Oblivious of the Abyssinian Tyranny and the Amhara Racism, HRW Wastes Resources on Eritrea

By: Muhammad Shamsaddin Megalommatis

[ Posted On: 2009-05-01 ]

In an earlier article entitled “Shameful and Biased HRW Report to Promote Anti-Eritreanism for Fake Ethiopia’s Amhara Gangsters” (http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/view/100961), I questioned the necessity of an HRW Report on Eritrea in a twofold manner.

Firstly, I asked the following:

What is the point of involving Eritrea’s foreign policy in a Report that purportedly focuses on …… repression in Eritrea?

Secondly, I stated that “when nations face extinction in the neighboring tyranny of Abyssinia - that must be broken down to 12 different states - it is impermissible to forget them for the sake of some US institutions that might desire to pursue their Anti-Eritreanism further on, by using one HRW Report, this time on Eritrea”.

I subsequently asked:

• Where is a HRW Report on the Shekacho?

• Where is a HRW Report on the Sidama?

• Where is a HRW Report on the Kaffa?

• Where is a HRW Report on the Hadiyas?

• Where is a HRW Report on Abyssinia’s Afars?

• Where is a HRW Report on the Oromos?

• Where is a HRW Report on the Kambaatas?

• Where is a HRW Report on the Gideos?

• Where is a HRW Report on the Nuer?

• Where is a HRW Report on the Anuak?

• Where is a HRW Report on the Bertas?

• Where is a HRW Report on the Gumuz?

• Where is a HRW Report on the Shinashas?

• Where is a HRW Report on the Wolayitas?

• Where is a HRW Report on the Hamtagnas?

In the aforementioned article, I republished the Contents and the Summary of the HRW Report on Eritrea, also stating that I will also voluntarily publish comments and analyses, denunciations and criticisms by Eritreans and others who find it incredible for the leading humanitarian NGO HRW to waste resources on Eritrea and disregard the aforementioned nations that have been invaded, subjugated and forced to remain within the Amhara Abyssinian (Pseudo-Ethiopian) Hell – until their extinction.

In this article, I republish two more parts of the HRW Report on Eritrea, namely the Methodology and the Recommendations. I find it comical that in the latter, HRW suggestions are addressed to the African Union.

Even if we assume that Eritrea is a dictatorship, what help could the other African dictators possibly offer.

For the HRW, consecrating the evildoing pseudo-institution “African Union”, which is the abominable realm of tyrants like Kibaki, Meles Zenawi and the Khartoum butcher, is simply impermissible.

Methodology
http://www.hrw.org/en/node/82280/section/4

This report is based on research conducted between September 2008 and January 2009 by several researchers in the Africa division of Human Rights Watch.

Due to severe restrictions on freedom of movement and expression and the serious security risks individuals could face if they communicated with Human Rights Watch staff on the ground in Eritrea, Human Rights Watch decided to conduct most of the research for this report outside Eritrea by interviewing refugees.

Human Rights Watch researchers interviewed 53 Eritrean refugees and asylum seekers in Italy, the United Kingdom, and Djibouti. All interviews with the exception of four were with asylum seekers and refugees who had left Eritrea within the last 18 months, and therefore had the most up-to-date experience of conditions in the country. Most of the refugees were men aged 18 to 50; women constituted only a small proportion of the refugees in Italy and Djibouti.

In order to ensure the confidentiality of the interviews and cross-check information, the interviews were generally conducted in private in a separate room, with only the interviewee, a Human Rights Watch researcher, and a translator present to translate from Tigrinya into English—where translation was necessary. Some interviewees spoke sufficient English for Human Rights Watch to conduct the interview without translation. Human Rights Watch visited five different towns in Italy to interview different groups of refugees and worked with several different translators in an effort to ensure that the translation was unbiased.

Many of the refugees were fearful of describing their experiences in Eritrea because they were concerned that doing so could result in repercussions for their families. After Human Rights Watch explained the confidential nature of the interviews, some interviewees were chosen at random and other people volunteered to speak. Despite the wide variety of research locations, the interviews were consistent in describing patterns of abuses and conditions in various detention facilities. The accounts were also cross-checked with other independent sources to ensure their credibility. In some cases where specific incidents could not be cross-checked with independent sources, we have included descriptions of the abuse if we identified the case as part of a broader pattern independently documented by other credible sources.

