June 20 is Refugee Day. The EPDP Information Office is republishing this article that was posted on Harnnet.org on 25 August 2014 to mark the occasion.

Eritrea is a small country with an estimated population of 6 million and a size of 120,000 square km. Eritrea as a nation was established 124 years ago by Italian colonial occupation. The population is composed of 9 ethnic/linguistic groups and the majority are agriculturalists, nomadic cattle herders and fishermen.

Eritrea has been successively colonized/ruled by Italy, Britain and Ethiopia. The Eritrean people's resistance against its colonizers has taken many forms, peaceful and armed. Eritrea became independent in 1991 after 30 years long (1961-1991) armed struggle against the Ethiopian occupation and has become a sovereign nation through an internationally recognized popular referendum 1n 1993.

As we all know, the main causes of human displacements and refugee flows are natural disasters, wars, poverty, bad governance and corruption.

The first wave of Eritrean refugees:-

Eritreans began to flee their country in large numbers in 1967, when the Ethiopian army started to carry its scorched earth policy by burning and bombarding whole villages in the lowland areas of Eritrea where the Eritrean Liberation Front (ELF) fighters were active. These refugees were mostly Muslims inhabiting the lowland regions of Eritrea as well as some from the highlands. The first group took refuge in the Sudan.

The second wave of refugees:-

In 1974 Emperor Haileselassie was deposed by a military junta, the Derg. The military junta carried successive campaigns of terror against the people of Eritrea and intensified its attacks against the Eritrean liberation movements, ELF and EPLF. As a result, many Eritreans were forced to flee their country to the Sudan, the Middle East and even as far as Europe and North America.

The third wave of refugees:-

The cause for this flow of refugees was the civil war in 1980-81 that was waged between the two biggest Eritrean liberation movements. As a result of this, tens of thousands of ELF fighters and civilians were forced to enter the Sudan. Many of these fighters were in due time able to reach Europe and North America through legal and illegal means. More refugees left the country in 1984-85 because of drought and famine.

The fourth wave of refugees:-

This flow of refugees happened after the border war between Eritrea and Ethiopia of 1998-2000 and it has not shown any sign of coming to an end. The main reason for the flow of these refugees is the open ended national service. Originally the project was meant for 18 months’ service for Eritreans between the ages of 18-40.

The great majority of the refugees in the fourth wave are the youth, the majority of which are under 25 years of age, and the main reason why they are fleeing their country is their opposition to the open ended national service and the flagrant abuse of their human rights by the one man dictatorial regime in Eritrea.

According to reports of the UN there are 300,000 Eritrean registered refugees in the Sudan. Many more stay with their relatives and countrymen without passing through the refugee camps. There are about 150,000 Eritrean refugees in Ethiopian refugee centers.

According to UNHCR estimates, not less than 3,000 Eritrean refugees cross the border and enter into the Sudan every month. Some are killed by the Eritrean border guards while crossing the border.

There are two refugee routes:-

1. Eritrea...Sudan/Ethiopia...Libya...Italy

2. Eritrea...Sudan/Ethiopia...Egypt/Sinai...Israel

The second route was opened in 2006 when Italy and Libya agreed to curb the flow of refugees to Europe. Israel is holding the refugees in concentration camps because they are considered as illegal infiltrators rather than refugees by the government. It has also entered into bilateral agreements with third countries in Africa to send back refugees.

Smugglers and Human Traffickers:-

The main groups involved in human smuggling in the region are the Rashaida of Eastern Sudan and the Bedouin of Sinai. But the network of human traffickers is much more complex. There are Eritrean, Ethiopian, Sudanese, Egyptian, Libyan security and military officials, extremist Islamic parties in addition to doctors and gangs trafficking with arms, drugs and human organs in the network.

Victims are sold several times to successive human trafficker's groups. Every kidnapped refugee has to pay ransom between 2,000 to 50,000 US dollars in order to be released by his/her captors. The captors use different types of torture to force their prey to pay the ransom money. The torture methods used includes beatings, dropping molten plastic on their backs, hanging on the ceilings and rape.

If the victims have relatives in Europe they are expected to pay a big amount of money. In order to pay the requested money the relatives will be connected to their respective relative through a mobile phone while being tortured and hear his/her sufferings and cries for help to save him/her from his captors.

If the ransom money is not paid, some of the victims’ internal organs will be taken away and sold to organ traffickers or die under torture.

If for some reason the flow of refugees to Sinai or Libya decreases or dries the criminal gangs kidnap the ones that are registered in the refugee camps whose fate will certainly be the same as their predecessors.

Many refugees die in the deserts due to thirst, hunger, sickness and overcrowding or drown in the high seas. On 3 October 2013 more than 360 Eritreans drowned near the coast of Lampadusa, Italy, tragedies that shock the world at large.

Pope Francis, who described 3 October as “a day of tears”, and “shame” to the world because of its failure to contain such tragedies, inspired many actors to give attention to the situation in Eritrea, including Italy and the European Union.

