Vol 22. No. 81 Saturday, 12 December, 2015 Pages 8, Price 2.00 NFA

Press statement“Commission of inquiry”: unwarranted

witCh-hunting of eritreaThe “Commission of Inquiry on Eritrea” has recently issued invitations to

“interested individuals, groups and organizations” to submit alleged human rights violations, “including where these violations may amount to crimes against humanity perpetrated in Eritrea since its independence”.

This act constitutes yet another campaign of unwarranted witch-hunting of Eritrea by an entity which has clearly opted to instrumentalize human rights to serve political agendas.

Indeed, for the “Commission of Inquiry”, it is the very independence of Eritrea, won through a popular resistance against colonial occupation after three decades of armed struggle and huge human sacrifices, that has to be put on trial. This is too indecent and irresponsible to merit serious consideration. COI’s appalling imprudence is not only an insult to Eritrea but it also makes a caricature of fundamental pillars and sacrosanct principles of human and people’s rights enshrined in the UN Charter, the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights as well as other relevant international conventions.

The “Commission of Inquiry” has been afflicted by political bias and a litany of procedural flaws in the manner that it carried out its “investigative mission” from the outset. Eritrea has elucidated these untenable flaws in its comprehensive response to the report issued by the COI in June this year. Major anomalies in the process include the following:

1. The HRC resolutions contradict accepted norms by a majority of States against country-specific measures in situations where the Universal Periodic Review mechanism is operational and effective. Eritrea was and remains fully engaged in the UPR process. In this respect, the discriminatory measures invoked against Eritrea contravene agreed ground rules and procedures and have no dividend in the promotion and protection of human rights.

2. The HRC resolutions that created the Special Rapportuer and the Commission of Inquiry were adopted in an under-handed manner to serve overriding political agendas of certain countries. In both cases, the resolutions were mainly tabled and co-sponsored by Somalia and Djibouti. These countries were prodded to do so to give an African semblance to an exercise that was in reality “led behind” by certain powers.

3. The Special Rapporteur on Eritrea has a personal history of biased and subversive involvement in the affairs of a sovereign nation she barely knows about. But she was handpicked for the job in spite of her compromised political stance and obvious conflict of interest. In addition, she was appointed to the COI; an explicable act bound to corrode the neutrality, objectivity and credibility of that “new fact-finding” body.

4. All three COI members subsequently exceeded their mandate to actively engage in militant smear campaigns against Eritrea when their report was issued but long before it was submitted to the HRC for discussion and due consideration. This was a clear violation of their mandate but it also exposed their lack of neutrality and professionalism. In spite of these obvious flaws, the HRC failed to take requisite remedial action.

5. There is overwhelming evidence that COI members maintain to this day open association and close consultations with subversive Eritrean elements in the Diaspora as well as with Ethiopia and Djibouti, although they know full well that the latter have adversarial ties with Eritrea. On the other hand, the COI continues to refuse to meet or receive submissions from thousands of Eritreans in the Diaspora as well as neutral institutions and private foreign companies that have presence in Eritrea but that seriously question and refute its erroneous approaches, narrations and conclusions.

6. The last report of COI was collected from a few hundred asylum seekers without rigorous validation for its veracity. The current process underway will not be different in any way as COI’s standards of proof and validation remain awfully subjective and weak, rationalized as they are by what is termed as “reasonable grounds to believe”.

In the event, it is clear that COI’s mission, working modalities and objectives have nothing to do with the promotion of human rights. This is essentially an entity that has set out to undermine Eritrea’s inalienable sovereign rights under the pretentious umbrella of human rights. COI’s mission, including the present request for submissions, must therefore be rejected and challenged in its totality.

Ministry of InformationAsmara

12 December 2015

Eritrean communities in various capitals abroad are holding extensive public meetings to keep abreast with developments at home and to discuss ways and means of augmenting their support to ongoing national development efforts. In this vein, Eritrean communities in Stockholm and

A team of 14 Austrian doctors are performing surgeries for patients with urinary tract infections at the Orotta National Referral Hospital.

The medical interventions also include the treatment of children afflicted with kidney ailments.

Dr. Habteab Mehari, Director of the National Referral Hospital,

Copenhagen held successive public seminars this week that were presided by Mr. Yonas Mana, Eritrea’s Charge d’Affaires at the Eritrean Embassy to the Scandinavian countries.

Similarly Eritrea’s Consul General in Canada,Mr. Tumzgi Tesfu, addressed public seminars

in Montreal and Ottawa. In all these interactive seminars, the participants have charted out various plans of action for bolstering concrete support to their nation as well as activities geared towards effective public advocacy work to counter ill-willed smear campaigns against their country.

PubliC meetings in sweden, norway and Canada

austrian doCtors Perform surgeries

told Erina News that the current medical support given by the 14-member ARCHEMED medical team is a continuation of similar services rendered over the past 12 years.

Prof. Riccasona Bona, the Head of the team, asserted that the group has given medical treatment to

over three thousand children in periodic visits to the country in the past 12 years.

Prof. Josef Oswald, another member of ARCHEMED, explained that collaborative work with Eritrean medical doctors has been vital for exchanging experiences and best practices.

