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Interview

Abdurahman Sayed, Executive member of Citizens for Democratic Rights in Eritrea (CDRiE) and spokesman for the Eritrean group at the Brussels event.

Eritrean interests “well represented” at EU Meeting

    European and American officials are joining hands with Diaspora Eritrean politicians and activists aimed at ending relentless human rights abuses under a ruthless dictatorship in Eritrea. The two-day conference underway in Brussels is discussing, among other things, the urgent need to coordinate EU and US policies on Eritrea and the Horn Region. The meeting is being closely watched by many governments and the world media especially because of Eritrea’s alleged involvement in terror and piracy ridden Somalia. Michael Abraha had a phone interview Saturday with Abdurahman Sayed, Executive member of Citizens for Democratic Rights in Eritrea (CDRiE) and spokesman for the Eritrean group at the Brussels event. Michael first asked him what the criteria were to choose panelists for the conference:

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Authoritarian Eritrea President overseeing a troubled nation – Interview with Seyoum Tesfaye, EGS Chairman


The news blackout on the drought/famine situation reportedly afflicting millions of Eritreans has frustrated both emergency aid agencies and press and human rights advocates. This comes as no surprise especially to members of the media since independent reporting is outlawed in Eritrea. The government is known to be the world’s worst violator of press freedom. US based, Seyoum Tesfaye, is Chairman of the Eritrean Global Solidarity and has been following recent Eritrean developments. Here, he discusses the underlying issues behind Eritrea’s troubles.

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Q + A: Religion and Politics in Eritrea.

Moslems and Christians have lived in peace and harmony for centuries in Eritrea. However, over the past decades the two sides have been victims of the wrong judgment of their elites, says Omar Jabir, Eritrean thinker, politician and democracy advocate based in Sydney, Australia. Omar says the Christian elite misled the grass-roots and mobilized them against the slogan of independence. “Now the Islamist elite are using and abusing religion to recruit supporters claiming that the regime is sectarian” says Omar, adding that they are connected - some of them - with foreign powers and scholars.

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He is the handsomest man at the Oktoberfest

Mr. Fessehaye how did you come up with the idea to apply as Mr. Oktoberfest?

Friends of mine have made me aware that you can apply as Mr. Oktoberfest. I always liked the fact that in Oktoberfest the young and old together and have fun together; I immediately sent photographs and a statement why I like the Oktoberfest in Konstanz..

Were you appointed or elected?

I was elected. I do not know exactly how the jury worked, because everything went through the internet. Personally, I have met no one. The photographs were served, because my girlfriend and I were luckily chosen, although there were many competitors.

What is your role as Mr. Oktoberfest?

I must especially show a presence. There are a lot of VIP boxes, for example, hired by firms. We welcome the guests and see if they are satisfied. In addition, we learn about prominent figures, such as Jürgen Drews and Prime Minister Guenther Oettinger, whom we had to hand over gifts. I never thought that I would meet the Prime Minister personally. This is quite an experience. In the first week of the Oktoberfest alone, I met many important people. This is an opportunity I would otherwise never had.

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Q & A: Eritrea’s food shortage amid calls for UN sanctions

Sanctions, like war, have to be applied as a last resort and when everything has failed to avert a real problem. In the case of dictator Isaias and his party (PFDJ), all local, regional and international attempts made in the course of the past two decades to correct the malaise in our country have failed. Thus, the time appears to have come to resort to a severe action against the regime. However, while declaring international sanctions, one will have to look into minimizing the collateral damage on the population. The UN system has acquired some experience in this field and it can take measures to soften the burden on the population while sharpening the edge of the total embargo in ways that can harm the very core of the PFDJ military/security apparatus. The UN system can further develop new mechanisms which some call ‘smart sanctions’, and make sure that humanitarian assistance is properly channeled to the needy people in Eritrea who are not getting it now.

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Dr. Bereket Habte Selassie

Pan-Africanism: I am dreaming of course. An Interview with Bereket Habte Selassie

Realistically speaking, the regional economic organisations that we have today may be used as building blocks for eventual unity. But the ultimate goal should be unity in accordance with Nkrumah’s vision. That is how I see his relevance in our times. I am aware that the two approaches were also present in the 1960s. In fact it was Mwalimu Nyerere’s eloquence and popularity with the majority of African leaders, who were opposed to Nkrumah’s vision, that defeated Nkrumah’s idea of continental unity at the time when the issues were debated at the first and second OAU summit meetings.

