Eritrea: Permanent Mission of the State of Eritrea to the United Nations – Eritrea’s Re-Election to the United Nations Human Rights Council (14.10.2021)

A look into the newest UN Special Rapporteur Report (47-HRC) on Eritrea and the Shabait Rebuttal

What I will do is to take things side-by-side just to show how ridiculous things can become. Because, this is just showing how things are finessed and done. This is the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Shabait) and how the United Nations operate. The lack of coordination and the lack of mutual consent. Which is the reason for this.

We know its getting hectic, when the Shabait response to the whole report has this headline: “Rumors Cannot be Presented as Facts”. That’s how they pop-it off. It sets the parameter and shows their ways. There is no middle-ground, but just throwing everything at it.

We know the Special Rapporteur Mohamed Abdelsalam Babike doesn’t have a nice job either. As he states early this: “given the lack of cooperation of the Government with the Special Rapporteur, who was denied access to the country, he collated the necessary information through alternative means”. Because of that he was forced to: “The Special Rapporteur conducted remote monitoring and held meetings with a broad range of actors, such as diplomats, human rights defenders, civil society representatives and academics. In addition, the Special Rapporteur collected first-hand information from Eritrean refugees residing in other countries, with a view to informing his assessment of the situation of human rights in Eritrea”.

In this regard, the Eritrean government gave him no choice but do things remotely. Still, they are saying this in their rebuttal about the method: “As with previous SR reports on Eritrea, the lack of reliable data, heavy dependence on biased sources, non-verifiable approach, and ignorance of Eritrea’s ground realities renders the methodology and the essence of the allegations tenuous and unacceptable”.

What is funny about this… the government says they want a reliable and another methodology, but dismiss and doesn’t make it possible for the Special Rapporteur to investigate in the first place. So, if you close the borders and doesn’t cooperate. How is he supposed to get the information in the first place? You cannot close the doors and also claim whatever information he collects as wrong. With this sort of look into it. It seems like the objective of Eritrea is to call everything bogus and lies, while not allowing people to look into their works. This is the United Nations and not just a random organization having a mission of some sorts. Therefore, this is just making things more suspicious in the end of Eritrea. That they don’t want information out in the first place…

When things gets really tricky, is when the Special Rapporteur says this: “The Special Rapporteur highlights that, as a member of the Human Rights Council, Eritrea should strengthen its cooperation with all human rights mechanisms. In particular, the Special Rapporteur encourages the Government to strengthen its cooperation with his mandate and engage constructively, and to enhance its engagement and technical cooperation with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, which remains ready to assist Eritrea in the three priority human rights areas identified by the authorities, as well as in the implementation of the recommendations from human rights mechanisms, including those emanating from the universal periodic review”.

While Shabait says this: “Like every other country in the world, Eritrea faces challenges. However, the GoSE continuously works to address these challenges and improve human rights standards in the country. Accordingly, there is no “crisis” that warrants the targeting of the nation through HRC agendas and mandates”. When Eritrea answers the UN Special Rapporteur like this. You know the whole thing is bound to fail. The UN Special Rapporteur is there, because the UN appointed him. Not because his job is to undermine Eritrea. That’s just a fact and the government in Asmara clearly don’t want that. However, their hostility and lack of cooperation. Only opens up the questions… why are they hiding and not just giving way, if they have a perfect Human Rights record? Why are they not inviting and showing the greatness of the Republic?

Well… you go figure… right?

Then, you have this one, which is on the origin of the Tigray conflict. The Special Rapporteur says this: “On 4 November 2020, tensions escalated in the region and an armed conflict erupted in Tigray when the Ethiopian National Defence Forces launched a military offensive against the Tigray People’s Liberation Front in response to reported attacks against the Ethiopian National Defence Forces’ military bases in Tigray by Tigrayan forces. The Ethiopian National Defence Forces were allegedly supported by Amhara regional forces and the Amhara Fano militia in western Tigray, and in particular by the Eritrean Defence Forces in northern and central Tigray”. While Shabait answers with this: “Emboldened by some governments, the Western media, and NGOs, the TPLF, by its own admission, unleashed an insurrectionist war in November 2020 after it was ousted from power in 2018 after 27 years of despotic rule in Ethiopia. The objective of this massive, premeditated and unprovoked attack that the TPLF launched on all the contingents of the Ethiopian army in the north was to totally neutralize the Northern Command which possessed around 80% of the EDF’s total arsenal. The TPLF killed several hundred non-Tigrayan soldiers within the Northern Command and its overall plan was to topple the central government once it had pacified the Northern Command”. As Shabait continues: “Subsequent plans included military action against Eritrea to advance its avowed “regime change” agenda as well as incorporation of Eritrean sovereign territories for its long-term, multi-layered, aims and aspirations”.