This inspiration by the Pope also seems to have encouraged four Eritrean Catholic Bishops to issue inside Eritrea on 25 May 2014 a strong pastoral message calling on all Eritreans to act and solve the problem before it gets too late. The message expressed the fear of total societal collapse in Eritrea within a short time unless Eritreans react and stop the unchecked exodus of the young.

What should be done?

1. Until a lasting solution is found, Eritrean refugees in the Sudan, Ethiopia, Djibouti and Yemen must have the right to education, training and employment in their respective countries of asylum.

2. There must be a mechanism to establish permanent peace between Eritrea, Ethiopia and the Sudan.

3. Security must be strengthened in and around the refugee camps in the Sudan and Ethiopia.

4. The marginalized or alienated communities in Sudan and Egypt (The Rashaidas and the Bedouin) should be accommodated in their respective governments and be involved in the affairs of their countries.

5. Eritrea, Ethiopia and the Sudan should coordinate their fight against human traffickers.

6. Political changes must be realized in the refugees source countries.

In Eritrea for example the rule of law should be established (constitution), the national service programme should be limited or totally abolished, the political system should be opened for the opposition, political prisoners should be released, the military must be demobilized and job opportunities should be created.

 

Menghesteab Asmerom

EPDP Chairman

25 August 2014

Eritrea ist ein kleines Land mit schätzungsweise 6 Millionen Einwohnern auf 120000 Quadratkilometern. Als Staat wurde es vor 124 Jahren durch die italienische Besatzungsmacht gegründet. Die Bevölkerung besteht aus neun Ethnien und Sprachgruppen, mehrheitlich Bauern, nomadische Viehhirten und Fischer.

Eritrea wurde nacheinander durch Italien, Großbritannien und Äthiopien kolonialisiert und beherrscht. Der Widerstand des eritreischen Volkes gegen die Kolonialherren nahm viele Formen an, friedlich und bewaffnet. 1991 wurde Eritrea unabhängig nach einem 30-jährigen bewaffneten Kampf (1961 -1991) gegen die äthiopische Besatzung. Es wurde ein souveräner Staat auf Grund einer international anerkannten Volksabstimmung.

Wie wir alle wissen, sind Naturkatastrophen, Kriege, Armut, schlechtes Regieren und Korruption die wesentlichen Gründe für der Entstehung von Flüchtlingsströmen.

Die erste Flüchtlingswelle aus Eritrea

1967 begannen Eritreer in großer Zahl aus ihrem Land zu fliehen. Damals begann die äthiopische Arme im Rahmen ihrer Politik der verbrannten Erde damit, ganze Dörfer im eritreischen Tiefland zu bombardieren und niederzubrennen, wo die Eritreische Befreiungsfront (ELF) kämpfte. Die Flüchtlinge waren zumeist Moslems aus dem Tiefland, aber auch einige aus dem Hochland. Diese erste Flüchtlingsgruppe nahm Zuflucht im Sudan.

Die 2. Flüchtlingswelle

1974 wurde Kaiser Haile Selassie durch eine Militärjunta, die Derg, abgesetzt. Dies Junta führte mehrere Terror-Feldzüge gegen das Volk von Eritrea durch und verstärkte ihre Angriffe auf die eritreischen Befreiungsbewegungen ELF und EPLF. In Folge dessen waren viele Eritreer gezwungen, aus ihrem Land zu fliehen – in den Sudan, den mittleren Osten und sogar nach Europa oder Nordamerika.

Die 4. Flüchtlingswelle

Die Welle entstand nach dem Grenzkrieg zwischen Eritrea und Äthiopien 1998 -2000. Und bis jetzt ist kein Ende abzusehen. Die Hauptursache für diese Fluchtwelle ist der Umstand, dass die Dauer des nationalen Arbeitsdienstes nicht begrenzt ist. Ursprünglich sollte dieser Dienst für alle 18 – 40 Jahre alten Eritreer 18 Monate dauern.

Der Großteil dieser 4. Welle besteht aus Jugendlichen, von denen die Mehrheit unter 25 Jahre alt ist. Der Hauptgrund für ihre Flucht besteht darin, dass sie gegen diesen unbegrenzten Arbeitsdienst opponieren und auch gegen die flagrante Verletzung ihrer Menschenrechte durch die Einmann-Diktatur in Eritrea.

Nach UN-Angaben sind im Sudan 300.000 eritreische Flüchtlinge registriert. Zusätzlich halten sich viele bei ihren Verwandten oder Landsleuten auf, ohne zuvor in einem Flüchtlingslager gewesen zu sein. In Äthiopischen Flüchtlingszentren halten sich etwa 150.000 eritreische Flüchtlinge auf.

Laut UNHCR-Schätzungen überschreiten monatlich nicht weniger als 3.000 eritreische Flüchtlinge die Grenze zum Sudan. Einige werden dabei von eritreischen Grenzwachen getötet.

Es gibt zwei Flucht-Routen:

  1. Eritrea > Sudan oder Äthiopien > Libyen > Italien
  2. Eritrea > Sudan oder Äthiopien > Ägypten/Sinai > Israel

Die zweite Route wird seit 2006 genutzt, als Italien und Libyen übereinkamen, die Fluchtwelle nach Europa einzudämmen.

