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During the last week of September 2016, Eritrean political and human rights activists in Norway have conducted effective joint tasks that can hopefully be emulated by all communities of Eritreans in the diaspora.

The activities included three joint tasks: a) submitting a joint memorandum to human rights organizations and political institutions which started with a visit to Amnesty International office in Oslo on 26 September; b) a public demonstration initiated by Eritrean women's group and staged in front of the Eritrean consulate and Norwegian government headquarters on 28 September; (c) a public meeting organized for the demonstrators at which a consensus was built towards forming a joint task force in Norway that can represent all Eritreans opposed to the repressive regime in Asmara.

Submission of a Joint Memorandum

On 26 September 2016, two Eritrean groups submitted to Amnesty Internal Office in Oslo a sharply-worded joint memorandum describing the political and human rights situation in Eritrea and urging AI and other international human rights organizations to seriously consider helping to end the endless suffering of people in Eritrea. The memorandum, prepared by members of the Eritrean Youth for Change (EYC) and the Eritrean People's Democratic Party (EPDP), is intended to reach many civil and political institutions and government organs in Norway. (Read full version: http://www.harnnet.org/index.php/news-and-editorial/item/3092-to-whom-it-may-concern)

Demonstration in Oslo

Eritreans coming from many parts of Norway staged the 28 September demonstration that asked immediate change of direction in Eritrea, the closure of the Eritrean regime consulate in Oslo, and demanded action against the illegal collection of 2% tax by the dictatorial regime in Eritrea. Initiated by Eritrean Mothers for Peace in Oslo, the demonstration was joined by Norwegian friends who vowed to firmly stand on the side of Eritreans until the horrors going on in the country are stopped. Representatives of Eritrean-Norwegian solidarity group in the city of Stavanger, like Mr. Finn Vaage, trekked for over seven hours in train to join the demonstration. A Norwegian party official who attends UN meetings on Eritrea also pledged that he will continue to be a voice of Eritrean justice seekers.

Public Meeting

All participants at the Oslo public demonstration later in the day attended a public meeting at which problems of Eritreans at home and in exile were widely discussed.

Organized by members of EPDP and EYC, the public meeting was addressed by representatives of the joint EYC-EPDP committee who included Mr. Medhanie Habtezghi; Mr. Meharena G/Egziabeher and Mr. Michael Paganeli. The public meeting raised the various shortcomings adversely affecting the activities of Eritrean justice seekers and called for a new start to work together.