This is an area where we can learn from the mistakes of other regions of the world. It took Europe some fifty years to create the European Union (EU). They did it in stages. In 1968, they established the European Economic Community (EEC), under the Treaty of Rome. The original signatories of the Treaty of Rome (France, West Germany, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg), agreed to form a customs union, adopt a common external tariff, and harmonise their domestic economic policies.

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Eritrean Civic Movement-EGS Raises Awareness on Human Rights in Washington D.C after a 4 Days Peace March

The civil organizations before the declaration of the armed struggle have not gotten the attention they deserve due to the fact the political literature is more focused on the armed struggle period. Eritrea had a vibrant civic society and democratic discourse, a parliamentary culture etc before it got annexed by Ethiopia. The emerging and developing liberal democracy culture with all its signatures Trade unions and political parties was crushed by imperial Ethiopia. The version of civic societies that were prevalent during the armed struggle period was basically known as “mass organizations”. Even those they were directly under the control of the liberation movements they played a tremendous positive role in mobilizing the people and materially and finically supporting the liberation front’s to continue the struggle for independence. In most case they did not have relative independence. They were actually controlled and managed by the liberation front cadres. This was typical of the dominant left culture at that period. We are now recipients of both the positive and negative effects of this kind of civic organizing modality.

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Seyoum Tesfaye - chairman of the Eritrean Global Solidarity

An exclusive interview With Seyoum Tesfaye: A retrospective and a look at the DC Freedom March

 Reporter Michael Abraha got hold of Seyoum Tesfaye - chairman of the Eritrean Global Solidarity to discuss the outcome of the recent pro-democracy events in Washington D.C. Michael first asked him if expectations have been met.

"Our struggle to transition Eritrea to Constitutional Democratic State by now should have been a full-blown dynamic popular movement. The June 18-21 activities measured by our urgent national responsibility are still not enough. That said for an organization that is only 18 months old the effort was a daring undertaking. We wanted to challenge established standards by combining four major projects under one package. Not trying to do something would have been a total failure. Doing something and learning in the process was a golden opportunity we could not miss. Strictly judged by EGS’ cursory “evaluation” of the events we undertook we think we have fared well. We are not wasting time congratulating ourselves. We have launched a thorough evaluation internally to make sure we do not avoid facing our shortcomings. We are going to dissect the agenda, the time line, the tasks, actions, team work, skill, time management , process flow, publicity, dissemination of information, diversity, cost, subject matter etc. in order to learn from our experience and do better next time. We have come out of this experience more united and determined to strengthen and expand the civic society. "

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Seyoum Tesfaye Eritrean Global Solidarity Chairman

Interview Seyoum Tesfaye : Eritrea’s Freedom March

 Through the process we will learn what our skill deficiencies are and use the lesson to reach out to Eritreans, Eritrean Americans and Eritrean Canadians with talent and skills to join us if possible or be generous enough to teach us how to correct our shortcomings. We have a lot to learn and we in the EGS are ready and willing to be good students. Our people need everyone’s contribution. No one is irrelevant. We all have a role to play. Our combined effort will get us closer to positive resolution. The door is wide open. Everyone concerned about the people of Eritrea has an opportunity to make a difference. On June 19 we will make a modest effort to practice this. We will say: It time for Change and network with other concerned Eritreans to do a proactive diplomatic and lobbying effort. We hope to expand the talent pull dedicated for democratic transition. We hope to give an alternative venue for our intellectuals to share their view with the general population with the respect and support they deserve. We hope to bring forward to the leadership the dynamic youth that is has already paid its due under the tyrannical regime.  We will give it our best effort.

