89th Yekatit 12 Martyrs Day Commemoration 

Borkena

Toronto – The 89th anniversary of Yekatit 12 (February 19th) Martyr’s was celebrated in the capital Addis Ababa. 

The ceremony was organized in Siddit Kilo where the Martyrs statue is standing. On this day in 1937, Fascist Italian forces massacred more than 30,000 residents of Addis Ababa in a span of three days. 

The incident came after two Ethiopian Martyrs – Moges Asgedom and Abraham Deboch – threw hand grenades  in what is now the Institute of Ethiopian Studies at Addis Ababa University targeting the life of Italian Viceroy, Rodolfo Graziani, who was wounded in the attack.  He was making a speech at the time to a crowd outside of what is now IES. 

Moges and Abraham fled the area after the attack. 

It was in an act of retaliation that Fascist Italian Forces massacred residents of Addis Ababa.  The massacre is recorded in history as indiscriminate. Children, women and elderly were among the victims of the massacre. 

An estimated one million Ethiopians were killed during the five years of resistance during the occupation. Italian forces conducted an extensive air strike using mustard gas.  

As has always been the case, veterans including those who took part in the five years’ wars of resistance against fascist Italy commemorated Yekatit 12 every year. 

Lij Daniel Jote Mesfin, President of Ethiopian Patriots Association, said “what the forefathers paid for the sake of Ethiopian Freedom and dignity is a great lesson for this generation,” and urged the generation to defend the unity and ‘peace’ of Ethiopia. 

Addis Ababa City Administration officials have attended the commemoration event. The state media quoted President Taye Atseke Selassie as saying ” the commemoration day is a testament to the fact that loving and cherishing Ethiopia as well as giving oneself to Ethiopia is an inextinguishable furnace of thought and unquenchable warmth of spirit.” 

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