GENEVA - (AFP) Some 5,000 Eritreans from around Europe rallied on Monday in front of the United Nations European headquarters in Geneva to protest against UN Security Council sanctions on Eritrea, police said.
The demonstrators waved Eritrean flags and carried banners such as “No to sanctions based on lies,” and “Eritrea will never go on its knees”.
The Security Council in December voted for an arms embargo and targeted sanctions against Eritrea, which has been accused of trying to destabilize the Western-backed government in neighbouring Somalia.
One of the organizers of the rally in Geneva, who declined to be named, told AFP that members of the Eritrean diaspora had travelled to the Swiss city from 14 European nations.
A spokesman from police in Geneva said about 5,000 people took part in the protest, which passed off peacefully.
Other demonstrations were staged in the Australian capital Canberra and in San Francisco, while the Eritrean community gathered in Saudi Arabia, according to an Eritrean government website.
Asmara has condemned the sanctions decision, which includes a travel ban on senior officials, as “a shameful day” for the United Nations.
The Security Council accused Eritrean leaders of aiding Somali rebels and pressed Asmara to withdraw troops immediately from disputed territories along its frontier with Djibouti. Source: (AFP)
February 25, 2010 at 5:27 pm
Why keep lying and lying!!
And administrator i suggest u start looking at the news items u post. Cause because of you these lies are getting spread! I was in Geneva, Switzerland and there were more then 5,000 people! It was around 12,000.. Why do they wanna let people think it was 5,000????? U guess..
February 25, 2010 at 8:18 pm
The agames are using Eritrean pen names to bark at an Eritrean sites. The humilation they felt when tens of thousands of Eritreans marched on in solidarity made them feel ashamed. I was in San Fransico, there was at least 15,000 that marched. These agames are know what’s at stake for them once their tyrant meles zenawi is removed -Genocide. 95% of Ethiopians hate agames.
Keep it rocking admin.
February 28, 2010 at 11:46 pm
Like Eritrawi I was there too on 22.02.2010. I know for a fact there were 110 coaches of 50 - 60 seats each. There were about 30 minibuses and countless cars. People also flew in to Geneva and others travelled by train. A simple calculation brings the grand total of participants to a minimum of 8,000 and possibly upto 10,000. The Swiss police and others who are visually challenged will typically and deliberately underestimate our numbers. Geneva has never seen this many people descending on her in such orderly and peaceful manner, all saying the same thing to the body of the United Nations - Annul the Unjust Sanctions which are based on lies.
March 7, 2010 at 11:17 am
God help us. Besmeam bewelde menfes kudus.besmelahi arahman arahim