vol 24. no. 9 saturday, april 1, 2017 pages 8, price 2.00 nfa...

Vol 24. No. 9 Saturday, April 1, 2017 Pages 8, Price 2.00 NFA

President Isaias Afwerki has held yesterday discussions with representatives of regional and global workers’ organizations who came to the country to participate at the 7th Congress of National Confederation of Eritrean Workers.

Commending the solid support

President held discussions with workers’ organizations

The 7th Congress of the National Confederation of Eritrean Workers (NCEW) held at Hotel Asmara Palace from 27 to 29 March has concluded. The Congress held under the theme “Strong Organization for Robust Union” elected 65 Permanent and 7 Alternative Central Committee members. Mr. Tekeste Baire was also re-elected as the General Secretary of the Confederation.

In closing remarks, Mr. Yemane Gebreab, Head of PFDJ Political Affairs, said that the Congress was a reminder for workers to reinforce productivity and contribute their share in the nation-building process. Moreover, he called on the newly the elected Central Committee members to diligently work for strengthening organizational capacity and ensuring the rights of workers as well as enhancing

the 7th congress of the national confederation of eritrean workers

Eritrean nationals residing in Sweden, Australia and the United States have reaffirmed commitment to promote national development.

Members of the PFDJ branch in Sweden held a meeting in Gothenburg city during which they expressed readiness to step-up activities for enhanced participation in national development endeavors.

In another report, the Charge d’Affairs at the Eritrean Embassy in Australia and New Zealand, Mr. Mehari Tekeste, gave briefing on the objective situation in the homeland and the role of Eritrean nationals in the Diaspora in the nation building process.

Similarly, the Eritrean Embassy in the UK organized a “Forum

commitment of eritrean nationals abroad

that the Workers’ Representatives have throughout extended to the Eritrean workers’ movement, President Isaias stated that mutual understanding and integrated plans of action were determinant factors in securing and promoting the rights of workers at the global level.

Heads of Delegation and Representatives of the various Workers’ Associations on their part expressed their appreciation at the commitment of the Eritrean Government to safeguard and promote the rights of workers and reaffirmed their readiness to strengthen ties with the National Confederation of Eritrean Workers.

Representatives from the International Labor Organization (ILO), the International Confederation of Trade Unions (ICTU), the Organization of African Trade Union Unity (OATUU), International Trade

Union Confederation-Africa (ITUC-Africa), International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) as well as Trade Unions delegates from Turkey, the Sudan,

Kenya, Algeria and Italy and a philanthropic (SUKE) association from Switzerland participated in the 7th Congress of the NCEW.

of Women Ambassadors” during which discussion was conducted the participation of female professionals in national development program.

The Eritrean Ambassador to the UK, Mr. Estifanos Habtemariam, explained that the vision of the Eritrean people and their leadership is to build sustainable economic development. He also underlined the significance of heightened public awareness and the role of women to that end.

Also at a meeting of Eritrean nationals in Denver city, the Charge d’Affairs at the Eritrean Embassy in the US, Mr. Berhane Gebrehiwet, gave briefing on the objective situation at hole and the progress registered in the development endeavors.

their participation in national development endeavors.

In the course of the three-day Congress, seminars by senior government officials were conducted. Besides, a Ten-year Activity Report of the Confederation was presented and extensive discussion conducted on the reviewed constitution of the NCEW.

The Congress adopted a number of recommendations and resolutions.

Meanwhile, reports indicated that the newly adopted Revised Constitution of the Confederation creates conducive ground for the participation of the youth in the activities of the NCEW.

The participants said that the 7th

Congress has created encouraging

outcome for strengthening the activities and organizational capacity of the Confederation.

They pointed out that the enthusiastic discussion conducted, the seminars aimed at strengthening the activities and organization of the Confederation as well as reinforcing the understanding of workers as regards their rights and responsibilities would make significant contribution in the development of the NCEW.

Representatives of regional and global workers organizations who participated at the 7th NCEW Congress on their part expressed appreciation for the commitment of the Eritrean Government to safeguard and promote the rights of workers and the active participation of the workers representatives at the Congress.

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Eritrea Profile, Saturday, April 1, 2017 2Vol 24 . No 9

Semhar Mebrahtu

When I went to the Book Fair at Expo Hall I met some authors who do have amazing views about the exhibition and it was very inspiring and at the same time enlightening. They shared their thoughts and experiences without hesitation.

‘‘As a whole we have the same purpose in selling the books in this hall or we can say we have the same message to pass on to the readers”, pointed out Engineer Fisha Gebreegziabiher, one of the famous authors in Eritrea. He wrote books like Grat Bernente, Weysero Wininu, Nbr Nera and others; he also wrote scripts for movies like Rgbit Noah (part one and part two) as well as Ngus Chaka. He has this inspiring verse ‘’The way to internationalism is through localism. Being local means being original”. Therefore his most writings are centered around Eritrean culture.

