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UN rights expert urges the world to keep Eritrea under scrutiny and help people fleeing the country.

GENEVA (5 June 2013) – The United Nations Special Rapporteur on Eritrea, Sheila B. Keetharuth, today reiterated her call on the international community to keep monitoring the human rights situation in Eritrea and to protect

GENEVA (5 June 2013) – The United Nations Special Rapporteur on Eritrea, Sheila B. Keetharuth, today reiterated her call on the international community to keep monitoring the human rights situation in Eritrea and to protect and support those fleeing the country, in particular the increasing numbers of unaccompanied children.

“I urge the international community to keep Eritrea under close scrutiny until meaningful change is evident,” Ms. Keetharuth said during the presentation of her first report to the UN Human Rights Council. “It will be important to increase efforts to constructively engage with Eritrea and neighbouring countries to improve the situation of human rights in the country.”

Despite repeated requests, the Special Rapporteur has not been granted access to Eritrea since her appointment in November 2012. As a result, her first official mission to the field was carried out from 30 April to 9 May 2013, when she conducted interviews at Eritrean refugee camps in neighbouring Ethiopia and Djibouti, which host large Eritrean refugee communities.

“I concentrated on gathering information on human rights violations from a broad spectrum of interlocutors, but more specifically from survivors,” Ms. Keetharuth said. “Most of the people I interviewed had left Eritrea recently and were able to share up-to-date information.”

“I am extremely concerned about the human rights situation in Eritrea,” the independent expert stressed. “The prevailing situation in the country is characterised by extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearance and incommunicado detention, arbitrary arrest and detention, torture and inhumane prison conditions.”

The Special Rapporteur noted with alarm the situation regarding mass round-ups, forced conscription and the indefinite national service, as well as the country-wide arming and military training of the civilian population, which started last year.

“Excessive militarisation is affecting the very fabric of Eritrean society, and its core unit, the family. The indefinite national service is depriving the women and men of Eritrea of their most productive years,” Ms. Keetharuth said. “Many of those I interviewed told me that their families would be unable to live in dignity without direct remittances from family and friends living abroad.”

“Severe curtailment of freedom of movement, opinion, expression, assembly, association and the right to freedom of religion warrant serious concern,” she noted. “The restrictions of these rights, which are the very cornerstones of democratic societies, create a climate of fear fuelled by rumours, propaganda and suspicion. The result is an all-encompassing feeling of fear and distrust, even within families.”

In her report, the independent expert warns about the arbitrary use of power by the State, which violates the most fundamental principles of the rule of law, and a complete absence of accountability mechanisms to bring those responsible for the human rights violations to justice.

“The alarming human rights situation in Eritrea is triggering a constant stream of refugees to neighbouring countries,” she said. “Although there is a shoot-to-kill policy targeting those attempting to flee, many thousands of Eritrean citizens have fled over the past decade. The numbers are on the rise, with more than 4,000 Eritreans fleeing the country every month, despite the extreme dangers along escape routes and an unknown future.”

“During my visit to refugee camps in Ethiopia, I met a large number of unaccompanied children crossing the border, some as young as seven or eight years old. Many leave home without the knowledge of their families, mostly as they fear the forced conscription into indefinite national service,” Ms. Keetharuth said.

“The increasing number of these unaccompanied minors not only poses major protection challenges but is indicative of the scale of despair these children are facing at home,” the human rights expert warned.

Ms. Keetharuth acknowledged Eritrea’s active participation in the universal periodic review in 2009/10, noting that the Government has reportedly initiated a follow-up process. “Eritrea’s second universal periodic review in January 2014 will provide another opportunity to engage on the human rights situation with the HRC and it will be interesting to see which concrete steps Eritrea has taken to honour its commitments under the UPR, she said.

“I would welcome the opportunity to engage in a frank and open dialogue with the Government of Eritrea to discuss these recommendations, as well as a range of issues and challenges linked to the full realization of human rights in Eritrea,” the Special Rapporteur reiterated.

Sheila B. Keetharuth was appointed as the Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Eritrea during the 21st Session of the UN Human Rights Council in September 2012. She took her functions on 1 November 2012. As Special Rapporteur, she is independent from any government or organization and serves in her individual capacity. A lawyer from Mauritius, she has extensive experience in monitoring and documenting human rights violations, advocacy, training and litigation in human rights in Africa.

