Washington DC — A report submitted to Eritrea's National Assembly says a total of 1,584 forums of discussion and debate were held in 298 places, taking a total of 5,075 hours to discuss the draft laws on elections and formation of political parties and organizations.
A total of 1,706 opinions, recommendations and questions were offered on election law and another 1,832 on the formation of political parties, according to an official report.
The assembly has decided not to allow formation of parties. The opinion of the "overwhelming majority", according to the ruling Peoples Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ) party, is that they are not needed or wanted at this time although the principal of forming political parties is "acceptable."
Eritrea's first National Assembly since September 2000 concluded its session this past weekend. Key decisions made over five days include:
* ratification of a draft election law;
* A decision to create a "special committee" that will consider the future of the press;
* Endorsement of the arrest last September of 11 prominent dissidents and a promise that charges against them will be made public;
* Approval of a national budget of about US$700m
Although an election law now exists, no date for elections has been set yet. Multi-party elections had been scheduled for December, 2001 but were postponed. Whenever they are held, 30 percent of the total number of seats in the legislative assembly will be reserved for women. The law excludes "traitors" from the right to elect and be elected.
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The so-called group of 15 dissidents, alternatively known as G-15, who include the arrested 11, were attacked in a report submitted to the assembly for their defeatism and treason, accusations which were endorsed by the assembly. The report accused them of "putting their own interests before the interests of the country and people, by becoming involved in corruption, by panicking at a tough time [during the war with ethiopia] and by bowing to foreigners."
Eritrea's private newspapers had to be closed down, the Assembly decided, because they were receiving "foreign financing" and the law states that the capital of any newspaper should be "100 percent Eritrean." Further, according to a report of the Assembly's discussion on the website of the sole and ruling party, the PFDJ (Peoples Front for Democracy and Justice), the press had been used by dissidents or "capitulationists" and therefore had "discarded its independence, freedom and responsibility."
Thirty-eight percent of Eritrea's budget will be used for a variety of economic services in agriculture, fishing and transportation. Another 29 percent will be spent in education, health and other social services. Some 25 percent goes to administration and community development projects.