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Rezene G. Michael, North America Chief Representative of NDA

Interview Rezene G.Michael: Eritrea’s Freedom March

The Eritrean Democratic Alliance and the Eritrean Global Solidarity are hosting the Washington Diaspora events which start on June 18 and continue through June 21. On June 19, there will be a peaceful demonstration in D.C. with celebrations of Martyrs Day in the evening. That same day we will hold a joint meeting of EDA and EGS with US State Department officials. On June 20th, there will be EGS sponsored symposium where EDA is presenting a paper along with other EGS participants. On June 21st , we will meet with youth and community elders to informally evaluate the outcome of the events.  

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EPP’s Woldeyesus Ammar attacks Isayas’s military adventures.

 All past actions and reactions of Isayas Afwerki have proven beyond doubt - to all sensible Eritreans and to the world at large - the sheer irrationality of the man. His associations and diplomatic relations cannot be expected to have any logic, and one should forget about any immediate or long-term benefits from such associations to the people Isayas is supposed to be leading. For sure, the Eritrean petty dictator obtains financial benefits from globally ostracized regimes and organizations that help him fund his security apparatus as well as his aggressive and meaningless adventures in the region. In short, by his irrational associations with this and that rogue regime and terrorist outfits, Isayas may hope to ´bully´ and thus draw the attention of Europe and the United States. Unfortunately, he sometimes feels his misdeeds serve him well – e.g. look at the recent 122 million euro grant from the Europeans with the illusive hope of keeping open "a window" for dialogue with Isayas lest the man and his regime do worse than what they are doing. But isayas cannot do worse to Eritrea and its neighborly peoples. We feel the sane world should stop living in illusion and, instead, make pressure bear on Isayas and cut short his lunacy. 

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Selam Kidane (London) – Democracy and human rights advocate

Interview with Selam Kidane – Outspoken critic of the Eritrean government

“…..I say the people of Eritrea have become victims of both food shortages and human rights abuses. It is now becoming difficult to envisage a way out of this poverty when the human rights abuse means that Eritreans resort to fleeing the country rather than develop it, hence inextricably linking the two.”

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Q & A with Woldeyesus Amar head EPP


By Michael Abraha  

EU’s Controversial aid to Eritrea

Q & A with Woldeyesus Amar head of the Eritrean People’s Party (EPP) who describes the EU move as “wrong and indefensible”  

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Update on Famine Situation

Update on Famine Situation  The conditions in Wi’a concentration/training camp in the past 7- 9 months have worsened more than any other time. Food rations were reduced further to 3 pieces of sorghum bread per person per day without any supplements such as sauce except limited ration of tea. The shortage of food is compounded by the closure of the camp for family visits which used to facilitate the supply of food from families and relatives to the prisoners/trainees. The shortage of food combined with the very poor sanitation conditions, harsh environmental conditions, fatigue resulting from training exercises and almost non-existent health facilities and health care services in the camp has lead to sustained outbreaks of meningitis, typhoid and scabies resulting in alarming mass deaths.
                    
Most of the deaths are mainly attributed to meningitis. Meningitis has been in the camp even before three years and had killed many but it has never been in this scale before. The death rate increased from June onwards and continued at alarming rate until the camp was closed in September. After hesitating for long, the government has finally decided to close the camp as an emergency measure after many (estimated to be in hundreds) have died. It is difficult to know how many have exactly died but sources from the camp tell that initially 37 people have died in the spot without being transferred to the Gedem military hospital near Massawa. Hundreds were transferred to Gedem hospital but the majority of them have not survived indicating that the death toll is in hundreds.
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Hoping for a sign

Hoping for a sign

Eight years is a long time for me. It is considerably longer for Dawit. In those eight years that they took away from my brother, I have got so many new friends. I got myself a wonderful and caring girlfriend, with whom I am happily living now. And now, to top it all, I have got a lovely daughter. And what is more, these last eight years I have been moving and speaking freely – something that I don’t take for granted any more. And yet, I can equally say they have been the most painful years of my life; that is because I could not be with my beloved older brother. It pains me so much not having him by my side. If I am this much in pain, imagine what my brother Dawit must be feeling; this must be a complete nightmare for him.

In one of the articles that Dawit wrote in 2001, he asked, “Why does the PFDJ prefer silence?” Now I am asking the PFDJ not to be silent, and imploring it to give us a sign of hope.

