Comments on the VOA report from Asmara
(Selected deportees made available for interviews)

July 10, 1998

Dear Netters:

Its sad to see the effect of the current crisis on some Eritrean individuals who may well be innocent and may not have done anything wrong. It is sad also to recall the many Eritreans that participated in the fight against Mussolini and were staunch Ethiopian patriots.

Unfortunately, today the EPLF has created a malignant form of Eritrean nationalism. This extreme nationalism has broken the bonds between the people of Ethiopia and Eritrea. It makes it impossible for Eritreans to continue with the dual identity that many of them had been comfortable with.

In 1993 approx. 130,000 Eritreans living in Ethiopia voted for the final separation of Eritrea from Ethiopia. Today in 1998, they are finally starting to realize the impact of their decision . This is their own choice.

Specific Comments

(1) Eritreans who sell their businesses and return to Eritrea should be paid only in the old Birr notes. Eritrea has been claiming that the old Birr notes in Eritrea are still valid. It was trying to force Ethiopia to convert its old Birr notes into US dollars

(2) Those Eritreans who claim they are ignorant about why they are being deported should read Issayas Afeworqi's threats of terrorism on June 12 (London Times):

"Eritrea threatens to strike at the heart of Ethiopia"
"We will retaliate. There are a number of ways. I can assure [you] this is the easiest thing to do. It is not difficult to create a sense of insecurity anywhere."


(3) Eritreans have no right to be involved in Ethiopian domestic politics... Their illegal political activities is grounds enough for expulsion

(4) The ICRC has been accompanying the deportees during their bus trips back to Eritrea. If there is any credible evidence of human rights violations, it can be freely investigated by the ICRC or by any of the UN organizations in Ethiopia.