Bi-weekly Gazette. August 2006. No.09

MAJOR ISSUES IN THE NEWS  

• Press Conference with EDA executive Bodies
• ELF-RC Concludes its 6^th Congress
• EDP Concludes its 2^nd congress in Milan Italy
• Sudan’s Beja mistrust upon Eritrea
• PFDJ Disrupting Peace in the Horn of Africa
• Eritrea refuses entry visas to Americans

A press conference organized by “Demtsi Eritrawi Kidan” and “Radio Mibrak” was held on the 28^th of July 2006 at EDA’s office. The participants of the press conference were Mr. Husein Kelifa (Chair Person of the EDA) Mr. Abdela Adem (Vice Chair Person of the EDA), Mr Mengsteab Asmerom (Chair Person of the information Bureau of the EDA) and Mr. Weldeyesus Amar (Chair man of the ELF-RC). During the Press conference many questions were raised by different journalists and adequate responses were given by the participants. Among many the current status of EDA; about unity (with maximum program); and EDA’s relation with the other world rather than neighboring countries were some of the questions raised by journalists at the press conference.

Accordingly all participants have agreed that much should be done to materialize the question of unity. They also added, that it is not as such a must for all parties to posses  the same and uniform program because having different programs is a sign of democracy and they firmly highlighted that differences are natural.  But they had stressed the existence of an ample potential for many parties having the same or similar programs to come together and work accordingly.

Regarding EDA’s relation with country’s of the world other than the immediate neighbors they said “even if there is a big ground to work with them only little was done in the past due to budget and other related problems of the EDA”. Having noticed this weakness they said there is a need to do a lot and exploit this fertile ground and use it for the maximum benefit of the destitute people of Eritrea.

Note:- the full text of the press conference can be taken from “Dimtsi Radio Kidan” or “Radio Mibrak”.  

ELF-RC Concludes its 6^th Congress

One among the 16 sisterly opposition parties who formed the Eritrean democratic alliance (EDA), the ELF-RC National Congress which was convened under the slogan “we struggle for change and democratic unity of our people!” wound up its proceedings on 27 of July 2006.

According to the final statement of the ELF-RC 6^th congress the number of participants delegated to attend the congress from various parts of the world was 156. Based on the same statement factors that made the congress unique includes the participation of youth and women in relatively large numbers the presence of observers from Eritrean research centers and media outlets throughout the congress and the attendance of large number of heads of opposition organizations of the opening and closing sessions of the congress.

In related news the historical ELF-RC’s 6^th congress announced the establishment of a civil association by the name of “Demoselam” in honor of the martyr hero Seyoum Oqbamicael, the association is founded by the ELF-RC the Awate foundation and the family of martyr Seyoum.

Like wise the congress made a sharp call on the international community to fully grasp the ongoing social, political, and economic turmoil in Eritrea and give urgent support to Eritrean people by putting all pressure possible on the ruling regime.  

Finally the ELF-RC national congress ended on the 27^th of July 2006 after democratically elected a new leadership of 33 members and 4 reserves who are believed to fully implement the program and work plans of the coming stage.  

EDP Concludes its 2^nd congress in Milan Italy

In a related news another Eritrean opposition party and founder of the EDA  (Eritrean Democratic Alliance), the EDP (Eritrean Democratic Party) has also concluded its 2^nd historical congress on the 29^th of July 2006 in Italy, Milan. According to the final press release issued by the party, the congress deeply studied the prevailing, domestic, regional and international political, social and economic situations and concluded that in all aspects the prevailing conditions in Eritrea is getting worse day after day. Besides, the congress thoroughly discussed the accomplishments of the party over the pest two years pertaining to its political program. In addition concrete and workable changes on the party’s political program and constitution were made based on the draft drawn by the congress’s preparatory committee.

The 2^nd EDP congress paid its cordial gratitude to all those political organizations, civil societies, research and media centers and individuals who have respectfully responded to its invitation all over the world.

Finally the 2^nd congress of the EDP ended on the 29^th of July 2006 after democratically elected a leadership of 25 parliament members 3 reserves and other 3 editors who are believed to have a concrete attribute on the implementation of the party’s program and future plan.

