TD Bank urged to exit Eritrea collection scheme
Bank says it's complying with all applicable laws and is investigating claims CBC News Last Updated: May 27, 2013A United Nations report last year indicated that state threats and intimidation were commonly used against families in Eritrea
Last Updated: May 27, 2013A United Nations report last year indicated that state threats and intimidation were commonly used against families in Eritrea to get their relatives living in Canada and other countries to pay up. A United Nations report last year indicated that state threats and intimidation were commonly used against families in Eritrea to get their relatives living in Canada and other countries to pay up. (CBC)A Canadian chartered bank being used in Eritrea’s controversial tax collection scheme is being urged to get out of it, CBC world affairs correspondent Rick MacInnes-Rae reports today from Winnipeg.
The UN says Eritrea relies on threats and coercion to extract two per cent of the income from Eritrean citizens in Canada. In Winnipeg, the money is then funnelled to the East-African dictatorship via Toronto-Dominion Bank, documents obtained by CBC News show.
Hear Rick MacInnes-Rae’s report
They show two branches of TD Bank are favoured by the man Eritrea designates to deal with the diaspora.
TD Bank is his vehicle for wiring money to the DZ Bank in Frankfurt, Germany, which routs it to a bank owned by the ruling party in Eritrea, a country under UN sanction for supporting armed insurgents in east Africa, MacInnes-Rae reports.
Ghazae Hagos, of the Eritrean-Canadian Human Rights Group of Manitoba, says Eritrea is moving the money through banks instead of its Toronto Consulate to sidestep Canada’s recent ban on moving it through the consulate in Toronto.
Contacted by CBC News, the banks were terse.
TD issued a brief email saying it’s complying with all applicable laws and is “investigating the claims addressed by the CBC.”
The bank said it has “rigorous controls to ensure we comply with Canadian economic sanctions regulations.”
That theme was echoed by the DZ Bank, the bigger link in the chain since it deals directly with Eritrea, even though the German government frowns on the tax collections, MacInnes-Rae reports.
“All the transactions we carried out” DZ says, “were in compliance with the provisions of the European Union and the embargo regulations.”
Neither bank responded to requests for interviews.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2013/05/27/audio-eritrea-tdbank.html?cmp=rss
kazen May 28, 2013
To Dear respective Eritrean reader
Please we have to write and took what is truth, just the fact inorder to reconsicle with your mind. Do you believe that any single Eritrean indicates any satisfies under the of new leadership Eritrean governance. Just you could imagine starting from the day one of independence 1991 in Asmara.No more any knowledge how to handle any human being they just make revenge the fighters against the city dwellers.
This is mainly due to lack of capacity of leadership-they were not ready and provide training to all fighters how could to administer the public. they had some experience with the opportunities of managerial problem of Dergue to made only on war. Public administration and war have different approaches. and some time the fighters were not trained with urban management and public at large. In order to administer people we need to know the history of our self and others history in detail. We are also expected to respect the rule of law specially human right. No one know basic pillar of governance. That is way most Eritrean was confused on the meaning of independence in comparison with the previous governance under Ethiopia. In all dimensions life of Eritrean under the administration of Ethiopia was best. More ever, If you make comparison with the previous colonies life is worst under the fake independence PFGHD days more than any one else whether Turkish, Britain and Italy. The worst life is on the colony with our indigenous people PFDJ. So please we have to speak,write and read the truth. Are we getting such rabish life during the former Ethiopian life. we were respected and engaged on the standard offices, sensitive and profitable business in the whole towns of Ethiopia . At that time no one Ethiopian were rich than Eritrean. The People and the governor of Ethiopia were giving high respection to Eritrean.We know all of this and it was the recent phenomena. How can we forget this life in every office of Bank, tel ,electricity, airlines, high level truck drivers and owners and managerial activities, hotel and services were all most all belongs to Eritrean those who was living in Ethiopia. So please donot make fake history for the sake of GOD if we are making laying the food what we had and transported to Eritrean could be disturb.
