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Comment on the Memorial Day Declared by the the AU

We are all aware that the African Union declared November 3 a continental day of mourning to be observed by all its member states in commemoration of the African victims who drowned off Coast of

We are all aware that the African Union declared November 3 a continental day of mourning to be observed by all its member states in commemoration of the African victims who drowned off Coast of Lampedusa Island in Italy. To this effect the Eritreans in Durban will be commemorating the day at Diakonia Centre at 17h00.

The decision of the African Union is to be welcomed as it is in accordance of African culture and customs which hold the dead and their spirit in high regard. However, I found the decision scatty as it falls short of mentioning the real cause of the Africans who perished in such a tragic way.

African Union should be honest with itself and the Africans. It has to ask the question, why Africans are leaving their beloved countries in their drove, only to die in the deserts and deep seas.

The truth is more than 360 people (from Eritrean, Ethiopia and Somalia) died on 3rd of October 2013 because their boat caught fire and eventually capsized in the Mediterranean Sea. 350 of those who died in this tragic incident are Eritreans and the reason why all these Eritreans are taking this risky route is because they wanted to escape the brutal dictatorship in the country in pursuit of decent and dignified life elsewhere.

The youth of Eritrea are subjected to an endless compulsory national service; they have no freedom of movement both within and outside the country; the imposed old-fashioned “exit visa” is a privilege only enjoyed by the few. Consequently, the only option they have is to escape through illegal means crisscrossing highly dangerous places of the Sudan, Libya towards Europe, namely Italy. Along the way thousands fall victims to  MERCILESS human traffickers as well as chilling death in the Mediterranean Sea. More often than not, the truth is not being told. ALAS!!!

 

Eritreans in the Diaspora have been very vocal about what happened in the off coast of Lampedusa Island. Eritrean civic societies and their friends are doing whatever they can to report the case to the African Union and the UN. It is however my humble observation and feeling that we, the people of Eritrea/Africa, are not being listened to and our situation is not taken serious by our continental body. My question is for whom and what does the African Union stands?

We, Eritreans, have been sick and tired of the dictatorial regime back home because initially the state TV referred those who died as “illegal immigrants from the Horn of Africa”. It is disheartening to notice that the African Union is not highlighting that most of the victims are from Eritrea. Is it because they do not want to expose one of the main dictators of Africa??? I really hope that the November 3rd commemoration is the beginning of a process for the African Union to mention the evil by name, which is the dictator in Asmara.

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Tesfagabir Berhe Tesfu

Durban/South Africa

02/11/2013

aseye.asena@gmail.com

Review overview
2 COMMENTS
  • Hazhaz November 3, 2013

    By declaring Sunday, November 3, a Memorial Day for the 369 Eritrean victims in the coast of the Lampedusa Island, the African Union has exposed the silence of the Asmara regime on the death of its own Eritrean citizens.

  • rti November 4, 2013

    It is about time the AU start looking themselves in the mirror. Indeed it is a bold and courageous move on the part of the AU to squarely point the finger at the Eritrean dictatorship. Shame, shame, shame on the blind followers of the regime!

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