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EPDP North America (NA) 3rd Congress

27-28 September 2014

Resolutions Adopted by EPDP NA 3rd Congress

‘Where is Your Brother’ document and what it means

Recognizing the bold step taken by the four Eritrean Catholic Bishops in authoring “Where is Your Brother” and in which they extensively present the dismal state of affairs of our country under the PFDJ regime and the potential of having a failed country if nothing is done,

Reaffirming and supporting our Party’s position, which recognizes the “Where is Your Brother” document as the most comprehensive one ever written by religious leaders in Eritrea and its potential contribution for freedom and democracy by evolving into a wider and stronger support by Eritreans,

Stressing the fact that such a document coming from religious and spiritual leaders attests that our country is in deep crisis and is need of immediate salvation by removing the PFDJ dictatorial regime from political power and its network of repression,

Recognizing the call by the pastors for social and religious harmony amongst Eritrean people is one of the underpinnings of their message,

Noting that the “Where is Your Brother” establishes a new dynamic that offers an opportunity to rally Eritrean people behind the opposition,

The NA America EPDP 3rd Congress,

Resolves that EPDP North America members will continue to use the “Where is Your Brother” document as a turning point development in the struggle against tyranny in our country as well as to utilize it as an essential means to promote a concerted struggle against the PFDJ regime;

Urges other religious leaders in Eritrea to author similar material or provide a critical support to the document written by the four Eritrean Catholic pastors as this will further expand and deepen the message of opposition amongst Eritrean people;

Calls upon Eritrean opposition forces and civil society organizations to use the document as a source of reliable and thorough account of the abysmal misery of our people that should be used to strengthen our struggle, mobilize our people, and adopt policies against the regime of Issais and his repressive institutions.

Operation Forto and what it represents

Affirming our Party’s support for the (January 21, 2013) Operation Forto carried out under the leadership of Colonel Said Ali Hijay (Wodi Ali), demanding the release of all political prisoners who are languishing in various detention centers without due process as well as the implementation of the ratified constitution of 1997,

Condemningthe murderous act taken by the brutal regime of PFDJ on Col. Wodi Ali and his group in the aftermath, and on others who were accused of collaborating with the Operation Forto, including many others who were put in prison on grounds of suspicion,

Believing that their uprising and the subsequent loss of their lives under the hands of Issais regime is to establish justice, rule of law, and constitutional governance that would achieve the fundamental human rights and freedoms of Eritrean people, equitable economic, cultural, and social development, and stable political condition in our country,

Aware of thefactthat Operation Forto was the first of its kind to take place after two decades, which demonstrates the degree to which both the support and legitimacy of the PFDJ regime within the Eritrean Defense Forces (EDF) and the Eritrean public at large is fast diminishing, 

The NA America EPDP 3rd Congress,

Calls upon all Eritreans to expand the resistance started by Col. Wodi Ali and his group to the Eritrean people in a manner that would galvanize the rejection and speedy removal of the PFDJ regime from power;

Draws the attention of Eritrean opposition forces and civic society organizations to capitalize on the Operation of Forto and promote an integrated approach that connects the homeland and the Diaspora struggles against the PFDJ regime;

Supports and resolves that EPDP North America Region will continue to expand the resistance and uprising ignited by Col. Wodi Ali and his group to the Eritrean people.

Statement of EMDHR Workshop of May 2014

Convinced that the goal set out in the EMDHR statement is a significant shift in our struggle for democracy and freedom,

Recognizing the work undertaken in the workshop by a group of Eritrean experts, scholars, youth, and civil society organizations, including political parties/organizations is representative of the Eritrean people,

Believing that such an all-inclusive statement can play a decisive role in building a consensus amongst the Eritrean opposition forces for change, including civil society organizations and networks,

Recognizing the importance of the resolutions, statements, and mutual understandings reached both in Frankfurt and Bologna festivals provide complementary and vital contributions to the Pretoria statement, 