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Eritrea Profile, Saturday, 12 December, 2015

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Azmera berhaneSara Alem

Excellences attending this event

Ladies and Gentlemen

I feel honoured to make this statement and greatly commend the EU Delegation in Eritrea for arranging this event.

Today marks the 67th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the 70th anniversary of the United Nations. The post World War period was a good reminder to collectively aspire, hope and establish organs and binding legal instruments to promote human betterment and avoid human suffering and atrocities. The central question however, remains: how better are our citizens today and how far are we from our international obligations? As the response lie on the question itself, let me shed some light about the occasion in line with the Eritrean context.

In the Eritrean Society and indeed, in most other communities, the history of humanity is as old as chiefdoms and beyond. The wisdom of our ancestors that drove us to chart formal instruments and setup institutions should therefore be equally celebrated and this occasion is only the continuation of the unfulfilled aspirations of our citizenries.

The ambitious goals drawn in 1948 and further developed to real commitments in the two big Covenants should not in their self be sufficient to ignore the wisdom of our societies who remain the main protectorate and Steward of those rights.

For us, the denial of our right to independence and self

determination following the decolonization of Africa was a clear violation of the bold right to self determination enshrined in the UN Charter and one of utter failure of the UN that we all hoped to safeguard the collective and individual rights. Despite the unjust treatment however, the people of Eritrea waged a long and bitter war to restore independence by adhering to the principle of humanity and international norms during the 30 years long armed struggle that was finally culminated by a de facto independence and a UN monitored Referendum with unprecedented result in favour of independence and high rate of turnover. But again we find ourselves in a similar coercive condition unjustly sanctioned by the UNSC while our territories still remain under occupation.

Ladies and gentlemen,

As a nation that emanated from the struggle for human rights, Eritrea’s effort and achievements to mainstream human rights in national development within a short span of time is a living testimony to its commitment, as evident in the peace and stability, growth and development of the nation. The human rights implication is manifested in the promotion of equal rights and opportunities sanctioned by national law, improvement of living standards that promote fundamental rights, create equitable growth and sharing of wealth.

The above tenets are thus the objective expression of an emerging Eritrea striving to build a dignified, secure and prosperous life for its people. It is a dividend earned through resilience,

sacrifice and industriousness of a people working in unison with a Government that has visionary leadership, pragmatic development approaches and commitment to the interests of the nation and the people. However, challenges and shortcoming in all sectors including in the human rights area, still persist and efforts are made to progressively address them.

While the above hard facts of reality are evident, Eritrea has been politically targeted by coercive, duplicate HCR mechanisms (the SR and the COI) that continue to draw unprofessional conclusions and produce unreliable, unrealistic and unaccounted reports from dubious faceless and nameless sources.

The pretence here is that the coercive approaches are also sustained while Eritrea is seriously engaged in the UPR process. Engagement has also been initiated with the OHCHR where three priority sectors, namely, strengthening the judiciary, persons with disabilities and access to water and sanitation have been identified for technical cooperation. However, the allegations and actions of the SR and COI have been attempting to circumvent and undermine the UPR process and the other engagements. Eritrea rejects the country specific mandates but reiterates its commitment to further strengthen engagement and cooperation on fundamental human right issues.

Excellencies,

Ladies and gentlemen,

At the international level, we continue to witness the

weakness of the mechanisms and monopolization of decisions remains of great concern to many small states. Deviations from the norms of human rights are becoming the norm and not the exception. In several occasions, the international community tried to overcome this weakness but to no avail. The UN Human Rights Council established recently in 2006 seems to be overwhelmed with political decisions. Discussions among member states on items pertaining to country specific mandates have sharply divided the council and are leading to confrontation. The trend is clear and bears no dividend to discharging the lofty objectives the Council is entrusted with.

In conclusion, I would like to seize this opportunity to renew

2

our commitment to engaging the Diplomatic Core and the UN Country Team in Eritrea with a sincere hope that the frank discussions will reflect the reality to the general public and positively influence reports on Eritrea.

Ladies and Gentlemen, today’s event can thus be used as occasion to reiterate Eritrea’s unreserved commitment to promote, protect and fulfil human rights. Indeed, the effort in the next 3-4 years will focus on consolidating the development gains in general and on human rights in particular. As ever, mainstreaming of fundamental human rights will continue as a core principle.

I thank you!Asmara

10 December 2015

Statement by Minister Osman Saleh on the Occasion of international Human Rights Day

The Eritrean Association in Denmark extended educational materials to different schools in the Southern region.

The donation includes over 530 desks, chairs, blackboards and cupboards as well as mobile X-ray machines intended for medical service.

The Association has a long history, going back to the period of the armed struggle for liberation, of raising funds from the Eritrean community there to support various projects in the homeland.

loCal news

suPPort to eduCation

The Ministry of Labour and Human Welfare has stated that urgent assistance will be extended to families affected by floods in Foro Sub-zone, Northern Red Sea region.

The Minister of Labour and Human Welfare, Mr. Kahsai Gebrehiwet, and Mrs. Tsigereda Woldegergis, the Regional Administrator, visited this week the areas affected by heavy rains in the sub-zone.

