حركة الشباب الإرتري لتتغيير- سويسرا Eritrean Youth Movement For Change in Switzerland

1/11/2013

Statement about the head of EYSNS executive’s formal declaration and intent to the general members of Eritrean Youth Solidarity for National Salvation

Under the horrible and repressive conditions being experienced by our people at home and abroad, Eritrean youth are bearing the brunt of the abuses of the despotic regime in Eritrea; and, after fleeing from home, Eritreans are also becoming entangled in another vicious cycle of harsh refugee life, human trafficking, smuggling, and the prospect of being abducted, ransomed, tortured, raped, and even harvested for organs. The latest and vivid national tragedy of Lampedusa is not far from our memory.

At this time, when young people around the region highlighted the means and goals of democratic change, Eritrean youth are expected to tidy up their ranks and lead the Eritrean people to revolt against the system perched on the chest of the country and the people; therefore, the youth initiatives across various youth groups and gatherings to uprise against the despotic system in Asmara was reflected in the Eritrean Youth Dialogue Forum (held in Debrezeit, Ethiopia, in July 2012). This was not representative of all Eritrean youth associations, and a follow-up meeting with Eritrean youth representatives was held in Gondar (Ethiopia) to address the failings of the latter forum held in Debrezeit.

But the narrow approach of the head of the EYSNS executive in the administration of the EYSNS affairs for the last 14 months was enough to drive the dream of young Eritrean to meet under one umbrella to fade away. And, finally, the executive head exceeded his authority by publicly announcing (at Togoruba website) the upcoming conference as a political organization conference and thus breaking the spirit, message and mandates of the Debrezeit Youth Forum.

In addition to the cancellation of the Representative Preparatory Committee approved by all EYSNS Council members at a meeting last February, he formed a new preparatory committee accountable only to the executive, exceeding the executive authority and forgetting that the lack of ethnic and Eritrean cultural diversity in attendance was one of the reasons for convening the Debrerzeit Youth Forum. Moreover, the EYSNS executive head isolated the Council Chairman from his position and usurped his legal authority without the chairman’s knowledge and without any legal grounds.

In the course of these spotted serious breaches of the Debrezeit Forum outcomes, which directly affect the spirit of the national strategic unity and the foundation of the Eritrean social relations, we emphasize the following:

• Adherence to the principle of organising an inclusive Eritrean youth conference, and we believe that the formation of Eritrean youth organisations, gatherings and meetings are gains and achievements to the Eritrean youth.

• We value and appreciate the role of the Ethiopian government for its support and facilitating what required to bring the Eritrean youth together, and we solicit the withdrawal of confidence and support for the current head of the executive which lost his legitimacy in July 2013 by not attending the meetings held by the Council to extend the ending period of the one year term, and we consider any support to the head of the executive is a bias and a preference for one entity at the expense of the unity and cohesion of the national unity of the Eritrean youth .

• Ensuring the Eritrean Youth Unity as a strategic task to save the Eritrean people.

• We are committed to the preparatory committee approved by all EYSNS Council members at a meeting last February, and totally disagree with the current announcement by the head of the executive and we consider the head of the executive to be illegitimate to make such announcements.

Signatories of the statement:

1- Eritrean Youth Solidarity for National Salvation (EYSNS) – Australia

2- Eritrean Youth Solidarity for National Salvation (EYSNS) – New Zealand

3- Eritrean Youth Solidarity for National Salvation (EYSNS) – Sudan Central

4- Eritrean Youth Solidarity for National Salvation (EYSNS) – Middle East (Qatar, Kwait, Bahrain and United Arab Emirates)

5- Eritrean Youth Movement for Change in Switzerland

6- Eritrean Youth & Intellectuals Movement

7- The Red Sea Afar Youth Union

8- Eritreans Movement for Change (EMC)

9- Eritrean Australian Youth (EAYOUTH)

10- Eritrean Forum for National Dialogue