Source:PR Newswire

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28 COMMENTS
  • simerrr2012 June 7, 2013

    The world should know how the Eritrean people are suffering under this criminal higdef bandits. The world should know that no recognition should be given to the representative of this repressive regime. The UN should pass the documents to the International Criminal Court in the Hague to bring those individuals to justice. The European and North America should recall their embassies from Eritrea and send back all the criminal so called Ambassadors and consular back to their home. The refugees should get medical care , therapy and assistance for being tortured, raped, injured by the system. The UNHCR should give full protection to refugees in Sudan, Egypt and elsewhere in the world. The individuals who play key role in the mafia government should be denied entry in Europe and America or arrested on arrival for investigation for crime against humanity. Some individuals who possessed dual citizen ship or permanent residence of a free country should be accountable for the crime to commit in Eritrea in the country they host residence permit.

    • belay nega June 8, 2013

      “The European and North America should recall their embassies from Eritrea and send back all the criminal so called Ambassadors and consular back to their home.”

      By the above phrase you admitting that Eritrea does not qualify to be a country.Shame on you.

  • TwoWayStreet June 7, 2013

    I agree with you on giving protection, safety and other necessary assistance to Eritrean refugees, but I respectfully disagree on arresting Eritrean officials on arrival in Europe and America for investigation. Arresting someone for investigation, without evidence and confirmation is the work of Eritrea not that of democratic nations. And closing the embassies might not work in favor of the Eritrean people, because embassies are the bloodline of information in good and bad times, it does not mean that the country is endorsing the activities of the Eritrean government.

  • simerrr2012 June 7, 2013

    Twowaystreet
    Did you read the report what kind of evidence you need more. This is crystal clear. The investigation is to know how many people are killed, raped, tortured by this individuals who give direct order from the President office or the command center(The command center of the generals and colonels can be from Tiblez or Nigsti Bar as they spent most of their time in bars and restaurants).The shoot to kill policy came from the president office, the selling of organs of Eritrean is controlled and administrated by the Generals and army officers, the money is paid inside Eritrea , the raped women are treated in Eritrean Hospitals, the containers are openly to see for everyone, the 50000 Nakfa punishment of Eritrean mothers is open secret, the rich Eritrean who can invest in Eritrea have been systematically chased one by one from Eritrea. The prisons are full and are opened new one every day. Children been kidnapped from the center of Asmara for ransom. And the shameless, ugly face wedi geratu is telling the world Everything in Eritrea is ok in Eritrea .Isayas is telling we are number one in Africa….in killing , arresting , raping, opening new prisons, leave people dying of hunger and lack of medicine.

    • TwoWayStreet June 7, 2013

      You are right on all the atrocities done by the government, and its different entities. I am not defending the Eritrean officials. I am just suggesting that the international community can not arrest every Eritrean official upon arrival just for investigation, unless they have a report or list of name of who did what? who ordered what? What you are saying is Germany should arrest Osman Saleh, or Askalu Menkorios upon arrival to Frankfurt, without any authority given by international court, just to investigate them, ask them questions like What crime did they commit, Who else is committing the crimes,…etc.

  • Obahara June 7, 2013

    Selam,

    On the PFJD Plague and Sanctions that the World Utilizes as a Stick or Hard Medicine to Heal a Disease:

    Generally speaking, it would be safe to say that the power of sanctions is to bring about change in a system of governance or rule through sticks instead of carrots. This is to say that sanctions are geared toward the destruction of an inhuman system such as that of PFDJ’s Eritrea the hard way both for the regime and the people it rules lawlessly. Thus, sanctions cripple a system that cripples a people as DIA and his PFDJ barbaric rule are crippling the people of Eritrea like a plague! However, this hard medicine that has to be taken to get rid off a parasitic system like that of DIA’s Eritrea does so by crippling both the ruler and the ruled as such is the end effect of sanctions on any country under similar circumstance.

    Proceeding, the process of affection change through sanctions first cripple the system and the system cripples the people it rules till the people cripple the system that cripples them. Second, after the people cripple the system that cripples them, they are expected to establish a government that doesn’t cripple them, a government of laws and institutions and not of men and machines! Therefore, sanctions are meant to heal the afflicted after they destroy the state of affairs whose hallmarks are like that of the relationships between a master and slave or, if you will, it is a game of healing by crippling that which cripples both itself and others.

    In conclusion, the function of sanctions is to bring about the desired change by killing that which kills and establishing that which heals one and all under the rule of law that governs all equally as a father governs his household! However, if the people fail to cripple the system that slowly cripples them before it cripples them altogether, then, nature rules both the crippled system and the people it cripples till death do us apart! May the Almighty help cripple a system of a man and machine that cripples his children. Amen!