Residential homes of about 120 families as well as three thousand hectares of crops under cultivation were destroyed by the unusually heavy rains and subsequent flooding. The Administration has already embarked on repair of damaged infrastructural facilities.

assistanCe to families in foro sub-zone

Eritrea Profile, Saturday, 12 December, 2015 3

Apart from its towering external magnificence, the internal design and art deco of the Asmara Cathedral, located in the main streets of Asmara in the Liberation Avenue, is by far amongst the major architectural works of art in Africa. Most of the buildings in the main streets of the Liberation Avenue, particularly the Cathedral, were designed in the form of art deco and modernist styles giving Asmara quaint beauty and elegance.Asmara is mainly known by its beautifully designed buildings representing the colonial architectures in Africa. These buildings were built during the Italian colonization after Mussolini came to power in 1922. According to history, Mussolini sought to establish Eritrea as a strong industrial base for Italian colonies in the Horn of Africa.

As a result, Eritrea, Asmara in particular became an experimental architectural laboratory in which new and exciting ideas could be tested by architects, engineers, and other craftsmen. One of these beautifully designed architectures in Asmara is that of the Cathedral

or Cathedrale.

Before Cathedral was originally designed, it was named St. Mark’s Church, which was built in 1895 by an architect named Oreste Scanavini. Later after the church was rebuilt, the name was changed. Another architect called Mario Mazzetti designed the actual draft of the work in constructing the Cathedral.

The Cathedral was constructed from 1921 to September 1923 and was inaugurated in 1923, and is thought to be one of the finest Lombard – Romanesque –style churches outside Italy. Mario used a “Gothi Romano” style to build the catholic cathedral.

The imposing church is around 2500m long and 2000m wide. Around 52m high, the tower of the bell is made of visible face bricks. Generally, there are eight bells in the tower.

In addition to this, this amazing Cathedral has four clocks, which were built in 1924.These four clocks were mechanically timed to sound alarms every 15 minutes.

They were electrically upgraded in 1992. What makes this electrical clock amazing and interesting is that, it doesn’t go retroactive, and just begins at the current time automatically.

The Cathedral also contains a small building, which used to be a school for Italian lawyers until 1958. Later when this school was closed it became a home for priests until it was again changed to a school for people of different ages and served as a clinic during the Ethiopian colonization. Nowadays this building is serving as a kindergarten. The Institute of the Catholic Theological School is also found here.

On the other end of the Cathedral premises, another architecturally beautiful building built in 1925 provides a home for the priests. Furthermore, the first printing machine in the Horn of Africa is planted within the very walls of this building. This machine was first installed in Massawa, and then it was moved to Keren and later brought to Asmara. This printing machine published various books and magazines for

the first time in Eritrea.

In addition to all these historical details, the internal premises of the Cathedral are also equally magnificent and wonderful. One who has never seen the inside of the church of course has to admire the external view, but the inside is a work of art one would just gaze from top to bottom without a blink. This beautiful building consists of three arcs designed in a Roman style supported by three pillars each.

There are also beautiful paintings of angels which makes the church much more attractive. These paintings include that of St. Joseph, St. Antonio, St. Rita, St. Francesco’s and others.

There is also a charming small house made of a skillfully sculpted wood in the eastern part of the church. Priests used this small house as a place for congregation, as microphones were not common during that time. Almost all the materials inside the church are made of olive wood, except the altar. The altar is made of Carrara marble, one of the most beautiful

The Asmara Cathedral: An Architectural Wonder

marbles in Italy.

There are three confession chambers and baptistery carved from Italian walnut inside the church. This church also consists of two other palaces in both the eastern and western parts, which used to be called as “Cantoria”. These amazing “Cantoria” palaces were used as a stage for the choir during the Italians. But nowadays they are keeping as great monuments.

The main and most important secret of this amazing building are the painting of the saint Mary surrounded by angels and the grave of Padre Camillo Carrara inside the church.

The Saint Mary portrait was painted around 1625 by one of the renowned Italian artists Carlo Maratta di Camerano. This painting was presented by Vitorio Emmanuel, King of Italy, during the inauguration of this Cathedral. According to a plaque inside the cathedral, Mussolini himself was a patron of this construction.

This imposing Cathedral in its Lombard- Romanesque style also has an amazing sculpture of the Padre who was the reverend of the church while it was being constructed.

There is a carefully designed sculpture of the Padre erected by the side of the tomb. There are also two plates of marble on both sides of the church. On the marble are engraved tributes for those individuals and organizations that helped in the construction of this building financially.

The Cathedral is a representation of the many wonders of the architectural heritage of Asmara. Its majestic structure is a focal point in the downtown area and a great tourist attraction.

The Cathedral, apart from being a place for worship has also become integrated into the daily lives of the Asmarinos. It is familiar to see people sitting around the entrance relaxing and the steps are a common meeting place for friends.

Sirak H.

In December 2011, the Peace Corps Worldwide published an anatomy of foreigners who served in Eritrea for fixed terms. Edited by Marian Haley, this book is entitled ‘Eritrea Remembered, Recollections and Photos by Peace Corps Volunteers,’ and has archived realistic styles of Eritreans way of life which is still commonly applicable. Excerpted content of the book follows:

“Asmara’s beauty sources out from the residents’ adherence to the culture of respect, mutual engagements and social links.

Thus, Asmara is not only the Capital City of Eritrea; remarkably, it is also the Capital City of Good Reminiscences,” wrote Marcel Claxton, an over sea volunteer who served in Keih Bahri Secondary School here in Asmara from 1999-2000. His perspective is right; it was neither based on sermons of other quarters’ media nor was it based on shallow evidences.

