Announcement of war dead marks "beginning of the chapter" - minister

Eritrea has been announcing the names of its war dead from the two-year conflict with Ethiopia, nearly three years after the end of the war. Acting Information Minister Ali Abdu Ahmed told IRIN on Monday the announcements began on Saturday - a day after the country marked Martyrs Day on 20 June - and had now almost been completed. Eritrea and Ethiopia fought a bitter two-year war from 1998-2000, sparked by a dispute in the border town of Badme. Asmara says it lost 19,000 fighters in this second conflict with Ethiopia. "The details include full names, date of enlistment as well as the place and date of martyrdom," the government's website Shabait.com said. It added that President Isayas Afewerki had sent out a "message of fortitude" to the victims' families. "People have been desperate to get some sort of closure on this issue," one observer told IRIN, describing the move as a "positive step forward". Ali Abdu said families had received the news "with pride" and ululations. The names were announced nationwide in the country's various regions by the relevant administrations and army officers. "The entire population turned out as this affects the whole nation," he added. "It was not simply a case of peace and war," he said. "It was a choice between non-existence and defending the country." He said the families accepted the "dedication to the nation" of their sons and daughters. He told IRIN it was a delicate procedure which was why it had taken three years to let the families know the fate of their loved ones. He dismissed reports which said the government had been coming under increasing pressure to announce the names. "It's not easy to prepare this kind of announcement," he said. "The necessary preparations had to be made and we had to proceed cautiously." The preparations, he said, had resulted in a "well-organised" announcement of the names. "This is the beginning of the chapter," he added. "We now have to actualise the vision of the martyrs who gave their lives for our existence." In a speech to mark Martyrs Day, President Isayas said families would be compensated for their loss and a martyrs' fund set up to help the relatives.