Members of the Network of Eritrean Civil Society in Europe (NECS-Europe), on the occasion of the international Human Rights Day, have staged a peaceful demonstration on Friday 9 December 2005 in Brussels in front of the European Institutions. The initiative had the full support and active participation of the members of the Eritrean Democratic Alliance (EDA) as well as other political parties in exile.
Its objective was to highlight the ever degenerating state of human rights and the increasingly systematic violations of all fundamental freedoms. It was to echo the pains and ordeals of people of Eritrea to the peoples of Europe. On the other hand, it was also designed to implore the European Union (EU) to live up to its universal engagement to advance democracy and human rights.
During and after the demonstration, several meetings have taken place with directors of cabinet of Mr. José Manuel Barrosso, President of the European Commission, Mr. Louis Michel, Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid, Ms. Benita Ferro-Waldner, Commissioner for External Relations, Mr. Javier Solana, Secretary-General, High Representative for the CFSP and Mr. Josep Borrell Fontelles, President of the European Parliament.
A delegation constituted of members of the NECS, EDA as well as other political parties has conducted the meetings. The delegation has in its meetings with the authorities of the mentioned European Institutions underlined the outrageous human rights violations and fundamental freedoms by the regime in Asmara. Based on the Cotonou Agreement, delegates have appealed to the EU to put pressure on the regime to respect human and democratic rights in Eritrea. The delegation noted that measures taken so far by the EU against the regime to secure democratization and human rights has not been effective. It explained that more pressure with clear political will and determination is needed and that the Cotonou Agreement provides instruments more effective than those used so far by the EU.
The EU authorities explained that based on international standards and agreements governing international relations the EU will do all in its power to respond to the appeal and assured the delegation that the EU will be taking measures in the coming weeks.
On the border conflict with Ethiopia, the delegation called on the EU to push forward the democratization agenda all in supporting the final and binding of the boundary decision and that the EU should reject all attempts to compartmentalize the border issue from democratization. It also underlined that there is no lasting peace without democracy. There was a complete convergence between our delegation’s view and that of the EU, be it on the border issue or on the general assessment of human and democratic rights in today’s Eritrea. Furthermore, the EU authorities affirmed to our delegation that they consider the Eritrean civil society movement as one of the fundamental elements of peace and democracy in Eritrea and expressed their willingness to support.
A briefing paper on the human rights situation in Eritrea and a letter were handed over to the EU authorities during the meetings.
Participants of the peaceful demonstration marched escorted by the police, carrying a symbolic coffin with names of the Adi Abieto massacre on it, from square Frère Oban to the square where the EU Institutions are based. There, they shouted slogans that reflected the suffering of the Eritrean people.
The demonstration started at 11h30 and finished at 14h00. Meetings with the EU authorities took place between 9h30 and 15h00 in different offices of the EU. More than 300 Eritreans participated in the demonstration that was an example of unity of the opposition camp.
The NECS would like to thank all Eritreans and friends of Eritreans that helped us to realize a successful event.
NECS – Europe
Coordinating Committee
10 December 2005
