Eritrea Calls Anticipated UN Sanctions Travesty of Justice
Peter Clottey
. December 04, 2011
The United Nations Security Council is scheduled to vote today (Monday) on
whether to impose sanctions against Eritrea.
<
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/07/28/us-eritrea-plot-un-idUSTRE76R20H2
0110728> A UN report earlier this year accused Asmara of plotting to bomb an
African Union summit in Ethiopia's capital, Addis Ababa. The UN said most
of those arrested in the plot received training and orders from Eritrean
officers.
<
http://www.un.org/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=S/2011/433> The UN also
says its Monitoring Group on Somalia and Eritrea has documented evidence of
Eritrean payments to individuals linked to the Islamic radical al-Shabab
rebels in Somalia.
But Eritrea information minister Ali Abdu sharply denies the accusation
saying Asmara has been pronounced "guilty even when proven innocent."
The Security Council refused to delay today's planned vote after Eritrea
asked for an extension to allow President Isaias Afewerki to speak to the UN
body. But logistical challenges, officials say, make it impossible for Mr.
Afewerki to address the Security Council ahead of the vote.
Information minister Abdu said Afewerki wanted to attend but did not get a
visa to enter the United States. But US officials said visas were granted
within hours following Eritrea's application.
In an August briefing, U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations,
Susan E. Rice said the "United States is very, very concerned about
Eritrea's behavior in the region. Its support for Al-Shabab, its support to
destabilize its neighbors is documented," said Rice. "We're profoundly
troubled, and we have clearly condemned the support that Eritrea lent to the
terrorist attack that was planned to coincide with the African Union summit
last January in Addis Ababa. "
The United States, Rice said, supports additional pressure and sanctions
being applied on Eritrea.
Asmara has also been accused by some of its neighbors of acting as a
catalyst to destabilize the Horn of African region. Kenya recently accused
Eritrea of supplying arms to Somali militants.
But information minister Abdu sharply denied the accusations. He called it
yet another attempt to thwart Eritrea's development agenda that will better
the living conditions of its people.
"The more Eritrea succeeds in its development and prosperity, the more
conspiracies and misguided policies against her is concocted by special
interests in the US," said Abdu.
Abdi says that the anticipated sanctions against Eritrea are a travesty of
justice.
"A special interest establishment in the US believes that it's about the UN
charter, it's about the rule of law and with that, it's insulting the
intelligence of member states and it's making a mockery of the institution
of the United Nations and its charter," said Abdu.
He did not identify the "special interests," but said nevertheless that they
want to ensure sanctions are tightened against Eritrea at "whatever cost."
Abdu warns the anticipated sanctions will destabilize the entire region.
"We do believe that there is absolutely no justification for rushing into
these kinds of destructive sanctions or this resolution," said Abdu. "It's
designed to inflict more suffering on Eritrean people and it will create
havoc in the Horn of Africa and it will have a very grave consequences for
the people of the Horn of Africa."
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Received on Sun Dec 04 2011 - 21:17:30 EST