None of these Eritrean nationals stranded in Uganda left home gladly or
legally. These are members of a desperate, downtrodden group of refugees
whom the visiting Eritrean ambassador would have approved to have them shot
if caught while trying or even intending to flee Eritrea.
The reputed AllAfrica.com unfortunately carries such cynical Eritrean
government reports whose objective is not to inform but to mislead. That is
why it has to be highlighted that the flowing of refugees out of Eritrea is
a demonstration against tyranny and poverty in that Red Sea state.
Back home, the parents of Eritrean refugees pay heavy price because their
children have escaped. Parents are not only arrested and jailed but are
also fined Nakfa 50,000 per escapee child. (Please refer to Amnesty Int’l
annual reports) There are also reports that even those grieving parents
whose children were killed while crossing the border are still forced to
pay the penalties.
So why is the government pursuing these refugees who are seeking freedom
and peace in foreign lands? The aim is to intimidate and threaten that the
refugees and their families back home would pay heavy price if they were to
engage in anti-government activities or of they fail to send money to the
government in the form of taxes.
None of these Eritrean nationals stranded in Uganda left home gladly or legally. These are members of a desperate, downtrodden group of refugees whom the visiting Eritrean ambassador would have approved to have them shot if caught while trying or even intending to flee Eritrea.
The reputed AllAfrica.com unfortunately carries such cynical Eritrean government reports whose objective is not to inform but to mislead. That is why it has to be highlighted that the flowing of refugees out of Eritrea is a demonstration against tyranny and poverty in that Red Sea state.
Back home, the parents of Eritrean refugees pay heavy price because their children have escaped. Parents are not only arrested and jailed but are also fined Nakfa 50,000 per escapee child. (Please refer to Amnesty Int’l annual reports) There are also reports that even those grieving parents whose children were killed while crossing the border are still forced to pay the penalties.
So why is the government pursuing these refugees who are seeking freedom and peace in foreign lands? The aim is to intimidate and threaten that the refugees and their families back home would pay heavy price if they were to engage in anti-government activities or of they fail to send money to the government in the form of taxes.