Mereja.Forum

[Zmeselo]

Urban Safety and Security: The Case of Asmara

By: Simon Woldemichael

https://shabait.com/2021/11/29/urban-sa ... of-asmara/

GENERAL

Nov 29, 2021



Violence has reached record levels in many cities of the world and has become a critical threat to the security and development of urban dwellers. Levels of burglary, robbery, rape, kidnapping, killing and other types of crimes are on the rise in several urban areas. These crimes not only result in injury and loss of property, but also increase the general feeling of insecurity. Women and children, in particular, are the most vulnerable groups harmed by violence.

As the world becomes more and more urbanized, cities are increasingly seen as places of opportunity. If cities are secure and well administered, they can offer their residents diverse social, economic, and cultural benefits. However, most urban areas, particularly in the developing world, do not fulfill this potential. Many are characterized by extreme social exclusion, inequality, and high levels of crime and violence.



Asmara, the capital city of Eritrea, is blessed with extraordinary peace and tranquility. Its inhabitants live in harmony, with a tolerance of diversity and multiculturalism. Strong social cohesion prevents tension, violent crime, including violence against women, theft, and other crimes. One foreign observer described the social order and honesty she encountered in Eritrea’s capital city like this:

Asmara was certainly the only African city in which not only was I regularly offered lifts by strangers, but I accepted them without hesitation.

She added,

The most dangerous thing that could happen to you in Asmara after dark, was to stumble on a piece of broken paving.

Trust and cooperation, are easy to find among the people. Trust plays a central role, perhaps the main one, in the life of Asmarinos.

The extraordinary peace and stability of Asmara, is not really maintained through the work of the police and security forces. Asmara has become home to a peaceful society, primarily, because it exhibits a high degree of social cohesion. Trust, makes it possible to maintain peaceful and stable social relations among the people. Asmara has, reportedly, the lowest incidence of crime and violence in the Continent. The streets of Asmara are the safest places one can walk on, at any time of the day or night. The government puts significant emphasis on the maintenance of peace and order and it ensures women and other vulnerable members of the society enjoy their rights to live in a peaceful and safe environment.

According to the well-known Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, safety and security are placed among the basic needs that should be satisfied for all humans. To live in a safe city free from harm and danger, should be the right of every citizen. Among others, specifically Article 3 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that

Everyone has the right to life, liberty, and security of person.

The Sustainable Development Goals particularly highlight the importance of safe cities in the commitment to,

make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.

We proudly claim with confidence that Asmara is safe because the city’s inhabitants are able to live, work and participate in urban life without fear of bodily harm or intimidation. Asmara is oftentimes described as a beautiful, clean city with well-designed buildings and well-decorated streets. The social beauty and safety of Asmara enjoyed by its inhabitants are, however, far greater and appreciable than the architectural beauty of the city. The people of Eritrea, have developed the capacity to live together in harmony. Their collective historical experience oriented them toward peace and tolerance, rather than towards violence. The life of the people is shaped by the discipline of peaceful co-existence, mutual trust, and tolerance.

Today, crime rates have soared in the developed and developing world. Urban dwellers try to secure their homes and gated communities, are increasingly becoming common. Contrary to this reality, gating and surveillance technology is unknown in Asmara. The houses of the rich, government officials and famous personalities have no surveillance instruments or special fences.



For Eritreans, Asmara is not just their capital city but an icon of unity with a very strong social bondage and attachment. It is not only the political and administrative center of Eritrea, but also a desirable place venerated for its peace. Songs, poems, and novels have been dedicated to the beauty and peacefulness of Asmara.

The government’s policy that promotes social cohesion and peaceful coexistence, has also developed a sense of community and trust among the people and removed all forms of discrimination and division.

In Eritrea, like many other countries, there is an increasing trend toward the concentration of people in the cities. The high concentration of people in cities, constitutes advantages and disadvantages. In addition to social inequalities, it creates additional pressure on the state to respond to the increasing demand of the city. If these demands are not adequately addressed, crime, theft, violence, unsafe and unhygienic environments and many other social ills develop. Therefore, in order to maintain and make the safety and security of our cities sustainable, the government must continue its efforts to make the rural areas attractive places. The provision of social services and opportunities in rural areas, is a guarantee for the sustainability of city life.

Safety and security are sine-qua-non, to progress and development. No society can develop without peace, security, and social harmony. Therefore, guarding the moral, spiritual and cultural values of the Eritrean society is of vital importance to the sustainability of safety and security.