Sudan’s Beja mistrust upon Eritrea

The leaders of the Sudanese opposition party Mutemer Beja (the Beja congress) clearly announced that it is hard for them to trust the Eritrean government as a neutral negotiator on the on going peace talks between the Sudan opposition’s front and the ruling government of the Sudan. They also recommend that the peace talks should be carryon in another country other than Eritrea. Like wise they criticized the dictatorial PFDJ regime for creating obstacles on the Sudanese Beja’s to  participate on talks of the principal negotiations (agreements) with the Sudanese ruling party. They also recalled that the unofficial Tessenie congress which was held under the arms of the PFDJ government is not more than a theater.  

According to reliable sources the core reason that escalates the mistrust of the Bejas in the PFDJ government is the public speech given by the secretary of the PFDJ’s party.

In a public media the secretary of the executive body of PFDJ party, Mr. Alamin Mohammed Seid said that “there is a red line and it is impossible for the Beja group to participate in the peace talks held between the easterners and the ruling government of the Sudan. After Alamin’s irresponsible and bothersome speech the chairman of the Mutemer’s Ali Muni in his part strongly highlighted that it beyond imagination to see and accept Eritrea as a genuine negotiator (mediator) for Eastern Sudan problems.

In related news Mr. Abu Fatma Ahmed Omar one of the member of the Eastern Sudan parliament added that “having observed the paths of the past peace processes, Eritrea can only bring a partial solution to the eastern Sudan problem”. He also argues that Eritrea doesn’t want to see and bring an ever lasting and final solution to the eastern Sudan problem. Because Eritrea needs to leave some unresolved problems in order to use as a time bomb in its future relations with the Sudan.

PFDJ Disrupting Peace in the Horn of Africa

Isayas the PFDJ’s master mind whose organization and his propaganda tools have taken it to name any opposing Eritrean Muslim citizen as Jihadist is surprisingly busy helping the Somalia Extremists for no reason but his desire to disrupt the prevailing peace in the horn of Africa.

At the expense of the Eritrean people the Somali Islamic courts have access to arms from the PFDJ regime. With out going far, some few days back a large airplane loaded with weapons has landed in Mogadishu from Eritrea in violation of the United Nations   arms embargo. Somalia’s transitional government said the air craft that landed on the 26^th of July was carrying land mines, bombs and guns from Eritrea for the Islamic militia that has taken control of the capital and much of the South of the country. The aircraft was reportedly met by two senior Islamic commanders and another member of the Supreme Islamic Council of Somalia (SICS).

No Eritrean except Isayas and his crews who have an unlimited desire of staying in power can be the beneficiaries of this arms deal. Moreover, likewise the other neighboring country such as Ethiopia, Sudan, Djibouti and Yemen Isayas is igniting hatred between the people’s of Eritrea and Somalia.

The transitional federal government of Somali was created in Kenya in 2004 following lengthy reconciliation talks hosted by IGAD, which comprises Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan and Uganda. Somalia has had no effective national government since 1991 when the administration led by Muhammad Siad Barre was overthrown.

According to many political analysts apart from Somalia, Isaias and his regime have been busy confusing issues in the Sudan  long time back. First, the regime does not have any credentials to support “the oppressed”; and its involvement in Sudanese affairs, first in the South, then in Darfur

and later in Eastern Sudan is not genuine. The regime does not believe in peace to be reconciling the Sudanese or the Somalis- it is not reconciled at home and hardly able to call for any reconciliation!

Eritrea refuses entry visas to Americans  

According to Gedab news broadcasted on July 17, 2006 Eritrean authorities have issued a new directive which denies entry-visas to Americans. The timing of the new policy suggests that it is designed to impact mostly Eritrean-Americans who travel during the summer season. Eritrean Americans previously had a choice to travel as Eritreans or Americans. They now can only be granted entry visas as Eritreans and only if they possess an Eritrean ID.

According to the news agency those who do not possess Eritrean IDs have to do the following:

·        Present three members of the PFDJ, the ruling party, to vouch for their Eritrean identity;

·        Pay all income tax in arrears, dating back to the effective date of the tax proclamation in 1993;

·        Pay all additional financial obligations such as the war bonds and “dollar-a-day” campaigns imposed by the government during the Eritrea-Ethiopia war of 1998-2000;

·        Pay $465 for the application fee.

Many Eritreans who hold dual citizenships, particularly those considered politically active or with history of participation in rival political organizations, prefer to use the passports of their adopted countries when traveling to Eritrea as it affords them some protection from arbitrary arrests.

The new directive would deny these Eritreans the safety net of their adopted countries and would help the Eritrean authorities raise much-needed hard currency.