From: Sophia Tesfamariam (sophia_tesfamariam@hotmail.com)
Date: Fri Feb 19 2010 - 07:14:54 EST
http://oaklandlocal.com/blogs/2010/18/eritrean-community-oakland-gears-take-grievances-united-nations
Eritrean community in Oakland gears up to take grievances to the United Nations
Security Council resolution seen by local Eritreans as clearing the path for Ethiopian invasion
Members of Oakland’s Eritrean community are gearing up for a worldwide demonstration February 22 as part of a worldwide demonstration against the Dec 23, 2009 United Nations Security Council Resolution 1907, which, in the words of the UNSC, “imposed an arms embargo on that country, in addition to travel restrictions and a freeze on the assets of its political and military leaders.”
Local leaders in the Eritrean community say the embargo is based on specious reasoning and favors Ethiopia, an ally of the US government. Marches and rallies are planned for San Francisco, Washington DC, Geneva Switzerland and Melbourne Australia.
The Resolution addresses what the UNSC calls “findings that Eritrea had provided support to armed groups undermining peace and reconciliation in Somalia and that it had not withdrawn its forces following clashes with Djibouti.” Eritrea, in east Africa, shares a border with Djibouti and is less than 200 miles from Somalia.
Resolution 1907 is contentious because as Oakland resident Alazar Abraham says, it is “unjust, unfair, illegal, and has no foundation at all. It is allegation.”
Abraham says the resolution is somewhat symbolic because the economic and travel ban imposes sanctions on assets and activities that don’t exist. The arms ban, however, “could be seen as sign for the Ethiopians that they can invade Eritrea. That’s really bad.”
There is also concern that if the community doesn’t respond to this resolution, future sanctions will be increasingly draconian. “If we don’t react, inside and outside, the United Nations Security Council will go for stronger sanctions and that we don’t want. First, annul this sanction, secondly, don’t try a second one because it’s gonna be bad.”
Hiwot Nemariam, a member of the National Union of Eritrean Women, says that “as an Eritrean-American, America’s stand against Eritrea has always been so unfair, I never have an answer for why the US government does that in particular to Eritrea.”
There are strong ties between Eritreans in the US and in Eritrea. Nemariam, owner of a Temescal café, says “I pay my taxes and I request this to my government. Susan Rice [U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations] says she’s trying to punish the government and not the people of Eritrea. We are doing this to show that the people are the government and the government are the people. We are one.” Nemariam would like to see the government change their policy.
Both organizers share the concern that the background to this action is an attempt by the US government to use Ethiopia, along with South Africa, Nigeria and Egypt, as a base to control Africa. Nemariam explains: “Eritrea strongly believes in self reliance, and this is a new thing for America. It’s like before we go too far, the US government has to stop us.” Abraham adds “Eritrea doesn’t take a single penny from any government in the world. So what they are afraid is this new philosophy in Africa is going to be a bad example by positive empowerment.”
Addressing UN allegations that Eritrea is participating in Sudanese terrorism, Abraham states “Bin Laden’s first military attack was not from Afghanistan or Saudi Arabia or Yemen. It was in Eritrea from Sudan. We fought Bin Laden in Sudan and we sent him back where he came from. And our government advised and gave notice to the US officers that here is the base of terrorism. We can work together and we can fight terrorism. We don’t support it.”
Similarly, Ted Dagne, an Africa specialist for the Congressional Research Service asserted in a 2007 New York Times article that “If there is one country where the fighting of extremists and terrorists was a priority when it mattered, it was Eritrea.” This assertion has been contested by the Ethiopian embassy.
The Bay Area will be hosting concerned people from the western US, with activities Saturday and Sunday at the Eritrean Community Center in Oakland’s Temescal district. Abraham says anyone interested in finding out more information is welcome to attend the preparation session and dinner either evening. Volunteers will be assembling signs and preparing booklets with rally slogans.
Demonstration activities begin Monday morning at 10am in San Francisco’s Civic Center, when protestors will walk to the Federal Building to deliver a letter of protest. A rally in the UN Plaza will follow.
In the long term, local Eritrean organizers plan to raise community consciousness about Eritrea as a peaceful nation.
Eritreans in Oakland are also continuing to monitor the situation in Eritrea: Abraham asserts “We are always organizing community activities. Whenever our community back home needs our support we divert our activities. If there is drought, we go to fundraising. If there is an invasion from a neighboring country, it is not gonna happen. My generation has been fighting more than 30 years. After we paid so much we are not gonna give up. There is no way.”
Photo: Irene Nexica
Hiwot Nemariam, Alazar Abraham, and Tadesse T/Michael discuss the upcoming organizing efforts in the Temescal district.
Eritrea, Identity, Social Justice
Africa, terrorism
About Irene Nexica
Irene Nexica is a cultural critic focusing on issues of representation in popular culture, and local arts.irene_j_nexica Thu, 18 Feb at 10:59pm
irene_j_nexica's blog
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