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Dutch Parliament presses government to close Eritrean embassy

by Martin Plaut The Dutch Parliament is debating how to respond to the latest evidence that the Eritrean government is continuing to lean on members of the Eritrean diaspora community living in the Netherlands. Fresh evidence On Saturday a programme by

by Martin Plaut

The Dutch Parliament is debating how to respond to the latest evidence that the Eritrean government is continuing to lean on members of the Eritrean diaspora community living in the Netherlands.

Fresh evidence

On Saturday a programme by investigative journalists from Argos radio programme will be broadcast showing Eritrean refugees being forced to pay the notorious 2% tax to the Eritrean government – something the Dutch authorities have repeatedly insisted must end.

Portions of the programme have already been released.

The programme, using secretly filmed footage, quotes from a conversation with the head of the Embassy, Solomon Mehari.

In it, an Eritrean asylum seeker is forced to pay the so-called 2% tax and to express his “regret” for having fled from Eritrea.

If he refuses to he will not be issued with the government document he came to the Embassy to request.

From the transcripts of the conversation it appears that the asylum seeker is forced to sign a form in which he repents and accepts he will receive what is called the “correct sentence”.

“Every person that left the country must first sign this. There is no way around it. After that, we can give our services, ” he is told. [Full transcript below]

MPs call for Embassy closure

Anger and frustration was expressed by politicians at the behaviour of the Eritrean Embassy in three motions debated in the Dutch Parliament on Wednesday.

These ranged from calls for the Embassy to be closed, to investigations on whether the 2% tax could be made illegal.

MPs from across the political spectrum expressed their concerns that pressure and intimidation was continuing, despite government calls for the Eritrean embassy to cease acting in this way.

In September the Dutch government promised to act if this didn’t happen. “When firm evidence emerges of intimidation and unlawful coercion in relation to the collection of the Eritrean diaspora tax by the embassy in The Hague, diplomatic measures will not be ruled out,” the government promised in an official statement.

Responding to the debate, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Halbe Zijlstra, described closure of the Eritrean embassy as an extremely serious step, which would require proof.

He said that the Dutch government had called on Eritreans to report the matter to the police and that so far they had received 10 report, but these have yet to lead to a criminal investigation.

Mr Zijlstra offered to discuss possibility of undertaking a formal prosecution with the Prosecutor, and once more offered to discuss the matter with the Eritrean ambassador in Brussels.

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27 COMMENTS
  • amanuel December 21, 2017

    Do they know they are dealing with notorious criminals who act like drug addicts. These criminal thugs are addicted to extortion and can not live without it. They are extreemely sadist too. Just close them out.

    • Asmara Eritrea December 22, 2017

      I whole heartedly and sincerely applaud the Dutch authorities for their courageous decision to call a thief a thief and their plan to close the Eritrean Embassy. I say thank you to the Dutch government, the Eritrean people will remember – you have been a true friend in our hour of need.

      The planned closure of the Eritrean Embassy is a New Year’s present for the peace loving Eritrean people who have been subjected by this blood sucker regime for far too long. Those of us in diaspora should now follow the Dutch example and push for the thuggish government’s embassies to be closed across the world. The next one must be London – I would say get rid of them tomorrow. The UK government has a duty of care under the law to protect the Eritrean diaspora and the closure of the Eritrean Embassy in London would be a step forward in that regard.

      Long live our hero of 2017 Haji Musa Mohammed Nur and all those who took part at the Islamic School – you are the hope and aspiration of the Eritrean People.

      By this time next year Eritrea must be free of the beast so we can all begin to build our beloved country based on the legacy of our martyrs. Our martyrs fought for our freedom whilst Isaias and his clique hid in caves drinking whiskey. What a travesty of justice!

      Power to the people – Eritrea forever, death to dictatorship.
      .

