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The
London Rally
The
London Rally - Letter Submitted to Downing Street
EHDR-UK
- 09Jun 2002
The
London Rally – Speech delivered at Downing Street
EHDR-UK - 09Jun 2002
Press
Release
Rally for
Human Rights & Democracy in Eritrea.
On Sunday
9 June 2002 starting at 1:30 pm, there will be a mass gathering at Hyde
Park, London, to protest the abuses of citizens' rights by the government
of People's Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ). The abuses which
comprise of human, political, economic, social and emotional
misappropriations are so serious that they need to be brought to the
attention of the international community urgently.
The
Eritrean people have gained independence from Ethiopian occupation after
a protracted struggle that lasted over thirty years of armed
struggle. Although the human
and material sacrifices were huge, the PFDJ led government not only has
it failed to deliver the promises made by our martyrs but it has also
turned against its own people by adopting dictatorial means of
governance. President Isayas
and his PFDJ Party, the only one in the country, have unlawfully
disallowed opposition parties from partaking in Eritrean politics. They also continue to eliminate
challengers, muzzle discontent, imprison critics, persecute opponents,
lay off civil servants and systematically exclude conscientious citizens
in order to carry out the leadership's brutal and undemocratic
activities.
We,
concerned Eritrean citizens in the UK, have opted for holding a peaceful
rally to express our anger and frustrations at the current regime, which
is evidently dragging the nation through constant turmoil. Since the
liberation of the country, the present government has led the citizens
into unimaginable anguish by inciting wars with the neighbouring
countries, unleashing its cruel security agents on its own citizens,
conducting terror campaigns against the exiled opposition groups and by
overrunning justice with its kangaroo courts. In today's Eritrea what
prevails is a state of crisis, fear and a period of uncertainty that
looms over the country may lead to an all out civil war, thereby
threatening the very existence of the country as a sovereign state.
The
President has ignored all calls by the opposition and democratic forces
to form an inclusive and democratically elected parliamentary government.
He continually dismisses the need for a national reconciliation between
various groups that make up the Eritrean society. Instead, the citizens
are denied their fundamental human rights, freedom of speech, association
and religious practices.
Consequently, the regime has both failed to acknowledge and
accommodate any kind of opposition within and outside the country. The simple fact that all Eritrean
refugees are still stranded in the Sudan, in Europe and in America is
indicative of a system that does not intend to fulfil the needs and
expectation of the Eritrean people.
Therefore,
all Eritrean democrats and the opposition forces appeal to all democratic
governments and human rights institutions to exert all possible pressure
to bring to an end to the injustices that are perpetrated on our people
by the present regime.
We call
for:
·
An immediate release of all
political prisoners languishing in the regime’s jails since 1970s.
·
The establishment of a democratic,
inclusive and peaceful Eritrea
·
The resignation of this
totalitarian regime and the establishment of an all-inclusive and
representative government.
·
The fulfilment of the Eritrean
peoples call for a Rule of Law and the respect of basic human rights
·
The hindrance of another civil war
that is rising over the horizon.
·
All opposition parties and
organisation to co-ordinate their resources in order to peacefully and
effectively challenge the government.
·
Members of Eritrean Defence Forces
to act responsibly and avoid becoming instruments of the current regime.
·
Resolving the heightened tension
with the Sudan amicably and refrain from intervening in Sudan's internal
affairs.
Rally for
Democracy Co-ordinating Committee
fdsafsa
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