Eritrea Rejects UN Report on Asylum-Seekers
Peter Clottey
November 22, 2014 8:59 PM
Eritrea's top diplomat to the United Nations says the U.N. High Commissioner
for Refugees has committed a "conceptual mistake" in a report, which stated
that in the past 37 days more than 6,000 Eritreans had claimed asylum in
neighboring Ethiopia.
The U.N. refugee agency said Eritrea's renewed conscription drive was to
blame for the sharp increase in the number of youths fleeing the country.
But Eritrea's U.N. ambassador, Girma Asmerom, dismissed the report as a
calculated effort to undermine the government by creating disaffection among
its population. He said Eritrean citizens migrate just like other nationals,
which he said is a global phenomenon.
"The U.N. has to do its bit of homework, because there are no asylum-seekers
in Ethiopia," said Asmerom. "We do not understand why they are concocting
certain terminologies of asylum-seekers, and [a] refugee kind of concept
does not really fit into the Eritrean picture," he said.
Rights record, oppression
Some human rights groups argue the Eritrean government's poor human rights
record, its policy of oppression and its forced military service are to
blame for the increase in Eritreans running away to seek asylum, in
countries including neighboring Ethiopia.
Asmerom said the accusations were aimed at tarnishing the country's image.
He contended that residents in the East African region often use Kenya,
Uganda and other countries as transit points during their migration.
"This is part of defamation and misinformation campaign, and it is a PR
[public relations] exercise by the Ethiopian government and the UNHCR, which
are looking for funding," he said. "You know they have to have a poster
child in order to get the funding. It's also an agenda to weaken ... the
capacity of the Eritrean army to defend its sovereignty."
Critics say the government in Asmara is intolerant of dissent, refuses to
embrace democracy, and continues to intimidate, arrest and imprison citizens
seen as opposing the administration.
'Insult' to government
Asmerom said such accusations were unfounded.
"This is a country where there is peace. You don't find any of the
ministers having bodyguards. ... Except the airport, you don't even see
electronic metal detectors, including the president's office. You don't get
really searched, you just go in," said Asmerom.
"This is an insult to the government. The Eritrean people know who they are,
what they want [and] how they live. So, this should be left to the people of
Eritrea."
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http://gdb.voanews.com/41635BC7-A9BE-491F-9D11-91228A443413_mw1024_s_n.jpg>
FILE - Tsega, 38, a migrant who fled Eritrea six years ago, poses with her
son Naher, 5, in front of their tent at a migrant shelter in Calais,
northern France, October 2014.
FILE - Tsega, 38, a migrant who fled Eritrea six years ago, poses with her
son Naher, 5, in front of their tent at a migrant shelter in Calais,
northern France, October 2014.
Received on Sat Nov 22 2014 - 14:31:50 EST