ክፍደ እዩ እትሕነ፡ እትሕነ እንታይ'ዩ? ንቡር ሰላማዊ ህይወት

Welcome to Asmarino Independent.

Article

Written by Yosief Ghebrehiwet Wed - 23 Jan

Sanctions Watch: Lessons From G-15

The lessons that I drew from the G-15 dissent were:

Given the totalitarian grip under which the masses are living, that the prospect of mass uprising in Eritrea is dim;
that a call for such an uprising should never be framed in terms of appeal to democracy only, if ever;
that the issue of “survival” (instead that of “democracy”) should take center in facilitating any uprising or regime change;.
that if any meaningful dissent is going to take place in Eritrea, it would have to be spearheaded by the members of the leadership itself – at minimum, by those at the mid-level position;
and that the leadership would rise up only if their survival is threatened (and not because of any love for democracy) and if they feel that Isaias is at its most vulnerable point.

Interview

Written by AI Staff Sun - 20 Jan

Appalling Work Conditions at Bisha-Nevsun Mining Project, Eritrea

So far, what the informants have to say has corroborated much of what have been suspected for a long time – and more. The story that is emerging is a story of two different groups of workers : one mostly foreign, well-fed, well-quartered, well paid, well insured and working in a safe environment; and the other group: natives, poorly fed, poorly quartered, poorly paid, overworked, nominally insured and working in an unsafe environment. But this, by itself, doesn’t say much. It is only by categorizing the workers in the different strata that they have been put into that we see how the regime is exploiting the workers in every way imaginable to maximize its profit...

(Photo: Bisha-Nevsun Project, Eritrea)

Article

Written by Yosief Ghebrehiwet Fri - 18 Jan

Western Mining Companies and Slave Labor in Eritrea

When it comes to the question of which local companies to subcontract, for the mining companies it is not even an option. As pointed above, since the PFDJ-owned companies have already bankrupted and forced almost every private company in its field out of the market and in the process monopolized the whole economy, the mining companies will have no other alternative than to hire these government-owned companies; and that is exactly what they are doing. Much of the work that doesn’t require very specialized tasks like transportation, construction, providing food for the local workers and any other menial jobs will be done by local companies. ... There is no doubt then that the overwhelming majority of the workers in the mining projects are those “hired” by the subcontracted government-owned companies. And that is where the link to slave labor exists at its strongest.

Article

Written by Seyoum Tesfaye Wed - 16 Jan

Voodoo Economics- the Eritrean Version

The real targets of the conference were never in the room. The real focus of the voodoo economics agenda are unsuspecting Diaspora Eritreans. The retail agenda is aimed at the pocket of the working and middle class Diaspora. This time no one can be foolish enough to give the discredited bankrupt regime US$10,000.00 cash to purchase a bond without legal guarantee. So the new plan is to try to merchandise millions of stocks in unproductive, profitless and undocumented government controlled “firms” for $50, 00 or $100.00 per share etc- spreading the misery to thousands trusting Eritreans instead of 500 the so-called top investors.

Press Release

Written by Human Rights Watch Wed - 16 Jan

Hear No Evil: Forced Labor and Corporate Responsibility in Eritrea’s Mining Sector

Nevsun’s experiences show that by developing projects in Eritrea, mining firms are walking into a potential minefield of human rights problems. Most notably they risk getting entangled in the Eritrean government’s uniquely abusive program of indefinite forced labor—the inaptly-named national service program. Through this program the Eritrean government keeps an enormous number of Eritreans under perpetual government control as conscripts. Originally conceived as an 18-month program, the national service scheme now requires all able-bodied men and most women to serve indefinitely, often for years and with no end in sight, under harsh and abusive conditions. Those who try to flee risk imprisonment, torture, and even reprisals directed against their families.

Some national service conscripts are assigned to state-owned construction companies who exercise a complete monopoly in the field. International mining firms operating in the country face intense government pressure to engage these contractors to develop some of their project infrastructure. If they do so, they run a pronounced risk of at least indirect involvement in the use—and harsh mistreatment—of forced laborers.

News

Written by The Canadian Press Wed - 16 Jan

Forced labour alleged in Canadian-Eritrean mine project

"When Nevsun began building its Bisha mine in Eritrea in 2008, it failed to conduct human rights due diligence activity and had only limited human rights safeguards in place," Human Rights Watch said.

