Date: Sunday, 13 August 2017
Eritrea: The End of Obama and Clinton Coincides with That of The “Unjust Sanctions”
Change is in the wind in the United States, and soon also the UN begins to pull a new air: the sanctions on Eritrea, wanted by the Obama and Hillary Clinton, have already counted the hours.
Di Filippo Bovo
November 16, 2016
http://www.opinione-pubblica.com/eritrea-la-fine-obama-della-clinton-coincide-quella-delle-ingiuste-sanzioni/
August 13, 2017
Google Translation
Begins to break down the wall of the “unjust sanctions” imposed on Eritrea in 2010 behind the prosecution, revealed even then mendacious and now completely dismantled, of having supported the activities of al Shabaab in Somalia. Last October 27, the United Nations, the so-called “Special Rapporteur” on Eritrea has seen its report, presented to the Third Committee, been rejected by the vast majority of UN member states . Their report, based on documents of the now extinct Commission of Inquiry on Eritrea, has appeared to all present as a summation of old lies now hackneyed, “hot air.”
Three days ago, so, to the UN Security Council by representatives of Angola, Egypt, China, Russia and Venezuela have all spoken out against the “unjust sanctions” to Eritrea , asking that it immediately draws a clear “road map” leading to their total elimination. Rodrigo Ramirez, Venezuela’s ambassador, claimed responsibility for the growing feelings of solidarity and support of his people and his country for the State of Eritrea , pointed out that 70% of the sanctions imposed on African countries have been wanted by the former colonial powers and neo-colonialism US-led, and remembered finally with words touching the Eritrean diplomat at the UN, Girma Asmeron recently passed.
It was Hillary Clinton, then US Secretary of State, together with the Ethiopian government that addressed Eritrea in international charges of supporting in various ways the al Shabaab in Somalia . The prosecution, never really proved, however, was believed blindly by many international actors, apparently anxious not to give sorrow to the Obama administration and its powerful chief-diplomacy. It was said that Asmara had even sent their soldiers to Somalia, but for which the same Ethiopians, who had invaded Somalia, in reality they had not found any trace. Still, there was talk of arms supplies and ammunition, but also in this case without a single cartridge from Eritrea had never actually been found in Somalia.
What really bothered Eritrea was the fact that, in order to honor the ancient debt of gratitude to Somalia, a country that had helped them in the long years of war with the Ethiopian army to gain independence, they tried even cautiously mediation among different Somali tribal in reality, looking for a solution that would allow the reunification of the country and the return to peace, and of course right to the exclusion of al Shabaab.
Again, to make matters worse and further motivate the sanctions, the emphasis was placed on human rights violations within the Eritrean borders, citing in this case examples and fabricated evidence . These latest allegations responded last month the Canadian lawyer human rights expert Lloyd Lipsett , who in two different trips he got to travel to Eritrea probing the country from top to bottom. These are his words, spoken to the Subcommittee on International Human Rights in Canada: “First, there are some differences between the external relations and what I have observed on the ground. Frankly, I expected a more militarized environment and openly repressive than what I encountered in Asmara and at the mine site (Nevsun Bisha). I must admit that my investigation does not elaborate on all matters related to civil and political rights that are reported on Eritrea. But my first and second impressions of the country, and particularly on the mining site, do not agree with the characterization of Eritrea described as the North Korea of Africa. ” And again: ” As I said, I’ve read many of these reports [on the state of human rights in Eritrea, author’s note] before going to Eritrea, and I expected to see an oppression more apparent as seen in other states, and I have not seen. And in people with whom I have spoken, both formally and informally, I did not detect the traits of people who feel fear ” .
Although there are no official comments, the Obama administration end and the non-election of Hillary Clinton, who in recent years have been very used to de-legitimize, criminalize and destabilize Eritrea, it will undoubtedly have aroused some satisfaction even in Asmara. The sudden collapse of the “unjust sanctions”, as they were defined by Eritreans around the world as they appear, to Asmara is a welcome demonstration of how fast the wind is changing in relations between the West and the Horn of Africa.