Here you see that Eritrea isn’t looking into their own actions or as a part of the tripartite alliance in Tigray region. No, they are shifting everything at the TPLF. That is an deliberate act. While the Special Rapporteur is looking at it objectively. That’s why the wording is so careful. The Shabait is going after the TPLF and their actions, but not stating anything about their own. Also, giving a history lesson of the misdeeds of the TPLF. While it is not saying it is currently involved any of it itself. Implying it is all justified and there is no reason to doubt that… While all three parties was preparing and launching the attacks on Tigray. So, they could easily blame the TPLF no matter what it did… and the rest is history and a conflict living on to this day.

What is further striking is this one, where the Special Rapporteur says this: “The Special Rapporteur welcomes the decision adopted on 22 March 2021 by the Council of the European Union, under the European Union’s global human rights sanctions regime, imposing sanctions on Eritrea for serious violations of human rights, including acts of torture, extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions and killings in Eritrea. The Council imposed restrictive measures on eleven individuals and four entities responsible for serious human rights violations and abuses in China, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Eritrea, Libya, the Russian Federation and South Sudan”. When Shabait retorts with this: “Mention has also been made regarding EU sanctions on Eritrea amid the ongoing discussion to withhold development support in particular in the pretext of the unwarranted and worn-out allegations surrounding National Service and forced labor (paragraph 24) as well as other baseless human rights allegations. Any such pre-condition on development cooperation is unacceptable. Eritrea remains committed to the effective mobilization, higher organization, and creation of national capacity in the implementation of its development programmes. It is, however, equally committed to cooperation predicated on partnership, involving mutual respect and understanding. Thus, it rejects any attempts at intimidation, coercion, or harassment under the veil of human rights and development cooperation”.

Here we are seeing a stark contrast again. What is really significant. That Eritrea is against the sanctions. That’s to be expected, because who wants to be sanctioned and getting retribution. However, instead of letting people in and see that these things doesn’t happen. The Eritrean state is just retaliating. The UN Special Rapporteur only verifies the reports and the surrounding misgivings of the Eritrean state. Something the Eritrean doesn’t prove to be wrong. They just call it baseless, but doesn’t prove anything or say anything in significant in consideration with the alleged human rights violations. Which is the reason of the sanctions in the first place. The EU will have mechanisms where there is a need for burden of proof and evidence before sanctioning a nation. Which in effect has been enacted. Eritrea furthers the victimhood by calling it harassment and intimidation. That just shows they have no intent in changing its behaviour or try to prove their innocence.

The UN Special Rapporteur says: “The Special Rapporteur is concerned that the indefinite duration of military and civil service reportedly remains one of the main causes for the departure of Eritreans from their country. With the end of the state of war with Ethiopia, the Special Rapporteur encourages the Government to outline a timetable for reforms to its national service”. The Shabait answers with: “The causality inference (paragraph 40) suggested in the present report between national service and migration from Eritrea is unjustified and unacceptable. In line with the new development drive, as well as the emerging prospects of viable peace and cooperation in the Horn of Africa, efforts will gradually be made to return National Service to its original duration. Moreover, a significant number of national service members have been integrated into the new remuneration system which improved the salary scale of the civil service”.

This here shows the trouble with it here. As the Special Rapporteur states an issue with the military and civil service in Eritrea. While the Shabait tries to dismiss that. However, there is no way this is explaining the Eritreans fleeing from these state programs, which is causing this. The Eritrean government is downplaying it. This just shows how things are… and therefore, we just know the ideals will not be answered. That was a proof of the beginning.

