We are writing to you as Eritrean Americans living in San Diego, united in our
opposition to the dictatorial government in Eritrea. We are deeply concerned about
the oppression of our fellow Eritrean people at home, the political instability,
economic disaster, and social disintegration in the Horn of Africa caused by the
Eritrean government’s actions over the past 30 years. Eritrea remains a country
without a constitution, independent media, parliament, or democratically elected
government. The civil liberties we cherish – including the right to free speech, press,
assembly, and even free movement within Eritrea – are nonexistent.
Recently, the Eritrean government has been planning to fund its war efforts by
holding seminars for Eritrean communities in the US. For the past 25 years, our
communities in the diaspora have been divided-two communities, two Orthodox
sects, and disconnected Christians and Muslim communities. We urge the Embassy
of Eritrea to stay away from conducting seminars in our cities. Any representative of
the dictatorial regime here is not welcome; his presence will further divide us and
trigger new conflicts. In San Diego, we are starting to heal as a community. Few years
ago, we have established the “Eritrean Debes association” to mourn our dead
together. We want to continue rebuilding our community that has been divided for so
long.
In the past four years alone, the Eritrean government has committed serious human
rights violations and war crimes in Tigray, conspiring with the central government of
Ethiopia and assembling forces from neighboring countries, and across the maritime
borders of the Red Sea. We are bewildered by Isayas’ actions now – In 2018, Isayas
himself enticed Abiye with the allure of the Red Sea and the Port of Assab, with the
intention to confuse or infuse him and his constituents in Ethiopia to focus on the
ports’ issue. This strategic move was a calculated effort to shift attention and
priorities. However, the current situation has taken a surprising turn, raising many
questions. Why invade Tigray in 2020 and destroy it, only to now build solidarity with
Tigray forces? The timing of the recently raised campaign to commemorate the 1975
massacre in Asmara feels deliberate, making us wonder about the historical context
of other massacres, such as the Akeleguzay massacre targeting the Saho villages in
1968, the Ona & Baskedira massacre in 1970, the Agordat massacre 1975, and the
Sheib massacre in 1988. We are being reminded of past atrocities of Asmara to stir
emotions and rally support, with Isayas trying to gather anyone willing to overthrow
Abiye. Eritrea is a sovereign nation and like in the Badme war in 1998 settled by a
border commission, there are peaceful means of challenging any illegal claims. We
hereby urge Eritreans, and the world community to read a finely written document
by Eritrean scholars titled “Eritrean Sovereignty & Ethiopia’s Quest for Sea Access”
written by a group of Eritrean scholars on the Red Sea Access at https://eritreafocus.org/eritrean-sovereignty-and-ethiopias-quest-for-sea-access/ to understand
the illegality of the claims by the Prime Minister of Ethiopia.
We also want to address an important and pressing matter that affects us all. The
Eritrean government has been engaging in actions that not only oppress the people
within the country but also extend their reach of transnational repression to our
diaspora communities. The regime has designated diaspora Eritrean communities as
the fourth administrative region, a move that has serious implications for us. They
have targeted our communities for money extortion, imposing illegal taxation, and
constantly following, spying on, and harassing members of our community. This
approach aims to sow division and chaos among Eritreans, which is characteristic of
the current regime. In light of these developments, we are calling upon all Eritreans
to unite and stand strongly against these oppressive actions. We must continue to
foster open dialogue and respond to the demands for change in Eritrea. Our unity is
our strength, and together we can overcome these challenges and work towards a
brighter future for all Eritreans. Let us remain vigilant and supportive of one another
during these trying times. Your engagement and solidarity are crucial in our collective
efforts to resist and counter these repressive measures.
While our ultimate goal is to remove the dictatorial system of Isayas and regain
ownership of Eritrea by its own people, we must be cautious and strategic in our
actions, and responses. We cannot blindly support any action that might further harm
our country. It is crucial that Eritreans communicate our concerns and seek a unified
approach to manage the current situation. Eritrea, Tigray, or Sudan can no longer
sustain future wars. PM Abiye must also learn a lesson from the Somaliland
Agreement of claiming access to the Indian Ocean and stop beating the drum of war
to gain access to the Red Sea by force. The illegal verbal transfer of power from
Eritrea to Abiye by Isayas in Addis in 2018 should not fool anyone into believing that
Eritrea and Ethiopia are one country.
If the embassy representative plans to come to San Diego to hold a seminar ignoring
our courteous appeal, we are prepared to challenge his visit both legally and
peacefully. The US authorities and the public are already aware of the exploitative
taxes imposed on the government supporters, and we are ready to take the following
additional actions to effectively advance our collective mission.
- We are calling on all Eritreans, community, and religious leaders to join us in
stopping the divisive visit of Eritrean government authorities to our city. - We will be reporting every asylum applicant Eritrean attending your meeting to
ensure transparency and accountability. - We will inform the proper authorities of the treasury about your tax collection
scheme to expose any potentially fraudulent activities - We will make businesses, city, state, and federal governments, as well as law
enforcement agencies, aware of your illegal presence in our city.
We will no longer remain divided; we will confront you as Eritreans together.
Eritreans for Peace & Justice
San Diego, California
April 5th, 2025
English