole aim is to hang to power and which has none of democratic qualities, can not deliver constructive contribution.

Move On Somalia Coalition’s values and goals are lofty ones. The coalition is composed of and propelled by Somali people from all walks of life. Thus, sooner or later, its goals will be crowned with success and “Somalia will take its rightful place among the community of nations” as you have rightly stated it.

Our members led by Mr. Tuku Tesfai who is a member of the leadership will attentively follow and actively participate in your work-shops.

Regimes come and go; peoples outlive them. The fraternal relationship between the peoples of Somalia and Eritrea is eternal. Long live the fraternal relationship between the peoples of Somalia and Eritrea! We wish you success to your first historic Convention!

Ghere Tewelde, ELF_RC Representative in Canada.