    Peace!

    • TwoWayStreet June 7, 2013

      Selam Obahara,
      Sanction: Crippling the crippler who in turn cripples the people who might initiating a crippling activities against their crippler ending the relay of crippling. Well defined.
      I would like to make the following points, and wish to get feedback from you and/or others.

      -Sanction was initiated by the late Ethiopian Prime Minister, went to IGAD, AU, then the UN. He took a advantage of the Eritrean government’s wrong foreign policy, poor diplomatic relationship, and so many wrong internal policies. Meles’ reason for doing so is “Peace in the Horn of Africa” Ok Peace is good. But after the relay of crippling that you mentioned above the present Eritrean will not be able to stand in power, so there will be a vacuum. Then that will be a walk in the park for the Ethiopian government to return to Eritrea.

      • Obahara June 8, 2013

        Selam.

        TwoWayStreet, A hastily penned down response to your first rejoinder that sought some sort of feedback from yours truly and others follows below

        First, focusing on Eritrea and DIA come to Eritrea to destroy its people, this bloodsucking despot did not hide his intentions right from the get go : Revolution before Unity : Change in the Eritrean Body-Polity before Before Their Unity in Diversity Under the Rule of Law : Change through the death of old Eritrea and the construction of the new on the graves of the old : The dying dog DIA is determined to built his cult of Enda Nhna-Nsu on the graves of the Eritrean people before he can start looking south of Eritrea and try joining his loot to his mother of old:-)

        Second, Eritreans are stuck between a rock and a hard place : Between DIA and his bloodsucking PFDJ regime and the EPRDF regime of his wicked and backbiting Weyane cousins. At the end, they are both the same in different ways for one violates the sovereignty of the Eritrean people from within while the other violates the sovereignty of their homeland from without! Eritreans are being played by two evil regimes whose Motto is : We don’t need the people of Eritrea but their land or , if you will: We need Eritrea and not its people!

        Third, it may be that if Eritreans can’t unify their forces and resources both from inside and outside to stop the death and destruction taking place in their country based on national and international laws, they will kiss their territorial and political sovereignty good bye! Time is all there is for Eritreans gain or lose what they want and if they can’t spend their time trying to accomplish their aims instead of wasting it in allying themselves with and talking to those who wish the Eritrean people ill directly or indirectly, they will come out as losers at the end!

        Forth, if Eritreans want to survive as a people trying to become a nation governed by laws and institutions instead of by the whims of men and machines, they have to rally their forces and resources from inside and outside country and claim what is rightly theirs under national and international laws! Eritreans should sooner or later recognized that playing the game of my enemy’s enemy is my friend while the one they call their friend is in reality is the wolf that was but now come in the guise of the enemy of your enemy. Eritreans should also come to realized that the two errand and cousin regimes who have turned their lives into a living hell on Earth between them according to the wishes of their pimping masters and their friends!

        In conclusion, as in like father like son, the relationships was, is, that which may come between Eritrea and Ethiopia can be generally expressed thus:

        DIA/PFDJ = Weyane/EPRDF = Mengistu/Derg. = Janhoy + The Hag of Old : Motto : We don’t need the people of Eritrea but their land : We need Eritrea and not its people : Eritrea Merieta Ember Hzba Ayedliyenan Iyu! It is said that those who forget their history are condemned to repeat it and Eritreans are repeating that which has been said and done by joining themselves to those who wish them ill as a nation in the making both from inside and outside homeland!

        Peace!

        • Yonatan June 8, 2013

          Obahara, Thanks for your history inclusive, forward looking, with solution analysis.
          I concur with your point 3 and 4 completely. To make matters worse all Eritreans inside or outside; supporters of PFDJ and opposition forces are working against their benefit by working with the wolf disguised as a sheep.
          I always have trouble explaining that PFDJ/DIA and EPRDF/TPLF are secretly working together towards the same goal. I feel that there is something going on, but can’t definitively explain it.
          Hope to see more of your insight with other articles.

  • ida June 7, 2013

    Obahara, I agree with you with the fact that the last generation is an aging generation. Soon it will be our turn to lead. As a child of a strong mom, I would like to correct you about the father governing the household. The father and the mother govern the household equally. Eritrean men need to wake up about women’s rights.

    • TwoWayStreet June 7, 2013

      Good point ida. We Eritreans have a lot of stereo type that we should get rid off. We do them not knowing that we are doing them, we just have to pay attention.