Thus, after the addition of a new book which focuses on narrating

the reminiscences of eighteen volunteers of the Peace Corps about Eritrea on December 14 of 2011, various comments stormed the current social network hubs. “Asmara is created to be a City of giving not only taking, for sharing but not to accommodate covetous acts, and mankind is born there to be a real citizen,” tweeted one Eritrean after reading three chapters of the book ‘Eritrea Remembered.”

Indifferent to the aforementioned lines as tweeted by #Ertra Natna Eya, one of the eighteen contributors of this book, Mr. Wayne Kessler, also showered his reminiscences about Eritrea unreservedly but in similar way.

Wayne Served in Adi-Tekelzan from 1964-1966. Thus, supported by such exposition, Kessler first-hand testimonials starts with showering his reminiscences about Asmara. “We were walking in streets that had been previously off limits entirely or at least after evening curfew.” Kessler remembered the worst

time under the yoke of colonials; the memories were gruesome and the news was about the primitive colonial attitudes.

Thus, Kessler had the opportunity to have his foothold in post-independent Asmara.

“Asmara still looked like a Southern Italian art deco style town with fading pastel colors and ornate window and door frames that were right out of the 1920s and 1930s. And surprisingly…after a 30 years’ war, it is safe to walk around anywhere night or day (p.9-10)”. Yet, the memories are not only concerned with unfolding the elements of the Capital City only; over that, Kessler is deeply engulfed into surprising the world after remembering ex-house keeper, Abeba.

Thus, in the article entitled ‘Returning to our Future,’ Kessler authenticated the culture of hospitality by stating Abeba’s generous lifestyle which is a reflection of the rest society; hence, “she (Abeba) wanted to prepare a meal for us, but when we declined, she rummaged around and produced six eggs for me to take to Laurie in California. I almost cried (P.13).” Of course, the culture of generosity attracts the focus of every keen individual as now we are struggling within the empires of the materialistic world. “Generosity starts at home and ends in the heart of children,” wrote Joseph Maclean in his post in Instagram concerning to this book.

Thus, uncorrupted culture of generosity which is still intact in villages and rural areas of Eritrea attracts another opportunity for experiencing the circles of long-lasting friendship.

Tom Gallagher, a volunteer who was in Eritrea from 1962 till 1964, also affirmed to the strengthened bond of friendship that exists to the date in an article he contributed to ‘Eritrea Remembered.’ In his well-crafted essay—‘Salaam, Salaam Alaykum Camelona’—Tom armored the manifestations of many tourists

who authenticate that Eritreans are so nice in friendship and socialization platforms. “Eritrea gave me the best two years of my life for which I still be grateful. It also gave me the best friends I have ever had (Page 39),” Tom archived his nostalgia in figurative narration.

Among the different ways of expressions Eritreans have developed to share together is, therefore, playing the cultural dance and musical performance together. In her book entitled “Living History,” Hilary Rodham Clinton also archived that “(the revolutionary fighters) had to dance to remind their-selves of a world without war (p.405).”Thus, among those who have provided their appealing essays about Eritrea to the aforementioned book, Cynthia Kinberlin also showed her success in integrating facts about Eritrea.

What Cynthia has paid its focus is the unique musical heritages of the country.

Thus, reading that “although I have since studied other music, none has had a greater impact on me than that first experience of hearing…Eritrean music in Africa (Page 37),” armors that our musical legacies are unique and profoundly an attractive cultural ingredients.

Meanwhile, in the fall of last month, higher educational delegations from China toured in Eritrea, and during our session in Massawa, the members of the delegation asserted that “the students from Eritrea are really magnetized to the real value of education and having them in our hub is really a prominent opportunity.” And in this book “Eritrea Remembered,” Neil Kotler contributed an article ‘Meeting with My Students,” and clearly stated that: “I shall never forget the ambition grace, and intelligence that characterized my students (page 70).” And this reminded me of the ex-Italian educational Bureau head in Eritrea, Mr. Andrea Desta, who in 1927 advocated for limiting educational opportunities till

fourth grade argued that the acumen of the Eritrean student is amazing and incredible.” (Antonio Serra, 2014:p.34).

To armor this, reading selected paragraphs from Paul’s E. Huntsberger article, ‘The Saga of Segeneiti” from ‘Eritrea Remembered’ provide readers with vivid images of the society as far as concerning the significance and value of education from which we can mention many teachers who were idols of the 1960s generation.

Thus, Paul states: “Berekti Andu who was tasked with preparing our meals, doing our laundry by hand, cleaning the house, and shopping for vegetables and a goat at the weekly outdoor market.”

Paul narration do not stopped; over such discipline of work, he was attracted to the fact that Berekti was a committed Eritrean mother who showed him the world of unique experiences in which perceived stereotypes are not encouraged. “About age 50, she was an amazing woman who had never attended school yet spoke Tigrigna, Amharic, English, Italian and Arabic. She, Berekti, became a special person in my life and I thought of her not as a maid, but as my Eritrean mother who counseled me as I learned to adjust life (p.151-152).”