Israel hält die Flüchtlinge in „Konzentrationslagern“ fest, weil die Regierung die Flüchtlinge eher als illegale Eindringlinge ansieht denn als Flüchtlinge. Außerdem hat Israel mit Drittländern in Afrika bilaterale Abkommen über die Rücksendung von Flüchtlingen vereinbart.

Schmuggler und Menschenhändler

Die Hauptgruppen, die in der Region mit Menschenschmuggel zu tun haben, sind die Rashaida im Ostsudan und die Beduinen im Sinai. Doch das Netz der Menschenhändler ist weiter verzweigt. Beteiligt sind eritreische, äthiopische, sudanesische, ägyptische Sicherheitskräfte, extremistische islamische Parteien zusammen mit Ärzten und Banden und handeln in diesem Netz mit Waffen, Drogen und menschlichen Organen.

Die Opfer werden mehrfach nacheinander an unterschiedliche Gruppen von Menschenhändlern verkauft. Jeder entführte Flüchtling muss zwischen 2.000 und 50.000 $ zahlen, damit er von seinen Entführern freigelassen wird. Um ihre Lösegeldforderungen zu verstärken, nutzen sie unterschiedliche Foltermethoden, Die Opfer werden geschlagen, man träufelt geschmolzenes Plastik auf ihre Rücken, hängt sie an der Decke auf oder vergewaltigt sie.

Wenn die Opfer Verwandte in Europa haben, dann wird erwartet, dass sie sehr viel bezahlen. Damit die Verwandten den geforderten Betrag begleichen, werden sie per Handy mit ihren gefangenen Verwandten verbunden, die gerade gefoltert werden, und können hören, wie sie leiden, und ihr Schreien, mit dem sie um Rettung vor ihren Peinigern flehen.

Wenn das Lösegeld nicht gezahlt wird, werden einigen der Entführten innere Organe entnommen und an Organhändler verkauft, oder man lässt sie unter Folter sterben.

Wenn aus irgendwelchen Gründen der Flüchtlingsstrom auf den Sinai oder nach Libyen nachlässt oder vertrocknet, entführen die Banden registrierte Leute aus den Flüchtlingslagern. Deren Schicksal wird das gleiche sein wie das ihrer Vorgänger.

Viele Flüchtlinge sterben in der Wüste und auf See an Durst, Hunger und Krankheit oder ertrinken wegen Bootsüberfüllung. Am 3. Oktober 2013 ertranken mehr als 360 Eritreer vor der italienischen Küste bei Lampedusa, eine der Tragödien, die die Welt erschüttern.

Papst Franziskus hat den 3.Oktober als Tag der Tränen und als eine Schande für die Welt bezeichnet, weil die eine solche Tragödie nicht verhindert hat. Das hat das Augenmerk vieler, auch in Italien und der EU, auf die Situation in Eritrea gelenkt.

Diese Anregung des Papstes scheint auch vier eritreische katholische Bischöfe dazu ermutigt zu haben, am 25. Mai 2014 innerhalb Eritreas eine starke pastorale Botschaft zu verkünden. Darin rufen sie alle Eritreer dazu auf, zu handeln und die Probleme zu lösen, bevor es zu spät ist. Die Botschaft zeigte die Furcht vor einem völligen Zusammenbruch der Gesellschaft binnen kurzer Zeit, wenn die Eritreer nicht reagieren und den ungeplanten Exodus der Jugend aufhalten.

Was sollte getan werden?

  1. Bis eine dauerhafte Lösung gefunden wird, müssen die eritreischen Flüchtlinge im Sudan, in Äthiopien, in Dschibuti und im Jemen in den entsprechenden Asylländern das Recht auf Bildung, Ausbildung und Beschäftigung erhalte.
  2. Es muss ein Mechanismus eingeführt werden, der dauerhaften Frieden zwischen Eritrea, Äthiopien und dem Sudan herstellt.
  3. Die Sicherheit in den Flüchtlingslagern und ihrer Umgebung muss verstärkt werden.
  1. Die an den Rand gedrängten und der Gesellschaft entfremdeten Gemeinschaften im Sudan und in Ägypten ( Rashaidas und Beduinen) sollten an ihren jeweiligen Regierungen beteiligt werden und in und die Angelegenheiten ihres Landes behandeln.
  2. Eritrea, Ägypten und der Sudan sollten ihren Kampf gegen Menschenhandel koordinieren.
  3. In den Ursprungsländern der Flüchtlingsströme müssen politische Veränderungen verwirklicht werden.

In Eritrea z.B. sollte der Rechtsstaat (eine Verfassung) etabliert werden, der nationale Arbeitsdienst sollte begrenzt oder beseitigt werden. Das politische System sollte für die Opposition geöffnet, politische Gefangene sollten freigelassen werden. Das Militär muss demobilisiert, und Arbeitsmöglichkeiten sollten geschaffen werden.

