[Marxism] A suspicious new "human rights" mega-campaign opens -- against Eritrea.

["Fred Feldman" <ffeldman@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I admit that I have no big facts to challenge this unrelieved nightmare vision 
of Eritrea, which won its independence from pro-US (today, that is) Ethiopia in 
1993, after decades of armed struggl, and still faces constant threats on its 
border with Ethioia. 

I do not have the facts to challenge this picture, but I suspect it can be 
challenged, at least in its characterization of the country as a totalitarian 
prison. Another "neocon" dream easy target, but one that may not prove so easy, 
I suspect. 

Another example of Human Rights Watch's role as a political opponent of 
incipient or current "enemy regimes" of the US is of course Sudan, closer to 
human right hell than human rights heaven but still massively misrepresented in 
"human rights" and "humanitarian" versions of reality. 

Which does not mean that they do not criticize pro-US regimes, merely that they 
encourage and sometimes directly favor imperialist action against the target 
countries. (As opposed to Amnesty International, which they criticize for 
reluctance to fight for regime change.)

I will be on the lookout for pictures of Eritrea, aside from the purely 
propagandistic, that challenge this one which sounds partly and even largely 
fraudulent to me.

The HRW intervention seems to represent the opening of a new mega-campaign 
around human rights violations, comparable to that against Sudan, where, of 
course, violations of human rights are very generalized, although the focus by 
imperialistic human rights judges tends to focus on those whose relations with 
US imperialism are strained.
Fred Feldman

Eritrea 'like a giant prison', claims human rights group
Government's policies on torture, conscription and mass detention creating 
refugee crisis, Human Rights Watch says
Xan Rice in Nairobi guardian.co.uk, Thursday 16 April 2009 10.49 BST 
 
Many Eritreans are forced into national service up until the age of 55. 
Photograph: Steve Forrest/EPA

Eritrea is becoming a "giant prison" due to its government's policies of mass 
detention, torture and prolonged military conscription, according to a report 
published today .

Human Rights Watch (HRW) said state repression had made the tiny Red Sea state 
one of the highest producers of refugees in the world, with those fleeing 
risking death or collective punishment against their families.

There is no freedom of speech, worship or movement in Eritrea, while many 
adults are forced into national service at token wages until up to 55 years of 
age.

In its 95-page report cataloguing violations against civilians, the New 
York-based organisation also criticised a â122m (Â107m) assistance package 
from the EU to President Isaias Afewerki's regime, citing concerns that 
development projects are carried out by prisoners or conscripts, in violation 
of international law.

Georgette Gagnon, Africa director at HRW, said: "Eritrea's government is 
turning the country into a giant prison. [It] should immediately account for 
hundreds of 'disappeared' prisoners and open its jails to independent scrutiny."

Eritrea won independence from Ethiopia in 1993 after a bloody 30-year conflict. 
The countries fought again five years later over a still unresolved border 
dispute, and Afewerki, whose party led the independence struggle, has kept 
Eritrea on a permanent war footing ever since.

All secondary school students complete their final year in a military camp. The 
mandatory 18-month national service was extended in 2003 so that adult males 
and females must be available to work for the state until the age of 40. In 
practice, people are required to serve the government if needed until 55, Human 
Rights Watch said.

Many of the conscripts are sent to the army, while others work in ministries, 
on agricultural or construction projects, or in companies owned by the military 
or political elite.

Though the independence struggle infused a strong sense of patriotism and 
sacrifice among Eritreans, the extended national service is unpopular, 
particularly because the wages are barely enough for a family to survive on.

Aware of the widespread discontent, the government has made exit visas 
difficult to obtain for anyone under 50. Thousands of young people who try to 
flee through Ethiopia or Sudan risk being shot at the border, while their 
parents will usually suffer if they get away.

An officer formerly responsible for pursuing deserters told Human Rights Watch: 
"If you disappear inside Eritrea then the family is put in prison for some time 
and often then the child will return. If you cross the border then [your 
family] pays 50,000 nafka (Â2,210). If there's no money then it can be a long 
time in prison."

The extended conscription has coincided with an almost complete suspension of 
democratic rights. In September 2001, 11 senior government officials who called 
for free and fair elections were detained.

Dozens of political opponents and journalists were also arrested, with most 
independent media organisations shut. The location and condition of all those 
detained remains unknown.

There has also been a purge of religious groups, with thousands of Christians, 
mostly from small evangelical groups, kept in prison. Conditions are known to 
be harsh.

Shipping containers in the desert serve as jails, while other secret detention 
centres are located underground.

Guards use torture techniques such as "the helicopter", where a prisoner's 
hands and feet are tied behind the back, with the victim left face down, often 
in the hot sun, the report says.

Eritrea has also become increasingly isolated diplomatically. While independent 
observers say Eritrea has reason to feel anger over Ethiopia's refusal to 
accept the decision of an international border commission after the war â and 
the west's reluctance to pressure Ethiopia into doing so â the government's 
provocative policies have quickly eroded the goodwill it enjoyed at 
independence.

In the past year it has antagonised neighbouring Djibouti over a separate 
border dispute, and openly hosted militant Islamist leaders from Somalia.

"Eritrea's human rights crisis is worsening and making the Horn of Africa ever 
more volatile," said Gagnon.

"The US, European and other governments need to co-ordinate their policies on 
the Horn to defuse regional tensions, and make human rights progress an 
essential benchmark for engagement with Eritrea."

Factbox
A former Italian colony, Eritrea won independence from Ethiopia after a 30-year 
war in 1993. It is a single party state, ruled by the People's Front for 
Democracy and Justice. National elections have never been held.

The country's population is estimated at 5 million but it has one of Africa's 
largest armies, more than 200,000 strong.

President Isaias Afewerki, 63, initially hailed as one of the continent's more 
progressive leaders, is widely regarded as one of its worst due to his 
repressive policies.

Up to 10,000 people are in jail without charge or trial, excluding army 
deserters, who might number in the tens of thousands, according to Human Rights 
Watch.



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