They are both ending with this, which is interesting. The Special Rapporteur states this: “The Special Rapporteur calls upon the Government to acknowledge the persistence of human rights violations and abuses in Eritrea, and to allow him and other human rights mandate holders effective access to visit all areas of the country and meet with relevant stakeholders, with a view to addressing the human rights challenges that it faces”. While Shabait says this: “It is time for the HRC to break with its 8-years long unproductive approach by terminating the mandate imposed on Eritrea. On its part, Eritrea will continue to expand and consolidate dignified engagement and international cooperation based on partnership and will continue its modest contribution to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the Council, while working together with other members to depoliticize the Council and its agendas”.

This is how two worlds are colliding. A nation and a sovereign like Eritrea who is saying everything is baseless. While Eritrea isn’t opening up for the UN Special Rapporteur. Therefore, the allegations and the reported breaches of human rights violations aren’t investigated directly, but only proven by eyewitnesses in the diaspora.

The Eritrean state should consider another path, because this sort of retort isn’t safeguarding it. It is just opening up a plethora of questions. As it is not willing to open up. Shabait is just throwing shade. This sort of answer isn’t making any good grounds, but make you further questions the actions of Eritrea.

The UN Special Rapporteur is appointed and gotten a mandate from someone else. Shabait is only defending its state, but its not doing a good job. It is a hit-job, but not hitting the target. Unless, it was to make headlines in local news. Where they can look like they did something, which isn’t true. It did nothing… Peace.

Opinion: The Trump Campaign miss the WikiLeaks

It is getting closer to November and the final days of the campaign. We are in the middle of October 2020 and the race is stagnating. The President and his party is sort of scrambling. They are trying to dignify things, but it’s not working. Only the hard-liners, the love-birds of the President is still on the train. The moderates, the libertarians and other conservatives have already endorsed Joe Biden the opponent.

Donald J. Trump and his campaign last time had not only the help of right-wing media. It had help of former fridge media houses, such as Breitbart and others. Who all went up and became well-known. These Alt-Right web-pages stirred the controversy and also racism, which have been proven with the policies made in the term of this Presidency.

Therefore, Trump had influential backers with him. This was also the help of Cambridge Analytica and WikiLeaks. These dropped information and social media campaigns, which targeted the public. To narrow the space of the other candidates and change the narratives of them. This by getting bots to run Facebook groups and so fourth. The Trump Campaign had big game on these platforms and was able to manufacture consent for it. Because, the new-cycles was controlled by these ways of spreading information.

That is the sort of way it hasn’t worked as well this time around. Because, if it was to work like last time. There would have been plenty of headlines, questioning the health of Biden and his history. Where they would question his foundation, his businesses and his family. Alas, that isn’t the case. It is only small pieces of it, but not to the extent of last time.

Trump and his Campaign Team had the backers of WikiLeaks. They dropped vital emails, documents and internal documents of the Democratic Party. Others like Cozy Bear and Guccifer 2.0. These dropped intel and weaponized documents to hit the Democratic Party directly. These things made it harder for the Clinton Campaign. As they had to defend that and also wiggle with the direct attacks.

This is the Trump Campaign lacking in 2020. They don’t have foreign backers who are leaking information. All of this was giving a helping hand. To ensure the image and the idea of Trump presidency. He didn’t get the leaks, the hacking and questionable intelligence released to that extent. Yes, there was one dossier made by a former agent. However, that only did a little damage, compared to the ones dropped steadily on WikiLeaks. That was hurting Clinton non-stop.

That is why the Trump Campaign is struggling. Not only because of the incompetence and lack of strategy, but also because they have no real dirt on Biden. The Trump Campaign cannot assault and doesn’t have the support of foreign hackers. Who are willing to use all sort of techniques to get information and drop it. This is why the Trump Campaign haven’t the steam as it did in 2016.

Trump Campaign needs a WikiLeaks, it cannot run on slogans and on the charisma of the President. Especially, when he cannot listen to advice and do the right thing. He rather spill conspiracies and misuse of force. Instead, of actually do proper politicking.

The Trump Campaign cannot even sell a simple idea. They need someone drop dirt on the opponents. Because, they have so little to trade. It is that simplistic. The US President needs a Assange to save his ass. However, I don’t think there is time or someone willing to do so.