Paul came to freed Eritrea in 2002 and met Berekti Andu in Segeneiti. How was the event then? “I am still proud of having my allotment of life with those who act and live,” he asserted to that time reminder who accompanied him in that year tour in Eritrea.

Henceforth, as briefing full contents of this an interesting book is not possible; at last, I chose to close by the remarks of Curt Peterson. On page 89, Curt articulate “that I could never repay the people of Eritrea for their support, kindness, wisdom and patience.”

Yosief Abraham Z.

‘Eritrea Remembered’: Accounts of Expatriates Reminiscences about Eritrea

Eritrea Profile, Saturday, 12 December, 2015 4

Sophia Tesfamariam

Christopher John Fox in his 1983 book, “INFORMATION AND MISINFORMATION -An Investigation of the Notions of Information, Misinformation, Informing, and Misinforming” wrote the following about “information”:

“…Information seems to be everywhere. We talk of its being encoded in the genes, so it must be carried in every living cell of every living thing. We say that it is disseminated by media of communication, so it must be transmitted around the world by wire, microwave, laser light, and radio wave, broadcast by television and radio, and printed in newspapers, magazines, journals, and so on. We say that information is exchanged in conversation, so it must be present in billions of the utterances occurring every day. Information is also said to be contained in all sorts of things, including books, letters, telegrams, films, tapes, computers, and minds…Libraries are overflowing with it, institutions are bogged down by it, and people are over- loaded with it…Information, then, is as ubiquitous as air, or heat, or water. But it differs from these latter things in having a far more mysterious nature. For although we can say quite exactly what air, heat, and water are, no one seems to know exactly what information is…”

No one disputes the importance of information, but the question for today is, how is information being used by the media today, and what does truth have to do with information that is being shared?

According to the famous Canadian Journalists for Free Expression campaign from which the subject and title for today’s piece is being borrowed, “Information is Ammunition”. Not at all what this author would have imagined news reporting to be about. Unfortunately, in today’s politicized media landscape, it is not farfetched to imagine that information is in fact, used as ammunition against targeted states, and not necessarily to inform the public or tell the truth. It does not matter that the information being

Eritrea Profile, Saturday, 12 December, 2015 5

disseminated is categorically false, as long as it serves its purpose…

Eritreans in the Diaspora have, for the last 50 years or so, experienced two extremes when it comes to news coverage about Eritrea, her people and government. These two extremes, from complete blockage or gag order on any news about Eritrea, to a decade of outright lies and fabrications, have not only distorted world view on this nation and its people, it has also caused unnecessary pain and suffering. For Eritreans in the Diaspora, it has been an interesting week for prevailing narratives on Eritrea. Long before the Commission of Inquiry on Eritrea (COIE) was established, there were some narratives that were propagated by the mainstream media and the NGO community, with some “Eritrean Faces” in tow. The one that garnered the most attention was the National Service Program (NSP). The youth in the NSP were labeled “slaves” and Eritrea’s mining sector was viciously targeted.

With global monopoly on the news, mainstream media had a field day disseminating lies about Eritrea and propagating deliberately constructed narratives in a decade long, orchestrated, defamation and vilification campaign. For Eritreans, journalism lost its luster. Libelous, insulting, and false statements about Eritrea became the daily norm. “Cut and Paste” articles about the young nation were produced by individuals that never ever set foot in the country. But the misinformation was not just on the part of the journalists, soon members of the NGO networks and even anthropologists and other social scientists that had opportunities to learn about the young nation, its people and its cultures and traditions, became party to the illicit politically motivated campaigns.

The campaign was wide and far reaching as this excerpt from a letter that attempted to justify their activities shows (http://zeroanthropology.net/2014/09/20/on-eritrea-cross-talk-without-dialogue /):

“…We are among an international group of researchers – social scientists, historians, legal scholars and journalists – with decades of

experience working on the Horn of Africa country of Eritrea and/or the Eritrean diaspora. We are citizens and/or residents of many countries: Eritrea, Canada, the US, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Norway, Italy, Germany, and the UK…”

These “scholars” did not deny their engagement in anti-Eritrea activities, using the cover of their professions and unabashedly state the following:

“…While it is true that some of us have interfaced with international human rights organizations, stated positions on sanctions and arms embargoes on Eritrea from a critical human rights perspective, or have engaged with officials in various governments about the problems in Eritrea…these are matters of our own conscience and we each take nuanced positions rooted in careful research and years of understanding of the Eritrean situation. Scholars who study Eritrea indeed disagree among ourselves about the merits of these positions and whether these are the best methods for applying our empirical knowledge…”

But it is precisely the information gathered by these very individuals that are found in the Commission of Inquiry reports. It is the ammunition that was used to “strengthen” UN sanctions against Eritrea. It is the ammunition that was used to compel the UN Human Rights Council to appoint the Special Rapporteur and the Commission of Inquiry.

When the Commission of Inquiry on Eritrea produced its “cut and paste” Report filled with unsubstantiated allegations, Eritreans expected experienced and seasoned journalists to pick through the voluminous report and expose the inconsistencies and outright lies, but instead, the mainstream media decided to use the “UN” Report as ammunition to advance the anti-Eritrea campaign. Even though the Commission relied on the testimonies of faceless and nameless individuals and reports prepared by the above mentioned “scholars”, no journalists questioned the COIE’s questionable modus operandi- or its obvious and documented political motives. For the lazy journalists, the “UN Report” became another ammunition to use against the State of Eritrea and its leadership.

