This is a direct translation of the explanation given by the Norwegian EU-Program ‘Youth in Action’ that funded the last YPDJ conference in Oslo on how the YPFDJ cheated them to get funding
The programme granted by 1 June funding deadline for 2010 for the organization, YPFDJ, Oslo, under the type of project for youth political meetings. It appears that the organization supports a policy that does not comply with the Programme’s purposes and values. We are therefore starting to look at opportunities to withdraw project funding. . The maximum grant amount for the project was 354 373 Norwegian crowns.
The project that received support was an international conference of Eritrean youth from the Scandinavian countries, Germany, Britain, Italy, Switzerland and the Netherlands. The aim of the conference was, according to the project proposal to raise awareness among minority youth on global challenges, to discuss European aid to Africa, and to create a platform for sharing ideas and experiences. Sustainable development, food security and the UN Millinium Development Goals were mentioned as the theme for group and panel debates, and it should produce a document with various proposals to be submitted to European regulators in the development field.
In retrospect, the Programme has been informed that the organization, YPFDJ which most likely is related to the PFDJ, the only legal party in Eritrea. The regime in Eritrea is among the most authoritarian and repressive in the world, without democratic institutions. There may be reason to believe that regimein Eritrea has great influence on the youth organization, and sources say that the regime was represented at the highest levels during the conference. The sources also said that the organization may conduct surveys of Eritreans in Norway who are in opposition to the regime in Eritrea.
Had the information about YPFDJ’s direct connection to the regime have been known to us when the application was processed, it would not have been granted, because their values are grossly contrary to the values the Youth program to promote. The programme is about to explore the possibilities to cancel the contract with YPFDJ and to require the support amount to be repaid.