Menghesteab Asmerom

Vorsitzender der EPDP

25 Juni 2014

ርእሰ-ዓንቀጽ ሰደህኤ

ህዝቢ ኤርትራ ከም መቐጸልታ ናይቲ ኣብ መዳያት ፖለቲካን ዲፕሎማስን ኣንጻር ዝተፈላለዩ ሰንሰለታዊ መግዛእታዊ ሓይልታት ከካይዶ ዝጸንሐ ቃልሲ ብ1961 ብረታዊ ቃልሱ ጀሚሩ። መግዛእታዊ ስርዓት ሃይለስላሴ ኮነ ድሕሪ ዝመጸ ስርዓት ደርግ ሰውራ ኤርትራ ካብ ኣጀማምራኡ ስለ ዘስገኦም፡ “ዓሳ ከተጥፍእ ማይ ኣንጽፍ” ወይ “ኤርትራ መሬታ እምበር ህዝባ ኣየድልየናን” ብዝብል ኣጽናቲ ፖሊሲ፡ ኣብ ልዕሊ ንብረት፡ እንስሳን ኣባይትን ብዓብይኡ ድማ ኣብ ልዕሊ ህዝቢ ኤርትራ ሰፋሕቲ ናይ ምጽናት ወፈራታት ኣካይዶም እዮም። እንተኾነ ህዝቢ ኤርትራ ነዚ ግፍዒ ከሎ ጌና ይጽበዮን ዋጋ ክኸፍለሉ ዝተዳለወሉን ስለ ዝነበረ፡ ዝያዳ ደኣ ተሳሕለን ሰሰነን እምበር ንድሕሪት ኣይበለን። ድሕሪ መሪርን ኣዝዩ ክቡር ዋጋ ዝተኸፍሎ ናይ 30 ዓመታት ቃልሲ ከዓ ናጻነቱ ጨቢጡ።

ኣብ ግዜ ቃልሲ ምእንቲ ነጻነት ነፍሲ ወከፍ መዓልቲ መስዋእትነት ዝኽፈለላ ምንባራ ርዱእ ኮይኑ፡ ኣብ ሰብደራት፡ ወክድባ፡ ሕርጊጎ፡ ገለብ፡ ኣቝርደትን ሽዕብን ዝተፈጸመ ኣስካሕካሒ ፍጻመታት ግና ብፍሉይ ኣብነት ዝጥቀስ እዩ። ኣብ ኣስመራን ካለኦት ከተማታት ኤርትራን ካብ ኤርትራ ወጻኢን ብስልኪ ዝተሓንቁ፡ ብግቡእ ዘይተቐብሩ ወይ መቓብሮም ዘይፍለጥ ኤርትራውያን ድማ ኣዲኦም ትቑጸሮም ኢልካ ዝሕለፉ እዮም። ሰማእታትና ክንብል እንከለና እምበኣር ኣብ ዓውዲ ውግእ ኣብ ድሎ ከይትዕሎ ኣንጻር ጸላኢ ዝተሰውኡ ጥራይ ዘይኮነ፡ ንኹሎም ፖለቲካዊ ውድቦምን ዝተሰውእሉ ቦታትን ኣገባብን ጾታኦምን ብዘየገድስ ንናጻነትን ራህዋን ኤርትራ ክቡር ህይወቶም ዝኸፈሉ ማለትና ምዃኑ ክዝንጋዕ ኣይግበኦን።

ኤርትራውያን ሰማእታት በዚ ኣቐዲሙ ዝተጠቕሰ ህይወቶም ዝኸፈልሉ ዕላማ፡ ነጻ ኤርትራ ኣውሒስካ፡ ባንዴራ ንምስቃል ጥራይ ዘይኮነስ፡ ራህዋ፡ ሰላም፡ ፍትሒ፡ ቅሳነትን ልምዓትን ዝሳዕረረላ ኩሉ ዓይነት መሰላት ዘውሓሰት ልኡላዊት ሃገር ምርግጋጽ’ውን እዩ ነይሩ። ኤርትራውያን ሰማእታት ነዚ ድርብ ዕማም ማለት ምርግጋጽ ነጻነትን ምህናጽ ህዝባ ዓው ኢሉ ዝዛረበላን መሊኡ ዝረግጸላን ሃገር ካብ ንግሆኡ ዕላመኦም እዩ ነይሩ። ምእንቲ እዚ እዩ ድማ ጭረሖኦም ኣብ ምርግጋጽ ናጽነት ጥራይ ከይተደረተ፡ ናይ ድሕሪ ነጻነት ሓላፍነቶም እውን ዘማዕዱ እዩ ነይሩ። “ድሕሪ ናጽነት እውን ግድል ኣሎ መሰላት ህዝብና ንክሕሎ” ዝብል መዝሙር ነዚ ዘመልክት እዩ። ብተግባር ግና እቲ ቀዳማይ ምዕራፍ ቃልሶም ምእንቲ ናጻነት ክዕወት እንከሎ እቲ ካለኣይ ምዕራፍ ቃልሶም ምህናጽ ደሞክራሲያዊት ኤርትራ ግና ብሰንኪ ጥልመት ዓመጸኛ ጉጅለ ህግደፍ ተኾሊፉስ እነሆ ካልእ መስዋእትነት ዝሓትት ኮይኑ ቀሪቡ። እቶም ሕድሮም ከይጥለም ተላብዮም ዝሓለፉ ሰማእታት ግና መስዋእቶም ክቡር እዩ። እቲ ዋጋ መስዋእቶም ዝኾነ ናጽነት ከዓ ነቲ ተሪፉ ዘሎ ንምምላእ ኣገዳሲ መንጠሪ ስለ ዝኾነ እንሕልዎን እንሕበነሉን እምበር እንጠዓሰሉ ኣይኮነን።

