Preparation is in Full Swing to Face PFDJ -Festival in Melbourne
– Australia
As it is customary, the Melbourne Rally
Organising Committee is once again ready to peacefully demonstrate against the
annual Eritrean regime ‘so called’ cultural festival. We reassure Eritrean
democrats who love to see peace and justice prevailing in Eritrea that we will
do whatever we can to make our voices heard on behalf of the voiceless and
oppressed people of Eritrea.
As part of our preparation, we hold a series of
meetings with police to obtain permission to stage the peaceful rally. This year
PFDJ through its diplomatic representative and supporters has adopted a new
tactic to silence us because they failed to challenge us through all other
means. They attempted to politicise an alcohol-fuelled juvenile violence that
erupted inside the Festival venue last year by accusing us of having a hand on
it. To make their case heard, they invited police to their meeting that was held
as part of their festival preparation. However, they forgot our record with the
police stands higher than their unfounded and unsubstantiated accusations.
For the last 9 years that we have been rallying
peacefully, we have never breached police instructions and we have always
strictly followed security arrangements given to us by police. Isn't it
hypocritical PFDJ and its supporters/sympathizers reward a dictatorial regime in
Eritrea, and in Australia, they seem to be law obeying citizens? They know
Australia is governed by the rule of law (which is our demand) and seek the law
to protect them (which is good!); and on the other hand, they support a dictator
in Eritrea which is ruling the country with an iron fist. What a lack of decency
and integrity?!
In line with this year’s rally theme, we remind
PFDJ's supporters to stop rewarding the dictator which is oppressing the
Eritrean people day in day out. We also renew our call to those who are silent
to be vocal; to those who are planning to participate in the event, we urge you
to think again and reverse your decision. We call upon all decent Eritreans to
support our peaceful rally, demanding respect for human rights and the
establishment of the rule of law in Eritrea. To those who are undecided, we
encourage you to take a bold step and join our peaceful rally, because demanding
justice for ALL Eritreans is quite rewarding experience.
As usual, we ask some legitimate questions that
occupy the minds of caring Eritreans:
-
Does the
Eritrean regime really care about its people?
-
Does the
Eritrean regime really take concrete measures to alleviate or, at least, to
reduce the suffering of its people?
-
Does the
Eritrean regime really believe in justice, which we outside the festival
venue are calling for?
-
The ruling
party in Eritrea is named People’s Front for Democracy and Justice. Does
this party really understand the great ideals this name holds?
-
Is
war/conflict the right approach to resolve the everlasting tension between
Eritrea and some of our neighbouring countries?
-
Does the
Eritrean regime really know why the youth are escaping to neighbouring
countries in droves? What actions has the Eritrean authorities taken to
address the youth’s concerns?
-
Why
Eritrea has no a representative legitimate parliament elected by the people?
-
Why the
Eritrean constitution is shelved indefinitely?
We remind our Eritrean compatriots who preferred
to remain silent and those who are planning to be part of the festival to
contemplate about those important issues and search truth answers to those
questions. We remind you the progress and development programs that you watch on
ERI-TV are mere propagandas utterly in contradictions to the bitter reality and
dire situation inside Eritrea. Eritrea would have been a better country had it
been ruled by the rule of law.
Enough is enough, fight for the people’s rights.
Yes to democracy, No to dictatorship
Yes for the rule of law
Justice for prisoners of Conscience, Political
prisoners and Journalists
No to interference in religion affairs, and
justice for our religion teachers and leaders
Respect for the elderly and cultural norms
Melbourne Rally Organising Committee
Melbournerally@gmail.com
4 January 2011
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