41 British Parliamentarians – from all political parties – have backed a motion condemning the abuse of human rights in Eritrea and the role of mining companies in exploiting the forced labour that results from compulsory military service.
Martin
“That this House condemns the human rights abuses perpetuated by the government of Eritrea, including arbitrary arrest and detention and compulsory military service imposed on all able-bodied men, women and even children, which has led to an unprecedented exodus of Eritreans, now reaching 5,000 a month, fleeing their country as refugees to Europe on a precarious journey, including the recent tragedy at Lampedusa, which is costing hundred of lives; notes with concern the collusion between the government of Eritrea and the international mining companies from the UK, Canada and Australia, which is using the forced labour of Eritreans for work in extractive industries in conditions which have been described as abject slavery by Human Rights Watch and other campaigning non-governmental organisations; and calls on the government of Eritrea to honour the international human rights treaties to which it is a party and allow, without further prevarication and delay, a visit from the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Eritrea in the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.”
Eritrea Focus
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, 18th December 2014
Forced labour and the international mining industry
International mining companies from the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia, involved in mining activities in the East African state of Eritrea, have been accused by British parliamentarians of using forced labour in conditions which have been described as “abject slavery”, in a parliamentary motion before the House of Commons. Early Day Motion 544, Human Rights in Eritrea, has now been signed by 41 Members of Parliament from all political parties.
The parliamentarians condemn Eritrea’s human rights abuses, which include “arbitrary arrest and detention and compulsory military service imposed on all able-bodied men, women and even children”. They point out that this has led to an “unprecedented exodus of Eritreans, now reaching 5,000 a month, fleeing their country as refugees to Europe on a precarious journey, including the recent tragedy at Lampedusa, which is costing hundreds of lives”. Over the last decade nearly ten percent of the Eritrean population, which now stands at a little over six million, have fled the country.
In response, three Eritrean refugees have filed a lawsuit against the Canadian mining firm, Nevsun Resources, over claims that it conspired with the Eritrean government to force them, and other conscripted workers, to work in a copper mine while receiving little pay and living in atrocious conditions. They worked for the Bisha Mining Share Company, operated by Nevsun Resources and Segen Construction, an Eritrean state-owned contractor.
Similar accusations of forced labour are being made against South Boulder Mines, an Australian company mining high grade potassium sulphate in Colluli, South East Eritrea. This joint venture between South Boulder and the Eritrean National Mining Company is using forced labour to build a road to the mine.
The British company, Andiamo Exploration, is involved in copper, zinc and gold exploration in Eritrea. The former Conservative Party chairman, Lord Howard (formerly Michael Howard) also seems closely involved. He led a business delegation to Eritrea early this year to explore investment opportunities. The announcement that another UK-based exploration and development company, Ortac Resources, had bought into Andiamo, was made soon after Lord Howard’s return from Eritrea.
Yet another mining company, Canada-based Sunridge Gold, has repeatedly refused to answer questions about its activities in Eritrea and policy towards the use of forced labour. It has been exploring for precious metal deposits in Eritrea since 2003.
Eritrea, sometimes described as the North Korea of Africa, has been censured by the General Assembly of the United Nations which has called on Eritrea “to put an end to the system of indefinite national service by demobilising the national service conscripts who have completed their mandatory 18 months of service, and by effectively engaging them in forced labour after such a period…”
In its 2014 report, the US-based Human Rights Watch describes Eritrea as “among the most closed countries in the world; human conditions remain dismal. Indefinite military service, torture, arbitrary detention, and severe restrictions on freedom of expression, association and religion provoke thousands of Eritreans to flee their country each month.”
Notes to editors
Eritrea achieved its independence in 1993 after a struggle lasting three decades. No national elections have been held since independence. In 2001, all personal liberties were removed after the power of the President, Isaias Afwerki, had been challenged. Sanctions against Eritrea were applied by the UN as a result of the regime’s support of Al Shabaab with the illegal supply of arms and training for conducting a border war with Djibouti. Under Isaias Afwerki wars have been carried out against Sudan, Ethiopia, Yemen and Djibouti.
Eritrea Focus has been formed by Eritrean exiles, charities and NGOs to draw attention to the continued abuse of human rights in Eritrea. The group has made it clear that mining contracts, negotiated through the dictatorial and unrepresentative regime in Asmara, will not be honoured by a future democratically elected Eritrean government.
For further information please contact
Sagal Ali: sagal@raittorr.co.uk
Telephone: +44(0) 20 7250 8297
Martin Plaut 
UN, Eritrea showcase country’s health successes
by Berhane Habtemariam
Eritrea has achieved impressive progress on health-related Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), members of the United Nations and the Government observed served here in an event organized during the UN General Assembly.