ጉጅለ ህግደፍ ከም ኩሉ ተበላጺ ተግባራቱ፡ ብስም ሰማእታት ገንዘብ ይእክብ፡ ብስሞም ቦታ መቓብር ይስይም፡ ብስሞም ኣእዋም ይተክል፡ ብስሞም ሽምዓ የብርህ፡ ብስሞም 20 ሰነ ይዝክር፡ ብስሞም ከዓ ስምዒት ወለዲ ሰማእታት ንምስላብ ናይ ሓዘን ዜማታት የዝይም። እዚ ከምስልን ከተዓሻሹን ዝብሎን ዝገብሮን ኮይኑ፡ ብተግባር ግና ፍርቂ ኣካላቶም ንዘወፈዩ፡ ስኩላን ይርሽን፡ ንነጻነት ዋጋ ናይ ዝኸፈሉ ዜጋታት ረይሳ ኣይኮነንዶ ኣብ መቓብር ሓርበኛታት ክቕበር ኣብ ኤርትራ ከይኣቱ ይነፍግ። ኣብ ሕድሕድ ስዉኣት ፍልልይ ፈጢሩ ንገለ ወገናት ብቑንጣሮ ደበስ የዕሹ ንናይ ገሊኦም መስዋእቲ ድማ ኣሉ ቀጣን ኣይፈልጦን ኢሉ ይኽሕድ። ብዓብይኡ ድማ ነቲ ስዉኣት ዋጋ ዝኸፈልሉ ካብ ነጻነት ፈሊኻ ዘይርአ፡ ምርግጋጽ ሰላም፡ ልምዓት፡ ፍትሕን ደሞክራስን ኣብ ኤርትራ ክሒዱ፡ “ኣብ ኤርትራ ገዛእቲ እምበር መግዛእቲ ኣይተወገደን” ብዘብል መልክዑ፡ ካብ ግዜ መግዛእቲ ብዘይፍለ መልክዑ ወጽዓ የንግስ ኣሎ። ካብዚ ንላዕሊ ንሰማእታት ምኽሓድን ክብሮም ምንእኣስን ድማ የለን።

20 ሰነ ከም መዓልቲ ሰማእታት ንመጀመርያ ግዜ ክትዝከር እንከላ ብዲክታቶር ኢሳይያስ “ድሕሪ ሕጂ ብውድባት ሓሸውየ የለን” ዝብል ቃል ዝተቃለሓላ እያ። እዚ ኣበሃህላ እዚ ለበዋ ስዉኣት ብወግዒ ኣብ ኣደባባይ ዝተካሕደሉ ኣጋጣሚ ኮይኑ ዝተመዝገበ እዩ። እቲ ድሕሪኡ፡ ነዚ ዛዕባዚ ብዝምልከት ዝመጸ ምዕባለታት ከምቲ “ድሕሪ ሞት ጥዕና ቅበጽ” ዝበሃል ኣንዳገደደ ዝኸይድ እምበር ንድሕሪት ኣይተመልሰን። ገለገለ ወገናት እዚ ዕለት ብጉጅለ ህግደፍ መዓልቲ ስዉኣት ንክኸውን ስለ ዝተወሰነ ምዝካሩ ከም ነቲ ጉጅለ ክብሪ ወይ ዋጋ ምሃብ ገይሮም ይወስድዎ ይኾኑ። እቲ ሓቁ ግና ከምቲ ህግደፍ ንሓንሳብ ብዝነበሮ ውድብ ንሓንሳብ ድማ ብዝተሰውኣሉ ኣገባብ እንዳተመርኮሰ ዝገብሮ ሌላን ጉሌላን ዘይኮነ፡ ኩሎም ኤርትራውያን ሰማእታት ናይቲ ተሰሊፈምሉ ዝነበሩ ውድብ ስዉኣት ወይ ካልእ ትካል ጥራይ ዘይኮኑስ ምእንቲ ህዝቢ ኤርትራ ዝተኸፍሉ ክቡር ዋጋ ስለ ዝኾኑ ኩልና ክንዝክሮም ዝግበኣና ጀጋኑና እዮም።