Campo Asmara, Campo dekmhare, piase, tekelhaymanot, etc all belongs to——-
God Bless Eritrea
Yours Kazen Zbeleza
Ahmed May 28, 2013
Man you have some jokes, you are very funny but its not going to work. We know how it was and we know what we want now so don’t waste your time. Please try different way
Genet May 28, 2013
Kazen
Are you alright? Are you aware of it that you are posting the same note, regardless of the topic? Didn’t you say you are Eritrean? If you are then how come you couldn’t find an issue on each topic? The topics are different. It calls for different comments. You can’t just right a comment assuming it will fits any topics. These topics adress serious concerns about our people and country. ONE SIZE FITS ALL COMMENT IS NOT GOING TO CUT IT.
Genet
gebremeskel June 1, 2013
you are just another asshole, from the chifra of the city , you are not going to convince anybody with you nonsense comment here, we all know that the city dwellers are the root problem of eritrea, i m from the capital born and breed and i know how our mentality is towards the rest of the citzens of eritrea ,we the city people have been influenced by different colonial powers and our mentality need to change and see the non city people are just human beings like the rest of US they are not less, may be they might not be as educated as the city but that can be solved through educational programs , so my friend i say to you down down with your dictator you going down to hell ,
Ahmed May 28, 2013
We like or don’t like the government it doesn’t matter. I pay my 2 percent no matter what because that’s not for the government to have fun with it but to my country and my people to at least do what they can, like build briges ,roads dam and so on. For those of you say we don’t know where the money goes, it’s not right because your money went to to build Gersen, schools roads and so on. So what I am saying is no government or human being can stop 2percent. They can only make it difficant to pay but still we can pay it by any means. They want to starve our people so bad but we will not let them. We are Eritreans we don’t knee down for nobody.
gidewon May 28, 2013
Ahmed “TiQimti” Elka web site kifet..
TwoWayStreet May 28, 2013
Ahmed,
If you want to pay the 2% willingly, it is your business, nobody should block you from doing so. But I would like to make the following points.
As a citizen I have duties and responsibilities, and rights. They all go hand in hand.
Some of the duties I have for my country are:
-Pay tax, participate and serve in the defense of my country from outside invasion, obey the rule of law,
Some of the rights I have as a citizen are:
-life, liberty, freedom of speech, freedom of religion, the right to be brought to justice and appoint an attorney in case of legal issues, the right to be treated as innocent until proven guilty, privacy, participate in a democratic political activities, vote…and so on.
So unlike you, I like to see a government that asks for my duties and responsibilities, and honors my rights, which is non existent. That is why I don’t want to pay the taxes levied by the government, but you go ahead, it is your choice.
And the reason why my people are starving is not because of sanctions, but because of wrong economic, political and diplomatic policies of the government.
Ahmed May 29, 2013
Twowaystreet
I understand what you mean and I guess you have a right not to pay 2 percent but if you think my 2 percent is not used for development in the country then where do they get the money from to build what they built so far.we know the country is the poorest in the world at this time. Anyway my believe is that the country is in a state of war with agame and this is not the right time to ask about my right but I don’t want you to think that I don’t whats good and what’s bad in the country but it will get better once the investment thing start going though.
Genet May 28, 2013
Dear Ahmed
I read your comment, I couldn’t help it but LOL,LOL…. You are genuinely serious that the 2% collected is going to the Eritrean people. Do you have any prove that there is some one who is accountable to the 2%? Ahmed, any bank in Eritrea owned by PFDJ doesn’t blong to the Eritrean people. Have you heard any finacial report from the PFDJ GOV explaining to the Eritrean people? There is no accuntablity.
GO HEAD AND PAY THE 2% ALL YOU WANT, BUT IT IS NOT GOING TO THE ERITREAN PEOPLE.