The Eritrean government insisted that Segen Construction Company, a local Eritrean contractor, carry out construction of the mine in 2008. Segen — owned by the ruling People's Front for Democracy and Justice — routinely exploits conscript workers that the government assigns to it, the report alleges.

II "Independent Eritrea": A Crumbling Nation and a Tragedy

The premise that Eritrea was annexed and colonized by Ethiopia is highly contentious. Colonialism involves; geographic occupation, socio-economic domination, transfer of population to a new territory as permanent settlers, the subjugation of one people by another, outright enslavement, forced assimilation, exploitation of cheap labor, economic exploitation of natural resources, and creation of new markets for the colonizing nation. Did the above happen to Eritrea when it was part of Ethiopia ? These are serious questions that need to be addressed.

Eritrea and Eritreans are in a far worse situation than when they started the revolution. They have fallen under the yoke of a new breed of home grown brutes, who not only have denied their very unique and proud identity as Abyssinians and Africans, but also created a jilted "hybrid identity" which is alien to the centuries old history and heritage of the people and the land.

Article

Written by Tewelde Stephanos Sat - 12 Jan

Unfiltered Notes: Better Questions Isaias Should Have Been Asked

EriTV’s recent “interview” with Isaias looked more like a rigged boxing match between a giant equipped with spiked gloves and a five-year old with hands tied behind his back. The “champ” stepped in the ring after making sure his opponent is incapable of throwing any punches -- thus the pre-arranged and self-serving questions. Of course, he was declared the undisputed winner again as in years past since there was no one to dispute anything. And with his signature celebratory ritual, he stepped on the head of his fallen five-year old opponent to claim his trophy.

Writers Corner

Written by Selam Kidane Sat - 12 Jan

Real for Real

And the menacing threats to skin me alive
That played in my head
In my solitary cell
Were also unreal
My mother’s prayers to the saints are always real
They won’t save me but may wipe her tears
This noose around my neck is real
You…who sit watching
Are you for real?
Really
Real?

Eritrea: the Illusion of Independence-Liberation Dichotomy

The worry of many diplomats and politicians in nations ravaged by war in under-developed countries is the state of a political vacuum. Syria is a good example. Thanks to “liberation” type of war, Eritrea was endowed with a nascent state ready to shoulder the complex and heavy responsibilities of a post war situation, said people such as the famous Weldeab Weldemariam, many other believers and friends of Eritrea. Without exception, all missed the cardinal issue of a free and sovereign people. The state of having simply an armed and tightly knit group was accepted for a good-governance....

We have now in our midst writers who deny the solid connection between the current stifling and repressive reality in Eritrea and the political traditions during the gedli period. ... Lamenting about the death of the private sector in independent Eritrea without recalling the program of the EPLF to nationalize factories and trade (both domestic and foreign) is nothing but disingenuous. ...

Writers Corner

Written by Gabriel Guangul Wed - 09 Jan

Let Me Go

Like swords; the lines are drawn
As the ink hesitates to let itself; drop

The hand; on the other hand
Waits to make up its mind

In the meantime; a blank page
Like a wild dog; is barking in rage

Write me; or put me down

Press Release

Written by Arbi Harnet Sun - 06 Jan

20 Resistance posters in Asmara and nearly 40,000 robo-calls

(Asmara 31-12-12) Young Activists in Eritrea posted over 20 posters on the streets of Asmara on New Year ’s Eve. The Posters depicting a picture of Mr Idriss Ab-Arre, a disappeared disabled veteran of Eritrea’s struggle for independence, appealed to members of the public to help friends and families of Eritrea’s ‘dissapeared’ in locating their loved ones.

The initiative was a follow up to a campaign that was launched by Project ArbiHarnet (freedom Friday), in commemoration of September 18, 2001 when many politicians seeking political reform and journalists from Eritrea’s independent media disappeared overnight.