ኣብ ድሮ እዚ ናይ ሎሚ ዘበን ዝኽሪ መዓልቲ ሰማእታት ብደረጃ ውድብ ሕቡራት መንግስታት ዝተጸንዐ ጉጅለ ህግደፍ ዝፈጸሞ ግህሰት ሰብኣዊ መሰላት ዘቃልዕ ሰነድ ወጺኡ ኣሎ። ኤርትራውያን ኣብ ኩሉ ኩርነዓት ዓለም ብፍላይ ድማ ኣብ ዋሽንግተንን ጀነቭን እቲ ወጺኡ ዘሎ መጽናዕቲ ብናይ ተግባር ስጉምቲ ክስነ ዝጽውዕ ሰላማዊ ሰልፍታት ከካይዱ ይዳለዉ ኣለዉ። ኣብዚ መድረኻት ተሳቲፍካ ቃልካ ምስማዕ ከዓ ሓደ መርኣያ ንሰማእታት ክብሪ ናይ ምሃብ እዩ እሞ ተሳቲፍና ቃልና ነስመዓሉ ዕለት ክኸውን ይግበኦ። ሎሚ ብዛዕባ ኤርትራ እንሰምዖ ዜናታት፡ ኩሉ ዓይነት መሰረታዊ ቀረባት ውሒዱ፡ ከቢሩ ወይ ጠፊኡ፡ እገለ ዝበሃል ተኣሲሩ ሃለዋቱ ጠፊኡ፡ ክንድ’ዚ ሰባት ኣብ ዶብ ተቐቲሎም፡ ክንድዚ መንእሰያት ኣብ ሊቢያ ብኣይሲስ ተሓሪዶም ወይ ተረሽኖም፡ ብዓይብያኡ ድማ ክንድዚ ቆልዓ ሰበይትን ነፍሰ ጾራትን ዘለዉዎም ኤርትራውያን ኣብ ባሕሪ መዲተራንያን ሃሊቖም ዝብሉን ዝኣመሰሉን እዮም። ወያ ህግደፍ ከም ሲንጋፖር ክንገብራ ኢና ዝብላ ዝነበረ ኤርትራ ኸዓ ወዮ ሲንጋፖር ናይ ምዃን ዓቕማን ዕድላን ብሰንኪ ህግደፍ መኺኑ፡ ብሶርያ ጥራይ ተመሪሓ ዝለዓለ ቁጽሪ ዝደተኛታት እተፍሪ ሃገር ተባሂላ ኣላ። እዚ ድማ ውጽኢት ቃል ሰማእታትና ዘይምኽባር እዩ። ነዚ ኣይኮነንዶ ንኤርትራዊ ንዝኾነ ሰብኣዊ ፍጡር ክሰምዖ ዘስገድግድ ሃለዋት ቀይርካ ራህዋ ምምጻእ ከዓ መግለጺ ምኽባር ቃል ሰማእታትና እዩ እሞ ንምትግባሩ ንቃለስ። ምኽባር ቃል ሰማእታት ነቲ ዝከሓዶም ጉጅለ ህግደፍ ዝግደፍ ዘይኮነስ፡ ንዓና ንደለይቲ ለውጢ ዝምልከተና ዕዳ ምዃኑ ኣይንዘንግዕ።

ክብርን ዝኽርን ንኤርትራውያን ሰማእታት

19 ሰነ 2015

Joint EPDP-EHRRA Press Statement

The German Minister for Economic Development and Cooperation, Dr. Gerd Mueller, is planned to visit Eritrea soon leading a Federal German delegation intending to talk to authorities in Asmara. The minister was already warned by a joint statement of German parties in the Bundestag (Federal German Parliament) that he should “not come back with a report based on bogus promises and statements made by some representatives of Eritrean tyrant”.

On their part, the Eritrean Human Rights and Refugee Advocacy (EHRRA), a German-based and legally registered non-profit charity, and the Eritrean People’s Democratic Party (EPDP), urged the German Minister for Economic Development and Cooperation and the German coalition government to refrain from prolonging the suffering of the Eritrean people by engaging in appeasement with and support to the evil regime in Asmara. The message was conveyed in a joint memo dated 17 June 2015.

EPDP EHRRA     Economy Minister Dr. Mueller and Foreign Minister Steinmeier receive joint EHRRA-EPDP appeal.

The joint memorandum was prepared by seizing the opportunity of the planned visit to Eritrea by Dr. Gerd Mueller as well as the strong Bundestag discussion on the situation of human rights in Eritrea and its strong support to the damning report issued by the UN Commission of Inquiry which is about to be adopted soon at the 29th Session of the 47-member UN Commission for Human Rights.

is about to be ad, the Minister for Economic Development and Cooperation. German We, presenters of this modest appeal to your esteemed office, are an Eritrean political party in exile that struggles for democratic change and a Germany-based and registered non-profit charity advocating for human rights and soliciting tangible support for Eritrean refugees everywhere, in particular those in Europe and the Horn of Africa region. We have taken this initiative in light of the recent UN Human Rights Commission report; the timely debate of the German Bundestag on the situation in Eritrea as well as Your Excellency’s planned mission to Eritrea in the coming few days.

The joint EPDP-EHRRA memorandum, which was also copied to Mr. Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the German Foreign Minister, and through him to the Federal Government, made it clear that appeasement with and unconditional support to the dictatorial regime in Asmara will not solve the problem but, instead, prolong the suffering of the Eritrean people.

