An open letter to President George. W. Bush
 A call for action against the human rights abuses in Eritrea

Your Excellency,

With due respect to your presidency, I feel a great honour to write to you this letter of appeal on the human rights abuses in Eritrea.

Eritrea with a population of 4 million is suffering under a harsh dictatorial rule without constitutional rules and regulations where the government is accountable to its people. Eritrean people are living under a inhumane conditions where the authorities continue committing serious abuses, forbidding citizens to change their government through a democratic process, whereas extra- judicial killings by security forces are rampant,  where tortures and beating of prisoners resulting in death, arrest and torture of national service evaders, restrictions of basic civil rights including freedoms of speech,  press, assembly, association and religion are severe and there more than 2000 clergy in the prisons of the dictator. These abuses have been confirmed by international human rights reports. Country report 2007 on human rights released by the bureau of democracy, human rights and labour US Department of State are reliable source on Eritrea’s record as violator of human rights.

Dear President,

The situation in Eritrea under the authoritarian government of president Essayas Afewerki is neither committed nor willing to engage in dialogue for peace and democracy but is a conflict ridden state. It is at odds with its people and people of its neighbouring governments, like Ethiopia, Djibouti, Yemen and Sudan and others in Africa. While the Eritrean population is living in poverty and backwardness, the regime in Eritrea has been financing antigovernment insurgents in Ethiopia, Sudan and Somalia.

The regime at this time is at odds also with international community –United Nations and African Union. It has been the source of destabilisation in the region by arming and training antigovernment forces in Ethiopia, Somalia and Sudan, this has been confirmed by the UN Monitoring Group.

Your Excellency,

The regime in Eritrea is neither committed nor willing to peace, democracy, human rights and the rule of law and the Eritrean people need your assistance to defeat the internal obstruction. I would like to ask and recommend your government to take urgent steps against the regime in Eritrea.  I urge your government to support the Eritrean civil and political movements for democratic changes. The Eritrean opposition political organizations which have formed an umbrella organization  called , “ Erirean Democratic Alliance is now ready to sit with your government and discuss on peace, democracy , human rights and the democratic transition in Eritrea.

Your Excellency, I hope you will appreciate the contents of this letter and accept it with good will. The Eritrean people as a member of the international community need the support of your government. In conclusion, please accept  from me on behalf of the Eritrean people my kindest regards and respect.

                               FN/ peace activist