The NA EPDP 3rd Congress,

Reaffirms the position taken by EPDP on the urgency of mobilizing resources required to garner support and endorsement of the statement;

Underlines the importance of such a key document to reach out Eritrean oppositions forces, and in this regard urges all Eritreans opposed to the Issais regime to take special note, and deepen and enrich the document in a way that consolidates the principles contained in the document;

Recommends streamlining of and/or merger between the Pretoria statement and Bologna roadmap, including other relevant documents in order to avoid duplication and overlap, and to facilitate the formation of one national road map/strategy;

Urges parties (individually or collectively) that have not yet endorsed the statement to look into it, and to make every effort to participate and to work in partnership with those who already endorsed it;

Underscores the needfor our Party to continue to play its crucial role for sustained efforts with a view to creating favorable conditions in bringing all parties into full agreement and effective implementation of the statements/roadmaps reached in Pretoria, Bologna and in Frankfurt festival.   

On Unity of the Eritrean forces for change

Convinced that forging unity amongst all Eritrean opposition forces for change is an essential national foundation, which will enable us to remove the PFDJ regime in the immediate term and provides us an opportunity to create a ground conducive for establishing a united and democratic Eritrea in the long term,

Recognizing that unity amongst Eritrean opposition forces for change fosters and lays the foundation for peace and reconciliation among Eritrean people in post PFDJ Eritrea,

Noting that the primary responsibility of achieving unity rests with all Eritrean opposition forces for change and civil society organizations, including the Eritrean public at large,

Emphasizing the significance of taking action now to fulfill our obligation and responsibility on the question of unity is more urgent than ever before, given the deteriorating situation of our country,

Reaffirming once again the political determination and commitment of EPDP on national unity, and the efforts and contributions it has so far made to advance the cause of unity as a fundamental national project is recognizable and on a record,

Further reaffirming EPDP’s stand on unity is consistent with our national principles and values that promote peaceful coexistence amongst our diverse cultures, religions, and faiths, as well as a crucial postion that ensures and safeguards our independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity,

The NA America EPDP 3rd Congress,

Calls upon EPDP to continue doubling its effort on achieving unity by establishing a framework that reflects the current state of affairs of the Eritrean opposition forces for change;

Encourages EPDP to continue maintaining mutual understanding and relationships, discussions, and confidence building between Eritrean opposition forces for change in an effort to alleviate the challenges and obstacles we face regarding unity;

Supports the stated principle of EPDP relating to unity: one that calls for the establishment of complete unity/merger between forces whose principles and political persuasions are similar, and the second that calls for the formation of coalition/umbrella within the framework of narrowing the differences through dialogue and confidence building measures down the road;

Calls upon Eritrean opposition members and civil society organizations to consider and address unity as a priority in our struggle and work transparently with a view to playing a positive role and strengthening the pillars of unity;

Urges Eritrean experts and scholars, especially those who have expertise in the field of conflict resolution and reconciliation to play their role both by actively engaging and providing expertise advice through seminars and conferences to Eritreans. 

On the Eritrean Refugees and their Sufferings

Recognizing the efforts taken by a number of Eritrean organized groups and individuals to address the problem Eritrean refugees are facing, and mainly Eritrean refugees in the Sinai Peninsula who are becoming the victim of human traffickers,

Commending the extraordinary work by Human Rights Concern Eritrea and its Director Elsa Chyrum, including Dr. Alganesh Fesseha Ghandi, and Meron Estifanos and many other Eritrean activists in bringing the suffering of Eritrean refugees to the attention of governmental, nongovernmental, human rights organizations, and to the international community as a whole,

Appreciating the assistance regularly given to the Eritrean refugees by an Egyptian human rights activist, Mr. Hamdy el-Azazy, including other non Eritrean organizations and individual activists who are tirelessly working to bring the plight of Eritrean refugees to the attention of the world community,

Further appreciating our Party’s effort and commitment to the cause of Eritrean refugees,

