Eritrea escapes U.N. Security Council referral over human rights
By Tom Miles GENEVA (Reuters) - Eritrea may escape censure by the U.N. Security Council over its human rights record after the U.N. Human Rights Council passed a watered-down resolution against the African state on Friday. A
By Tom Miles
GENEVA (Reuters) – Eritrea may escape censure by the U.N. Security Council over its human rights record after the U.N. Human Rights Council passed a watered-down resolution against the African state on Friday.
A U.N. investigation set up by the Human Rights Council said last month that Eritrea’s leaders should be tried for crimes against humanity, including torture, rape, murder and enslaving hundreds of thousands of people.
The investigators, who published a 484-page report a year ago detailing the crimes and the country’s use of a “vast security network”, recommended that the situation in the country to be referred to the International Criminal Court.
But the resolution on Eritrea passed by the Human Rights Council on Friday merely requested that the U.N. General Assembly in New York submit the investigators’ work to “relevant organs of the UN for consideration and urgent action”.
An earlier draft had said the General Assembly should involve the Security Council to hold wrong-doers accountable via the “appropriate international and/or regional criminal justice mechanism”.
The council did “strongly encourage” the African Union to mount an investigation and bring suspects to justice, but its treatment of Eritrea is more conciliatory than its actions against North Korea, subject of an earlier U.N. investigation.
The text of the Eritrea resolution, which was initiated by Somalia and Djibouti, was watered down after several countries – among them the United States and China – objected to the tough language.
At a drafting meeting earlier in the week, U.S. diplomat Eric Richardson said the Eritrea report did not have “the same level of sophistication and precision” as the report on North Korea and the United States could not support the language of the text without revisions.
Eritrea has rejected all the allegations in the U.N. investigators’ report. Ghebreab Yemane, an adviser to President Isaias Afwerki, told the council the resolution was unfair, unjust and a deliberate U.S. and European attempt to “ratchet up harassment of Eritrea.”
“Its grave consequences will not be limited to Eritrea but will engulf the entire region,” he said. “This resolution will be used and abused to fan the flames of war.”
Eritrea and its neighbour Ethiopia have both accused the other of sparking a border clash on June 12.
Yemane blamed Ethiopia for “some of the worst human rights abuses and massacres of its people”, saying it was ironic that Ethiopia could use the council to lobby for the adoption of the resolution against Eritrea.
(Reporting by Tom Miles, editing by Larry King)
dawit Canada July 1, 2016
Once again the mafia HEGDEF regime with its mafia connections at the UN is a winner while the people of Eritrea are the losers. If this is truly the final decision and outcome then why they wasted their useless times in the first place and where is the justice of this world? And does this also mean they are giving the monster Isaias and his gangs the green lights to continue with their crimes against humanity? This is really a kangaroo and Sahel court of monkeys.
Khaled July 1, 2016
It’s very difficult to bring the dictator and his crime syndicate (Higdef) to ICC because some of those who could pass a resolution in Security Council to that end, prioritize their interests first, in particular the Russians and the Chinese. They don’t want anger African dictators with whom they have business links.
Eritreans should do their homework and avoid depending on others to free themselves from a fascist junta that has turned the whole country into the biggest prison on planet.
Wedi selam July 1, 2016
With no doubt it will pass to the ICC, we have seen allready Russian, China and other countries who have human rights problem has abstained themselves. THY DIDN’T support or oppose to it. His is better than opposing. The EU as collectively supported it allready, the US will support it dut to its policy towards the dictator. When the human rights issue rose, china, Russia and other countries who are walking on similar route with the dictators, always opposing stand against the human rights advocate, but this time thy don’t want to be part of the design makers. This is much better than before. We have to undetstand that the only thing thy don’t want support it is ovoiuse, because thy are always against the west, apart from that thy know very well as I daylight that the dictator is ruthless and thy see further for their interest to get it from two eritrean people not from thy diehard short live dictator
SAVING YOUNG ERITREANS July 2, 2016
Wedi Selam,
USA does business with Saudi Arabia that beheads more people than ISIS and ALQUAEDA combined .Americans gave safe haven to Comrade mengistu Haile Mariam because he listned to their proposition ,in the final analysis Isaias will abide by what the US says ,he is not a fool.