The memorandum also urged the German Government and its Ministry for Economic Development and Cooperation to seriously consider taking action on the following requests:

  1. The Federal German Government to oppose any gesture of appeasement and support to the dictatorship in Eritrea;
  2. Germany to start an open engagement with Eritrean political and civil society non-state actors in the diaspora with the aim of empowering them to take part in a democratic transition in Eritrea;
  3. Your esteemed Ministry (i.e. the Federal German Government) to take the initiative of establishing a solid programme for Eritrean refugees in Eastern Sudan and Northern Ethiopia by involving the support of EU and UN agencies. Such a huge programme for thousands of desperate refugees should include not only the provision of adequate food, shelter, health facilities and security, but also basic academic and vocational education to the big number of young Eritrean refugees in the Horn of Africa. Additional resources to this package programme can be obtained by rechanneling the development assistance funds suspended from reaching the Asmara regime.      

Planned German Delegation to Eritrea

Urged to Look into Facts Carefully

Joint EPDP-EHRRA Press Statement

The German Minister for Economic Development and Cooperation, Dr. Gerd Mueller, is planned to visit Eritrea soon leading a Federal German delegation intending to talk to authorities in Asmara. The minister was already warned by a joint statement of German parties in the Bundestag (Federal German Parliament) that he should “not come back with a report based on bogus promises and statements made by some representatives of Eritrean tyrant”.

On their part, the Eritrean Human Rights and Refugee Advocacy (EHRRA), a German-based and legally registered non-profit charity, and the Eritrean People’s Democratic Party (EPDP), urged the German Minister for Economic Development and Cooperation and the German coalition government to refrain from prolonging the suffering of the Eritrean people by engaging in appeasement with and support to the evil regime in Asmara. The message was conveyed in a joint memo dated 17 June 2015.

Gerd Müller.JPGFrank-Walter Steinmeier 20090902-DSCF9761.jpg

     Economy Minister Dr. Mueller and Foreign Minister Steinmeier  receive joint EHRRA-EPDP appeal. 

The joint memorandum was prepared by seizing the opportunity of the planned visit to Eritrea by Dr. Gerd Mueller as well as the strong Bundestag discussion on the situation of human rights in Eritrea and its strong support to the damning report issued by the UN Commission of Inquiry which is about to be adopted soon at the 29th Session of the 47-member UN Commission for Human Rights.

is about to be ad, the Minister for Economic Development and Cooperation. German We, presenters of this modest appeal to your esteemed office, are an Eritrean political party in exile that struggles for democratic change and a Germany-based and registered non-profit charity advocating for human rights and soliciting tangible support for Eritrean refugees everywhere, in particular those in Europe and the Horn of Africa region. We have taken this initiative in light of the recent UN Human Rights Commission report; the  timely debate of the German Bundestag on the situation in Eritrea as well as Your Excellency’s planned mission to Eritrea in the coming few days.

The joint EPDP-EHRRA memorandum, which was also copied to Mr. Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the German Foreign Minister, and through him to the Federal Government, made it clear that appeasement with and unconditional support to the dictatorial regime in Asmara will not solve the problem but, instead, prolong the suffering of the Eritrean people.

The memorandum also urged the German Government and its Ministry for Economic Development and Cooperation to seriously consider taking action on the following requests:

  1. The Federal German Government to oppose any gesture of appeasement and support to the dictatorship in Eritrea; 
  2. Germany to start an open engagement with Eritrean political and civil society non-state actors in the diaspora with the aim of  empowering them to take part in a democratic transition in Eritrea;
  3. Your esteemed Ministry (i.e. the Federal German Government) to take the initiative of establishing a solid programme for Eritrean refugees in Eastern Sudan and Northern Ethiopia by involving the support of EU and UN agencies.  Such a huge programme for thousands of desperate refugees should include not only the provision of adequate food, shelter, health facilities and security, but also basic academic and vocational education to the big number of young Eritrean refugees in the Horn of Africa. Additional resources to this package programme can be obtained by rechanneling the development assistance funds suspended from reaching the Asmara regime. 

 

EPDP EHRRA

To:

H.E. Dr. Gerd Mueller,

Federal Minister for Economic Development and Cooperation

Stresemannstraße94, 10963 Berlin, Germany

CC: H.E: Mr. Frank-Walter Steinmeier,

Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs,

Attn. Federal Foreign Ministry,        

East Africa Division,  

Auswärtiges Amt, AA, Werderscher Markt 1,

10117, Berlin, Germany          

                                                                                                                               17 June, 2015

Dear Dr. Mueller,

We, presenters of this modest appeal to your esteemed office, are an Eritrean political party in exile that struggles for democratic change and a Germany-based and registered non-profit charity advocating for human rights and soliciting tangible support for Eritrean refugees everywhere, in particular those in Europe and the Horn of Africa region. We have taken this joint initiative in light of the recent UN Human Rights Commission report; the timely debate of the German Bundestag on the situation in Eritrea as well as Your Excellency’s planned mission to Eritrea in the coming few days.

