Biddho.com Eritrea - Rising To The Challenges! - A Nation Freed And Reconstructed By The People

Home

News

A Nation Freed And Reconstructed By The People

Written by Abeba Isahac

Sunday, 18 November 2007

Khalid Koser is an expert on international migration, refugees and internal displacement. A former policy advisor on global migration issues, he is also deputy director of the Brookings-Bern Project on Internal Displacement.

Eritrea

Khalid Koser’s study of the Eritrean Diaspora gives a detailed picture of the exceptionally close integration of an overseas population in the political and economic life of its country of origin. Perhaps one-quarter of the Eritrean population lives outside the country, a total of about one million. Of these, approximately 250,000 live outside of Africa—mostly in Europe and North America. Most left (or their parents left) during the struggle for independence from Ethiopia (1961-1991). Few have returned to Eritrea since independence.

During the struggle for independence, Eritrean refugee communities were major sources of funding for the war effort and for the extensive network of relief and welfare services organized by Eritrean forces in the areas under their control. The Eritrean People’s Liberation Front and the affiliated Eritrean Relief Organization raised money from expatriates, organized lobbying efforts directed at host governments and societies, and solicited donations from host-country NGOs for relief work.

The legacy of the war-time mobilization was a unique model of political and economic integration. Eritrean citizenship was extended to members of the Diaspora wherever they lived and regardless of their legal status in the host country. Almost all of them voted for independence in the 1993 Referendum, and many participated in the drafting of the new state’s Constitution and its ratification in 1997. The constitution guarantees the rights of overseas citizens to vote—although multiparty elections have not yet been held.

The flip side of representation is taxation, and since independence, adult Eritreans overseas have been asked to pay a voluntary contribution equivalent to 2 per cent of annual income. Koser’s research discovered near-universal compliance and minimal resentment: “Most Eritreans view the tax not as a burden but rather as a ‘duty’ toward the homeland.” He reports, however, that efforts on the part of the Eritrean state to increase contributions substantially to fund the 1998-2000 border war with Ethiopia stirred considerable resentment among the Diaspora—in part because they felt overburdened financially and in part because they questioned the necessity of this war. Other ways of attracting funds have been used: bond issues, land sales outside Asmara (significant because all land was nationalized immediately after independence), and the auction of housing on especially constructed estates which have mostly been purchased by expatriates.

In addition to financial contributions directly to the state, the Eritrean government has sought in other ways to intensify ties with the Diaspora. It reopened political offices in major settlement countries, conducted censuses of Eritreans living abroad (including a skills and qualifications roster), reconstituted relief and welfare organizations, and initiated an information campaign which included regular visits to Diaspora communities by government officials.

Despite these strenuous and systematic efforts, Koser reports a growing disillusionment in the Diaspora with the demands and the direction of the Eritrean state, and questions how long the intense, supportive engagement can be sustained. There is no question that Diaspora contributions were a major factor in Eritrea’s development efforts in the early-to-mid 1990s. The relationship after 1998 is more complex. Diaspora contributions funded the war with Ethiopia, which unquestionably was a major setback to economic progress. The period of reconstruction after the war again draws on the Diaspora. Their support, although no longer unqualified, remains central.

Why I found it necessary to paste the above information is because, while surfing through the Dehai DMB I came across the following post by a presumably anonymous name of ‘Aboy Haile’

Dehai Message Board

Host: 209.146.245.161
Thursday November 15, 2007 12:12:15
Aboy Haile
“ Isias knows how to play game with his supporters- take this example, about a month ago there was a report from the government about Ethiopia lauching war at begging of November. His supporters panicked-called "HiZbawi Meketes" all over Europe & US. For Isias everytime there is HzBawi mekete meeting there will be more $$$$ to collect. Don't forget to attend Hizbawi MeKete Washingmber 18 & don't forget to bring your wallet.”

I thought about his repeated insinuated emphasis on President Issaias making money out of the Eritrean people who live abroad, and I wondered to myself how he could have come to that conclusion when, it has never been a secret, and the whole world has always been aware, that Eritreans have always been voluntarily contributing, even during the 30 years struggle for independence, and that whatever money is sent from the Eritrean Diaspora always went to help the struggle for independence then, and now to help rebuild the country, but never for the pockets of Issaias Afworki as leader or as President. He has never been accused of such deeds. Even arch enemies such as Jendayi Frazer, despite herself, have testified to this extraordinary people and she actually even wanted it stopped.

