Danish report on Eritrea faces heavy criticism
The Danish Immigration Service’s fact-finding report on Eritrea has come under heavy fire in both Denmark and Eritrea and a key source in the report now says he was “misused” and quoted out of context. Denmark
- Denmark tightens restrictions on Eritreans (26 Nov 14)
- UN wants Denmark to drop refugee restrictions (17 Nov 14)
- Human trafficking feared behind asylum boom (14 Aug 14)
Gaim Kibreab, a professor at London South Bank University, was featured heavily in the Danish Immigration Service’s report on Eritreabut has now stepped forward to say that he feels “betrayed”.
“I was shocked and very surprised. They quote me out of context. They include me in a context with their anonymous sources in order to strengthen their viewpoints. They have completely ignored facts and just hand-plucked certain information,” Kibreab told Berlingske.
The Immigration Service’s 79-page report indicates that the human rights situation in Eritrea may not be as bad as rumoured and that Denmark should no longer offer blanket asylum to Eritreans fleeing compulsory – and often time indefinite – military service.
Using mostly anonymous sources, the report calls into question previous claims that Eritreans can face retribution or even possible death if they flee the country. The fact finding report instead says that Eritreans who have tried to avoid military service can merely sign a repentance letter and agree to pay an extra two percent ‘Diaspora tax’.
The report thus recommends that Denmark only provide asylum to Eritreans who can show that they face a personal threat.
Even before Kibreab stepped forward, many in both Denmark and Eritrea were expressing their doubts about the fact-finding report.
Danish NGOs including the Danish Refugee Council and Amnesty International have advised against using the findings in the report and a campaign group run by former recruits of the Eritrean National Servicereleased a lengthy rebuttal to the Danish report that accuses it of having “looked hard for unlikely pieces of ‘evidence’ (needle in a haystack style) that could be used to support a policy move away from blanket protection.”
The Stop National Service Slavery in Eritrea campaign said the Danish report ignored the “vast and well established” human rights violations and instead focused too much on the military service.
“We are… adamant that ignoring the host of other human rights violations being perpetrated in Eritrea and focusing on ‘absconding’ in isolation will not curb the flow of refugees from Eritrea nor will it reduce the numbers coming to Denmark (or any other country),” the campaign writes.
Denmark called for the fact-finding mission after the number of Eritrean refugees exploded in July.
Source:The Local
Ahmed salih December 1, 2014
Oh well the Danish report must have some kind truth because why would lie about human right abuse in Eritrea . I mean they don’t even have investment in Eritrea so I guess may be the government is on its way on making changs for a better. Let’s wait and see, change is what we need ,is not it?
Wadbahar December 1, 2014
“…I guess may be the government is on its way on making changs for a better. Let’s wait and see, change is what we need ,is not it?” (Ahmed salih)
Wow, a decades-old brutal dictatorship rotten at the top and rotten all the way down and that has caused a lot of irreparable pain and grief to the people could all of a sudden abandon its past path and think of making positive changes! “Ashum Iblees Fel Janna” (It sounds like a devil hoping to go to heaven) as said in Arabic to show the subjective or the unrealistic thought. What an impeccable line of logic is this? I would add nothing but thank you for the best laugh of the day.
I
Zeray December 1, 2014
Ahmed,
Many of us are not waiting for the Eritrean government to change its way. No, what many of us want is for PFDJ philosophy to be completely eradicated from Eritrea. No more dictatorship. No more slavery. No more false imprisonments and torture. Yes, to freedom of speech, let Eritreans decide their own destiny. We do not want a system that a few on top can tell us lies and the rest of the citizens listen and obey. Enough to this. Furthermore, we want justice to be served. Those who have been victimized, kidnapped and tortured due to no fault of their own should have a say for justice.
Ahmed, the way you wrote, “oh well” or “may be” etc.. shows how careless and uninvolved you are. If you have feelings for your own people wake up and find out what is really happening in Eritrea and to Eritreans around the world. We need change and we need change now. Eritreans do not deserve what they are getting right now. They deserve dignity and respect in their own country.
Thank you,
AHMED SALEH !!! December 2, 2014
“…. Why they lie about human right abuse in
Eritrea ” means there isn’t none .
Ahmed salih , who are you trying
to defend ?
