In an electronic media presentation held by four Eritrean opposition leaders at the “Eritrea for all Eritreans” paltalk room on 5 March 2010, chairman of the Eritrean People’s Democratic Party (EPDP), Mr. Woldeyesus Ammar, called for massive international demonstrations by all Eritreans and their friends against the abuses of the dictatorial regime in Asmara.

Responding to a question by the room administrator as to how Eritreans can make good use of the currently prevailing international position opposed to the dictatorship in Eritrea, the EPDP chairman said that successful action can be taken at three levels. He put them as follows: 

· Public diplomacy and action by ordinary Eritreans that include massive demonstrations that can be held soon, particularly, in Europe, North America and Australia, and intensive contacts with parties, governments, human rights organizations, ‘think tanks’ and institutions of higher learning;

· As much as possible redoubling diplomatic moves by the Eritrean Democratic Alliance, and

· Intensive diplomatic contacts in all continents by each member organization of the national alliance and other Eritrean political entities to further expose the all-round human rights abuses perpetrated by the dictatorial PFDJ regime in Eritrea.

Other participants in the paltalk presentation and discussion were Mr. Ahmed Mohammed Nasser, chairman of the Eritrean National Salvation Front; Mr. Hassen Ali Assad, deputy chairman of the Eritrean Liberation Front, and Ambassador Mohammed Noor Ahmed, Executive Committee member of EPDP.

Among the key questions posed to the panelists in the electronic “meeting” included the question of organizing a successful national conference and how the opposition could be strengthened and then made to work harmoniously.

Mr. Ahmed Nasser said it is good to hold a national conference but added that our people “should not expect things that cannot be delivered by such a conference”. The EPDP chairman agreed with this point adding that all precautions should be taken to see to it that a national conference we hold at this moment will not prove to be a failure. 

Most of the panelists also agreed that strengthening of the national alliance can be helped by dropping old grudges and by promoting a new culture of mutual respect and tolerate of political differences.

The 250+ attendants of the discussions at the end voiced their support for worldwide demonstrations not only in support of the targeted sanctions imposed on the regime by the international community but also to strongly protest for additional support to the Eritrean opposition in its fight against the ongoing political, civil, economic and human rights abuses of the dictatorship led by Isaias Afeworki and his small clique.

By
EPDP Department for Information and Culture