It should be recalled that it was Human Rights Watch (HRW) that first accused Eritrea of using “conscripted labour” in Eritrea’s mining sector. Its findings were based on information gathered by an Eritrean Human Rights Group funded by the National Endowment for Democracy (NED). For $80,230 the NED commissioned this “NGO” to:

“…increase awareness of the human rights struggle in Eritrea, HRC-Eritrea will advocate with key international and regional human rights bodies, raise awareness on international mining companies and forced labor used at mining sites in Eritrea, and push for the cessation of the two percent tax levied on Eritrean diaspora…”

So the HRC-Eritrea and the above mentioned “scholars” and “activists” in their coterie set out to do as instructed and the laundered information was then used to compile the Commission of Inquiry’s Report on Eritrea, and the information contained in that “UN” report was then used as ammunition by journalists and others against the State of Eritrea.One such journalist is Martin Plaut of the BBC who has milked the Commission of Inquiry’s report dry. In one of his posts writing about operations at the Bisha, Plaut said:

“…The Canadian Mining group, Nevsun, has been under intense pressure after the UN’s Commission of Inquiry found evidence that it was employing Eritrean conscripts. The National Service personnel, working through a South African subcontractor, were using the conscripts in slave-like conditions. As the UN report put it: “Eritreans are subject to systems of national service and forced labour that effectively abuse, exploit and enslave them for indefinite periods of time.”…”

Plaut did not bother to mention the findings found in the report, “Human Rights Impact Assessment of the Bisha Mine in Eritrea: Audit 2015”, commissioned by Nevsun which stated the following:

“…The HRIA auditing activities at Segen Construction and Transhorn Trucking have uncovered no evidence of national service workers at the Bisha Mine… that it is highly unlikely that forced labour is being used at present, or will be used in the future, by state-owned subcontractors at the Bisha mine…”

A deadly web of deceit… Statements and responses by the

Government of Eritrea were summarily discarded and anyone who challenged the media and NGO narratives on Eritrea was berated, insulted, intimidated and harassed. Eritreans who defended their country were labeled “government loyalists” and “apologists for the regime in Eritrea”. But that was not the only result of the misinformation campaigns, the false information propagated by the mainstream media caused tangible harm-they unnecessarily alarmed people and caused irreparable damage. It unnecessarily compromised the

lives of thousands of young Eritreans who were influenced by such distorted and politically motivated reports.

But it is facts, not lies, that are said to be stubborn, and today, the true facts about Eritrea’s National Service Program and Eritrea’s mining sector are slowly emerging. Not that Eritreans need the validation of Louis Mazel, the American Charge D’Affaires in Eritrea, but it seems he has been able to see for himself and bear witness of the operations at the Bisha mines, and tell about it. Louis Mazel wrote the following after a visit to the Bisha mines.

“…I had the opportunity November 21-22 to visit the Bisha Mine …I have been wanting to visit the mine for some time as it is the only mine currently operating in the country (although the Zara Mine should come on line soon) and is a major contributor to the Eritrean economy. I was joined on the trip by diplomats from Canada, Germany, South Africa, the United Kingdom, the European Union and the United Nations….For me, the visit was a real eye-opener. The Bisha Mine is a modern, well-run facility that currently employs 1400 people, of whom 90 percent are Eritrean. Twenty percent of the employees are women and the Bisha facility is creating employment opportunities for people in neighboring towns and villages, who otherwise would never have opportunities to work in the wage economy.…In sum, I saw a Western mining company that is creating jobs, investing in local people, mining responsibly, respecting human rights, acting as a good neighbor, and contributing to national development in Eritrea. I hope this will become a model for future mines operating in the country…”

Hope the good diplomat will not suffer the wrath of Martin Plaut and his ilk who had carefully crafted the narrative on Eritrea and even managed to hoodwink UN mandated bodies to usethe information in compiling their reports. Hope he will not be harassed and intimidated for telling the truth and shattering the ugly narrative propagated by Eritrea’s internal and external enemies.

It is a miracle that Eritrea has been able to dodge the deadly ammunition used by the media and the NGO networks to undermine Eritrea’s development, but Eritrea, armed with the truth lasting ammunition), has not just weathered the ugly storm, but survived and thrived...and once again…prevailed.

Information is ammunition…let us continue to show and tell the Eritrean story!

information is Ammunition

6Eritrea Profile, Saturday, 12 December, 2015 ADS

VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENTBisha Mining Share Company is inviting applicants for the following position for Bisha site project;

Engineering Manager

Number required – (01)Type of contract – Definite period (Two Years) Major Duties and Responsibilities.

