How unified are Eritreans?

[yourboy]

I can't believe some of you side with Ethiopia over Eritrea. There's a reason why their nation is in shambles and why Eritrea is growing one brick at a time. In time, inshallah, Somalia will be a strong and unified nation. One ethnic group and one religion...you guys are bound to grow.
----------
Source: http://www.france24.com/france24Public/ ... d&cat=null

Eritrean diaspora heads home for 'beles' time
by Peter Martell

* Send by e-mail
* Save
* Print

Nimbly peeling a spiky cactus fruit, eight-year-old Kibrab offers its sweet orange flesh to a sharp-suited young Eritrean.

It is "beles" time in Asmara -- the annual return of Eritrea's scattered diaspora and harvest time for the prickly pears they are named after.

Collected from the steep mountainsides surrounding the capital Asmara, the wild cactus crop provides a welcome cash injection for poor families.

Even more than the beles fruit, the 70,000 "beles" visiting from overseas also bring a vital economic boost, which according to some estimates amounts to half of Eritrea's gross domestic product.

"We 'beles' Eritreans come every year around July and August, the same time as the beles fruit are ready, so we get called the same," said a 28-year-old Eritrean-British businessman, who asked not to be named, who has lived in London since leaving as a child.

"It's a positive name, because our relatives here know we bring help for the rest of the year."

Remittances from some 850,000 Eritreans living abroad -- a fifth of the country's 4.2 million population -- have a major impact in a country with an annual gross national income per capital of only 220 dollars (160 euros), according to 2005 World Bank figures.

Many fled Eritrea's devastating 30-year liberation war against Ethiopia, helping fund it from abroad. Eritrea achieved independence in 1993, but is still recovering from a subsequent, bitter 1998-2000 border war with Ethiopia.

Cash from remittances is vital for the government, too, which takes a two-percent cut of all income earned by Eritreans overseas -- technically a voluntary fee but widely enforced through community pressure.

"It's something we have to do if we want to come back to visit," said Michael who, like many, left for the United States more than 20 years ago after he was wounded fighting against Ethiopia.

"There's a duty not only to help our family, but that we -- who have the dollars and economic freedom of the West -- should use that to help Eritrea."

State-run media heap praise on diaspora donations, lauding them as "contributions to the national development" and support for the families of those killed fighting for Eritrea.

"Beles" time brings a cosmopolitan touch to Asmara's Independence Avenue as young returnees speak in accents carried from elsewhere in Africa, the Middle East, Europe and North America. They mingle in the Bar Royal drinking coffee and beer and showing off the latest fashions from their adopted homelands.

But unlike older generations -- who remember firsthand the sacrifices of the bloody liberation war -- many younger "beles" say they are growing more distant from Eritrea, raising concern that remittances could drop off in the future.

"It is understandable that the longer people are away, the more links fade," said a 26-year-old Eritrean-German, who also declined to give his name, visiting Asmara for the second time.

"I am proud of my roots, but I don't have much in common with family here. I find it hard to imagine what my life would be like if I had had to fight, or even just do national service like people here."

Asmara makes massive efforts to drum up patriotic support amongst the diaspora, promoting international youth festivals and organising "get to know your country" tours around famous battlefields or tourist sites.

Last April, hundreds of young Eritreans from 10 countries met in the English city of Portsmouth for a "youth movement" conference of Eritrea's only political party, the People's Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ).

But some say they are uncomfortable at supporting a regime regularly criticised by rights groups for an iron-grip control they say involves arresting critics, persecuting religious minorities and closing independent media.

Even as the diaspora returns on holiday, Eritreans continue to leave the country -- many illegally -- risking jail or worse to sneak across the dangerous border into Sudan to begin their own desperate search to earn money that many send back home.

Some stay in Sudan, others aim for North America -- where the US-based Eritrean community is estimated at between 500,000 and 750,000 -- or risk the sea crossing to Italy and Europe. From there, many then head for Germany, Sweden or Britain, where Eritreans last year topped the list of nationalities seeking asylum.

Yemane Gebremeskel, director of Eritrean President Issaias Afeworki's office, argues it is only a "few individuals" skipping military service, who are therefore "not bona fide asylum seekers in the first place."

"Migration is not more than a few hundred a year and does not compare in anyway with the reverse annual flow -- for temporary stay or repatriation -- of our citizens from the diaspora," Yemane said in a recent interview on a government website.

Those who have returned vow their support for their native country and its redevelopment after years of war.

"People may leave to a new life elsewhere, but we fought so long for freedom that our hearts remain in Eritrea," said Michael.

"This will always be home."

[Garvey]

Do Eritreans living in the US number 500,000-750,000 or is this an overly exaggerating estimate?

[yourboy]

[quote="Garvey"]Do Eritreans living in the US number 500,000-750,000 or is this an overly exaggerating estimate?[/quote]

I'm really not that sure but I feel like its an over-estimation. Like most Eritreans, I don't trust American "facts" and statistics.

[*jr]

Eritrea is using Somalia's conflict with Ethiopia to steer of their future conflict with Ethiopia. There is no such Somalia and Eritrea alliance here other than terrorism related relationship.....funding of remnants of ICU, and the aim of killing Somalis living in Mogadishu in order to create a chaos that we would all involved in for years to come.

[gurey25]

Eritreans are as unified as the jews were in the 30's about creating isreal.

i grew up with them, ive seen this first hand, muslim or christian in the end they are nationalists first.

