borkena,Ethiopian News
February 19,2017
Yetakit 12 martyrs day commemorated today around the world. In Addis Ababa, there was memorial at Menbere Tsebaot kidist Selassie (Selassie cathedral).
As well, Ethiopians in the diaspora commemorated the day. In DMV area, there was a prayer at St. Michael Ethiopian Orthodox Church. Different broadcasters prepared special program in commemoration of the day.
Eighty years ago on this day (Yekatit 12), more than thirty thousand Ethiopians were massacred in three days after two young Ethiopians threw grenade on Italian military commander, Graziani.
Nearly one million Ethiopians were killed during the invasion of Ethiopia by Fascist Italy. Apart from indiscriminate killings by fire squad, Ethiopians were bombed with mustard gas in violation of international conventions. The Vatican is implicated with involvement. The government of Italy has not yet apologized for the massacre. A campaign is underway by “Global Alliance for Ethiopia” to make Italy apologize for the massacre and pay for the damages it caused.
After five years of protracted bitter resistance, Ethiopian patriots managed to defend the independence of Ethiopia.
Ancient Ethiopian Patriots Association members and Addis Ababa city administration officials attended a ceremony at the Memorial Statue in Siddist Killo, Addis Ababa.
Public relation of the association, Hailemicheal Abay, conveyed message to the young generation that Patriotic fathers defended Ethiopia in unison without any division along linguistic, religious and ethnic lines, says a report published by Mereja and that the youth should emulate Ethiopian patriots.
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Dear Ethiopians,
The commemoration of the Yekatit 12 Martyrs Day event in Addis Ababa deserves appreciation. However, isn’t it the duty, especially of the Association of Ethiopian Patriots to also fight for justice on behalf of Ethiopia through adequate reparations for the horrendous war crimes perpetrated by Fascist Italians?
When Italy has compensated Libya by US$5 billion for the massacre of 30,000, shouldn’t Ethiopiia demand even more because of its loss of one million Ethiopians, the destruction and looting of vast quantities of properties?
Are the current day Ethiopians not worthy of undertaking their patriotic duties by going beyond mere remembrances of history to the quest of justice for Ethiopia?
Good point. The Martyr’s day itself need to be a national holiday. The day has a lot to do with bravery of Ethiopian youth in history. And the Youth should take celebration of this important day much more seriously.