Another Eritrean journalist in exile
The decision of Ghirmay Debessai Habtezion to remain in exile as he finished his course in Cairo Egypt at the end of 2009, has created misunderstanding back home in the ministry he was working. Sources indicate that, minister Ali Abdu is these times frustrated by Ghirmay’s action and is trying to get a scape goat blaming the board of directors. Ghirmay Debessai was senior Eri Tv journalist with more than 17 years experience and a writer of four books.More over he was the president’s reporter and translator of his interviews. Ghirmay Debessai had been jailed two times in 2004 and 2007 for no clear reasons. Ghirmay Debessai who was very much liked for his journalistic and writing abilities, was repeatedly intimidated and forced to mislead the public. An Eritrean who defected the government has witnessed this saying “Underlining the shortage of propaganda materials at hand, Mr. Ali Abdu was so grateful and once things are arranged well by the commanders of the third operational zone, he agreed to send the best camera man and journalist. He thought it to could be a great opportunity to blackmail the Woyane (Ethiopian government) in the eyes all Eritreans.
Later, completing the first phase of the fictitious operation, Ali Abdu sent Girmay Debesay as a Journalist, Mohamed as a camera man and Alem as a driver with all the needed media equipments to report and record the drama in Boshoka.To decorate the drama in utmost level and color, the prisoners were well advised, taught and trained to say –they were stooges sponsored by the government of Ethiopia and planted mines ….etc. On the other hand they were also told to praise and thank the PFDJ regime for the good handlings albeit to their wrong doings. Amazingly enough, the contribution of Girmay Debessay–the journalist in organizing that drama was marvelous. What else can he do if ordered from Ali Abdu?, source awate.com
though, Ghirmay had been to different countries in his journalistic life, it was almost after 12 years that he got the last course which opened him the gate to be out of Eritrea. and this has raised many questions between the high levels of the ministry of information.
Ghirmay the best Eritrean Journalist in my view has to be congratulated for leaving Eritrea, because he was deprived from releasing his world reaching potential of journalism and writing books. Once he taps his potentials, I am becoming a witness to the future, he will be one of the most remarkable people on our globe.
He can be a mentor to many… his endless labour and hard work, clear vision I wonder. Knowing him made me what I am now… communicating with him will make me much better.
Thanks Girmish you are a resource to the Eritrean people and a leader in the near future.
happy to hear the news of the great eritrean writer and journalist ghirmay. I was so happy to hear the he fled. his books has changed my life his is my model. and I am sure he was indispensable journalist in eritrea. as he is now in a wider world I and other readers and viewers will expect more from him. roma haile
Wow it is good news for us to hear that Ghirmay is at last out. It is hard to be a journalist and not report what you have really observed. To be a journalist and a good journalist in Eritrea is one of the hardest tasks. It is now the right time for Ghirmay to re-report what he was really observing and experiencing using his unique gifts.
I wish you all the luck
thought grmay had been todifferent countries in his journalistic life and he was wrought four books and more over he was well expriansed jornalist.
so what? as long as he stands further to his people and his country….I see no problem
and by the way
Everyone is replaceable!
God bless Eritrea