He explained that we all strive to pass and respect the important values of the community like giving respect to beliefs and values of our society, avoiding destructive behaviors, continuously searching for knowledge, keeping up with sciences and technologies, put time great effort to be a great person, not giving up, and not fooling around for temporary pleasure. He also added that we need to

16th ERITREAN BOOK FAIRgive our advice for the young to be a productive generation, to use their time properly and to be creative. To work hard to learn

and get experiences from other people, to identify their talent and capacity, to have courage to take a step forward. Thus, the main purpose of is to touch readers’ life positively. Books have this excellent ability.

Author Abraham Tsehaye who I also met in the hall writes books for children. He said that the main purpose the Book Fair is to give benefits to readers by giving them access to variety of books by just visiting the hall without the need to go to stationeries. The author also said his books, are sold far and above the 30% discount.

He added that the Book Fair also has significance in giving opportunities to the writers. ‘‘We got this benefit to introduce our books in very easily without searching places and people to sell our books. He suggested this event be twice or thrice a year, because readers and writers can have the opportunity to exchange experiences and thoughts.

Abraham also suggested that

to improve the reading habit parents and teachers have huge responsibility. He added that to promote reading appetite, the teachers have to encourage students look for a variety of books to understand and master their lessons. Besides parents should be role models of a reading habit in their daily life because children learn things better not by telling but by showing. And he added that parents should spend

their money in books instead of spoiling things because buying books is not money wasting rather its money investing (it increases their knowledge).

Another young author, who is incepting in translating English books to Tigrigna, Mr.Ahadu Desta-Alem said that in this Book Fair there is an opportunity to exchange experiences with those expert writers and that it an advantage especially for young writers like them and to meet with the readers. He explained that translating books like Harry Potter has an impact to increase the readers’ eagerness to read

books instead of just watching it as a movie. Translation, he added, gives them this huge opportunity to introduce themselves with current technologies to enable them discover things which the world is up to.

As the Research and Documentation Center indicated the Book Fair includes different activities other than displaying books for sale and exhibition. For example, share experience and knowledge with young Eritreans mainly students from high school. Contests of general knowledge, debating and painting competitions among students from junior and high school are also part of the program. This activity has been followed and guided for the past months by the Branch Offence of Ministry Education in Zoba Maekel.

Moreover, to inspire students the exhibition is visited, among others, by students from high schools and junior secondary schools in Asmara in an organized manner with the help of the

Ministry of Education.

In the Book Fair that is taking place in ASMARA, more than 200 institutions and individuals including writers, publishers, printers, book sellers, libraries, book clubs, kindergarten centers and others are displaying their products and services. This year nineteen new books seven and educational charts will be added to our existing list of books by 92 individual authors. 105 book sellers are displaying 646 titles and two educational charts. Six second hand book sellers are also

displaying 1300 titles. 80 books are also displaying for sell.

Engineer Fisha Gebreegziabiher

Mr.Ahadu Desta-Alem

Author Abraham Tsehaye

In addition, organization under United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), American Embassy, European Union, International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and Italian school are displaying their products.

Rora Digital library, digital library of the Ministry of Education, Poly Technique, printing presses and publishers are performing their activities and providing their services.

Books are selling at 30% discount/ reduced price in all Zobas and regions. The 20% discount covered by the Government of Eritrea and the PFDJ (People Force Defense Justice) and booksellers are making the 10% discount.

All in all the exhibition has a tremendous effect in improving the reading and writing habit of the society. Its books week after all, which has great impact to put the ideas of books on the mind of the society. Overall, the progress in strengthening the reading habits is promising, but to achieve the desired success there should be coordinated efforts on the part of all stakeholders.

Vol 24 . No 9Eritrea Profile, Saturday, April 1, 2017 3

By: Simon Keleta

This past year has not been so kind to Ethiopia’s beleaguered, ruling regime, the Tigrayan People’s Liberation Front (TPLF). After rigging the 2015 parliamentary elections, the regime has faced incessant public protests in the Oromo and Amhara regions, which has led to thousands of deaths, mass incarceration, an internet ban, killing of tourists and destruction of foreign firms, triggering the government to declare a state of emergency and drawing international condemnation.

In November 2016, Oromo activist and former Al Jazeera journalist Mohammed Ademo wrote, “Barely a year after ‘winning’ 100 percent of parliamentary seats both at the federal and regional legislatures, [TPLF] now faces an absolute and total legitimacy crisis.” As tenuous legitimacy evaporated over this past year, it seems the misfortunes of the regime will continue through 2017 with the latest reports indicating that Ethiopia is on the brink of famine.

Lacking legitimacy, TPLF can

ill afford to take responsibility for another catastrophic failure. So what does it do? Point the finger at Eritrea, of course. With growing international concern for famine in Ethiopia to start the New Year, Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) published its January 13 edition of A Week in the Horn web publication expressing concerns not for Ethiopians but supposedly Eritreans at risk:

UNICEF published a

report this week, “Eritrea: Humanitarian Action for Children”, which said since 2015 Eritrea had experienced serious El Niño drought conditions which had undermined household food and livelihood security, particularly for women and children, and contributed to a cholera outbreak across three of the country’s regions. The report concludes that half of all children in Eritrea are stunted, and vulnerable to malnutrition and disease outbreaks.