Although Human Rights Watch did not conduct a formal fact-finding investigation in Eritrea due to the high risk posed to interviewees, a researcher did visit the country informally to cross-check certain areas of information.

Researchers also interviewed Eritrean academics, NGO activists, and journalists in exile in Italy and the UK as well as seven non-Eritrean academics, journalists, and experts based in London and four diplomats and international officials who live and work in Eritrea. Researchers also drew on medico-legal reports documenting evidence of torture in the cases of people fleeing to the UK prepared by the Medical Foundation for Care of the Victims of Torture, based in the UK. Between 2007 and 2008 the Medical Foundation received more than 150 requests for help from Eritreans claiming to have suffered torture and/or ill-treatment. Human Rights Watch also obtained documents from the Eritrean embassies in London and Washington, DC.

Recommendations
http://www.hrw.org/en/node/82280/section/5

To the Government of Eritrea

Unconditionally release, or charge and bring before a court of law all persons being detained for political reasons, including the members of the G-15 and imprisoned journalists.

Issue clear, public orders to the security forces to cease the arbitrary arrest and detention, and torture of people based on their religious beliefs.

Immediately allow independent monitors access to all known and secret Eritrean detention facilities. Notify family members of the whereabouts of detainees and restore visiting rights, access to legal representation, and respect international standards of law in the treatment of prisoners.

Investigate and prosecute all government officials, including military officers, suspected of committing murder, rape, torture, or cruel and degrading treatment of detainees and national service conscripts.

Publicly affirm the rights to freedom of expression, opinion, religion, association, and movement, and publicly state that no one may be imprisoned for exercising his or her non-violent opinions or beliefs. Put an end to discrimination against Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Rescind the suspension of the private press and permit the establishment of independent media outlets.

End the practice of indefinite national service and begin a process of phased demobilization for those who have served for more than the statutory 18 months.

Cease using national service conscripts as forced labor for private enterprises.

End the requirement of exit visas and travel permits for travel outside and within Eritrea and allow full freedom of movement within Eritrea for Eritrean citizens and for those seeking to work in Eritrea, with due regard to reasonable national security concerns.

Publicly rescind the shoot-to-kill policy for those suspected of trying to cross Eritrea’s borders without exit visas, and issue orders to military and other security forces to that effect.

Cease recruitment of any children under the age of 18 into military service and training.

Implement the 1997 constitution, approve a political party law, and begin preparations for democratic elections with international monitoring throughout the process.

Invite independent and impartial humanitarian agencies seeking to provide assistance to assess humanitarian needs and facilitate their unhindered access to civilians in need.

To the United States and the European Union

Insist that Eritrea implement the 1997 constitution, charge or release all political prisoners, end forced labor, and prepare for democratic elections.

To Donors: the European Commission, the World Bank, and UN Agencies

Condition future development cooperation with Eritrea on progress on fundamental human rights issues such as the release of political prisoners, access by independent monitors to detention facilities, and other benchmarks for progress on human rights in line with article 96 of the European Commission’s Cotonou agreement.

Stipulate that donor-funded projects should not be implemented by conscripts engaged in forced labor.

To the African Union

Call for the recommendations of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, including the immediate release and compensation of the imprisoned members of the G-15, to be implemented.

To Countries Hosting Eritrean Refugees and Asylum Seekers, in particular Egypt, Sudan, Libya, Malta, Israel, Turkey, Italy, Sweden, and the UK

Immediately cease any deportations of Eritrean refugees to Eritrea, consistent with guidance from UNHCR, for those countries that do not have functioning asylum procedures according to international standards. Permit UNHCR access to Eritrean asylum seekers in order to screen them for refugee status.

To the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

Intervene in a timely fashion to prevent all instances of refoulement of refugees or asylum seekers to Eritrea and work with governments to find alternative solutions to return if those governments are unwilling to honor their international obligations. Publicly condemn any governments that commit refoulement of Eritrean refugees or asylum seekers

Article Source: http://www.afroarticles.com/article-dashboard

About The Author: Dr. Muhammad Shamsaddin Megalommatis - is Orientalist, Assyriologist, Egyptologist, Iranologist, Islamologist, Historian and Political Scientist. Dr. Megalommatis, 52, is the author of 12 books, dozens of scholarly articles, hundreds of encyclopedia entries, and thousands of articles. He speaks, reads and writes more than 15, modern and ancient, languages.

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