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On International Migrants Day, 18 December 2015

GMT 17:53 Thursday ,17 December 2015 Petros Tesfagherghis I am a British citizen of Eritrean origin, the country that is the largest producer of refugees in Africa. Widespread public support for the “Welcome Refugees” campaign has given

GMT 17:53 Thursday ,17 December 2015

 Migrant Voice - On International Migrants Day, 18 December 2015

Petros Tesfagherghis

I am a British citizen of Eritrean origin, the country that is the largest producer of refugees in Africa. Widespread public support for the “Welcome Refugees” campaign has given me hope that people care and are willing to give protection to those in need of it. The campaign has focused first and foremost on Syria, because of the utter destructiveness of its internationalised civil war, but campaigners have also expressed their welcome to Eritreans and other Africans.

Because there is no war in Eritrea people are confused as to why Eritrea is the largest producer of refugees in Africa.  According to the UN refugee agency, 5,000 mostly young people leave the country every month. There are more than 100,000 languishing in refugees camps in Ethiopia of whom more than 2000 are unaccompanied children, and more than 150,000 are in camps in the Sudan. Most of the African refugees are in Africa and not in ‘fortress Europe.’

In Eritrea all the editors of private newspapers were put in prison in 2001 which brought to an end freedom of expression and association; political parties are not allowed. There is no rule of law as people are arrested and never brought to court, they are simply banished and no relative or friends could visit them. These are among the things that have branded Eritrea as Africa’s North Korea.

The report of the ‘United Nations inquiry commission on Eritrea’ confirmed what Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have been saying already in exposing the gross abuse of human rights in Eritrea and blamed the Eritrean government for systematic, widespread and gross human rights violations. The indefinite national service known as slave labour is the worst. The Eritrean youth are emerging into adulthood riding the wave of despair.  Every circumstance conspires to make them lose their hold. As youths all the familiar goals in life are snatched away from them.  In the streets they have to have pass papers. They could be stopped or rounded up by the security forces at any time and if they fail to produce the paper or they forget them at home they are arrested, beaten and imprisoned.

On the other hand the response of the “Refugees Welcome” movements in the UK – which includes individuals supplying refugees in Calais with warm clothes and other basic necessities – is heartening because supporters are not  motivated simply by charity but are calling for fraternity, harmony and brotherhood under the slogan “People to People Solidarity.”  They are deeply concerned about humanity.

The British people have proved once more their tradition of offering protection to those fleeing persecution and for fairness and justice. For their part, the refugees and immigrants have not let the British down. They play a positive role in boosting the economy of Britain.

On International Migrants Day we want to say thank you to the British people and all those who supported us.

By Petros Tesfagherghis

Eritrean Refugee Support Association in UK (ERSA-UK)

Source: Migrant Voice (UK)

 

aseye.asena@gmail.com

Review overview
11 COMMENTS
  • keshi mars December 18, 2015

    Thanks brother Petros, I appreciate your work and you are not only a great Eritrean but also a great human being. Thanks again and please pass my thanks to the people who labour along with you in your organisation. If you don’t mind, may I ask for your organisation to organise a demonstration against the EU’s development aid given to Eritrea recently. Thank you.

    • petros tesfagherghis December 19, 2015

      Dear Keshi mars: Thank you for your kind and encouraging words. Here in the United Kingdom we have a committee in charge of demonstrations and social events whose chairman is Asefaw Gebredkidan . I will pass your message over to him.

  • A H December 18, 2015

    Wedi Batay
    I always applaude you as you are very committed to your people cause, Petros, keep it up and I am sure you will hail victory at last as Medrkh always teach us in our struggle that any one who fight the tyreney shall become victorious at the end of the tunnel.
    Abraham

  • Afom December 18, 2015

    Thank you Brother Petros. I want to ask to every Eritrean. Do we accept this inhumane treatment of our people as their destiny? When are we going to wake up? It is shame on all of us. Please let us unite and marsh together for change. Enough is enough.
    Afom

  • Wedi Zere December 18, 2015

    It just puzzles me if advocating for refugees to be welcome is an answer to the root cause that caused the apoloyptic proportion of Eritrean exodus that has never been seen in its history in the first place. The shifta regime at the place we call home committing all kinds of atrocities is the primary culprit of the root cause for the NEVER ENDING exodus. Unless work so hard for the people in general but the youth in particular that is mainly caught in the storm of exodus rise up to solve the puzzle and bring peace to the nation, the exodus will continue for generations to come until the poor nation is completely vacant. When that sad phenominon happens, we WILL ONLY AWE IT TO OURSELVES.

    • petros tesfagherghis December 19, 2015

      Dear Wedi Zere: You are absolutely right the root cause is the repression in Eritrea and that has to be tackled to end the exodus.But this has to be lead by underground groups inside Eritrea with the help of open political parties in Diaspora. Sadly in Diaspora, where there is freedom of forming civil and political organisations, we still do not have united political parties capable of acting in a CENTRALIZED MANNER WITH SPEED AND EFFECTIVENESS. The refugees are the victims and they have to get protection and we have to help them to get protection and pursue their broken life in peace. Frankly speaking the Eritrea Civil societies are not organised enough to render meaningful help to our brothers and sisters refugees. But it is encouraging to see foreigners ready to share their pains and sufferings and stand up to help them. They do it from moral high ground. The refugees question is a question of humanity and the international community must be aware of it and give help.

  • Wedi Zere December 18, 2015

    Dear Amanuel,
    I hope you are going to post my comment this time. I don’t know quite frankly what kind of comments should pass your moderation.In other words, tell us what kind of opinion we should hold in order to qualify to your comment page. Really,is this what you are fighting for?

    Merry X Mas and Happy New Year to all,

    • Selam December 19, 2015

      Only if you support him

  • wedi like December 19, 2015

    You are smart like yourfather. Keep it up.

  • Samson hagos December 20, 2015

    May God give long life to you and to all who are relentlessly working to common good.
    Merry Christmas and happy new year.

    Sam

  • Neg Abraha December 21, 2015

    Dear Petros Selam!! It is not only in the present time, but your contributions during the National Liberation Era is unforgettable. Thank you and May God Bless you for being the true voice of the unfortunate people of Eritrea.
    Regarding your answer to Wedi Zere you are absolutely right. Our problem to solve the root cause of our pain and agony is fail of having “Centralized manner with speed and effectiveness”
    Brother well said to the point.
    Keep it up and God Bless you!!!!

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