    • Obahara June 7, 2013

      Selam Ida,

      You say:

      “The father and the mother govern the household equally. Eritrean men need to wake up about women’s rights.”

      The father and the mother have their important roles to play as God ordain. The mother is the queen of the house and governs the affairs of the household and the father does the external affairs of the would be nation or household in question. In a a matter of expression, a nation is taken as a mother and the leader of a nation is taken as its father, although I would rather take the constitution of a nation as father and the homeland of any nation in question as the mother:-)

      Thus, sister Ida, it is matter of context and not a matter of rights and equality between the men and women in a household but a matter of using a mother instead of a nation and father for the law of the land in question. However, if you ask me about the important roles that men and women take in running a literal household, then, I would say, “Behind every great mean, there is a great woman” if both see themselves as complimentary that makes the house whole:-)

      I hope I have made my points clear in my hasty response to your rejoinder. Keep up the good job and take care, sister Ida!

      Peace!

      PS: Brother TwoWayStreet, I will see if I can jot down a quick response to your rejoinder that seeks a feedback form yours truly and or others some other time. Till then, keep up the good job and thank and for getting my drift!

      • Obahara June 7, 2013

        mean = man*

      • TwoWayStreet June 7, 2013

        How did you come up with the conclusion that I am a male “Brother”, and that ida is a female “Sister”.
        That is what I was talking about earlier; assumptions, stereo types, taking things fore granted. Most of which are done unknowingly. We should pay attention.

        • Obahara June 8, 2013

          Dear reader,

          Please add words “Sister or” to the words “Brother TwoWayStreet” in the note:-). Now, no feedback and later, brother is sister:-)

          Peace!

  • mohammed negash June 7, 2013

    I am sick & tiered of muslim people blaming others for their weakness. the christian people stood up when dergi start burnning adi nifas .weki zagir.and since socalled independence muslims have been killed & refused to go back to their Allah given land..now the christians abandon iseyas when he start to kill tigrignya in masses after 2001.muslim brothers nobody stood up for afar saho gashbarka from independence & you blame christians. you blame them for proteckting their brothers when you fell asleep.
    muslim stop blaming others stand up for your right. standing up for your religious right is not being fanatic or fundamental. you are allowing your enemies to insult you & your belief.

  • Kelkeltay June 7, 2013

    I really and heartfelt thank the world body, governments, and civil societies for being the mouth and words for the critically suppressed Eritrean people! This is a good start and hope this will motivate each and every Eritrean to wake up and stand up for her/his right and freedom. We Eritreans should not wait change to come from someone else. We Eritreans are the sole owners for the real change to come! Let’s work hand-in-hand be it from inside or outside of Eritrea to get rid of the brutal regime in Asmara.”Fetli msZihabir Ambesa yAsir!”

  • senai June 8, 2013

    Thank so much UN in Geneva 05 june to Support our People and you are understand our peoples Problem.And i proud for Cananda.They send to back the Dictators Ambasader he collect Money 2 percent for the Dictator Isias Afewerki.He is Eritrean Dictator.He helps Alshebab and he send Eritrean soldiers from Eritrea to Somalia.We have to much politician Religonos in a prison. They are not make a Coraption.They ask pnly about Constitution .

  • Kebaz June 8, 2013

    Every member of Wedi Gerahtu family should feel ashamed of their son. He betrayed them, he betrayed his “mai bet”, he betrayed his people, the honorable martyrs of Eritrea, the living legends of Eritrean freedom fighters. Why? No reason rather than serve a ruthless dictator.
    What a shame. I listenedd to each of his argument points and it is such a blatant lie. It is ironical that Sheila B. Keetharuth instead courageously stood for our people. What is further shameful even the Ethiopian delegation trying to pick on some of here words. They wanted to hide the border war too has implications …she did not budget. Hence the African problem is real but worse the Eritrean one is surreal…proof point Wodi Gerahtu and Sheila B. Keetharuthican in the world community baito have reversed roles…I take pride in a fellow human being Sheila while my heart eches of one of my own Wedi Gerahtu.

  • Abera June 8, 2013

    I have r ead all the above coments that is only ignorance ERITREA again will never kneel down our gvt is not dictater find the meanig in dictionery . Eritria is an exemblery in eradicating poverty malaria polio and many a country that stands by its feet, you can’t mention a single nation that have no prison pls don’t be an instrument for ertrean enemies make your contribution go and see ERITREAN development.

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