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From: awetnayu@hotmail.com
Date: Mon Jun 20 2011 - 13:32:43 EDT
Eritrea, UK and PVI Incident
Amanuel Biedemariam
The four men from Britain and Australia were released from Eritrea thanks to the good will of the government of Eritrea. After six months of imprisonment for violating Eritrean sovereign waters, the men of Protection Vessels International (PVI) were released by Eritrean authorities. After their release, PVI released this statement: “PVI regrets the series of unfortunate events leading to the men’s detainment, but it would like to express thanks to the Eritrean President and his government for their release.” Prior to their release PVI released a statement that may have lead their release. It said that PVI, “deeply regretted” the situation, and issued “an unreserved apology for any wrongdoing.”
The international incident set off all kinds of speculations in many circles. Some of the anti Eritrea camp started a full-fledged campaign to press the English into penalizing Eritrea. There were threats and actions by the British against Eritrea. The families of the detainees were in limbo and uncertain of their loved ones’ future. Eritreans felt violated by the incursions because of the potential threats and violation of their sovereign waters. The situation was unsettling and Eritreans braced not knowing how things were going to end up. Through it all however, Eritreans knew the steady hand of their government will prevail. All is well that ends well. However, there were many facets to the story that I found intriguing:
Obviously, this appeared as unexpected opportunity for Ethiopia and her agents to try to demonize Eritrea, in effect convicting Eritrea, the victim, in the international PR wars. As always it failed because it was fabricated, lacking depth and short-sighted exposing-further, the mercenary regime in Ethiopia.
It shed light on the Ethiopian agents that claim to be Eritreans and exposed further their agendas. These are agendas that have nothing to do with safeguarding Eritrean sovereignty or protecting the safety and rights of the people of Eritrea. They all came out smelling blood.
Elsa Chiru-m: “The Eritrean government in its usual high-handed way has fallen foul of the British authorities in an attempt to treat British citizens with the same inhuman and illegal disdain that it extends to its own populace They appear, also, not to have been charged with any crime.”
Elsa claims to be Eritrean and she has no qualms if the wrath of the British fell on Eritrea. She ignored the PVI personnel violation to score a political point. I wonder if she would feel the same if armed men showed up on her doorsteps.
AI Staff ( AKA Tesfakihdet Me-har-ena): “The four detainees were working for a security company that provides protection for ships in a region known for its piracy, all the way from Red Sea to the Indian Ocean. They were detained after they docked at an Eritrean port to refuel.”
Really? Tesfakihdet thinks Eritrea is the Wild-West where everyone that comes to refuel comes with sophisticated armaments. It shows that he has no idea what Eritrea is like. How could he. But he arrogantly put himself on the witness-stand as if he knows.
Selam Kihide-ane, this is a woman that claims to be Eritrean however, the BBC did a story on her stating that she came from Ethiopia to the UK at the age of 16 with her sisters. She has no legal connection to Eritrea as a citizen or otherwise.
She states: “The problem for the Eritrean government now though is…that they can’t simply heap accusations on people like this and expect the world to let them get away with it…”
Thus convicted Eritrea and, expected the smashing of Eritrea to come yesterday. Maybe, it is the blood of the Derg that is making her boil seeking for more blood of innocent Eritreans.
Sali-G-Hadi-Jo-har, this person is alleged to have committed acts of pedophilia and fraud. And he just returned from Ethiopia after meeting with Meles Zenawi and affectionately posing with men whom he sold the port of Assab to. He obviously came out on the defense of the Britons in effect becoming a character witness for men whom he knows nothing about. He stated,
“But the four Brits do not look like members of a fearsome assassination squad—more like accountants on a fishing trip; maybe they are accountants for the real killers who got away! So the emphasis has been on the weaponry.”
As if looks could determine a killer or a criminal. Maybe he was fantasizing to have his pictures taken with them? Who knows?
Through their idiotic statements, what these imposters exposed is their own desperation. They exposed their disloyal nature to the very people they were trying to convince about Eritrea in a negative light. These people live in the US and the UK. If an American or a Brit suspects that there is a cache of munitions somewhere in their territories and if a citizen from any other country (friendly or hostile) is responsible to offload it, what would they do? Would Sali-G-Hadi, Selam and ilk come to the defense of the violators? And what will the US and the Brits do to the people that violated their waters? I am sure G-Hadi will cheer and flail to be a patriot and convict the violators.
