Sheila B.
Keetharuth Human rights issue or plain propagation?
By: Berhane
Woldu.
The
UN Special reporter Sheila B. Keetharuth In her report wrongly stated human
rights violations linked to the national service in Eritrea. The military services,
fear of being targeted, low salary, assignment to civil administration, lack of
freedom to decide their fate and counted it as human right violation.
From
the outset one can discredit the report due to the unfair agenda driven methodology,
lack of fairness or professional assessment. Sheila did not use valid and
reliable instrument to conduct her interview. Even if one accepts her report on
face value it does not hold water.
What
is wrong with military services? Are there no other nations who have their
civilian population trained as national army? My manager at Maryland State
Government USA was a colonel in the reserve army and used to take leave from
her regular work for training with the Army. Qatar one of the richest countries
in the world is now calling its nationals for national service. It’s normal for Eritrea to have a national
service.
Her
arguments are naïve at the least she states; can’t decide their faith, low
salary, the people fear of being targeted and assigned to civil administration.
Eritrea is a growing nation and not yet well developed economically like the
Western world it’s in no position to offer the choices and life style Sheila
mentions. There are few private sector jobs available and foreign investment is
in its infancy. There are foreign operated companies’ cases in point; Bisha
mining company 90% percent of its employees are well paid Eritreans. Every graduate is granted a professional job
at graduation unlike other countries where there is over 25% youth unemployment.
Eritrea is one of the safest countries in the world where a blond hair can walk
3:00 AM anywhere he or she wants without fear.
There
are many expatriates who have returned to Eritrea from USA, Europe, Asia and
Africa. If there was fear of “targeted persons” would theses people chose to
live in Eritrea. In Eritrea everyone, regardless where they reside, at the
start of twelve’s grade goes to Sawa for matriculation and six month military
training. Upon completing matriculation those who have scored greater than C-
attend colleges. Young adults are given two choices on what major they want to
complete their education; the higher your grade (A/B) the more likely to get
your choices. Those who scored lower C-and D goes to two years vocational
training; young adults who have lower score (D-) at matriculation are assigned
to work in the different ministries. Those that are assigned to the Ministry of
Defense are assigned to civilian duties and paid according to their pay scale in-addition
are awarded annually food products which increases their pay scale.
Eritrea
has professional army, navy, air force, Special Forces and many others. Eritrea
also has national army that is constituted of its entire nationals. Every
Eritrean male or female goes to a military training and Eritrean’s are all
trained and ready to defend their national interest.
One
needs to study the history of Eritrea. It’s a nation that achieved independence
through the arm struggle of its civilian population which was inclusive of
male, female, young and old. It should be of no surprise to anyone that Eritrea
is a nation of five million (5,000,000) well trained army and it will continue
as such because it is part and the essence of being an Eritrean.
Unlike
what Sheila Rapporteur states; in Eritrea there are ample opportunities for
people to work and have a meaningful life. I know quite a number of people who
work for the Ministry of Education as teachers after completing their Bachelors
degree. The salary that they are paid is minimal but unlike most young adults
in the USA these graduates have no student loans; education is free. These
teachers have second jobs; they teach on Saturdays, tutor children, work on
weddings; as wedding decorators, camera men/women, photographers and limo
drivers. They make sizable amount of money to supplement their incomes. I know
quite a few who have earned enough money to buy cars. The Ministry of health
employs’ a large number of graduates in different capacities; there are quite a
large number who have second jobs working for quasi-private hospitals, or as pharmacy
technicians for private pharmacies. The young adults work as barbers,
electronics repairers, TV/dish arrangers, some work with private consulting
firms and in sales. Banks offer profit sharing in addition to regular pay. The
opportunities to make money are countless. An Eritrean who lives in Eritrea has
a better life than a bellman in America or a goat herder in Israel.
Sheila
Rapporteur needs to understand which rights matter most. Rights is based on law
from real laws come real rights, from Imaginary laws fancied and invented by colonizers
and self serving nations are invented rights. People have certain natural and irreversible
rights; that all human have the rights to health, food, employment and equal
distribution of national wealth. In Eritrea you have the right to free
education, health and social services and you also have duties such as one year
national service. Human rights groups who campaign against violations of
political rights often ignored the economic and social rights which are the
prerequisite for political rights.
In
summation the UN human rights section should be ashamed in accepting such
poorly prepared report.
Received on Sat May 03 2014 - 21:34:57 EDT