Wadbahar December 2, 2014
Brother AHMED SALEH:
This is not the first or the only time our brother, Ahmed salih, defends the dictatorial regime in a very unprincipled manner that pours cold water on the struggle going on those specific directions, and surprisingly enough, for reasons beyond anybody’s comprehension. We observe a pattern here; not single instances of a slip of a tongue that could easily be corrected. He may think this is objectivity or philosophical debate in which he tries to be smarter than he is, unfortunately, putting himself in an academic trap or very embarrassing political position that casts doubt on the entire notion of opposition, given his claim to be opposing the dictatorial regime. If you could go back to some previous threads, you would find many examples of unprincipled and laughable positions on very vital issues; issues very critical for the destiny of the Eritrean people and his national struggle. As I do not want to waste my time, energy and attention, on waste and absurdity, I will only cite the following four examples of threads for you to check his comments and see the pattern, in case you were not a close follower of these threads:
1. “Eritreans file lawsuit against Canadian mining company for slave labour and crimes against humanity”
2. “ ፍሊጶስ ንኣዘዝቲ ሰራዊት ቅዳሕ መልእኽቲ ናብ ኢሳይያስ ምስዳድ ኣየድልየኩምን እዩ ይብሎም”
3. “ተጋ/ የማነ ተ/ገርግሽ “ኣብ ዘይመዓልትኻ ኣይምወትን`ዩ”
4. “ኢራን ካብ ምልካዊ ስርዓት ኢሳይያስ ኣብ ዝተኻረየተን ሰለስተ ደሴታት ንተቓወምቲ ኣልሑቲ ወተሃደራዊ ታዕሊም ክትህቦም ከምዝጸንሐት ሓደ ውሩይ ኣረባዊ ጋዜጠኛ ጠቒሱ”
What is the solution? The solution is exactly what you did: confronting him, or anybody for that matter (including me), mercilessly and with facts. Silence cannot bring any progress in a struggle, but speaking out and exposing wrong doings in time will do. Here the purpose is constructive; not destructive. Thanks.
Wadbahar December 2, 2014
Thank you, Zeray, for planting good seeds here, in compliance with the meaning of your name. Yours is a great intervention and advice to those who write as if they are from another planet (Mars or Jupiter) or only write to see their names on the print or badly seeking attention (you pick), failing to understand that this is one of the most highly read websites, if not the most highly read, by both Eritreans and non-Eritreans. It is also important for them to consider that a great number of the readers see things critically and do not want to waste their time on such crab of which they are so sick and feel effectively forcing them to opt to abandon Eritrean politics altogether. How many times did many of us quit this forum for some time and sadly for this particular reason? At the same time, this category of comment writers to whom I would refer as “spoilers of the struggle”, need to realize that there is accountability for each word they use and any message they try to convey, knowingly or unknowingly, strictly because of its consequences and impact on the national movement. Nothing is neutral when you are in a struggle against a dictatorship in war with its own people: each comment reinforces either side of the struggle (the dictatorship or the national struggle). Add to that, if they do not think twice before they use the keyboard, the “spoilers of the struggle” have to realize that they would expose their sheer ignorance in front of thousands of readers spread all over the world, and so voluntarily give themselves a bad name.
To wind it up here: Is it too much to ask that these “spoilers of the struggle” at least lay low and shut up, give the readers a break and save them from all crab, taking their time to learn, instead of spoiling the national struggle and creating an irreparable mess?
Yohsnnrd December 1, 2014
European nations don’t care about human right and crisis. That is the reason Denmark attempted to fabricate the so-called “survey record”. They are just trying to give false and irresponsible “evidential support” for their mishandling of the unfortunate and genuine refugees and asylum seekers in their small and resources starved territory.
Yohannes
Michael Tedla December 1, 2014
The Government is on wrong side of the world knows that are being treated like slaves in their on country by salvage mentalities by group of gangs . I don’t why are they supporting cruelty to innocent people of Eritrean. I thought Denmark is a democratic country please don’t get confused read what the world are saying about Eritrean.
saho December 1, 2014
the report will be repealed, believe me.
yonas December 1, 2014
I think the Danish fact finding mision is fed false information by hgdf in eritrea because the fact is full and complete and the whole world knows.simply they can check the prisoners who are there and no family members can visit for so long years,the kidnappings,the torture,the open ended national slavery,the refugees,the one man rule,no constitution and so on….it looks the Danish fact finding mission made a deal in a short time with hgdf just to curb refugies in their country.hgdf kida de’a shitarakn dewra!!!there is no any way out from the sanctions,the one man(crazy) dictatorship should be eliminated.
Debasse December 1, 2014
They did it because they donot want to accept refugees they know what is happu but they like to closs their eyes. Read awate.com for more info
biniam December 1, 2014
Wel at some point the Danish Government did a right decision, many Eritreans came to Denmark through the risky journey and then after they got their proper asylum papers they go back to Eritrea to kiss the YPFDG’s ass.what a shame.
Most Eritreans cry saying they are refugees in Europe and at the same time every morning go to HGDEF’s emmbassies to pay 2%,its funny. I wish those European countries deport all those stupid Eritreans.
hakee December 1, 2014
I am confuse what the opposition want from this report. They went to Eritrea to find the fact and they reported what they were looking for. If the opposition have different things to say about the report, go to Eritrea or send someone to find what the opposition is looking for. We want peace and justest in Eritrea so let the opposition fight back with the truth from inside Eritrea. coming to west doesn’t bring justest in Eritrea.
Dawit Meconen December 1, 2014
We must not overly criticize the Danish Policy-Change with respect to Eritreans fleeing their country for we also share the blame that led them into this wrong conclusion.
Among the various reasons of our follies is the following:
Instead of using the exact words or phrases in explaining the causes for the current crisis in our country, we use the very ambiguous words/phrases which the mafia clique purposely uses as a means of masquerading its sinister plot to cleanse Eritreans of its people.