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ኣስመራ፡ ውቁብ ሰላምታኣ ምስ ጥሉል ክራማት ናብ ደቃ ተብጽሕ፡፡ 🧡 Blessed rain. Luwam Measho





Cinema Asmara, during the Shamot 2022 Awards Ceremony. Shamot is an annual award ceremony hosted by the Eritrean Picture, Art and Sciences Institution to honor excellence in films, comedy and cinematography.
@Asmaragraphy

[Zmeselo]

ኤርትራዊ ኣትሌት ፔትሮ ማሞ፡ ዘሓለፈ ሳምንታት ኣብ ብራዚል Sao Paulo ኣብ ዝተኻየደ‍♂️ማራቶን፡ 4ይ ደረጃ ብምሓዝ ውድድሩ ዛዚሙ። Athlete Pietro Mamo finished 4th, at the Sao Paulo Marathon.






ደስ ትብል መዓልቲ እያ፡፡ ምስ ዋዕሮ ኣትለትና ናዝሬት ወልዱ ተራኺብና፡ ኣኽብሮታን ምቑልልነታን ትስሕበካ ብልጽቲ ሓፍትና... Source & Filimon Mengisteab (Wedi Mengesha)




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New photographer at Zubieta!
Real Sociedad: @RealSociedadEN




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Some good training days at home in Eritrea. Now, on my way travelling back to Europe for my next race @Tourof_TheAlps @EFprocycling
Merhawi Kudus: @MeraKudus










ዳዊት የማነ፡ ኣብ ታሪኽ ናይ ፕሮፈሽናል ውድድሩ ዝበለጸ ደረጃ ኣመዝጊቡ፡፡ ኣብዚ ሕጂ ዝተዛዘመ 4ይ መድረኽ ዙር ቱርኪ፡ ዳዊት ምስቶም ሓያላት ፕሮፎሽናል ተቀዳደምቲ ተወዳዲሩ 6ይ ደረጃ ብምዝዛም ምስ ቀዳሞት 10 ብሉጻት ውድድሩ ዛዚሙ። Congrats. Dawit #TUR2022






Biniam Girmay to Ineos Grenadiers For 2023? | Pro Cycling Transfer Talks

ናይ ማውንተይን ባይክ ጋንታ ጽንዓት፡ ኣብ ክልተ ዲቪዥናት ዕውቲ ዘዋሪት ዋንጫ ኮይና፡፡ The mountain bike team - tsinat- wins the cup on 2 separate divisions.




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ሻምፕዮን ኩዕሶ መርበብ ዞባ ማእከል ብቀዳምን ሰንበትን ኣብ ዝቀጸለሉ፡ ሓሬናን ዓንበርበብን ኣብ ክልቲኡ ጾታ ጸብለል ኢለን። Harena & Anberbeb, dominate the Central Regions volleyball Championship in both sexes.



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ኤርትራዊ ተቀዳዳማይ ሞሞና ኪሮስ፤ ብናይ ውልቁ ተበገሶ ሽም ሃገሩን ህዝቡን ንምጽዋዕ ኣብ ኢትዮጵያ - አዲስ ኣበባ 03.04.2022 ሰንበት ዝተኻየደ ውድድር ማካይን፤ ካብ 18 ማካይን : 5ይ ደረጃ ብምሓዝ ውድድሩ ፈጺሙ። Racer Momona Kiros, comes in 5th place from 18 starters in the Addis Ababa car race.



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Eri-League Doha, Qatar Independence Cup 2022 opening ceremony- Monday 11 april 2022

[Zmeselo]

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ምስ ወያነ ኮይንካ ምቅላስ፡ ከም ንኸልቢ ስጋ ሓልወለይ ኢያ።

Sharron Yemane: @Sharronyemane









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We do Not Relinquish What is ours; Nor do We Covet What Belongs to Others: (Natna Aynhbn Zeynatna Ayndeln)

By Simon Woldemichael

https://shabait.com/2022/04/13/we-do-no ... eaPrevails

GENERAL

Apr 13, 2022

April 13, 2002, is the date on which the Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission (EEBC) – the Arbitral body composed of five judges established with the express mandate of delimiting and demarcating the Eritrea-Ethiopia boundary based on pertinent Colonial Treaties (1900, 1902 and 1908) and Applicable International Law – gave its final and binding verdict. Through this adjudication, the putative “border dispute’’ of the two countries was legally settled, once and for all.