Martin Plaut and the Politics of FaminePart i

Claims like these are perennial. Literally, there isn’t a single failure in Ethiopia that the TPLF regime has not either (1) blamed on Eritrea or (2) claimed is also happening in Eritrea. In doing so, the so-called international community has rewarded Ethiopia handsomely and punished Eritrea senselessly, which can be explained by the dictum uttered by one Washington insider: “The countries that cooperate with us get at least a free pass. Whereas other countries that don’t cooperate, we ream them as best we can.”

While the Eritrean government

doesn’t seem to entertain—or even care about—most of these petty, desperate and oft child-like allegations by TPLF, it is in the interest of concerned and discerning international observers to investigate this spurious “famine” claim and lay bare the unfounded accusations against Eritrea.

On January 17, the UN News

Service reported that the TPLF government was seeking $948 million to help feed 5.6 million people in need of emergency food assistance. The week after that, AP journalist Elias Meseret—an Ethiopian and TPLF regime stenographer—covered the issue, quoting UN humanitarian chief Stephen O’Brien, who “cautioned, however, against ‘dramatizing by saying this may degenerate into famine.’”

Why the reservation with using the “F” word? Is it not obvious that absent the solicited food assistance, many Ethiopians would in fact be at risk of dying of starvation and the complications associated with acute malnutrition?

Writing for Deutsche Welle in a March 8 article, Jefferson Chase explained that German NGO Menschen für Menschen was sounding the alarms on Ethiopian famine and stated, “Some 6 percent of Ethiopia’s population of 98 million suffers from food shortages resulting from a catastrophic drought in the eastern African country. But that doesn’t qualify as a risk of famine for the United Nations, which defines the term as 20 percent of a country’s

population having fewer than 2,100 kilocalories of nutrition per day.”

Evidence suggests that Ethiopia may have crossed the 20% marker. According to USAID’s Food Assistance Fact Sheet on Ethiopia, last updated on January 4, the agency has “identified 9.7 million people as in need of relief food assistance. This is in addition to the nearly 8 million people who are chronically food insecure and covered by the GoE-led Productive Safety Net Program (PSNP), supported by USAID and the donor community.”

What this data highlights—and what the UN and AP seem to overlook— is the quite critical piece of information that there already 8 million “chronic” beneficiaries receiving international food assistance every year that simply are not talked about in news articles. The media only reports the new 5.6 million “acute” beneficiaries. On top of the 8 million chronic and 5.6 million acute beneficiaries is some percentage of the 9.7 million still-food-insecure beneficiaries that will have to rollover this year from last year, giving a total lying in the range of 13.6 to 23.3 million people.

For those critics who think the 9.7 million acutely hungry Ethiopians from 2016 are somehow no longer hungry in 2017, think again. Post-drought recovery doesn’t work that way, or that quickly. Dead cattle don’t come back to life. Internal displacement doesn’t resolve overnight.

According to the Ethiopian Government’s own Humanitarian Requirements Document (HRD) for 2016, 1.0 metric tons of food aid were needed for 10.2 million people. Interestingly, the HRD for 2017, calls for 0.9 metric tons for only 5.6 million people. How is it that TPLF is asking for almost the same amount of food aid as last year, in which 20% of the population was at risk of famine, for roughly half the number of people this year? Are Ethiopians suddenly twice as hungry? The evidence suggests that TPLF is cooking the books. Some of the missing hungry may be covered by USAID money

for “water sanitation” under the WASH program. In any case, there are likely 20% of Ethiopians in need of food assistance and at risk of famine.

In spite of these ominous numbers, UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake, seemed to have forgotten Ethiopian children when he announced on February 21 that 1.4 million children were at risk of famine in four countries: Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan and Yemen. UNICEF even hashtagged it, calling it the #4famines crisis. While the four war-ravaged nations were paraded on social media to the chagrin of their governments, Ethiopia was provided cover from international criticism. As the campaign picked up along with the Ethiopian regime’s need for humanitarian aid, Ethiopia’s looming famine could no longer be concealed.

Following in the footsteps of German counterparts, the British NGO Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) officially launched its East Africa Crisis Appeal on March 15, soliciting aid to combat famine in Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya and South Sudan that endangered 16 million people. That same day, the UK government, via personal donation by the Queen, announced that it would match “pound for pound” the first £5 million donated by DEC while the AP reported of a “surprise” visit to Somalia by Boris Johnson, who would also be visiting Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda.

When it came to Somalia, the media made it clear that famine concerns were central to Johnson’s visit. News articles included photos of a smiling Johnson loading UK Aid packages onto Somalia-bound cargo planes.

With Ethiopia, however, the reasons for the visit were nebulous at best. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office press release stated, “Together the UK and Ethiopia can work to make our countries and the region stronger, safer and more prosperous, from combating the devastating drought to enhancing security for people in neighbouring Somalia.” So are

they fighting famine in Ethiopia or Somalia? It’s not clear.

On the Ethiopian side, the state-run Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation (EBC) left less room for ambiguity, stating only that Johnson was on an “official work visit” to Ethiopia and then oddly pivoting to Somalia in regards to drought: “[Johnson] visited Somalia on Wednesday for talks with President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohammed ‘Farmajo’. The two leaders discussed issues devastating the country including drought and insecurity.” No drought or insecurity discussion in Ethiopia? One headline in the Ethiopian Herald was quite sanguine: “UK State Secretary Applauds Ethiopian Growth.”