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Eritrean interests “well represented” at EU Meeting

Eritrean interests “well represented” at EU Meeting

    European and American officials are joining hands with Diaspora Eritrean politicians and activists aimed at ending relentless human rights abuses under a ruthless dictatorship in Eritrea. The two-day conference underway in Brussels is discussing, among other things, the urgent need to coordinate EU and US policies on Eritrea and the Horn Region. The meeting is being closely watched by many governments and the world media especially because of Eritrea’s alleged involvement in terror and piracy ridden Somalia. Michael Abraha had a phone interview Saturday with Abdurahman Sayed, Executive member of Citizens for Democratic Rights in Eritrea (CDRiE) and spokesman for the Eritrean group at the Brussels event. Michael first asked him what the criteria were to choose panelists for the conference:

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Eritrean Journalists Thank Swedish Pen

 Eritrean Journalists Thank Swedish Pen  The Association of Eritrean Journalists in Exile (AEJE) would like show its gratitude to the Swedish PEN for presenting the Tucholsky Award to our compatriot, Mr. Dawit Isaak who has been in Eritrean jail since September 23, 2001. This award is another remarkable addition to the serious of tireless efforts and achievements of Swedish human right groups and NGOs to take up the cause of freedom of expression in Eritrea in general and the case of Dawit Isaak in particular. It can be recalled that last month, Dawit Isaak had been honoured to be a finalist for European Union’s Sakharov Prize.

We exiled journalists can’t miss the symbolism of the prestigious Tucholsky Award. We acknowledge that this award not only highlights the persecution of Mr. Dawit Isaak and his fellow colleagues but it also recognizes the struggle of Eritreans for democracy and justice.

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Eritrea sanctions planned

Eritrea sanctions planned

A draft resolution, seen by AFP, was circulated on Wednesday by Uganda, part of a six-nation east African regional bloc that has been calling for months for sanctions to be imposed.
There will be no vote on the proposal before December to give time for experts and ambassadors from the 15 members of the UN Security Council to debate the move, diplomats said on Thursday.

The draft foresees a ban on weapons sales both into and out of Eritrea as well as freezing the funds of the "Eritrean political and military leadership" and restricting its foreign travel.

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ERITREA MEDIA WATCH

ERITREA MEDIA WATCH

Eritrea’s Lingering Malnutrition

Awate.com’s Divisive Publications

The only leader who thinks it is o.k. to preside over a nation with the worst record in press freedom is Eritrea’s strongman Isayas Afewerki. He argues there is no such thing as “free press”. Of course there isn’t. But the rest of humanity agrees it is vital to have systems which enable people to freely express ideas and exchange information. “Free press” is not an absolute standard but is meant to serve as a guideline in the establishment of free and united communities. Even Denmark at the top of the list of 175 countries does not have a perfect “free press”. But it is striving towards that goal. And it is never too late for Eritrea to join the civilized world in the fight against darkness. Repression and ruthless censorship create intellectual retardation and hinder progress.

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UN Sanctions may affect Canada's Nevsun, foreign companies

UN Sanctions may affect Canada's Nevsun, foreign companies

(Reuters) Eritrea's most advanced project is Bisha, run by Canada's Nevsun Resources Ltd (NSU.TO: ??). Its 27 million tonnes of ore are believed to contain 1 million ounces of gold, 700-800 million pounds of copper and 1 billion pounds of zinc.

The momentum towards imposing sanctions on Eritrea for its alleged role in war-torn Somalia has grown in recent months. It remains unclear how they may effect foreign companies, but according to one analyst, any disruption to the burgeoning mining industry would put pressure on Asmara.

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Asmarino Arabic Pages Starting Next Week

Asmarino Arabic Pages Starting Next Week

We are glad to inform our Arabic-speaking audience that, finally, Asmarino.com is ready to start its Arabic Pages section no later than next week.
 
As you might have noticed the sign “Arabic Pages – Coming Soon” has been in Asmarino.com’s front page for quite some time. We understand that “coming soon” has not been soon enough. Hopefully, you will forgive us for holding you in suspense for such a long time.
 
Given that our staff works on voluntary basis, it is only understandable that it took some time to find dedicated and competent individuals who will soon be entirely at your service.

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