I guess ‘Aboy Haile’ must be a woyane who is accustomed to see his country always survive on handouts from foreign communities, but never expects to personally do anything for his country, and justifiably so because he would never know where his money went. He is also getting mixed up between our president and his leader who seems never to care about the wellbeing of Ethiopians and who has sold his soul to the Americans and their allies in exchange of yearly billions of dollars, and also in exchange of covering up for his intransigent atrocities toward the people of Ethiopia and his neighbours in the Horn of Africa. It would of course never occur to any Ethiopian to contribute to their nation’s coffers as they do not trust that it will go to the right places. Besides, if what is donated did go to the right people and places, why would there be any famine in Ethiopia, that the world hears of over and over, every so often?

As Khalid Koser has testified, Eritreans feel a great deal of responsibility toward the security and development of their country, as well as the well being of their people. I just wanted ‘Aboy Haile’ to know that, and to let others who might not know, or who might have been misinformed by little venomous innuendos such as Aboy Haile’s.

A nation which has her people as pillars to lean on, can never fall; and with truth as her only weapon will always prevail.

Comments

Add New

RSS

Only registered users can write comments!

Last Updated ( Thursday, 22 November 2007 )

< Prev		Next >

[ Back ]

>> Download MP3 Song - "Egermenalo" by Wedi Tikabo

Victory To The People of Somalia!

RTL - „Steffi Graf - Legende, Mutter, Helferin. Die Reportage zum RTL-Spendenmarathon“

President Isaias Afwerki's Letter to the UN Secretary General

Meeting the Challenge - Biddho Tours through Europe

Freedom!

EXPIRED - WOYANE and UNMEE!!

The Algiers Agreement is explicit that the parties are bound to honor the Commission�s decisions

Letter dated Nov. 30'07 from the Legal Adviser to the President of Eritrea to the president of the UNSC

Ethiopia rejects "virtual" border with Eritrea

Ethiopia - Meles Zenawi calls final and binding demarcation decision `legal fiction�!

From `legal nonsense� to `legal fiction�.

Who is the Blackmailer?

Ban-Ki Moon: Messenger versus the Message

ERITREA - ETHIOPIA: Security Council�s Moment of Truth

Seven Years After Algiers

DEMARCATION IS COMPLETE - TSZ EXPIRES

With effect from midnight tonight (30.11.2007), the demarcation of Ethio-Eritrean boundary will be as complete as any demarcated interstate boundary would be, if not better defined.

STATEMENT ON UNMEE�S �RELOCATION� FROM ERITREA

Permanent Mission of Eritrea to the United Nations

Eritrea - Statement on UNMEE's "Relocation"

Eritrea - Ministry of Foreign Affairs

UNMEE - United Nations Misson for the Exploitation of Eritrea

Ambassador John Bolton Blows UNMEE’s Transparent Cover

UNMEE-Another Failed UN Peacekeeping Mission

In Defence of Eritrea

>> Visit Alenalki Special Coverage "Hzbawi Mekete"

EEBC Files

EEBC Documents

>> EEBC Press Release OF 30 NOVEMBER 2007
>> EEBC STATEMENT OF 27 NOVEMBER 2006
>> LIST OF BOUNDARY POINTS AND COORDINATES

Overview Map (PDF / Graphik)

>> International Boundary between the State of Eritrea
and the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia

Victory! Zersenay Tadese of Eritrea won the men's world half marathon championship for the third time

EEBC ruling of 2002 indisputable!!

Algiers Agreement of Eritrea and Ethiopia is implemented!! EEBC ruling of 2002 indisputable!! All the chapters in the process have now reached a legal conclusion! President Isaias Afwerki. VIVA ERITREA!

>> eGermenaLo translated: WE ARE SURPRICED!

>> FINAL AND BINDING - Eritrean Ethiopian Boundary Commissions MANDATE is FULFILLED
>> Seven Years After Algiers

Third victory of Tadese

For The Record

Ethiopia rejects the Eritrean imaginary claim of sovereign territory occupied by Ethiopia

Shaebia 2008 - No Force Can Trample the Choice of the People

Advertising