We know that Trump easily works with fo

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Opinion: The Trump Campaign miss the WikiLeaks…

reigners to get ahead. He would do that again. For one simple reason: He needs it! Peace.

Trump-Ukraine: Sen. Charles Schumer letter to fellow Senators (23.12.2019)

State of the Union 2020: Rep. Nancy Pelosi letter to President Trump (20.12.2019)

Trump-Ukraine: President Trump letter to the Speaker of the House Pelosi (17.12.2019)

Trump-Russia: Bredhoff & Kaiser P.L.L.C – Statement on behalf of Christopher Steele and Orbis Business Intelligence in response to the DOJ OIG Report into the Crossfire Hurricane Investigation (10.12.2019)

Trump-Ukraine: Articles of Impeachment and will the Senate backstab the President?

There was just a matter of time, as the House of Representatives and the majority Committees would collectively go together and make a resolution to vote over the Impeachment of President Donald J. Trump. This after his own actions in office, as the Head of State and the Executive of State.

He is trying to deflect the facts and call it names, but reality is this. The President tried together with all of his handlers to get dirt and shade his political opponent Joe Biden, by making a fraudulent agreement with Ukrainian counterparts and if it didn’t get followed the military aid didn’t come their way.

The Articles against the President is very simple, but straight to the fact. That the President did misuse power or abuse it. He tried to get a foreign power to interfere in the elections of 2020. To investigate the son of Biden. That is what the President did. That is abuse of power and misuse of power in office, using the aid of the state to get a favourable case abroad.

The Second article is the obstruction of Congress. Which at this point is fact. As his administration haven’t answered any of the subpoenas nor calls to testify of people associated with President. Even the ones who been fired has not testified. Family members of the President has also declined to answer the subpoenas and answer the committees.

That has been done by withholding documents or production of it. Defying all subpoenas and refused to produce a single document or record. Directing the Executive Branch not to cooperate nor defying to testify. There are nine persons who have not cooperated from the Executive Branch alone.

While the President has decided that he should decide the scope, the levels of inquire and ability to investigate him. That he has the “executive privilege” and the “sole Power of Impeachment”. With the stopping of documents, lack of cooperation is all a proof the obstruction of justice. As the Congress couldn’t prevail or even manage to get everything. Since, the Executive Branch has been so reluctant to do their duty.

Trump has clearly not followed the memo or should we at this point call his Constitutional rights as a citizen and as a President. He has done whatever he can shelve and stop the Congress from questioning him and his team. While having yes men, whose also involved in the shady business of the President, the likes of Devin Nunes. Who just have an ability to be with the characters of the Executive Branch and ilk who deter to breach the law. That is why the President needs to be tried and answer for his action.

There are several around Rudy Giuliani the attorney of the President whose entangled and in trouble over the same Ukraine Scandal. Which is showing the remorse and the reality on the ground. As the White House is spreading all sort of fiction to pass. Hoping all these conspiracy theories will stick.

While this will most likely pass in the House of Representatives, it will be blocked and silenced in the Senate. As the Republicans cannot go against their master, the likes of Lindsay Graham is unbound in his loyalty to the kingpin on top. His whole fate and life depends on the Donald. That is how it seems.

We will see if the crook will win or not. The House have done their part. They have been able, even in the hardest of hurdles to make a report. To prove what Trump in regards to Ukraine. Now it is just a matter of time. What results it will give and how it will sway the public opinion.

The articles are well-crafted, just like the majority report shows the intent and the essence of the whole ordeal. It is just is if the Senate will betray the Constitution or if they will stab Donald in the back. Which I doubt, because at this point. None of the GOP or Republican Senators seems interested in walking over trouble waters without kissing the ring of Trump. Peace.

Opinion: How many of the President’s men has to get caught, before they catch him?

We have had the President National Security Advisor General Michael Flynn. The Second one was the Presidents Counsel and Lawyer Michael Cohen. His Campaign Manager for a time being, Paul Manafort is also charged and behind bars. Today, another long time associate of the President Roger Stone was charged for lying as a witness and not cooperating with the authorities with subpoenaed documents to the Mueller Investigation. Therefore, his now awaiting sentencing, as the federal jury found him guilty.