Even EU who gave him 200.000 euro recently are acting like they want Higdef to be reffered to ICC ,But China USA and others watered it down..why would Americans do that. We should not be naive when we flood is taking us ,just to be hopeful ,It is better we smell the coffe ,even if it is Ethiopia’s coffee.
Kaleab Kifle July 1, 2016
Even now, the solution to our problem is US. The COIE report should be for us Eritreans a tool or a point of reference the administer justice on those criminals.
Justice Will Prevail for our People.
Kaleab.
Ghe July 1, 2016
What is this mean they not going to take them to ICC ?
Okbai July 1, 2016
Hezbe eretra eko natenetu kab un ayterekeban hege ka netom amethete balu nab hege kekrebom eu geze terahe
Wedi Ere July 2, 2016
I think it is time to think that the report from the COI was false and exaggerated. The perpose was to hurt the nation aver all, to repeat the history in the 40’s. If this accusation was about human right, why not our neighbors like Ethiopia are not going to ICC? The Woyanes are killing Oromos, Amhara, Gambela, Afars, and Somalies. Who is owning the business in every rigion of Ethiopia, how much many is going out of Ethiopia? There are so many human right abuse in Ethiopia. This got nothing to do with human rights.
Every Eritrean should ask why is the Woyanes sponsoring this matter? Is it b/c they care about our nation? If they care about our nation, how come they still occupy our territory? They evicted our people? And so on.
Every Eritrean can love the country and hate the government. We should know the consiquences to what you were dreaming for.
Some people did undermined to the sucrifices which was paid by our brothers and sisters.
It is time to realise the truth, many things had been done in our country, there are also things hasn’t been done.
It is time to open our eyes.
kidane July 2, 2016
This is a victor for the peace loving people of eritrea. The most important thing is the Council has adapted that a crime against humanity is committed in eritrea by its leaders. The rest of the job belongs to eritreans and we should not demand and expect the international community to deal with his departure. A trial for justice should be held in eritrea and no where else. Isayas and his running dogs must end behind bars in the country where the have committed the crimes.
WoBawzan July 2, 2016
I agree with Wodi Selam completely,here is why:
1. Listen to Hidef from the human Hebey ( because I respect animals- Monkey followed by the empty head Wodi gerahtu admitting for the first time of some trends of human right abuse and approoitate action taken
2. US sent low level delegate to Asmara days before resolution is presented
3. Low level guys are sent to put the stick and carrot in Asmara,
4. The Hidef Mafia Boss must have relented some ( ate some carrot)
5. Phone call to authors of the resolution (Somalia , Djibouti etc) – “water it down , let us detour to diplomacy ” Asmara Boss is showing signs of opening up!!”
6. U.S. Wins through engagement and jockeying the UN, global organization – political organs.
Whatwe should learn & do?
1. Diplomacy is not zero sum game
2. Even in crisis there is protocol. Remember Gadafi opened up after he saw Sadam vanish….the rest is a process.
3. Alittle opening will spark uproar inside the hoodwinked brethren and leftish koboro beating & dancing Sistern . E.g. Visit to a prison and media splash,
4. Imagine if Security council passed him to Icc , and he becomes another Bashir of Sudan. Pointless.
5. We need to focus & sustain the passion, energy and commitment
6. Amplify our heroic media like Assenna and integrate a harmonized messaging with speed
7. MeDrek and so called political parties – time to engage , Beijing, Moscow with your head held high like you pr peoples’ message as if we are standing on the Red Sea – strategic of the future game.
8. We need quickly a global delays I fit hi cultural , political – Festival for Justice
Venue: Ethiopia, Kenya, North America & Europe
9. Never despair ! It is already proven ” the arc of truth is not straight, but it always bends towards truth””
Viva Genova
WoBawzan July 2, 2016
Few additional notes
1. U.S. Negotiates with China, Russia and reach win win
2. higdef runs for China & Russia cover
3. Ethiopia, Somalia, Djibouti lobby with China, Russia etc
3. China , Russia negotiate with Higdef if they are to cover he has to chew the minimum . To make Ethiopia, Somalia, Djibouti, ( guess who’s us integrating this one. God bless it USA! They have to soften Russia & Chiba
4. There will be a time as they did during the sanction both China & Russia sustaining not vetoing for some return of bilateral issues from USA
KemziIlna ye miknyana ,
God bless our lovely Eritrea – yours and mine