Planning Suggests new ideas/proposals, as well as encouraging others to •improve the Engineering Division operation. Manages the development of Standard Operating Procedures •(SOP’s).Responsible for Budgeting and Control.•

Implementation Manages the Engineering team who are responsible for maintenance •and repairs of Equipment, in line with plans to ensure an efficient and effective operation, in order to achieve/exceed operational targets to maximize mine “up-time”.Ensure safety requirements are fulfilled at the work place, including •leading Field Level Risk Assessment (FLRA) and proper use of the appropriate PPE. Report any safety issues/incidents.Comply with mine’s cardinal rules and other safety, environmental •or other rules and standards as directed. Ensure all hazards and risks are identified, reported and eliminated.Coordinate the Engineering Division resources (people; equipment; •spares/consumables; and facilities to ensure processing utilization and cost management objectives meet or exceed targets.Assists with managing the monthly expenses vs budgets.•Ensure equipment performance/reliability, quality and costs are in •line with budget.Ensure appropriate level of resourcing. (Maximize efficient use of •materials, tools, equipment)Manage engineering activities according to plans, legislation, •client needs. Best practices and principles to conform to standards, methods and procedures.Carry out routine visual inspections within area of responsibility •to identify issues.

Reporting and Data Control

Ensure that the Engineering “Information System” is updated.•Ensure “Flash Reports” are accurate and submitted on time (daily; •weekly; monthly).Ensure that ICAM / Rout Cause Failure Analysis investigations •are carried out and issues arising from such are dealt with in a timely manner.

Managing the team

Provide technical support for the team, as and when required.•Provide training and mentoring for the team (especially safety •standards and procedures).Ensure all Engineering Division personnel and contractors, work •in accordance with relevant laws, regulations, company policies and procedures.Promotes good Engineering Division behavior. Motivate team to •become “performance driven”.Lead team to improve current engineering processes.•

KNOWLEDGE, EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

Qualifications:

Diploma/Degree in Mechanical/Electronic/Electrical Engineering

Government Certificate of Comp / Government Ticket

Knowledge and Experience:

10 - 15 years relevant experience 5 - 10 years Management skills

Technical Skills:Behavioural Skills:

Computer Literacy (MS Office – Intermediate, Excel – Advanced)

Communication (English)

Engineering maintenance, safety & environment experience

Assertiveness

Attention to detail Interpersonal Relations

Analytical skill Integrity

Management skills Prioritizing skills & multi-skilling

Problem solving skill Ability to work towards strict deadlines

Financial Management Skills Coaching & Team-building skills

Strategy Exposure DiscretionProject Management Self-motivationMaintenance Management Cultural Diversity

experience

General Information and other requirements:

Place of Work: Bisha.Salary: As per Company salary scale.

Additional requirement for Nationals: Having fulfilled his/her National Service obligation and provide evidence of release paper from the Ministry of Defense. Present clearance paper from current/last employer.Testimonial documents to be attached (CV, work experience credentials, a copy of your National Identity Card etc.).Only shortlisted applicants would be considered as potential candidates for an interview.Application documents will not be returned to sender.All applications should be sent through the post office.Deadline for application: 10 days from the day of publication in the Newspaper.

Address: Please mail your applications to; Bisha Mining Share Company, P. O. Box 4276 Asmara, Eritrea

Note to non-Eritrean applicants: Please send a copy of your application to Aliens Employment permits Affairs, P. O. Box 7940 Asmara, Eritrea.

7Eritrea Profile, Saturday, 12 December, 2015 ADS

VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT

Bisha Mining Share Company is inviting applicants for the following position for Bisha site project;

Superintendent Metallurgy

Number required – (01)Type of contract – Definite period (Two Years) Major Duties and Responsibilities.

Lead the metallurgy team efforts to assist processing operations in 1. cementing a safety culture within the processing group by ensuring all positive, forward looking safety initiatives are completed by the technical team. Proactively seek out ways in which the technical team can specifically add value to the drive towards a total safety culture. Take an active role in completing action items from occupational health and safety audits. Ensure that requirements for process plant operations under Bisha Mine Safety Regulations are met.

Contribute positively towards achieving and maintaining compliance 2. with all technical aspects of the BMSC Mining Environmental management standards.

Ensure competency training development plans are in place for all 3. operational technical staff and that the training contained in these is completed. Identify training needs offered by external service providers and put forward justification for inclusion of these into personal development plans for all technical staff.

Develop the standard site metallurgical test work programs 4. required to ensure the processing operations are provided accurate information relating to operational performance and guidance on how to improve performance. Ensure the metallurgical team deliver key technical information to all relevant stakeholders ensuring that the performance of the processing operations are well understood.

Assist in the development and execution of the processing budgeting 5. process, both Operating and Capital expenditure, complete and review works on capital expenditure requests.

Development of the routine operating strategy concept to obtain 6. stronger buy-in from the process operations team and facilitate a strong link between metallurgy, operations and maintenance.

Responsible for the control of the EPCM contractor for the design 7. and basic engineering of the base metal flotation plant. This will include reviewing and checking engineering drawings, estimates and reports for completeness, accuracy, and soundness of applied engineering principles, standards and policies. Completeness, accuracy, and soundness of applied engineering principles, standards and policies.

Assist in the general operation of the plant and assay laboratory 8. along with being responsible for plant trouble shooting and optimization.

KNOWLEDGE, EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

Qualifications:

Diploma or Degree in Metallurgy/Chemistry•

Knowledge and Experience:

15 + years relevant experience •

Must have held a senior position with a mining or engineering •company, process plant design, construction and commissioning.

Technical Skills: Behavioural Skills:

Computer Literacy (MS Office – Intermediate, ) Communication (English)

Understanding relevant policies Interpersonal Relations

Attention to detail Integrity

Analytical skill Prioritizing skills & multi-skilling

Metallurgical / Chemical skills Ability to work towards strict deadlines

Problem solving skill High level of accuracy

Management skills DiscretionSelf-motivation

General Information and other requirements:Place of Work: Bisha.Salary: As per Company salary scale.