At the outset, allow us, Your Excellency, to express our deepest gratitude to what the German Parliament/Bundestag has done in the way of highlighting the human suffering in Eritrea and the plight of the refugees who are victims of an extreme form of dictatorship unparallel in the whole of Africa. To our great satisfaction, the debate in the Bundestag did not only warmly welcome the report of the UN Commission of Inquiry on Eritrea that aptly described the humanitarian disaster in the country with acts constituting crimes against humanity, but it also urged international protection for those Eritreans fleeing the country in fear and in desperation.

Dear Dr. Mueller,

You are fully aware that Eritrea’s autocratic leader, Mr. Isaias Afworki, and his small clique denied our people the rights that they aspired to enjoy after a 30-year costly liberation struggle that ended in 1991. Sadly, the last 24 years under the repressive regime had been disastrous. The end result is the ongoing societal breakdown of a highly militarized Eritrea that will bring more suffering to its people, to the region as a whole and go far beyond it.

The vast majority of Eritreans believe that appeasement with the dictatorship in their country will not solve the problem. Supporting the dictatorship, like what the EU is doing now, will only empower the regime and prolong the suffering of the Eritrean people.

Therefore, under the renewed momentum and encouraging attention to the problem in Eritrea, we take the liberty of submitting to Your Excellency, and by copy to the Foreign Ministry, to the German Government, the following modest requests for timely action:

  1. The Federal German Government to kindly oppose any gesture of appeasement and support to the Eritrean dictatorship;
  2. Germany to start an open engagement with Eritrean non-state actors in the diaspora with the aim of empowering them to take part in a democratic transition in their country;
  3. The Federal German Government and your esteemed Ministry, to initiative the establishment of a solid programme for Eritrean refugees in Eastern Sudan and Northern Ethiopia by involving the support of EU and UN agencies. Such a multi-purpose and wide programme for thousands of desperate refugees should include not only the provision of adequate food, shelter, health facilities and security, but also give basic academic and vocational education to the big number of young Eritrean refugees in the Horn of Africa. Additional resources to this package programme can be obtained by rechanneling the development assistance funds long suspended from reaching the Asmara regime because of its bad human rights record.

Hoping that Your Excellency and the Federal Government will give the appropriate attention and timely consideration to the contents of this joint appeal of EPDP and the EHRRA, we remain.

Respectfully yours,

Wolde-Yesus Ammar,                                                                  Tzehaie Kubrom,

Head, EPDP Foreign Relations Office                                         Chairman, the EHRRA

Ammarw12@gmail.com                                                                         This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Italian Police remove migrants in Ventimiglia, at the Italian-French border Tuesday, June 16, 2015. Police at Italy's Mediterranean border with France have forcibly removed some of the African migrants who have been camping out for days in hopes of continuing their journeys farther north. The migrants, mostly from Sudan and Eritrea, have been camped out for five days after French border police refused to let them cross. (Luca Zennaro/ANSA via AP)Italian Police remove migrants in Ventimiglia, at the Italian-French border Tuesday, June 16, 2015. Police at Italy's Mediterranean border with France have forcibly removed some of the African migrants who have been camping out for days in hopes of continuing their journeys farther north. The migrants, mostly from Sudan and Eritrea, have been camped out for five days after French border police refused to let them cross. (Luca Zennaro/ANSA via AP)The Associated Press

LUXEMBOURG (AP) — Italy urged reluctant European Union partners on Tuesday to sign up to a plan to share 40,000 refugees, as police forcibly removed migrants trying to cross their common border.

At a meeting of EU interior ministers, Italy's Angelino Alfano called for solidarity with front-line countries Italy and Greece as tens of thousands of migrants cross the Mediterranean in search of sanctuary in the EU.

"We are working to avoid the political bankruptcy of Europe," Alfano told reporters in Luxembourg.

The ministers were meeting to debate a plan for obligatory relocation of Syrian and Eritrean refugees to other European countries over the next two years. Only about 10 of the EU's 28 nations support the plan and even those that do disagree with the calculations for distributing the refugees.

Earlier Tuesday, police in Ventimiglia on Italy's border with France forcibly removed a few dozen African migrants who have been camping out for days in hopes of continuing their journeys farther north.

Some migrants held onto signposts and others tried to resist being loaded onto a Red Cross bus. Migrants on rocks jutting out into the sea were left alone, with police apparently unwilling to move into a more treacherous location.

Alfano said that the scene in Ventimiglia is "a punch in the eye for those who refuse to see."

His French counterpart, Bernard Cazaneuve, denied that France has closed its border there.

"When migrants cross borders and it is established that they arrived in Italy, then it is only normal that they return to Italy," Cazaneuve told reporters in Luxembourg.

"We have agreements and we are currently doing checks to ensure that those agreements are respected," he said.

Meanwhile in Greece, hundreds of Syrian and Iraqi refugees, including women and children, protested Monday on the eastern island of Lesvos, demanding better living conditions and faster processing of their registration.

They also want to be housed separately from Afghan arrivals after a fight broke out in one of the island's camps.

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Nicole Winfield in Rome, and Elena Becatoros in Lesvos, Greece, contributed to this report.

Source=http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2015/jun/16/italy-calls-for-eu-solidarity-amid-doubts-over/