With growing German and British concerns, Save the Children campaigns on YouTube, public pledges of support for hungry Ethiopian children, TPLF—facing its existential legitimacy crisis—moved to deflect international attention and criticism of its catastrophic failure by, once again, pointing the finger at Eritrea.

As though on cue, the TPLF’s go-

to journalist Martin Plaut, former BBC Africa editor, enters the scene with an article in The Conversation UK reminding the world not to forget Eritrea:

The international community

has finally woken up to the critical situation across the Horn of Africa. Conflict and drought have left millions at risk of famine. In the UK, an appeal has been launched by the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) for assistance for 16m people from Somalia, Kenya, Ethiopia and South Sudan. To underline the gravity of the situation, British foreign secretary Boris Johnson visited Somalia on March 15 to observe conditions on the ground. But in the rush to provide help to those facing starvation one community has been ignored: Eritreans. [Emphasis mine]

To support his claim, Plaut quotes

the same UNICEF report referenced

Disclaimer: articles published in this column do not reflect the stance or opinion of Eritrea Profile

continued on page 5

4Vol 24 . No 9Eritrea Profile, Saturday, April 1, 2017

Natnael Yebio W.

Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772–1834), British poet, has said that readers are divided into four classes: The first are like the hourglass and their reading being as the sand, it runs in and runs out, and leaves not a vestige behind, only reading for the sake of getting through time. A second is like the sponge, which imbibes everything, and returns it in nearly the same state, only a little dirtier. A third is like a strain bag, allowing all that is pure to pass away, and retaining only the refuse and dregs. And the fourth is like the slaves in the diamond mines of Golconda, who, casting aside all that is worthless, retain only pure gems. These are the kind who profit from what they read, and enable others to profit by it also.

My uncle, Biniam, had been reading the Psalms (Dawit) in Ge’ez for the last forty years, with tears in his eyes, but if you ask him the meaning of what he had just been reading, he would simply gawk at you and blink his eyes. He read because he had to. He did not read with understanding, no, not at all. He read just for the sake of reading, or maybe he thought that by reading the Scriptures day and night, he might assure himself of a soft landing in heaven.

It would have been more profitable for my uncle had he read the Psalms not with the intention of acquiring sainthood (which is less certain) but to learn the complex Ge’ez grammar. He could have profited from reading.

If you are reading without a purpose and you don’t understand what the book wants to tell you, then you are not reading; you are simply scanning the pages without mental processing. You can compare yourself to Ge’ez software in a computer trying to read passages in English.

Reading should trigger the mind causing one to relate things and formulate ideas. It should light the ‘candles’ that remain unlit in one’s brain. It should by all means be able to effect some change in one’s thinking and attitude.

Unbeknown to us, as we lead our daily lives, we are reading all the time: reading signs, symbols, icons; reading people’s faces, reading

Thou shalt not burn books!body language, reading between the lines, reading people’s emotions and reading the skies and the times we live in.

Once, there was this lady who was invited to a jet set dinner party along with her husband. It so happened that the group with which her husband conversed and sipped red wine began to talk about the political development in China, Turkey and Greece. The lady thought it was an easy subject to jump into and thus found herself throwing remarks now and then in the course of the high-flown and highbrow conversation.

Anyway her husband who knew better advised her to stay out of the discussion and told her sternly to simply listen with a feigned interest. But to his horror and dismay she insisted in joining the discussion and began to talk about where she had bought her beautiful set of china, and how she used it to serve her well-cooked turkey, and how she took much care that the grease did not run over and stained her silk tablecloth……. It was her last attendance in similar receptions.

This lady could have kept quiet and could have listened to what the people had to say, learning simply by reading their minds. But foolish as she was, she found it too demeaning to learn from others. In fact, she could have learned a lot by moving around and analyzing people’s attitudes in a reception where food and drink come in plenty and free of charge.

Before the invention of the alphabets and books, people read the language of birds, the imprints of wild animals left on the ground, the various smells emitted by plants, the threatening grimaces of the enemy, the threatening looks of clouds, the signs in the sky, an impending earthquake, the behavior of insects and fish, etc.

Ancient Egyptians read pictures that symbolized sounds or maybe ideas. The Incas or Aztecs read more or less similar symbols. And astrologers have always been reading the shape of constellations and the movement of stars.

The American Red Indian read the smoke puffs that rose from the mountain yonder and knew that negotiation did not pay and that he had to be ready for war against the

paleface. Geronimo here I come!Madam Olga, the fortune teller,

read palms and told you that you would be laughing all the way to the bank, only to find out your assets have been frozen. The South African Bushmen read broken twigs and dried animal droppings to stalk their preys.

Reading is as much a habit as a cultivated skill which requires interest and insight. There are people who trot around the world and if you ask them to tell you something about the places they had visited or the people they had encountered, they remain dumb and unable to relate things. It is certain that they could have seen the Statue of Liberty, the Coliseum or even the Moulin Rouge. But it is their outer eyes and not their inner eyes they had used to see these historical monuments. Alas, they are unable to relate it to anything not because they are illiterate or because they have not read anything in life to make connections of events they have experienced in the past, but they are not gifted with the capacity to see things in an intelligent way, or maybe they are not inclined to do so.

