Eritrean opposition alliance calls for urgent world-wide strikes
By Tesfa-alem tekle
July 8, 2008 (MEKELLE) — Following yesterday’s demonstration by Eritrean refugees,Eritrean Democratic Alliance(EDA), an umbrella group of 13 Eritrean opposition organizations-in a new move calls for a world wide demonstration, in protest to Egypt’s recent deportation and imprisonment against hundreds of Eritreans.
“The world is watching Egypt forcibly deporting hundreds of Eritreans in violation of international law, Human Right Charters and accepted and practiced diplomatic norms.” Executive chairman of the alliance Tewelde Gebreslase told Sudan tribune.
“With many more scheduled for deportation, we believe it is critically important that we organize an urgent word-wide peaceful strike at the doors of all Egyptian embassies wherever we (Eritreans) are.” Tewelde said.
According to the official, world wide protests are already being organized across the world to halt further forced-deportation.
“strikes are already organized in London,Sweden,Germany and in many states of America” he said adding “branch offices abroad, civic organizations and Eritreans in Diaspora are also organizing demonstration in other major cities around the world”
A statement recently released from the group has blasted the recent move by Egypt as an “illegal decision and an expected from a UN-member country.”
“We have the duty of informing the people of Egypt the egregious crime committed by their government against these Eritrean refugees. The forceful deportation of these refugees is tantamount to sentencing them to suffer further persecution and possibly death under the hand of the Eritrean Regime.” The statement read.
“Our organization strongly condemns such an act and we hold Egypt responsible for the consequences these innocent Eritreans would face back at home upon forced arrival” Tewelde said.
Eritreans,the UN,all concerned international and regional human rights organizations the international community as a whole have the moral responsibility and obligation of bringing to the attention of the world this flagrant violation and unlawful deportation of refugees. It said
“We are asking all Eritrean Human Right organizations, Eritrean Opposition groups, concerned individuals, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch -Africa, Journalists Without Borders and others to come together and designate a mutually agreed upon date to undertake this worthy protest in accordance to the laws and regulations of the nations where we are residing.” He added.
Over the week end thousands of Eritrean refugees marched in, Tigray and Afar regions in protest to Egypt and Libya Deportation to hundreds of Eritreans.
Protesters demanded an immediate release to jailed Eritreans and protection of law.
They urged international organizations to hand over the refugees to third countries and called on Egypt and Libya to fully cooperate.
Afar-ethnic Eritrean refugees in a demonstration they held in Asayta town of Afar region also deplore Eritrea’s recent military attack against Djibouti.
“Eritrean Afars are the worst affected people by the recent conflict along the Djbouti border ” Spokes person for Red Sea Afar Democratic Organization (RSADO), Yasin Mohamed told Sudan tribune
“Hundreds of Eritrean Afars are forced out of their home by the conflict and a big number of their live stokes are killed” He added
(ST)