Reason: Producing the long-drawn-out document entitled “Disinformation in Tigray: Manufacturing Consent for a Secessionist War,” which was disguised as if prepared by non-existent New Africa Institute. (1/8)
Check the address of New Africa Institute (newafricainstitute.medium.com/disinformation… co-working space in NYC) and the Center for Special Innovation confirmed that New Africa Institute had briefly used the space before about two years. It seems they just want to have an address to register. (2/8)
@stesfa is the one who was organizing social media team in Asmara few years ago, where about 10 active members had a budget allocated by NUEYS. Each was paid about 1,200 NKF a month. It was the team to strategized or was busy in identifying “targets,” aka enemy of Z state. (3/8)
Back to Z exclusive 9th May zoom meeting where 246 people attended from all over the world. It was 3 hrs meeting; moderated by @SirakBahlbi. The guest speaker was @EmbassyEritrea. @biniamb spoke on content & @hadnetkeleta on strategy of the social media group task force. (4/8)
There were task-force representatives (each spoke 4 2-3 minutes) from US, Canada, Scandinavia, Germany, Switzerland, UK, Holland/Belgium, France, Italy, South Sudan, Sudan (Ismael was absent), and Ethiopia (@Hagerawnet). @RahelWeldeab shared her expertise on Club House. (5/8)
I will spare you from rehearsing Z depressing content of the meeting. But among many claims, @EmbassyEritrea while warning participants to keep it confidential, also as a way of honoring the gallant fighter he shared it was @stesfa who produced the document singlehandedly. (6/8)
@EmbassyEritrea added there was a reason (to create the impression as if produced by external expertise) why the document was released in the institute’s name. He also mentioned many examples of media outlets owned officially or unofficially by the government. (7/8)
No doubt that @stesfa produced the document with passion. As @hadnetkeleta testified, he told her “ነፍሲ-ወከፍ ቃል ነዲዳ’ያ ትወጽእ ነይራ።” (“Every word carried fire/bullet”).
That is right because truth does not need any embellishment but lies & propaganda do. (8/8)
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What a sad day to start W z most feared & unpleasant news. My cohort who studied journalism with me at UOA for 4 yrs, a colleague at @PEN_Ertra, fellow-published author @EmkuluP, Tesfagiorgis Habte Kelati died of complications that resulted of #COVID19 in Kampala, Uganda. (1)
Tesfagiorgis was a fighter who joined the struggle for independence at an early age. He was public servant at best and most revered teacher during his tenure as a teacher. He graduated with distinction & won medal of academic excellence up on his graduation from UOA. (2)
After graduation he was working in PR office of the #Eritrea'n ministry of education until he was rounded up with Radio Bana raid in Feb. 2009. He spent 4 years in the most notorious prison without charges. You can read his account: (3) peneritrea.com/blog/an-accoun…
#Eritrea is state where fiction pales when compared to everyday reality. Complete information blackout, #PFDJ’s utter disregard of domestic affairs, citizens increasingly growing indifference combined, have created a new reality or close to reality TV show. (2)
Since April 1, it has enforced the strictest lockdown. No public transport; schools (except the military school in Sawa) still closed & no hint of opening; public places closed. Gov. boasts for putting #COVID19 under control but no hope of easing the lockdown: it served well. (3)
(With little overgeneralization to establish my argument) no matter where you stand politically, #Eritrea'n social (traditional) media reflect similar inclinations.
2. Lack of news that resulted from media blackout, economic blight, stern political developments, etc. R filled with opinions, often made up.
Repression advocates (supporters) establish their facts from Op-Eds, editorials, communiques, slogans, even perhaps artworks. #Eritrea
3.The state media, where news was manufactured from editorials, serves as a role model. aljazeera.com/indepth/opinio….
Slogans take a substantial proportion of the gov. media & later help in formulating opinions; soon to be passed as facts. #OpinionMatters#Eritrea