However, reading should not be confined to books alone. It should include the reading and interpretation of anything that surrounds us, as demonstrated in the examples above.

Have you ever gone through a telephone directory lately? What about classified ads? Have you ever tried to read between the lines in government press releases? Can you learn anything from a restaurant menu? Magazine’s anyone? Never! says the serious-looking company manager. Why not? If you don’t see the lighter side of things, you will be condemned to see the dark side of things for the rest of your life.

If there is some habit that people should cultivate, it should be the

habit of reading indiscriminately. Don’t be lead by other people’s opinion which book or magazine to read. Simply choose what interests you and begin to read. It may be the type of literature people call ‘garbage’, but read it just the same if you happen to like it.

Some people say that we should be very careful in what we read, but I have seen people who read ‘garbage’ in English with ease and relaxation because they liked them and who finally showed significant change in their mastery of that language. By rubbish is meant cheap fiction. Strangely enough, I found out that those who read ‘garbage’ with ease and relaxation expressed themselves in English more fluently than those who read ‘serious’ books with much strain and effort.

Still some wits have left us pithy aphorisms and maxims that might discourage those who want to go on reading books of their own choice. They say that certain books emit light more if we burn them than if we read them. Again they say: Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested. And again someone had this to say: Thank you for sending me a copy of your book. I’ll waste no time reading it. A bit cruel, isn’t it?

I think it is better to read ‘garbage’ than never to read at all, for your mere reading of ‘garbage’ might induce some kind of habit in you and as you get bitten by the bug of reading, it will become a lifetime habit which is certain to bring untold joy to your otherwise humdrum life.

You may start with sick jokes or even commix, and once the reading habit established you might by some sort of miracle pass to the reading of heavy material such as contemporary literature and weighty dissertations.

I myself have developed the habit

of reading from cheap fiction. From such books I learned hundreds of American idiomatic expressions and the ability to understand the use of everyday English spoken by simple people and in a matter-of-factly manner. This helped me to express myself in English with ease when people older than me struggled with their Essential English Book One, Two, Three, etc. with the result that at the end of the day they still continued to murder the Queen’s English with impunity. Lucky me, I developed such confidence in my linguistic skills that I began to write simple essays in English while still young.

Reading should be likened unto a mine rich in inestimable gems. It depends on the miner to get the finest of gems by hard work and patience. A miner comes over, looks around, begins to dig and sifts for gold, and after an hour or two packs up and leaves disappointed. Another prospector arrives along with his mule, looks around, takes his spade and begins to dig. No luck. He starts again and digs all around. No luck. He persists and begins to dig, plough, shove, and sift with the utmost patience. And finally he finds not only gold dust but small specks of diamond as well.

If you look carefully around you, you can find the most precious things in even the most unlikely places. There’s no lousy book or literature but lousy brain or attitude. Of course, all books are not the same. Many are worth to be tossed away if it were not for the respect well-bred people have for writers who try their best. Well, on the other hand even fools have something to say to us if we listen carefully. Go on reading books written even by birdbrains with a special capacity to bore people to death, you can toss their books into the bottomless pit afterwards.

How many books in this world have begun as blockbusters and ended up in gutters; and how many books have begun with shouts of boos and insults and ended up as the brightest stars in the firmament of learning. The first commandment in this case should be: thou shalt not burn books!

Tired of books? Then read the world from which you came and with whose dust you will mingle one day.

by the Ethiopian MFA’s weekly publication, which is published by the TPLF regime-consultant and former BBC journalist Patrick Gilkes, who is Plaut’s friend and frequent co-author of numerous counterfactual books and articles on Eritrean-Ethiopian issues. Explaining that “there is no doubt about the scale of the need” in Eritrea, Plaut quotes the following from the UNICEF report:

Malnutrition rates already

exceeded emergency levels, with 22,700 children under five projected to suffer from severe acute malnutrition in 2017. National data also indicates half of Eritrean children are stunted.

In actual fact, he misquoted the

report, which instead states:

Data from the Nutrition Sentinel Site Surveillance system indicates an increase in malnutrition rates over the past few years in four out of six regions of the country, with 22,700 children under five projected to be affected by severe acute malnutrition (SAM) in 2017. National data also indicates half of Eritrean children are stunted.

Why did Plaut feel the need to add

“emergency levels”? Well, it turns out that Plaut, instead of quoting the UNICEF report directly, was simply copying and pasting from the Ethiopian MFA’s website (i.e. Patrick Gilkes’), which itself misquoted the UNICEF report (webpage headline: “UNICEF appeals for urgent support for Eritrea’s drought-affected children”). Think about that for one second: a supposedly independent, ex-BBC Africa editor copies and pastes his work directly from the

Ethiopian foreign ministry.

