Eritrean Ambassador Habtom Zerai lashed out at the authorities in Switzerland for denying right of assembly to Eritrean community this week. Habtom heads Eritrean embassy in Geneva Switzerland.
The criticism from the Eritrean Chargé d’Affaires came amid restrictions imposed by Swiss authorities on Eritrean community program organized on Independence Day.
On Friday, Eritreans celebrated their 31st Independence Day. Festivals, rallies and other community gatherings are organized by Eritrean diaspora community on and before this day. But for almost 2 years, these Eritrean community gatherings have been turning into scenes of violence as Brigade Nhamedu, an Eritrean opposition group, stormed such programs in Europe and North America.
No large scale Eritrean independence days celebrations were allowed to be held in Switzerland this year. Habtom Zerai, in an interview this week said,” Celebrations have now been banned in various cantons, such as Bern and Geneva. I don’t understand the motive behind this. Switzerland is the only European country to take such a measure. This violates fundamental rights such as freedom of assembly.”
The Eritrean ambassador termed Swiss government’s action as “against Switzerland’s democratic values.”
Last year in September, around 200 Eritreans faced off in Opfikon, a municipality near Zurich. The confrontation prompted a major police operation and left at least 12 people injured. Similar incidents of violent confrontation between Brigade Nhamedu and Pro Eritrean government diaspora community have been happening in other European countries, Israel, Canada and the US too.
Interestingly, according to human rights organizations, people’s fundamental rights are not respected in Eritrea. Right to assembly is denied. Right to vote is unknow as no elections have been held since the country gained independence. Isaias Afwerki, has been in power since 1993.
Last month, a committee of the Swiss House of Representatives approved a scheme to repatriate rejected Eritrean asylum seekers to Africa via a third country, such as Rwanda.
It seems that Eritrean diaspora community in Switzerland could face more restrictions if intra Eritrean community violence continues.
Read more..
Ethiopia congratulates Eritrea amid cold bilateral relations
The European Union extends sanctions on Eritrea