Ethiopians in Norway demonstration against the dictatorship in Ethiopia

More than 15 Ethiopians living in Norway held a demonstration in Harstad , demanding the Ethiopian government to respect the rights of citizens.

“Free prisoners of consciousness”, “Respect the freedom of the press”, “Respect the freedom of thought and expression”, “The Norwagian Goverment should stop funding the regime”, “Stop corruption and racism” were among the slogans the protestors chanted.And also by the representative of the coordinator saied the following
Lack of freedom in Ethiopia:
Out of five countries in the world showing the greatest aggregate declines in freedom from 2007-2011, Ethiopia was fifth according to the previously mentioned 2012 study by Freedom House.
In the case of Ethiopia, it is well known within the country that the ethnic-based Tigrayan Peoples’ Liberation Front (TPLF) not only controls the ruling party, the Ethiopian Peoples’ Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), but it also controls every sector of society and every facet of life from the federal level to the kebele (neighborhood levels). This includes the parliament, civil service, the judiciary, the military, security forces, civic institutions, religious institutions, the economic system, the educational system and the administration of developmental aid; including the dispensation of food aid, fertilizers, seed and other developmental aid.
No independent judiciary in Ethiopia:
Judiciary serves the interest of corruption, cronies, silencing opponents, rewarding regime loyalists, impunity for human rights crimes, land and resource grabs, illicit financial transactions, complicity in illegal human trafficking of etc. Guilty are acquitted or never charged and the innocent are silenced, punished or flee the country—oftentimes suffering great risks on way. Many Ethiopian journalists, justice defenders, equality defenders, human rights defenders in Ethiopia in jail and no one speaking up for them.
Together, we must handle this fragile political situation with care, spreading principles of love, truth, responsibility, peace, justice and equality from person to person until it brings new light to every dark corner of our beautiful country.
May God help us to live out these principles “Humanity Before Ethnicity” or any other differences and “None of us will be freeuntil all are free” so we and others near and far are both blessed in a “ceremony of harmony, peace and inclusion” as we stand for love rather than hate, justice rather than injustice and equality rather than inequality .

According Ingri the reporter of Harstad tidende or ht.no , Ethiopians from Harstad Receive demonstrated that they risk imprisonment by a possible return to the country.During today’s demonstration informed the Norwegians that the Ethiopian government constantly violates human rights.

They have connections to illegal opposition parties that the Ethiopian government stamps as terrorist groups. Asylum seekers would like to live and work in Norway and continue to fight for peace for their country here. see more on http://www.ht.no/incoming/article7953821.ece

Amnesty International is concerned that Norway will maintain its international obligations and have a humane refugee and asylum policy!!!

Amnesty International is concerned that Norway will maintain its international obligations and have a humane refugee and asylum policy.

CHALLENGES IN NORWAY

The government and political parties in Parliament have used expressions as a ‘fugitive power’ and thus given a false impression that Norway virtually flooded with refugees.

Amnesty is very critical of how many politicians choose to communicate attitudes and views on refugee and asylum policy in Norway. Politicians helps to discredit asylum seekers for example by using the term ‘fortune hunters’.

This undermines respect for the individual applicant and the UN Refugee Convention .

Government and opposition parties claim constantly that the vast majority of the refugees who come to Norway not bring identification documents or provide their identity. This is true in most cases.

According to the Directorate of Immigration (UDI) has very many of those seeking asylum identification papers and 93 percent of those who received asylum in 2011 had confirmed or probable his identity during the processing of asylum applications.

REFUGEES IN NORWAY

The actual number of people who have fled their homes in the world today is in great contrast to the number of refugees seeking asylum in Norway.
More than 16 million people are displaced outside their own country. Of these, in 2011 9100 who sought asylum in Norway. That means it is 0.06 per cent of the world’s refugees find their way to Norway and seeking protection here.

WHERE SEARCHING FLUKT?

Stricter rules has led to the term ‘European fortress’ is often used to describe how difficult it has been for a refugee seeking asylum in a European country.

The majority of the world’s refugees come from Asia and Africa, and the vast majority of refugees seeking refuge in neighboring countries. These are often countries with great poverty, yet still receives millions of people in need of protection.

Amnesty POSITION Accepting refugees and asylum seekers is about rights and obligations, not volunteerism and charity.According to the UN Refugee Convention and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of people who are persecuted or life is in danger due to war and conflict the right to apply for asylum in another country.Amnesty believes that Norway as a minimum should follow the recommendations of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). When the government chooses to act contrary to UNHCR’s recommendations by showing that you follow Norwegian law, it creates an artificial and dangerous contradiction between international obligations and so-called Norwegian law. It is unprincipled and opportunistic political voice picking. WHAT DO AMNESTY? we are consultative body on proposed amendments to the Immigration Act, the meetings with the authorities, and petitions against the Norwegian practice or on behalf of individual asylum seekers. We also participate actively in the public debate. Amnesty working closely with several asylum lawyers and help with documentation on the land situation in a number of asylum cases. In particular asylum requests Amnesty expert witness when the matter is taken to court. Exceptionally, we follow individual cases through the application process if we see that it is of fundamental importance.