Together with the other ones whose already plead guilty like Richard Gates, Alexander Van Der Zwaan, George Papadopolous and Richard Pinedo.

The ones whose already sentenced are Cohen, Van Der Zwaan, Papadopolous, Pinedo and Paul Manafort. Manafort is the only one behind bars and convicted.

This shows the legal ramifications of things and the amount of people around the President. His team of apparently crooks. There is no denying in that. When you have so many people around you, whose indicted, later charged, found guilty and awaiting sentencing. Finally getting convicted for their crimes. Shows to what extent the people around the President have no quarrels doing the illegal bidding for the President.

That what bothers me, how many of his men has to fall before it matters. Before people understand that Trump brought the New York Gang. He brought the gangsters and the ones who doesn’t care about the law. The ones who has no trouble breaching the statutes, the limitations of the law for a personal gain or a favour. That’s why his willing to do anything to get a upper hand. This who Trump is and what he stands for. Firstly, his own inflated ego, but also that his supposed to get a cut of everything he touches.

Therefore, the men around has sacrificed their careers and their lives, they have done the final bidding for him and they will be felons. They are no criminals, whose breached the laws in various ways and the juries found it out. They got evidence and the now the last one for now was Stone. But there are more associates to come, as his new lawyer Rudy Giuliani is ensuring that his Ukrainian associates are behind bars too. They will all answer for their crimes, in do time.

It is like, no matter where you look. You’ll find someone corrupted, misusing their office or extending their hand into the cookie jar. Just like other appointed leaders within the Trump administration and so-on.

Roger Stone lied about his connection and talks with Wikileaks. Stone is now awaiting sentencing and conviction. That shows what sort of friend the President has. His yet another one and shows the systematic arrangements made by the Trump Campaign and the Trump Transition Team. They were all indicted and have to answer for the crimes they committed.

Certainly, the GOP will not say this, but it is a pattern. When so many people involved is in legal jeopardy, when so many are facing time. It is no denying that the head of this will also sooner or later answer for his association. Not only his enforcers and his capo’s. Even his consigliere is facing time too. Therefore, we know something is up.

Trump cannot hide from the fact, that his associates, his people have been caught. It just a matter of time before he will face it too. Peace.

Russian Probe: Trump Jr. and McGahn never testified before the Grand Jury!

Well, there are certain fellows who are hiding things, as they are not willing to testify and stand-up in front of the Grand Jury investigation in the Russian Probe, which was producing the Mueller Report. Surely, if all parties, the ones who plead guilty and sort out deals, and the ones on the sideline had followed the subpoenas, than the produced report to Congress would have looked different.

By what was released today by the Department of Justice. Is revealing. It is again showing the conspiracy of this administration to keep secrets and lack transparency. As Don McGahn didn’t testify, neither did the first son of the clan, Donald Trump Junior. The one who had the famous meeting in the Trump Tower and has never told a straight story since. Except lying and nepotism as the one of the family members close to the President.

Therefore, what is really evident. Was that Special Counsel wasn’t able to fulfil his mission, because the Department of Justice didn’t let or the associates of Trump wasn’t complying. Just like the President wasn’t either. Just like we see with the Congress investigating into the acts of the President. The state, all agencies are blocking the release of documents in-connection with the Trump-Ukraine scandal. The same was surely happening with the Trump-Russia Probe too.

Therefore, today’s revelation isn’t shocking. But more a pattern of the New York Gang and their state operations. That they will keep their friends close, but their enemies even closer.

We can surely see why, because we know that Jr. cannot hold his tongue just like his father. He will lie and forget the previous ones. That is why, he cannot testify, because sooner or later he corner himself in, if not he reveals shady dealings by close associates and he cannot do that.

Don McGahn was just showing loyalty. Which was subpoenaed, the former White House Counsel has done the bidding of his previous boss. But this puts into question what he knows and what he did in regards to the matter. This disgraces his name and questions if he cares about the law.

What we do know is that they will tarnish this report. That they didn’t testify. But if someone did hurt the Trump Organization or Trump Campaign. They would burn them and seal their fate for life. But since its them, then the law doesn’t matter. That is what the world has learned from this administration. The law doesn’t matter to them, but matters to everyone else. Others has to answer to subpoenas, but these people are above that. Peace.