Visit the new AsenaTv Website

https://asenatv.com

Eritrean Campaign Successfully Highlighted the Concern over the Indefinit National service in Eritrea at the UN Human Rights Council’s 26th Session.

Eritrean Campaign Successfully Highlighted the Concern over the Indefinit National service in Eritrea at the UN Human Rights Council’s 26th Session. (Geneva 20-06-2014) Campaigners from across Europe held a protest vigil outside the UN’s Geneva headquarters

Eritrean Campaign Successfully Highlighted the Concern over the Indefinit National service in Eritrea at the UN Human Rights Council’s 26th Session.

(Geneva 20-06-2014) Campaigners from across Europe held a protest vigil outside the UN’s Geneva headquarters as the report on Eritrea’s Universal Periodic Review into human rights was being considered. Echoing the calls that were being made inside the meeting by their colleagues from the different human rights organisations the protestors called for a UN Commission enquiry into the devastating human rights violations that continue to be perpetrated by the regime in Eritrea.

The protest was organised by the Stop National Service Slavery Campaign, as a culmination of their six months campaign to highlight the barbaric nature of Eritrea’s national service. The campaign’s main objective was ensuring that the Global Body considers, the indefinite national service in all its discussions into human rights in Eritrea. To this end the Group successfully, lobbied both the special rapporteur into human rights in Eritrea and the various permanent missions in Geneva for six months. In the week leading upto the protest vigil the Campaign held a side event where, four young activists and former recruits as well as academics and professionals with vast knowledge made their case before a packed audience at the palais de nations.

Representatives of many countries outlined their concerns over the indefinite national service, the recruitment of children as well as the use of forced labour, these were all issues highlighted by the campaign. Many major NGOs such as Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Human rights defenders and UN Watch highlighted the abusive nature of the Indefinite national service as being a major driver fuelling Eritrea’s refugee crisis. Speaking about the success of the campaign organaisers said, ‘ we are satisfied both with the outcome of the campaign and the reception that we had from our own people; the vigil attracted a wide cross sector of our community coming from many parts of Switzerland as well the rest of Europe ‘.

Campaigners made positive impression both with diplomats and members of the UN commission and NGO’s, who appreciated their presence as well as the efficiency of their campaign. Ms sheila B Keetharuth the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Eritrea, commended the work of the campaign and the contribution made by former recruits in providing evidence of the plight faced by many. For their parts campaigners stated that they will continue to work relentlessly until they see an end to the slavery guised as national service in Eritrea and identified supporting the establishment of an Inquiry commission under proposal as their immediate priority .

—end—

aseye.asena@gmail.com

Review overview
8 COMMENTS
  • Kombishtato June 24, 2014

    Police: Eritrean Driver runs red light, kills 4 in crash

    Author: Matt Aufdenspring, Web Managing Editor, Click2Houston.com
    Marisa Breese, News Associate Producer
    Phil Archer, Reporter
    Published On: Jun 23 2014 06:32:00 AM CDT

    Suspected drunk driver in fatal wreck appears in court

    HOUSTON –

    Prosecutors say 31-year-old Million Zeghergis was legally intoxicated when he ran a red light and struck a car carrying elderly people on their way home from religious services.

    Four were pronounced dead at the scene of the accident. The lone survivor, Shanumati Bhatt, is in stable condition at Memorial Hermann Hospital. Her husband was one of those killed.

    Bhatt’s granddaughter said the couple and three friends were on their way home from a Hindu temple at around 10 p.m. Sunday night when the Honda Civic they were riding in was struck by Zeghergis’ van in the intersection of Beechnut Street, and Synott Road.

    At a magistrate’s hearing this afternoon, prosecutors said Zerhergis’ blood alcohol level was measured at .107. The legal limit is .08. He is charged with four counts of intoxication manslaughter.

    Zerghergis is an Eritrean immigrant who was issued a Houston Cab Driver’s license last May. He was behind the wheel of a 2009 Dodge van bearing the phone number and logo of the Champion Town Car company. A man who answered the phone there Monday said the company was not aware of the crash or that a company vehicle was involved.