The discussion was hosted by the Permanent Mission of Eritrea to the United Nations, the UN Resident Coordinator in Asmara, Christine Umutoni, with the Foreign Minister of Eritrea, Osman Saleh and Yoka Brandt, the Deputy Executive Director of UNICEF as keynote speakers.
In more than twenty years since independence, the Eastern African country reduced child mortality by two thirds, decreased the maternal mortality ratio from 1,700 to 380 per 100,000 live births, and maintained exceptionally low HIV and tuberculosis prevalence rates.
Around 98 percent of all children are now immunized, as compared with 14 percent only at independence.
“Eritrea has emerged from 30 years of a devastating war, with non-existing infrastructural, institutional and human resources capacity,”said Osman Saleh. “It has been able to make real progress in all areas of social, economic and political development,” he added.
Eritrea’s concerted efforts, bold policies and consider able investments are considered
responsible for the dramatic changes in the health sector.
“What we see as development partners, what is responsible for this success is community participation, the enabling environment, leadership, strong mechanisms for prevention, value for money and coordinated inter-sectoral approaches,” said Christine Umutoni.
She added that community and women’s involvement were key to tackling health challenges.
Ms. Umutoni also pointed out that the country has put into place a number of innovations to accelerate change. These include temporary maternal clinics, mobile medical units, as well as knowledge of migration
patterns and remote areas.
Generating statistics, sustaining funding, partnerships with the private sector and human resource capacity were identified as priorities.
Participants agreed that success on MDGs 4,5 and 6 should serve as lessons for all other goals and targets, and inform priorities for the post-2015 development agenda in Eritrea.
Keynote addresses were followed by technical presentations by Abraham Kidane, Economic Advisor to the Ministry of Development, and Usman Abdulmumini, WHO representative in Eritrea.
Read more: http://www.madote.com/2014/12/un-eritrea-showcase-countrys-health.html#ixzz3MmqP9lty
Ethiopian Air Force pilots defected to Eritrea with Mi-35 Helicopter
The Ethiopian Defense Ministry confirmed its air force pilots defected to Eritrea, bringing with them their Mi-35 attack helicopter.
In its own spin on the incident, the defense ministry alleges the Mi-35 helicopter was hijacked while on a training mission by a disgruntled pilot, forcing the flight technicians and co-pilots to fly to Eritrea.
The two deserting pilots and technician, who have been identified as Cap. Samael Giday, Lut. Bilelegn Desalalegn and Tec. Tsega-berhan Gidaywho, escaped to Eritrea Friday morning, according to the Ethiopian Satellite Television news network.
On average, the Mi-35 helicopter costs between 20-35 million dollars each, making this incident among the most expensive military aircraft defections of late.
Air force defections from Ethiopia to Eritrea are growing increasingly common. In 2014, at least eleven Ethiopian air force pilots defected to Eritrea, bringing along with them various multimillion dollar military aircrafts.
Read more: http://www.madote.com/2014/12/two-ethiopian-air-force-pilots-defected.html#ixzz3MmqdXXAx
Norwegian Government Delegation Returned After 3 Days Eritrea Visit
by Yohanes Tesfay
The delegation of the Ministry of justice of Norwegian government conducted a 3 day working visit to Eritrea from the 14th to the 17th of December.
The delegation consisted of Mr. Jan Bugge-Mahrt, Ambassador, Ministry of Foreing Affairs; Mr. Siw S. Lexau, Deputy Director General, Ministry of Justice and Public Security; Mrs. Mette Ono Njøten, Senior Advisor, Ministry of Justice and Public Security; Mrs. Anne Siri Rustad, Policy Director/Return Coordinator, Norwegian Directorate of Immigration; Mrs. Bente Scott Amundsen, Senior Advisor, Norwegian Directorate of Immigration.
The delegation signed a cost sharing agreement with the UNDP in support of the effort to youth employment and skills development projects that UNDP in Eritrea and National Union Eritrean of Youth and student (NUEYS) have embarked in. The agreement was signed by Mrs. Christine Umutoni – UNDP Resident Representative and Mr. Siw S. Lexau, the Deputy Director General for the Norwegian Ministry of Justice and Public Security.
This agreement aims to establish opportunities for supporting the youth training centres which will help develop the capacity of Eritrean youth’s skills level as well as improving their opportunities of acquiring professional employments, which in turn would benefit the overall development goals of the nation.
The delegation also conducted a field trip to Keren on the final day of their stay in the country, where they witnessed UNDP/NUEYS projects where youth are given opportunities to train in various training curriculum including woodwork, metal work as well as cement works.
Read more: http://www.madote.com/2014/12/norwegian-government-delegation.html#ixzz3MmqxfU50