Nonetheless, the defunct TPLF regime reneged on its treaty obligations and resorted to all sorts of subterfuges to obstruct the implementation of the Arbitral Ruling. The TPLF’s endless prevarications and impediments ultimately pushed the EEBC to opt for virtual demarcation of the border in November 2007, invoking legal validity of the procedure and recent precedence in other similar cases. The EEBC accordingly provided both countries with full digital details of the virtually demarcated border, while duly depositing these maps at the UN Cartographic Unit.

I was only a child, when the TPLF declared war against Eritrea in 1998. But I can vividly remember, among other things, the mobilization of able-bodied citizens, including my father to the war front; the bustling of women to prepare dry food; constant news coverage on local radio; general anxiety and hopes for victory in the imposed war; the new songs that depicted the new reality and the pounding of the artillery.

I also remember Wedi Shawl’s song of “Natna Aynihbin, Zeynatna Ayndelin”, which I later found out was indeed extracted from the historic speech of President Isaias Afwerki on 24 May 1998; two weeks after the TPLF’s declaration of war on Eritrea.

Wedi Shawl came up with another fitting song with the lyrics, ‘Koyna Zbelnayas Koyna’ – which roughly translates into: “What we have said all along is done” – when the EEBC’s decision contained in a 125-page document was solemnly announced on April 13, 2002. This was a very popular song, at the time. Not only did we sing the song, but wrote the lyrics on classroom walls with colored chalk.

In retrospect, it’s easy to understand why we wrote and sang ‘Koyna Zbelnayas Koyna’. As young students, we only knew that the war erupted due to Ethiopian territorial claims on Badme. As young students, we assertively argued, even if we had no clue on the complexity of border issues, “Badme Natnaýa – Badme is ours”, on sheer gut feeling. The ‘Koyna Zbelnayas Koyna’ of the time, unlike our narrow interpretation which was confined to the EEBC’s Award, had a far greater meaning and implication. The nation, including artist Wedi Shawl, was celebrating the overall victory of the rule of law over the rule of jungle.



As Secondary School students, our understanding of legal concepts and clauses in the Algiers Agreement – such as sovereignty, territorial integrity, the rule of law etc, was limited and confined to what we read/listened in local newspapers/radio broadcasts. On the occasion of the 14th anniversary of the Independence Day on May 24, 2005, I participated in a general-knowledge contest representing my school. I was asked to list, the Guarantors of the Algiers Peace Agreement. I got it right. But I did not win, as I failed to come up with the correct answer for the subsequent question. The host asked me, to spell out the full names of the five judges of the Commission. I was dazed. I could only mention Professor Sir Elihu Lauterpacht, the President, in prattler accent. I heard the remaining names of Prince Bola Adesumbo Ajibola, Professor W. Michael Reisman, Judge Stephen M. Schwebel and Sir Arthur Watts from the host.

Boundary disputes, are not limited to Eritrea and Ethiopia. This is especially the case in Africa where, at the Berlin Conference of 1884-1885, colonial powers carved out boundaries without regard for inhabitants and local geography. But, it is also the case in other continents.

With regard to the Eritrean border with Ethiopia, this was delimited through the three agreements signed in 1900, 1902, and 1908. The integrity of this border remained unchanged in subsequent periods and was endorsed as such by the UN, in 1952. We also knew that the OAU Summit in Cairo in 1964 adopted a Resolution on the sanctity of the colonial boundaries, to avert a Pandora’s Box of interminable border disputes and conflicts.

But the TPLF embarked on reckless attempt of redrawing the political maps of Ethiopia and Tigray Region to incorporate adjacent territories within Ethiopia, as well as from sovereign Eritrea. The latter act was in flagrant contravention of the basic OAU Resolution and accepted African norms and practices. Concerted efforts made by Eritrea to settle the problem through good-faith negotiations, failed to bear any fruit. TPLF’s obduracy was followed by its declaration of a needless and costly border war that raged for two years inculcating the loss of over one hundred thousand lives; and, the displacement and deportation of tens of thousands more.



When TPLF’s military campaigns was thwarted by a costly defeat at the Assab Front in June 2000, it was finally forced to accept the Cessation of Hostilities and later the entire Algiers Peace Agreement on December 12, 2000.

The Algiers Agreement created a court of arbitration, the EEBC. The Algiers Agreement also stipulated, in categorical terms, that

the parties agree that the delimitation and demarcation determinations of the Commission shall be final and binding.

But notwithstanding the unequivocal provisions of the Algiers Agreement, the EEBC decision was not enforced by the UN Security Council because principal sponsors – especially the US and the EU – failed to honour their obligations for their own narrow geopolitical considerations.