UK and PVI
It is known around the world that the people of Eritrea are hospitable and friendly people. The people and government have a track record of good will starting from the days of the struggle for liberation. After the men’s release, PVI stated that they are pleased that they were returning home safe. According to PVI: “we believe they are all in good health, stating they were well looked after by the Eritrean authorities throughout.”
The West is destroying Africa at will for their interest. The main reason being; Africans are too weak, disorganized and feeble to do anything. Africa is in a perpetual bloody decay fueled by the butchers of the West. The only salvation from these-curse is a united zeal of people that are willing to stand up and demand to be treated equally as they would treat each other. Africa could also be served by Diaspora Africans that stand with their people and their countries instead of selling out for irresponsible reasons.
The question is what would the reaction be it if men from a friendly country i.e. Bangladesh (hypothetical) did what PVI did in Eritrea in the UK or the US? I am sure there would have been 24hour coverage by the BBC, CNN and others. How would the people of UK or US feel?
The other day, in Washington DC, a suspicious car in the pentagon parking lot put the entire Metro DC into a traffic standstill for hours. Safety and security of people and nations always trump other considerations. The traffic jam that halted the business of the day in DC did not matter.
The Key
The incident brought-to-light issues of maritime security and the process of securing cargo in the Red Sea waters. It exposed the role, or lack thereof, of the nations that own the territorial waters vis-à-vis cargo movement securely. It could have a game changing implication on the ways cargo can securely move through the various territorial waters of the region.
For decades it was Western companies like the American International Group, INC. (AIG) that insured cargo that sailed through the Red Sea waters. The countries that have the right to the territorial waters namely Egypt, Sudan, Eritrea, Saudi Arabia, Yemen and Djibouti; have not come together with a cohesive approach for many reasons. These are international waters when seen with the frameworks of territorial integrity; the nations above needed to have a framework for securing the area. They needed to have a clear definition of what securing cargo and safeguarding ships mean to all of them collectively. They needed to have-established some basic regulations that govern maritime activities. There are many examples that these nations can look to as a guide. For example: maritime agreements between the US and Canada. Americans cannot fathom ships/boats coming to US territories from Canada without proper credentials. The coast guard would not allow it.
However, for many reasons these nations were not able to come to the table to address it collectively. The Saudis have traditionally outsourced security. The relationships amongst these countries are fragmented. The technological advances are not used collectively. These countries have independent security concerns. If we look at Yemen in the current stage it is impossible to think of such a consideration when the country is faced with daunting problems. ..
This is what gives rise to security firms such as PVI. The question is what country is responsible for the security firms? What regulations govern these entities? How can they be held to account and are there standards… The reality is at it stands now and as we just witnessed with the PVI incident there is none.
Conclusion
Hopefully, the leaders of the nations involved, in this case Britain, Australia and Eritrea can see a need for creating a foundation for mutually beneficial and respectful start that is based on respect of sovereign rights and protocol. It appears as though that may have been the case between Eritrea and the UK because on 17th June 2011-Preisdent Isaias Afwerki received the credentials of the Ambassador of the U.K., Mrs. Sandra Tyler-Haywood after seemingly tumultuous exchanges.
This incident, as negative as it may have appeared, provided opportunities to expose not only the need to securely transport cargo; it highlighted what the safety and sovereignty concerns of nations like Eritrea are. It also gave Eritrea a platform to let other security companies know that Eritreans are determined to safeguard their sovereignty. It told the world that no shady movement is to be tolerated. It clarified Eritrea’s position, that no matter what citizenship one holds they will be held to account. It showed the need for countries that claim their citizens, in cases such as the PVI that they must classify whether these groups are mercenaries or nationally sanctioned organizations conducting national businesses; and if so, to follow protocol.
But clearly, the peaceful resolution has disappointed Ethiopia and her agents that wanted to see the escalation of the problems. However in keeping with the famous saying “Let the dogs (Ala-Gadi) bark while the camels stride,” Eritrea prevailed, celebrating the 20 year anniversary of the nation’s independence gloriously. It dashed any hopes that they had. It is a sign that all what they have tried have failed. It showed that they failed to do any damage no matter how much they try. It showed that Eritrea is not worried because the borders are safe and secure. Thanks to Warsay!
Glory to Our Martyrs.
Awet N-Hafash
Awetnayu@hotmail.com
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