Last Christmas Eve, while people were exchanging Christmas presents the UN Security Council handed the innocent people of Eritrea sanctions.
As if the pivotal principle of the presumption of innocence did not exist, Resolution 1907(2009) was adopted imposing sanctions on Eritrea on the basis of unsubstantiated allegations.
Baseless Accusations
The Resolution is based on two baseless accusations:-
Eritrea’s “support” to Somali insurgents
Eritrea’s failure to comply with Security Council request to resolve “a border dispute” with Djibouti.
Unjust and Void of Legality
The Resolution is based on unsubstantiated allegations and charges that are proven to be untrue and has therefore no legal ground.
Eritrea has vehemently denied the allegations and its consistent request for evidence has been ignored by the UN Security Council.
The “border dispute” with Djibouti, is a fabrication which has only been added to justify the sanctions.
This politically motivated resolution is thus another attempt against Eritrea’s freedom and sovereignty.
Other Ignored Facts in the Horn of Africa
In perspective of regional peace and security, the other ignored facts which ascertain that the resolution is politically motivated are:
In defiance of international ruling and law, Ethiopia still occupies sovereign Eritrean territories;
Ethiopia invaded Somalia with US support and in-breach of UN arms embargo and caused indiscriminate killings, systematic rape and arbitrary renditions to Ethiopian prisons;
In 2009, the chairman of the Committee of UN sanctions related to the Security Council that 80% of munitions available on the Somali markets were supplied by the Somali government soldiers and Ethiopian troops and elements of the peacekeeping force peace of the African
Union and Somali government soldiers were involved in arms trafficking;
On-going external interventions in Somalia and indeed in Sudan are complicating the comprehensive resolution of the problems in the Horn of Africa.
Our Demand for Justice
Thus, on the 22nd of February 2010, Eritrean communities around the world, friends of Eritrea and global citizens who care about international peace and justice participated in a world–wide demonstration that took place in Washington DC, San Francisco, Geneva, and Melbourne to call on the US Administration and the Security Council to:
Annul and repeal the unjust and illegal sanctions on this day.
End the occupation of Eritrean territories.
Address the essence of the problems in Somalia as imposing sanctions on Eritrea will not resolve the crisis.
A Call for a Concerted Peace Action
We call peace loving people of the US to:-
Support the just action for peace in the Horn of Africa and call on their
governments for action.
Join our E-SMART Campaign: Eritrean Sanctions Must be Annulled and Repealed Today