When the EEBC decision was announced, Seyoum Mesfin, Ethiopia’s Foreign Minister at the time falsely claimed that “Badme was awarded to Ethiopia”. He urged the international community to use punitive sanctions if necessary, to secure Eritrea’s full and immediate compliance with the provisions of the EEBC Award. The Foreign Minister and his government were soon to make a u-turn, sing a different song and reject the EEBC Award. Subsequent sessions of the EEBC, were marked by Ethiopia’s dilatory tactics. Thus, in its 16th Report to the UN in 2006, the Commission was compelled to write:

Ethiopia is not prepared to allow demarcation to continue in the manner laid down in the demarcation directions and in accordance with the timeline set by the Commission.

TPLF bad-faith acts and obstructions, were tacitly endorsed by its principal sponsors. John Bolton, former US Ambassador to the UN, in his book, “Surrender is not an Option”, revealed the various ploys employed by the US Department of State to nullify the provisions of the Algiers Agreement and the EEBC final and binding decision. He wrote:

For reasons I never understood, however, Frazer reversed course, and asked in early February [2005] to reopen the 2002 EEBC decision, which she had concluded was wrong, and award a major piece of disputed territory to Ethiopia. I was at a loss how to explain that to the Security Council…

In 2008, I was assigned to Elala, a small village found at about an hour’s walk on foot southwest of Shambuko crossing the Mereb River, to do my National Service as a teacher. Elala was a temporary village established by the displaced inhabitants of Denbe Hmbrti, Sef’a and Hazegga. They were deprived of their farm and grazing land, due to the continued illegal occupation of TPLF forces. Through the help of binoculars provided by the Eritrean forces stationed there, I observed the movement of the enemy in the mountain facing Shambuko. Elala, found deep inside the Eritrean sovereign territory, was turned into “a contentious battle-ground” and Eritrean forces were standing between us and the enemy.



The course of events changed, when Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed declared Ethiopia’s readiness to accept and implement in full the Decision of the Boundary Commission. Following his visit to Asmara, a Joint Declaration on Peace and Friendship was signed between Eritrea and Ethiopia on July 9, 2018. The Declaration brought to an end, eighteen years of ‘no war no peace’ between Ethiopia and Eritrea and opened a new era of peace and friendship. Article four of the Joint Agreement stipulates that,

The two countries will implement the Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission decision.

Natna Aynhbn Zeynatna Ayndeln represents Eritrea’s principled legal position, that augurs well for a peaceful resolution of good-faith border disputes. It is an immutable recipe for enhancing good-neighbourly ties, for enduring regional peace and stability. Eritrea has paid a heavy price because this was not reciprocated by the TPLF and certain powers in the international community, that accommodated its excesses. Whatever the case, Eritrea’s flag, raised on the unbreakable pillar of truth, continues to fly high over its sovereign territories.

[Zmeselo]

Greening in Qrora Subzone

By Ruth Abraham

https://shabait.com/2022/04/13/greening ... a-subzone/

NATION BUILDING

Apr 13, 2022



Qrora subzone, a subzone in the Northern Red Sea region, is mostly known for agriculture and pastoralism. According to farmers in the area, it used to be center of commercial agriculture and had abundant harvest. Prior to the 1970s, cotton grown in the area was used at Baratelo Garment factory, today’s Dolce Vita, in Asmara.

Qrora depends on coastal summer rains and rivers, that flow in the area for plantations. Millet and cotton, are two of the most commonly grown plants in the area. Farming in Qrora is carried out in extensive farms near river banks such as Rhib, Meliet, Mesebar, Mebia, Habl-Qetin, Gaghet and Qrar Qeyh.

However, beginning in the mid- 70s up to Eritrea’s liberation, the subzone turned into a battlefield just like many other parts of Eritrea. It was used as one of the military bases of the enemy, forcing some farmers to migrate and others to scatter to safer places in different regions of Eritrea. The extensive, highly productive agricultural fields turned into battlefields.

After Eritrea’s independence, however, owners of the land reclaimed their property and started farming all over again. The government assists the farmers, when in need. In areas like Meluet, that are prone to floods, it has provided bulldozers and tractors to prevent erosion and facilitate production. The government’s efforts have paid off, encouraging farmers to keep on working harder.

This year, unlike in the past, farming in Qrora has been affected by insufficient rainfall. The grassland has turned so dry, the only green visible in the area are the palm trees by the river banks.