  • Z. Hagos December 22, 2017

    The proposed legal action against the Eritrean tyrant’s embassy in Holland (Dutch) appears similar to that of the Canadian legal decision. The Canadian government accused the Eritrean tyrant’s consulate of illegally collecting 2% income tax as well as up to $500 from Eritreans in Canada. As a result, the consulate was ordered closed and the represented expelled.
    ..
    If the Dutch government takes legal action against the Eritrean tyrant’s embassy, that decision will immediately apply across all EU member countries. Already the collected evidences from Eritrean refugees in the other EU member countries may be used and can worsen the case against the tyrant’s embassy.

  • k.tewolde December 22, 2017

    HGDEF loves money but he doesn’t like to work for it.Majority of the inner circle of this extortionist party either they were hiding in caves getting drunk or living abroad.They are parasitic in nature who live of the sweat of the poor masses.The gallant fighters who liberated the country are gone,six feet under. These cockroaches they are so desperate for money they even stalk the poor refugee they purged out of the country and coerce him/her to get a share of the meager stipend they get from the host country. How low can you go.These are the clowns who promised to deliver the Singaporean model,for real!

    • k.tewolde December 22, 2017

      In other words,they need to be fumigated from the building.

  • Ertrawi December 22, 2017

    This is no secret. You don’t have to film it with hidden camera. It is these refugees that will suffer if the embassy is closed. Your myopic analysis will not let you go an inch forward.

    • amanuel December 22, 2017

      Hahahaha
      Ertrawi u are a jocker. Have u ever been a sarcastic comedian. Eritrean Refugees will saffer if not abused by their past abuser who abused them till they escape to europe. Wow. A real comedian.

  • Tesfamicael Yohannes December 22, 2017

    Selam

    I do not belong either to PFDJ or the opposition. My name is Tesfamicael Yohannes Teckle and I live in Oslo, Norway. Every body can check my identity. I repeat that I am not in PFDJ or in the opposition group. I am raising this question to Assena, simply for curiosity matter. I started paying 2% from 1994 and recently I paid up to 2016. I paid almost for 24 years. No body persuaded me to do it. I happily, voluntarily pay it. In Diaspora my consolation is this personal duty of mine paying 2%.. If I denied to pay this 2%, for sure I will be miserable by soul in this world. My question is simple. Why should I be denied to pay happily and voluntarily 2%?

    With respect
    Tesfamicael Yohannes
    Oslo, Norway

    • Danilo December 22, 2017

      Tesfamicael, you can pay it happily or voluntarily. But do you understand that Dutch parliament is defending for those paying it involuntarily? However, keep paying it .ትገብሮ ስለዘይትፈልጥ ዝትሓዘካ ኣይኮነን።”ዓሻ ጹቡቅ ኣሎ ፡ዘመድ ዓሻ ከፊኢኡዎ ኣሎ” in addition, you are not telling us why you pay it . brother be honest to get profit in assenna forum free of charge otherwise, destruction deed make you accountable because you are killing two persons by 2 %.

    • bBerhe Tensea December 22, 2017

      I feel sorry for you, you need kilte shewate, and you need your family to take you to Deranto. .
      You must be one of the Ahbay Mai Dema who is willing to do things against his people”s interest out of innocence or stupidity.
      You don”t even have a shame to publicly declare that you are a willing slave of the grandson of Bashai Lema.
      In Canada the 2% slavery tax is nil banned and punishable by law.
      The few people who are forced to pay the illegal tax out necessity of inheritance are forced to pay it when they visit Eritrea..
      In Canada the 2% is called extortion cash or money exactly that is mooney paid to criminal gangs after kidnapping and hostage takings..
      Hibay Mai Dima wake up and smell the coffee.