Article

Written by Yosief Ghebrehiwet Thu - 03 Jan

(I) Eritrea’s Drive for Modernity: In Search of Asmara

What is fascinating about the Congo sapeurs is the seriousness with which they take their dressing, so much so they have elevated it into a form of art, accompanied by an ideology (as they call it, “sapology”). As in any artist’s case, they are willing to starve for it – literally ...The seriousness with which they treat their life style has given it a quasi-religious status. In fact, the stark contrast between the fashionably dressed sapeurs and the shantytown squalor with debris strewn all over the place that often serves as background for their strutting display gives it a surreal, other-worldly atmosphere ... The point that I am driving at is this: when so much frivolousness is dressed up with so much seriousness, it can easily morph into being lethal given the right environment. True, the urban dandy of the Congo type is a harmless creature so far as he remains cooped up in his beloved city, preoccupied as he is in his pacifist escapism. But give the urban dandy a gun and an ideology that goes with it (“Protect your modernity!”), he undergoes such a metamorphosis that you would never recognize him for the harmless fellow that he has been strutting in the city streets in his tricolored suits. Such a metamorphosis took place among urban dandies of Asmara, who picked up the AK 47 to defend their "Asmara modernity".

The Disappearance of Sudan

In this context, the renewal of Sudanese citizenship is vital if further rupture between the Sudanese peoples and, ultimately, the further physical disintegration of the state, are to be avoided.

However, and as the report contends, this renewal can only be achieved by ending the violence that is currently targeted overwhelmingly at marginalised communities; transforming practice, policy and law around the construction of a genuinely non-discriminatory and fully participatory Sudanese citizenship; and committing to the creation of an all-Sudan political and constitutional process that allows grievances and programmes for change from the margins to be heard and heeded.

Escape From An Eritrean Prison

Eritrea's human rights record has long faced international criticism. Located in the Horn of Africa, the country is home to five million people, but so closed to the outside world that individual stories tend to come almost exclusively from those who have fled.

Kidane Isaac was just 18 when he says Eritrean authorities arrested him for an unspecified crime. It's possible he was suspected of planning to desert military service. Thousands of Eritreans flee the country every month, many of them teenagers, to escape the

Eritrean Charity to Extend Assistance to Victims of Trafficking

(London 17th May 2013) Release Eritrea is to extend its support to victims of trafficking through two projects in Egypt and Israel respectively. The projects which have been funded for three years starting this month will build on the work that was carried out over the last two years enabling local staff and volunteers to provide relevant services as identified by those already engaged in the field.

Eritrean Youth Solidarity for Change (EYSC) Launches New Television Program: EYSC TV

EYSC (15-05-2013): The Eritrean Youth Solidarity for Change - Global Group - announced today the launch of its new television program, EYSC TV.

The television program, which will air twice a month beginning on Wednesday May 22nd at 7:33 PM Berlin time, covers over half a million households in the Frankfurt, Wiesbaden and Darmstadt areas in Germany and will be accessible world-wide at the same time via YouTube or via the distribution links of the TV studio. EYSC ensures interested viewers that it will publish the programme simultaneously to the TV broadcast on EYSC Facebook and in YouTube.

DEMONSTRATION FOR DEMOCRATIC CHANGE IN ERITREA

Date: 24 May 2013- Time: 2:00PM – 6:00PM -Venue: in Front of 10 Downing Street

The Coordinating Committee representing the different exiled opposition political and civil society organizations in London calls on all Eritreans and the friends of Eritrea to participate in the Pro-democracy Peaceful Demonstration.

ENDF Mourns Former Colleague and Compatriot, Amare Gebremariam

It is with deep sadness that the Coordination Committee of the Eritrean National Democratic Forces (ENDF) learned the passing away on 12 May 2013 of compatriot Amare Gebremariam at the age of 70.

The late Amare Gebremariam was one of the founding members of ENDF which he served also for one year as its active vice-chairman actively supporting the ENDF chairman, Diplomat Humad Kullu.

With Robocalls, Eritrean Exiles Organize Passive Resistance

From his perch in California, Sium tries to stay politically connected to his country. He marches when there's a local demonstration, contributes to refugee causes and posts on Facebook.

But there's always one thing missing. The people inside Eritrea don't dare to "like" his Facebook posts. And they never march in the streets themselves. For Eritrean activists living abroad, this silence can be frustrating.

So Sium had an idea: If we can't ask them to come out, what if we ask them to stay home?