According to the director of the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) in the subzone, Mr. Adem Saleh, in spite of the shortage of rainfall, the Ministry is working to conduct the usual agricultural activities in the region. One of its efforts, is related to its commitment to the nationally declared greening campaign. To boost the campaign, a nursery has been set at Mahmimet with a view to restoring indigenous trees that are on the verge of extinction. Palm trees are one of the biggest threats to the existence of indigenous trees, because they are very extensive and tend to dominate the land.

Since Qrora subzone is located at the border, the prevention of migratory animal diseases is one of the biggest tasks of the authorities in the subzone. The MoA has been working to ensure the prevention and treatment of migratory animal diseases, through vaccinations and medications. However, due to the frequent mobility of animals owned by nomads, the infection is not easy to control. The MoA also works, to prevent the transmission of diseases from animals to humans.

In its effort to introduce modern farming, the MoA provides farmers in certain areas with tractors to farm the land. According to authorities of agriculture in the subzone, 32,000 hectares of land has been dispensed in villages such as Gheleb-Sagla, Meliet and Habil- Qetin, and the farmers are said to have profited greatly from their farm productions.

Another face of agriculture in Qrora is: pastoralism. Although goats and sheep dominate, cattle and pack animals such as camels and donkeys are also found in Qrora subzone. According to the farmers in the area, the cattle have currently migrated to Gash Barka and Sudan to feed.

Records of the MoA show, there are about 180,000 goats and sheep and 70,000 camels in the subzone.

Another aspect of agriculture that wasn’t common in the area is: gardening. During the armed struggle, the EPLF engaged in gardening around river Felket and the people in the subzone adopted the practice after Eritrea’s independence. Today, there is around 40 hectares of land used as garden around Mahmimet and Felket River, 25 hectares of which is watered using motor pumps. The most productive time of the gardens in Qrora extends from October to August, allowing vegetables produced in the subzone to reach almost all over Eritrea.

When it comes to trees, those that are native to the subzone are almost extinct because of successive droughts and the invading palm trees. This is a big concern. The indigenous trees that were common in the subzone are now bound to the river banks, while the rest of the land is dominated by palm trees. Although the palm trees are a threat to other trees, they serve as the main animal feed in the subzone and are construction material.

According to Mr. Hamid Osman, an expert of trees and plantations at the MoA in Qrora, greening campaigns are carried out in Qrora subzone as in other parts of Eritrea. He added, they have been stressing on its importance for the last two years and said that planting trees is

very essential to the reclamation of trees and for covering the bare lands with green vegetation.

Mr. Hamid said, the Mahmimet nursery is set to produce two types of seedlings — the near-extinct indigenous trees and imported sprouts. While the former are aimed at restoring the original diversity of vegetation, the latter are imported to serve as food for humans and animals, he explained.



The tree seedlings given out to different institutions, are said to be making very good progress.

Some of the many seedlings in the nursery are neem, guava and lemon trees. Around 1000 and 5000 seedlings have been tested and distributed in Qrora and Mahmimet, respectively. The seedlings are being given to government institutions and the local communities, and if this is maintained, it shall be very decisive to the success of the greening campaign that is already in motion.

Agriculture and afforestation, are the bases of food security and national development. For this reason, the planting of tree seedlings and gardening are being consistently promoted. As farming in Qrora is heavily dependent on annual rainfall, it makes it quite uncertain. But this can be redressed, if the farmers in the subzone work harder on greening campaigns.

As declared by the government, greening campaigns are now the task of every citizen in the entire country. Concerned bodies, organize and initiate projects of afforestation in different institutions and are establishing reservations in different parts of Eritrea. Similarly, Qrora has proven it is highly committed to the program and the nurseries in the subzone are testimonies of the efforts of the subzone in this regard.

We expect the nursery to become the base and springboard of the agricultural and greening campaigns in the subzone, and we shall be successful,

Mr. Hamid said in his closing statement.



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ሽሻይ መሊኡ፥ ሸዊት ዕፉን ኣብ ጎደናታት ኣስመራ፡፡
Ghideon Musa: @GhideonMusa

[Somaliman]

All the kids who have ran away from Eritrea, who are currently waiting for Isaias to die in order to return just for holidays, should never be allowed back by judicial decree, because they would make Asmara messy, crowded, and the local cost of living increase to the detriment of local people. Asmara looks now romantic, but these untamed and uncivilised kids that are all wearing funny skinny jeans and roaming across Europe in groups of three or four would turn it into a Sunday market! God forbid!

I'll have to go visit Asmara and hopefully stay there for some time before these kids start to flock back to Eritrea. Therefore, this is one more reason for me to wish a long life to President Isaias, at least until I visit Asmara.