[qardasay]

[quote="*jr"]Eritrea is using Somalia's conflict with Ethiopia to steer of their future conflict with Ethiopia. There is no such Somalia and Eritrea alliance here other than terrorism related relationship.....funding of remnants of ICU, and the aim of killing Somalis living in Mogadishu in order to create a chaos that we would all involved in for years to come.[/quote]

majerteen scum
b!tch shut tha fuk up.

[yourboy]

[quote="*jr"]Eritrea is using Somalia's conflict with Ethiopia to steer of their future conflict with Ethiopia. There is no such Somalia and Eritrea alliance here other than terrorism related relationship.....funding of remnants of ICU, and the aim of killing Somalis living in Mogadishu in order to create a chaos that we would all involved in for years to come.[/quote]


The EPLF/PFDJ have always had a brotherly relationship with the Somali people. You don't understand that that their policy is based on good neighborly relations because, being a new African nation, they understand that instability (ethnic conflicts, tribalism, etc.) crosses African borders very easily and has a tendency to influence other nations. Eritrea is at a threat of becoming unstable if the Horn is unstable therefore the EPLF/PFDJ has made a firm commitment to creating an environment of lasting stability. Look what they have done in South Sudan, East Sudan, Darfur, Oromia, Ogaden, and yes, Somalia. Don't you know that when Said Barre fell in 91, Eritreans were among the first to send our troops to help hold down your port until you guys were able to undergo reconciliation, but the corrupt UN wanted to beat us to the punch so that they could have greater role in the fate of Somalia and thats why they rushed their mission into your country. I know of people, among the thousands of Eritreans that were sent to Somalia for the task of holding down your ports. Dont be an ungrateful son of a b*tch after our efforts to help you. We respected that fact that the Somalis supported our struggle against imperialist Ethiopia when practically the entire world shunned us. This has nothing to do with 'enemies enemy is my friend.'

For more on how we Eritreans tried our best to hold down Somali ports in '92 read Dan Connell's book on Eritrea, 'Against All Odds.' He mentions the matter briefly in the Epilogue:

http://books.google.com/books?id=LoqJUP ... #PPA334,M1

For greater proof that Eritrea is working hard for stability please read this official statement from the Government of Eritrea themselves:

http://www.shabait.com/staging/publish/ ... 07058.html

I can't wait for the day that the Somalis unite and become self reliant. That would be pretty scary to the west...just imagine: Libya, Eritrea, Somalia, and Sudan all being self reliant and secure nations in close proximity to Egypt who is the sleeping giant next to America's beloved Israel. That would scare this sh*t out of the west. Africans being able to protect themselves from external attacks. I guarantee you East Africa will be one of the the US's next focuses during the next administration's reign.

P.S. Connell's book is way more accurate that Wrong's book. She has subtle dislike against the government.

[wadaniweyn1]

^^^^ HEY DON'T LISTEN TO THAT TRIATOR MUDA FUKKA WHO CLAIM TO BE SOMALI BUT REALLY ARE TRIATOROUS SCUM WO WE SHOULD HANG ASAP , ERITREAN'S ARE OUR BROTHERS AND ALWAYS WILL BE WE HELPED BOTH ZENAWI AND AFERWERKI IN THERE STRUGGLE AGAINST AMHARIC SUBJUGATION AND ONE RETURNED THE FAVOR WITH APPRECIATION AND BROTHERLY LOVE WHILE THE OTHER RETURNED WITH SCORN AND INVATION SO IT'S AN INSULT TO COMPARE ETHIOPIA AND ERITREA IN REALITY .

[Dudaaye]

Traitors don't give a damn. he's only interested in his clan vision. Majerteens akaTransvetite sluty Clan

[*jr]

yourboy,

I guess nation of Eritrea hasn't yet seen the error of their ways yet eh?

Well, in due they will....I assure you they will.

indeed they will be forced to retread from their faulty thinking and support of terrorism in Somalia…mark my word.

Eritrea will be stopped of their support of terrorism in Somalia.

Somalis have had enough of weapons coming from Eritrea that are killing Somalis daily....we no longer would stand for it.

[gurey25]

Eritrea wants a unified and strong somalia that will aide it againts ethiopia in the future, it wants allies.

Ethiopia wants clients, it wants to extend the ethiopian empire informally,
and wants access to and control over the infrastructure and economy of somalia.

Jr and his ilk are happy with bieng ethiopian clients

[*jr]

^^ God, what is wrong with you bastards?

[galia]

Jr please kill urself u dumb fool.


Curse be on ur parents for bringing such scums like u into the somali nation, the ones that would betray their religion and country.

[wadaniweyn1]

[quote="gurey25"]Eritrea wants a unified and strong somalia that will aide it againts ethiopia in the future, it wants allies.

Ethiopia wants clients, it wants to extend the ethiopian empire informally,
and wants access to and control over the infrastructure and economy of somalia.

Jr and his ilk are happy with bieng ethiopian clients[/quote]




first class qarxiis ka nax gureyyo ninka cos he is a xaar walwal and like the xaar walwal dies when they smell udgoon , he will die when you tell him the truth like ^^


galia ,,, ur right his parent's are to blame 4 bringing triatorous scum like him into this world too bad siyaad bare didn't xecute them b4 they brought this cancerous scum into our world

[galia]

Yeah walahi its a shame too that all these losers around now did not die in the cival war, it only seems that somalia has lost only her good sons and daguters in the cival war, may Allah forgive them and grant them jannah, ameen.

Only dumb losers like
AY
Gheedi
Hussien Adidid
Abdiqeybdid
Barre Hiirle
Ali mahdi
Mohammed dheere
Qanyare
Musu sudi

Have survived the somali civila war, walahi thats sad, i wish those losers would have died in the war that would have been a blessing from God to the somali people