[AI] Asmarino Independent

Eritrean Youth Call for Friday Protests Inside the Country

January 31, 2012 - Eritrean youth across the globe are calling their counterparts inside the country to demonstrate their outrage at the human and democratic rights abuses by emptying the streets in towns and cities throughout the country every Friday evening starting Friday 3rd of February. The call that has been transmitted through electronic communication and social media has so far been received positively by Eritreans inside the country.

Eritrean-Ethiopian Frienship Forum

Ethiopian & Eritrean Friendship Forum (EEFF) is holding its fourth annual conference on March 24th, 2012. Building on last year’s success, this year’s theme is "Healing Past Wounds -- Building Our Future Together", a critical idea to focus on in this increasingly competitive global economy.

We are sending this announcement to the wider Ethiopian and Eritrean community for two reasons:
- to invite as many people as possible to attend the conference. Be part of the solution!
- to invite thought leaders to share their views as panelists.

The son of a Priest thinks that God is his Uncle.

The demonstration called by Mr.  Kyriakakos et.al is not an isolated incident.  Even though on the surface it appears that it was in reaction to the WFP articles, but none the less it is not.  It was part and parcel of the series of demonstrations and seminars that suddenly erupted in the month of December 2011 called “Hizbawi Mekete” (National Rebuff) to object the sanctions on Eritrea that was being debated at the UNSC and show to the international community that the Eritrean government enjoys the full support of its people.  The instruction to demonstrate and hold public meetings and seminars was issued by the office of Mr. Yemane Gebreab, political advisor to the President of Eritrea and in charge of the “Hizbawi Mekete”.

Melbourne Rally 2012: For How Long Can You Remain Silent in the Face of Oppression?

As in previous years, we call on the Diaspora communities living in the free world that have chosen to be silent in the face of oppression and the ever growing injustice committed against the Eritrean people to fight for the people's rights. We remind you that you are morally obliged and duty bound to speak for the Eritrean people and to stand-up against injustice. We remind you the freedom that you enjoy are the outcomes of sacrifices paid by people who believed in liberty, freedom, justice and democracy. So, why don’t you demand for the Eritrean people the same civil rights that you are relishing? We encourage you to be part of the struggle for democratic change?

The Legal Struggle against PFDJ - Part 3

We are dealing with a government that is deliberately supporting terrorism in the Horn of Africa. Moving forward we have to assume that American policy vis-à-vis the regime in Asmara has to be anchored on demanding the government of Eritrea “...must cease all violations of prior UN Security Council resolutions”. What can we infer from this precise documentation by the US Embassy (extension of the State Department) in Asmara? One thing is sure: it is not a perfunctory PR posting.  The statement has substance and backbone. We can be cautiously optimistic in moving forward to access various US government departments, which share the responsibility of implementing (domesticating) this prolific summation into actual concrete policy based on the tone and seriousness of the statement.

The Legal Struggle against PFDJ – Part-two

It is their Actions (from the perspective of extended observation) in violation of the law of the land and the international law that has to be the basis of identifying the possible agents of the regime.  We cannot do this with personal or political vendetta in mind. ...

Without information we cannot be engaged in a nuanced legal struggle against a mafia regime. Up to now they had the luxury of intimidating our community at large and imposing the political will of the brutal regime on our communities directly and indirectly while they have taken citizenship in the countries of their residence and sworn to uphold the law. This game has to come to an end. They had a free ride up to now because we were partially timid or were contained by cultural modalities and restraints. We must get to know the law as well as they must get to know the law.

Sanction Watch: Not a Penny for PFDJ

Our struggle in the Diaspora now has reached a different phase: the legal phase. We have to deploy all legal instruments to destroy, expose, checkmate and minimize the widespread illegal activities of the regime and its surrogates in each country, states, and counties where we reside. We have to identify and understand the exact role of the specific institutions and departments that have been set up or are designated to implement all UNSC resolutions on a national level. This potent approach is at our disposal. Peaceful struggle includes this kind of proactive deployment of mind, intelligence and heart.

The Detained Patriarch, Persecuted Christians and a Dying Church

As the Patriarch of Eritrea, he was much concerned and resisted the growing interference of government in religious affairs. His strong resistance of to excommunicate three thousand members of the Medhane Alem, an Orthodox Sunday School movement as well as his demands that the government should release imprisoned Christians accused of treason are considered to be some reason for his rivalry with the Eritrean government. The Holy Synod sided with the government and during January 2005 a secret session was met and they removed all executive authority of the patriarch who was limited to just officiating church services. The Holy Synod sought the support of Pope Shenouda to excommunicate Abune Antonios, but the Pope refrained from such an act.

In the battle to empower people – Kassahun Chekole is simply an inspiration

It is within the context of the Eritrean reality of today where freedom of expression is banned that Kassahun’s work in spreading knowledge and information becomes inspirational.

The ban not only denied the population to tap the wealth of knowledge essential to their social, political and economic advancement but also eroded the self-esteem the Eritrean people had and the good values they cherished in the past.  It is a blow to the historical depth of the people of Eritrea in politics and the armed struggle and the richness of their culture.