Genet
Ahmed May 29, 2013
Dear genet
I live in USA so I don’t know how they do their report ,I am not going to lie but who is PFDJ and who the eritrean people I don’t see any difference but do? How? What I know is EPLF became PFDJ so when change the name you different no that’s wrong sister. It’s ok if you don’t want to pay for whatever reason it is but not because its not going to the people of Eritrea .i go back home every 2 years and I think my 2 percent is working right but when was the last time you went back home? And what makes you the 2 percent is not going to the people
Genet May 30, 2013
Dear Ahmed
Please don’t incriminate yourself. By the way if EPLF is PFDJ, and the out come is the same, like what we are seeing, then the name is not important.
So, You go to Eritrea every two years. To do what? to inspect your investment? Why come back to the U.S.A the land of the free?
That is for you tell us, is the 2% going to the Eritrean people?
Genet
Daniel Joseph May 30, 2013
All I can say you are foolish
Genet May 30, 2013
Dear Ahmed
You said,
“I am not going to lie but who is PFDJ and who the Eritrean people I don’t see any difference..”
For Example, if in one family, the head of the family is abusing the family members, it is not ok to say,well they are all the same. They are one family. The point is, they can be from the same family and still cause harm and distraction; this can be due to lack of knowledge or on purpose.
REASONS NOT TO PAY THE 2% TO THE ERITREAN DICTATOR GOV.
1, THE 2% IS GOING TO PFDJ LEADERS’ POCKET
2, THERE IS NO RULE OF LAW IN ERITREA; THUS, THERE IS NO ACCOUNTABILITY.
3, WE NEED PROVE, HOW THE MONEY IS USED.
4, WHY DO WE NEED TOO MANY PRISON FACILETY?
5, STOP THE INDEFINITE NATIONAL SERVICE.
6, STOP THE PRACTICE OF FORCING OUR TEENAGE SISTERS TO LEAVE THEIR HOME BEFORE THEY COMPLETED HIGH SCHOOL.(BEFOR THE AGE OF 18 YO).
7. RE OPEN THE UNIVERSITY OF ASMARA IN ITS ACCREDEATED FULL CAPACITY.
8. STOP TELLING THE ERITREAN PEOPLE THAT COMMUNITY AND TECHNICAL COLLEGES ARE AS GOOD AS ACCREDEATED UNIVERSITY. BECAUSE IT IS NOT TRUE.
9. STOP DESTROYING THE ERITREAN NUCLEAR FAMILIES BY TAKING AWAY THEIR FATHERS(HEAD OF THE FAMILY).
10. RELEASE ALL POLITICAL PRISONERS
11. RELEASE ALL UNDOCUMENTED, ORDINARY ERITREAN WHO ARE CURRENTLY JAILED AND FORGOTTEN BY EOGMANIAC PFDJ’S OPERATIVES.
12. STOP INTERFERING IN ALL OF OUR RELIGIOUNS
13. STOP, STOP, MAKING THE ERITREAN ORTHODOX CHURCH PFDJ OPERATIVES’ PLAY GROUND.
14. STOP THE PFDJ FILThY HANDs OFF OF OUR GOOD ORHTODOX CHURCH’S BOOKS
15. STOP THE LUNTIC IDEA TO SEPARTE THE ERITREAN ORTHODOX CHURCH FROM ITS FOUNDING COPTIC CHURCH. IT WILL NEVER HAPPEN.
16. STOP CHARGING ERITREAN MOTHERS AND FATHERS 50,000 NAKFA BECAUSE THE PFDJ SYSTEM LOST THEIR CHILDREN.
17. IMPLEMENT OUR CONSTITUTION WITHOUT ANY DELAY.
18. WE NEED TO KNOW, WHAT THE TIGRAYAN MERCENARIES ARE DOING IN OUR COUNTRY.
19. WHY IS THE DICTATOR HANDING OUT MACHINE GUNS TO ERITREAN CIVILANS?
20. BY HANDING OUT MACHINE GUNS TO CIVILANS, IS THE DICTATOR INCITING VIOLENCE IN ORDER TO PROTECT HIS POWER? WHAT KIND OF LEADER HANDS OUT MACHINE GUNS TO CIVILANS?