    • jommy December 23, 2017

      you are PFDJ SUPPORTER.IF NOT ,If you are a real ERITREAN YOU WILL NOT SUPPORT FOR the DIMISE OF THE ERITREAN PEOPLE
      ALL THIS KILLING ALL THIS SUFFERING AND ALL THE PEOPLE WHO ARE LANGISHING IN PRISON ALL THOSE PEOPLE LIVING THEIR FAMILY AND LOOSE THEIR PRICIOUS LIFE AND YOU CLAIM you are supporting willingly .
      you claim you will be A MISERABLE SOUL

    • jommy December 23, 2017

      you are PFDJ SUPPORTER.IF NOT ,If you are a real ERITREAN YOU WILL NOT SUPPORT FOR the DIMISE OF THE ERITREAN PEOPLE
      ALL THIS KILLING ALL THIS SUFFERING AND ALL THE PEOPLE WHO ARE LANGISHING IN PRISON ALL THOSE PEOPLE LIVING THEIR FAMILY AND LOOSE THEIR PRICIOUS LIFE AND YOU CLAIM you are supporting willingly .
      you claim you will be A MISERABLE SOUL
      YOU DO NOT FEEL ANY THING FOR THOSE THOUSANDS ERITREANS PERISHED SINCE 1970 BY THIS NON ERITREAN BLOOD SUCKER DICTATOR

    • amanuel December 26, 2017

      Do not tell us u are not hgdf. There is no kid here unlike in ur hgdf house-where there are old kids.

  • Berhe Tensea December 22, 2017

    The Dutch parliament and government action is commendable. The regime in Eritrea is not a government that work with the rule of law or constitution .
    The regime is led by few individuals who are not different by mafia gangs, and have no clue about international relations and law….
    The efforts of Kibrom Dafla, Van Risen and others is bearing fruit.
    Thank you very much Martin as usual., for your exceptional reporting..
    Death to Bashai Lema grandson

  • Berhe Tensea December 22, 2017

    The Dutch parliament and government action is commendable. The regime in Eritrea is not a government that work with the rule of law or constitution .
    The regime is led by few individuals who are not different by mafia gangs, and have no clue about international relations and law….
    The efforts of Kibrom Dafla and miriam, Van Risen and others is bearing fruit.
    Thank you very much Martin as usual., for your exceptional reporting..
    Death to Bashai Lema grandson

  • bBerhe Tensea December 22, 2017

    Tesfamichael,

    I feel sorry for you, you need kilte shewate, and you need your family to take you to Deranto. .
    You must be one of the Ahbay Mai Dema who is willing to do things against his people”s interest out of innocence or stupidity.
    You don”t even have a shame to publicly declare that you are a willing slave of the grandson of Bashai Lema.
    In Canada the 2% slavery tax is nil banned and punishable by law.
    The few people who are forced to pay the illegal tax out necessity of inheritance are forced to pay it when they visit Eritrea..
    In Canada the 2% is called extortion cash or money exactly that is mooney paid to criminal gangs after kidnapping and hostage takings..
    Hibay Mai Dima wake up and smell the coffee.

  • Meretse December 22, 2017

    Hi,
    My advice to u Tesfamicael- please continue whatever u doing. If you want to be more generous pay more.
    However, if u are really, really serious looking for ….
    (assena’s advice)- touch your head twice and make sure it is there.

  • Tesfamicael Yohannes December 22, 2017

    Well, I am paying the 2%. I did it from start up to now. I am going to continue to pay. I am asking; do I have the right to pay or are you denying me my right. You are supposed advocating for an individual right. How is it possible to be an advocate of human rights while denying some body to exercise his right. let us do the home work how to advocate for human right. I am going to continue the discussion, hoping that I get matured opinions.

    • Simon G December 22, 2017

      Tesfit nebsi,
      To answer you question; yes, you have the right to do so. You also these rights btw:
      1. To pay more
      2. To send more money to the generals directly
      3. To go back home and serve (just make sure to know the meaning of to serve in Eritrea is not the same as to serve in Norway)
      4. To stay in Eritrea permanently
      5. It is extreme but to even kill yourself

      Why do you need Assenna’s forum to validate what you are willingly paying the mafia regime. You do know though your money is not helping the country? On the contrary, you are contributing to extend the misery time for your own people.

      • Tesfamicael December 22, 2017

        And you call this human right.

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