Daniel Mekonnen: deconstructing the myth of a “promising” political change in Eritrea
29 Nov 2016

Daniel Mekonnen: deconstructing the myth of a “promising” political change in Eritrea

by | posted in: Eritrea, European Politics, European Union, Refugees in the EU, Switzerland, Uncategorized | 0

On 24 November 2016, Eritrean lawyer Daniel Mekonnen gave a speech at a panel discussion on Eritrea, organized by Amnesty International, in Basel, Switzerland. The speech was aimed at two recent pronouncements by the Swiss government that suggest that positive political change is taking place in Eritrea. According to Mekonnen, this completely ignores the reality in the country.

European Parliamentarians refuse to condone visit Eritrean Minister
25 Nov 2016

European Parliamentarians refuse to condone visit Eritrean Minister

by | posted in: Eritrea, European Politics, European Union | 0

Five MEPs have put out a press release under the lead of MEP Marie-Christine Vergiat. The Press release responds to the planned conference on 28 November in the European Parliament, which is controversial due to the fact that Eritrean minister for information, Yemane Gebremeskel, is keynote speaker. The MEPs denounce the human rights situation in Eritrea en Gebremeskel’s role in this.

Ill-informed politics: what scientists understand and what politicians do
24 Nov 2016

Ill-informed politics: what scientists understand and what politicians do

by | posted in: European Politics, European Union, Migration | 0

Politicians and the media alike speak about the “refugee crises”, “the high influx of migrants” as well as the need to stop this “inflow” and to find ways to combat migration by tackling the “root causes”. The current narrative in politics within the Union undeniably has a negative character and the message seems to be clear: migration is a threat. It is a problem that has to be solved.