ONES THESE DEMANDES ARE ADDRESSED, THEN IT IS OK TO PAY THE 2%
Genet
Asmara2 May 30, 2013
Genet ጠራዕራዕ,
Still squeezing your balls……
Does that mean you (Specifically you!) never paid 2% before and you will never pay?
You also claimed you travelled to Eritrea not a long ago…
On the other hand, you claimed or support the claim that the Eritrean government prevents those who do not pay 2% from visiting their country, what is more PFDJ kills the family members of those Eritreans who do not pay the 2%
If that is the case, and if your accusation of the government is true, then
1. How did you manage to visit Eritrea without paying 2%?
2. How come you still have family inside Eritrea that you managed to visit, after all you did not pay 2% and hence they are supposed to be killed?
Or you can say the truth –
Abreham May 28, 2013
Dear Ahmed
I want to ask you.Have you ever seen anyone how has got any help form the govenment in Eritrea??????
Ahmed May 29, 2013
Abraham
School ,hospital ,roads dams and so are being built as we speak so if this is not help then you are looking for hand out aid that you will not find in Eritrea ,that’s because we are not agame lemanay
The candid true May 28, 2013
Ahmed
What a typical PFDJ! those who dance when their sisters are raped, when the organs of their brothers sold by bedewin; those generals who sell those poor girls after they’ve satisfied their testosterone driven brains…you keep dancing..ishim..ishim..; and you invite the Rashaida to show their culture on independence day, after they’ve finished their business day selling and raping. Just keep paying 2% so you enjoy holidaying in Eritrean while the rest get torutured, imprisoned, killed, sold; and bridges constructed by slave labor. We have a few you man. May God help us.
Bahta Hagos May 29, 2013
you said it right, they are sick no blood in their veins.
ማሊሻ May 28, 2013
ኣብ ታሪኽ ዓለምን ፣ ኣብ ነዊሕ ዛንታ ሰብን ብጭብጢ እተረጋገጸ ሓቂ እንተሎ እዚ እዩ። ዝኾነ ይኹን ሕብረተሰብ ወይ ህዝቢ ፣ ንሕሉፍ ናይ ዘመናት ታሪኹ ዝጸልእ ፣ ውርሻኡ ዝንዕቕ ፣ መረበቱ ወይ ትውልዲ ዓዱ ዝኽህድ ፣ ቋንቋታቱ ብባርዕ ዘልምስ ፣ ቅርስታቱ ዘፍርስ ፣ ባህልታቱ ስርዓቱ ዘድፍር ፣ ደቂ ሩባኡን ጎዶቦታቱን ዘየኽብር ፣ ይትረፍ መሪሕነት ክጭብጥን ሃገር ክኣልን ፣ ናይ ገዛእ ርእሱ ሉኣላዊት ሃገርን መሬትን ውን ከቶ ኣይግበኦን እዩ።
እዚ ከምዚ ዓይነት ነፍሰ ሙት ፣ ሕልና ዕሩብ ፣ ኣእምሮ ዕሱብ ጉጅለ ወይ ጭፍራ ፣ እንትርፎ ከም ጊላ ከዳሚ ወይ ዓብድ ናይ ባዕዲ ፣ ብናይ ገዛእ ርእሱ መንነትን ኣብራኽን ደው ክብል ብፍጹም ዝሕሰብ ኣይኮነን ።
Genet May 28, 2013
“TD bank is his vehicle for wiring money to the DZ bank in Frankfurt, Germany, which routs it to a bank owned by the ruling party in Eritrea” Hmm.. Ruling party that is the PFDJ leaders. Why is the money going to the PFDJ owned bank, in stade of to the Eritrean peoples’ bank. or to the TREASURY?
