Welcome to Asmarino Independent.

Taking the Bull by the Horn

That is why I think the current debate is very helpful. It has opened the issue of Eritrean national identity and could in time lead to its definition as unity in diversity based on democratic governance. But a few articles in some web sites are not going to be enough. We need to reinforce such discourse with the creation of a movement for national revival. In order to do that all of us must agree that the regime has to be removed by any means necessary. We should agree that the future constitution of Eritrea should not only be consistently democratic but one that has adequate institutional mechanisms to embrace and accommodate our diversity. We should have trust in the wisdom of all sectors of Eritrean society and their ability to chart a new course when given the freedom and the chance to do so...

Is Eritrea a threat to the US?

At the risk of being called soft on terrorism, the Obama administration has only been sending conciliatory signals. At this pace, one of two things may need to happen before the Obama administration takes steps against the Eritrean government: the US would respond swiftly if Al Shabab, while still being ‘backed’ by Eritrea, were to take over the country installing a hostile Islamist state; or if Al Shabab commits terrorist acts against US interests outside Somalia.

Be Part of the Unity

The post independence era brought a new development, which called for change in our thinking, change in our political coalitions and alliances, change in our understanding of unity, change in our views and realities, and change in our old practices and rules, and change on how to bridge the generational gab … etc. Change has become the rule than the exception in post independence Eritrea. It is a paradigm shift if you will.

Part I - The Conveyor Belt of Death in Eritrea

Shaebia was adept at building an efficient conveyor belt of death long before it showed up in Asmara. Then, as it is now, such a conveyor belt of death had the same structure: (a) a killing machine that does its job with a thorough efficiency that leaves nothing to chance; (b) a propaganda machine that creates an Orwellian realty for its public, a humane façade that provides a cover for the gruesome killings that go behind it; and (c) a deleting machine that wipes out any evidence that might potentially mar that manufactured “realty”. In Sahel, thousands perished as they were constantly fed into Shaebia’s efficient conveyor belt of death. A testimony to the efficiency of its propaganda and deleting machines is that few talked about it and almost no one wanted to listen until very recently. And now, this same machinery is at a work at a dizzying speed doing what it had been doing in the fields.

Survey results for the "Eritrean Diaspora Network" now available!

Thank you to everyone who took part in the online survey on 'Eritrean diaspora networks'.  Results are now available online at:  http://personal.strath.ac.uk/emma.s.stewart/QuestionnaireSummary.pdf

Learn about how members of the Eritrean diaspora use the Internet, including what sites people surf and why people use internet sites.  And find out more about where Eritreans live in diaspora and how they maintain connections around the world.

U.S.'s UN envoy warns Eritrea over Somalia rebels

WASHINGTON, July 29 (Reuters) - Eritrea has only a short time to stop undermining security in Somalia or face possible U.N. sanctions, Washington's ambassador to the United Nations, Susan Rice, said on Wednesday.

Rice told a congressional committee the United States was "deeply concerned and very frustrated" with Eritrea's behavior in Somalia, including arming and funding Islamist insurgents

"It is unacceptable, and we will not tolerate it, and nor will other members of the Security Council," she told the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

Another Christian dies in Eritrean jail

Jerry Dykstra with Open Doors USA reports, "He was suffering from a severe case of malaria. He allegedly was further weakened by continuous physical torture he received while in solitary confinement in an underground cell for the last two weeks" for refusing to sign a recantation form.

POETRY THAT IS UNIQUELY SUBTLE