Inside Eritrea. Al Jazeera Investigative Documentary

[Cowke]

I thought you people would enjoy this undercover documentary into the land termed "the north-korea of africa" eritrea and what life is like inside that country.

 

Quite Interesting!!!!

 

[chubacka]

Thanks v. interesting.

 

That level of security is mind bloggling, not surprising people risk their life trying to escape although as the reporter said "Noone is officially allowed to leave Eritrea!"

 

The only chance of change seems to be with the death or overthrow of that young looking President and from this report the latter looks almost impossible.

[Cowke]

Chubacka, yes alot of people percieve Eritrea as a "modern nation" in Africa. I used to even think that myself.

 

It's due to lack of reporting allowed in that country to show what life is really like.

 

Simply put, that place is africa "north korea" you can't leave the country "officially" and if they see you leaving your "shot at the border" lol.

 

The government monitors everything and everyone life. It is very sad that Eritreans fought 50 years just to be oppressed by fellow eritrean.

 

This what I fear for the "ONLF REGION" they are fighting oppressors "ethiopia" right now however I believe the oppression the onlf will inflict on different clans in the region is alot worse then what ethiopia ever inflicted on them.

 

There is already "signs" of onlf oppression on the way if they given indepedence. For example the name of their movement is 1 evidence what lies ahead for non onlf tribes and also even within the onlf organization they come from one sub-sub clan of the onlf region the "M.Z".

 

And finally it is well known the onlf and eritrea are close friends. You know their is saying. "if you lay with dogs you will get fleas". Well if the onlf friends are the people we just observed on the al jazeera documentary, do you think this will not rub of on them and effect their way of life in the future?. I can picture it already with onlf using the citizens there hostage and saying "Ethiopia boogey man" to scare the people into allowing them to get away with whatever they want just similar to what eritrea young president does to keep his people hostage.

 

So the symptoms of domestic oppression from the onlf are visible already before they are even given separation, just imagine what they will be like when they are indeed given their separation "officially".

 

This documentary was definitely an eye-opener for all people.

[chubacka]

It is very sad that Eritreans fought 50 years just to be oppressed by fellow eritrean..

 

Leaders oppressing their own people is nothing new but this is oppression on a different level, imagine needing official permission to own a mobile or being conscripted into any random profession regardless of your wishes and I don't want to imagine how many secret jails there are dotted about the place. Evidently creating a constant climate of fear and suspicion of others works in keeping everyone in their assigned place.

 

She paints a very grim picture and sadly doesn't speculate about any chance of change.

[Cowke]

Chubacka, Yes it is very sad situation in eritrea and there seems to be no change in the horizon any time soon.

 

The people are simply robots for the state. The excuse the president uses is "ethiopia" and the future doesn't seem like it is changing any-time soon.

 

Eritrea as mentioned in the documentary was given great hope by the international community to come out as a modern democracy, however that has all proven wrong and they have turned into dictatorial regime probably as bad or if not worse then ethiopia.

 

Eritrea used to be state with alot of potential, today it has just fallen to shackles of what they were running away from in the first place.

 

The only chance of change they have is from outside powers. Similar to an iraq expedition to be freed from this hell hole. However the locals are disempowered to do anything, it is 1 man state and all power is in that 1 man. Everyone else are just robots.

 

So the international community is really their last hope and I doubt the international community will get involved into any military conflict with eritrea because they are over-stretched in many hot-spots around the world.

 

But you never know America might use ethiopia to go into eritrea and do regime change however it will be very costly and very bloody expedition. As noted by the documentary the 2 year stand-off ethio-eritrea had resulted in 100 000 deaths and that was just over some border territories. The stakes would be even higher if addis dared ventured into asmara the capital city.

 

So yes at this stage it is very grim for eritrea and the international community has alot of resources spent around other hot-spots to even blink an eye-lid to eritrea and even if they did the casualties would be very high as the population in eritrea have been given dosages of "propaganda" to fuel their hatred for ethiopia.

 

Ps: The young president of eritrea is of the mind-frame that the presidency of eritrea is not revolving chair but a job for life. He even said "as long as im alive" that he is the father of the nation. lol. So there is little hope he will just decide to step down for the good of the people.

[chubacka]

The only chance of change they have is from outside powers. Similar to an iraq expedition to be freed from this hell hole..

 

Outside intervention isn't the answer, look at Iraq, many people have said that it was better and safer under Saddam than the madness it has decended into now, despite the millions that were suppose to spent be there. The mess the same outside forces have made of Afghanistan is clear to everyone.

 

I say its a blessing there is little chance of them going into Eritrea, if they did it would be for their own interests and not for the good of the general public.

 

Humans are adaptable, and even though we watched this report with sadness probably the day to day life there is much like that of other african countries, as in people just get on with their daily lives albetit probably more careful about who they speak to and what they say in public. This is life at least the place seems relatively safe and peaceful for the general public. With time this guy will be removed from power (look at Mugabe, whoever imagined anyone could budge him, even a little) and a new chapter will open for Eritria, if its better or worse than the current one only time will tell.