Genet
wedi_hama May 29, 2013
Ahemed A.K.A Donkoro,
firstly your stupidity is truly entertaining! let me tell you this….CLEARLY YOU ARE NOT ERITREAN, if you were you would have not been so arrogant while our people are SUFFERING. If you thing your comments are helping the people you are absolutely wrong.The Eritrean people especially those you reside in Eritrea you are nothing but a TRAITOR! TELAM AGAME ZEY CHWA
Ahmed May 29, 2013
Wedi Hama
Do you really need to say that. God bless you but I said because our people is suffering I help them by paying my 2percent how is this wrong. That’s all I can afford ,I am not rich but how do you help the eritrean people in their daily live tell me brother? By the way I am 1st round national service for your information. Meaning I am not agame. I hate them.
The candid true May 29, 2013
This is the mother of all hypocrisy. I’m disappointed that someone who should know better (1st round national service) of the youth’s suffering with everlasting servitude should claim that he’s helping the Eritrean by paying 2%!! This is simply an endorsement for the PFDJ to pillage the country and to continue to rape, torture, sell our youth. I tell you what I would prefer to be 100% Tigrayan what you call Agame than Eritrean. At least they’ve never dismembered any Eritrean and sold their organs to the Arabs (As far as I know), and what’s more they’re sheltering thousands of Eritrean giving them the opportunity to study, work, and those who have a chance to go to a third country they’re facilitating their Immigration. They’ve saved many Eritrean refugees from being deported to beast PFDJ from Egypt. The list goes on and on. Reading your comments Ahmed has really made very ashamed of being an Eritrean. But there is an Eritrean saying – sebari Tsehali meaning breaking the plate people have provided you food on or biting the hand that feeds you.
Ahmed May 29, 2013
The candid true
My friend I don’t know what you are talking about by saying the PFDJ selling ,raping and dismembering eritrean youth but I think you are talking about what’s happening to our brother and sisters in their way to Israel which is nothing to do with the government in eritrean. I am so sorry that its happening to them but it is not happening in Eritrea so I don’t know why you saying our government is doing that and I don’t see any reason why the government should do things like that. I am not a baby, I see what you see and I read what you read but does mean I have to believe what ever I read. Those people in sainay need our prayer ,may god help them.
About the agame thing if you want to be agame, it’s free you know what I mean but don’t try to tell me that agame is helping eritrean people. I know what they are doing but they are doing it for political benefit meaning to convince people like you but I know who those people are and whatever they do its not going to work unless they withdrow from our land that would tell me they want to help our people or they want peace. Anyway if you want to know about agame just go to Keren and see libi Tgray and you will understand what I am talking about. Our father were right they name it libi Tgray. I can only advise you whatever you do don’t trust agame but about 2 percent if you don’t think it’s for the people of Eritrea ,don’t worry about it just try to help our people with that money your own way it’s all the same.
Diana May 29, 2013
so what if you are 1st batch ( ROUND) 3rd batch? do you think you are hero? get lost
Genet May 30, 2013
Asmara2
filthy mouth. take it easy. you need to run for a cover. I say PFDJ leaders are not smart. Now, run your filthy mouth. 1,2..
Genet
Genet May 30, 2013
Asmara2
Filthy mouth, did you now that I was a PFDJ SUPORTERS NOT LONG AGO. You will know if you have being reading my posts. Unlike you I wake up, and saw what is going on in my country and to my people. I SAID, I CAN’T STAND FOR THE DISTRUCTION OF MY COUNTRY. You on the other hand are digging your grave. You are impared and intoxccated with PFDJ propaganda or perks and benifits. Now, run your filthy mouth, 1,2..
Genet
Asmara2 May 30, 2013
Genet ጠራዕራዕ,
You said “…I was a PFDJ SUPORTERS NOT LONG AGO….” I will take your word for that (For now, at least).
When it comes to the 2%, what does that mean then?
Remember
You claim that 2% is illegal and is extortion. You also claimed that Eritreans who do not pay are refused to travel to Eritrea. And above all you claimed that the family members of those who do not pay are hunted down and killed by the Eritrean government. At least you are here beaming with joy in support of these claims done by some elements (The government of Canada for instance).
