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The Hon. Bill Graham
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Lester B. Pearson Building, Tower A,
10th Floor
125 Sussex Drive
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0G2
July 25, 2002 Dear Minister: First of all, we feel it is appropriate at this time to congratulate you for being part of a government that is committed to fostering, among other things, peace, security and human rights throughout the world and with special concern to the plight of Africans. The tour of our Prime Minister, The Right Hon. Jean Chretien to a number of African states lately, to witness first hand the plight of Africans and in tandem to serious discussion regarding Africa by G-8 leaders at Kananaskis, Alberta, is an example on hand. Although it is the first time in a long time, it nevertheless helped bring Africa to the spotlight. The trophy for leadership, no doubt, goes to our government. While this is the role played at global level though, Canadas voice has not been heard as should on specific areas where there are flagrant human right abuses. This is especially true in regard to Eritrea, a nascent nation in the Horn of Africa. As Your Excellency are well aware, the Eritrean people fought a liberation war for over thirty years against dictators that spanned two dictatorial regimes in Ethiopia. Their struggle was with the aim to achieve political independence and promote democracy, justice and human dignity. In 1991, they pushed out of power a despotic ruler who bled Eritreans for years, as the first phase of their struggle and while preparing for the next phase, only to learn that lurking among them was another even worse brutal dictator by the name Isais Afewerki and his regime of terror with the unbefitting name, Peoples Front for Democracy and Justice {PFDJ]. The man and his regime have controlled every facet of peoples lives. Political intolerance and human rights abuses have become rampant. Here is the background: Reform-minded government officials are arrested and sent to jail Private press closed, journalists sent to jail. Senior citizens who called for civility and calm are sent to jail. University students who defied unproductive so-called National Service Program are arrested and sent to the harshest place on earth as hush-up. Some died as a consequence. School age children are forced to join the army for bloody wars against neighbors. Young girls who are involuntarily dragged out to join the army have become victims of rape and unwanted pregnancy at the hands of male army commanders. Bereaved mothers who asked to know the whereabouts of their sons and daughters are shoved aside and ignored.
Land is snatched away from peasants and handed over to sycophants of the regime. Several religious institutions of various denominations are forced to close their doors; others are intimidated.
The list of malicious acts grows by the day. Foreign diplomats who witnessed these and expressed concern are at loggerheads with the regime. Italys Ambassador Baldini who was also representative of the European Union [EU] was forced to leave Eritrea because of his concern for lack of democratic and human rights. Other ambassadors of EU member states openly expressed concern and were called home by their respective governments as protest against the actions of the regime. Even the US government which most of the time is inclined to go with dictators promoting US interests could not do without telling the truth. A State Department Report on country profile expressed serious democratic and human rights flaw. International human rights organizations such as World Watch and Amnesty International have more than once called upon the dictatorial regime to end the siege against the Eritrean people. Why is Canada not among those nations and organizations, which made their voices, heard? The answer, as far as we see it, is simple: we concur that Canadas representative is not a forthright and competent individual. As Eritrean-Canadians, we know that Canadas Honorary Consul to Eritrea, Mr. M. Kusmu had been a long time active and committed member of the Eritrean Peoples Liberation Front [EPLF], the forerunner of the PFDJ regime. Now, he is a flatterer and unequivocal supporter of the brutal regime. For his sycophancy he is rewarded to own one of the most lucrative nightclub businesses in the country. It is worth mentioning at this juncture that the business entity, namely nightclub, is located in a residential neighborhood. But it is also a place where the newly emerging oligarchy hangs out. Local residents bothered by noise and high traffic pleaded with authority for the nightclub business to move out of their neighborhood, but to no avail because of Mr. M. Kusmus connection to leaders of the regime. It can be said with certainty that not only has Mr. Kusmu failed to join the international uproar directed at the regime against its inhumane act, but also failed to heed the demands and concerns of the very people at whose turf he is doing business. It may sound inappropriate to try to indicate to Your Excellency what the duties and responsibilities of a Canadian Consul should and should not be, but it is also irresponsible in our part if we do not bring to the open the indifference displayed by a Canadian Consul to the agony the Eritrean people are going through in their daily lives. Your Excellency, Canadas Honorary Consul has failed to do honorable thing, that is to tell the truth, the whole truth, nothing but the truth about what is going on inside Eritrea. He would be expected to have a better sense of the plight of the Eritrean people, better than any one of the foreign diplomats stationed in the country because of his vantage position: no language barrier, no culture barrier and unrestricted access to society. But he chose his vested interest above principle, his personal benefit above peoples pain. We, therefore, earnestly appeal to your office that Mr. M. Kusmu be stripped of his responsibility as Canadas Honorary Consul for he has long failed to serve to his capacity. Further, we demand for Canada to designate a consul who is trustworthy and duty-bound to monitor the day- to- day occurrences in the country. We make this plea for the sake of the Eritrean people whose livelihood is in jeopardy, whose search for peace and human dignity is drifting away from them by the day dictated by circumstances not of their own making. Sincerely, Ghelle Berhe Kifle H. Teclu
Edmonton, Alberta Edmonton, Alberta
T5M 0K2 T5L 0C6 MAILING ADDRESS 302, 11325-124 Street
Edmonton, Alberta
T5M 0K2 |