Additional requirement for Nationals: Having fulfilled his/her National Service obligation and provide evidence of release paper from the Ministry of Defense. Present clearance paper from current/last employer.Testimonial documents to be attached (CV, work experience credentials, a copy of your National Identity Card etc.).Only shortlisted applicants would be considered as potential candidates for an interview.Application documents will not be returned to sender.All applications should be sent through the post office.Deadline for application: 10 days from the day of publication in the Newspaper.

Address: Please mail your applications to; Bisha Mining Share Company, P. O. Box 4276 Asmara, Eritrea

Note to non-Eritrean applicants: Please send a copy of your application to Aliens Employment permits Affairs, P. O. Box 7940 Asmara, Eritrea.

Eritrea Profile, Saturday, 12 December, 2015 8

What led to the proposals of the AU agenda 2063?

Agenda 2063 is Africa’s Development Framework planned for the next 50 years. In context, when we analyze the OAU of 1963; we noted that certain objectives have been achieved while some flaws remained, particularly in the socio-economic front.

Based on these assessments, we decided to follow a “bottom up” approach this time round. So we set out to see what the people of Africa have to say.

We undertook research and asked people how they perceive Africa to be in the time span of the next fifty years. And we heard the voices of the African people through various organizations, the private sector, African women, youth, diaspora groups, students and people from all walks of life.

Many of them expressed their desire of having a prosperous continent with an overall inclusive development as they see notable progress in some areas while others are left behind. Others said they wish for an

integrated continent; a continent of good governance leading to the continent’s economic prosperity, a peaceful and secured Africa which respects its own versatile cultural heritages and ethnic differences, a continent with a global voice, empowered women and a strong youth body.

And so, taking stock of these aspirations and instructions, we aligned the AU Agenda 2063.

In regards to the basic outline of the agenda, the AU Agenda 2063 aims at improving the livelihood of the African population in terms of better education, better health care system and so on.

What makes the current agenda any different from previous ones?

Previous plans have not been very consultative. This one is, because prior to definite planning, we consulted and referred many people on their vision for Africa. So this agenda as a whole stems from the African peoples’ aspirations.

About the financing features of the agenda

We are encouraging Member States to strengthen their domestic resource-mobilization initiatives. As you may recall, there was a study done by the former President of the Republic of South Africa, Thabo Mbeki, on illicit financial flows out of the continent. In his studies, it shows that various types of resources flow out from the continent to other destinations.

We need these resources to be used for our own development.

As such, domestic resource mobilization is a key factor.

On the prospects of maintaining peace and stability, in addition to conflict resolution in the African continent

The agenda strongly emphasizes the need for peace and stability in the continent. One of the principal facets of the agenda is what we called “the Silence of Guns by 2020”.

We expect conflicts to be resolved by this time through negotiations.

As far as implementation of this specific subject is concerned; Agenda 2063 has a very strong

monitoring and evaluation framework that respects complementarities. In other words, such issues shall be handled at regional and Member State level.

So we think that through these modalities of shared responsibility, we should be able to implement Agenda 2063’s strategic objectives without much difficulty.

Still on the peace and stability outlooks, are you confident that Africa will be able to deliver on the envisaged objectives?

We are very confident because we’ve laid down efficient structures on the ground. These are geared to ensure implementation of what is planned and envisaged. We believe we will achieve our targets.

General impression on Eritrea

Firstly, the Eritrean people are peaceful and friendly. The cities and towns are clean. What I see here is a spirit of hard work amongst the people. We have been able to visit some ongoing projects and we found these very inspiring.

As a matter of fact, Agenda 2063 encourages Member States to

leverage more and accrue benefit from their own raw materials. This will also boost ‘inter-African’ trade, which is another aspect of the agenda.

Your expectations on Eritrea’s commitment to the AU Agenda 2063

From the 3-4 days long meetings and workshops, I see commitment from the Eritrean Government to implement the various projects.

The workshops have been useful experiences as we’ve seen dedication, contribution, willingness and readiness to move on with the AU Agenda 2063.

At the end

I believe time has come for us to put more gear for the development of the continent. Prosperity does not come on a silver platter; it comes through hard work and by empowering our youth by creating favourable conditions for them to contribute.

Agenda 2063 is our hope. We have high expectations for the continent to move on.

AU iN ERiTREAA delegation of the African Union Commission recently paid a four-day visit to Eritrea for extensive discussions with relevant government bodies on the

“Domestication of Agenda 2063 and the First Ten Year Implementation Plan”, and jointly organized a workshop. The AU delegation held meetings with the Minister of National Development, the Minister of Transport and Communications, as well as with senior officials from the Ministries of Finance, Information and the Auditor General’s Office. The AU delegation also visited several private enterprises in Asmara.

Eri-TV’s “OPEN MIC” had on the occasion held an interview with Mr. Christopher Kachiza, the Director of Policy Analysis and Research at the African Union Commission.

On today’s Q&A, we will present its excerpts.

Compiled by Billion Temesghen

A meeting with Eritrean officials during the AU delegation visit in Asmara