Noting that the dictatorship in our country is the root cause for the continued influx and displacement of our people, which is resulting in the loss of hundreds and thousands of Eritrean lives across the world,

The NA EPDP 3rd Congress,

Urges Eritreans, individually and collectively to renew their determination and continue to work to ensure the protection of Eritrean refugees’ humanity and dignity in their host countries, including assisting them to obtain political asylum in their host countries or to resettle to a third-party country;

Calls upon international community, United Nations refugee agencies, and host countries to protect and assist Eritrean refugees according to the provisions established in the various refugee conventions and protocols;

Urges Eritrean opposition forces and civil society organizations to work in unison and address the root cause of the unspeakable plight of Eritrean refugees – removing the dictatorial regime of Issais Afeworki from political power.

On the Eritrean Diaspora Grass Roots Movement

Convincedthat the Eritrean Diaspora grass roots movement that came into being in the aftermath of the Lampedusa tragedy is a turning point in the democratic struggle Eritrean people are waging,

Noting that the mushrooming of world-wide grass roots movement is unequivocal demonstration and a strong rejection of the tyrannical system in our country,

Stressing the importance of establishing and creating a world-wide leadership and organization of the grass roots movement,

Conscious that a world-wide leadership and coordination of grass roots movement would contribute positively to a common understanding, and coordinated mobilization and campaign against the PFDJ regime,

Keeping in mind that the measurable success so far registered by Eritrean grass root movements and the evidence of an increase in public support presents an imminent opportunity for boosting the democratic struggle,

The NA EPDP 3rd Congress,

Reaffirms thatour Party should continue strengthening, supporting and enhancing Eritrean Diaspora grass root movements, particularly in support of establishing local, regional, and international leadership and organization;

Calls upon Eritrean political groups, civil society organizations, experts, and others to give particular and timely attention to the development, cooperation, and guidance of the Eritrean Diaspora grass root movements;

Stresses the importance of mending the intergenerational gap (between the liberation era and the present generation) that exists among Eritreans by learning from each other and acknowledging the diversity of each other’s experience, perspective, and values, and embracing our common values, beliefs and expectations so as to create a culture of inclusion and understanding on how to work together against the tyrannical system of PFDJ regime and how to ensure the continuity of our country through cultivating the current and future Eritrean generations;

Further stresses that each generation has a lot to offer to our country’s future, but this would only be productive if each generation engages in a positive discussion and debate aimed at solidifying the struggle against the PFDJ regime and securing the destiny of future generations.

On How to Bridge the Gap between Inside Eritrea and the Diaspora Struggle

Reaffirming our Party’s position on the establishment of a solid connection between the struggles of the inside and outside Eritrea as its fundamental strategy to effect democratic change in Eritrea,

Further reaffirming that employing different approaches and means of engagement on how to coalesce these two fronts into the same page should be one of the underpinning strategies of the opposition,

Believing that establishing an organized resistance and leadership inside Eritrea is crucial with a view to expediting the defeat of the PFDJ regime, as well as to adopting measures that would ensure unity and peaceful democratic transition in post PFDJ Eritrea,

The NA EPDP 3rd Congress,

Calls upon Eritrean opposition forces for change to formulate and implement a comprehensive action plan, indentifying steps and measures to connect the homeland and Diaspora struggles;

Urges Eritrean opposition forces for change to design and establish comprehensive news and media regime that will enhance, broaden, and raise awareness of Eritrean people on democracy and constitutional governance;

Further urges Eritrean opposition forces for change to use news and media as an instrument for integrated information campaign to expose and undermine the gross and systematic practice of terrorism and intimidation, violence and brutality, and repression being perpetuated by the PFDJ regime on our people while safeguarding the unity, political independence, and territorial integrity of Eritrea;

Emphasizes once again that the defeat of PFDJ is dependent upon founding a strong resistance organization inside Eritrea, which should be tied and work hand in hand with the Diaspora opposition in order to defeat the PFDJ, in addition to laying ground for a smooth transition to democracy in post PFDJ