    Deputies identified the driver of the Honda as Devendraprasad Patel. He was killed along with three backseat passengers, Kokila Patel, Ansuyaben Patel and Jayanthilal Bhatt.

    All of the victims in the crash were between 60 and 80 years old.

    Zeghergis wasn’t injured. He failed a field sobriety test at the scene according to accident investigators. Results of a blood test are pending.

    http://www.click2houston.com/news/police-driver-runs-red-light-kills-4-in-crash/26615466#.U6lzMFa6w2g.facebook

    —-

  • rezen June 24, 2014

    I think the “Stop National Service Slavery Campaign” should be commended for bringing the plight of Eritrea to the International Forum. I want to take this opportunity to re-post what I wrote on the overall subject — which has direct relevance to the above article. Here it is:

    “Subject:UN Human Rights Council: Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on Eritrea 19 June 2014

    Commentary: 21 June 2014

    Needless to say the deliberation of the Human Rights Council on the report by the diligent Special Rapporteur on Eritrea is commendable. The Council is doing its part. What is glaringly lacking, as pointed out by many commentators, is Eritreans’ part on their affairs. There are baffling questions:
    1. What are Eritreans themselves doing — especially those thousands and thousands of Diaspora [1] who are living in safe, secure, comfortable and democratic countries — to help their people who are suffering under inhuman conditions?
    2. In particular, what are the highly educated Eritrean scholars doing — scattered, around the globe and living comfortably — to help and guide their unfortunate people?
    3. What have they achieved, if any, since the dictatorial nature of the Eritrean Government came to the surface, at last, beyond the shadow of a doubt – for all the world to see? Here is what a renowned scholar wrote, scolding his brethren scholars for their deliberate silence. This is my fifth time to quote him!

    “I believe the Eritrean people expect Eritrean scholars to objectively and critically assess the ills of the nation and offer bold and constructive suggestions for the good of their country and the Eritrean people. Eritrean scholars should assume this responsibility as their national duty and indeed as their obligation. I also believe Eritrean scholars should not give a deaf ear and a blind eye to the suffering of their people. They should have the moral courage and intellectual integrity to speak on behalf of the voiceless and the oppressed.”

    It is worth repeating it hundred times. What else can one add more than the above wise criticism upon educated compatriots?

    Based on wild guess, there are about three-hundred PhD carriers, engaged mostly in educational institution as teachers in foreign countries including (mostly, one assumes) the United States of America. How high can one get than that!!! And yet the saddest part of it all is that these Eritreans who have the ultimate knowledge, and who profess to love their country of origin, have done absolutely nothing — and there is no hint of doing something for the future — to rescue Eritrea from cruel indigenous government. With this background, one cannot help but ask further why they find it important to have several civic groups (with high fluting names) if they are not willing or capable of doing anything constructive to save their old country from misery. It is all a charade.

    In 1991, prominent intellectuals on various fields of endeavour flocked to the so-called “independent” Eritrea, presumably to “help”. But what help? Was it for them or for the country? On his part, Mr. Issayas Afewerki Abraham; a first-year college dropout; the founder of a “liberation” front in his own image; the self-elected President of Eritrea, who abhor intellectuals, had a clear idea for them i.e. he used them to the lilt to his heart’s content and dropped them like a snot. They deserve it, by many accounts. And so, why did the intellectual elites flock to Eritrea? It has to be for their own self-interest just as much as Issayas used Eritrea for his own ego and hatred toward Eritreans. He succeeded in his own mission [2]. In both cases, the Eritrean people are the LOSERS. And we did not even address the other treacherous deception made in 1961 based on one of the cancerous diseases of Eritrea: RELIGION and its consequential dream for new IDENTITY – hence the disintegration of that forged land and baptized as “Eritrea”. Religion – blind spiritual faith – can be a curse to humanity. Just watch the world news on your TV in the comfort of your homes. But I am digressing.

    Eritreans are prone to glorify their “Eritrea” beyond boundary. They propagate false or exaggerated propaganda of: a) blessed country; b) hard working united people; c) kindest people known for their hospitality; d) gallant people with guts, glory, heroic, and determination who can repel any force; d) superior people in Africa etc ad nausea. It is a glaring manifestation of inferiority complex but camouflaged by artificial superiority complex – or, to put to put it differently, deeply hungry for recognition that was denied to them by string of colonial forces.