For instance, the mafia clique uses the euphemistic phrase ” National Service” for the Concentration Camps which are designed in such away that youngsters are kept endlessly at a boiling point of anger and frustration by any means necessary. This scheme has three objectives:
A. To force them to escape
B. And after they escaped , portray them as quislings
C. And if some how, eluding Death, reached a destination where they can earn their livelihood, entice them to plead for forgiveness of the alleged crime of escape; sign up to pay 2% tax annually, participate at guailas and mafia celebrations/demonstrations etc. in exchange for Pass Ports. In a nut shell, the mafia turns them into Cash-Cows. All these are neatly documented to be used in their defense at opportune time.
I have no doubt that the investigation of the Danish Government was spurred by the con artist isaias afeweerqi in an attempt to nip in the bud the on going investigation the UN is conducting into his Human Right Violations. I know the Modus Operand of the rat con artist.
The ramification of the Danish Policy-Change is indeed far-reaching that we must mount robust and fast counter response. We must disprove the Danish Government conclusion by showing that it is illogical and contradictory to call “economic migrant” any one who escapes from a country such as Eritrea where an oppressive mafia clique has been subjugating the people for over twenty years by willfully abolishing the Constitution, the Baito (Congress), and killing and incarcerating dissenters extra-Judicially.
ogbai December 1, 2014
We Eritrean justice seekers should do more to stop the dictatorial rule of our Nation.The Dictatorial system is doing every thing to lie to confuse the rest of the world, and to his supporters. And the double faces of the refuge after they win in their claim against the system. They are breaking their words themselves to kiss the hand of the cruel Dictator. This is a clear picture for the host countries like Denmark and others to follow. The dictator is very smart in evil way, that like he didn’t shoot at them on the border.IF THEY ARE SAVE SOME WHERE in the planet. He love them to collect some of their hard earning even welfare money. So he is finding some ways to get them into a trap like. He said, If you want to see your Mam KISS my hand first and drop some money. he wouldn’t care where ever you got it. But first your Written apology and 2% with some pocket many in Asmara. He said; I don’t care about you but I need your money. And the spoiled kids of Sawa they wouldn’t give a dame about the rest of their country men who live day and night for years in fox holes with out enough paid salary. Just they pretend to show their clean shirts with some make up faces. They welcomed the dictatorial call with out any shame. Isaias wouldn’t care about any thing except his power and money.Otherwise he would sell the whole country. He is a crazy mad dog. ‘Weden KeyHamyas Endamaten /SeytWden/ WE NEED DEEDS NOT WORDS PLEASE. After that everything will be settled well and fine. Action is the only ANSWER FOR THESE ALL bleeding! THANK YOU !
Mehret December 1, 2014
DEra Ogbai,
yes ‘weden keyhamias seyti weden yhamya’. But I am not talking about Issayas now. Danish report is quoting an ‘educated’ Eritrean. This guy has been making money through research funds. He is the one who gave the Danes ammunition for the report. Why can’t we accept that sometimes we Eritreans can make mistake. If an academician insinuates that national service is good for Eritrean youth to know each other and has positive effects on personal development of the Eritrean youth, can you blame the Danish for writing such a report. We have to ask this man where he got the information and how he got it and his research methodology as well as his intentions.
Mehret December 1, 2014
Please read ‘ Dear Ogbai’
ogbai December 2, 2014
Yes! Habtay Mehret, I wasn’t deep into the reading mood and I don’t want to go to details. I am interested to the bigger picture of our problems. I am just ordinary old man trying to encourage for the just seekers. Also, I am not against National service at all. But for how long and how and why etc…need to be clear mission with time limitations. In our struggle time we find a good time to Know each other to fight and to die tighter or together to free our nation. It was a great impact of course. But to think that is the only way to bring people together is not rely honest way. There are so many ways to do it. Few to mention Educational system, Free market, Free speech, Freedom of writing freedom of free gathering etc… But none of these thing existing in the Dictatorial system. That is way instead loving each other, that we are falling apart of that and this nature. I Know sister Mehret you can do it the rest. But, We have to expose those called intellectuals where ever they are trying to be the pillars of the dictator by confusing our people or others by telling lies with unfounded evidences and trying to make names for themselves at the cost of our dying brothers and sisters, fathers and mothers. However, we well know this time even though, it could have a bit positive nature of its kind of the SAWA camp. Our youth never bind by this sort of cheating. They are breaking the chain of the dictatorial tricks except Mami boys. Isaias and his crony brought this thing to control and to brain wash the youth in order to hang on in power for ever. As we see it is not working any more except few confused sort of Mami boys. And I welcomed your advice sister Mehret, and I am enjoying your views and comments as always keep it up as usual. Our Eritrea needs people like you with high value. By the way where is brother Fetsum and sister Ghenet. miss them a lot. thank you!
Mehret December 3, 2014
I too miss Fetsum and Ghenet a lot. Ghenet is a very intelligent woman. Thank you for the insightful comment as well.