African Heads of States Challenged About Human Trafficking in the Sinai

Sharing her experience and expertise in the struggle against human trafficking in the region was Ms Meron Estifanos, Eritrean human rights activist and journalist with the diaspora based Radio Erena. In a moving presentation focusing on the narrative of a young victim of trafficking who died leaving her toddler son, in the hands of her abductors; Meron challenged every head of state present to respond to the plight of countless victims and address this shameful issue taking place in the region.

In his own presentation President Omer Hassan al-Bashir admitted that the concern is indeed a grave one that requires urgent attention. For his part president Paul Kagame also made a personal commitment to highlighting this concern at the UN Security Council, over the coming few months.

Israeli Supreme Court: "exceptional humanitarian reason" for release under the Anti-Infiltration Law

We are happy to report that the Supreme Court accepted our appeal against a verdict issued in a lower instance court that rejected the Hotline for Migrant Workers' request to release an asylum seeker who survived the torture camps in Sinai from the Saharonim internment camp. The outrageous lower instance ruling by Judge Eliyahu Bitan stated that severe torture cannot be considered as an "exceptional humanitarian reason" for release under the Anti-Infiltration Law. All asylum seekers who have entered Israel since June 2012 have been jailed under this draconian law according to which asylum seekers can be released only in exceptional circumstances including "exceptional humanitarian" cases. ...

Eritrea supports Egypt’s position over Nile water dispute

April 18, 2013 (ADDIS ABABA) – The Eritrean government said this week that it supports Egypt’s stance over a colonial-era treaty that granted Egypt a right to utilise the lions share of Nile river’s water resources.

The Red Sea nation expressed its support in a message sent from the Eritrean president and delivered to Egypt’s president by Eritrean Foreign Minister Osman Saleh and Presidential Adviser for Political Affairs, Yemane Gebreab.

The Egyptian president, Mohamed Morsi, has highly welcomed Eritrea’s position towards Egypt’s "historic rights" over the sharing of the water of the Nile River.

Eritrea accused of sending arms to Seleka rebels, says CAR ex-President Bozize

Allegations have surfaced this week against the government of Eritrea regarding their role in the in arming the rebels in the Central African Republic who recently overthrew Francois Bozize.

In an interview with ex-President Bozize recently ran in the media, the former CAR leader claimed that "the arms used by the Seleka rebels during their final assault on the presidential palace were purchased from Eritrea and transited through Chad with the permission of President Deby"

The Eritrean Ministry of Foreign Affairs this week issued a strong denial.

(Photo: Seleka rebels believed to be armed by Eritrea)

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ክፍደ እዩ እትሕነ፡ እትሕነ እንታይ'ዩ? ንቡር ሰላማዊ ህይወት

Welcome to Asmarino Independent.

Sanctions Watch: Lessons From G-15

Appalling Work Conditions at Bisha-Nevsun Mining Project, Eritrea

Western Mining Companies and Slave Labor in Eritrea

Voodoo Economics- the Eritrean Version

Hear No Evil: Forced Labor and Corporate Responsibility in Eritrea’s Mining Sector

Forced labour alleged in Canadian-Eritrean mine project

II "Independent Eritrea": A Crumbling Nation and a Tragedy

Unfiltered Notes: Better Questions Isaias Should Have Been Asked

Real for Real

Eritrea: the Illusion of Independence-Liberation Dichotomy

Let Me Go

20 Resistance posters in Asmara and nearly 40,000 robo-calls

(I) Eritrea’s Drive for Modernity: In Search of Asmara

More Articles...

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News & Press Releases

The Disappearance of Sudan

Escape From An Eritrean Prison

Eritrean Charity to Extend Assistance to Victims of Trafficking

Eritrean Youth Solidarity for Change (EYSC) Launches New Television Program: EYSC TV

DEMONSTRATION FOR DEMOCRATIC CHANGE IN ERITREA

ENDF Mourns Former Colleague and Compatriot, Amare Gebremariam

With Robocalls, Eritrean Exiles Organize Passive Resistance

African Heads of States Challenged About Human Trafficking in the Sinai

Israeli Supreme Court: "exceptional humanitarian reason" for release under the Anti-Infiltration Law

Eritrea supports Egypt’s position over Nile water dispute

Eritrea accused of sending arms to Seleka rebels, says CAR ex-President Bozize

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