    “Eritreans” never had a chance to know themselves and build something worthy by themselves, for themselves. “Eritreans” seem to be comfortable and do admirably much better scattered (or being nomads – if you prefer!) around the world – but always dreaming of ‘home’ that never became a reality. In1991, after horrendous sacrifice in the order of three-hundred-thousand loss of life and a complete destruction of a country, that ‘dream’ became a reality but alas the custodians became completely at a loss as to what to do with this thing called “Eritrea”.

    In 1998 Eritrean intellectual elites started a quiet exodus back to their own safe holes abroad – waiting for the demise of the government by the army, or individual lowly heroes willing to sacrifice their lives. Intellectuals –especially in the Continent of Africa – are known for their shameless endeavour only for their own self interest, satisfaction and benefit.
    If there is disgust for the above opinion, prove it to the readers at large that there was a tangible course of action taken by intellectual civic groups to:
    a) develop meaningful plan (formal documentation) for the salvation of Eritrea;
    b) appeal to their adopted countries for cooperative assistance to extricate their people from cruel indigenous government;
    c) establish open communication with the International Community i.e. UN and others;
    d) foster close relationship with African Diplomatic Missions; and
    e) foster good relationship with other appropriate Diplomatic Missions around the Globe.

    In short, what single action did the Eritrean Intellectuals take to save their country? Do they even have “respectable office (organization)” from which to establish international relationship? How do they even contemplate of getting any favourable inclination from the international community without any visible and respectable mission by the Eritreans themselves? Eritrean Intellectuals would have been the first to recognize the importance of good international relationship. But alas they seem to have no clue at all – blinded by individual self interest.

    The future generation of Eritrea, wherever they may be, will remember them and document history for all to read.

    Footnotes
    [1} The latest UN estimate is “4000 Eritrean exodus per month”!
    [2] By the way, it is not a secrete that there are many Eritrean intellectuals who believe in Issayas Afewerki — of course, for their own interest >>> and, of course, Issayas knows it!!! It must also be added that there is a formidable organization, well funded, with deep knowledge of Eritrea who are cautious of entanglement with international organizations, because they believe that their age-old fundamental dream would be jeopardized. Hence, with this consideration in mind, they have cautious approach to the demise of Issayas Afewerki!!! This time around, they are determined to have their way with Eritrea, AT ANY COST.
    THE END”

  • Dani June 24, 2014

    Hassusat Halewlew viiva pia long live the king

    • Petros June 24, 2014

      Dani,
      You must be Monkey’s brother!

  • Berhe Tensea June 29, 2014

    Whether you like it or not the Tembein regime will enslave you for as long as he lives. The Eritrean people especially in the diaspora will will definetely enjoys being slave.
    The innocent Eritrean youth that is paralyzed beyond repair will be a laughing stock of traffickers and other criminals that include mafia generals.
    As long as people tolerate the Tembein masters the agony will continue so be it, till people wake up.

    People get what they deserve ……………..

  • rezen June 29, 2014

    “People get what they deserve”

    Mr.Berhe Tensea,
    The above quotation is yours. It is the most poignant TRUTH — though it hurts deeply.
    “Eritrea” cannot blame anyone but ITSELF for its own destructive sociological problems i.e the debilitating cancerous diseases of RELIGION, PROVINCIALISM and RACISM. Out of the three, RELIGION takes the first place for destruction; and Eritrea of the 21st Century is accelerating its own demise than any WAR. Hence the obvious conclusion>>> “Eritrea” gets what it deserves.
    THE END

    • Berhe Tensea July 7, 2014

      I agree with you

  • Berhe Tensea July 7, 2014

    The national slavery service must continue otherwise the zombies will have nothing to live for in this world. If the zombies flee the Lion of Nkfa , a worst kind of slavery and abuse is confronting them in Sinai and Sudan.
    Long live Wube’s grandson, the proud owner of the real state called Eritrea that has become land of the cowards and herd of one man.

POST A COMMENT