‘Canada will take decisive action’ if Eritrean consulate is still extorting expatriates, Foreign Ministry says

‘Canada will take decisive action’ if Eritrean consulate is still extorting expatriates, Foreign Ministry says

TORONTO — The Foreign Affairs department is investigating the Eritrean consulate in Toronto after allegations it continues to play a key role in a dubious tax scheme that has been linked to threats, harassment and intimidation.

A government source said Eritrea would face repercussions, including the possible closure of its consulate, if the investigation confirmed the diplomatic post had defied Ottawa’s repeated demands that it stop soliciting a “diaspora tax.”

“Government officials are currently reviewing this situation,” said Adam Hodge, a spokesman for Foreign Minister John Baird.

“We have made our position on this matter clear to the Eritreans, and we expect them to abide by it. Should Eritrea fail to comply with our demands, Canada will take decisive action.”

The comments came after the National Post revealed that, a year after Mr. Baird expelled the repressive African regime’s consul-general over the tax scheme, the consulate remained closely involved in collecting a 2% tax from Eritreans living in Canada.

“No, we are not involved,” countered Ahmed Iman, a consulate official.

He said the consulate was only providing “information” on how to pay the tax, and blamed government opponents for the controversy. “Most of the people who are complaining, they are either opposition or they want to destroy the Eritrean community here.”

But several members of Canada’s Eritrean community said in interviews the consulate was doing much more than providing information. To prove it, for the past two months they recorded their phone calls with consulate staff.

Among them was Afewerki Habtemichael, a 32-year-old Canadian who fled Eritrea and now lives in Fort McMurray, Alta. When his aging parents tried to transfer ownership of their home to Mr. Habtemichael, they were told it would not happen until he had paid 2% of the wages he had earned since arriving in Canada.

He said the consulate told him to mail his Revenue Canada tax returns to its office in Toronto so staff could calculate how much he owed. He was also told to send a statement confessing he had abandoned his compulsory military service in Eritrea.

“If we didn’t see the recantation/confession card, we won’t do it for you,” a consulate staffer said on June 18, according to the transcript provided by the Eritrean-Canadian Human Rights Group of Manitoba.

The staffer later explained the consulate’s role in the tax scheme.

“We make people pay after looking [at] the papers. The papers are for calculating the amount,” she said.

We left the nation because they didn’t respect our rights, but still the government is trying to violate our rights while we are in Canada. It’s really unfair

She then gave Mr. Habtemichael the address of the consulate.

“You send money to Asmara [the Eritrean capital]. They pay it for you and you get your clearance,” she said. “We do your papers, we transfer information and we transfer your information to Asmara.”

Under an agreement with Ottawa, neither the consulate nor its agents are supposed to have any involvement in the solicitation or collection of taxes. The United Nations has asked member nations to put a stop to the tax scheme because it has been linked to threats and harassment.

One Alberta man said he was told his wife and child would not be allowed to leave Eritrea to join him in Canada until he paid up. Another, a former political prisoner, who fled the regime and now lives in Vancouver, was told he could not have a copy of his university transcript unless he paid $6,000 in taxes.

The accounts of Mr. Habtemichael and the others who recorded their calls suggest consulate staff are still working closely with the regime and a network of agents to solicit the tax, calculate the sums and ensure the money is collected.

“Their main work is to collect money for the Eritrean government, so, yes, they should close it,” Mr. Habtemichael, 32, said of the consulate.

“We left the nation because they didn’t respect our rights, but still the government is trying to violate our rights while we are in Canada. It’s really unfair.”

Transcript between the consulate and Afwerki Habtemicael

Transcript a June 18, 2014 phone call between Afewerki Habtemichael, a Canadian who fled Eritrea, and an Eritrean consulate employee in Toronto. It was translated and released by  the Eritrean-Canadian Human Rights Group of Manitoba.

Consulate: But we need a photocopy of the Recantation/Confession Letter.

Habtemichael: Ok.

Consulate: If we didn’t see the Recantation/Confession card, we won’t do it for you.

Habtemichael: Ok.

Consulate: The card has to be clear photocopy with your name clearly seen, photocopy of your ID Card

Habtemichael: Ok.

Consulate: Photocopy of your ID card.

Habtemichael: Ok

Consulate: Photocopy of your ID card, photocopy of the Notice of  Assessment from Revenue Canada and mail it to us via post office.

Habtemichael: Ok but I was told that if you are student, you don’t need it.

Consulate: No, no, no, who told them? Students also pay in the minimum. Students also pay in Canada by the minimum. But we have  to see the papers to decide how much to pay.

Habtemichael: OK, then I mean I will try my best.

Consulate: We make people pay after looking the papers. The papers are for calculating the amount.

Habtemichael: Ok so email? How do I send the documents?

Consulate: Mail it by post. Can I tell you the address?

Habtemichael: Ok, hold on.

Consulate: 120

Habtemichael: 120

Consulate: Carlton Street.

Habtemichael: (He repeats after her.)

Consulate: Postal code M5A 4K2.

Habtemichael:  (He repeats after her.)

Consulate: Toronto, Ontario consulate of Eritrea.

Habtemichael: (He repeats after her.)

Consulate: Suite Number 317. I forgot the apartment number 317.  After you say 120 Carlton St. number 317.

Habtemichael: (He repeats after her.)

Consulate: Suite number 317

Habtemichael: Ok, I have this one. Does it take time?

Consulate: No it does not. If you send it, later if you have something  to pay, you do it in Asmara. You send Canadian money to Asmara. They pay it for you and you get your clearance.

(Source: National Post)