Eritrea Tax Collection in Switzerland Legal: Attorney General
http://www.tesfanews.net/switzerland-drop-eritrea-tax-collection-allegations/
By *TesfaNews*,
The Swiss Attorney General today *dropped*
<
http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/swiss-close-probe-into--illegal--eritrean-tax-claim/41799704>its
criminal investigations into an alleged “illegal” tax collection by the
Eritrean consulate in Geneva.
Prosecutors said the consulate could not be charged as the two percent
Recovery and Rehabilitation Tax (RRT) that are commonly known as the
‘Diaspora Tax’ are perfectly legal and authorized by the Eritrean state.
The Office of the Attorney General said as neither of the dispensing of
payment slips from the consulate nor the accounts opened for tax collection
purposes with a Swiss bank or reported evidences that exiled Eritreans have
passed as an alleged tax collection evidence represent a probable cause for
opening of proceedings.
For lack of a clear substantial violations and evidence, the Office of the
Attorney General, therefore, decided today to *CLOSE*
<
http://www.20min.ch/schweiz/news/story/31160158>the preliminary
investigation on a number of the complaints filed by the Federal Office of
Police effective immediately.
*ALSO READ : Rehabilitation and Recovery Tax (RRT): Why the Uproar?
<
http://www.tesfanews.net/rehabilitation-and-recovery-tax-why-the-uproar/>*
Germany, Sweden and the UK have already proved the legality of the 2% RRT
collection and have thrown similar allegation for lack of violations of any
of the local laws as well as provisions of the UN Resolutions.
Last year, the Swedish parliament, Riksdag, defeats a motion proposing for
a ban on taxation of Eritrean citizens in Sweden by the Eritrea consulate
by misrepresenting reports of the UN Monitoring Group. However, UN Security
Council Resolution 2013(2011) does not prevent Eritrea from collecting 2%
RRT as levying of various taxes is surely the prerogative and sovereign
right of any country.
*READ MORE : Swedish Parliament Rejects Ban on Diaspora Tax
<
http://www.tesfanews.net/swedish-parliament-rejects-ban-on-eritrea-diaspora-tax/>*
As the summary of the final decision by Swedish Riksdag stipulates,
“It can be stated that under international law, it is permissible for a
State to tax citizens residing abroad. However, it is not permissible for a
state to take action without the consent of the territory of another State
to recover the fund. If these measures include criminal documents, it must
of course be prosecuted and punished. The foregoing means that if the
representative of Eritrea in the recovery order acting in a criminal way
(eg with unlawful stalking, blackmail or threats) against someone in Sweden
should be handled by the judiciary in the context of current legislation.
It should be emphasized that for this type of behavior to come to the
attention of the authorities normally requires that the affected police
reports it. It does not see the need for any new laws to address criminal
activity for the specific context of the Eritrean tax collection. The
Committee therefore proposes that Parliament *REJECTS* motions 2012/13.″
*What is Recovery and Rehabilitation Tax (RRT)?*
The RRT is part and parcel of Eritrea’s taxation law and system. It was
inspired by the Eritrean communities in diaspora during Eritrean referendum
process. It was later enacted by the National Assembly in 1994 under the 2% Tax
Form Proclamation No 17/1991 & 67/1995 to encourage Eritreans in the
Diaspora to contribute to the rehabilitation of their country that have
devastated by three decades of war for national independence and freedom.
The RRT proclamation, therefore, specifically targets only Eritrean
citizens in Diaspora, not citizens of other countries of Eritrean decent.
The rate was fixed at a low 2% of their net income; in a country where
personal income tax is progressive and reaching up to 38%.
Received on Wed Nov 25 2015 - 17:52:27 EST