So, it is only fair to ask you to clarify the contradiction here, so please answer (no hanky panky now, ok?
1. You used to pay 2% voluntarily and happily?
2. When you were a supporter, as you put it, and when you were paying, it was ok for you but YOU WITNESSED killing of those who refused to pay?
3. Now that you stopped paying, you will never be able to go to Eritrea, because they will stop you at the airport and send you back wherever you came from?
4. Now that you stopped paying, your family members are killed or are being hunted down?
OR WHAT?
–
Genet May 30, 2013
Asmara2
Filthy mouth, Yes, the 2% is being collected as mafia style. It is not for the betterment of our country and our people and it must be stopped!
Do you know how many people have been jaild at Asmera airport and their money taken away. Now run your filthy mouth 1,2..
Genet
Asmara2 May 30, 2013
Genet ጠራዕራዕ,
We are specifically talking about you. Don’t you go into your miniakolel now! You have to choose or address all the points listed above (1-4. Or tell us if it is not one of the listed. Common now, you can do it.
Take this as a lesson. Funny hat (Fitsum), your pimp, is used to throwing anything here without any proof or any credible know how, and nobody seems to stop him or question him. And you seem to be learning that bad habit and are running your mouth without thinking. You can love or hate PFDJ or any group as much as you want. But YOU HAVE TO LEARN TO BE TRUE TO YOURSELF, AND IF YOU LOVE ERITREA AS YOU CLAIM TO, THEN YOU HAVE TO BE TRUE TO ERITREA AS WELL. You should learn to talk the truth and sleep bare assed in the snow, or whatever.
So, try again. I am specifically asking you! Go back and try to address all the choices listed
Again, No ጠራዕራዕ, ok?
Genet May 30, 2013
Now I lost you. Filthy mouth. Why do you want to talk about me rather than the issues?? I know you are effectively indoctrinated, by PFDJ operatives to go on personal attack, when you are trapped with facts. You have two choices. One come to your sense and be on the side of your people. It is not that hard to stand up for the right thing. Two, continuo on the destructive path..defending the undefendable PFDJ’s crimes.
“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he sands at times of challenge and controversy” Martin Luther King Jr.
I will never be silent, because of your filthy mouth. As the great civil right leader said, “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter” Martin Luther king Jr.
Wake up zombie, the facts are in fromt of you. Think.
Or Now, run your filthy mouth 1,2..
Genet
Asmara2 May 30, 2013
Nah, who am I kidding!
Let me put it this way so that it would be easier on that retarded thing on top of your neck:
TRUE or False
“…Eritreans who do not pay 2% are not allowed to travel to their home country. And above all, the family members of those who do not pay are hunted down and killed by the Eritrean government. …”
Common now, chooses
a) The above statement is very true. I know for a fact
b) Hell No! That is not true. As much as I hate PFDJ, my mom told me NEVER TO LIE. I am an Eritrean and I am GOD fearing, hence I would not accuse anyone falsely.
So, which one is it? Go….
Genet May 30, 2013
Asmara2
Filthy mouth. No, you don’t have to accuse any one. JUST BE AWAKE AND THINK; AND THE TRUTH WILL BE RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU.
Now, run your filthy mouth 1,2..
Genet
Asmara2 May 31, 2013
Genet ጠራዕራዕ,
Is the fallowing TRUE OR FALSE?
“…Eritreans who do not pay 2% are not allowed to travel to their home country. And above all, the family members of those who do not pay are hunted down and killed by the Eritrean government. …”
Eritreawit May 30, 2013
Genet,
Please don’t try to convince people like Asmara2, 3 they are puppets, brain washed badly
don’t respond to their posts it will take the precious time you would write about important things. You are brilliant, love your postings.
Genet May 31, 2013
Eritreawit
I know. I just do it for fun
Genet
Genet June 2, 2013
Eritreawit
Thank you for the kind words.
Genet