The real UNICEF report makes no mention of any looming emergencies. Even if true, Plaut’s argument would still be a non sequitur since the premise that 22,700 Eritrean children are malnourished does not equate to “famine,” which, by the way, he has no problem explicitly indicating in the article’s headline: “Appeals for aid to fight Horn of Africa famine ignore the plight of Eritreans”. There are more malnourished junk-food consuming London street children for him to concern himself with. (Note: The UNICEF report itself, which cites the 2010 Eritrea Population and Health Survey, seems to have erred in its claim that half of Eritrean children are stunted. The EPHS data claims 25 percent of children, which is the global average for the developing world.)

continued from page 3

Martin Plaut and the Politics . . .

Vol 24 . No 9Eritrea Profile, Saturday, April 1, 2017 5

Warm sun streams through the high windows of the old Workers Film Association Media (WFA) & Cultural Center with members walking in single file past cardboard boxes stacked along the walls. When the doors close this week, it will be for the final time and the building which is slated for demolition is expected to be ready for fall in the next couple of days.

“I’ve noticed that … it’s more emotional,” said a member of WFA - Mark Smith, after smiling to me. But the building is saying goodbye and it has been here for at least a century; so it’s like an era.”

Since it was opened by members of Labour in 1976, the WFA in Manchester has been a place for debate, discussion and cultural activities. It was a center and home to Eritrea Support Committee, people such as Basil Davidson, Mary Dines, Amrit Wilson, Abdurahman Babu, Prof. Lionel Cliffe, David Pool, Prof. Richard Greenfield, George Galloway and all those who cared about Eritrea and its people during the struggle for independence.

What a history we have and what a friend and partner it has been to the Eritrean struggle and nation. During the long years of struggle Eritrea was blessed with internationalist support, film makers, researchers, academicians, trade and student unions.

It is time to say Good Bye - story of solidarity! Today the WFA Centre is a

shadow of its former self and stands as history.

As far as we can see it is the only post-independence, post-liberation African heritage center in UK. It is a place imbued with this incredible history and it just feels important even when it’s dusty and derelict. “It has been very important to my generation and the generation before me,” Mark said. “I’ve always loved just walking down the halls of the WFA. I love history and I love that I’m so connected to it. “It’ll be sad, certainly. If the walls could speak,” he added with a smile.

Mark showed me some of WFA documents such as Abdurahman Babu’s article, “Eritrea: Its Present is the Remote Future of Others.” After spending sometime in Eritrea, Babu wrote in his article: “I am not ashamed to admit that I have been overwhelmed by what I saw, living, working and eating with these staunch revolutionaries”.

I am tempted to echo the famous quote from Babu: “I have seen the future of Africa and it works”. Abdurahman Babu added, “Eritrea was not the present - It is the future”.

The center also included media coverage by John Pilger. After visiting Eritrea in 1979, he described in the New Statesman the gruesome and heroic struggle of its people. John

Pilger pieced together a report from letters and eye-witness accounts. His articles appeared worldwide in newspapers such as the Guardian, the Independent, the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, the Mail & Guardian (South Africa), Aftonbladet (NL), Il Manifesto (Italy). He writes a regular column for the New Statesman, London.

The Embassy of the State of Eritrea to the UK and Ireland, would like to thank the (WFA), for its support during the struggle for independence and for the donation of all its historical documents on Eritrea. It has become clear that it is essential to compile a data-base of all the names of friends of Eritrea because they are part of the history of the struggle for Eritrea’s Independence.

We know you did all this to show your support to the people of Eritrea. You indulged our desire to have you all in one place at the same time.

The Embassy of the State of Eritrea believes that many useful historical documents remain in the

hands of private individuals. As our identity, culture and heritage are reflected in such items. We call upon the custodians of such items to share them with us. These items may be in any format -- maps, photographs,

cassettes, written materials etc.

Thank you!

Embassy of Eritrea in the UK Media Office


Bisha Mining Share Company PLC is inviting interested applicants for the following position. Medical Officer Nurse

Number Required – Four (04)

TASK DESCRIPTION

Patient Care Take Patient medical history•Perform physical Examination•Request laboratory tests •Treat patient, if required consult Doctor •Follow up on patient’s as required •Participate in all mine clinic activities •

Document work related accidents for insurance Record details of accident on specific form. Keep copy of form.•Send form to Human Resource Department. •

Admission of patients Assess vital sign of patient •Provide necessary nursing care.•Consult Doctor•

Maintain sanitization of medical equipment Weekly Clinic scrubbing•

Escorting referral patient via ambulance to Asmara Assist in ensuring patient is stable•Complete necessary documentation•Ensure all necessary medical equipment and supplies/medicine are •available for the tripTravel with patient on ambulance, monitoring condition.•Administer Doctor’s order while transporting •Give Report of the trip•

Preparation of Medical equipment and supplies Preparing medical dressing materials for patients as required.•Prepare antiseptics as required. •Check equipment on a daily basis.•

Report Writing Compile weekly activity reports for Supervisor & Superintendent•

Complete other reports as requested •

Qualifications:Diploma/Degree in Nursing•

Registered with the Ministry of Health•Currently working as a Clinical Nurse•

Knowledge and Experience:

3 years’ experience as clinic nurse•

Technical SkillsComputer skills (Microsoft )•Experience in Health Centre recommended•Safety aware•

Behavioural SkillsCommunication – Good English / local language•Interpersonal Relations•Ability to work towards strict deadlines•Team Player•

General Information and other requirements:Place• of Work: Bisha Salary• : As per Company salary scale.Type• of contract Indefinite Period

Additional requirement for Nationals: Having• fulfilled his/her National Service obligation and provide evidence of release paper from the Ministry of Defense. Present• clearance paper from current/last employer.Testimonial• documents to be attached (CV, work experience credentials, a copy of your National Identity Card etc.).Only• shortlisted applicants would be considered as potential candidates for an interview.Application• documents will not be returned to sender.All• applications should be sent through the post office.Deadline• for application: 10 days from the day of publication in the Newspaper.

