Shabait.com (Asmara) 25 August 2009
Asmara — Three Ethiopian soldiers who arrived in Eritrea recently abandoning the TPLF regime disclosed that members of the Army are fleeing to neighboring countries opposing the regime's growing suppression and ethnic-based racism.
The defecting soldiers are Tamru Teshome Legie from the Debub Hizboch ethnic group, Mekonen Teklai Berhane and Mengis Berhane both from the Tigrayan ethnic group.
Private Tamru stated that the TPLF regime is detaining and committing atrocities against members of the army who oppose the regime's continued acts of brutality and oppression.
Private Mengis Teklai on his part said that he was detained in Humera Prison Camp for about 2 years and half without any justifiable reason, and that he has been through inhumane atrocities and brutality. He also expressed readiness to make public the names of 17 persons from the Tigrayan ethnic group who are currently detained in that prison camp without any reason and facing harsh treatment.
As regards the so-called implementation of development programs in the Tigray region, Private Mengis indicated that apart from the construction of some residential houses in the home villages of some senior officials of the regime, no significant social services such as health, education, roads and other infrastructure facilities have been put in place to provide service to the public.