Address• : Please mail your applications to; Bisha Mining Share Company, P. O. Box 4276 Asmara, Eritrea

Note• to Non-Eritrean applicants: Please send a copy of your application to Aliens Employment Permit Affairs, P. O. Box 7940 Asmara, Eritrea.

VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT

Alexsander Siyum Z.ZMultimedia Computer & Music School

6 month Multimedia Computer CourseBasic Computer & Computer Maintenance Hard & Soft wear

6 month Music course Guitar Piano- Vocal - Krar

Address: Eritro - German Asmara Eritrea Tel. 00291/07588813


Bisha Mining Share Company PLC is inviting interested applicants for the following positions.

Position1. : LV Driver Department: Engineering Number required: 01

TASK DESCRIPTION EXPANDED TO CORE PERFORMANCE AREASPlanning

Follows• the (Job Cards) and Task instructions.

Implementation of the PlanIdentifies• the highest priority for each day and focus on completing relevant tasks.

Identifies• the highest priority for each day and focus on completing relevant tasks.

Ensure• safety requirements are fulfilled at the work place, including leading Field Level Risk Assessment (FLRA) and proper use of the appropriate PPE. Report any safety issues/incidents.

Comply• with mine’s cardinal rules and other safety, environmental or other rules and standards as directed. Identifies any hazards in the work place.

Operates• the “Honey Sucker” Code 3, as and when required.

Drives• and operates the HIAB crane truck, (code 4) when required.

Drives• other vehicles as instructed.

Attends• technical and other training as required by supervisor.

Writing Reports & Data ControlCompile• daily; progress reports as requested.

Formal Education, Certifications or EquivalentGrade 12/Technical school•

Working Experience – Nature & Length 3-5• years relevant experience

Technical skillPhysically• fit and healthyAttention• to detailSafety• awarenessProblem• solving skillDrivers• Licence Grade 2/3/4

Behavioural SkillsCommunication• (English)Prioritizing• skills & multi-skillingAbility• to work towards strict deadlinesHigh• level of accuracySelf• -motivation

Position: Tool Crib Attendant 2. Department – Engineering Number required (01)

TASK DESCRIPTION EXPANDED TO CORE PERFORMANCE AREAS

Planning

Follows tasks from daily “Tool Box” meetings•Implementation of the Plan

Identify the highest priority for each day and focus on completing relevant •tasksEnsures good housekeeping•Ensure safety requirements are fulfilled at the work place, including •leading Field Level Risk Assessment (FLRA) and proper use of the appropriate PPE. Report any safety issues/incidents.Comply with mine’s cardinal rules and other safety, environmental or •other rules and standards as directed. Identifies any hazards in the work place.Locates lost or misplaced tools and equipment•Maintains and checks inventory of tools and equipment•Receives, unpacks and stores incoming tools and equipment. Requisitions •the replenishment of stocksInspects and measures tools and equipment for defects and wear by •doing a visual check, using a micrometer and reporting issues.Repairs, services and lubricates tools and equipment, using hand tools, •spray gun, or pressurised spray canMarks and identifies tools and equipment, using identification tags, •stamps, or electronic marking tool.

ReportingReports of defective equipment•Report non-compliance•Report on the level of consumables and lubrication stocks •

QualificationGrade 12•

Knowledge and experience3-5 years’ work experience•

Technical SkillsRecognizing tools and defects•Maintaining an inventory and stock level•Attention to detail•Housekeeping & orderly storage•Weekly reporting•Computer Literacy( MS Office,Excel,Powerpoint-Advanced) •

Behavioral skillsCommunication(English and Local language)•Discretion•Ability to work towards strict deadlines•Self-motivation•Integrity•Excellent interpersonal relation •

General Information and other requirements:

Place of Work• : Bisha.Salary: • As per Company salary scale.Type of contract Indefinite •

Additional requirement for Nationals:

Having fulfilled his/her National Service obligation and provide •evidence of release paper from the Ministry of Defense. Present clearance paper from current/last employer.•Testimonial documents to be attached (CV, work experience •credentials, a copy of your National Identity Card etc.).Only shortlisted applicants would be considered as potential •candidates for an interview.Application documents will not be returned to sender.•All applications should be sent through the post office.•Deadline for application: 10 days from the day of publication in •the Newspaper.

Address: Please mail your applications to;• Bisha Mining Share Company, P. O. Box 4276 Asmara, Eritrea

Note to non- Eritrean applicants: • Please send a copy of your application to Aliens Employment Permit Affairs, P. O. Box 7940 Asmara, Eritrea.

VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT

Eritrean students have started celebrating the 8th Annual Inter-College Festival. Students from Eritrea’s various institutions of higher education have gathered from the 30th of March until the 2nd of April at the College of Business and Economics, located in Halhale. The structure and number of our IHE’s fit the “one people, one heart” motto that represents the beauty and diversity of Eritrean people. Eritrea’s nine colleges work together to elevate and improve the country. The four-day program blends educational, cultural, literary, exhibition and sport events and showcases the creativity, intelligence, teamwork, and athleticism of students. For many years, the festival has been a lovely and honorable event and an integral part of education in Eritrea.

Notably, Adi Keih College of Arts and Social Sciences (CASS) has been the champion of the Inter-College Festival for the last three successive years. However, rather than rest on its laurels, the CASS community is continuing to work in the hopes of attaining another overall victory. Simon Tesfagabir, a third-year student from the Department of Political Science and International Relations, and first-year student, Witness Abraham, are members of the Educational Team at CASS. Speaking prior to their departure for Halhale, they confidently stated that “we look forward to participating in this wonderful event and are only thinking of winning.” Another participant, Abel, from the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication, assured that “the history of championship will repeat by itself in Halhale.”

Inter College Festival 2017When asked about the possibility of another championship, Sara Tsehaye, a second-year History student and guitarist, replied “my guitar knows it better and will answer it in Halhale.” The hunger for another championship was equally evident throughout the rest of campus. Mr. Ghirmay Teckle, Administrator of CASS, stated that “all [others] are hankering for the overall championship, but I don’t think they can stifle the intellectual muscle of our students.” The question as to who takes the overall championship will be answered on Sunday April 2nd.

Festivals are very important social activities. They offer celebration, encourage peace, can strengthen solidarity, provide a common ground for interaction, and break the monotony of daily life. A festival can be a program of cultural events, celebrations or entertainment conducted by a specific community or organization to attain a specific objective. Festivals have far-reaching goals beyond the colorful variety of visible aesthetic aspects; for example, they offer deep meanings or messages and share innovative or sentimental substance. Festivals also open a new door of opportunity for expression and celebration of highly-regarded values of the society. Etymologically, the term festival is derived from the Latin word “festum”, meaning “public joy, merriment, [and] revelry”.

The Inter-College Festival is a time of annual celebration and consists of a series of performances of fine art, as well as special observances by students from all colleges, as well as other members of the community (e.g. government

officials, local members of the community, etc). All members of the IHE are united by creative and intellectual bonds to share ideas and opinions. The festival should and must aim to celebrate our own culture in order to minimize the negative economic, social, cultural and environmental impacts of globalization. Inclusion of the local people in the development of the festival has a paramount significance and must not be forgotten.

Currently, the festival aims

to reach the level of the Sawa Youth Festival and the Annual National Festival (Expo) in encouraging innovation, artistic excellence, cultural diversity, and societal solidarity. The festival was designed to benefit students of higher education by providing creative outlets through a wide range of cultural and educational pursuits. It allows students to have multidisciplinary mastery through greater appreciation of science and art, widening interests, and broader understandings. During the festival, students are able to challenge themselves and develop in numerous ways.

The purpose of the festival is to provide students with opportunities to participate, cooperate, compete, and exhibit pride. Through festival participation, students exhibit a healthy lifestyle, learn, and grow.


Mr. Semere Habteslasie and Mr. Ghirmawi Araya, instructors in the Department of History, explained that the festival allows for the practical application of theories and concepts learned in the classroom.

An important benefit of the

festival is that it allows for the inclusion of both current and past college students. The friendship and camaraderie exhibited during the festival is truly heartwarming. Although the festival does have a competitive nature, “the end justifies the means” attitude is neither encouraged, nor tolerated. Rather things like good sportsmanship, fair play, and comradeship are rewarded and valued above all. The festival also enhances pride in one’s culture, education, and institution by allowing students of respective colleges to participate in various activities that in turn produce a sense of belongingness of the program and the college. It is meant to develop the community feeling within a college and instill a sense of pride that members feel from being part of the college.

Recreation is also among the very core of the festival. The recreational nature of the competition is one of the festival’s most memorable and pleasurable aspects. It is designed to provide an inclusive and enjoyable way to be active and healthy. The programs,

although recreational, have the potential to generate intellectual, social, political and spiritual growth among students. Its goals also involve the improvement and betterment of students through creative, wholesome and imaginative pursuits. Here there is a need for a clear delineation of aims: a unification of efforts and a pride and dedication in giving students a chance for self-fulfillment, creation and liberation of their human spirit. The recreational nature of the festival must be consistent with the ideas of education and for the socialization of the young students through comradeship and group involvement. Positive recreation produces an array of positive emotions that can encourage creativity and growth.

Lastly, the festival is a show of the broad-minded, cultured and refined mind of college students who have decided to celebrate our own culture and exhibit their intellectual and creative faculty. This is an event where Eritrean college students showcase their development, scholarly discipline, and reveal their great potential to all. We wish all participants a peaceful, productive, and cheerful festival!

Simon weldemichael Adi Keih College of arts and

social sciences March 2017

vol 24. no. 9 saturday, april 1, 2017 pages 8, price 2.00 nfa...

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